As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2006
File Nos. 33-499 and 811-4417
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34
and
Registration Statement Under the Investment Company Act of 1940
Amendment No. 35
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(which by this Amendment is adopting and succeeding to the Registration Statements of CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust, and CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST II, a Massachusetts business trust, under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, File Nos. 33-499 and 811-4417 and File Nos. 33-500 and 811-4418, respectively, for all purposes, including for purposes of calculating registration fees pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940)
44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94104
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
Registrant's Telephone Number: (415) 398-2727
STEPHEN C. ROGERS
44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94104
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
|_| immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485(b)
|_| on _____________ pursuant to Rule 485(b)
|_| 60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1)
|_| 75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2)
|X| on January 2, 2007 pursuant to Rule 485(a)
Please Send Copy of Communications to:
Julie Allecta, Esq.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
55 Second Street - 24th Floor
San Francisco, California 94105
Telephone: (415) 856-7000
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT
This Post-Effective Amendment to the registration statement of the Registrant contains the following documents:
Facing Sheet
Contents of Post-Effective Amendment
Part A - Combined prospectus for shares of California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund, California Tax-Free Money Market Fund, U.S. Government Securities Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, and Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund.
....Part A - Combined prospectus for the Class K shares of U.S. Government Securities Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, and Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund.
Part B - Statement of Additional Information for shares of California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund, California Tax-Free Money Market Fund, U.S. Government Securities Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, and Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund.
....Part B - Statement of Additional Information for the Class K shares of U.S. Government Securities Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, and Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund.
Part C - Other Information
Signature page
Exhibits
e-mail us at info@caltrust.com
PROSPECTUS FOR DIRECT SHARES
JANUARY 1, 2007
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
CALIFORNIA INSURED INTERMEDIATE FUND
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUND
S&P 500 INDEX FUND
S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND
S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND
EQUITY INCOME FUND
NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND
EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVT. BOND FUND
THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST
(800) 225-8778
www.caltrust.com
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed on whether the information in this prospectus is adequate or accurate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
[Graphic Appears Here] Prospectus for Direct Shares January 1, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE FUNDS CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND 1 CALIFORNIA INSURED INTERMEDIATE FUND 5 CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUND 9 S&P 500 INDEX FUND 12 S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND 17 S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND 22 EQUITY INCOME FUND 27 NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND 31 EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND 36 U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND 40 SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVT. BOND FUND 44 THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST 47 INVESTING IN THE FUNDS HOW TO BUY SHARES 54 HOW TO SELL SHARES 57 OTHER POLICIES 60 DIVIDENDS AND TAXES 61 IDENTITY VERIFICATION PROCEDURES NOTICE 62 PRIVACY STATEMENT 62 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND Ticker Symbol: CFNTX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
GOALS
Seek high current tax-free income for California residents.
The California Tax-Free Income Fund seeks as high a level of income, exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes, as is consistent with prudent investment management and safety of capital. The Fund invests in intermediate and long-term municipal bonds.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Manager invests in municipal bonds issued by the State of California and various municipalities located within California. Generally, these bonds are rated in one of the four highest ratings (investment grade) by an independent rating organization such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's or Fitch. In some cases, securities are not rated by independent agencies. The Manager will generally purchase an unrated security only if it believes the security is of similar quality to an investment-grade issue. Generally, the interest on municipal bonds is not subject to federal and California personal income taxes. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in California municipal bonds, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher. The Fund's duration typically ranges from four to twelve years.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager attempts to select securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. The Fund is actively managed for total return. In managing the portfolio, a number of factors are considered including general market and economic conditions and their likely effects on the level and term-structure of interest rates, yield spreads among securities, and the credit type and quality of the issuer. Tax-free income to shareholders is achieved through the purchase of municipal bonds that are not subject to federal and California personal income taxes. No bonds subject to alternative minimum taxes are included in the portfolio. While income generally represents the greatest portion of return over time, the total return from a municipal security includes both income and price losses and gains.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. The Fund is considered non-diversified which means it may invest a large percentage of its assets in the securities of a particular issuer as compared with other types of mutual funds. Accordingly, a chance exists that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by poor performance of a relatively few number of securities.
The Fund is also subject to:
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices over all will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates. The Manager will generally maintain a longer maturity in this Fund relative to the California Insured Intermediate Fund (our other municipal bond fund). Thus, the interest rate risk is higher in this Fund than in the California Insured Intermediate Fund, which is discussed in detail on page 5.
State-Specific risk, which is the chance that the Fund is more vulnerable to unfavorable economic and political developments that impact the State of California than funds that diversify across many states.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, a bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund.
Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, reducing the Fund's return. The Manager attempts to minimize this risk by investing in investment grade bonds.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
IS THIS FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
This Fund is intended primarily for residents of California but may be held by residents of other states. If you are looking for tax-free income and are comfortable with the moderate volatility of a long-term bond fund, this Fund may be the right investment for you. Generally, this Fund will fluctuate more than our other tax-free funds, but under normal circumstances, will pay a higher rate of dividends.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 3.10% 1997 9.29% 1998 6.32% 1999 -3.57% 2000 12.42% 2001 2.58% 2002 9.46% 2003 3.45% 2004 2.34% 2005 1.57% |
Best Quarter: 11.11% (Q1, 1986) Worst Quarter: -7.42% (Q1, 1994) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 4.12%
Date of inception: 12/4/85
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
California Tax-Free Income 1 year 5 years 10 years -------------------------- ------ ------- -------- Return Before Taxes 1.57% 3.84% 4.60% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.24% 3.60% 4.42% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.95% 3.85% 4.54% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman Bros. Municipal Bond Index 3.53% 5.59% 5.72% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.49% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.22% ----- Total Annual Fund Operating Expense 0.71% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $73 $227 $395 $883
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ---------------------------------------------------------------- CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year $ 12.41 $ 12.78 $ 12.66 $ 13.24 $ 13.17 ---------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) (0.29) (0.13) 0.22 (0.42) 0.18 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations 0.21 0.37 0.72 0.08 0.70 ---------------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income (0.50) (0.51) (0.50) (0.50) (0.52) Distributions from capital gains (0.27) (0.23) (0.10) (0.16) (0.11) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Total distributions (0.77) (0.74) (0.60) (0.66) (0.63) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year $ 11.85 $ 12.41 $ 12.78 $ 12.66 $ 13.24 ================================================================ Total return 1.84% 2.96% 5.82% 0.61% 5.55% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) $127,178 $142,125 $158,327 $172,488 $ 206,909 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements 0.71% 0.66% 0.62% 0.61% 0.61% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements 4.17% 4.05% 3.86% 3.82% 4.11% Portfolio turnover 17.01% 31.95% 11.64% 1.44% 22.94% |
GOAL
Seek high current tax-free income for California residents.
The California Insured Intermediate Fund seeks as high a level of income exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes as is consistent with prudent investment management and safety of capital. The Fund invests primarily in municipal securities that are covered by insurance guaranteeing the timely payment of principal and interest.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Manager invests in municipal bonds issued by the State of California and various municipalities located within California. Generally, these bonds are rated AAA (the highest rating) by an independent rating organization such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's or Fitch and are insured by an independent insurance company. Some securities are not rated by independent agencies but are considered AAA because of the insurance on the bond. The insurance guarantees the timely principal and interest payments of the bond, but does not insure the Fund. The interest on the municipal bonds is generally not subject to federal and California personal income taxes. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in California municipal bonds, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher. The Fund's duration ranges from two to seven years.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager attempts to select securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. The Fund is actively managed for total return. In managing the Fund, a number of factors are considered, including general market and economic conditions and their likely effects on the level and term-structure of interest rates, yield spreads among securities, and the underlying credit type and quality of the issuer. Tax-free income to shareholders is achieved through purchase of municipal bonds that are not subject to federal and California personal income taxes. No bonds subject to alternative minimum taxes are included in the Fund's portfolio. While income generally represents the greatest portion of return over time, the total return from a municipal security includes both income and price losses and gains.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. The Fund is considered non-diversified which means it may invest a large percentage of its assets in the securities of a particular issuer as compared with other types of mutual funds. Accordingly, a chance exists that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by poor performance of a relatively few number of securities. The Fund is also subject to:
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually moderate for intermediate-term bonds. We also offer the California Tax-Free Income Fund for investors who want tax-free income and are more comfortable with interest rate risk. The California Tax-Free Income Fund is discussed in detail on page 1.
State-Specific risk, which is the chance that the Fund is more vulnerable to unfavorable economic and political developments that impact the State of California than mutual funds that diversify across many states.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, the bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund.
Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, reducing the Fund's return. This risk is moderated by the bond insurance which guarantees timely payment of principal and interest. It is important to note that the insurance protects the Fund's holdings, not the fund itself.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
This Fund is intended primarily for residents of California. If you are looking for tax-free income and are comfortable with the moderate volatility of an intermediate-term bond fund, this Fund may be the right investment for you. Generally, this Fund will fluctuate less than our other tax-free bond fund, but under normal circumstances, will pay a lower rate of dividends.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 3.89% 1997 6.39% 1998 5.97% 1999 -0.67% 2000 8.73% 2001 4.44% 2002 8.94% 2003 3.14% 2004 2.18% 2005 0.72% |
Best Quarter: 5.65% (Q1, 1995) Worst Quarter: -4.85 (Q1, 1994)
Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 2.83% Date of inception: 10/20/92
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
California Insured Intermediate Fund 1 year 5 years 10 years ------------------------------------ ------ ------- -------- Return Before Taxes 0.72% 3.84% 4.33% Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.51% 3.65% 4.19% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.07% 3.73% 4.22% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman 5 Year Muni Bond Index 0.95% 4.61% 4.78% |
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.39% ----- Total annual operating expenses 0.89% Expense reimbursement** (0.21)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.68% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $69 $263 $472 $1,077
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to limit the Fund's expenses at 0.68%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ---------------------------------------------------- CALIFORNIA INSURED INTERMEDIATE FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year .......... $ 10.79 $ 10.98 $ 10.80 $ 11.22 $ 11.09 ---------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.39 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................ (0.16) (0.17) 0.21 (0.21) 0.27 ---------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations ...... 0.17 0.17 0.54 0.12 0.66 ---------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.33) (0.34) (0.33) (0.33) (0.39) Distributions from capital gains .......... (0.14) (0.02) (0.03) (0.21) (0.14) ---------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................... (0.47) (0.36) (0.36) (0.54) (0.53) ---------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ....... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ................ $ 10.49 $ 10.79 $ 10.98 $ 10.80 $ 11.22 ==================================================== Total return ................................ 1.67% 1.58% 5.06% 1.03% 6.17% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ........ $19,631 $22,066 $26,353 $27,906 $27,105 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ........... 0.89% 0.78% 0.71% 0.71% 0.72% After expense reimbursements ............ 0.68% 0.65% 0.59% 0.58% 0.55% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ........... 2.92% 2.95% 2.85% 2.83% 3.43% After expense reimbursements ............ 3.12% 3.08% 2.97% 2.96% 3.60% Portfolio turnover ........................ 2.75% 9.18% 21.62% 22.45% 29.28% |
GOAL
Seek high current tax-free income for California residents while maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
The California Tax-Free Money Market Fund has the objectives of capital preservation, liquidity, and the highest achievable current income exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes consistent with safety.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Manager invests in high-quality, short-term municipal securities whose interest is not subject to federal and California personal income taxes.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in a variety of high-quality, short-term California municipal securities. The Fund seeks to provide a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share by investing in securities with an effective maturity of 13 months or less, and by maintaining an average weighted maturity of 90 days or less. To be considered high-quality, a security must generally be rated in one of the two highest credit quality categories for short-term securities by at least two nationally recognized rating such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's or Fitch (or by one, if only one credit rating service has rated the security). If unrated, the security must be determined by the Manager to be of an equivalent quality to those in the two highest credit-quality ratings.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. The Fund is considered non-diversified which means it may invest a large percentage of its assets in the securities of particular issuers as compared with other mutual funds. Accordingly, a chance exists that the Fund's performance may be hurt disproportionately by poor performance of a relatively few number of securities. The Fund is also subject to:
State-Specific risk, which is the chance that the Fund is more vulnerable to unfavorable economic and political developments that impact the State of California than funds that diversify across many states.
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that interest rates will decline and the Fund will produce less income. There is a chance that dramatic interest rate movements could lower the share price to a value less than one dollar.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund.
Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, reducing the Fund's return.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share, it is possible for you to lose money by investing in the Fund.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
This Fund is intended primarily for residents of California. If you are looking for tax-free income and seek to avoid share price fluctuation, this Fund may be right for you. Investors in this Fund do not pay personal income tax on the dividends paid. This Fund is designed as a cash management account and offers a free check writing feature.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 3.07% 1997 3.13% 1998 2.87% 1999 2.58% 2000 3.11% 2001 2.01% 2002 0.99% 2003 0.54% 2004 0.75% 2005 1.83% |
Best Quarter: 1.68% (Q2, 1989) Worst Quarter: 0.09% (Q3, 2003) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 2.51%
Date of inception: 12/4/85
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund 1 year 5 years 10 years ------------------------------------- ------ ------- -------- 1.83% 1.22% 2.08% Seven-day yield as of 11/30/06: 2.94% |
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges none Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.25% ----- Total annual operating expenses 0.75% Expense reimbursement* (0.22)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense** 0.53% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $54 $218 $395 $910
* The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
** The Manager has agreed to limit the Fund's expenses at 0.53%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ----------------------------------------------- CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year .......... $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 ----------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.025 0.014 0.005 0.007 0.011 LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.025) (0.014) (0.005) (0.007) (0.011) ----------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ................ $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 =============================================== Total return ................................ 2.52% 1.46% 0.54% 0.70% 1.15% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year ( in 000's) ....... $81,876 $55,785 $93,180 $88,804 $93,371 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ........... 0.75% 0.69% 0.65% 0.65% 0.65% After expense reimbursements ............ 0.53% 0.50% 0.44% 0.43% 0.40% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ......... 2.32% 1.22% 0.33% 0.48% 0.90% After expense reimbursements .......... 2.54% 1.41% 0.54% 0.70% 1.15% |
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the total return of the U.S. stock market as measured by the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
The S&P 500 Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of common stocks publicly traded in the United States, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P 500 Index includes the common stocks of 500 leading U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value.
The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P 500 Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks of the index. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher.
Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund --------------------- --------- Financial 21.6% Consumer Non-Cyclical 20.2% Communications 11.5% Industrial 11.2% Technology 10.7% Energy 10.1% Consumer Cyclical 8.4% Utilities 3.5% Basic Materials 2.8% |
Large Cap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&P 500 Index make-up about 88.1% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. For many investors, the S&P 500 Index functions as the benchmark for the entire stock market. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have market values ranging in size from $1.2 billion to $399 billion. The median market value is $11.7 billion.
The index is made up of stocks from many diverse industries. The industry table above gives you a general idea of the exposure to specific sectors.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the large cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in large companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as mid cap stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform large cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund.
Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change.
Some mutual funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a diversified stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the volatility of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 22.63% 1997 32.99% 1998 28.75% 1999 21.02% 2000 -8.90% 2001 -11.81% 2002 -21.74% 2003 28.49% 2004 10.64% 2005 4.69% |
Best Quarter: 21.50% (Q4, 1998) Worst Quarter: -17.09% (Q3, 2002) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 13.80%
Date of inception: 4/20/92
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
CIT S&P 500 Index Fund 1 year 5 years 10 years --------------------------------------- ------ ------- -------- Return Before Taxes 4.69% 0.54% 9.05% Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.45% 0.16% 8.18% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 3.98% 0.29% 7.55% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index 4.91% 0.54% 9.07% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.25% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.28% ------ Total annual operating expenses 0.53% Expense reimbursement** (0.17)% ------ Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.36% Annual account fee $10.00 |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $47 $183 $329 $746
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", "S&P 500", "Standard & Poor's 500" and "500" are trade marks of McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.36%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ------------------------------------------------------- S&P 500 INDEX FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ...... $ 24.61 $ 22.32 $ 20.36 $ 18.48 $ 22.79 ------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................. 0.42 0.44 0.32 0.29 0.29 Net gain on securities (both realized and unrealized) ...... 1.68 2.29 1.95 1.89 (4.31) ------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .. 2.10 2.73 2.27 2.18 (4.02) ------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .............................. (0.40) (0.44) (0.31) (0.30) (0.29) Distribution from capital gains ....... -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ............... (0.40) (0.44) (0.31) (0.30) (0.29) ------------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ............ $ 26.31 $ 24.61 $ 22.32 $ 20.36 $ 18.48 ======================================================= Total return ............................ 8.61% 12.31% 11.16% 12.03% (17.83)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ...... $100,927 $102,899 $106,305 $98,264 $93,961 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ..... 0.53% 0.46% 0.43% 0.45% 0.41% After expense reimbursements ...... 0.36% 0.33% 0.27% 0.25% 0.20% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ..... 1.44% 1.35% 1.27% 1.35% 1.30% After expense reimbursements ...... 1.61% 1.48% 1.43% 1.55% 1.51% Portfolio turnover ...................... 3.56% 3.36% 2.00% 3.63% 31.12% |
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of medium-sized U.S. companies as measured by the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
The S&P MidCap Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies, as represented by the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P MidCap Index includes the common stocks of 400 medium-sized U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value.
The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the S&P MidCap Index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P MidCap Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks of the index. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher.
Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund --------------------- --------- Consumer, Non-Cyclical 16.5% Financial 16.1% Industrial 15.3% Consumer, Cyclical 14.7% Technology 10.5% Energy 10.3% Utilities 7.4% Communications 4.7% Basic Materials 4.2% Diversified 0.3% |
MidCap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&P MidCap 400 Index makeup about 7.9% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. The S&P MidCap 400 Index was designed to track the overall performance of the mid cap sector. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have total market values ranging in size from $400 million to $10.4 billion. The median market value is $2.4 billion.
The index is made up of stocks from many diverse industries. The industry table above gives you a general idea of the exposure to specific sectors.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the mid cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in medium-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as large cap stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments out-perform mid cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to under-perform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P MidCap Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund.
Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change.
Some mutual funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a diversified stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the volatility of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 18.85% 1997 31.89% 1998 18.49% 1999 14.71% 2000 19.49% 2001 0.33% 2002 -14.22% 2003 34.55% 2004 15.92% 2005 12.03% |
Best Quarter: 27.55% (Q4, 1998) Worst Quarter: -16.53% (Q3, 2002) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 10.16%
Date of inception: 4/20/92
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
CIT S&P MidCap Index Fund 1 year 5 years 10 years --------------------------------------- ------ ------- -------- Return Before Taxes 12.03% 8.50% 14.37% Return After Taxes on Distributions 10.79% 8.04% 12.22% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 10.21% 7.25% 11.66% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P MidCap 400 Index 12.55% 8.60% 14.35% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.40% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.24% ------ Total annual operating expenses 0.64% Expense reimbursement** (0.06)% ------ Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.58% Annual account fee $10.00 |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $69 $229 $400 $889
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", and "Standard and Poor's Midcap 400 Index" are Trade marks of McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expanse limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.58%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, -------------------------------------------------------- S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ....... $ 23.34 $ 19.00 $ 17.01 $ 14.60 $ 16.18 -------------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income .................. 0.21 0.18 0.13 0.12 0.05 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ....... 1.11 4.34 1.98 2.41 (1.54) -------------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations ... 1.32 4.52 2.11 2.53 (1.49) -------------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ............................. (0.21) (0.18) (0.12) (0.12) (0.03) Distribution from capital gains ...... (1.56) -- -- -- (0.06) -------------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................ 1.77 (0.18) (0.12) (0.12) (0.09) -------------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee .. (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A -------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ............. $ 22.89 $ 23.34 $ 19.00 $ 17.01 $ 14.60 ======================================================== Total return ............................. 5.80% 23.87% 12.44% 17.46% (8.77)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ..... $162,988 $161,655 $126,678 $103,771 $96,590 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ...... 0.64% 0.59% 0.58% 0.58% 0.58% After expense reimbursements ....... 0.58% 0.55% 0.49% 0.46% 0.40% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ...... 0.84% 0.80% 0.60% 0.66% 0.78% After expense reimbursements ....... 0.91% 0.84% 0.69% 0.78% 0.96% Portfolio turnover ..................... 13.83% 18.07% 12.75% 8.33% 21.73% |
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of small-sized U.S. companies as measured by the S&P SmallCap 600 Stock Index.
The S&P SmallCap Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of small-sized companies, as represented by the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P SmallCap 600 Index includes common stocks of 600 small U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value.
The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the S&P SmallCap 600 Index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher.
Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund --------------------- --------- Industrial 20.1% Consumer Cyclical 16.9% Consumer Non-Cyclical 16.7% Financial 15.8% Technology 9.4% Energy 7.7% Utilities 5.3% Basic Materials 4.1% Communications 4.0% |
SmallCap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&PSmallCap 600 Index make up about 4.0% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have market values ranging in size from $50 million to $3.1 billion. The median market value is $770 million.
Over long periods of time, small cap stocks have generally outperformed other segments of the market. In doing so, they also have more volatility in share price. While many investors believe small cap stocks are the best choice for long-term holdings, there can be no assurance that this trend will continue.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the small cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that lasts for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in small-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as large cap stocks, mid cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform small cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to under-perform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P SmallCap 600 Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund.
Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change.
Some funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a diversified stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the volatility of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 3.73% 1997 24.05% 1998 -2.91% 1999 13.44% 2000 10.94% 2001 4.26% 2002 -14.65% 2003 37.63% 2004 21.99% 2005 7.29% Best Quarter: 20.01% (Q4, 2001) Worst Quarter: -20.77% (Q3, 1998) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 14.58% Date of inception: 10/2/96 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since CIT S&P SmallCap Index Fund 1 year 5 years Inception --------------------------------------- ------ ------- --------- Return Before Taxes 7.29% 9.90% 10.51% Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.48% 9.46% 9.61% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 6.20% 8.54% 8.86% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P SmallCap 600 Index 7.70% 10.77% 11.54% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.42% ----- Total annual operating expenses 0.92% Expense reimbursement** (0.18)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.74% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $76 $275 $492 $1,115
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", and "Standard and Poor's SmallCap 600 Index" are trade marks of Standard and Poor's Corporation and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.74%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ---------------------------------------------------- S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, beginning of year ...... $ 19.08 $ 15.85 $ 14.07 $ 11.60 $ 12.89 ---------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................. 0.10 0.09 0.04 0.03 0.03 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ............ 1.18 3.99 1.92 2.51 (1.28) ---------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .. 1.28 4.08 1.96 2.54 (1.25) ---------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .............................. (0.10) (0.09) (0.04) (0.03) (0.04) Distributions from capital gains ...... (0.88) (0.76) (0.14) (0.04) -- ---------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................. (0.98) (0.85) (0.18) (0.07) (0.04) ---------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ............ $ 19.38 $ 19.08 $ 15.85 $ 14.07 $ 11.60 ==================================================== Total return ............................ 6.94% 26.17% 13.93% 22.04% (9.69)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) .... $24,609 $24,250 $20,742 $18,526 $15,813 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ..... 0.92% 0.86% 0.82% 0.88% 0.88% After expense reimbursements ...... 0.74% 0.71% 0.65% 0.65% 0.65% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ..... 0.33% 0.37% 0.09% 0.08% 0.00% After expense reimbursements ...... 0.51% 0.52% 0.26% 0.31% 0.23% Portfolio turnover .................... 11.24% 7.25% 14.60% 16.51% 17.64% |
GOAL
Achieve a high level of income and capital appreciation (when consistent with high income) by investing primarily in income-producing U.S. equity securities.
The Equity Income Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks a high level of current income by investing primarily in income producing equity securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will also consider the potential for price appreciation when consistent with seeking current income.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
In order to meet the investment goal, the Fund invests primarily in securities which generate a relatively high level of dividend income and have potential for capital appreciation. These securities will generally be stocks of medium and large U.S. corporations. It is the Fund's policy that under normal circumstances it will invest at least 80% of its total assets.
Although the Fund will attempt to invest as much of its assets as is practical in income-producing stocks, the Fund may maintain a reasonable position in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments to meet redemption requests and other liquidity needs.
The Fund will invest in futures contracts when the Manager wishes to remain fully invested in the market. Utilizing futures allows the Manager to maintain a high percentage of the portfolio in the market while maintaining cash for liquidity needs.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund --------------------- --------- Financial 28.8% Consumer Non-Cyclical 20.1% Consumer Cyclical 12.3% Energy 11.6% Technology 7.8% Communications 5.5% Utilities 5.3% Industrial 5.0% Basic Materials 3.6% |
Value Stocks
The Fund invests primarily in value stocks and stocks that, in the opinion of the Manager, have attractive yield and/or capital appreciation opportunities. "Value stock" is a generic term and has many definitions in the market place. Generally, it is used to describe a stock that an investor considers to have a low price relative to other stocks. Among others, common characteristics of a value stock may include a high dividend yield, low price-earnings ratio and/or low price-to-book ratio relative to a specific market index or another stock.
The Fund is made up of stocks from diverse industries. The table above gives you a general idea of the exposure to specific sectors as of November 30, 2006.
The Fund is primarily invested in U.S. value stocks and is designed to provide a dividend yield as well as potential for capital appreciation. At times the Fund may hold a concentrated position in the banking and financial sector, therefore the Funds' performance may be significantly impacted by the performance of this sector.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in large and medium-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as growth stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform value stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, however, there are other risks associated with the Fund. For example, the Fund may invest in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts owned by the Fund do not perform well, the Fund's performance will be impacted.
Some mutual funds are able to lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the net assets value of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% (35% if under $25 million in total net assets) of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a conservative, value oriented stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 10.97% 1997 29.29% 1998 13.15% 1999 3.91% 2000 -1.19% 2001 -5.81% 2002 -12.63% 2003 27.50% 2004 15.44% 2005 5.40% Best Quarter: 17.08% (Q4, 1998) Worst Quarter: -14.56% (Q3, 1998) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 15.56% Date of inception: 9/4/96 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since CIT Equity Income Fund 1 year 5 years Inception ---------------------- ------ ------- --------- Return Before Taxes 5.40% 5.01% 8.84% Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.78% 4.53% 7.37% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 4.58% 4.11% 6.80% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P/Citigroup Value Index 5.84% 2.43% 9.24% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.41% ---- Total Annual Operating Expenses 0.91% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $93 $290 $504 $1,120
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in
Year Ended August 31, -------------------------------------------------- EQUITY INCOME FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, beginning of year ........ $ 16.12 $ 14.07 $ 12.32 $11.38 $12.21 -------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................. 0.26 0.26 0.20 0.15 0.17 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ............ 0.76 2.05 1.70 0.94 (0.83) -------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .. 1.02 2.31 1.90 1.09 (0.66) -------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .............................. (0.27) (0.26) (0.15) (0.15) (0.17) Distributions from capital gains ...... (0.35) -- -- -- -- -------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ............... (0.62) (0.26) (0.15) (0.15) (0.17) -------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A -------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year .............. $ 16.52 $ 16.12 $ 14.07 $12.32 $11.38 ================================================== Total return .............................. 6.50% 16.51% 15.51% 9.77% (5.46)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ...... $17,090 $16,641 $13,137 $9,818 $8,261 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 0.91% 0.87% 0.90% 0.95% 0.91% After expense reimbursements ........ 0.90% 0.85% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 1.61% 1.70% 1.04% 1.24% 1.33% After expense reimbursements ........ 1.62% 1.72% 1.14% 1.39% 1.44% Portfolio turnover ...................... 2.59% 3.25% 14.43% 30.01% 69.43% |
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of the largest non-financial companies as measured by the Nasdaq-100 Index(R).
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund is managed passively in that the Manager is seeking to replicate the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). To do this, the Fund invests primarily in the stocks comprising this index. The Fund will attempt to buy stocks so that the holdings in the portfolio approximate those of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least 0.95 to the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the stocks comprising the index.
The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies if those companies invest in securities consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies.
Like most index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts. The Fund generally maintains some short-term securities and cash equivalents in the portfolio to meet redemptions and needs for liquidity. The Manager will typically buy futures contracts so that the market value of the futures contracts is as close to the cash balance as possible. This helps minimize the tracking error of the Fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock markets go up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate. If the Fund's value drops during the period in which you hold the Fund, you could lose money.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. stocks and is designed to track the overall performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). In an attempt to accurately represent the Index, the Fund will typically not take steps to reduce its market exposure so that in a declining market, the Manager will not take steps to minimize the exposure of the Fund.
The Nasdaq-100 Index(R) As of September 30, 2006
The Nasdaq-100 Index(R) is made up of the 100 largest non-financial stocks traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The stocks that make up this index are currently heavily weighted in the technology sector. Because of the concentration in a specific sector, high volatility or poor performance of the sector will directly affect the Fund's performance.
The individual stocks that make up the index have total market values ranging in size from $1.8 billion to $275.2 billion, with a median of $8.7 billion.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock markets. Two major factors that may have both a positive and negative effect on the stock markets are economic and political events. These effects may be short-term by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less; or they may have long-term impacts which may cause changes in the market that may last for many years. Some factors may affect changes in one sector of the economy or one stock, but don't have an impact on the overall market. The particular sector of the economy or the individual stock may be affected for a short or long-term.
The Fund invests in the largest, non-financial companies that are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. They may comprise various sectors of the economy, but are currently concentrated in the technology sector. During periods in which the Nasdaq-100 Index underperform alternative investments such as bond, money market and alternative stock sectors, the Manager expects the Fund to underper-form other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The Nasdaq-100 Index is subject to concentration risk. First, it is a modified-capitalization weighted index, meaning that except for some modifications, companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund. Additionally, the significant concentration of technology stocks makes the Fund's performance particularly sensitive to this specific sector. Negative performance in the technology sector will result in negative fund performance. To the extent the Fund invests in securities issued by other investment companies, the Fund, as a shareholder in another investment company, bears its ratable share of that investment company's expenses, including advisory and administration fees, resulting in an additional layer of management fees and expenses for Fund shareholders.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
The Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, however, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If the futures contracts owned by the Fund do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change.
Some mutual funds are able to lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund does not expect to engage in this strategy; however, in the event that it did, there is a slight risk that this practice could negatively impact the net assets value of the Fund.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a growth stock fund, this fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value. Historically, the index has shown more volatility in comparison to other broader benchmarks such as the S&P 500 Index.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2000 -38.51% 2001 -33.36% 2002 -37.41% 2003 48.21% 2004 10.09% 2005 1.23% Best Quarter: 35.02% (Q4, 2001) Worst Quarter: -36.55% (Q3, 2001) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 8.76% Date of inception: 1/18/00 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since Nasdaq-100 Index Fund 1 year 5 year Inception --------------------------------------- ------ ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 1.23% (7.18)% (13.48)% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.23% (7.22)% (13.56)% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.04% (5.97)% (10.73)% --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nasdaq-100 Index 1.90% (6.62)% (12.59)% |
Nasdaq(R), Nasdaq-100(R) and Nasdaq-100 Index(R) are trade or service marks of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (which with its affiliates are referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suit ability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. The Corporations make no express or implied warranties, and disclaim all warranties including all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Fund/Index (meaning the Index, the Fund, their use, the results to be obtained from their use, or any data included therein). The Corporations shall have no liability for any damages, claims, losses, or expenses with respect to the Fund/Index. The Corporations shall have no liability for any lost profits or special, punitive, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.53% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.03% Expense reimbursement** (0.29)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.74% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $76 $299 $540 $1,233
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.74%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, --------------------------------------------------- NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ........ $ 3.98 $ 3.46 $ 3.41 $ 2.41 $ 3.75 ---------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................... (0.00)(a) 0.03 (0.01) (0.01) 0.00(a) Net gain on securities (both realized and unrealized) .............. (0.01) 0.51 0.06 1.01 (1.33) ---------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .... (0.01) 0.54 0.05 1.00 (1.33) ---------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .. (0.01) (0.02) -- -- (0.01) Distributions from capital gains ...... -- -- -- -- -- ---------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................. (0.01) (0.02) -- -- (0.01) ---------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year .............. $ 3.96 $ 3.98 $ 3.46 $ 3.41 $ 2.41 ==================================================== Total return .............................. (0.24)% 15.47% 1.47% 41.49% (35.61)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ...... $12,072 $15,161 $14,349 $14,928 $9,191 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 1.03% 0.95% 0.91% 1.05% 0.99% After expense reimbursements ........ 0.74% 0.71% 0.65% 0.65% 0.64% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... (0.34)% 0.41% (0.62)% (0.80)% (0.45)% After expense reimbursements ........ (0.05)% 0.65% (0.36)% (0.40)% (0.10)% Portfolio turnover ...................... 14.07% 9.94% 8.82% 8.64% 4.18% |
GOAL
Provide long-term capital appreciation and income by investing in large-sized European companies.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund seeks to invest primarily in the stocks of large-sized companies located in Europe. In selecting securities, the Fund attempts to use the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index as a target portfolio and a basis for selecting investments. Most companies considered for the Fund will have market capitalizations of at least $10 billion (U.S. dollars).
The Fund invests principally using American Depository Receipts, commonly referred to as ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. stock exchanges and are available for some, but not all securities that make up the target portfolio. If a company that is in the target portfolio does not have an ADR available on a U.S. exchange or if, in the Manager's opinion, the Fund is better served, the Manager will invest in ADRs of other companies that the Manager believes best serve the Fund and its investors.
The Fund is not considered an index fund because it will not attempt to precisely track the performance or invest in securities that make up the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index. However, similar to index funds, the Fund will generally remain fully invested and its performance will track the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index to the extent that the Fund is successful in investing in the companies that make up the index. Additionally, the Manager will attempt to minimize portfolio turnover.
Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest 80% of its total assets in ADRs of companies located in Europe. At the Manager's option, the Manager may elect to purchase futures contracts and/or options to attempt to remain fully invested in the markets. This percentage of futures and/or options held in the portfolio will typically not exceed the cash (or cash equivalents) balance of the Fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock markets go up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate. If the Fund's value drops during the period in which you hold the Fund, you could lose money.
Although the Fund pricipally invests in ADRs which are traded in U.S. denominations on U.S. stock markets, there is still some underlying foreign investment risk. For example, because foreign companies operate differently than U.S. companies, the Fund may encounter risks not typically associated with those of U.S. companies. For instance, foreign companies are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and procedures as required from U.S. companies; and their stocks may not be as liquid as the stocks of similar U.S. companies. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, and companies generally have less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the United States. These factors, among others, could negatively impact the returns of the Fund.
When investing in an international fund such as this Fund, there is always country risk, which is the chance that a country's economy will be hurt by political troubles, financial problems, or natural disasters.
There is also currency risk which is the chance that returns will be hurt by a rise in the value of one currency against the value of another.
There is also liquidity risk with ADRs, some of which may have a low daily trading volume. In the event the Fund is forced to liquidate its holdings of an ADR with limited trading volume, it is likely that the Fund would be forced to sell the ADR at a price lower than what it might otherwise receive.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in futures contracts and options. Losses involving futures and options can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract or an option may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures or options for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal to or greater than the total market value of any futures and/or options position. The value of all futures contracts and/or options in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be a suitable investment for you if you wish to add an international stock fund to your existing holdings, which could include other stock, bond and money market investments. You should be willing to accept the additional risks associated with international investments.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2000 -9.53% 2001 -19.62% 2002 -20.55% 2003 35.22% 2004 14.27% 2005 6.99% Best Quarter: 19.05% (Q4, 2003) Worst Quarter: -21.35% (Q3, 2002) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 21.76% Date of inception: 1/18/00 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since European Growth & Income Fund 1 year 5 year Inception --------------------------------------- ------ ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 6.99% 1.09% (0.77)% Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.68% 0.72% (1.13)% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 5.93% 0.76% (0.82)% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dow Jones European Stoxx 50 Index 7.75% 0.79% (0.89)% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (Expenses that are deducted from Fund Assets) Management fees 0.85% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.64% ----- Total annual operating expense 1.49% Expense reimbursement** (0.49)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.00% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $102 $423 $767 $1,738
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.00%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ----------------------------------------------- EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ........ $ 8.57 $ 7.10 $ 6.18 $ 5.80 $ 7.13 ----------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................... 0.24 0.15 0.16 0.11 0.10 Net loss on securities (both realized and unrealized) .............. 1.29 1.48 0.89 0.35 (1.34) ----------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .... 1.53 1.63 1.05 0.46 (1.24) ----------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .. (0.19) (0.16) (0.13) (0.08) (0.09) Distributions from capital gains ...... -- -- -- -- -- ----------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................. (0.19) (0.16) (0.13) (0.08) (0.09) ----------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ----------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year .............. $ 9.91 $ 8.57 $ 7.10 $ 6.18 $ 5.80 =============================================== Total return .............................. 17.97% 23.15% 17.04% 8.17% (17.50)% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ...... $5,719 $5,024 $3,923 $3,364 $2,357 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 1.49% 1.55% 1.72% 1.99% 1.99% After expense reimbursements ........ 1.00% 0.98% 0.95% 0.95% 0.95% Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 2.48% 1.41% 1.17% 0.83% 0.30% After expense reimbursements ........ 2.97% 1.98% 1.94% 1.87% 1.34% Portfolio turnover ...................... 3.24% 1.47% 2.01% 0.00% 9.70% |
GOAL
Seek liquidity, safety from credit risk and as high a level of income as is consistent with these objectives by investing in full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities, primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities and Government National Mortgage Association Certificates ("GNMA").
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund invests primarily in high-quality bonds whose interest is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government and its agencies or instrumentalities.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. Generally, the Manager selects a balance between treasury bonds and GNMA securities in an attempt to maximize the overall performance of the Fund. In managing the portfolio, a number of factors are considered including general market and economic conditions and their likely effects on the level and term-structure of interest rates, yield spreads, and mortgage prepayment rates on GNMA pass-through securities. While income is the most important part of return over time, the total return for a bond fund includes both income and price losses and gains. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. These include:
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates. This is the primary risk of this Fund.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund over long periods of time.
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, the bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund.
Prepayment risk is similar to call risk. In the case of GNMA securities, payments to the Fund are based on payments from the underlying mortgages. During periods where homeowners refinance their mortgages, these securities are paid off and the Fund may have to reinvest the principal in lower yielding securities. This would reduce the income generated from the portfolio.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
The Fund invests in intermediate and long-term fixed income securities. During periods where alternative investments such as stocks and money market instruments out perform bonds, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a conservative income fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the bond market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark indices. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 -0.48% 1997 9.33% 1998 12.08% 1999 -4.94% 2000 12.96% 2001 4.63% 2002 8.97% 2003 1.74% 2004 3.49% 2005 1.88% |
Best Quarter: 7.33% (Q2, 1989) Worst Quarter: -5.89% (Q1, 1996)
Year to date performance as of 11/30/06:
4.31%
Date of inception: 12/4/85
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
U.S. Government Securities Fund 1 year 5 years 10 years --------------------------------------- ------ ------- -------- Return Before Taxes 1.88% 4.11% 4.82% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.32% 2.82% 2.84% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.60% 2.93% 2.97% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman Brothers Treasury Index 2.78% 5.30% 5.90% Lehman Brothers GNMA Treasury Index 3.23% 5.43% 6.40% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.36% ----- Total annual operating expenses 0.86% Expense reimbursement** (0.12)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.74% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $76 $262 $465 $1,050
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.74%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ----------------------------------------------------- U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ........ $ 10.51 $ 10.60 $ 10.56 $ 10.73 $ 10.77 ----------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................. 0.42 0.37 0.35 0.35 0.50 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ...... (0.32) (0.00)(a) 0.09 (0.08) 0.19 ----------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .. 0.10 0.37 0.44 0.27 0.69 ----------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .. (0.42) (0.37) (0.32) (0.44) (0.59) Distributions from capital gains ...... -- (0.09) (0.08) -- (0.14) ----------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ............... (0.42) (0.46) (0.40) (0.44) (0.73) ----------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ... (0.00)(a) (0.00)(a) N/A N/A N/A ----------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year .............. $ 10.19 $ 10.51 $ 10.60 $ 10.56 $ 10.73 ===================================================== Total return .............................. 1.00% 3.60% 4.23% 2.52% 6.65% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ........ $21,430 $25,024 $27,454 $31,585 $33,275 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ....... 0.86% 0.79% 0.75% 0.71% 0.71% After expense reimbursements ........ 0.74% 0.71% 0.65% 0.65% 0.65% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ....... 3.94% 3.46% 2.92% 3.22% 4.59% After expense reimbursements ........ 4.06% 3.54% 3.02% 3.28% 4.65% Portfolio turnover .................... 71.63% 39.85% 103.98% 39.29% 150.35% |
GOAL
Seek liquidity, safety from credit risk, preservation of investors principal and has a high level of income as is consistent with these objectives by investing in mainly U.S. government securities.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund typically invests in short and intermediate-term fixed income securities whose principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Federal Government and its agencies or instrumentalities. The Manager will invest at least 80% of the Fund's assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies or intrumentalities. In addition, the Manager may invest in higher yielding securities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Federal Government. The Fund intends to maintain an average duration between 0 and 3 years in an effort to reduce share price volatility.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. The Manager's investments will typically consist of full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. Federal Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, as well as other securities which the Manager believes will enhance the Fund's total return. The Manager considers a number of factors, including general market and economic conditions, to balance the portfolio. While income is the most important part of return over time, the total return from a bond or note includes both income and price gains or losses. The Fund's focus on income does not mean it invests only in the highest-yielding securities available, or that it can avoid losses of principal.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
This Fund tends to be conservative in nature. However, it is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. These include:
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund. Income risk is generally moderate for short and intermediate-term bonds.
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, the bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund.
Prepayment risk is similar to call risk. In the case of GNMA securities, payments to the Fund are based on payments from the underlying mortgages. During periods where homeowners refinance their mortgages, these securities are paid off and the Fund may have to reinvest the principal in lower yielding securities. This would reduce the income generated from the portfolio.
Manager risk, which is the chance that the Manager's security selection strategy may cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be suitable for you if you have a short to intermediate-term investment horizon and want to earn dividend income from your investment. The Fund may be appropriate for investors in regular accounts and retirement accounts who want to avoid credit risk but are comfortable with some volatility of the Fund's share price.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark indices. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2000 7.12% 2001 6.36% 2002 2.99% 2003 1.00% 2004 0.21% 2005 1.28% Best Quarter: 2.79% (Q3, 2001) Worst Quarter: -0.78% (Q2, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 3.51% Date of inception: 1/18/00 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund 1 year 5 year Inception --------------------------------------- ------ ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 1.28% 2.34% 3.15% Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.89% 1.51% 2.06% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.08% 1.59% 2.09% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman 1-3 yr. Treasury Index 1.65% 3.69% 4.44% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges none Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.42% ----- Total annual operating expense 0.92% Expense reimbursement* (0.33)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense** 0.59% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $60 $260 $477 $1,101
* The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expens- es within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.59%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ------------------------------------------------- SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVT. BOND FUND 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year ........ $ 9.96 $ 10.09 $ 10.11 $ 10.17 $ 10.24 ------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................... 0.34 0.21 0.11 0.18 0.30 Net gain on securities (both realized and unrealized) .............. (0.10) (0.13) -- (0.06) 0.09 ------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations .... (0.24) 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.39 ------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .... (0.34) (0.21) (0.12) (0.18) (0.30) Distributions from capital gains ........ -- (0.00)(a) (0.01) -- (0.16) ------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ................... (0.34) (0.21) (0.13) (0.18) (0.46) ------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year .............. $ 9.86 $ 9.96 $ 10.09 $ 10.11 $ 10.17 ================================================= Total return .............................. 2.43% 0.82% 1.06% 1.17% 3.90% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ...... $13,235 $15,354 $15,098 $21,500 $10,942 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ......... 0.92% 0.85% 0.80% 0.80% 0.82% After expense reimbursements .......... 0.59% 0.56% 0.50% 0.49% 0.43% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ......... 3.06% 1.77% 0.85% 1.35% 2.57% After expense reimbursements .......... 3.39% 2.06% 1.15% 1.66% 2.96% Portfolio turnover ........................ 82.25% 159.11% 62.58% 74.45% 119.61% |
GOAL
Seek capital preservation, safety, liquidity, and, consistent with these objectives, the highest attainable current income exempt from state income taxes. The fund will invest its assets only in short-term U.S. Treasury securities and its income will be exempt from California (and most other states) personal income taxes.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund primarily invests its assets in high-quality, short-term Treasury bills whose interest is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. The Fund generally buys only securities that mature in 13 months or less. The Fund's weighted average maturity will generally be less than 90 days. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will attain the highest possible yield and maintain the $1.00 per share price. The Manager generally purchases only U.S Treasury bills, notes and bonds, but may invest in other securities from time to time. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to some risks which could cause the Fund to lose money. It is important to remember that this Fund is not a FDIC-insured money market account. The risks include:
Interest rate risk, which is the chance that short-term security prices overall will decline due to rising interest rates. In an extreme case, a short-term movement could potentially change the Fund's share price to something other than the $1.00 target.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to under perform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
The securities that the Fund holds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States federal government and are those that the Manager believes do not represent credit risk to the Fund. It is important to note that the U.S. government backs the securities held by the Fund, but not the Fund itself.
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the $1.00 per share price, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be appropriate for those seeking a cash management account and investors who wish to protect their investment from volatile markets. It may be used in retirement accounts such as 401(k)'s and IRA's. Lastly, the Fund's dividends are generally not subject to state personal income taxes. Thus, investors who pay a high rate of state income taxes may benefit from this feature.
PERFORMANCE
The following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1996 4.91% 1997 4.90% 1998 4.74% 1999 4.29% 2000 5.55% 2001 3.66% 2002 1.29% 2003 0.67% 2004 0.86% 2005 2.47% |
Best Quarter: 2.07% (Q3, 1989) Worst Quarter: 0.14% (Q1, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 3.86%
Date of inception: 4/26/89 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 1 year 5 years 10 Years ------ ------- -------- The United States Treasury Trust 2.47% 1.78% 3.32% ------------------------------------- Seven-day yield as of 11/30/06: 4.53% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges none Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) fees none Other expenses 0.30% ----- Total annual operating expenses 0.80% Expense reimbursement* (0.27)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense** 0.53% |
A $10 account fee will be charged to accounts with a balance of less than $10,000.
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $54 $228 $418 $965
* The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calcu- lated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.53%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended August 31, ----------------------------------------------- THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of year .......... $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 ----------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.037 0.017 0.006 0.008 0.017 LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.037) (0.017) (0.006) (0.008) (0.017) ----------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of year ................ $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 $ 1.000 =============================================== Total return ................................ 3.74% 1.72% 0.63% 0.86% 1.70% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of year (in 000's) ........ $48,604 $36,919 $39,143 $40,635 $51,013 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ........... 0.80% 0.74% 0.71% 0.70% 0.67% After expense reimbursements ............ 0.53% 0.48% 0.36% 0.42% 0.42% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ......... 3.61% 1.59% 0.28% 0.56% 1.45% After expense reimbursements .......... 3.88% 1.85% 0.63% 0.84% 1.70% |
FUND MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the Funds is CCM Partners, 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94104. CCM Partners manages $676 million in mutual fund assets as of 8/31/06 and has been managing mutual funds since 1985. CCM Partners is responsible for managing the portfolios and handling the administrative requirements of the Funds. As compensation for managing the portfolios, CCM Partners receives a management fee from each Fund. For the fiscal year ended 8/31/06, the fees, net of reimbursements, were 0.49% for the California Tax-Free Income Fund; 0.29% for the California Insured Intermediate Fund; 0.28% for the California Tax-Free Money Market Fund; 0.08% for the S&P 500 Index Fund; 0.34% for the S&P MidCap Index Fund; 0.32% for the S&P SmallCap Index Fund; 0.50% for the Equity Income Fund; 0.38% for the U.S. Government Securities Fund; 0.23% for The United States Treasury Trust; 0.21% for the Nasdaq-100 Index Fund; 0.17% for the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund; and 0.36% for the European Growth & Income Fund. As compensation for performing specified administrative duties, CCM Partners receives an administration fee based on the aggregate assets of the Funds at the following rates: 0.10% on the first $100 million, 0.08% on the next $400 million, and 0.06% on combined assets over $500 million.
Stephen C. Rogers is the portfolio manager for the S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund and the Equity Income Fund. Mr. Rogers is a member of the portfolio management team for the fixed income funds. He joined CCM Partners in 1993 and serves as Chief Executive Officer of CCM Partners. Mr. Rogers graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988 and earned his MBA from the University of California at Berkeley in 2000.
Christopher P. Browne, CFA, is the lead member of the portfolio management team for the California Tax-Free Income Fund, the California Insured Intermediate Fund, the U.S. Government Securities Fund, the Short-Term U.S. Government Securities Bond Fund, the California Tax-Free Money Market Fund and The United States Treasury Trust. He joined the firm in October 2004. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Browne worked in a variety of investment evaluation roles in asset management companies such as: Autodesk Ventures, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, Harris Bretall Sullivan & Smith, and Pacific Income Advisers. Mr. Browne graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1990 and earned his MBA, with honors, from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management in 1998. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the San Francisco Society of Financial Analysts, as well as Beta Gamma Sigma.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities of the Funds.
When referring to Bond Funds, we are discussing the California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund, U.S. Government Securities Fund and the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund. The Money Market Funds include our California Tax-Free Money Market Fund and The United States Treasury Trust. Our Stock Funds include the S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund and the Equity Income Fund.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the advisory agreement with CCM Partners with respect to each Fund is available in the Semi-Annual Report for the six months ended February 28, 2006, which is available upon request.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Except for the Money Market Funds, the Funds generally intend to purchase securities for long-term investments rather than short-term gains. However, a security may be held for a shorter than expected period of time if, among other things, the Manager needs to raise cash or feels that it is appropriate to do so. Portfolio holdings may also be sold sooner than anticipated due to unexpected changes in the markets. Buying and selling securities may involve incurring some expense to a fund, such as commissions paid to brokers and other transaction costs. By selling a security, a Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. Generally speaking, the higher a Fund's annual portfolio turnover, the greater its brokerage costs and the greater likelihood that it will realize taxable capital gains. Increased brokerage costs may affect a Fund's performance. Also, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or you purchase shares through a tax-deferred account, the distributions of capital gains may affect your after-tax return. For some Funds, like the U.S. Government Securities Fund and the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund, annual portfolio turnover of 100% or more is considered high, which leads to greater brokerage expenses and a greater likelihood that a Fund will realize taxable capital gains.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
In drastic market conditions, the Manager may sell all or some of a Fund's securities (except those of the Money Market Funds) and temporarily invest that Fund's money in U.S. government securities or money market instruments backed by U.S. government securities, if it believes it is in the best interest of shareholders to do so. As of the date of this prospectus, this has never happened; but if it were to occur, the investment goals of the relevant Funds may not be achieved.
VALUATION RISK
Some or all of the securities held by a Fund may be valued using "fair value" techniques, rather than market quotations, under the circumstances described in this prospectus under "How Fund Shares Are Priced." Security values may differ depending on the methodology used to determine their values, and may differ from the last quoted sales or closing prices. No assurance can be given that use of these fair value procedures will always better represent the price at which a Fund could sell the affected portfolio security or result in a more accurate net asset value per share of a Fund.
RISKS OF FREQUENT TRADING IN FUND SHARES
Frequent trading of significant portions of the Fund shares may adversely affect Fund performance and therefore, the interests of long-term investors. Volatility in portfolio cash balances resulting from excessive purchases or sales or exchanges of Fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management and make it difficult to implement long-term investment strategies. In particular, frequent trading of Fund shares may:
o Cause a Fund to keep more assets in money market instruments or other very liquid holdings than it would otherwise like, causing the Fund to miss out on gains in a rising market, or
o Force a Fund to sell some its investments sooner than it would otherwise like in order to honor redemptions, and
o Increase brokerage commissions and other portfolio transaction expenses if securities are constantly being bought and sold by the Fund as assets and move in and out.
To the extent a Fund significantly invests in high yield bonds or small-cap equity securities, because these securities are often infrequently traded, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities.
PROCEDURES TO LIMIT SHORT-TERM TRADING IN FUND SHARES
The Funds have adopted policies and procedures whereby, under certain circumstances, purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares will be subject to redemption fees. Although market-timing can take place in many forms, the Funds generally define a market-timing account as an account that habitually redeems or exchanges Fund shares in an effort to profit from short-term movements in the price of securities held by the Funds. The Funds and the Distributor do not accommodate such purchases and redemptions of the shares in the Stock and Bond Funds by Fund shareholders and have taken steps it deems reasonable to discourage such activity. While the Funds make efforts to identify and restrict frequent trading that could impact the management of a Fund, the Funds receive purchase and sales orders through financial intermediaries and cannot always know or detect frequent trading that may be facilitated by the use of intermediaries or by the use of combined or omnibus accounts by those intermediaries.
If a shareholder, in the opinion of the Funds, continues to attempt to use the Funds for market-timing strategies after being notified by the Funds or their agent, the account(s) of that shareholder will be closed to new purchases or exchanges of Fund shares.
Additionally, if any transaction is deemed to have the potential to adversely impact a Fund, the Fund reserves the right to, among other things:
o Reject a purchase or exchange
o Delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days
o Revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund shares (including exchanges)
o Limit the amount of any exchange
The restrictions above may not apply to shares held in omnibus accounts for which the Funds do not receive sufficient transactional detail to enforce such restrictions.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
California Investment Trust will make the portfolio holdings of its series (collectively, the "Funds" and each, a "Fund") publicly available within sixty days from the end of each fiscal quarter. Shareholders will receive portfolio holdings information via annual and semi-annual reports, which will be mailed to shareholders and posted on the Funds' web site. Additionally, a schedule of portfolio holdings will be filed with the SEC, which provides public viewing via EDGAR, in accordance with the then current rules governing Form N-Q filings.
Portfolio holdings will be made available by the Trust's Fund Accountant as of the calendar quarter end by releasing the information to ratings agencies. Shareholders may contact the Funds at (800) 225-8778 for a copy of this report.
A more complete description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio securities is available in the Funds' SAI.
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
Shares of the Funds may be purchased through the Funds' distributor or through other third party distributors, brokerage firms and retirement plans. The following information is specific to buying directly from the Funds' distributor. If you invest through a third party distributor, many of the policies, options and fees charged for the transaction may be different. You should contact them directly for information regarding how to invest or redeem through them.
You'll find all the necessary application materials included in the packet accompanying this Prospectus or you may download an investment kit by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. Additional paperwork may be required for corporations, associations, and certain other fiduciaries. The minimum initial investments and subsequent investments for each Fund are as follows:
Minimum Minimum *IRA Initial Subsequent IRA Minimum Investment Investment Minimum with AIP ---------- ---------- ------- -------- Bond Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 Money Market Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 Stock Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 |
The Fund's distributor may change the minimum investment amounts at any time or waive them at its discretion. To protect against fraud, it is the policy of the Funds not to accept unknown third party checks for the purposes of opening new accounts or purchasing additional shares. If you have any questions concerning the application materials, wire transfers, or our yields and net asset values, please call us, toll-free at (800) 225-8778. If you have any questions about our investment policies and objectives, please call us toll free at (800) 225-8778.
* You may open an IRA account with a minimum initial deposit of $500 if you participate in our Automatic Investment Plan (AIP). A minimum monthly con- tribution of $100 is required through AIP. For additional information on our AIP program, see section titled "Automatic Investment Plan" in this prospectus.
BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
If you need an account application call us at (800) 225-8778 or down load an investment kit from our website at www.caltrust.com. Keep in mind the following important policies:
o A Fund may take up to 7 days to pay redemption proceeds.
o A 1% redemption fee applies to shares of most Funds redeemed or exchanged within 7 days of purchase. See "Fee Imposed on Certain Redemptions of Shares" below for more information.
o If your shares were recently purchased by check, the Fund will not release your redemption proceeds until payment of the check can be verified which may take up to 15 days.
o Exchange purchases must meet the minimum investment amounts of the Fund you are purchasing.
o You must obtain and read the prospectus for the Fund you are buying prior to making the exchange.
o If you have not selected the convenient exchange privileges on your original account application, you must provide a signature guarantee letter of instruction to the Fund, directing any changes in your account.
o The Funds may refuse any purchase or exchange purchase transaction for any reason.
FEE IMPOSED ON CERTAIN REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
In order to discourage short-term trading (such as market timing or time zone arbi-trage) of fund shares, certain of the Funds impose a redemption fee on shares purchased and held less than 7 days. The fee is 1% of the redemption value and is deducted from the redemption proceeds. The fee applies to redemption sales and exchanges between Funds. The fee is retained by the relevant Fund for the benefit of its shareholders.
The "first in, first out" (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period. This means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of determining whether the fee applies.
Redemption fees will not be charged on the following circumstances:
o Shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends or distributions from a Fund, or
o Shares redeemed using the "check-writing feature" available on the California Tax-Free Income Fund, the California Insured Intermediate Fund, and the U.S. Government Securities Fund, or
o Shares held in an account of a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan or purchased through certain intermediaries.
HOW TO BUY SHARES INITIAL
PURCHASE
Make your check payable to the name of the Fund in which you are investing and mail it with the application to the agent of the Funds, ALPS Fund Services, Inc., at the address indicated below. Please note the minimum initial investments previously listed.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
C/O ALPS FUND SERVICES, INC.
P.O. BOX 2482
DENVER, CO 80201
You may also forward the account application to the Funds' offices, which will in turn forward the check on your behalf to the Funds' agent. Please note that the shares will be purchased at the next calculated price after receipt by the agent, which is typically the next business day following receipt at the Funds' offices. The Funds' office is located at the following address:
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
P.O. BOX 387
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-0387
PURCHASING BY EXCHANGE
You may purchase shares in a Fund by exchanging shares from an account in one of our other Funds. Such exchanges must meet the minimum amounts required for initial or subsequent investments and may be assessed a redemption fee described above. When opening an account by exchanging shares, your new account must be established with the same registration as your other California Investment Trust Fund Group account and an exchange authorization must be in effect. If you have an existing account with us, call (800) 225-8778 during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time) to exchange shares.
You may also exchange shares by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. You must complete the online access agreement in order to access your account online.
Each exchange actually represents the sale of shares of one Fund and the purchase of shares in another, which may produce a gain or loss for tax purposes. We will confirm each exchange transaction with you by mail.
All transactions are processed at the share price next calculated after
receiving the instructions in good form (as defined below), normally at 4:00
p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m. Pacific time).
-------------------------------------------- WIRE INSTRUCTIONS: State Street Bank & Trust Co. Provide your bank or ABA # 011000028 broker with these For: California Investment Trust Fund Group instructions Account # 00143305 For further credit to: Name of Fund: (name of fund here) Account Registration: (name on account here) |
In order to make your order effective, we must have your order in good form. "Good form" means that the Fund's transfer agent has all information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. All purchases are subject to screens as required by applicable federal and state regulations. Please note the Funds and its Manager reserves the right to reject any purchase. Accordingly, your purchase will be processed at the net asset value next calculated after your order has been received by the Funds' agent. You will begin to earn dividends as of the first business day following the day of your purchase.
All your purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on banks located in the U.S. We reserve the right to limit the number of investment checks processed at one time. If the check does not clear, we will cancel your purchase, and you will be liable for any losses and fees incurred.
When you purchase by check, redemption proceeds will not be sent until we are satisfied that the investment has been collected (confirmation of clearance may take up to 15 days). Payments by check or other negotiable bank deposit will normally be effective within 2 business days for checks drawn on a member of the Federal Reserve System and longer for most other checks. Wiring your money to us will generally reduce the time you must wait before redeeming or exchanging shares. You can wire federal funds from your bank or broker, which may charge you a fee.
You may buy shares of a Fund through selected securities brokers. Your broker is responsible for the transmission of your order to ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc, the Funds' agent, and may charge you a fee. You will generally receive the share price next determined after your order is placed with your broker, in accordance with your broker's agreed upon procedures with the Funds. Your broker can advise you of specific details.
If you wish, you may also deliver your investment checks (and application, for new accounts) to the Funds' office. Your order will be forwarded promptly to the Funds' agent for processing. You will receive the share price next determined after your check has been received by ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Checks delivered to the Funds' office will be sent overnight delivery to the Funds' agent, so in most cases, the shares will be purchased on the following business day.
The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery service to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such delivery services does not constitute receipt by ALPS Fund Services, Inc. or the Funds.
PURCHASING ADDITIONAL SHARES
Make your check payable to the name of the Fund in which you are investing, write your account number on the check, and mail your check with your confirmation stub to the address printed on your account statement. There is a $250 minimum for subsequent investments, unless made through the Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) as detailed below.
After setting up your online account, you may obtain a history of transactions for your account(s) by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
Using the Funds' Automatic Investment Plan (AIP), you may arrange to make additional purchases (minimum $100) automatically by electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your checking or savings account. Your bank must be a member of the Automated Clearing House. You can terminate the program with ten-day's written notice. There is no fee to participate in this program, however, a service fee of $25.00 will be deducted from your account for any AIP purchase that does not clear due to insufficient funds, or if prior to notifying the Funds in writing or by telephone to terminate the plan, you close your bank account or in any manner that prevents withdrawal of the funds from the designated checking or savings account. Investors may obtain more information concerning this program, including the application form, from the Funds.
The share prices of the Funds are subject to fluctuations. Before undertaking any plan for systematic investment, you should keep in mind that such a program does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.
We reserve the right to suspend the offering of shares of any of the Funds for a period of time and to reject any specific purchase order in whole or in part.
HOW FUND SHARES ARE PRICED
The Funds are open for business every day that the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open with the following expected exceptions: Bond and Money Market
Funds are closed on Columbus Day (observed) and Veterans Day (observed). The net
asset value of each Fund is computed by adding all of its portfolio holdings and
other assets, deducting its liabilities, and then dividing the result by the
number of shares outstanding for that Fund. Our shareholder servicing agent
calculates this value at market close, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00
p.m. Pacific time), on each day that the markets are open. However, the Funds
may, but do not expect to, determine the net asset value on any day the NYSE is
closed for trading. Occasionally, the Manager, subject to the supervision of the
Funds' Board of Trustees or Pricing Committee, will make a good faith estimate
of a security's "fair value" when the market valuation of such security could
not be obtained from third party pricing services.
The number of shares your money buys is determined by the share price of the Fund on the day your transaction is processed. Orders that are received in good form by ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc. are executed at the net asset value next calculated. The Funds' net asset value will not be calculated, nor transactions processed, on certain holidays observed by national banks and/or the NYSE.
The share prices of the Funds, (except the Money Market Funds) will vary over time as interest rates and the value of their securities vary. Portfolio securities of the Stock Funds that are listed on a national exchange are valued at the last reported sale price. Futures contracts are valued at their final settlement price as determined by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. U.S. Treasury Bills are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Portfolio securities of the Municipal Bond Funds are valued by an independent pricing service that uses market quotations representing the latest available bid price, prices provided by market makers, or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics. Portfolio securities of the U.S. Government Bond Funds are valued by an independent pricing service that uses market quotations representing the latest available mean between the bid and ask price, prices provided by market makers or estimates of market value obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics. Securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued using the amortized cost basis as reflecting fair value. All other securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees using consistently applied procedures established by Board of Trustees. The effect of valuing securities held by the Funds at fair value may be that the price so determined may be different than the price that would be determined if reliable market quotations were available or if another methodology were used, and such price may not reflect the price at which the Fund could sell the securities.
The share price of the Funds are reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in the mutual funds section of most newspapers after the heading "California Trust".
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
All performance information published in advertisements, sales literature and communications to investors, including various expressions of current yield, effective yield, tax equivalent yield, total return and distribution rate, is calculated and presented in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In each case, performance information will be based on past performance and will reflect all recurring charges against fund income. Performance information is based on historical data and does not indicate the future performance of any fund.
HOW TO SELL SHARES
You may redeem all or a portion of your shares on any business day that the Funds are open for business. Your shares will be redeemed at the net asset value next calculated after we have received your redemption request in good form, a redemption fee may be assessed, as described in the section titled "Fee Imposed on Certain Redemptions of Shares" in this prospectus. Remember that we may hold redemption proceeds until we are satisfied that we have collected the funds which were deposited by check. To avoid these possible delays, which could be up to 15 days, you should consider making your investment by wire, following the instructions as described in the section titled "Wire Instructions" in this prospectus.
BY MAIL
If you have not elected telephone redemption or transfer privileges, you must send a "signature-guaranteed letter of instruction" specifying the name of the Fund, the number of shares to be sold, your name, and your account number to the Funds' offices. If you have additional questions, please contact us at (800) 225-8778.
The Funds' Custodian requires that signature(s) be guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor such as a commercial bank, broker-dealer, credit union, securities exchange or association, clearing agency or savings association. This policy is designed to protect shareholders and their accounts.
BY CHECK
With check writing, our most convenient redemption procedure, your investment will continue to earn income until the check clears your account. You must apply for the check writing feature for your account. You may redeem by check provided that the proper signatures you designated are on the check. The minimum redemption amount by check is $500. There is no charge for this service and you may write an unlimited number of checks.
You should not attempt to close your account by check, since you cannot be sure of the number of shares and value of your account. You must use the phone, online or mail redemption feature to close your account. The check writing feature is not available for any of our Stock Funds. Please note that a $25.00 fee will be charged to your account for any returned check.
BY EXCHANGE
You must meet the minimum investment requirement of the Fund into which you are
exchanging shares. You can only exchange between accounts with identical
registration. Same day exchanges are accepted until market close, normally 4:00
p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m. Pacific time).
BY WIRE
You must have applied for the wire feature on your account. We will notify you when this feature is active and you may then make wire redemptions by calling us before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m., Pacific time). This means your money will be wired to your bank the next business day.
BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
You must have applied for the EFT withdrawal feature on your account. Typically, money sent by EFT will be sent to your bank within 3 business days after the sales of your securities. There is no fee for this service.
ONLINE
You can sell shares in a regular account by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. You may not buy or sell shares in a retirement account using our online feature.
BY TELEPHONE
You must have this feature set up in advance on your account. Call the Funds at
(800) 225-8778. Give the name of the Fund in which you are redeeming shares, the
exact name in which your account is registered, your account number, the
required identification number and the number of shares or dollar amount that
you wish to redeem.
Unless you submit an account application that indicates that you have declined telephone and/or online exchange privileges, you agree, by signing your account application, to authorize and direct the Funds to accept and act upon telephone, on-line, telex, fax, or telegraph instructions for exchanges involving your account or any other account with the same registration. The Funds employ reasonable procedures in an effort to confirm the authenticity of your instructions, such as requiring a seller to give a special authorization number. Provided these procedures are followed, you further agree that neither the Funds nor the Funds' agent will be responsible for any loss, damage, cost or expense arising out of any instructions received for an account.
You should realize that by electing the telephone exchange or the online access options, you may be giving up a measure of security that you might otherwise have if you were to exchange your shares in writing. For reasons involving the security of your account, telephone transactions may be tape recorded.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
If you own shares of a Fund with a value of $10,000 or more, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. You may receive monthly or quarterly payments in amounts of not less than $100 per payment. Details of this plan may be obtained by calling the Funds at (800) 225-8778.
OTHER REDEMPTION POLICIES
Retirement Plan shareholders should complete a Rollover Distribution Election Form in order to sell shares of the Funds so that the sale is treated properly for tax purposes.
Once your shares are redeemed, we will normally mail you the proceeds on the next business day, but no later than within 7 days. When the markets are closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing, or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission to merit such action, we may suspend redemption or postpone payment dates. If you want to keep your account(s) open, please be sure that the value of your account does not fall below $5,000 ($1,000 in the case of Stock Funds) because of redemptions. The Manager may elect to close an account and mail you the proceeds to the address of record. We will give you 30 days' written notice that your account(s) will be closed unless you make an investment to increase your account balance(s) to the $5,000 minimum ($1,000 in the case of the Stock Funds). If you close your account, any accrued dividends will be paid as part of your redemption proceeds.
The share prices of the Funds will fluctuate and you may receive more or less than your original investment when you redeem your shares.
THE FUNDS AND THE MANAGER RESERVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
o To automatically redeem your shares if your account balance falls below the minimum balance due to the sale of shares.
o To modify or terminate the exchange privilege on 60 day's written notice.
o To refuse any purchase or exchange purchase order.
o To change or waive a Fund's minimum investment amount.
o To suspend the right to sell shares back to the Fund, and delay sending proceeds, during times when trading on the principal markets for the Funds are restricted or halted, or otherwise as permitted by the SEC.
o To withdraw or suspend any part of the offering made by this Prospectus.
o To automatically redeem your shares if you fail to provide all required enrollment information and documentation.
OTHER POLICIES
TAX-SAVING RETIREMENT PLANS
We can set up your new account in a Fund under one of several tax-sheltered plans. The following plans let you save for your retirement and shelter your investment earnings from current income taxes:
IRAs/Roth IRAs: You can also make investments in the name of your spouse if your spouse has no earned income.
SIMPLE, SEP, 401(k)/Profit-Sharing and Money-Purchase Plans (Keogh): Open to corporations, self-employed people and partnerships, to benefit themselves and their employees.
403(b) Plans. Open to eligible employees of certain states and non-profit organizations.
Each IRA is subject to an annual custodial fee of $10.00 per social security number. For 2007, the fee will be waived for IRAs with a balance greater than $10,000. This fee is normally assessed in the fall of each year.
We can provide you with complete information on any of these plans, including information that discusses benefits, provisions and fees.
CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Unless you otherwise indicate on the account application, we will reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions back into your account. You may indicate on the application that you wish to receive either income dividends or capital gains distributions in cash. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is available to those investors who would like their dividends electronically transferred to their bank accounts. For those investors who do not request this feature, dividend checks will be mailed via regular mail.
The redemption fee will not apply to shares redeemed using the "check-writing feature" available on the California Tax-Free Income Fund, the California Insured Intermediate Fund, and the U.S. Government Securities Fund.
If you elect to receive distributions by mail and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your checks or if the checks remain uncashed for six months or more, we will void such checks and reinvest your money in your account at the then current net asset value and reinvest your subsequent distributions.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Shareholders of the Funds will receive statements at least quarterly and after every transaction that affects their share balance and/or account registration. A statement with tax information will be mailed to you by January 31 of each year, a copy of which will be filed with the IRS if it reflects any taxable distributions. Twice a year you will receive our financial statements, at least one of which will be audited.
The account statements you receive will show the total number of shares you own and a current market value. You may rely on these statements in lieu of share certificates which are not necessary and are not issued. You should keep your statements to assist in record keeping and tax calculations.
We pay for regular reporting services, but not for special services, such as a request for an historical transcript of an account. You may be required to pay a separate fee for these special services. After setting up your online account, you may also obtain a transaction history for your account(s) by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com.
CONSOLIDATED MAILINGS & HOUSEHOLDING
Consolidated statements offer convenience to investors by summarizing account information and reducing unnecessary mail. We send these statements to all shareholders, unless shareholders specifically request otherwise. These statements include a summary of all funds held by each shareholder as identified by the first line of registration, social security number and zip code. Householding refers to the practice of mailing one prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to each home for all household investors. The Funds will use this practice for all future mailings. If you would like extra copies of these reports, please download a copy from www.caltrust.com or call the Funds at (800) 225-8778.
DIVIDENDS & TAXES
Any investment in the Funds typically involves several tax considerations. The information below is meant as a general summary for U.S. citizens and residents. Because your situation may be different, it is important that you consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of your investment in any of the Funds.
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the dividends your Fund earns. The Stock Funds distribute substantially all their dividends quarterly. Shareholders of record on the second to last business day of the quarter will receive the dividends.
The Bond Funds and the Money Market Funds distribute substantially all their dividends monthly. Shareholders of record on the second to last business day of the month will receive the dividends.
Capital gains are generally paid on the last day of November, to shareholders of record on the second to last business day of November of each year. The United States Treasury Trust and the California Tax-Free Money Market Fund do not expect to pay any capital gains. At the beginning of each year, shareholders are provided with information detailing the tax status of any dividend the Funds have paid during the previous year.
After every distribution, the value of a Fund share drops by the amount of the distribution. If you purchase shares of one of the Funds before the record date of a distribution and elect to have distributions paid to you in cash, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive some portion of that price back in the form of a taxable distribution. This is sometimes referred to as buying a dividend.
REVENUE SHARING
The Manager, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds. Such payments and compensation are in addition to service fees paid by the Funds. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Funds on sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders.
IDENTITY VERIFICATION PROCEDURES NOTICE
The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including mutual funds, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. When completing the account application, you will be required to supply the Funds with information, such as your taxpayer identification number, that will assist the Funds in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Funds may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Funds may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a customer's identity. As required by law, the Funds may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct. Your information will be handled by us as discussed in our privacy statement below.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICY
When you become an investor with California Investment Trust Fund Group, you entrust us not only with your hard-earned assets but also with your non-public personal and financial information ("Shareholder Information"). We consider your shareholder information to be private and confidential, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of trust and fiduciary duty in their safekeeping and use.
OUR PRIVACY PRINCIPLES:
o We do not sell Shareholder Information.
o We do not provide Shareholder Information to persons or organizations outside the California Investment Trust Fund Group who are doing business on our behalf (e.g., non-affiliated third parties), for their own marketing purposes.
o We afford prospective and former shareholders the same protections as existing shareholders with respect to the use of Shareholder Information.
INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT:
We collect and use information we believe is necessary to administer our business, to advise you about our products and services, and to provide you with customer service. We may collect and maintain several types of shareholder information needed for these purposes, such as:
o From you, (application and enrollment forms, transfer forms, distribu- tion forms, checks, correspondence, or conversation), such as your address, telephone number, and social security number.
o From your transactions with our transfer agent, such as your transac- tion history, and account balance.
o From electronic sources, such as our website or e-mails.
HOW WE USE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:
The California Investment Trust Fund Group will only use information about you and your California Investment Trust accounts to help us better serve your investment needs or to suggest California Investment Trust Fund Group services or educational materials that may be of interest to you.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE:
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our shareholders or former shareholders to non-affiliated third parties without the shareholder's authorization. However, we may disclose Shareholder Information to persons or organizations inside or outside our family of funds, as permitted or required by law. For example, we will provide the information, as described above, to our transfer agent to process your requests or authorized transactions.
HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION:
We restrict access to your Shareholder Information to authorized persons who have a need for these records in order to provide products or services to you. We also maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard Shareholder Information. To further protect your privacy, our website uses the highest levels of internet security, including data encryption, Secure Sockets Layer protocol, user names and passwords, and other tools. As an added measure, we do not include personal or account information in non-secure e-mails that we send you via the Internet.
For shareholders with Internet access, California Investment Trust Fund Group recommends that you do not provide your user name or password for any reason to anyone.
In the event that you hold shares of one or more Funds through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of that financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared with non-affiliated third parties.
TO LEARN MORE
This Prospectus contains important information on the Funds and should be read and kept for future reference. You can also get more information from the following sources:
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
These are automatically mailed to all shareholders without charge. In the Annual Report, you will find a discussion of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each fund's performance during its most recent fiscal year. The Annual Report is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, making it a legal part of the Prospectus.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This includes more details about the Funds, including a detailed discussion of the risks associated with the various investments. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, making it a legal part of the Prospectus.
You may obtain a copy of these documents free of charge by calling the Funds at
(800) 225-8778, by accessing the Funds' website at www.cal-trust.com, or by
emailing the Funds at info@caltrust.com, or by contacting the SEC at the address
noted below or via e-mail at publicin-fo@sec.gov. The SEC may charge you a
duplication fee. You can also review these documents in person at the SEC's
Public Reference Room, or by visiting the SEC's Internet Site at www.sec.gov.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
P.O. BOX 387
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-0387
(800) 225-8778
www.caltrust.com
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549-0102 (202)
942-8090 (Public Reference Section)
www.sec.gov
SEC File Number 811-4417
The Funds are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any financial institution or government entity such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
e-mail us at info@caltrust.com
PROSPECTUS FOR CLASS K SHARES
JANUARY 1, 2007
S&P 500 INDEX FUND
S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND
S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND
EQUITY INCOME FUND
NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND
EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVT. BOND FUND
THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST
(800) 225-8778
www.caltrust.com
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed on whether the information in this prospectus is adequate or accurate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus for Class K Shares January 1, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE FUNDS S&P 500 INDEX FUND 1 S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND 5 S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND 9 EQUITY INCOME FUND 13 NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND 17 EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND 21 U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND 25 SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVT. BOND FUND 28 THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST 31 INVESTING IN THE FUNDS HOW TO BUY SHARES 38 HOW TO SELL SHARES 41 OTHER POLICIES 43 DIVIDENDS AND TAXES 45 IDENTITY VERIFICATION PROCEDURES NOTICE 46 NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICY 46 |
This prospectus describes only the Funds' Class K shares. The Funds offer other classes of shares with different fees and expenses to eligible investors.
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the total return of the U.S. stock market as measured by the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
The S&P 500 Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of common stocks publicly traded in the United States, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P 500 Index includes the common stocks of 500 leading U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value.
The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P 500 Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks of the index. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher. Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund -------- --------- Financial 21.6% Consumer Non-Cyclical 20.2% Communications 11.5% Industrial 11.2% Technology 10.7% Energy 10.1% Consumer Cyclical 8.4% Utilities 3.5% Basic Materials 2.8% |
Large Cap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&P 500 Index make-up about 88.1% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. For many investors, the S&P 500 Index functions as the benchmark for the entire stock market. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have market values ranging in size from $1.2 billion to $399 billion. The median market value is $11.7 billion.
The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the large cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in large companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as mid cap stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform large cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund.
Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change. Some mutual funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a diversified stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the volatility of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 6.16% 2004 10.06% 2005 4.15% Best Quarter: 9.06% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -2.25% (Q1, 2005) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 13.28% AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/2005 Since CIT S&P 500 Index Fund 1 year Inception ---------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 4.15% 9.31% Return After Taxes on Distributions 3.99% 8.98% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 3.52% 7.97% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index 4.91% 10.07% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.25% Distribution (12b-1) fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.53% ------ Total annual operating expenses 1.03% Expense reimbursement** (0.17)% ------ Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 0.86% Annual account fee $10.00 |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 98 $ 343 $ 605 $ 1,349
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", "S&P 500", "Standard & Poor's 500" and "500" are trade marks of McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 0.86%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to S&P 500 INDEX FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ....... $24.70 $22.37 $21.17 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................... 0.28 0.29 0.12 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ............... 1.69 2.33 1.16 ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ...... 1.97 2.62 1.28 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .... (0.26) (0.29) (0.08) ------------------------------------------------ Distributions from capital gains ........ -- -- -- Total distributions .................... (0.26) (0.29) (0.08) ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ..... -- (0.00)(a) N/A ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period .......... $26.41 $24.70 $22.37 ================================================ Total return ............................... 8.04% 11.77% 6.05%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) .... $6,159 $4,641 $2,261 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements .......... 1.03% 0.97% 0.93%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 0.86% 0.84% 0.77%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements .......... 0.94% 0.84% 0.77%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 1.11% 0.97% 0.93%*** Portfolio turnover ...................... 3.56% 3.36% 2.00% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of medium-sized U.S. companies as measured by the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
The S&P MidCap Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies, as represented by the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P MidCap Index includes the common stocks of 400 medium-sized U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value. The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the S&P MidCap Index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P MidCap Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks of the index. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher.
Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund -------- --------- Consumer Non-Cyclical 16.5% Financial 16.1% Industrial 15.3% Consumer Cyclical 14.7% Technology 10.5% Energy 10.3% Utilities 7.4% Communications 4.7% Basic Materials 4.2% Diversified 0.3% |
MidCap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&P MidCap 400 Index makeup about 7.9% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. The S&P MidCap 400 Index was designed to track the overall performance of the mid cap sector. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have total market values ranging in size from $400 million to $10.4 billion. The median market value is $2.4 billion.
During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money. The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the mid cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in medium-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as large cap stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments out-perform mid cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to under-perform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P MidCap Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund.
Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change. Some mutual funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 6.39% 2004 15.27% 2005 11.48% Best Quarter: 11.33% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -2.01% (Q3, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 9.66% Date of inception: 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since CIT S&P MidCap Index Fund 1 year Inception ------------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 11.48% 15.23% Return After Taxes on Distributions 10.33% 14.70% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 9.75% 13.12% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P MidCap 400 Index 12.55% 16.20% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.40% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.49% ------ Total annual operating expenses 1.14% Expense reimbursement** (0.06)% ------ Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.08% Annual account fee $10.00 |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 120 $ 386 $ 670 $ 1,474
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", and "Standard and Poor's Midcap 400 Index" are Trade marks of McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.08%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ....... $23.34 $19.00 $17.78 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ................... 0.09 0.07 0.05 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ............... 1.10 4.34 1.19 ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ..... 1.19 4.41 1.24 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income .... (0.09) (0.07) (0.02) ------------------------------------------------ Distributions from capital gains ........ (1.56) -- -- ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions .................... (1.65) (0.07) (0.02) ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ..... -- (0.00)(a) N/A ================================================ Net asset value, end of period ............. $22.88 $23.34 $19.00 Total return ............................... 5.23% 23.26% 6.96%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) .... $5,617 $4,881 $2,459 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements .......... 1.14% 1.09% 1.08%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 1.08% 1.05% 0.99%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements .......... 0.34% 0.30% 0.10%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 0.41% 0.34% 0.19%*** Portfolio turnover ...................... 13.83% 18.07% 12.75% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of small-sized U.S. companies as measured by the S&P SmallCap 600 Stock Index.
The S&P SmallCap Index Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of small-sized companies, as represented by the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The S&P SmallCap 600 Index includes common stocks of 600 small U.S. companies from a broad range of industries. Standard & Poor's, the company that maintains the index, makes all determinations regarding the inclusion of stocks in the index. Each stock is weighted in proportion to its total market value.
The Fund is passively managed. It invests primarily in the stocks that make up the S&P SmallCap 600 Index so that the weighting of each stock in the portfolio approximates the index. The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least .95 to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the underlying stocks. As a rule of thumb, the percentage is generally higher.
Like many index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts and lend securities to minimize the performance variation between the Fund and the index. This performance gap occurs because, unlike the index, the Fund must pay operating expenses and contend with the flow of cash in and out of the portfolio. While we expect the Fund's performance to closely represent the index, the Fund will generally underperform the index.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund -------- --------- Industrial 20.1% Consumer Cyclical 16.9% Consumer Non-Cyclical 16.7% Financial 15.8% Technology 9.4% Energy 7.7% Utilities 5.3% Basic Materials 4.1% Communications 4.0% |
SmallCap Stocks
The stocks that are represented in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index make up about 4.0% of the total market index, as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. As of September 30, 2006, the individual stocks that make up the index have market values ranging in size from $50 million to $3.1 billion. The median market value is $770 million.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money. The Fund is primarily invested in the U.S. stock market and is designed to passively track the performance of the small cap sector. In an attempt to accurately track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, the Fund does not intend to take steps to reduce its market exposure in any market.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that lasts for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in small-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as large cap stocks, mid cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform small cap stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to under-perform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The S&P SmallCap 600 Index is a capitalization weighted index, meaning companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund. Although the Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change. Some funds lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the share price of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a diversified stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the volatility of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 5.80% 2004 21.31% 2005 6.79% Best Quarter: 13.00% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -2.05% (Q1, 2005) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 14.07% Date of inception: 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since CIT S&P SmallCap Index Fund 1 year Inception --------------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 6.79% 15.37% Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.06% 14.62% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 5.78% 13.19% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P SmallCap 600 Index 7.70% 16.50% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.67% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.42% Expense reimbursement** (0.18)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.24% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 126 $ 432 $ 759 $ 1,686
"Standard & Poor's", "S&P", and "Standard and Poor's SmallCap 600 Index" are trade marks of Standard and Poor's Corporation and have been licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.24%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to S&P SMALLCAP INDEX FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period .......... $19.04 $15.82 $14.78 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ...................... -- 0.01 (0.01) Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) .................. 1.18 3.97 1.19 ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ........ 1.18 3.98 1.18 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ....... (0.01) -- -- Distributions from capital gains ........... (0.88) (0.76) (0.14) ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions ....................... (0.89) (0.76) (0.14) ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ........ -- -- N/A ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ................ $19.33 $19.04 $15.82 ================================================ Total return .................................. 6.38% 25.53% 7.99%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ....... $7,290 $6,070 $2,700 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............. 1.42% 1.36% 1.32%*** After expense reimbursements .............. 1.24% 1.21% 1.15%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............. (0.17)% (0.13)% (0.41)%*** After expense reimbursements .............. 0.01% 0.02% (0.24)%*** Portfolio turnover ......................... 11.24% 7.25% 14.60% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Achieve a high level of income and capital appreciation (when consistent with high income) by investing primarily in income-producing U.S. equity securities. The Equity Income Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks a high level of current income by investing primarily in income producing equity securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will also consider the potential for price appreciation when consistent with seeking current income.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
In order to meet the investment goal, the Fund invests primarily in securities which generate a relatively high level of dividend income and have potential for capital appreciation. These securities will generally be stocks of medium and large U.S. corporations. It is the Fund's policy that under normal circumstances it will invest at least 80% of its total assets.
Although the Fund will attempt to invest as much of its assets as is practical in income-producing stocks, the Fund may maintain a reasonable position in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments to meet redemption requests and other liquidity needs.
The Fund will invest in futures contracts when the Manager wishes to remain fully invested in the market. Utilizing futures allows the Manager to maintain a high percentage of the portfolio in the market while maintaining cash for liquidity needs.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock market goes up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of the Fund will change. During a declining stock market, an investment in this Fund would lose money.
SECTOR BREAKDOWNS
as of November 30, 2006 Industry % of Fund -------- --------- Financial 28.8% Consumer Non-Cyclical 20.1% Consumer Cyclical 12.3% Energy 11.6% Technology 7.8% Communications 5.5% Utilities 5.3% Industrial 5.0% Basic Materials 3.6% Value Stocks |
The Fund invests primarily in value stocks and stocks that, in the opinion of the Manager, have attractive yield and/or capital appreciation opportunities. "Value stock" is a generic term and has many definitions in the market place. Generally, it is used to describe a stock that an investor considers to have a low price relative to other stocks. Among others, common characteristics of a value stock may include a high dividend yield, low price-earnings ratio and/or low price-to-book ratio relative to a specific market index or another stock.
The Fund is primarily invested in U.S. value stocks and is designed to provide a dividend yield as well as potential for capital appreciation. At times the Fund may hold a concentrated position in the banking and financial sector, therefore the Funds' performance may be significantly impacted by the performance of this sector.
Many factors will affect the performance of the stock market. Two major factors are economic and political events. The impact of positive or negative events could be short-term (by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less) or long-term (by causing a change in the market that may last for many years). Events may affect one sector of the economy or a single stock, but may not have a significant impact on the overall market.
The Fund invests in large and medium-sized companies from many sectors. In doing so, the Fund is not as sensitive to the movements of a single company's stock or a single economic sector. However, during periods where alternative investments such as growth stocks, small cap stocks, bonds and money market instruments outperform value stocks, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories. The Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, however, there are other risks associated with the Fund. For example, the Fund may invest in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If these futures contracts owned by the Fund do not perform well, the Fund's performance will be impacted.
Some mutual funds are able to lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund has never engaged in this strategy, however, in the event that it did, there is a risk that the practice could negatively impact the net assets value of the Fund.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in stock futures. Losses involving futures can sometimes be substantial in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal or greater than the total market value of any futures position. The value of all futures and options contracts in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% (35% if under $25 million in total net assets) of current total assets.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a conservative, value oriented stock fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 5.86% 2004 14.77% 2005 4.93% Best Quarter: 8.46% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -1.21% (Q1, 2005) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 14.99% Date of inception: 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since CIT Equity Income Fund 1 year Inception ---------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 4.93% 11.64% Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.40% 11.33% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 4.19% 9.98% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P/Citigroup Value Index 5.84% 13.26% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.66% ---- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense 1.41% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 144 $ 446 $ 771 $ 1,691
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to EQUITY INCOME FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $16.17 $14.10 $12.90 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.18 0.18 0.01 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................. 0.75 2.07 1.21 ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ....... 0.93 2.25 1.22 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.19) (0.18) (0.02) Distributions from capital gains .......... (0.35) -- -- ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions ...................... (0.54) (0.18) (0.02) ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ....... -- (0.00)(a) N/A ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ............... $16.56 $16.17 $14.10 ================================================ Total return ................................. 5.92% 16.00% 9.47%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ...... $3,829 $3,234 $1,470 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.41% 1.37% 1.40%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.40% 1.35% 1.30%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.11% 1.20% 0.54%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.12% 1.22% 0.64%*** Portfolio turnover ........................ 2.59% 3.25% 14.43% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Attempt to replicate the performance of the largest non-financial companies as measured by the Nasdaq-100 Index(R).
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund is managed passively in that the Manager is seeking to replicate the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). To do this, the Fund invests primarily in the stocks comprising this index. The Fund will attempt to buy stocks so that the holdings in the portfolio approximate those of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). The Manager's goal is to maintain a return correlation of at least 0.95 to the Nasdaq-100 Index(R) (a return correlation of 1.0 is perfect). Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in the stocks comprising the index. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies if those companies invest in securities consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies. Like most index funds, the Fund may invest in futures contracts. The Fund generally maintains some short-term securities and cash equivalents in the portfolio to meet redemptions and needs for liquidity. The Manager will typically buy futures contracts so that the market value of the futures contracts is as close to the cash balance as possible. This helps minimize the tracking error of the Fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock markets go up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate. If the Fund's value drops during the period in which you hold the Fund, you could lose money. The Fund primarily invests in U.S. stocks and is designed to track the overall performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index(R). In an attempt to accurately represent the Index, the Fund will typically not take steps to reduce its market exposure so that in a declining market, the Manager will not take steps to minimize the exposure of the Fund. Many factors will affect the performance of the stock markets. Two major factors that may have both a positive and negative effect on the stock markets are economic and political events. These effects may be short-term by causing a change in the market that is corrected in a year or less; or they may have long-term impacts which may cause changes in the market that may last for many years. Some factors may affect changes in one sector of the economy or one stock, but don't have an impact on the overall market. The particular sector of the economy or the individual stock may be affected for a short or long-term. The Fund invests in the largest, non-financial companies that are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. They may comprise various sectors of the economy, but are currently concentrated in the technology sector. During periods in which the Nasdaq-100 Index underperforms alternative investments such as bond, money market and alternative stock sectors, the Manager expects the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
The Nasdaq-100 Index(R) is made up of the 100 largest non-financial stocks traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The stocks that make up this index are currently heavily weighted in the technology sector. Because of the concentration in a specific sector, high volatility or poor performance of the sector will directly affect the Fund's performance.
The Nasdaq-100 Index is subject to concentration risk. First, it is a modified-capitalization weighted index, meaning that except for some modifications, companies are weighted based on their size. Thus, poor performance of the largest companies could result in negative performance of the index and the Fund. Additionally, the significant concentration of technology stocks makes the Fund's performance particularly sensitive to this specific sector. Negative performance in the technology sector will result in negative fund performance. To the extent the Fund invests in securities issued by other investment companies, the Fund, as a shareholder in another investment company, bears its ratable share of that investment company's management fees and expenses for Fund shareholders.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
The Fund's primary risks are associated with changes in the stock market, however, there are other risks associated with the Fund. These risks generally apply to how well the Fund tracks the index. For example, the Fund invests in futures contracts to the extent that it holds cash in the portfolio. If the futures contracts owned by the Fund do not track the index, the Fund's performance relative to the index will change. Some mutual funds are able to lend portfolio securities in order to offset expenses. The Fund does not expect to engage in this strategy; however, in the event that it did, there is a slight risk that this practice could negatively impact the net assets value of the Fund.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a growth stock fund, this fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the stock market and the risk that your investment could decline in value. Historically, the index has shown more volatility in comparison to other broader benchmarks such as the S&P 500 Index.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 2.76% 2004 9.47% 2005 1.23% |
remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
Best Quarter: 14.71% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -8.13% (Q1, 2005) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 8.03% Date of inception: 10/16/03
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
Since Nasdaq-100 Index Fund 1 year Inception --------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 1.23% 6.07% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.23% 6.05% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.05% 5.19% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nasdaq-100 Index 1.90% 7.02% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.78% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.53% Expense reimbursement** (0.29)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.24% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 126 $ 455 $ 807 $ 1,799
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expense within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.24%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to NASDAQ-100 INDEX FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $ 3.96 $ 3.45 $ 3.62 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income (loss) .............. (0.02) -- (0.01) Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................. (0.01) 0.52 (0.16) ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ....... (0.03) 0.52 (0.17) ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... -- (0.01) -- Distributions from capital gains .......... -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions ...................... -- (0.01) -- ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ....... -- (0.00)(a) N/A ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ............... $ 3.93 $ 3.96 $ 3.45 ================================================ Total return ................................. (0.76) % 15.13% (4.70)%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ...... $3,908 $3,417 $1,651 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.53% 1.46% 1.41%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.24% 1.22% 1.15%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............ (0.84) % (0.10)% (1.12)%*** After expense reimbursements ............. (0.55) % 0.14% (0.86)%*** Portfolio turnover ........................ 14.07% 9.94% 8.82% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized.
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
Nasdaq(R), Nasdaq-100(R) and Nasdaq-100 Index(R) are trade or service marks of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (which with its affiliates are referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by the Fund. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suit ability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. The Corporations make no express or implied warranties, and disclaim all warranties including all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Fund/Index (meaning the Index, the Fund, their use, the results to be obtained from their use, or any data included therein). The Corporations shall have no liability for any damages, claims, losses, or expenses with respect to the Fund/Index. The Corporations shall have no liability for any lost profits or special, punitive, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
GOAL
Provide long-term capital appreciation and income by investing in large-sized European companies.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund seeks to invest primarily in the stocks of large-sized companies located in Europe. In selecting securities, the Fund attempts to use the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index as a target portfolio and a basis for selecting investments. Most companies considered for the Fund will have market capitalizations of at least $10 billion (U.S. dollars).
The Fund invests principally using American Depository Receipts, commonly referred to as ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. stock exchanges and are available for some, but not all securities that make up the target portfolio. If a company that is in the target portfolio does not have an ADR available on a U.S. exchange or if, in the Manager's opinion, the Fund is better served, the Manager will invest in ADRs of other companies that the Manager believes best serve the Fund and its investors.
The Fund is not considered an index fund because it will not attempt to precisely track the performance or invest in securities that make up the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index. However, similar to index funds, the Fund will generally remain fully invested and its performance will track the Dow Jones European STOXX 50 Index to the extent that the Fund is successful in investing in the companies that make up the index. Additionally, the Manager will attempt to minimize portfolio turnover.
Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest 80% of its total assets in ADRs of companies located in Europe. At the Manager's option, the Manager may elect to purchase futures contracts and/or options to attempt to remain fully invested in the markets. This percentage of futures and/or options held in the portfolio will typically not exceed the cash (or cash equivalents) balance of the Fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The stock markets go up and down every day. As with any investment whose performance is linked to these markets, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate. If the Fund's value drops during the period in which you hold the Fund, you could lose money.
Although the Fund principally invests in ADRs which are traded in U.S. denominations on U.S. stock markets, there is still some underlying foreign investment risk. For example, because foreign companies operate differently than U.S. companies, the Fund may encounter risks not typically associated with those of U.S. companies. For instance, foreign companies are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and procedures as required from U.S. companies; and their stocks may not be as liquid as the stocks of similar U.S. companies. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, and companies generally have less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the United States. These factors, among others, could negatively impact the returns of the Fund.
When investing in an international fund such as this Fund, there is always country risk, which is the chance that a country's economy will be hurt by political troubles, financial problems, or natural disasters.
There is also currency risk which is the chance that returns will be hurt by a rise in the value of one currency against the value of another.
There is also liquidity risk with ADRs, some of which may have a low daily trading volume. In the event the Fund is forced to liquidate its holdings of an ADR with limited trading volume, it is likely that the Fund would be forced to sell the ADR at a price lower than what it might otherwise receive.
OTHER RISKS OF THE FUND
Under normal circumstances the Fund may follow a number of investment policies to achieve its objective. The Fund may invest in futures contracts and options. Losses involving futures and options can sometimes be substantial, in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract or an option may result in an immediate and substantial loss for the Fund. In an effort to minimize this risk, the Fund will not use futures or options for speculative purposes or as leverage. It is the Fund's policy to hold cash deposits equal to or greater than the total market value of any futures and/or options position. The value of all futures contracts and/or options in which the Fund acquires an interest will not exceed 20% of current total assets.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be a suitable investment for you if you wish to add an international stock fund to your existing holdings, which could include other stock, bond and money market investments. You should be willing to accept the additional risks associated with international investments.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark index. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 12.56% 2004 13.48% 2005 6.58% |
Best Quarter 13.90% (Q4, 2004) Worst Quarter: -1.58% (Q1, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 21.19% Date of inception: 10/16/03
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05
Since European Growth & Income Fund 1 year Inception ----------------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 6.58% 15.01% Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.34% 14.82% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 5.58% 12.90% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dow Jones European Stoxx 50 Index 7.75% 17.18% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.85% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.89% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.99% Expense reimbursement** (0.49)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.50% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 153 $ 577 $ 1,027 $ 2,277
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expense within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.50%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $ 8.60 $ 7.11 $ 6.61 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.19 0.10 0.08 Net loss on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................. 1.29 1.51 0.48 ------------------------------------------------ Total from investment operations ....... 1.48 1.61 0.56 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.14) (0.12) (0.06) Distributions from capital gains .......... -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions ...................... (0.14) (0.12) (0.06) ------------------------------------------------ Paid in capital from redemption fee ....... -- (0.00)(a) N/A ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ............... $ 9.94 $ 8.60 $ 7.11 ================================================ Total return ................................. 17.31% 22.78% 8.43% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ...... $4,576 $3,052 $1,177 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.99% 2.07% 2.22%** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.50% 1.50% 1.45%** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.98% 0.89% 0.67%** After expense reimbursements ............. 2.47% 1.46% 1.44%** Portfolio turnover ........................ 3.24% 1.47% 2.01% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Annualized.
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Seek liquidity, safety from credit risk and as high a level of income as is consistent with these objectives by investing in full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities, primarily Government National Mortgage Association Certificates ("GNMA").
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund invests primarily in high-quality bonds whose interest is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government and its agencies or instrumentalities.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. Generally, the Manager selects a balance between treasury bonds and GNMA securities in an attempt to maximize the overall performance of the Fund. In managing the portfolio, a number of factors are considered including general market and economic conditions and their likely effects on the level and term-structure of interest rates, yield spreads, and mortgage prepayment rates on GNMA pass-through securities. While income is the most important part of return over time, the total return for a bond fund includes both income and price losses and gains. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. These include: Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates. This is the primary risk of this Fund.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund over long periods of time.
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, the bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund. Prepayment risk is similar to call risk. In the case of GNMA securities, payments to the Fund are based on payments from the underlying mortgages. During periods where homeowners refinance their mortgages, these securities are paid off and the Fund may have to reinvest the principal in lower yielding securities. This would reduce the income generated from the portfolio.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund invests in intermediate and long-term fixed income securities. During periods where alternative investments such as stocks and money market instruments out perform bonds, we expect the performance of the Fund to underperform other mutual funds that invest in these alternative categories.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are looking for a conservative income fund, this Fund may be right for you. You should be comfortable with the changing values of the bond market and the risk that your investment could decline in value.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark indices. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 1.43% 2004 2.96% 2005 1.40% Best Quarter: 2.45% (Q3, 2004) Worst Quarter: -1.74% (Q2, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 3.79% Date of inception: 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since U.S. Government Securities Fund 1 year Inception ------------------------------- ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 1.40% 2.63% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.17% 2.29% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.39% 2.39% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman Brothers Treasury Index 2.78% 2.61% Lehman Brothers GNMA Treasury Index 3.23% 3.91% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges* 1.00% Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.61% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.36% Expense reimbursement** (0.12)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense*** 1.24% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 126 $ 419 $ 733 $ 1,625
* The 1% redemption fee applies to shares redeemed within seven days of purchase by selling or by exchanging into another Fund. This fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and retained by the Fund. Shares held for seven days or more are not subject to the 1% redemption fee.
** The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
*** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.24%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $10.57 $10.65 $ 10.55 ------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.36 0.31 0.23 Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................. (0.31) 0.01 0.15 ------------------------------------------------- Total from investment operations ....... 0.05 0.32 0.38 ------------------------------------------------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.36) (0.31) (0.20) Distributions from capital gains .......... -- (0.09) (0.08) ------------------------------------------------- Total distributions ...................... (0.36) (0.40) (0.28) ------------------------------------------------- Paid in capital from redemption fee ....... -- -- N/A ------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, end of period ............... $10.26 $10.57 $ 10.65 ================================================= Total return ................................. 0.55% 3.07% 3.66%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ...... $5,285 $4,308 $ 1,689 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.36% 1.30% 1.25%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.24% 1.22% 1.15%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............ 3.44% 2.95% 2.42%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 3.56% 3.03% 2.52%*** Portfolio turnover ........................ 71.63% 39.85% 103.98% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized.
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Seek liquidity, safety from credit risk, preservation of investors principal and has a high level of income as is consistent with these objectives by investing in mainly U.S. government securities.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund typically invests in short and intermediate-term fixed income securities whose principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Federal Government and its agencies or instrumentalities. The Manager will invest at least 80% of the Fund's assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies or intrumentalities. In addition, the Manager may invest in higher yielding securities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Federal Government. The Fund intends to maintain an average duration between 0 and 3 years in an effort to reduce share price volatility.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will provide the best balance between risk and return within the Fund's range of allowable investments. The Manager's investments will typically consist of full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. Federal Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, as well as other securities which the Manager believes will enhance the Fund's total return. The Manager considers a number of factors, including general market and economic conditions, to balance the portfolio. While income is the most important part of return over time, the total return from a bond or note includes both income and price gains or losses. The Fund's focus on income does not mean it invests only in the highest-yielding securities available, or that it can avoid losses of principal.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
This Fund tends to be conservative in nature. However, it is subject to several risks, any of which could cause the Fund to lose money. These include: Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline over short and long-term periods due to rising interest rates.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund. Income risk is generally moderate for short and intermediate-term bonds.
Call risk, which is the chance that during declining interest rates, the bond issuer will call or prepay a high-yielding bond before the bond's maturity date. This would force the Fund to purchase lower yielding bonds which would reduce the income generated from the portfolio and could potentially result in capital gains paid out by the Fund. Prepayment risk is similar to call risk. In the case of GNMA securities, payments to the Fund are based on payments from the underlying mortgages. During periods where homeowners refinance their mortgages, these securities are paid off and the Fund may have to reinvest the principal in lower yielding securities. This would reduce the income generated from the portfolio.
Manager risk, which is the chance that the Manager's security selection strategy may cause the Fund to underperform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
IS THE FUND RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be suitable for you if you have a short to intermediate-term investment horizon and want to earn dividend income from your investment. The Fund may be appropriate for investors in regular accounts and retirement accounts who want to avoid credit risk but are comfortable with some volatility of the Fund's share price.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. The table compares the performance of the Fund with a benchmark indices. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 0.36% 2004 -0.35% 2005 0.74% Best Quarter: 0.82% (Q2, 2005) Worst Quarter: -0.91% (Q2, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 3.09% Date of inception: 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund 1 year Inception ------------------------------------ ------ --------- Return Before Taxes 0.74% 0.34% Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.44% 0.14% Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.63% 0.29% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehman 1-3 yr. Treasury Index 1.65% 1.22% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges none Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.67% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.42% Expense reimbursement* (0.33)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense** 1.09% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 111 $ 417 $ 745 $ 1,674
* The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenses at 1.09%. This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to SHORT TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT BOND FUND 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $ 9.96 $ 10.10 $10.12 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ..................... 0.28 0.15 0.05 Net gain on securities (both realized and unrealized) ................. (0.09) (0.14) (0.01) ------------------------------------------------ Total from Investment Operations ...... 0.19 0.01 0.04 ------------------------------------------------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ...... (0.28) (0.15) (0.05) Distributions from capital gains .......... -- (0.00)(a) (0.01) ------------------------------------------------ Total distributions ...................... (0.28) (0.15) (0.06) ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ............... $ 9.87 $ 9.96 $10.10 ================================================ Total return ................................. 1.98% 0.20% 0.41%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ...... $1,435 $ 1,277 $1,235 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements ............ 1.42% 1.35% 1.30%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 1.09% 1.06% 1.00%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements ............ 2.56% 1.27% 0.35%*** After expense reimbursements ............. 2.89% 1.56% 0.65%*** Portfolio turnover ........................ 82.25% 159.11% 62.58% |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized.
(a) Less than $0.01 per share
GOAL
Seek capital preservation, safety, liquidity, and, consistent with these objectives, the highest attainable current income exempt from state income taxes. The fund will invest its assets only in short-term U.S. Treasury securities and its income will be exempt from California (and most other states) personal income taxes.
PRINCIPAL STRATEGY
The Fund primarily invests its assets in high-quality, short-term Treasury bills whose interest is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. The Fund generally buys only securities that mature in 13 months or less. The Fund's weighted average maturity will generally be less than 90 days. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The Manager selects securities that it believes will attain the highest possible yield and maintain the $1.00 per share price. The Manager generally purchases only U.S Treasury bills, notes and bonds, but may invest in other securities from time to time. Under normal circumstances, it is the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities issued by the U.S. government, but as a general rule the percentage is much higher.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The Fund is subject to some risks which could cause the Fund to lose money. It is important to remember that this Fund is not a FDIC-insured money market account. The risks include: Interest rate risk, which is the chance that short-term security prices overall will decline due to rising interest rates. In an extreme case, a short-term movement could potentially change the Fund's share price to something other than the $1.00 target.
Income risk, which is the chance that declining interest rates will reduce the amount of income paid by the Fund.
Manager risk, which is the chance that poor security selection will cause the Fund to under perform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives. The securities that the Fund holds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States federal government and are those that the Manager believes do not represent credit risk to the Fund. It is important to note that the U.S. government backs the securities held by the Fund, but not the Fund itself.
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the $1.00 per share price, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Fund may be appropriate for those seeking a cash management account and investors who wish to protect their investment from volatile markets. It may be used in retirement accounts such as 401(k)'s and IRA's. Lastly, the Fund's dividends are generally not subject to state personal income taxes. Thus, investors who pay a high rate of state income taxes may benefit from this feature.
PERFORMANCE
The Following chart and a table show the variability of the Fund's performance from year to year. These figures assume that all distributions are reinvested. It is important to remember that past performance does not accurately predict future performance.
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
2003 0.02% 2004 0.38% 2005 1.91% Best Quarter: 0.67% (Q4, 2005) Worst Quarter: 0.02% (Q1, 2004) Year to date performance as of 11/30/06: 3.40% Date of inception 10/16/03 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/05 Since The United States Treasury Trust 1 year Inception -------------------------------- ------ --------- 1.91% 1.04% Seven-day yield as of 11/30/06: 3.16% |
FUND FEES & EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Sales and redemption charges none Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets) Management fees 0.50% Distribution (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other expenses 0.55% ----- Total annual operating expenses 1.30% Expense reimbursement* (0.27)% ----- Net Annual Fund Operating Expense** 1.03% |
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years $ 105 $ 385 $ 687 $ 1,544
* The Manager may be reimbursed for any foregone advisory fees or reimbursed expenses within three fiscal years following a particular reduction or reimbursement, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit and the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated. Any such reimbursement is subject to the Board of Trustees' review and approval.
** The Manager has agreed to further limit the Fund's expenditures to 1.03%.
This limitation is guaranteed through 12/31/07.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's performance for the period ending August 31, 2006. Certain information reflects financial results of a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the period ending August 31, 2006 has been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.
Year Ended Year Ended October 16, 2003* August 31, August 31, to THE UNITED STATES TREASURY TRUST 2006 2005 August 31, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net asset value, beginning of period ......... $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 ------------------------------------------------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income .................... 0.032 0.012 0.001 LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income ..... (0.032) (0.012) (0.001) ------------------------------------------------ Net asset value, end of period ............... $1.000 $1.000 $1.000 ================================================ Total return ................................. 3.22% 1.22% 0.12%** RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (in 000's) ..... $2,487 $2,490 $ 944 Ratio of expenses to average net assets: Before expense reimbursements .......... 1.30% 1.25% 1.21%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 1.03% 0.99% 0.86%*** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets Before expense reimbursements .......... 3.11% 1.08% (0.22)%*** After expense reimbursements ........... 3.38% 1.34% (0.13)%*** |
* Commencement of operations.
** Not Annualized.
*** Annualized.
FUND MANAGEMENT
The investment adviser for the Funds is CCM Partners, 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94104. CCM Partners manages $676 million in mutual fund assets as of 8/31/06 and has been managing mutual funds since 1985. CCM Partners is responsible for managing the portfolios and handling the administrative requirements of the Funds. As compensation for managing the portfolios, CCM Partners receives a management fee from each Fund. For the fiscal year ended 8/31/06 the fees, net of reimbursements, were 0.08% for the S&P 500 Index Fund; 0.34% for the S&P MidCap Index Fund; 0.32% for the S&P SmallCap Index Fund; 0.50% for the Equity Income Fund; 0.38% for the U.S. Government Securities Fund; 0.23% for The United States Treasury Trust; 0.21% for the Nasdaq-100 Index Fund; 0.17% for the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund; and 0.36% for the European Growth & Income Fund. As compensation for performing specified administrative duties, CCM Partners receives an administration fee based on the aggregate assets of the Funds at the following rates: 0.10% on the first $100 million, 0.08% on the next $400 million, and 0.06% on combined assets over $500 million. CCM Partners or affiliates also receive a shareholder servicing fee and a 12b-1 fee which are used respectively to support shareholder servicing activities and marketing activities. Certain of the Funds have adopted plans under rule 12b-1 that allows those Funds to pay distribution fees out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, and such fees may, depending upon the length of time shares are held by a shareholder in those Funds, cost more than paying other types of sales charges.
Stephen C. Rogers is the portfolio manager for the S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund and the Equity Income Fund. Mr. Rogers is a member of the portfolio management team for the fixed income funds. He joined CCM Partners in 1993 and serves as Chief Executive Officer of CCM Partners. Mr. Rogers graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988 and earned his MBA from the University of California at Berkeley in 2000.
Christopher P. Browne, CFA, is the lead member of the portfolio management team for the California Tax-Free Income Fund, the California Insured Intermediate Fund, the U.S. Government Securities Fund, the Short-Term U.S. Government Securities Bond Fund, the California Tax-Free Money Market Fund and The United States Treasury Trust. He joined the firm in October 2004. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Browne worked in a variety of investment evaluation roles in asset management companies such as: Autodesk Ventures, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, Harris Bretall Sullivan & Smith, and Pacific Income Advisers. Mr. Browne graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1990 and earned his MBA, with honors, from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management in 1998. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the San Francisco Society of Financial Analysts, as well as Beta Gamma Sigma.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities of the Funds.
When referring to the Bond Funds, we are discussing the U.S. Government Securities Fund and the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund. The Money Market Fund refers to The United States Treasury Trust. Our Stock Funds include the S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund and the Equity Income Fund.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the advisory agreement with CCM Partners with respect to each Fund is available in the Semi-Annual Report for the six months ended February 28, 2006, which is available upon request.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Except for the Money Market Funds, the Funds generally intend to purchase securities for long-term investments rather than short-term gains. However, a security may be held for a shorter than expected period of time if, among other things, the Manager needs to raise cash or feels that it is appropriate to do so. Portfolio holdings may also be sold sooner than anticipated due to unexpected changes in the markets. Buying and selling securities may involve incurring some expense to a fund, such as commissions paid to brokers and other transaction costs. By selling a security, a Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. Generally speaking, the higher a Fund's annual portfolio turnover, the greater its brokerage costs and the greater likelihood that it will realize taxable capital gains. Increased brokerage costs may affect a Fund's performance. Also, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or you purchase shares through a tax-deferred account, the distributions of capital gains may affect your after-tax return. For some Funds, like the U.S. Governement Securities Fund and the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund, annual portfolio turnover of 100% or more is considered high, which leads to greater brokerage expenses and a greater likelihood that a Fund will realize taxable capital gains.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
In drastic market conditions, the Manager may sell all or some of a Fund's securities (except those of the Money Market Funds) and temporarily invest that Fund's money in U.S. government securities or money market instruments backed by U.S. government securities, if it believes it is in the best interest of shareholders to do so. As of the date of this prospectus, this has never happened; but if it were to occur, the investment goals of the relevant Funds may not be achieved.
VALUATION RISK
Some or all of the securities held by a Fund may be valued using "fair value" techniques, rather than market quotations, under the circumstances described in this prospectus under "How Fund Shares Are Priced." Security values may differ depending on the methodology used to determine their values, and may differ from the last quoted sales or closing prices. No assurance can be given that use of these fair value procedures will always better represent the price at which a Fund could sell the affected portfolio security or result in a more accurate net asset value per share of a Fund.
RISKS OF FREQUENT TRADING IN FUND SHARES
Frequent trading of significant portions of the Fund shares may adversely affect Fund performance and therefore, the interests of long-term investors. Volatility in portfolio cash balances resulting from excessive purchases or sales or exchanges of Fund shares, especially involving large dollar amounts, may disrupt efficient portfolio management and make it difficult to implement long-term investment strategies. In particular, frequent trading of Fund shares may:
o Cause a Fund to keep more assets in money market instruments or other very liquid holdings than it would otherwise like, causing the Fund to miss out on gains in a rising market, or
o Force a Fund to sell some its investments sooner than it would otherwise like in order to honor redemptions, or
o Increase brokerage commissions and other portfolio transaction expenses if securities are constantly being bought and sold by the Fund as assets and move in and out.
To the extent a Fund significantly invests in high yield bonds or small-cap equity securities, because these securities are often infrequently traded, investors may seek to trade Fund shares in an effort to benefit from their understanding of the value of these securities.
PROCEDURES TO LIMIT SHORT-TERM TRADING IN FUND SHARES
The Funds have adopted policies and procedures whereby, under certain circumstances, purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares will be subject to redemption fees. Although market-timing can take place in many forms, the Funds generally define a market-timing account as an account that habitually redeems or exchanges Fund shares in an effort to profit from short-term movements in the price of securities held by the Funds. The Funds and the Distributor do not accommodate such purchases and redemptions of the shares in the Stock and Bond Funds by Fund shareholders and have taken steps it deems reasonable to discourage such activity. While the Funds make efforts to identify and restrict frequent trading that could impact the management of a Fund, the Funds receive purchase and sales orders through financial intermediaries and cannot always know or detect frequent trading that may be facilitated by the use of intermediaries or by the use of combined or omnibus accounts by those intermediaries.
If a shareholder, in the opinion of the Funds, continues to attempt to use the funds for market-timing strategies after being notified by the Funds or their agent, the account(s) of that shareholder will be closed to new purchases or exchanges of Fund shares.
Additionally, if any transaction is deemed to have the potential to adversely impact a Fund, the Fund reserves the right to, among other things:
o Reject a purchase or exchange
o Delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to 7 calendar days
o Revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund shares (including exchanges)
o Limit the amount of any exchange
The restrictions above may not apply to shares held in omnibus accounts for which the Funds do not receive sufficient transactional detail to enforce such restrictions.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
California Investment Trust will make the portfolio holdings of its series (collectively, the "Funds" and each, a "Fund") publicly available within sixty days from the end of each fiscal quarter. Shareholders will receive portfolio holdings information via annual and semi-annual reports, which will be mailed to shareholders and posted on the Funds' web site. Additionally, a schedule of portfolio holdings will be filed with the SEC, which provides public viewing via EDGAR, in accordance with the then current rules governing Form N-Q filings.
Portfolio holdings will be made available by the Trust's Fund Accountant as of the calendar quarter end by releasing the information to ratings agencies. Shareholders may contact the Funds at (800) 225-8778 for a copy of this report.
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
Class K shares of the Funds may be purchased through the Funds' distributor or through selected brokerage firms and retirement plans. The following information is specific to buying directly from the Funds' distributor. If you invest through a brokerage firm or a retirement plan, different requirements may apply. You should contact them directly for information regarding how to invest or redeem Class K shares through them.
You'll find all the necessary application materials included in the packet accompanying this Prospectus or you may download an investment kit by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. Additional paperwork may be required for corporations, associations, and certain other fiduciaries. The minimum initial investments and subsequent investments for each fund are as follows:
Minimum Minimum *IRA Initial Subsequent IRA Minimum Investment Investment Minimum with AIP ---------- ---------- ------- -------- Bond Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 Money Market Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 Stock Funds $1,000 $250 $1,000 $500 |
The Fund's distributor, brokerage firm or a retirement plan may change the
minimum investment amounts at any time or waive them at its discretion. To
protect against fraud, it is the policy of the Funds not to accept unknown third
party checks for the purposes of opening new accounts or purchasing additional
shares. If you have any questions concerning the application materials, wire
transfers, or our yields and net asset values, please call us, toll-free at
(800) 225-8778. If you have any questions about our investment policies and
objectives, please call us at (415) 398-2727 or (800) 225-8778.
* You may open an IRA account with a minimum initial deposit of $500 if you participate in our Automatic Investment Plan (AIP). A minimum monthly contribution of $100 is required through AIP. For additional information on our AIP program, see section titled "Automatic Investment Plan" in this prospectus.
BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
If you need an account application call us at (800) 225-8778 or down load an investment kit from our website at www.caltrust.com. Keep in mind the following important policies:
o A Fund may take up to 7 days to pay redemption proceeds.
o A 1% redemption fee applies to shares of most Funds redeemed or exchanged within 7 days of purchase. See section "Fee Imposed on Certain Redemptions of Shares" for more information.
o If your shares were recently purchased by check, the Fund will not release your redemption proceeds until payment of the check can be verified which may take up to 15 days.
o Exchange purchases must meet the minimum investment amounts of the Fund you are purchasing.
o You must obtain and read the prospectus for the Fund you are buying prior to making the exchange.
o If you have not selected the convenient exchange privileges on your original account application, you must provide a signature guarantee letter of instruction to the Fund, directing any changes in your account.
o The Manager may refuse any purchase or exchange purchase transaction for any reason.
FEE IMPOSED ON CERTAIN REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
In order to discourage short-term trading (such as market timing or time zone arbitrage) of fund shares, certain of the Funds impose a redemption fee on shares purchased and held less than 7 days. The fee is 1% of the redemption value and is deducted from the redemption proceeds. The fee applies to redemption sales and exchanges between funds. The fee is retained by the relevent Fund for the benefit of its shareholders.
The "first in, first out" (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period. This means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of determining whether the fee applies. Redemption fees will not be charged on the following circumstances:
o Shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends or distributions from a fund, or
o Shares redeemed using the "check-writing feature" available on the U.S. Government Securities Fund, or plan or purchased through certain intermediaries.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
INITIAL PURCHASE
Make your check payable to the name of the Fund in which you are investing and mail it with the application to the agent of the Funds, ALPS Fund Services, Inc., at the address indicated below. Please note the minimum initial investments previously listed.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP C/O ALPS
FUND SERVICES, INC.
P.O. BOX 2482 DENVER, CO 80201
You may also forward the account application to the Funds' offices, which will in turn forward the check on your behalf to the Funds' agent. Please note that the shares will be purchased at the next calculated price after receipt by the agent, which is typically the next business day following receipt at the Funds' offices. The Funds' office is located at the following address:
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
P.O. BOX 387
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-0387
PURCHASING BY EXCHANGE
You may purchase Class K shares in a Fund by exchanging Class K shares from an account in one of our other Funds. Such exchanges must meet the minimum amounts required for initial or subsequent investments and may be assessed a redemption fee described in the section titled "Fee Imposed on Certain Redemptions of Shares" in this prospectus. When opening an account by exchanging shares, your new account must be established with the same registration as your other California Investment Trust Fund Group account and an exchange authorization must be in effect. If you have an existing account with us, call (800) 225-8778 during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific time) to exchange shares.
You may also exchange shares by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. You must complete the online access agreement in order to access your account online. Each exchange actually represents the sale of shares of one Fund and the purchase of shares in another, which may produce a gain or loss for tax purposes. We will confirm each exchange transaction with you by mail.
All transactions are processed at the share price next calculated after
receiving the instructions in good form (as defined below), normally at 4:00
p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m. Pacific time).
-------------------------------------------- WIRE INSTRUCTIONS: State Street Bank & Trust Co. Provide your bank or ABA # 011000028 broker with these For: California Investment Trust Fund Group instructions Account # 00143305 For further credit to: Name of Fund: (name of fund here) Account Registration: (name on account here) Account Number: (account number here) -------------------------------------------- |
In order to make your order effective, we must have your order in good form. "Good form" means that the Fund's transfer agent has all information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order. All purchases are subject to screens as required by applicable federal and state regulations. Please note the Funds and its Manager reserves the right to reject any purchase. Accordingly, your purchase will be processed at the net asset value next calculated after your order has been received by the Funds' agent. You will begin to earn dividends as of the first business day following the day of your purchase.
All your purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on banks located in the U.S. We reserve the right to limit the number of investment checks processed at one time. If the check does not clear, we will cancel your purchase, and you will be liable for any losses and fees incurred.
When you purchase by check, redemption proceeds will not be sent until we are satisfied that the investment has been collected (confirmation of clearance may take up to 15 days). Payments by check or other negotiable bank deposit will normally be effective within 2 business days for checks drawn on a member of the Federal Reserve System and longer for most other checks. Wiring your money to us will generally reduce the time you must wait before redeeming or exchanging shares. You can wire federal funds from your bank or broker, which may charge you a fee.
You may buy shares of a fund through selected securities brokers. Your broker is responsible for the transmission of your order to ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc, the Funds' agent, and may charge you a fee. You will generally receive the share price next determined after your order is placed with your broker, in accordance with your broker's agreed upon procedures with the Funds. Your broker can advise you of specific details.
If you wish, you may also deliver your investment checks (and application, for new accounts) to the Funds' office. Your order will be forwarded promptly to the Funds' agent for processing. You will receive the share price next determined after your check has been received by ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc. Checks delivered to the Funds' office will be sent overnight delivery to the Funds' agent, so in most cases, the shares will be purchased on the following business day. The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery service to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such delivery services does not constitute receipt by ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc. or the Funds.
PURCHASING ADDITIONAL SHARES
Make your check payable to the name of the Fund in which you are investing, write your account number on the check, and mail your check with your confirmation stub to the address printed on your account statement. There is a $250 minimum for subsequent investments, unless made through the Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) as detailed below.
After setting up your online account, you may obtain a history of transactions for your account(s) by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
Using the Funds' Automatic Investment Plan (AIP), you may arrange to make additional purchases (minimum $100) automatically by electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your checking or savings account. Your bank must be a member of the Automated Clearing House. You can terminate the program with ten-day's written notice. There is no fee to participate in this program, however, a service fee of $25.00 will be deducted from your account for any AIP purchase that does not clear due to insufficient funds, or if prior to notifying the Funds in writing or by telephone to terminate the plan, you close your bank account or in any manner that prevents withdrawal of the funds from the designated checking or savings account. Investors may obtain more information concerning this program, including the application form, from the Funds.
The share prices of the Funds are subject to fluctuations. Before undertaking any plan for systematic investment, you should keep in mind that such a program does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.
We reserve the right to suspend the offering of shares of any of the Funds for a period of time and to reject any specific purchase order in whole or in part.
HOW FUND SHARES ARE PRICED
The Funds are open for business every day that the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) is open with the following expected exceptions: Bond and Money Market
Funds are closed on Columbus Day (observed) and Veterans Day (observed). The net
asset value of each fund is computed by adding all of its portfolio holdings and
other assets, deducting its liabilities, and then dividing the result by the
number of shares outstanding for that fund. Our shareholder servicing agent
calculates this value at market close, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00
p.m. Pacific time), on each day that the markets are open. However, the Funds
may, but do not expect to, determine the net asset value on any day the NYSE is
closed for trading. Occassionally, the Manager, subject to the supervision of
the Funds' Board of Trustees or Pricing Committee, will make a good faith
estimate of a security's "fair value" when the market valuation of such security
could not be obtained from third party services.
The number of shares your money buys is determined by the share price of the Fund on the day your transaction is processed. Orders that are received in good form by ALPS Mutual Fund Services, Inc. are executed at the net asset value next calculated. The Funds' net asset value will not be calculated, nor transactions processed, on certain holidays observed by national banks and/or the NYSE. The share prices of the Funds, (except the Money Market Fund) will vary over time as interest rates and the value of their securities vary. Portfolio securities of the Stock Funds that are listed on a national exchange are valued at the last reported sale price. Futures contracts are valued at their final settlement price as determined by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. U.S. Treasury Bills are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Portfolio securities of the U.S. Government Bond Funds are valued by an independent pricing service that uses market quotations representing the latest available mean between the bid and ask price, prices provided by market makers or estimates of market value obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics. Securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued using the amortized cost basis as reflecting fair value. All other securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees using consistently applied procedures established by Board of Trustees. The effect of valuing securities held by the Funds at fair value may be that the price so determined may be different than the price that would be determined if reliable market quotations were available or if another methodology were used, and such price may not reflect the price at which the Fund could sell the securities.
The share price of the Funds are reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in the mutual funds section of most newspapers after the heading "California Trust".
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
All performance information published in advertisements, sales literature and communications to investors, including various expressions of current yield, effective yield, tax equivalent yield, total return and distribution rate, is calculated and presented in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In each case, performance information will be based on past performance and will reflect all recurring charges against fund income. Performance information is based on historical data and does not indicate the future performance of any fund.
HOW TO SELL SHARES
You may redeem all or a portion of your shares on any business day that the Funds are open for business. Your shares will be redeemed at the net asset value next calculated after we have received your redemption request in good form, a redemption fee may be assessed, as described in the section titled "Fee Imposed on Certain Redemptions of Shares" in this prospectus. Remember that we may hold redemption proceeds until we are satisfied that we have collected the funds which were deposited by check. To avoid these possible delays, which could be up to 15 days, you should consider making your investment by wire, following the instructions as described in the section titled "Wire Instructions" in this prospectus.
BY MAIL
If you have not elected telephone redemption or transfer privileges, you must send a "signature-guaranteed letter of instruction" specifying the name of the Fund, the number of shares to be sold, your name, and your account number to the Funds' offices. If you have additional questions, please contact us at (800) 225-8778.
The Funds' Custodian requires that signature(s) be guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor such as a commercial bank, broker-dealer, credit union, securities exchange or association, clearing agency or savings association. This policy is designed to protect shareholders and their accounts.
BY CHECK
With check writing, our most convenient redemption procedure, your investment will continue to earn income until the check clears your account. You must apply for the check writing feature for your account. You may redeem by check provided that the proper signatures you designated are on the check. The minimum redemption amount by check is $500. There is no charge for this service and you may write an unlimited number of checks.
You should not attempt to close your account by check, since you cannot be sure of the number of shares and value of your account. You must use the phone, online or mail redemption feature to close your account. The check writing feature is not available for any of our Stock Funds. Please note that a $25.00 fee will be charged to your account for any returned check.
BY EXCHANGE
You must meet the minimum investment requirement of the Fund into which you are
exchanging shares. You can only exchange between accounts with identical
registration. Same day exchanges are accepted until market close, normally 4:00
p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m. Pacific time).
BY WIRE
You must have applied for the wire feature on your account. We will notify you when this feature is active and you may then make wire redemptions by calling us before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m., Pacific time). This means your money will be wired to your bank the next business day.
BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
You must have applied for the EFT withdrawal feature on your account. Typically, money sent by EFT will be sent to your bank within 3 business days after the sales of your securities. There is no fee for this service.
ONLINE
You can sell shares in a regular account by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com. You may not buy or sell shares in a retirement account using our online feature.
BY TELEPHONE
You must have this feature set up in advance on your account. Call the Funds at
(800) 225-8778. Give the name of the Fund in which you are redeeming shares, the
exact name in which your account is registered, your account number, the
required identification number and the number of shares or dollar amount that
you wish to redeem.
Unless you submit an account application that indicates that you have declined telephone and/or online exchange privileges, you agree, by signing your account application, to authorize and direct the Funds to accept and act upon telephone, on-line, telex, fax, or telegraph instructions for exchanges involving your account or any other account with the same registration. The Funds employ reasonable procedures in an effort to confirm the authenticity of your instructions, such as requiring a seller to give a special authorization number. Provided these procedures are followed, you further agree that neither the Funds nor the Funds' agent will be responsible for any loss, damage, cost or expense arising out of any instructions received for an account.
You should realize that by electing the telephone exchange or the online access options, you may be giving up a measure of security that you might otherwise have if you were to exchange your shares in writing. For reasons involving the security of your account, telephone transactions may be tape recorded.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
If you own shares of a fund with a value of $10,000 or more, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. You may receive monthly or quarterly payments in amounts of not less than $100 per payment. Details of this plan may be obtained by calling the Funds at (800) 225-8778.
OTHER REDEMPTION POLICIES
Retirement Plan shareholders should complete a Rollover Distribution Election Form in order to sell shares of the Funds so that the sale is treated properly for tax purposes.
Once your shares are redeemed, we will normally mail you the proceeds on the next business day, but no later than within 7 days. When the markets are closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing, or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission to merit such action, we may suspend redemption or postpone payment dates. If you want to keep your account(s) open, please be sure that the value of your account does not fall below $5,000 ($1,000 in the case of Stock Funds) because of redemptions. The manager may elect to close an account and mail you the proceeds to the address of record. We will give you 30 days' written notice that your account(s) will be closed unless you make an investment to increase your account balance(s) to the $5,000 minimum ($1,000 in the case of the Stock Funds). If you close your account, any accrued dividends will be paid as part of your redemption proceeds.
The share prices of the Funds will fluctuate and you may receive more or less than your original investment when you redeem your shares.
THE FUNDS AND THE MANAGER RESERVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
o To automatically redeem your shares if your account balance falls below the minimum balance due to the sale of shares.
o To modify or terminate the exchange privilege on 60 day's written notice.
o To refuse any purchase or exchange purchase order.
o To change or waive a Fund's minimum investment amount.
o To suspend the right to sell shares back to the Fund, and delay sending proceeds, during times when trading on the principal markets for the Funds are restricted or halted, or otherwise as permitted by the SEC.
o To withdraw or suspend any part of the offering made by this Prospectus.
o To automatically redeem your shares if you fail to provide all required enrollment information and documentation.
OTHER POLICIES
SHARE MARKETING PLAN (Rule 12b-1 Plan)
Each Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan for its Class K shares. Under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, each Fund will pay distribution fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of 0.25% of each Fund's aggregate average daily net assets attributable to its Class K shares to reimburse the Fund's distributor for its distribution costs with respect to such class. Because the Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of each Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. A portion of the Rule 12b-1 fees may also be used to pay brokers and other financial intermediaries for providing distribution services. Another class of the Funds, without the Rule 12b-1 fees, is available under a separate prospectus and may be purchased directly from the Funds. A prospectus for these shares may be obtained by calling the Funds at (800) 225-8778.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN
Each Fund has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan, under which the Fund pays CCM Partners or its distributor a shareholder servicing fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The fee is intended to reimburse the recipient for providing or arranging for services to shareholders. The fee may also be used to pay certain brokers, transfer agents and other financial intermediaries for providing shareholder services.
TAX-SAVING RETIREMENT PLANS
We can set up your new account in a fund under one of several tax-sheltered
plans. The following plans let you save for your retirement and shelter your
investment earnings from current income taxes: SIMPLE, SEP,
401(k)/Profit-Sharing and Money-Purchase Plans (Keogh): Open to corporations,
self-employed people and partnerships, to benefit themselves and their
employees.
403(b) Plans. Open to eligible employees of certain states and non-profit organizations.
Each fund is subject to an annual custodial fee, currently $10.00 per social security number/per IRA type. The manager has agreed voluntarily to waive the $10.00 fee when aggregated account balances by social security number exceed $10,000. This fee is normally assessed in the Fall of each year.
We can provide you with complete information on any of these plans, including information that discusses benefits, provisions and fees.
CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Unless you otherwise indicate on the account application, we will reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions back into your account. You may indicate on the application that you wish to receive either income dividends or capital gains distributions in cash. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is available to those investors who would like their dividends electronically transferred to their bank accounts. For those investors who do not request this feature, dividend checks will be mailed via regular mail.
The redemption fee will not apply to shares redeemed using the "check-writing feature" available on the U.S. Government Securities Fund.
If you elect to receive distributions by mail and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your checks or if the checks remain uncashed for six months or more, we will void such checks and reinvest your money in your account at the then current net asset value and reinvest your subsequent distributions.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Shareholders of the Funds will receive statements at least quarterly and after every transaction that affects their share balance and/or account registration. A statement with tax information will be mailed to you by January 31 of each year, a copy of which will be filed with the IRS if it reflects any taxable distributions. Twice a year you will receive our financial statements, at least one of which will be audited. The account statements you receive will show the total number of shares you own and a current market value. You may rely on these statements in lieu of share certificates which are not necessary and are not issued. You should keep your statements to assist in record keeping and tax calculations.
We pay for regular reporting services, but not for special services, such as a request for an historical transcript of an account. You may be required to pay a separate fee for these special services. After setting up your online account, you may also obtain a transaction history for your account(s) by accessing our website at www.caltrust.com.
CONSOLIDATED MAILINGS & HOUSEHOLDING
Consolidated statements offer convenience to investors by summarizing account information and reducing unnecessary mail. We send these statements to all shareholders, unless shareholders specifically request otherwise. These statements include a summary of all funds held by each shareholder as identified by the first line of registration, social security number and zip code. Householding refers to the practice of mailing one prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to each home for all household investors. The Funds will use this practice for all future mailings. If you would like extra copies of these reports, please download a copy from www.caltrust.com or call the Funds at (800) 225-8778.
DIVIDENDS & TAXES
Any investment in the Funds typically involves several tax considerations. The information below is meant as a general summary for U.S. citizens and residents. Because your situation may be different, it is important that you consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of your investment in any of the Funds.
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the dividends your fund earns. The Stock Funds distribute substantially all their dividends quarterly. Shareholders of record on the second to last business day of the quarter will receive the dividends.
The Bond Funds and the Money Market Fund distribute substantially all their dividends monthly. Shareholders of record on the second to last business day of the month will receive the dividends.
Capital gains are generally paid on the last day of November, to shareholders of record on the second to last business day of November of each year. The Money Market Fund does not expect to pay any capital gains. At the beginning of each year, shareholders are provided with information detailing the tax status of any dividend the Funds have paid during the previous year.
After every distribution, the value of a fund share drops by the amount of the distribution. If you purchase shares of one of the Funds before the record date of a distribution and elect to have distributions paid to you in cash, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive some portion of that price back in the form of a taxable distribution. This is sometimes referred to as buying a dividend.
REVENUE SHARING
The Manager, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds. Such payments and compensation are in addition to service fees paid by the Funds. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Funds on sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders.
IDENTITY VERIFICATION PROCEDURES NOTICE
The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including mutual funds, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. When completing the account application, you will be required to supply the Funds with information, such as your taxpayer identification number, that will assist the Funds in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Funds may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Funds may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a customer's identity. As required by law, the Funds may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct. Your information will be handled by us as discussed in our privacy statement below.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICY
When you become an investor with California Investment Trust Fund Group, you entrust us not only with your hard-earned assets but also with your non-public personal and financial information (shareholder information). We consider your shareholder information to be private and confidential, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of trust and fiduciary duty in their safekeeping and use.
OUR PRIVACY PRINCIPLES:
o We do not sell shareholder information.
o We do not provide shareholder information to persons or organizations outside the California Investment Trust Fund Group who are doing business on our behalf (e.g., non-affiliated third parties), for their own marketing purposes.
o We afford prospective and former shareholders the same protections as existing shareholders with respect to the use of shareholder information.
INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT:
We collect and use information we believe is necessary to administer our business, to advise you about our products and services, and to provide you with customer service. We may collect and maintain several types of shareholder information needed for these purposes, such as those below:
o From you, (application and enrollment forms, transfer forms, distribution forms, checks, correspondence, or conversation), such as your address, telephone number, and social security number.
o From your transactions with our transfer agent, such as your transaction history, and account balance.
o From electronic sources, such as our website or e-mails.
HOW WE USE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:
The California Investment Trust Fund Group will only use information about you and your California Investment Trust accounts to help us better serve your investment needs or to suggest California Investment Trust Fund Group services or educational materials that may be of interest to you.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE:
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our shareholders or former shareholders to non-affiliated third parties without the shareholder's authorization. However, we may disclose shareholder information to persons or organizations inside or outside our family of funds, as permitted or required by law. For example, we will provide the information, as described above, to our transfer agent to process your requests or authorized transactions.
HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION:
We restrict access to your shareholder information to authorized persons who have a need for these records in order to provide products or services to you. We also maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard shareholder information. To further protect your privacy, our website uses the highest levels of internet security, including data encryption, Secure Sockets Layer protocol, user names and passwords, and other tools. As an added measure, we do not include personal or account information in non-secure e-mails that we send you via the Internet.
For shareholders with Internet access, California Investment Trust Fund Group recommends that you do not provide your user name or password for any reason to anyone.
In the event that you hold shares of one or more funds through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of that financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared with non-affiliated third parties.
TO LEARN MORE
This Prospectus contains important information on the Funds and should be read and kept for future reference. You can also get more information from the following sources:
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
These are automatically mailed to all shareholders without charge. In the Annual Report, you will find a discussion of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each fund's performance during its most recent fiscal year. The Annual Report is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, making it a legal part of the Prospectus.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This includes more details about the Funds, including a detailed discussion of the risks associated with the various investments. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, making it a legal part of the Prospectus.
You may obtain a copy of these documents free of charge by calling the Funds at
(800) 225-8778, by accessing the Funds' website at www.caltrust.com, or by
emailing the Funds at info@caltrust.com, or by contacting the SEC at the address
noted below or via e-mail at publicinfo@sec.gov. The SEC may charge you a
duplication fee. You can also review these documents in person at the SEC's
Public Reference Room, or by visiting the SEC's Internet Site at www.sec.gov.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
P.O. BOX 387
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-0387
(800) 225-8778
www.caltrust.com
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549-0102
(202) 942-8090 (Public Reference Section)
www.sec.gov
SEC File Number 811-4417
The Funds are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any financial institution or government entity such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
P.O. Box 387
San Francisco, California 94104-0387
(800) 225-8778
Statement of Additional Information - January 1, 2007
The California Investment Trust Fund Group presently consists of the following twelve separate series which are part of California Investment Trust (the "Trust"): California Tax-Free Income Fund (the "Income Fund"), California Insured Intermediate Fund (the "Insured Fund"), California Tax-Free Money Market Fund (the "Money Fund"), U.S. Government Securities Fund (the "Government Fund"), The United States Treasury Trust (the "Treasury Trust"), the S&P 500 Index Fund (the "500 Fund"), the S&P MidCap Index Fund (the "MidCap Fund"), the S&P SmallCap Index Fund (the "SmallCap Fund"), the Equity Income Fund, the European Growth & Income Fund (the "European Fund"), the Nasdaq-100 Index Fund (the "Nasdaq-100 Fund"), and the Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund (the "Short-Term Government Fund") (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds").
This Statement of Additional Information relates to all series of the Funds.
The combined Prospectus for the Funds dated January 1, 2007, as may be amended from time to time, provides the basic information you should know before investing in a Fund, and may be obtained without charge from the Funds at the above address. This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It contains information in addition to and in more detail than set forth in the Prospectus. This Statement of Additional Information is intended to provide you with additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Trust and each Fund, and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.
The Income Fund and the Insured Fund both seek as high a level of income exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes as is consistent with prudent investment management and safety of capital. The Income Fund invests in intermediate and long-term municipal bonds. The Insured Fund invests primarily in municipal securities that are covered by insurance guaranteeing the timely payment of principal and interest.
The Money Fund seeks capital preservation, liquidity, and the highest achievable current income, exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes consistent with safety. This Fund invests in short-term securities and attempts to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share.
The Government Fund seeks liquidity, safety from credit risk and as high a level of income as is consistent with these objectives by investing in full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities and Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") Certificates.
The Treasury Trust seeks capital preservation, safety, liquidity, and consistent with these objectives, the highest attainable current income exempt from state income taxes. This Fund intends to invest its assets only in short-term U.S. Treasury securities and its income will be exempt from California (and most other states') personal income taxes.
The 500 Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of common stocks publicly traded in the United States, as represented by the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500").
The MidCap Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies, as represented by the S&P MidCap 400 Index (the "MidCap Index").
The SmallCap Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of small-sized companies, as represented by the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (the "SmallCap Index").
The Equity Income Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks a high level of current income by investing primarily in income producing equity securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will also consider the potential for price appreciation when consistent with seeking current income.
The Nasdaq-100 Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the total return of the largest non-financial, publicly traded, companies as measured by The Nasdaq-100 Index(R).
The European Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation and income by investing in large-sized European companies.
The Short-Term Government Fund seeks to maximize current income and preserve investor's principal. The Fund typically invests in short and intermediate-term fixed income securities whose principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Additionally, CCM Partners (the "Manager") may invest in higher yielding securities, which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
CONTENTS Page -------- ---- About the California Investment Trust Fund Group......................... B-3 Investment Objectives and Policies of the Tax-Free Funds................. B-3 Investment Objectives and Policies of the Government Fund, the Short-Term Government Fund and the Treasury Trust................................. B-4 Investment Objectives and Policies of the Stock Funds.................... B-6 Description of Investment Securities and Portfolio Techniques............ B-6 Investment Restrictions.................................................. B-17 Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings......................................... B-19 Trustees and Officers.................................................... B-20 Investment Management and Other Services................................. B-21 The Trusts' Policies Regarding Broker-Dealers Used for Portfolio Transactions........................................................... B-27 Additional Information Regarding Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares................................................................. B-28 Taxation................................................................. B-30 Miscellaneous Information................................................ B-38 Financial Statements..................................................... B-40 Appendix................................................................. B-40 |
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST FUND GROUP
The California Investment Trust Fund Group currently consists of an open-end management investment company called the California Investment Trust ("CIT"). The Trust issues its shares of beneficial interest with no par value in different series, each known as a "Fund." Shares of each Fund represent equal proportionate interest in the assets of that Fund only, and have identical voting, dividend, redemption, liquidation and other rights. Shareholders have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional shares. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust, originally organized as two separate Massachusetts business trusts formed by Declarations of Trust dated September 11, 1985, as subsequently amended, was reorganized into a single Delaware statutory trust after the close of trading on December 29, 2006. Currently, CIT has 12 Funds, each of which maintains an entirely separate investment portfolio: the Income Fund, the Money Fund, the Insured Fund, the Government Fund, the Treasury Trust, the Short-Term Government Fund, the 500 Fund, the MidCap Fund, the SmallCap Fund, the Equity Income Fund, the European Fund and the Nasdaq-100 Fund. The Income Fund, the Money Fund and the Insured Fund are also referred to herein as the "Tax-Free Funds." The 500 Fund, the MidCap Fund, the SmallCap Fund and the Nasdaq-100 Fund are also referred to herein as the "Index Funds." The Index Funds, combined with the Equity Income Fund and the European Fund are referred to as the "Stock Funds." All funds (except the Tax-Free Funds) offer multiple share classes. The Funds (other than the Tax-Free Funds) began offering an additional class of shares, Class K, on October 16, 2003, which principally differ from the undesignated class shares (which are sometimes referred to as direct shares) in the ways described below under the heading "MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION."
The Trust is not required, nor does it intend, to hold annual shareholder meetings. However, the Trust may hold special meetings for a specific Fund or for the Trust as a whole for purposes such as electing Trustees, changing fundamental policies, or approving an investment management agreement. You have equal rights as to voting and to vote separately by Fund as to issues affecting only your Fund (such as changes in fundamental investment policies and objectives). Your voting rights are not cumulative, so that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting in any election of Trustees can, if they choose to do so, elect all of the Trustees. Meetings of shareholders may be called by the Trustees in their discretion or upon demand of the holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of any Fund for the purpose of electing or removing Trustees.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE TAX-FREE FUNDS
The following information supplements each Tax-Free Fund's investment objectives and basic policies as set forth in the Prospectus.
As noted in the Prospectus, each Tax-Free Fund seeks to provide investors with income exempt from federal and from California personal income tax. The Tax-Free Funds generally are as fully invested as practicable in municipal securities. However, because the Tax-Free Funds do not presently intend to invest in taxable obligations, there may be occasions when, as a result of maturities of portfolio securities or sales of Fund shares, or in order to meet anticipated redemption requests, a Fund may hold cash which is not earning income.
Under California law, a mutual fund, or series thereof, must have at least 50% of its total assets invested in obligations that produce interest that is exempt from California personal income tax if received by an individual (including California state and local obligations, direct obligations of the U.S. Government and obligations of certain U.S. territories and possessions) at the end of each quarter of its taxable year in order to be eligible to pay dividends to California residents which will be exempt from California personal income tax. Accordingly, as described in the Funds" Prospectus, under normal market conditions, each Tax-Free Fund attempts to invest at least 80% of the value of its net assets in securities, the interest on which is, in the opinion of legal counsel, exempt from regular federal and from California personal income taxes, and is not a separate tax preference item subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Thus, it is possible, although not anticipated, that up to 20% of a Tax-Free Fund's assets could be invested in municipal securities from another state and/or in taxable obligations.
The Income Fund and the Insured Fund both seek as high a level of income exempt from federal and California personal income taxes as is consistent with prudent investment management and safety of capital. The Income Fund seeks to reduce, to the extent possible, the credit risks of its portfolio by investing in California municipal securities having at the time of purchase one of the top four ratings, or if unrated, being of similar quality to one of the top four ratings provided by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") or Fitch Investors Service, Inc. ("Fitch"). These are considered to be "investment grade" securities, although securities rated BBB, Baa, BBB by S&P, Moody's and Fitch, respectively, in the fourth highest category are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay principal and interest but with greater vulnerability to adverse economic conditions and to have some speculative characteristics. No more than 20% of the Income Fund's total assets will be invested in securities in the fourth highest category.
The Insured Fund seeks to reduce the credit risks of its portfolio by investing in California municipal securities that are insured as to the timely payment of principal and interest under an insurance policy obtained by the issuer. The Insured Fund also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in uninsured California municipal securities in one of the top two ratings categories or if unrated of similar quality to securities in one of the top two ratings.
If the rating on an issue held in either the Income Fund or the Insured Fund's portfolio is downgraded, the Manager will consider such event in its evaluation of the overall investment merits of that security but such consideration will not necessarily result in the automatic sale of the security. When the Income Fund or the Insured Fund invests in securities not rated by S&P, Moody's, or Fitch, it is the responsibility of the Manager to evaluate them and reasonably determine that they are of at least equal quality to securities rated in the four highest categories.
The Money Fund invests in high-quality securities, whether rated or unrated. Such issues include those rated, at the time of issue, not lower than MIG-2, VMIG-2 or P-2 by Moody's; SP-2 or A-2 by S&P; and/or F-2 by Fitch. If unrated, the security must be determined by the Manager to be of an equivalent quality to those in the two highest short-term credit-quality ratings. Generally, all of the instruments held by the Money Fund are offered on the basis of a quoted yield to maturity and the price of the security is adjusted so that relative to the stated rate of interest, it will return the quoted rate to the purchaser.
Subsequent to its purchase by the Income Fund, the Insured Fund or the Money Fund, a municipal security may be assigned a lower rating or cease to be rated. Such an event would not necessarily require the elimination of the issue from the portfolio, but the Manager will consider such an event in determining whether the Income Fund, the Insured Fund or the Money Fund should continue to hold the security in its portfolio. In addition to considering ratings assigned by the rating services in its selection of portfolio securities for the Income Fund or the Money Fund, the Manager considers, among other things, information concerning the financial history and condition of the issuer and its revenue and expense prospects and, in the case of revenue bonds, the financial history and condition of the source of revenue to service the debt securities.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND, THE SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND, AND THE TREASURY TRUST
The following information supplements the investment objectives and basic policies of the Government Fund, the Short-Term Government Fund and the Treasury Trust as set forth in the Prospectus.
The Government Fund seeks to provide liquidity, safety from credit risk and as high a level of income as is consistent with such objectives by investing in full faith and credit obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities. To achieve its objective, the Fund currently invests primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities and "GNMA Certificates" (popularly called "GNMA's" or "Ginnie Mae's"). The Government Fund will invest in intermediate and long-term Treasury bills, notes and bonds whose principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. GNMA's are mortgage-backed securities representing part ownership of a pool of mortgage loans on real property.
The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) is a wholly owned US Government corporation within the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The main focus of Ginnie Mae is to ensure liquidity for US government insured mortgages including those insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Rural Housing Administration (RHA). The majority of mortgages secured as Ginnie Mae MBS are those guaranteed by FHA. FHA mortgagors are typically first-time homebuyers and low-income borrowers. The GNMA guarantee carries the full faith and credit of the US Government and is considered to be the safest federal agency.
A GNMA Certificate differs from a bond in that principal is scheduled to be paid back by the borrower over the length of the loan rather than returned in a lump sum at maturity. The Government Fund may purchase "modified pass-through" type GNMA Certificates for which the payment of principal and interest on a timely basis is guaranteed, rather than the "straight-pass through" Certificates for which such guarantee is not available. The Government Fund may also purchase GNMA Certificates that offer coupons with a variable rate - where rates periodically reset to a market rate, hybrid structures - where the coupon is fixed for a defined period of time, then coverts to a variable rate, or any other type which may be issued with GNMA's guarantee. The balance of the Government Fund's assets is invested in other securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, including U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds.
Securities of the type to be included in the Government Fund have historically involved little risk of principal if held to maturity. However, due to fluctuations in interest rates, the market value of such securities may vary during the period of a shareholder's investment in the Government Fund.
GNMA Certificates are created by an "issuer," which is a Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") approved lender, such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings and loan associations, who also meet criteria imposed by GNMA. The issuer assembles a specific pool of mortgages insured by either the FHA or the Farmers Home Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. Upon application by the issuer, and after approval by GNMA of the pool, GNMA provides its commitment to guarantee timely payment of principal and interest on the GNMA Certificates secured by the mortgages included in the pool. The GNMA Certificates, endorsed by GNMA, are then sold by the issuer through securities dealers.
The GNMA guarantee of timely payment of principal and interest on GNMA Certificates is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA may borrow U.S. Treasury funds to the extent needed to make payments under its guarantee.
When mortgages in the pool underlying a GNMA Certificate are prepaid by mortgagees or by result of foreclosure, such principal payments are passed through to the GNMA Certificate holders (such as the Government Fund). Accordingly, the life of the GNMA Certificate is likely to be substantially shorter than the stated maturity of the mortgages in the underlying pool. Because of such variation in prepayment rights, it is not possible to predict the life of a particular GNMA Certificate.
Generally, GNMA Certificates bear a nominal "coupon rate" which represents the effective FHA-Veterans Administration mortgage rates for the underlying pool of mortgages, less GNMA and issuer's fees. Payments to holders of GNMA Certificates consist of the monthly distributions of interest and principal less the GNMA and issuer's fees. The actual yield to be earned by the holder of a GNMA Certificate is calculated by dividing such payments by the purchase price paid for the GNMA Certificate (which may be at a premium or a discount from the face value of the Certificate). Monthly distributions of interest, as contrasted to semi-annual distributions which are common for other fixed interest investments, have the effect of compounding and thereby raising the effective annual yield earned on GNMA Certificates.
The portion of the payments received by the Government Fund as a holder of the GNMA Certificates which constitutes a return of principal is added to the Government Fund's cash available for investment in additional GNMA Certificates or other U.S. Government guaranteed securities. The interest portion received by the Government Fund is distributed as net investment income to the Fund's shareholders.
The Government Fund may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is a risk that principal of a GNMA will be unexpectedly returned to the Fund. Under certain market conditions mortgages are more likely to be pre-paid by the borrowers. This is most likely during periods where interest rates are declining below recent market levels. By refinancing a mortgage, a borrower pays off their existing balance and the payment is passed through to the holder of the GNMA. Because of market circumstances, the Fund may be forced to reinvest the returned principal in securities with lower yields. This would ultimately reduce the income available to shareholders and could potentially result in realized capital gains.
The Manager continually monitors the Government Fund's investments, and changes are made as market conditions warrant.
The Short-Term Government Fund will typically invest in short and intermediate-term bills, notes and bonds whose principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The Short Term Government Fund may purchase GNMA Certificates, including securities that have fixed coupon rates, variable rates - where rates periodically reset to a market rate, hybrid structures - where the coupon is fixed for a defined period of time, then coverts to a variable rate, or any other type which may be issued with GNMA's guarantee. In addition, the Manager may invest in higher yielding securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The Fund intends to maintain an average duration between 0 and 3 years in an effort to reduce share price volatility.
The Treasury Trust seeks capital preservation, safety, liquidity, and, consistent with these objectives, the highest attainable current income exempt from state income taxes, by investing exclusively in U.S. Treasury securities, namely bills, notes or bonds which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government. The Treasury Trust's net assets will at the time of investment have remaining maturities of 397 days or less. The dollar weighted average maturity of the Fund's portfolio will generally be 90 days or less and the Manager will attempt to maintain the net asset value at $1.00 per share.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES OF THE STOCK FUNDS
As stated in the Prospectus, the investment objective of the 500 Fund is to seek investment results that correspond to the total return (i.e., the combination of capital changes and income) of common stocks publicly traded in the United States, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500"). The S&P 500 is a well-known stock market index that includes common stocks of companies representing approximately 81.1% of the total market Index as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. As of September 2006, companies included in the Index range from $1.2 billion to $399 billion in market capitalization. The Manager believes that the performance of the S&P 500 is representative of the performance of publicly traded common stocks in general. The median market capitalization of the stocks in the S&P 500 Index is approximately $11.7 billion.
The investment objective of the MidCap Fund is to seek investment results that correspond to the total return (i.e., the combination of capital changes and income) of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies, as represented by the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index (the "MidCap Index"). The MidCap Index is a well-known stock market index that includes common stocks of companies representing approximately 7.9% of the total market index as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. As of September 2006, companies included in the MidCap Index range from $400 million to $10.4 billion in market capitalization. The median market capitalization of the stocks in the MidCap Index is approximately $2.4 billion.
The investment objective of the SmallCap Fund is to seek investment results that correspond to the total return of publicly traded common stocks of small sized companies, as represented by the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (the "SmallCap Index"). The SmallCap Index is a well-known stock market index that includes common stocks of companies representing approximately 4.0% of the total market index as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. As of September 2006, companies included in the SmallCap Index range from $50 million to $3.1 billion in market capitalization. The median market capitalization of the stocks in the SmallCap Index is approximately $770 million.
The Equity Income Fund is a diversified mutual fund that seeks a high level of current income by investing primarily in income producing equity securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund may consider the potential for price appreciation when consistent with seeking current income.
The investment objective of the European Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation and income by investing in large-sized European companies located in Europe. The Fund expects to invest primarily in ADRs that trade on U.S. equity exchanges. The Manager may elect at some future period to invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities but does not intend to do so at this time.
The investment objective of the Nasdaq-100 Fund is to seek to replicate performance of the largest and most actively traded non-financial stocks as measured by The Nasdaq-100 Stock Index. Companies included in the Index range from $1.8 billion to $275.2 billion in market capitalization as of September 2006. The majority of portfolio transactions in the Fund (other than those made in response to shareholder activity) will be made to adjust the Fund's portfolio to track the Index or to reflect occasional changes in the Index's composition.
DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PORTFOLIO TECHNIQUES
Municipal Securities
Discussed below are the major attributes of the various municipal and other securities in which each of the Tax-Free Funds may invest and of the portfolio techniques the Income Fund or the Money Fund may utilize.
Tax Anticipation Notes are used to finance working capital needs of municipalities and are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues, to be payable from these specific future taxes. They are usually general obligations of the issuer, secured by the issuer's taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.
Revenue Anticipation Notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under the Federal Revenue Sharing Program. They also are usually general obligations of the issuer.
Bond Anticipation Notes normally are issued to provide interim financing until long-term financing can be arranged. The long-term bonds then provide the money for the repayment of the notes.
Construction Loan Notes are sold to provide construction financing for specific projects. After successful completion and acceptance, many projects receive permanent financing through the FHA under the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Government National Mortgage Association.
Project Notes are instruments sold by the Department of Housing and Urban Development but issued by a state or local housing agency to provide financing for a variety of programs. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, and generally are for periods of one year or less.
Short-Term Discount Notes (tax-exempt commercial paper) are short-term (397 days or less) promissory notes issued by municipalities to supplement their cash flow.
Municipal Bonds, which meet longer term capital needs and generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, have two principal classifications: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.
1. General Obligation Bonds. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and regional districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects, including construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, and water and sewer systems. The basic security behind general obligation bonds is the issuer's pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. The taxes that can be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to the rate or amount of special assessments.
General obligation bonds are generally paid from a municipality's general fund, so that the credit of the security is determined by the overall credit of the issuer. Economic and political events that negatively impact the municipality could also affect the value of the bonds issued by the municipality.
2. Revenue Bonds. A revenue bond is not secured by the full faith, credit and taxing power of an issuer. Rather, the principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenue derived from a particular facility, group of facilities, or, in some cases, the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Revenue bonds are issued to finance a wide variety of capital projects including: electric, gas, water, and sewer systems; highways, bridges, and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Although the principal security behind these bonds may vary, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund which may be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer's obligations. Housing finance authorities have a wide range of security, including partially or fully insured mortgages, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages, and/or the net revenues from housing or other public projects. Some authorities are provided further security in the form of a state's assurance (although without obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt service reserve fund.
Revenue bonds are generally paid from revenues generated from facilities or projects financed by the bond. Economic and political events which affect the ability to generate revenue could potentially impact the value of a revenue bond.
Industrial development bonds which pay tax-exempt interest are in most cases revenue bonds and are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to raise money to finance various privately operated facilities for business manufacturing, housing, sports, and pollution control. These bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems, ports, and parking. The payment of the principal and interest on such bonds is dependent solely on the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of the real and personal property so financed as security for such payment. As a result of 1986 federal tax legislation, industrial revenue bonds may no longer be issued on a tax-exempt basis for certain previously permissible purposes, including sports and pollution control facilities.
The quality of an industrial development bond is in part based on the corporation's ability to make payments of principal and interest. Unfavorable developments that affect the ability or willingness for the corporation to make the payments could have an impact on the value of the bond.
There may, of course, be other types of municipal securities that become available which are similar to the foregoing described municipal securities in which the Tax-Free Funds may invest.
Special Considerations Affecting Investment in California Municipal Obligations
The Money Fund invests a high proportion of its assets in California municipal securities. The Income Fund and the Insured Fund also invest primarily in California municipal securities. Payment of interest and preservation of principal is dependent upon the continuing ability of California issuers and/or obligors of state, municipal and public authority debt obligations to meet their obligations thereunder. In addition to general economic pressures, certain California constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations and voter initiatives could adversely affect a California issuer's ability to raise revenues to meet its financial obligations. The following is not an exhaustive list, constitutes only a brief summary, does not purport to be a complete description, and is based on information drawn from official statements and prospectuses relating to securities offerings of the State of California that have come to the attention of the Tax-Free Funds and were available before the date of this Statement of Additional Information. The Tax-Free Funds have not independently verified such information.
As used below, "California Tax-Exempt Securities" include issues secured by a direct payment obligation of the State of California and obligations of other issuers that rely in whole or in part on California revenues to pay their obligations, the interest on which is, in the opinion on bond counsel, exempt from federal income tax and California personal income tax. Property tax revenues and part of the State's General Fund surplus are distributed to counties, cities and their various taxing entities; whether and to what extent a portion of the State's General Fund will be so distributed in the future is unclear.
State Budgetary Considerations
Overview. The California economy and its general financial condition affect the ability of the State and local governments to raise and redistribute revenues to assist issuers of municipal securities to make timely payments on their obligations. California is the most populous state in the nation with a total population estimated at 35.9 million. California has a diverse economy, with major employment in the agriculture, manufacturing, high technology, services, trade, entertainment and construction sectors.
Access to the capital markets and the political environment in Sacramento remain very important for California's fiscal health. Structural impediments and partisan politics will continue to dominate the headlines as the current fiscal year winds down and the fiscal 2007 budget is presented for approval. Clearly, the State must take action beyond the current proposals to address the current structural budget problems. The potential impact of the State's financial problems on local governments, school districts, higher education, etc. must be reviewed as the State's plan for budget cuts becomes more detailed.
While the State's budget situation will remain under significant stress for the foreseeable future, California's economy is showing many positive signs. The large, diversified and wealthy economy has performed similarly to that of the nation and is concurrently showing signs of resilience and improvement. Employment is expanding at approximately the same rate as the nation and revenues at various state agencies are ahead of budget expectations.
As of September 30, 2006, the State's general obligation bonds were rated A1 - stable outlook by Moody's Investor Service. Moody's upgraded them from A2 - positive outlook on May 22, 2005. Standard & Poor's (S&P) rates the debt A+ with a stable outlook. Fitch upgraded its rating on June 6, 2006 from A to A+. It is not presently possible to determine whether, or the extent to which, Moody's, S&P or Fitch will change such ratings in the future. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State, and there is no obligation on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.
According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office (CLAO), the state budgetary outlook for fiscal 2006-07 and beyond has improved considerably over the past year. The state spending plan for 2006-07 includes total budget expenditures of $128.4 billion, sharply increasing funding for education, providing targeted increases in several other program areas, and prepaying nearly $3 billion in budgetary debt. The expanded commitments included in this spending plan are in striking contrast to the four previous years, when policymakers were faced with closing major budget shortfalls. Despite much stronger-than-expected revenues, 2006-07 expenditures exceed revenues, with the difference being covered by the drawdown of carryover reserves available from 2005-06. Based on our out-year estimates of revenues and expenditures, we estimate that this imbalance will continue in 2007-08 and 2008-09 absent corrective action, with annual operating shortfalls in the range of $4.5 billion and $5 billion projected for this period.
On June 27, 2006, the Legislature passed the 2006-07 Budget Bill along with implementing legislation which authorizes total spending of $127.9 billion, of which $101.3 billion is from the General Fund and $26.6 billion is from special funds. The 2006-07 budget reflects a sharply improving fiscal picture, brought about by continued stronger-than-expected growth in General Fund revenues. Spending under the plan increases by over 9 percent between 2005-06 and 2006-07, reflecting significant program augmentations, budgetary debt prepayments, and rising caseloads and costs in state programs. Based on our current projections of revenues and expenditures under the 2006-07 Budget Act policies, the state would continue to face operating shortfalls in the range of $4.5 billion to $5 billion in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Issues Affecting Local Governments and Special Districts
Proposition 13. Certain California Tax-Exempt Securities may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in part on ad valorem real property taxes for revenue. In 1978, California voters approved Proposition 13, which amended the State Constitution to limit ad valorem real property taxes and restrict the ability of taxing entities to increase property tax and other revenues. With certain exceptions, the maximum ad valorem real property tax is limited to 1% of the value of real property. The value of real property may be adjusted annually for inflation at a rate not exceeding 2% per year, or reduced to reflect declining value, and may also be adjusted when there is a change in ownership or new construction with respect to the property. Constitutional challenges to Proposition 13 to date have been unsuccessful.
The State, in response to the significant reduction in local property tax revenues as a result of the passage of Proposition 13, enacted legislation to provide local government with increased expenditures from the General Fund. This post-Proposition 13 fiscal relief has, however, ended.
Proposition 62. This initiative placed further restrictions on the ability of local governments to raise taxes and allocate approved tax revenues. Several recent decisions of the California Courts of Appeal have held parts of Proposition 62 unconstitutional. Recently, however, the California Supreme Court upheld a requirement imposed by Proposition 62 that "special taxes" be approved by two-thirds of the voters voting in an election on the issue. This recent decision may invalidate other taxes that have been imposed by local governments in California and make it more difficult for local governments to raise taxes.
Propositions 98 and 111. These initiatives changed the State appropriations limit and State funding of public education below the university level by guaranteeing K-14 schools a minimum share of General Fund revenues. The initiatives also require that the State establish a prudent reserve fund for public education.
Proposition 218. Passed in November 1996, this initiative places additional limitations on the ability of California local governments to increase general taxes and impose special assessments. Taxes, assessments and fees have a grace period of up to two years from November 1996 to receive voter approval.
Appropriations Limit. Local governmental entities are also subject to annual appropriations limits. If a local government's revenues in any year exceed the limit, the excess must be returned to the public through a revision of tax rates or fee schedules over the following two years.
Conclusion. The effect of these Constitutional and statutory changes and of budget developments on the ability of California issuers to pay interest and principal on their obligations remains unclear, and may depend upon whether a particular bond is a general obligation or limited obligation bond (limited obligation bonds being generally less affected). The Tax-Free Funds' concentration in California tax-exempt securities provides a greater level of risk than a fund that is diversified across numerous state and municipal entities.
The effect of constitutional and statutory changes and of budget developments on the ability of California issuers to pay interest and principal on their obligations remains unclear, and may depend on whether a particular bond is a general obligation or limited obligation bond (limited obligation bonds being generally less affected). It is not possible to predict the future impact of the voter initiatives, State constitutional amendments, legislation or economic considerations described above, or of such initiatives, amendments or legislation that may be enacted in the future, on the long-term ability of the State of California or California municipal issuers to pay interest or repay principal on their obligations. There is no assurance that any California issuer will make full or timely payments of principal or interest or remain solvent. For example, in December 1994, Orange County, California, together with its pooled investment funds, which included investment funds from other local governments, filed for bankruptcy. Los Angeles County, the nation's largest county, in the recent past has also experienced financial difficulty and its financial condition will continue to be affected by the large number of County residents who are dependent on government services and by a structural deficit in its health department. Moreover, California's improved economy has caused Los Angeles County, and other local governments, to come under increased pressure from public employee unions for improved compensation and retirement benefits.
Certain tax-exempt securities in which a Fund may invest may be obligations payable solely from the revenues of specific institutions, or may be secured by specific properties, which are subject to provisions of California law that could adversely affect the holders of such obligations. For example, the revenues of California health care institutions may be subject to state laws, and California law limits the remedies of a creditor secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property.
Additional Issues
Mortgages and Deeds of Trust. The Tax-Free Funds may invest in issues that are secured in whole or in part by mortgages or deeds of trust on real property. California law limits the remedies of a creditor secured by a mortgage or a deed of trust, which may result in delays in the flow of revenues to, and debt service paid by an issuer.
Lease Financing. Some local governments and districts finance certain activities through lease arrangements. It is uncertain whether such lease financing are debt that requires voter approval.
Seismic Risk. It is impossible to predict the time, location, or magnitude of a major earthquake or its effect on the California economy. In January 1994, a major earthquake struck Los Angeles, causing significant damage to structures and facilities in a four-county area. The possibility exists that another such earthquake could create a major dislocation of the California economy.
Terrorism: It is impossible to predict the timing or economic impact of an act of terrorism. The federal, state, and local authorities have greatly stepped up security at major landmarks and infrastructure points since Sept. 11, 2001, but the possibility of major acts of terrorism is an ongoing risk.
Variable Rate Demand Notes
Variable Rate Demand Notes ("VRDNs") are tax-exempt obligations which contain a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula and an unconditional right of demand to receive payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest upon a short notice period prior to specified dates, generally at 30, 60, 90, 180, or 365 day intervals. The interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily to six months. Adjustment formulas are designed to maintain the market value of the VRDN at approximately the par value of the VRDN upon the adjustment date. The adjustments are typically based upon the prime rate of a bank or some other appropriate interest rate adjustment index.
The Tax-Free Funds may also invest in VRDNs in the form of participation interests ("Participating VRDNs") in variable rate tax-exempt obligations held by a financial institution, typically a commercial bank ("institution"). Participating VRDNs provide the Tax-Free Funds with a specified undivided interest (up to 100%) of the underlying obligation and the right to demand payment of the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest on the Participating VRDNs from the institution upon a specified number of days' notice, not to exceed seven days. In addition, the Participating VRDN is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guaranty of the institution. The Tax-Free Funds have an undivided interest in the underlying obligation and thus participate on the same basis as the institution in such obligation except that the institution typically retains fees out of the interest paid on the obligation for servicing the obligation, providing the letter of credit and issuing the repurchase commitment.
VRDN's may be unrated or rated and their creditworthiness may be a function of the creditworthiness of the issuer, the institution furnishing the irrevocable letter of credit, or both. Accordingly, a Tax-Free Fund may invest in such VRDN's the issuers or underlying institutions of which the Manager believes are creditworthy and satisfy the quality requirements of each Tax-Free Fund. The Manager will continuously monitor the creditworthiness of the issuer of such securities and the underlying institution.
Periods of high inflation and periods of economic slowdown, together with the fiscal measures adopted to attempt to deal with them, have caused wide fluctuations in interest rates. While the value of the underlying VRDN may change with changes in interest rates generally, the variable rate nature of the underlying VRDN should tend to reduce changes in the value of the instruments. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation and the risk of potential capital depreciation is less than would be the case with a portfolio of fixed income securities. The Tax-Free Funds may invest in VRDNs on which stated minimum or maximum rates, or maximum rates set by state law, limit the degree to which interest on such VRDNs may fluctuate; to the extent it does, increases or decreases in value may be somewhat greater than would be the case without such limits. Because the adjustment of interest rates on the VRDNs is made in relation to movements of various interest rate adjustment indices, the VRDNs are not comparable to long-term fixed rate securities. Accordingly, interest rates on the variable rate demand instruments may be higher or lower than current market rates for fixed rate obligations of comparable quality with similar maturities.
For purposes of determining whether a VRDN held by a Tax-Free Fund matures within one year from the date of its acquisition, the maturity of the instrument will be deemed to be the longer of (1) the demand period required before the Tax-Free Fund is entitled to receive payment of the principal amount of the instrument, or (2) the period remaining until the instrument's next interest rate adjustment. The maturity of a VRDN will be determined in the same manner for purposes of computing a Tax-Free Fund's dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity.
Obligations with Puts Attached. Each Tax-Free Fund may purchase municipal securities together with the right to resell the securities to the seller at an agreed upon price or yield within a specified period prior to the maturity date of the securities. Although it is not a put option in the usual sense, such a right to resell is commonly known as a "put" and is also referred to as a "stand-by commitment." The Tax-Free Funds will use such puts in accordance with regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Manager understands that the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has issued a revenue ruling to the effect that, under specified circumstances, a registered investment company will be the owner of tax-exempt municipal obligations acquired subject to a put option. The IRS has also issued private letter rulings to certain taxpayers (which do not serve as precedent for other taxpayers) to the effect that tax-exempt interest received by a regulated investment company with respect to such obligations will be tax-exempt in the hands of the company and may be distributed to its shareholders as exempt-interest dividends. The IRS has subsequently announced that it will not ordinarily issue advance ruling letters as to the identity of the true owner of property in cases involving the sale of securities or participation interests therein if the purchaser has the right to cause the security, or the participation interest therein, to be purchased by either the seller or a third party. Each Tax-Free Fund intends to take the position that it is the owner of any municipal obligations acquired subject to a stand-by commitment or similar put right and that tax-exempt interest earned with respect to such municipal obligations will be tax-exempt in its hands. There is no assurance that stand-by commitments will be available to the Tax-Free Funds nor have the Tax-Free Funds assumed that such commitments would continue to be available under all market conditions.
U.S. Government Obligations, Other Securities and Portfolio Techniques
U.S. Government Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations are issued by the U.S. Treasury and include U.S. Treasury bills (maturing within one year of the date they are issued), certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds (issued with maturities longer than one year). Such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit pledge of the U.S. Government. Agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are established under the authority of an act of Congress and include, but are not limited to, the Government National Mortgage Association, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Bank for Cooperatives, the Farmer's Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, the FHA, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks and the Federal National Mortgage Association. Obligations are issued by such agencies or instrumentalities in a range of maturities and may be either (1) backed by the full faith and credit pledge of the U.S. Government, or (2) backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.
Repurchase Transactions. The Tax-Free Funds, the Government Fund and the Stock Funds may enter into repurchase agreements with government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Board or with member banks of the Federal Reserve System. Such a transaction is an agreement in which the seller of U.S. Government securities agrees to repurchase the securities sold to the Fund at a mutually agreed upon time and price. It may also be viewed as the loan of money by the Fund to the seller. The resale price normally is in excess of the purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon interest rate. The rate is effective for the period of time in the agreement and is not related to the coupon rate on the underlying security. The period of these repurchase agreements is usually short, from overnight to one week, and in particular, at no time will the Money Fund invest in repurchase agreements with a term of more than one year. The U.S. Government securities which are subject to repurchase agreements, however, may have maturity dates in excess of one year from the effective date of the repurchase agreement. A Fund always receives as collateral U.S. Government securities whose market value, including accrued interest, is at least equal to 100% of the dollar amount invested by the Fund in each agreement, and such Fund makes payment for such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer to the account of its custodian. If the seller defaults, the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral securing the repurchase agreement declines and might incur disposition costs in connection with liquidating the collateral. A Fund may not enter into a repurchase agreement with more than seven days to maturity if, as a result, more than 10% of the market value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in such repurchase agreements. With respect to the Tax-Free Funds and the Government Fund, the Manager on an ongoing basis will review and monitor the creditworthiness of institutions with which it has entered into repurchase agreements. The current policy of the Stock Funds is to limit repurchase agreements to those parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the Manager.
When-Issued Purchases and Forward Commitments. New issues of U.S. Government securities and municipal securities may be offered on a when-issued basis. Accordingly, the Tax-Free Funds and the Government Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. When-issued purchases and forward commitments involve a commitment by the Funds to purchase securities at a future date. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. Thus, the Fund bears the market risk of the security immediately following its commitment to buy the security. The value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase or a forward commitment to purchase securities, and any subsequent fluctuations in their value, is taken into account when determining a Fund's net asset value starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. Therefore, if a Fund remains substantially fully invested at the same time that it has committed to purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, its net asset value per share may be subject to greater price fluctuation. A Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitments generally takes place within two months of the date of the transaction, but delayed settlements beyond two months may be negotiated.
The Funds make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, each Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to that Fund on the settlement date. In these cases a Fund may realize a capital gain or loss.
When a Fund enters into a when-issued purchase or a forward commitment to purchase securities, the Funds' Custodian, Firstar Trust Company (the "Custodian") will establish, and maintain on a daily basis, a separate account of that Fund consisting of cash or portfolio securities having a value at least equal to the amount of that Fund's purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to insure that the Fund maintains sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.
Lending Portfolio Securities
Each of the Tax-Free Funds, the Treasury Trust, the Short-Term Government Fund and the Government Fund may lend up to one-third of its portfolio securities to non-affiliated brokers, dealers, and financial institutions provided that cash or U.S. Government securities equal to at least 100% of the market value of the securities loaned is deposited by the borrower with the lending Fund and is maintained each business day. Although the Stock Funds have no current intention to do so, each Stock Fund may lend up to 10% of its portfolio securities to non-affiliated brokers, dealers and financial institutions provided that cash or U.S. Government securities equal to at least 100% of the market value of the securities loaned is deposited by the borrower with the lending Fund and is maintained each business day. While such securities are on loan, the borrower will pay such Fund any income accruing thereon, and the Fund may invest or reinvest the collateral (depending on whether the collateral is cash or U.S. Government securities) in portfolio securities, thereby earning additional income. Each Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale. Loans are typically subject to termination by a Fund in the normal settlement time, currently five business days after notice, or by the borrower on one day's notice. Borrowed securities must be returned when the loan is terminated. Any gain or loss in the market price of the borrowed securities which occurs during the term of the loan inures to the lending Fund and its shareholders. A Fund may pay reasonable finders', borrowers', administrative, and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities. The Manager will review and monitor the creditworthiness of such borrowers on an ongoing basis.
Stock Index Futures Contracts
The Stock Funds may enter into agreements to "buy" or "sell" a stock index at a fixed price at a specified date. No stock actually changes hands under these contracts; instead, changes in the underlying index's value are settled in cash. The cash settlement amounts are based on the difference between the index's current value and the value contemplated by the contract. An option on a stock index futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an index futures contract; that is, exercise of the option results in ownership of a position in a futures contract. Most stock index futures are based on broad-based common stocks, such as the S&P 500 and the MidCap Index, both registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Corporation. Other broad-based indices include the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index, S&P BARRA/Value, Russell 2000, Value Line Composite Index, Standard & Poor's 100 Stock Index, The Nasdaq-100 Index, Dow Jones Euro Stoxx, and the MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) Euro Index.
Additionally, each Stock Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the area of futures contracts and options on futures contracts and any other derivative investments which are not presently contemplated for use by such Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with each Stock Fund's investment objective and legally permissible for such Fund.
The Manager expects that futures transactions for the 500 Fund, the MidCap Fund, the SmallCap Fund and the Nasdaq-100 Fund will typically involve the S&P 500 Index, the MidCap Index, the Russell 2000, and the Nasdaq-100 Index respectively. Beginning in 2002, futures tracking the S&P SmallCap Index were launched. Should the Manager determine that these futures offer sufficient liquidity and tracking characteristics, these futures will be used in lieu of the Russell 2000 futures. Futures transactions for the Equity Income Fund may involve any major index for which the Manager believes is in the best interest of the shareholders. The indices used may include, but are not limited to, the S&P 500, the MidCap Index and the Russell 2000 Index. Because the value of index futures depends primarily on the value of their underlying indices, the performance of broad-based contracts will generally reflect broad changes in common stock prices. Each Fund's investments may be more or less heavily weighted in securities of particular types of issuers, or securities of issuers in particular industries, than the indexes underlying its index futures positions. Therefore, while a Fund's index futures positions should provide exposure to changes in value of the underlying indexes (or protection against declines in their value in the case of hedging transactions), it is likely that, in the case of hedging transactions, the price changes of a Fund's index futures positions will not match the price changes of the Fund's other investments. Other factors that could affect the correlation of a Fund's index futures positions with its other investments are discussed below.
Futures Margin Payments. Both the purchaser and seller of a futures contract are required to deposit "initial margin" with a futures broker (known as a "futures commission merchant," or "FCM"), when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are equal to a percentage of the contract's value, as set by the exchange where the contract is traded, and may be maintained in cash or high quality liquid securities. If the value of either party's position declines, that party will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments are similar to good faith deposits or performance bonds, unlike margin extended by a securities broker, and initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of a Fund's investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy of a FCM that holds margin on behalf of a Fund, that Fund may be entitled to a return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM's other customers. The Manager will attempt to minimize this risk by monitoring the creditworthiness of the FCMs with which the Stock Funds do business.
Limitations on Stock Index Futures Transactions. Each Stock Fund has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Pursuant to Section 4.5 of the regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act, each Fund may use futures contracts for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of CFTC regulations; provided, however, that, with respect to positions in futures contracts which are not used for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of CFTC regulations, the aggregate initial margin required to establish such position will not exceed five percent of the liquidation value of each Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts into which the Fund has entered.
The Manager also intends to follow certain other limitations on each of the Stock Fund's futures activities. Under normal conditions, a Fund will not enter into any futures contract if, as a result, the sum of (i) the current value of assets hedged in the case of strategies involving the sale of securities, and (ii) the current value of the indexes or other instruments underlying the Fund's other futures positions would exceed 20% of such Fund's total assets. In addition, each Fund does not intend to enter into futures contracts that are not traded on exchanges or boards of trade.
The above limitations on the Stock Funds' investments in futures contracts, and these Funds' policies regarding futures contracts discussed elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, are not fundamental policies and may be changed as regulatory agencies permit. Non-fundamental policies may be changed without shareholder approval.
Various exchanges and regulatory authorities have undertaken reviews of futures trading in light of market volatility. Among the possible actions that have been presented are proposals to adopt new or more stringent daily price fluctuation limits for futures transactions, and proposals to increase the margin requirements for various types of strategies. It is impossible to predict what actions, if any, will result from these reviews at this time.
Each Stock Fund may purchase index futures contracts in order to attempt to remain fully invested in the stock market. For example, if a Fund had cash and short-term securities on hand that it wished to invest in common stocks, but at the same time it wished to maintain a highly liquid position in order to be prepared to meet redemption requests or other obligations, it could purchase an index futures contract in order to approximate the activity of the index with that portion of its portfolio. Each Stock Fund may also purchase futures contracts as an alternative to purchasing actual securities. For example, if a Fund intended to purchase stocks but had not yet done so, it could purchase a futures contract in order to participate in the index's activity while deciding on particular investments. This strategy is sometimes known as an anticipatory hedge. In these strategies a Fund would use futures contracts to attempt to achieve an overall return -- whether positive or negative -- similar to the return from the stocks included in the underlying index, while taking advantage of potentially greater liquidity than futures contracts may offer. Although a Fund would hold cash and liquid debt securities in a segregated account with a value sufficient to cover its open future obligations, the segregated assets would be available to the Fund immediately upon closing out the futures position, while settlement of securities transactions can take several days.
When a Fund wishes to sell securities, it may sell stock index futures contracts to hedge against stock market declines until the sale can be completed. For example, if the Manager anticipated a decline in common stock prices at a time when a Fund anticipated selling common stocks, it could sell a futures contract in order to lock in current market prices. If stock prices subsequently fell, the futures contract's value would be expected to rise and offset all or a portion of the anticipated loss in the common stocks the Fund had hedged in anticipation of selling them. Of course, if prices subsequently rose, the futures contract's value could be expected to fall and offset all or a portion of any gains from those securities. The success of this type of strategy depends to a great extent on the degree of correlation between the index futures contract and the securities hedged.
Asset Coverage for Futures Positions. Each Stock Fund will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of futures strategies by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require will set aside cash and or other appropriate liquid assets (e.g., U.S. equities, U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations) in a segregated custodial account in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures or option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of a Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or such Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Correlation of Price Changes. As noted above, price changes of a Fund's futures positions may not be well correlated with price changes of its other investments because of differences between the underlying indexes and the types of securities the Fund invests in. For example, if a Fund sold a broad-based index futures contract to hedge against a stock market decline while the Fund completed a sale of specific securities in its portfolio, it is possible that the price of the securities could move differently from the broad market average represented by the index futures contract, resulting in an imperfect hedge which could affect the correlation between the Fund's return and that of the respective benchmark index. In the case of an index futures contract purchased by the Fund either in anticipation of actual stock purchases or in an effort to be fully invested, failure of the contract to track its index accurately could hinder such Fund in the achievement of its objective.
Stock index futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying indexes. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying index, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. A Fund may sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge in order to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases.
Liquidity of Futures Contracts. Because futures contracts are generally settled within a day from the date they are closed out, compared with a settlement period of up to five days for some types of securities, the futures markets can provide superior liquidity to the securities markets in many cases. Nevertheless, there is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. In addition, futures exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts, and may halt trading if a contract's price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached, it may be impossible for a Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. Trading in index futures can also be halted if trading in the underlying index stocks is halted. If the secondary market for a futures contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it would prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable futures positions, and potentially could require a Fund to continue to hold a futures position until the delivery date regardless of potential consequences. If a Fund must continue to hold a futures position, its access to other assets held to cover the position could also be impaired.
American Depository Receipts (ADRs)
Under normal circumstances, the European Fund typically invests in sponsored and unsponsored ADRs. Such investments may subject the Fund to significant investment risks that are different from, and in addition to, those related to investments of U.S. domestic issuers or in the U.S. markets. Unsponsored ADRs may involve additional risks in that they are organized without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities. As a result, available information concerning the issuer may not be as current as that for sponsored ADRs.
The value of securities denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies and of dividends and interest from such securities can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weakened relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than the U.S. markets, and prices on some foreign securities can be highly volatile.
Many foreign countries lack uniform accounting and disclosure standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, and it may seem more difficult to obtain reliable information regarding an issuer's financial conditions and operations.
Settlement of transaction in some foreign markets may be delayed or may be less frequent than in the U.S., which could affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. In addition, the cost of foreign investing, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions and custodial costs, are generally higher than for U.S. investments.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors than U.S. markets. Foreign issuers, brokers, and securities markets may be subject to less government supervision. Foreign security trading practices, including those involving the release of assets in advance of payment, may involve increased risks in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of the broker-dealer, which may result in substantial delays in settlement. It may also be more difficult to enforce legal rights in foreign countries.
Investing abroad also involves different political and economic risks. Foreign investments may be affected by actions of foreign governments adverse to the interests of U.S. investors, including the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, restriction on U.S. investments or on the ability to repatriate assets or convert currency into U.S. dollars, or other government intervention. There may be a greater possibility of default by foreign governments or foreign government sponsored enterprises. Investments in foreign countries also involve the risk of local political, economic, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments. There is no assurance that the Manager will be able to anticipate these potential events or counter their effects.
Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Currencies.
The European Fund may purchase put and call options on securities in which it has invested, on foreign currencies represented in its portfolios and on any securities index based in whole or in part on securities in which the Fund may invest. In an effort to minimize risks, the Fund usually will not use options for speculative purposes or as leverage.
The Fund normally will purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest or a positive change in the currency in which such securities are denominated. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities or a specified amount of a foreign currency at a specified price during the option period.
The Fund may purchase and sell options traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges. Although the Fund will generally purchase only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option or at any particular time. For some options, no secondary market on an exchange may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of the underlying securities.
Secondary markets on an exchange may not exist or may be illiquid for a variety of reasons including: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on opening transactions or closing transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances which interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) inadequate facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation to handle current trading volume at all times; or (vi) discontinuance in the future by one or more exchanges for economic or other reasons, of trading of options (or of a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures that may interfere with the timely execution of the Fund's orders.
Securities of Other Investment Companies - Closed End Funds
The European Fund may purchase closed end funds that invest in foreign securities. Unlike open-end investment companies, like the Fund, closed end funds issue a fixed number of shares that trade on major stock exchanges or over the counter. Additionally, closed-end funds do not stand ready to issue or redeem on a continuous basis. Closed-end funds often sell at a discount to net asset value.
The Nasdaq-100 Index Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies. Those investment companies must invest in securities that the Fund can invest in a manner consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies.
Applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") require that a Fund limit its investments so that, as determined immediately after a securities purchase is made: (a) not more than 10% of the value of that Fund's total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group; and (b) either (i) that Fund and affiliated persons of that Fund not own together more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of any one investment company at the time of purchase (and that all shares of the investment company held by that Fund in excess of 1% of the company's total outstanding shares be deemed illiquid), or (ii) that Fund not invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company and the investment not represent more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company at the time of purchase. As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund bears its ratable share of that investment company's expenses, including advisory and administration fees, resulting in an additional layer of management fees and expenses for shareholders. This duplication of expenses would occur regardless of the type of investment company, i.e., open-end (mutual fund) or closed-end.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Except as noted with respect to any Fund, the Trust has adopted the following restrictions as additional fundamental policies of its Funds, which means that they may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund. Under the 1940 Act, a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Trust or of a particular Fund means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (l) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or of such Fund, or (2) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or of such Fund present at a meeting of shareholders if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or of such Fund are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. A Fund may not:
1. Borrow money or mortgage or pledge any of its assets, except that borrowings (and a pledge of assets therefor) for temporary or emergency purposes may be made from banks in any amount up to 10% (15% in the case of the Stock Funds) of the Fund's total asset value. However, a Fund will not purchase additional securities while the value of its outstanding borrowings exceeds 5% of its total assets. Secured temporary borrowings may take the form of a reverse repurchase agreement, pursuant to which a Fund would sell portfolio securities for cash and simultaneously agree to repurchase them at a specified date for the same amount of cash plus an interest component. (As a matter of operating policy, the Funds currently do not intend to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, but may do so in the future.)
2. Except as required in connection with permissible futures contracts (Stock Funds only), buy any securities on "margin" or sell any securities "short," except that it may use such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions.
3. Make loans, except (a) through the purchase of debt securities which are either publicly distributed or customarily purchased by institutional investors, (b) to the extent the entry into a repurchase agreement may be deemed a loan, or (c) to lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other institutional investors if at least 100% collateral, in the form of cash or securities of the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities, is pledged and maintained by the borrower.
4. Act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons except insofar as the Fund may be technically deemed an underwriter under the federal securities laws in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities.
5. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the securities of any one issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, as to which there are no percentage limits or restrictions) if immediately after and as a result of such purchase (a) the value of the holdings of the Fund in the securities of such issuer would exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets, or (b) the Fund would own more than 10% of the voting securities of any such issuer (both the issuer of the municipal obligation as well as the financial institution/ intermediary shall be considered issuers of a participation certificate), except that the Insured Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in securities insured by the same insurance company.
6. Purchase securities from or sell to the Trust's officers and Trustees, or any firm of which any officer or Trustee is a member, as principal, or retain securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Trust, one or more of the Trust's officers, Trustees, or investment adviser own beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer and all such officers and Trustees together own beneficially more than 5% of such securities (non-fundamental for the Stock Funds).
7. Acquire, lease or hold real estate, except such as may be necessary or advisable for the maintenance of its offices, and provided that this limitation shall not prohibit the purchase of securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
8. (a) Invest in commodities and commodity contracts, or interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs; provided, however, that a Fund may invest in futures contracts as described in the Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information (Stock Funds only).
(b) Invest in commodities and commodity contracts, puts, calls, straddles, spreads, or any combination thereof, or interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs, except that the Government Fund may purchase, hold, and dispose of "obligations with puts attached" in accordance with its investment policies (all Funds except the Stock Funds).
9. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.
10. (a) Purchase securities of other investment companies, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and as such securities may be acquired in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or reorganization (Stock Funds only, excluding the Nasdaq-100 Fund).
(b) Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or reorganization (all Funds except the Stock Funds).
11. Purchase illiquid securities, including (under current SEC interpretations) securities that are not readily marketable, and repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity if, as a result, more than 10% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in such illiquid securities.
12. Invest 25% or more of its assets in securities of any one industry, although for purposes of this limitation, tax-exempt securities and obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities are not considered to be part of any industry (both the industry of the issuer of the municipal obligation as well as the industry of the financial institution/intermediary shall be considered in the case of a participation certificate), except that the Insured Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in securities insured by the same insurance company. Index funds may exceed this limitation and will invest in proportion to the underlying index.
13. Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, except that this restriction shall not be deemed to prohibit a Fund from (a) making any permitted borrowings, mortgages or pledges, and (b) entering into permissible repurchase and futures transactions.
In addition, each Stock Fund has adopted the following restrictions as operating policies, which are not fundamental policies, and may be changed without shareholder approval in accordance with applicable regulations. Each Stock Fund may not:
1. Engage in short sales of securities.
2. Invest in warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market, in excess of 5% of the value of a Fund's net assets. Included in such amount, but not to exceed 2% of the value of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or American Stock Exchange. Warrants acquired by a Fund in units or attached to securities may be deemed to be without value.
3. Enter into a futures contract or option on a futures contract, if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken at market value at the time of entering into the contract) would be committed to initial deposits and premiums on open futures contracts and options on such contracts.
4. With the exception of the Nasdaq-100 Fund, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of companies (including predecessors) that have been in continuous operation for a period of less than three years.
5. Invest in puts, calls, straddles or spread options, or any combination thereof. (Excluding the SmallCap Fund, the Nasdaq-100 Fund and the European Fund.)
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a subsequent increase or decrease in a percentage resulting from a change in the values of assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction, except as otherwise noted.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
In accordance with the Funds' policies and procedures, the Funds' transfer agent and fund accountant, Alps Fund Services, Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") is responsible for dissemination of information about the Funds' portfolio holdings. Only an officer of the Funds may authorize the Transfer Agent to disclose portfolio holdings information. The Funds, together with the Transfer Agent and the Manager (the "Service Providers"), may only disclose information concerning securities held in the Funds' portfolios under the following circumstances:
1. Approximately 60 days following the end of each fiscal quarter, each Fund's full portfolio holdings will be made publicly available by the following means:
a. The Funds shall send shareholders portfolio holdings in the Funds' annual and semi-annual reports, which are mailed to shareholders and posted on the Funds' website in accordance with the SEC guidelines. Additionally, quarterly reports are filed with the SEC.
b. The Transfer Agent shall send portfolio holding to nationally-recognized rating agencies via electronic transmission at least annually.
2. The Funds or a Service Provider may disclose the Funds' portfolio securities holdings to selected third parties when the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for doing so. Examples of legitimate business purposes in which selective disclosure of the Funds' portfolio securities may be appropriate include disclosure for due diligence purposes to an investment advisor that is in merger or acquisition talks with the Advisor; disclosure to a newly hired investment advisor or sub-adviser prior to its commencing its duties; disclosure to third party service providers of accounting, auditing, custody, proxy voting and other services to the Funds; or disclosure to a rating or ranking organization;
3. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Funds will disclose their portfolio holdings in their applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-Q, Form N-CSR or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.
In accordance with the Funds' policies and procedures, third parties are required to keep confidential any information disclosed to them and to not engage in trading based on such information in accordance with the foregoing and no compensation may be received by the Funds, a Service Provider or any affiliate in connection with disclosure of such information. The Funds' Board will oversee disclosure under the foregoing policies and procedures by approval in advance of disclosures for legitimate business purposes and by regular review of reports on disclosures of the Funds' portfolio holdings.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees of the Trust have the responsibility for the overall management of the Trust, including general supervision and review of the Funds' investment activities. The Trustees appoint the officers of the Trust who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of such Trust and its Funds. The affiliations of the officers and Trustees and their principal occupations for the past five years are listed below. Trustees who are deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are indicated by an asterisk (*).
Position and Offices Date of with the Principal Occupation within Name and Address Birth Trust the Past five years ----------------------- -------- ----------- ----------------------------- *Stephen C. Rogers 06/27/66 President, Chief Executive Officer, CCM P.O. Box 387 Secretary, Partners, 1999 to present; San Francisco, CA 94104 Chairman of Chief Operating Officer, CCM the Board & Partners 1997 to 1999; Trustee Administrative Officer, CCM Partners 1994-1997; Marketing Representative, CCM Partners, 1993-1994. Harry Holmes 12/05/25 Trustee Principal, Harry Holmes & P.O. Box 387 Associates (consulting); San Francisco, CA 94104 President and Chief Executive Officer, Aspen Skiing Company, 1982-1984; President and Chief Executive Officer, Pebble Beach Company (property management), 1973-1984. John B. Sias 01/22/27 Trustee Director Enzo Biochem, Inc., P.O. Box 387 1982 to present: Chairman, San Francisco, CA 94104 President and CEO, Chronicle Publishing Company, 1993 to 2000; Executive Vice President, Capital Cities/ABC Inc. and President, ABC Network T.V. Group, 1986 to 1992. James W. Miller, Jr. 05/28/66 Trustee Director, RREEF 2006 to present; Executive P.O. Box 387 Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle San Francisco, CA 94104 Americas, Inc. 1999 to 2006; Associate, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 1996-1999; Associate, Gordon & Rees LLP, 1992-1993. Kevin T. Kogler 02/21/66 Trustee Principal, Robertson Piper Software Group, P.O. Box 387 2006 to present; Senior Vice President, San Francisco, CA 94104 Technology Investment Banking, Friedman, Billings Ramsey, 2003 to 2006; Director, Technology Investment Banking, Salomon Smith Barney, 2001-2002;Vice President, Technology Investment Banking, CS First Boston/Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette, Stephen H. Sutro Trustee 1997-2001 P.O. Box 387 04/09/69 San Francisco, CA 94104 Partner, Duane Morris LLP (law firm), 2003 to present; Associate, Duane Morris LLP, 2000-2002; Associate, Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP (law firm), 1994-1999 Christopher P. Browne 02/07/67 Treasurer Portfolio Manager, CIT Funds, P.O. Box 387 2004 to present; Manager, San Francisco, CA 94104 Autodesk, 2000-2004; Principal, Baystar Capital, 1998-2004. Michael O'Callaghan 07/14/67 Chief Chief Compliance Officer, CIT Funds, 2004 P.O. Box 387 Compliance to present; Fund Operations, CCM Partners, San Francisco, CA 94104 Officer 2003-2004; Senior Tax and Financial Reporting Analyst, Dresdner RCM Global Investors, 2000-2003. |
The Board met five times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006. Currently, the Board has an Audit Committee and a Pricing Committee. The responsibilities of each committee and its members are described below.
AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Board has an Audit Committee comprised only of the Independent Trustees (currently, Messrs. Holmes, Sias, Miller. Kogler, and Sutro). The Audit Committee has the responsibility, among other things, to (1) recommend the selection of the Funds' independent auditors; (2) review and approve the scope of the independent auditors' audit activity; (3) review the financial statements which are the subject of the independent auditor's certifications; and (4) review with such independent auditors the adequacy of the Funds' basic accounting system and the effectiveness of the Funds' internal accounting controls. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, there were two meetings of the Audit Committee.
PRICING COMMITTEE. The Board has a Pricing Committee, comprised of one Trustee of the Trust, certain officers of the Trust and of the Manager, which reviews and monitors the pricing policies adopted by the Board. The Pricing Committee is responsible for determining the fair value of each Fund's securities as needed in accordance with the pricing policies and performs such other tasks as the Board deems necessary. The Pricing Committee meets on an ad hoc basis to discuss issues relating to the valuation of securities held by the Funds. Committee members are required to report actions taken at their meetings at the next scheduled Board meeting following the Pricing Committee's meeting. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, there were eleven meetings of the Pricing Committee.
As shown on the following table, the Funds pay the fees of the Trustees who are not affiliated with the Manager, which are currently $2,500 per quarter and $500 for each meeting attended. Mr. Miller is compensated $3,000 annually for his services as Audit Committee Chair. The table provides information regarding the Funds as of August 31, 2006.
Pension or Estimated Total compensation Aggregate retirement benefits Annual respecting Registrant Fund group accrued as Fund benefits upon and Fund complex Name/Position compensation expenses retirement paid to Trustees Stephen C. Rogers None None None None President, Secretary & Trustee Harry Holmes $12,000 None None $12,000 Trustee John B. Sias $12,000 None None $12,000 Trustee James W. Miller, Jr. $15,000 None None $15,000 Trustee Kevin T. Kogler $ 6,000 None None $ 6,000 Trustee Stephen H. Sutro $ 6,000 None None $ 6,000 Trustee |
Dollar Range of equity holdings in the respective Funds as of December 31, 2005:
Treasury Income Fund Insured Fund Money Fund Govt. Fund Nasdaq-100 Fund Trust ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen C. Rogers None None $50,001-$100,000 None $50,001-$100,000 $1-$10,000 Harry Holmes None None None None None None John B. Sias None None None None None Above $100,000 James W. Miller, Jr. None None $10,001-$50,000 None $50,001-$100,000 $1-$10,000 Kevin T.Kogler None $1-$10,000 None None $50,001-$100,000 None Stephen H. Sutro None None None None None None Equity Short-Term 500 Fund MidCap Fund SmallCap Fund Income Fund Govt. Fund Euro Fund ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen C. Rogers $10,001-$50,000 Above $100,000 Above $100,000 $50,001-$100,000 Above$100,000 $50,001-$100,000 Harry Holmes None None None Above $100,000 None None John B. Sias None Above $100,000 None None None None James W. Miller, Jr. None $10,001-$50,0000 $10,001-$50,000 None $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 Kevin T. Kogler Above $100,000 None None None None None StephenH. Sutro None None None None None None |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Trust and Fund Complex:
Stephen C. Rogers Above $100,000 Harry Holmes Above $100,000 John B. Sias Above $100,000 |
James W. Miller, Jr. Above $100,000
Kevin T. Kogler Above $100,000
Stephen H. Sutro None
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
Management Services
CCM Partners, a California Limited Partnership (the "Manager"), is the investment adviser to the Funds pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 1, 2007, between the Trust on behalf of each of the Funds and the Manager (the "Agreement"). The Manager is controlled by a privately held partnership, RFS Partners, LP, which in turn is controlled by a family trust of which Mr. Stephen C. Rogers is a co-trustee.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Manager supplies investment research and portfolio management, including the selection of securities for the Funds to purchase, hold, or sell and the selection of brokers or dealers through whom the portfolio transactions of each Fund are executed. The Manager's activities are subject to review and supervision by the Trustees to whom the Manager renders periodic reports of the Funds' investment activities.
Each Fund pays for its own operating expenses and for its share of the Trust's expenses not assumed by the Manager, including, but not limited to, costs of custodian services, brokerage fees, taxes, interest, costs of reports and notices to shareholders, costs of dividend disbursing and shareholder record-keeping services (including telephone costs), auditing and legal fees, the fees of the independent Trustees and the salaries of any officers or employees who are not affiliated with the Manager, and its pro rata portion of premiums on the fidelity bond covering the Fund.
For the Manager's services, each Fund pays a monthly fee computed at the annual rates shown in the table below:
Funds Management Fee per annum Range of average daily net assets of each fund ----------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------------------------------- Income Fund, Insured 1/2 of 1% (0.50%) Up to and including assets of $100 million Fund, Money Fund, 45/100 of 1% (0.45%) over $100 million up to and including $500 million Government Fund, Treasury Trust 4/10 of 1% (0.40%) over $500 million MidCap Fund 4/10 of 1% (0.40%) All assets 500 Fund 25/100 of 1% (0.25%) All assets European Fund 85/100 of 1% (0.85%) All assets SmallCap Fund, Equity 1/2 of 1% (0.50%) Up to and including assets of $500 million Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 45/100 of 1% (0.45%) over $500 million up to and including $1 billion Fund, Short-Term 4/10 of 1% (0.40%) over $1 billion Government Fund |
The Agreement provides that the Manager is obligated to reimburse each of the Funds (through a reduction of its management fees or otherwise) for all expenses (except for expenses such as front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, short sale dividend expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) in excess of 1% for the undesignated class shares and 1.50%for the Class K shares of each such Fund's average daily net assets. The Manager may also, and has to date for certain Funds, reduced its fees in excess of its obligations under the Agreements.
The following fees were paid to the Manager:
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004:
Fund Fee Reimbursement Net to Manager ------------------------ -------- ------------- -------------- Money Fund $428,854 $178,118 $250,736 Income Fund $817,850 $ 0 $817,850 Government Fund $153,796 $ 28,834 $124,962 Treasury Trust $206,814 $141,755 $ 65,059 Insured Fund $140,439 $ 32,995 $107,444 S&P 500 $272,236 $173,545 $ 98,691 S&P MidCap $495,417 $100,400 $395,017 S&P SmallCap $111,032 $ 37,970 $ 73,062 Equity Income $ 63,034 $ 13,530 $ 49,504 European Growth & Income $ 37,927 $ 34,525 $ 3,402 Nasdaq-100 $ 88,112 $ 44,665 $ 43,447 Short-Term Gov't Fund $ 91,269 $ 54,105 $ 37,164 |
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005:
Fund Fee Reimbursement Net to Manager ------------------------ -------- ------------- -------------- Money Fund $375,619 $148,649 $226,970 Income Fund $710,619 $ 0 $710,619 Government Fund $146,870 $ 23,631 $123,239 Treasury Trust $211,178 $111,758 $ 99,420 Insured Fund $123,272 $ 32,208 $ 91,064 S&P 500 $276,585 $149,088 $127,497 S&P MidCap $607,173 $ 56,893 $550,280 S&P SmallCap $139,183 $ 42,321 $ 96,862 Equity Income $ 87,331 $ 2,762 $ 84,569 European Growth & Income $ 56,851 $ 38,812 $ 18,039 Nasdaq-100 $ 89,140 $ 43,017 $ 46,123 Short-Term Gov't Fund $ 84,377 $ 48,289 $ 36,088 |
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006:
Fund Fee Reimbursement Net to Manager ------------------------ -------- ------------- -------------- Money Fund 324,827 145,589 179,238 Income Fund 649,314 - 649,314 Government Fund 134,422 31,857 102,565 Treasury Trust 196,893 104,529 92,364 Insured Fund 100,910 41,744 59,166 S&P 500 271,598 187,303 84,295 S&P MidCap 698,638 108,736 589,902 S&P SmallCap 157,392 57,446 99,946 Equity Income 102,059 950 101,109 European Growth & Income 76,562 44,359 32,203 Nasdaq-100 88,568 51,952 36,616 Short-Term Gov't Fund 76,765 50,442 26,323 |
The Agreement is currently in effect until May 11th, 2008 and will be in effect thereafter only if it is renewed for each Fund for successive periods not exceeding one year by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust or a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund, and (ii) a vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or an interested person of any such party (other than as a Trustee), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Agreement.
The Agreement may be terminated without penalty at any time by the Trust with respect to one or more of the Funds (either by the applicable Board of Trustees or by a majority vote of the terminating Fund's outstanding shares). Each Agreement may also be terminated by the Manager on 60-days' written notice and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment as defined in the 1940 Act.
Administrative Services
As pursuant to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreements, CCM Partners ("Administrator") also serves as the Funds' Administrator. The Administrator is responsible for handling the administrative requirements of the Funds and, as compensation for these duties, receives fees of 0.10% on the first $100 million in combined assets of the Trust, 0.08% on the next $400 million in combined assets of the Trust, and 0.06% on the Trust combined assets over $500 million.
Portfolio Managers
The table below includes details about the type, number, and assets under management for the various types of accounts, and total assets in the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the accounts that Messrs. Rogers and Browne, managed as of August 31, 2006:
Stephen C. Rogers
Number of Accounts Managed for which Assets Managed for Number of Investment Advisory which Investment Accounts Total Assets Fee is Advisory Fee is Type of Account Managed Managed Performance-Based Performance-Based -------------------------------- --------- ------------ ------------------- ------------------ Registered Investment Companies 12 $677,789,895 0 $-- Other pooled investment vehicles 0 0 0 $-- Other accounts 0 0 0 $-- |
Christopher P. Browne
Number of Accounts Managed for which Assets Managed for Number of Investment Advisory which Investment Accounts Total Assets Fee is Advisory Fee is Type of Account Managed Managed Performance-Based Performance-Based -------------------------------- --------- ------------ ------------------- ------------------ Registered Investment Companies 6 $321,234,729 0 $-- Other pooled investment vehicles 0 0 0 $-- Other accounts 0 0 0 $-- |
Potential Conflicts
Individual portfolio managers may manage multiple CIT Funds. CCM manages potential conflicts between Funds through allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes, including, but not limited to reports and oversight by management. CCM has developed trade allocation systems and controls to help ensure that no one Fund, regardless of type, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.
Portfolio Manager Securities Ownership
The table below identifies the dollar range Fund shares beneficially owned by each portfolio manager of such Fund, as of August 31, 2006.
Treasury Income Fund Insured Fund Money Fund Govt. Fund Nasdaq-100 Fund Trust ----------- ------------ ---------------- ---------- ---------------- ---------------- Stephen C. Rogers None None $50,001-$100,000 None $50,001-$100,000 $50,001-$100,000 Christopher P. Browne None None None $1-$10,000 None $1-$10,000 |
Equity Short-Term 500 Fund MidCap Fund SmallCap Fund Income Fund Govt. Fund Euro Fund --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- Stephen C. Rogers $10,001-$50,000 $100,001-$500,000 $100,001-$500,000 $50,001-$100,000 $50,001-$100,000 $50,001-$100,000 Christopher P. Browne $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 $1-$10,000 $1-$10,000 None $1-$10,000 |
Compensation
Compensation of Portfolio Managers (PMs) includes a base salary, cash bonus, and a package of employee benefits that are generally available to all salaried employees. Compensation is structured to emphasize the success of the Manager rather than that of any one individual. The Manager does not have any "incentive compensation" or "deferred compensation" programs for the PMs. Compensation is not linked to the distribution of Fund shares or to the performance of any account or Fund. Some of the PMs also participate in equity ownership of the Manager. Each element of compensation is detailed below:
Base Salary. PMs are paid a fixed base salary that is intended to be competitive in light of each PMs' experience and responsibilities.
Bonus. Bonus payments are based on a number of factors including the profitability of the firm and the employee's long-term contributions, full-time employees of the Manager with at least one year of tenure participate in the annual bonus program. Bonuses are not linked to the volume of assets managed or to measurements of relative or absolute investment returns.
Partnership interests. In the past, the firm has made partnership interests available in its general partner, RFS Partners to employees of the Manager. PMs have participated in these offerings by purchasing interests in the partnership. Partnership interests may provide pass-through income of the firm's profits and annual cash distributions based on each Partner's proportionate profit sharing interest. Distributions are generally determined based on considerations of the Manager's working capital requirements and on estimated tax liabilities associated with the pass-through income.
Employee Benefit Program. PMs participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees, which includes a qualified, defined-contribution profit sharing plan and company match.
The above information regarding compensation of PMs is current as of December 31, 2006.
Code of Ethics
The Trusts and the Manager have adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to
Section 17(j) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17j-1 thereunder (and Rule 204A-1 under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended). Currently, the Code of Ethics
prohibits personnel subject to the Code of Ethics from buying or selling
securities for their own individual accounts if such purchase or sale represents
$50,000 or 1,000 shares, whichever is greater, and if the securities at the time
of such purchase or sale (i) are being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund
(except the Index Funds) (ii) have been purchased or sold by a Fund within the
most recent seven (7) days if such person participated in the recommendation to,
or the decision by, the Fund to purchase or sell such security (except the Index
Funds). Notwithstanding these prohibitions, there are limited circumstances in
which personnel subject to the Code of Ethics may buy or sell securities for
their own account (e.g. purchases which are part of an automatic dividend
reinvestment plan). The Code of Ethics also requires personnel subject to the
Code to report personal holdings to the Trust or the Manager on both an annual
and a quarterly basis.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated to the Manager the authority to vote proxies of companies held in the Fund's portfolio. The Manager intends to apply its pre-determined proxy voting guidelines when voting proxies on behalf of the Fund.
The Manager recognizes that an investment adviser is a fiduciary that owes its clients, including the Fund, a duty of utmost good faith and full and fair disclosure of all material facts. An investment adviser's duty of loyalty requires an adviser to vote proxies in a manner consistent with the best interest of its clients and precludes the adviser from subrogating the clients' interests to its own. In addition, an investment adviser voting proxies on behalf of a fund must do so in a manner consistent with the best interests of the fund and its shareholders. The Board, in conjunction with the Manager, seeks to balance the benefits of voting the proxies against the associated costs to the shareholders. The Board will review its determination at least annually.
The Manager seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest by voting in accordance with its pre-determined written proxy voting guidelines (the "Voting Guidelines") in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on internal and external research and recommendations provided by a third party vendor, and without consideration of any client relationship factors. Further, the Manager may engage a third party as an independent fiduciary, as required, to vote all proxies of the Fund, and may engage an independent fiduciary to vote proxies of other issuers at its discretion.
All proxies received by the Fund are reviewed, categorized, analyzed and voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and any changes in the Manager's policies on specific issues. Items that can be categorized under the Voting Guidelines are voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines.
Proposals that cannot be categorized under the Voting Guidelines and raise a material conflict of interest between the Adviser and the Fund are referred to the Fund's Board of Trustees. Specifically, the Manager will disclose the conflict to the Board and obtain its consent to the proposed vote in question prior to voting the securities. The disclosure to the Board will include sufficient detail regarding the matter to be voted on and the nature of the Manager's conflict so that the Board would be able to make an informed decision regarding the vote. When the Board does not respond to such a conflict disclosure request or denies the request, the Manager will abstain from voting the securities held by the Fund.
With regard to voting proxies of foreign companies, the Manager weighs the cost of voting and potential inability to sell the securities (which may occur during the voting process) against the benefit of voting the proxies to determine whether or not to vote. With respect to securities lending transactions, the Manager seeks to balance the economic benefits of continuing to participate in an open securities lending transaction against the inability to vote proxies.
When evaluating proposals, the Manager recognizes that the management of a publicly-held company may need protection from the market's frequent focus on short-term considerations, so as to be able to concentrate on such long-term goals as productivity and development of competitive products and services. In addition, the Manager generally supports proposals designed to provide management with short-term insulation from outside influences so as to enable them to bargain effectively with potential suitors to the extent such proposals are discrete and not bundled with other proposals. The Manager believes that a shareholder's role in the governance of a publicly-held company is generally limited to monitoring the performance of the company and its management and voting on matters which properly come to a shareholder vote. However, the Manager generally opposes proposals designed to insulate an issuer's management unnecessarily from the wishes of a majority of shareholders. Accordingly, the Manager generally votes in accordance with management on issues that, at the sole discretion of the Manager, it believes neither unduly limits the rights and privileges of shareholders nor adversely affects the value of the investment.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2006 is available (1) by calling the Funds at (800) 225-8778, or (2) on the SEC's website at http:///www.sec.gov.
Share Marketing Plan
The Trust has adopted a Share Marketing Plan (or Rule 12b-1 Plan) (the "12b-1 Plan") with respect to the K Class pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Specifically, on August 12, 2003 the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the 12b-1 Plan or in any agreement related to the 12b-1 Plan (the "Independent Trustees"), at their regular quarterly meeting, adopted the 12b-1 Plan for the newly designated Class K shares of each Fund. In Reviewing the Plan, the Board of Trustees considered the proposed range and nature of payments and terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust on behalf of each Fund and the Manager and the nature and amount of other payments, fees and commissions that may be paid to the Manager, its affiliates and other agents of the Trust.
Under the 12b-1 Plan, each Fund pays distribution fees to the Fund's
distributor at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's aggregate average daily net
assets attributable to its Class K shares, to reimburse the distributor for its
expenses in connection with the promotion and distribution of the Class K
shares. The 12b-1 Plan provides that the Fund's distributor may use the
distribution fees received from the Class K shares of the Fund covered by the
12b-1 Plan only to pay for the distribution expenses of that Class. For the
Fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the Funds paid 12b-1 fees as follows:
Government Bond Fund, $11,788; US Treasury Trust, $6,161; Short-Term Govt.,
$3,434; S&P 500, $13,298; S&P MidCap, $13,335; S&P SmallCap, $16,750; Equity
Income, $8,761; Euro Growth & Income, $9,372; Nasdaq-100, $9,133.
Shareholder Services Plan
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the "Services Plan") with respect to the K Class. The Manager (or its affiliate) serves as the service provider under the Services Plan and, as such, receives any fees paid by the Funds pursuant to the Services Plan.
On August 12, 2003, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trusts and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Services Plan or in any agreement related to the Services Plan (the "Independent Trustees"), at their regular quarterly meeting, adopted the Services Plan for the Class K shares of each Fund.
Under the Services Plan, the covered shares of each Fund will pay a continuing service fee to the Manager, the Fund's distributor or other service providers, in an amount, computed and prorated on a daily basis, equal to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the covered shares of each Fund. Such amounts are compensation for providing certain services to clients owning those shares of the Funds, including personal services such as processing purchase and redemption transactions, assisting in change of address requests and similar administrative details, and providing other information and assistance with respect to a Fund, including responding to shareholder inquiries.
For the Fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the Funds paid Shareholder servicing fees as follows: Government Bond Fund, $11,788; US Treasury Trust, $6,161; Short-Term Govt., $3,434; S&P 500, $13,298; S&P MidCap, $13,335; S&P SmallCap, $16,750; Equity Income, $8,761; Euro Growth & Income, $9,372; Nasdaq-100, $9,133.
Principal Underwriter
RFS Partners, a California limited partnership, is currently the principal underwriter of each Fund's shares under an underwriting agreement with each Fund, pursuant to which RFS Partners agrees to act as each Fund's distribution agent. Each Fund's shares are sold to the public on a best efforts basis in a continuous offering without a sales load or other commission or compensation. RFS Partners is the general partner of the Funds' Manager. The general partner of RFS Partners is Richard F. Shelton, Inc., a corporation that is controlled by a family trust, of which Stephen C. Rogers serves as a co-trustee. While the shares of each Fund are offered directly to the public with no sales charge, RFS Partners may, out of its own monies, compensate brokers who assist in the sale of a Fund's shares. In addition, the Manager may, out of its own monies, make cash contributions to tax-exempt charitable organizations that invest in the Funds.
Other Services
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. acts as the shareholder servicing agent for the Trust and acts as the Trust's transfer and dividend-paying agent. In such capacities it performs many services, including portfolio and net asset valuation, bookkeeping, and shareholder record-keeping.
US Bank N.A. (the "Custodian") acts as custodian of the securities and other assets of the Trust. The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. Under the custodian agreement, the Custodian (i) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of each Fund, (ii) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of each Fund, (iii) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of each Fund, (iv) collects and receives all income and other payments and distribution on account of each Fund's securities and (v) makes periodic reports to the Trustees of each Trust concerning each Fund's operations.
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP (the "Auditors"), 1818 Market Street, Suite 2400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, are the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trusts. The Auditors provide audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to regulatory filings with the SEC. The Auditors also audit the books of each Fund once each year.
The validity of shares of beneficial interest offered hereby has been passed on by Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, 55 Second Street, 24th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105.
POLICIES REGARDING BROKER-DEALERS USED FOR PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, assignment of their portfolio business, and negotiation of commission rates and prices are made by the Manager, whose policy is to obtain the "best execution" available (i.e., prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security price). If purchases made by the Funds are effected via principal transactions with one or more dealers (typically a market maker firm in the particular security or a selling group member in the case of an initial or secondary public offering) at net prices, the Funds will generally incur few or no brokerage costs. These dealers are compensated through the principal "spread," and may also charge related transaction fees. Purchases of portfolio securities from underwriters may include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers will include a spread between the bid and asked price.
However, in order to obtain additional research and brokerage services on a "soft dollar" basis, and in order to obtain other qualitative execution services that the Manager believes are important to best execution, the Manager may place over-the-counter ("OTC") equity transactions and/or place fixed-income transactions with specialized broker-dealers with which the Manager has a "soft dollar" credit arrangement, and that execute such transactions on an agency basis ("Brokers"). When the Manager uses Brokers to execute OTC equity transactions and/or fixed-income transactions on an agency basis, the Manager takes steps to ensure that the prices obtained in such transactions are competitive with the prices that could have been obtained had the transactions been conducted on a principal basis, i.e., directly with the dealers. However, the total cost (i.e., price plus/minus commission) of executing an OTC equity transaction and/or or a fixed income transaction through a Broker on an agency basis may be less favorable than that of executing that same transaction with a dealer because the Broker will receive a commission for its services, including for the provision of research products, services or credits. The Manager will take steps to ensure that commissions paid are reasonable in relation to, among other things: (i) the value of all the brokerage and research products and services provided by that Broker and (ii) the quality of execution provided by that Broker. Accordingly, the Manager uses Brokers to effect OTC equity transactions and/or fixed income transactions for the Funds where the total cost is, in the Manager's opinion, reasonable, but not necessarily the lowest total cost available.
In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Manager generally considers, among other things, the broker-dealer's reliability, the quality of its execution services on a continuing basis, the financial condition of the broker-dealer, and the research services provided, which include furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of purchasing or selling specific securities and furnishing analysis and reports concerning state and local governments, securities, and economic factors and trends, and portfolio strategy. The Manager considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Manager under the Agreement, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.
The Funds may pay brokerage commissions in an amount higher than the lowest available rate for brokerage and research services as authorized, under certain circumstances, by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Where commissions paid reflect research services and information furnished in addition to execution, the Manager believes that such services were bona fide and rendered for the benefit of its clients. For the fiscal year ended August 31 of each year shown, the commissions paid are as follows:
2004 2005 2006 --------------------------- S&P 500 $ 7,640 $15,114 $ 6,186 S&P MidCap $38,269 $49,148 $33,201 S&P SmallCap $ 9,432 $ 3,486 $ 5,922 Nasdaq-100 Index $ 7,802 $ 3,420 $ 5,210 Equity Income Fund $ 4,525 $ 4,315 $ 1,905 European Fund $ 2,018 $ 1,655 $ 857 |
The Manager ceased using soft dollar credits pending a review regarding the practice. In the past, a broker would provide research services to the Manager. Such research were paid for by the broker using soft dollars credits. Any research received by the Manager was used for the exclusive benefit of the Funds and their shareholders. The Manager does not currently use soft dollars but may do so in the future with respect to the Funds at its discretion, subject to oversight by the Trustees.
If purchases or sales of securities of the Funds are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among the several Funds in a manner deemed equitable to all by the Manager, taking into account the respective sizes of the Funds, and the amount of securities to be purchased or sold. It is recognized that it is possible that in some cases this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as a Fund is concerned. In other cases, however, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions or net prices will be beneficial to a Fund
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES
Purchase Orders
The purchase price for shares of the Funds is the net asset value of such shares next determined after receipt and acceptance of a purchase order in proper form by the Funds' Transfer Agent, ALPS Fund Services, Denver. Once shares of a Fund are purchased, they begin earning income immediately, and income dividends will start being credited to the investor's account on the day following the effective date of purchase and continue through the day the shares in the account are redeemed. All checks are accepted subject to collection at full face value in U.S. funds and must be drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. bank. Checks drawn in U.S. funds on foreign banks will not be credited to the shareholder's account and dividends will not begin accruing until the proceeds are collected, which can take a long period of time.
Payments transmitted by wire and received by the Transfer Agent prior to the close of the Funds, normally at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m. Pacific time) on any business day are effective on the same day as received. Wire payments received by the Transfer Agent after that time will normally be effective on the next business day and such purchases will be made at the net asset value next calculated after receipt of that payment.
Shareholder Accounting
All purchases of Fund shares will be credited to the shareholder in full and fractional shares of the relevant Fund (rounded to the nearest 1/1000 of a share) in an account maintained for the shareholder by the Trust's transfer agent. Share certificates will not be issued for any Fund at any time. To open an account in the name of a corporation, a resolution of that corporation's Board of Directors will be required. Other evidence of corporate status or the authority of account signatories may be required.
The Trust reserves the right to reject any order for the purchase of shares of any Fund, in whole or in part. In addition, the offering of shares of any Fund may be suspended by the Trust at any time and resumed at any time thereafter.
Shareholder Redemptions
All requests for redemption and all share assignments should be sent to the applicable Fund, P.O. Box 387, San Francisco, California 94104-0387, or, for telephone redemptions, by calling the Fund at (800) 225-8778. For online redemptions, visit the Funds' website at www.caltrust.com.
Redemptions will be made in cash at the net asset value per share next determined after receipt by the transfer agent of a redemption request in proper form, including all share certificates, share assignments, signature guarantees, and other documentation as may be required by the transfer agent. The amount received upon redemption may be more or less than the shareholder's original investment.
The Trust will attempt to make payment for all redemptions within one business day, but in no event later than seven days after receipt of such redemption request in proper form. However, the Trust reserves the right to suspend redemptions or postpone the date of payment (1) for any periods during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than for the customary weekend and holiday closings), (2) when trading in the markets the Trust usually utilize is restricted or an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC, so that disposal of the Trust's investments or the determination of a Fund's net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other periods as the SEC by order may permit for the protection of a Trust's shareholders. Also, the Trust will not mail redemption proceeds until checks used for the purchase of the shares have cleared, which can take up to 15 days.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Trust understands that the New York Stock Exchange is closed for the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. The Bond and Money Market Funds are expected to be closed on the following additional days: Columbus Day and Veterans Day. On holidays in which the Custodian is closed, any transactions will be processed on the following business day.
Due to the relatively high cost of handling small investments, the Trust reserves the right to redeem, involuntarily, at net asset value, the shares of any shareholder whose accounts in the Trust have an aggregate value of less than $5,000 ($1,000 in the case of the Stock Funds), but only where the value of such accounts has been reduced by such shareholder's prior voluntary redemption of shares. In any event, before the Trust redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of the shares in that shareholder's account is less than the minimum amount and allow that shareholder 30 days to make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the aggregate value of that shareholder's accounts to at least $5,000 before the redemption is processed ($1,000 in the case of the Stock Funds).
Use of the Exchange Privilege as described in the Prospectus in conjunction with market timing services offered through numerous securities dealers has become increasingly popular as a means of capital management. In the event that a substantial portion of a Fund's shareholders should, within a short period, elect to redeem their shares of that Fund pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, the Fund might have to liquidate portfolio securities it might otherwise hold and incur the additional costs related to such transactions. The Exchange Privilege may be terminated or suspended by the Funds upon 60-day's prior notice to shareholders.
Redemptions in Kind
The Trust has committed itself to pay in cash all requests for redemption by any shareholder of record, limited in amount, however, during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the value of the applicable Fund's net assets at the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable without the prior approval of the SEC. In the case of requests for redemption in excess of such amounts, the Trustees reserve the right to make payments in whole or in part in securities or other assets of the Fund from which the shareholder is redeeming in case of an emergency, or if the payment of such a redemption in cash would be detrimental to the existing shareholders of that Fund or the Trust. In such circumstances, the securities distributed would be valued at the price used to compute such Fund's net asset value. Should a Fund do so, a shareholder would likely incur transaction fees in converting the securities to cash.
Determination of Net Asset Value Per Share ("NAV")
The valuation of the portfolio securities of the Money Fund and the Treasury Trust (including any securities held in the separate account maintained for when-issued securities) is based upon their amortized cost, which does not take into account unrealized capital gains or losses. This involves valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price such Funds would receive if they sold the instrument. During periods of declining interest rates, the daily yield on shares of the Money Fund and the Treasury Trust computed as described above may tend to be higher than a like computation made by a Fund with identical investments utilizing a method of valuation based upon market prices. Thus, if the use of amortized cost by such Funds resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in such Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield than would result from investment in a Fund utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in such Fund would receive less investment income. The converse would apply in a period of rising interest rates.
The use of amortized cost by the Money Fund and the Treasury Trust, and the maintenance of each Fund's per share net asset value at $1.00 is permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which each Fund must adhere to certain conditions. There are policies that the Manager follows regarding 2a-7. Under the amortized cost method, securities are valued at their acquisition cost, as adjusted for amortization of premium or discount, rather than at current market value. Calculations are made at least weekly to compare the value of these Funds' investments valued at amortized cost with market values.
The Money Fund and the Treasury Trust each maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less, only purchase instruments having remaining maturities of 397 days or less, and only invest in securities determined by the Trustees to be of high quality with minimal credit risks. The Trustees have also established procedures designed to stabilize, to the extent reasonably possible, each Fund's price per share as computed for the purpose of sales and redemptions at $1.00. Such procedures include review of each Fund's portfolio holdings by the Trustees, at such intervals as they may deem appropriate, to determine whether each Fund's net asset value calculated by using available market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share based on amortized cost. The extent of any deviation is examined by the Trustees. If such deviation exceeds 1/2 of 1%, the Trustees will promptly consider what action, if any, will be initiated. In the event the Trustees determine that a deviation exists which may result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders, they have agreed to take such corrective action as they regard as necessary and appropriate, which may include the sale of portfolio securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity, adjusting or withholding of dividends, redemptions of shares in kind, or establishing a net asset value per share by using available market quotations.
The portfolio securities of the Stock Funds are generally valued at the last reported sale price. In the case of the Futures contracts held by the Stock Funds, the valuation is determined using the settle price provided by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, typically as of 1:15 p.m., Pacific time. Securities held by the Stock Funds that have no reported last sale for any day that a Fund's NAV is calculated and securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest available bid price. Portfolio securities held by the Income Fund and the Insured Fund for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last available bid. The Government Fund and the Short-Term Government Fund for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the bid and ask price of the security. All other securities and assets are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. Securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued on the amortized cost basis unless the Trustees determine that such valuation does not reflect fair value. The Trusts may also utilize a pricing service, bank, or broker/dealer experienced in such matters to perform any of the pricing functions.
TAXATION
Provided that, as anticipated, each Tax-Free Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of each Tax-Free Fund consists of Municipal Obligations, each Tax-Free Fund may designate and pay exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on such obligations. Such exempt-interest dividends may be excluded by shareholders of the Tax-Free Funds from their gross income for federal income tax purposes. Corporate shareholders must take all exempt-interest dividends into account in determining "adjusted current earnings" for purposes of calculating their alternative minimum tax. Each Tax-Free Fund might purchase municipal obligations at a discount from the prices at which they were originally issued, especially during periods of rising interest rates. For federal income tax purposes, some or all of this market discount may be included in the Tax-Free Funds' ordinary income and will be taxable to shareholders as such when it is distributed. If, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of each Tax-Free Fund consists of obligations that produce interest that is exempt from California personal income tax if received by an individual, and if each maintains its qualification as a regulated investment company, then such Tax-Free Fund will be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders that, to the extent they are attributable to interest received by such Tax-Free Fund on such obligations, are exempt from California personal income tax. The total amount of exempt-interest dividends paid by a Tax-Free Fund to its shareholders with respect to any taxable year cannot exceed the amount of interest received by the Fund during such year on tax-exempt obligations less any expenses attributable to such interest.
Provided that, as anticipated, the Treasury Trust qualifies as a regulated investment company and meets certain requirements of California tax law, including the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its individual total assets are invested in direct obligations of the United States (or other U.S. and California tax-exempt obligations), then the Treasury Trust will be qualified to pay dividends to its shareholders that, to the extent they are attributable to interest received by the Treasury on such U.S. Government obligations, will be exempt from California personal income tax. Because the GNMA certificates in which the Government Fund and Short Term Government Fund invests are not considered direct obligations of the United States for this purpose, the Government Fund or Short Term Government Fund may not meet the 50% requirement; as a result, dividends paid by the respective Fund may be subject to California personal income tax.
Exempt-interest dividends paid to Tax-Free Fund shareholders that are corporations subject to California franchise or income tax will be taxed as ordinary income to such shareholders. Moreover, no dividend paid by the Tax-Free Funds will qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for federal income tax purposes.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of a Tax-Free Fund is not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Under regulations used by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") for determining when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of shares of a Fund. California personal income tax law restricts the deductibility of interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of a Fund paying dividends exempt from California personal income tax, as well as the allowance of losses realized upon a sale or redemption of shares, in substantially the same manner as federal tax law. Further, a Tax-Free Fund may not be an appropriate investment for persons who are "substantial users" of facilities financed by industrial revenue bonds or are "related persons" of such users. Such persons should consult their tax advisers before investing in one of the Tax-Free Funds.
Up to 85% of Social Security or railroad retirement benefits may be included in federal taxable income for benefit recipients whose adjusted gross income (including income from tax-exempt sources such as tax-exempt bonds and the Tax-Free Funds) plus 50% of their benefits exceeds certain base amounts. Income from the Tax-Free Funds, and others like them, is included in the calculation of whether a recipient's income exceeds certain established amounts but is not taxable directly. California does not impose personal income tax on Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on Municipal Obligations. It can be expected that similar proposals may be introduced in the future. Proposals by members of state legislatures may also be introduced which could affect the state tax treatment of the Tax-Free Funds' distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of Municipal Obligations for investment by the Tax-Free Funds and the value of the Tax-Free Funds' portfolios would be affected. In such event, the Tax-Free Funds would reevaluate their investment objectives and policies.
General
Each Fund is treated as a separate entity and intends to continue to qualify in each year to be treated as a separate "regulated investment company" under the Code. Each of these Funds has elected such treatment and has so qualified during its last fiscal period ended August 31, 2006. To continue to qualify for the tax treatment afforded a regulated investment company under the Code, a Fund must distribute for each fiscal year at least 90% of its taxable income (including net realized short-term capital gains) and tax-exempt net investment income and meet certain source of income, diversification of assets and other requirements of the Code. Provided a Fund continues to qualify for such tax treatment, it will not be subject to federal income tax on the part of its net investment income and its net realized capital gains which it distributes to shareholders, nor will it be subject to Massachusetts or California income or excise taxation. Each Fund must also meet certain Code requirements relating to the timing of its distributions, which generally require the distribution of substantially all of its taxable income and capital gains each calendar year, in order to avoid a 4% federal excise tax on certain retained amounts.
Each Stock Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts. Such transactions are subject to special tax rules which may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. Unless a Fund is eligible to make and makes a special election, such futures contracts that are "Section 1256 contracts" (such as a futures contract the margin requirements for which are based on a marked-to-market system and which is traded on a "qualified board or exchange") will be "marked to market" for federal income tax purposes at the end of each taxable year, i.e., each futures contract will be treated as sold for its fair market value on the last day of the taxable year. In general, unless the special election is made, gain or loss from transactions in such futures contracts will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss.
Dividends of net investment income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, whether such distributions are taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Distributions of net long-term capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains, whether such distributions are taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, and regardless of how long shares of a Fund have been held. The current maximum federal individual tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 35.0%. The current maximum federal individual tax rate applicable to net long-term capital gains is 15% for investments held longer than 12 months. Dividends declared by a Fund in October, November, or December of any calendar year to shareholders of record as of a record date in such a month will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of that year if they are paid during January of the following year.
A portion of each Stock Fund's ordinary income dividends may qualify for
the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders under Code
Section 243 to the extent that the Fund's income is derived from qualifying
dividends. Availability of the deduction is subject to certain holding periods
and debt-financing limitations. Because a Fund may also earn other types of
income such as interest, income from securities loans, non-qualifying dividends,
and short-term capital gains, the percentage of dividends from a Fund that
qualifies for the deduction generally will be less than 100%. Each Stock Fund
will notify corporate shareholders annually of the percentage of Fund dividends
that qualifies for the dividends received deduction.
For any fiscal year, each Fund may use the accounting practice called equalization in order to avoid the dilution of the dividends payable to existing shareholders. Under this procedure, that portion of the net asset value per share of a Fund which is attributable to undistributed income is allocated as a credit to undistributed income in connection with the purchase of shares or a debit to undistributed income in connection with the redemption of shares. Thus, after every distribution, the value of a share drops by the amount of the distribution. The use of equalization accounting by the Funds may affect the amount, timing and character of their distributions to shareholders.
Each Fund is required to file information reports with the IRS with respect to taxable distributions and other reportable payments made to shareholders. The Code requires backup withholding of tax at a rate of 30% on redemptions (except redemptions of Money Fund and Treasury Trust shares) and other reportable payments made to non-exempt shareholders if they have not provided the Fund with their correct social security or other taxpayer identification number and made the certifications required by the IRS or if the IRS or a broker has given notification that the number furnished is incorrect or that withholding applies as a result of previous underreporting. Such withholding is not required with respect to the Tax-Free Funds' dividends qualifying as "exempt-interest dividends" but will apply to the proceeds of redemption or repurchase of Fund (except Money Fund and Treasury Trust) shares for which the correct taxpayer identification number has not been furnished in the manner required or if withholding is otherwise applicable. Therefore, investors should make certain that their correct taxpayer identification number and completed certifications are included in the application form when opening an account.
The information above is only a summary of some of the tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders. No attempt has been made to discuss individual tax consequences and this discussion should not be construed as applicable to all shareholders' tax situations. Investors should consult their own tax advisers to determine the suitability of a particular Fund and the applicability of any federal, state, local, or foreign taxation. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP has expressed no opinion in respect thereof. Foreign shareholders should consider, in particular, the possible application of U.S. withholding taxes on certain taxable distributions from a Fund at rates up to 30% (subject to reduction under certain income tax treaties).
Yield Disclosure and Performance Information
As noted in this SAI, each Fund may from time to time quote various performance figures in advertisements and investor communications to illustrate the Fund's past performance. Performance information published by the Funds will be in compliance with rules adopted by the SEC. These rules require the use of standardized performance quotations or, alternatively, that every non-standardized performance quotation furnished by a Fund be accompanied by certain standardized performance information computed as required by the SEC. An explanation of the methods used by the Funds to compute or express performance is discussed below.
Total Return
Total return for the Funds may be stated for any relevant period as specified in the advertisement or communication. Any statements of total return or other performance data for the Funds will be limited to or accompanied by standardized information on the Fund's average annual compounded rate of return over the most recent four calendar quarters, five years, 10 years (if applicable) and over the life of the Fund (i.e., the period from the Fund's inception of operations through the end of the most recent calendar quarter).
The average annual compounded rate of return is determined by reference to a hypothetical $1,000 investment that includes capital appreciation and depreciation for the stated period and assumes reinvestment (on the reinvestment date) of all distributions at net asset value and redemption at the end of the stated period. It is calculated according to the following standardized formula:
n
P(1+T) = ERV
where:
P = a hypothetical initial purchase order of $1,000 from which the maximum sales load is deducted
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = Ending Redeemable Value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a 1-, 5- or 10-year period at the end of a 1-, 5- or 10-year period (or fractional portion)..
Average Annual Total Return (after taxes on distributions):
n P(1+T) = ATV D |
P = A hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return (after taxes on distributions).
n = number of years
ATVD = Ending Redeemable Value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a 1-, 5- or 10-year period at the end of a 1-, 5- or 10-year period (or fractional portion thereof), assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and complete redemption of the hypothetical investment at the end of the measuring period.
The Funds compute their average annual total return after taxes on distributions and redemptions by determining the average annual compounded rates of return during specified periods that equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value of such investment after taxes on fund distributions and redemptions. This is done by dividing the ending redeemable value after taxes on fund distributions and redemptions 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:
Average Annual Total Return (after taxes on distributions and redemptions):
ATVD
[------ to the 1/nth power-1] =
P
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 and at the end of such periods, after taxes on fund distributions and redemption. P = hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Since performance will fluctuate, performance data for the Funds should not be used to compare an investment in the Funds' shares with bank deposits, savings accounts and similar investment alternatives which often provide an agreed-upon or guaranteed fixed yield for a stated period of time. Shareholders should remember that performance is generally a function of the kind and quality of the instruments held in a portfolio, portfolio maturity, operating expenses and market conditions.
The average annual compounded rates of return, or total return, for the S class shares of the Income Fund, the Government Fund, the Insured Fund, the 500 Fund, the MidCap Fund, the SmallCap Fund, the Equity Income Fund, the European Fund, the Nasdaq-100 Fund, and the Short-Term Government Fund for the following periods were:
Period from One year Five years Ten years Inception* Ended ended ended through 8/31/06 8/31/06 8/31/06 8/31/06 ----------------------------------------------- Income Fund Return Before Taxes 1.84% 3.34% 4.94% 7.00% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.52% 3.10% 4.76% 6.87% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 2.19% 3.41% 4.84% 6.85% Government Fund Return Before Taxes 1.00% 3.58% 5.77% 7.08% Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.38% 2.50% 3.90% 5.29% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 0.84% 2.66% 3.91% 5.29% Insured Fund Return Before Taxes 1.67% 3.08% 4.46% 4.77% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.47% 2.89% 4.32% 4.67% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 1.88% 3.05% 4.33% 4.65% 500 Fund Return Before Taxes 8.61% 4.54% 8.88% 10.34% Return After Taxes on Distributions 8.35% 4.18% 8.05% 9.28% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 7.31% 3.75% 7.42% 8.67% MidCap Fund Return Before Taxes 5.80% 9.57% 13.73% 13.73% Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.63% 9.13% 11.62% 11.74% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 4.91% 8.22% 11.09% 11.25% SmallCap Fund Return Before Taxes 6.94% 11.12% n/a 10.38% Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.13% 10.70% n/a 9.53% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 5.87% 9.64% n/a 8.78% Equity Income Fund Return Before Taxes 6.50% 8.26% n/a 8.47% Return After Taxes on Distributions 5.89% 7.84% n/a 7.47% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 5.50% 7.01% n/a 6.88% European Fund Return Before Taxes 17.97% 8.70% n/a 1.44% Return After Taxes on Distributions 17.62% 8.31% n/a 1.07% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 15.26% 7.39% n/a 1.05% Nasdaq-100 Return Before Taxes -0.24% 1.27% n/a -12.69% Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.28% 1.23% n/a -12.81% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares -0.20% 1.07% n/a -10.08% Short-Term Government Fund Return Before Taxes 2.43% 1.87% n/a 3.17% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.91% 1.24% n/a 2.13% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 2.06% 1.35% n/a 2.17% |
The average annual compounded rates of return, or total return, for the K shares of the Government Fund, the 500 Fund, the MidCap Fund, the SmallCap Fund, the Equity Income Fund, the European Fund, the Nasdaq-100 Fund, and the Short-Term Government Fund for the following periods were:
Period from One year Five years Ten years Inception* Ended ended ended through 8/31/06 8/31/06 8/31/06 8/31/06 ----------------------------------------------- Government Fund Return Before Taxes 0.55% n/a n/a 2.53% Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.19% n/a n/a 2.17% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 0.61% n/a n/a 2.29% 500 Fund Return Before Taxes 8.04% n/a n/a 8.99% Return After Taxes on Distributions 7.87% n/a n/a 8.72% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 6.83% n/a n/a 7.73% MidCap Fund Return Before Taxes 5.23% n/a n/a 12.08% Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.15% n/a n/a 11.66% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 4.43% n/a n/a 10.42% SmallCap Fund Return Before Taxes 6.38% n/a n/a 13.60% Return After Taxes on Distributions 5.65% n/a n/a 13.03% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 5.40% n/a n/a 11.70% Equity Income Fund Return Before Taxes 5.92% n/a n/a 10.87% Return After Taxes on Distributions 5.39% n/a n/a 10.61% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 5.01% n/a n/a 9.35% European Fund Return Before Taxes 17.31% n/a n/a 16.80% Return After Taxes on Distributions 17.05% n/a n/a 16.57% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 14.70% n/a n/a 14.53% Nasdaq-100 Return Before Taxes -0.76% n/a n/a 3.01% Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.76% n/a n/a 3.00% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares -0.64% n/a n/a 2.57% Short-Term Government Fund Return Before Taxes 1.98% n/a n/a 0.90% Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.55% n/a n/a 0.64% Return After Taxes on Distributions and sale of Fund Shares 1.68% n/a n/a 0.76% |
* The inception date for the K shares is October 16th, 2003.
Yield
As stated in the Prospectus, a Fund may also quote its current yield and, where appropriate, effective yield and tax equivalent yield in advertisements and investor communications.
The current yield for the Income Fund, Insured Fund, Government Fund and the Equity Income Fund is determined by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a specified 30-day period by the net asset value per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the resulting figure, according to the following formula:
Yield = 2[(((a-b)/cd)+1)(6) - 1)]
where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period;
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements);
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends;
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
The current yield for S class of the Income Fund, the Government Fund, the Insured Fund and the Short-Term Government Fund for the 30-day period ended August 31, 2006, was 3.72%, 4.20%, 3.06% and 4.34%, respectively. The current yield for K class of the Government Fund and the Short-Term Government Fund for the 30-day period ended August 31, 2006, was 3.70% and 3.84%, respectively.
The current yield for the Money Fund and the Treasury Trust is computed in accordance with a standardized method which involves determining the net change in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the beginning of a specified 7-day period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions of expenses, and dividing the net change or difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain the base period return, and annualizing the results (i.e., multiplying the base period return by 365/7). The net change in the value of the account does not include realized gains and losses or unrealized appreciation and depreciation.
The Money Fund and the Treasury Trust may also quote an effective yield. Effective yield is calculated by compounding the base period return (calculated as described above) by adding 1, raising that sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result, according to the following formula:
EFFECTIVE YIELD = [(BASE PERIOD RETURN + 1)(365/7)] - 1.
The current yield and effective yield for the 7-day period ended August 31, 2006 is as follows:
Current yield Effective yield Money Fund 2.81% 2.85% Treasury Trust 4.55% 4.66% Treasury Trust K class 4.05% 4.14% |
A tax equivalent yield demonstrates the taxable yield necessary to produce an after-tax yield equivalent to that of a Fund which invests in tax-exempt obligations. The tax equivalent yields for the Treasury Trust and the Tax-Free Funds are computed by dividing that portion of the current yield (or effective yield) of each Fund (computed for each Fund as discussed for the current yield indicated above) which is tax-exempt by one minus a stated income tax rate and adding the product to that portion (if any) of the yield of the Fund that is not tax-exempt. In calculating tax equivalent yields, the Tax-Free Funds assume an effective tax rate (combining federal and California rates) of 41.045%. The effective rate used in determining such yield does not reflect the tax costs resulting from the loss of the benefit of personal exemptions and itemized deductions that may result from the receipt of additional taxable income by taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes exceeding certain levels. The tax equivalent yield may be higher than the rate stated for taxpayers subject to the loss of these benefits. As of August 31, 2006, the 30-day tax equivalent yield for the Income Fund and the Insured Fund was 6.30% and 5.18%, respectively. The tax equivalent yield for the Money Fund for the 7-day period ended August 31, 2006 was 4.77%.
Distribution Rate
Each Fund may also include a reference to its current distribution rate in investor communications and sales literature preceded or accompanied by the Prospectus, reflecting the amounts actually distributed to shareholders. All calculations of a Fund's distribution rate are based on the distributions per share, which are declared, but not necessarily paid, during the fiscal year. The distribution rate is determined by dividing the distributions declared during the period by the net asset value per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the resulting figure. In calculating its distribution rate, each Fund uses the same assumptions that apply to its calculation of yield. The distribution rate will differ from a Fund's yield because it may include capital gains and other items of income not reflected in the Fund's yield, as well as interest income received by the Fund and distributed to shareholders which is reflected in the Fund's yield. The distribution rate does not reflect capital appreciation or depreciation in the price of the Fund's shares and should not be considered to be a complete indicator of the return to the investor on his investment.
Comparisons
From time to time, advertisements and investor communications may compare a Fund's performance to the performance of other investments as reported in various indices or averages, in order to enable an investor better to evaluate how an investment in a particular Fund might satisfy his investment objectives. The Funds may also publish an indication of past performance as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar or other widely recognized independent services that monitor the performance of mutual funds. The performance analysis will include the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, but does not take any sales charges into consideration and is prepared without regard to tax consequences. Independent sources may include the American Association of Individual Investors, Weisenberger Investment Companies Services, Donoghue's Money Fund Report, Barron's, Business Week, Financial World, Money Magazine, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.
The Income Fund may also quote (among others) the Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index and the Lehman Brothers 5 Year Municipal Bond Index. These indices are not managed for any investment goal. Their composition may, however, be changed from time to time by Lehman Brothers.
The Government Fund and Short-term Government Fund may also quote (among others) the following indices of bond prices prepared by Lehman Brothers: Lehman Brothers GNMA 30 Year Index, Lehman Brothers Treasury Index and Lehman Brothers Government Composite Index. These indices are not managed for any investment goal. Their composition may, however, be changed from time to time by Lehman Brothers.
The MidCap Fund, 500 Fund, SmallCap Fund, European Fund, and the Nasdaq-100 Fund each may compare its performance to the performance of the MidCap Index, S&P 500, SmallCap Index, Dow Jones Euro Stoxx, Nasdaq-100 Index, respectively. Additionally, The Equity Income Fund may compare its performance to the 500 Index or the Barra/Value Index. Each such Fund may compare its performance to the Value Line Composite Index, the Russell 2000 and/or other widely recognized market indices. These indices are unmanaged indices of common stock prices. The performance of each index is based on changes in the prices of stocks comprising such index and assumes the reinvestment of all dividends paid on such stocks. Taxes, brokerage commissions and other fees are disregarded in computing the level of each index.
The performance of a Fund may also be compared to compounded rates of return regarding a hypothetical investment of $10,000 at the beginning of each year, earning interest throughout the year at the compounding interest rates of 5%, 7.5% and 10%.
In assessing any comparisons of total return or yield, an investor should keep in mind that the composition of the investments in a reported average is not identical to a Fund's portfolio, that such averages are generally unmanaged and that the items included in the calculations of such averages may not be identical to the formula used by the Fund to calculate its total return or yield. In addition, there can be no assurance that a Fund will continue its performance as compared to any such averages.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Shareholders of Funds other than the Stock Funds who so request may have their dividends paid out monthly in cash. Shareholders of the Stock Funds who so request may have their dividends paid out quarterly in cash. If a shareholder withdraws the entire amount in his or her Money Fund or Treasury Trust account at any time during the month, all daily dividends accrued with respect to his or her account during the month to the time of withdrawal will be paid in the same manner and at the same time as the proceeds of withdrawal.
The shareholders of a Delaware business trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of Trust assets for any shareholder held personally liable for obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of that Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. All such rights are limited to the assets of the Fund(s) of which a shareholder holds shares. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trust may maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents to cover possible tort and other liabilities. Furthermore, the activities of the Trust as investment companies as distinguished from operating companies would not likely give rise to liabilities in excess of a Fund's total assets. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and a Trust itself is unable to meet its obligations.
As of December 1, 2006 the following shareholders, to the Trust's knowledge, owned beneficially more than 5% of a Fund's outstanding shares, as noted:
Direct Shares
MONEY FUND:
DGF Y2K Special Purpose Trust (19.64%)
R. J. Fisher (11.53%)
J. J. Fisher (9.75%)
W. & S. Fisher Family Trust (7.57%)
J. & L. Fisher (5.67%)
P.O. Box 387
San Francisco, CA 94104
TREASURY TRUST:
W. Edwards Revocable Trust (10.82%)
D & DF Foundation (8.89%)
L.C. Boswell Trust (5.38%)
P.C. Edwards Trust (5.06%)
P.O. Box 387
San Francisco, CA 94104
INSURED FUND:
National Financial Services Corp. (14.75%) J.P. Young Trust (13.21%) 200 Liberty Street Lobby 5 W.M. Budge Trust (5.90%) New York, NY 10281-5500 P.O. Box 387 San Francisco, CA 94104 |
S&P 500 FUND:
SEI Trust (12.92%) Charles Schwab & Co. (7.14%) One Freedom Valley Drive 101 Montgomery Street Oaks, PA 19456 San Francisco, CA 94104 |
MIDCAP FUND:
Standard Insurance Co. (15.87%) SEI Trust (6.11%) 1100 SW Sixth Avenue One Freedom Valley Drive Portland, OR 97204 Oaks, PA 19456 Charles Schwab & Co. (7.00%) National Financial Services Corp. (5.96%) 101 Montgomery Street 200 Liberty Street Lobby 5 San Francisco, CA 94104 New York, NY 10281-5500 |
EQUITY INCOME FUND:
T. Abel IRA (9.26%)
J.F. Cornuelle Trust (6.68%)
P.O. Box 387
San Francisco, CA 94104
SMALLCAP FUND:
Charles Schwab & Co. (11.13%) J.S. Newman (10.67%) 101 Montgomery Street P.O. Box 387 San Francisco, CA 94104 San Francisco, CA 94104 |
NASDAQ-100 FUND:
Charles Schwab & Co. (26.36%) N.E. Grenzebach (6.89%) 101 Montgomery Street P.O. Box 387 San Francisco, CA 94104 San Francisco, CA 94104 National Investor Services Corp. (5.68%) 55 Water Street, 32nd Floor New York, NY 10041-0028 EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND: Doughtronics, Inc. (6.40%) MG-Wildbrain (5.21%) 2730 9th Street 700 17th Street, Suite 300 Berkeley, CA 94710 Denver, CO 80202 SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND: W. Edwards Revocable Trust (33.48%) Callan Family Trust (7.07%) E. Callan Family (6.94%) P.O. Box 387 San Francisco, CA 94104 Class K Shares EQUITY INCOME FUND-CLASS K: Courtney Enterprises (8.59%) MG Trust Company (7.96%) Bayrisk Insurance Brokers, Inc. (6.54%) 700 17th Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 |
EUROPEAN GROWTH & INCOME FUND-CLASS K:
MG Trust Company (11.25%)
Case Central.com, Inc. (5.58%)
University Games (5.25%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
NASDAQ-100 -CLASS K:
MG Trust Company (10.50%)
Ceon Corporation (8.27%)
Case Central.com, Inc. (8.19%)
Nth Power (5.98%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
S&P 500 INDEX FUND-CLASS K:
Tarlton Properties, Inc. (10.06%)
MBV Law (6.04%)
MG Trust Company (5.59%)
Courtney Enterprises (5.39%)
University Games (5.28%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
S&P MIDCAP INDEX FUND-CLASS K:
Tarlton Properties, Inc. (13.53%)
MG Trust Company (9.78%)
Paramount Elevator Corporation (6.42%)
Case Central.com, Inc. (6.13%)
MBV Law (5.71%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
S&P SMALLCAP FUND-CLASS K:
MG Trust Company (10.63%)
Tarlton Properties, Inc. (9.70%)
Nth Power (5.97%)
Paramount Elevator Corporation (5.97%)
Case Central.com, Inc. (5.29%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND-CLASS K:
Tarlton Properties, Inc. (7.83%)
Kelly & Rossi (7.83%)
Armer/Norman & Associates (5.93%)
MG Trust Company (5.27%)
Pro-Lab Orthotics (5.20%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
US TREASURY TRUST-CLASS K:
MBV Law (14.77%)
University Games (9.17%)
Hearing and Speech Center of N. CA (7.52%)
MG Trust Company (6.64%)
SSL Law Firm (6.11%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
SHORT TERM US GOVERNMENT BOND FUND-CLASS K:
Tarlton Properties, Inc. (33.73%)
Pro-Lab Orthotics (10.64%)
MBV Law (9.68%)
MG Trust Company (6.89%)
JAE Properties, Inc. (5.39%)
700 17th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
Although each Fund is offering only its own shares by this joint Statement of Additional Information and joint Prospectus, it is possible that a Fund might become liable for any misstatements in this Statement of Additional Information or in the Prospectus about one of the other Funds. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has considered this possibility in approving the use of a joint Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
The S&P Index Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's ("S&P"). S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Product particularly or the ability of the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index, S&P MidCap 400 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index to track general stock market performance. S&P's only relationship to the Licensee is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index, S&P MidCap 400 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index which are determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the licensee or the product. S&P has no obligation to take the needs of the licensee or the owners of the product into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index, S&P MidCap 400 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of- the prices and amount of the product or the timing of the issuance or sale of the product or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the product is to be converted into cash. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the product.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX, THE S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX OR THE S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCT, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX, THE S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX OR THE S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006 for the Funds as contained in the combined Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006 (the "Report"), are incorporated herein by reference to the Report which has been filed with the SEC. Any person not receiving the Report with this Statement should call or write the Funds to obtain a free copy.
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RATINGS
The following paragraphs summarize the descriptions for the rating symbols of municipal securities.
Municipal Bonds
Moody's Investors Service:
Aaa: Issuers or issues rated Aaa demonstrate the strongest creditworthiness relative to other US municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
Aa: Issuers or issues rated Aa demonstrate very strong creditworthiness relative to other US municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
A: Issuers or issues rated A present above-average creditworthiness relative to other US municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
Baa: Issuers or issues rated Baa represent average creditworthiness relative to other US municipal or tax- exempt issuers or issues.
Conditional Rating: Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals which begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
Rating Refinements: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating category from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the issuer or obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
Standard & Poor's Corporation:
AAA: An obligation rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA: An obligation rated "AA" differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A: An obligation rated "A" is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: An obligation rated "BBB" exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Provisional Ratings: The letter "p" indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project being financed by the bonds being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of default upon failure of, such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.
Note: The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
Fitch Investor's Service:
AAA: Bonds and notes rated AAA are regarded as being of the highest quality, with the obligor having an extraordinary ability to pay interest and repay principal which is unlikely to be affect by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA: Bonds and notes rated AA are regarded as high quality obligations. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal, while very strong, is somewhat less than for AAA rated securities, and more subject to possible change over the term of the issue.
A: Bonds and notes rated A are regarded as being of good quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds and notes with higher ratings.
BBB: Bonds and notes rated BBB are regarded as being of satisfactory quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to weaken this ability than bonds with higher ratings.
Note: Fitch ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. These are refinements more closely reflecting strengths and weaknesses, and are not to be used as trend indicators.
Municipal Notes
Moody"s:
Moody's ratings for state and municipal and other short-term obligations will be designated Moody's Investment Grade ("MIG"). This distinction is in recognition of the differences between short-term credit risk and long-term risk. Factors affecting the liquidity of the borrower are uppermost in importance in short-term borrowing, while various factors of first importance in long-term borrowing risk are of lesser importance in the short run. Symbols used will be as follows:
MIG-1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG-2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG-3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
Standard & Poor's:
A Standard & Poor's U.S. municipal note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following criteria will be used in making that assessment:
Amortization schedule--the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
Source of payment--the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
SP-1: Strong capacity
to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong
capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2: Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
Fitch:
Fitch Investment Note Ratings are grouped into four categories with the indicated symbols. The ratings reflect Fitch's current appraisal of the degree of assurance of timely payment, whatever the source.
F1: Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; a "+" or "-" may be appended to an F1 rating class to denote relative status within the category.
F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3: Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
Commercial Paper
Moody's:
Moody's Commercial Paper ratings, which are also applicable to municipal paper investments permitted to be made by the Trust, are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually their promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months. Moody's employs the following designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:
P-1 (Prime-1): Superior capacity for repayment.
P-2 (Prime-2): Strong capacity for repayment.
P-3 (Prime-3): Acceptable capacity for repayment.
Standard & Poor's:
A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from 'A' for the highest-quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest. These categories are as follows:
A-1: This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2: Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated 'A-1'.
A-3: Issues carrying this designation have an adequate capacity for timely payment. They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B: Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity for timely payment.
The Commercial Paper Rating is not a recommendation to purchase or sell a security. The ratings are based on current information furnished to Standard & Poor's by the issuer and obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information.
Fitch:
Fitch-1: Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
Fitch-2: Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.
Fitch-3: Commercial paper carrying this rating has a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the margin of safety is not as great as the two higher categories.
Fitch-4: Issues carrying this rating have characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for timely payment is minimal and is susceptible to near term adverse change due to less favorable financial or economic conditions.
Variable Rate Demand Obligations ("VRDO")
Moody's:
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ("demand feature"), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue's specific structural or credit features.
VMIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
Standard & Poor's:
Standard & Poor's assigns "dual" ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure.
The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term debt rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the commercial paper rating symbols for the put option (for example, `AAA/A-1+'). With short-term demand debt, note-rating symbols are used with the commercial paper rating symbols (for example, `SP-1+/A-1+').
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
FORM N-1A
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. Exhibits
(a) (1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 8, 2006 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(2) Certificate of Trust dated August 8, 2006 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(b) By-Laws dated August 8, 2006 is filed herewith.
(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders - Not applicable.
(d) Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 1, 2007 is filed herewith.
(e) Underwriting Agreement dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts - Not applicable.
(g) Form of Custodian Agreement dated January 3, 2005 is filed herewith.
(1) First Amendment to Custodian Agreement dated February 27, 2006 is filed herewith.
(2) Second Amendment to Custodian Agreement dated October 31, 2006 is filed herewith.
(h) Other Material Contracts
(1) Administration Agreement dated January 1, 2007 is filed herewith.
(2) Amended and Restated Operating Expense Agreement dated January 1, 2007 is filed herewith.
(3) Fund Accounting and Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to Post- Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement as filed on January 4, 2005.
(i) First Amendment to Fund Accounting and Services Agreement dated September 1, 2006 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(4) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated December 3, 2004 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement as filed on January 4, 2005.
(i) First Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated September 1, 2006 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(5) Shareholder Servicing Plan dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(i) Legal Opinion and Consent of Counsel as to legality of shares being registered dated January 2, 2007 is filed herewith.
(j) Other opinions - Independent Auditors' Consent is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(k) Omitted Financial Statements - Not applicable.
(l) Initial Capital Agreement - Not applicable.
(m) Rule 12b-1 Plan dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
(o) Reserved.
(p) Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2006 is filed herewith.
(q) Power of Attorney dated August 8, 2006 is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
As of the date of this Post-Effective Amendment, to the knowledge of the Registrant, the Registrant did not control any other person, nor was it under common control with another person.
Item 25. Indemnification
Article VII of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides that a trustee or officer of the Trust who is or was serving at the request of the Trust as a trustee or officer shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder in his capacity as a trustee or officer except in the case of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such trustee or officer. A trustee also shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Subject to the foregoing, and to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of trustees and officers are permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act or other applicable law, a trustee or officer shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act, omission, neglect or wrongdoing of any other agent of the Trust, and/or of any officer, employee, consultant, investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, fund accountant or accounting agent, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent of the Trust.
Article VII also provides that the Trust shall indemnify, out of Trust property, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any trustee or officer of the Trust who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any legal proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a trustee or officer of the Trust, against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if the person acted in good faith or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. Further, the termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not of itself create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith or that such person had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust is not permitted to indemnify trustees or officers against such person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties as an officer or trustee. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a trustee or officer may receive advancement of expenses in defending any proceeding or action involving such person's conduct as a trustee or officer of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that any indemnification under Article VII shall be made by the Trust if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the Trustee or officer is proper in the circumstances by a majority vote of independent trustees or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Additionally, with respect to indemnification against liability incurred by Registrant's underwriter, reference is made to Section 13 of the Underwriting Agreement dated January 1, 2007 between Registrant and RFS Partners. With respect to indemnification against liability incurred by Registrant's investment adviser, reference is made to Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 1, 2007 between the Registrant and CCM Partners.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
CCM Partners, a California Limited Partnership, is the Registrant's investment adviser with respect to these Funds. CCM Partners has been engaged during the past two fiscal years as the investment adviser of the California Investment Trust (and its predecessors), a diversified, open-end management investment company, which comprises the following series: California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund and California Tax-Free Money Market Fund U.S. Government Securities Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, and Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund. The principal business address of California Investment Trust is 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94104.
From December, 1990 through February 27, 1993, CCM Partners also served as investment adviser of the California Tax-Free Money Trust, a registered management investment company. The principal business address of California Tax-Free Money Trust is 6 St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
The officers of CCM Partners are Stephen C. Rogers and Rodney D. Yee. Stephen C. Rogers has also served as an officer of the Registrant and California Investment Trust since October 1994. Stephen C. Rogers was elected to the Board as Secretary and Trustee on August 4, 1998. He was elected as Chairman of the Board on October 26, 1999. For additional information, please see Part A of this Registration Statement.
Item 27. Principal Underwriters
RFS Partners is the principal underwriter, and in that capacity distributes the shares of the Funds. Certain limited partners of RFS Partners also serve as officers and/or trustees of the Registrant.
Item 28. Locations of Accounts and Records.
The accounts, books or other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder are
kept by Registrant's Shareholder Servicing and Transfer Agent, ALPS Mutual Fund
Services, LLC, 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, CO 80202.
Item 29. Management Services
All management-related service contracts are discussed in Part A or Part B of this Form N-1A.
Item 30. Undertakings.
Not applicable.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco, the State of California, on December 29, 2006.
By /s/ Stephen C. Rogers ----------------------------- Stephen C. Rogers, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registrant's Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Stephen C. Rogers Principal Executive Officer, December 29, 2006 ----------------------- Secretary and Trustee Stephen C. Rogers /s/ Harry Holmes* Trustee December 29, 2006 ----------------------- Harry Holmes /s/ John B. Sias* Trustee December 29, 2006 ----------------------- John B. Sias /s/ James W. Miller, Jr.* Trustee December 29, 2006 ----------------------- James W. Miller, Jr. /s/ Kevin T. Kogler* Trustee December 29, 2006 ----------------------- Kevin T. Kogler /s/ Stephen H. Sutro* Trustee December 29, 2006 ----------------------- Stephen H. Sutro * By: /s/ Stephen C. Rogers ---------------------------------------- Stephen C. Rogers, Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith. |
BY-LAWS
of
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
A Delaware Statutory Trust
(Effective as of August 8, 2006)
These By-Laws may contain any provision not inconsistent with applicable law or the Declaration of Trust, relating to the governance of the Trust. Unless otherwise specified in these By-Laws, capitalized terms used in these By-Laws shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Declaration of Trust. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be bound by these By-Laws.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Whenever used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
(b) "Board of Trustees" or "Board" shall mean the governing body of the Trust, that is comprised of the number of Trustees of the Trust fixed from time to time pursuant to Article IV of the Declaration of Trust, having the powers and duties set forth therein;
(c) "By-Laws" shall mean these by-laws of the Trust, as amended or restated from time to time in accordance with Article VIII hereof;
(d) "Certificate of Trust" shall mean the certificate of trust to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required under the DSTA to form the Trust, as such certificate shall be amended or restated from time to time and filed with such office;
(e) "Class" shall mean each class of Shares of the Trust or of a Series of the Trust established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Declaration of Trust;
(f) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
(g) "Commission" shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
(h) "DSTA" shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. ss.3801, et seq.), as amended from time to time;
(i) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(j) "Investment Adviser" or "Adviser" shall mean a Person, as defined below, furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) of the Declaration of Trust;
(k) "Person" shall mean a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, corporation, organization, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity, in each case, whether domestic or foreign, and a statutory trust or a foreign statutory trust;
(l) "Series" shall refer to each Series of Shares established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Declaration of Trust;
(m) "Shares" shall mean the transferable shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, and shall include fractional and whole shares;
(n) "Shareholder" shall mean a record owner of Shares;
(o) "Trust" shall refer to the Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to the Declaration of Trust and the filing of the Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
(p) "Trustee" or "Trustees" shall refer to each signatory to the Declaration of Trust as a trustee and all other Persons who may, from time to time, be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Declaration of Trust, so long as such signatory or other Person continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof and of the Declaration of Trust. Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in such Person's or Persons' capacity as a trustee or trustees hereunder and under the Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board. In the absence of any such designation by the Board, Shareholders' meetings shall be held at the offices of the Trust.
Section 2. MEETINGS.
(a) Call of Meetings. Any meeting of Shareholders may be called at any time by the Board, the chairperson of the Board, the president or any vice-president of the Trust for the purpose of (i) taking action upon any matter deemed by the Board to be necessary or desirable, including, but not limited to, electing Trustees or removing one or more Trustees; or (ii) taking action upon any matter requested by Shareholders at the request of the Shareholders holding not less than ten (10) percent of the Shares; provided that, the Board, in its sole discretion, has approved the calling and holding of such meeting of Shareholders requested by Shareholders; and provided further that, a meeting of the Shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees, or removing one or more Trustees, shall be called by the president or any vice-president of the Trust at the request of the Shareholders holding not less than ten (10) percent of the Shares. Any meeting of Shareholders called at the request of Shareholders shall be called and held, provided that, in the sole discretion of the Board, the Shareholders requesting such meeting shall have paid the Trust the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice thereof, which an authorized officer of the Trust shall determine and specify to such Shareholders. No meeting shall be called upon the request of Shareholders to consider any matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of the Shareholders held during the preceding twelve (12) months, unless requested by the holders of a majority of all Shares entitled to be voted at such meeting.
Section 3. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING. Notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting in accordance with Section 4 of this Article II not less than ten (10) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the place, date and hour of the meeting, and (ii) the general nature of the business to be transacted and to the extent required by the 1940 Act, the purpose or purposes thereof.
Section 4. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE. Notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given either personally or by United States mail, courier, cablegram, telegram, facsimile or electronic mail, or other form of communication permitted by then current law, charges prepaid, addressed to the Shareholder or to the group of Shareholders at the same address as may be permitted pursuant to applicable laws, or as Shareholders may otherwise consent, at the address of that Shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent or provided in writing by the Shareholder to the Trust for the purpose of notice. Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, deposited in the United States mail or with a courier, or sent by cablegram, telegram, facsimile or electronic mail. If no address of a Shareholder appears on the Trust's books or has been provided in writing by a Shareholder, notice shall be deemed to have been duly given without a mailing, or substantial equivalent thereof, if such notice shall be available to the Shareholder on written demand of the Shareholder at the offices of the Trust.
If any notice addressed to a Shareholder at the address of that Shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust or that has been provided in writing by that Shareholder to the Trust for the purpose of notice, is returned to the Trust marked to indicate that the notice to the Shareholder cannot be delivered at that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing, or substantial equivalent thereof, if such notices shall be available to the Shareholder on written demand of the Shareholder at the offices of the Trust.
Section 5. ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE. Any Shareholders' meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time for any reason whatsoever by vote of the holders of Shares entitled to vote holding not less than a majority of the Shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting, or by the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, or any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust, in the absence of the president. Any adjournment may be made with respect to any business which might have been transacted at such meeting and any adjournment will not delay or otherwise affect the effectiveness and validity of any business transacted at the Shareholders' meeting prior to adjournment.
When any Shareholders' meeting is adjourned to another time or place,
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof
are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless after the
adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, or unless the
adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days after the date of the original
meeting, in which case, notice shall be given to each Shareholder of record
(which may be as of the original record date) entitled to vote at the adjourned
meeting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of this Article
II. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have
been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 6. VOTING.
(a) The Shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of Shareholders and the Shareholder vote required to take action shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust. Unless determined by the inspector of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by written ballot.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time it approves an action to be submitted to the Shareholders for approval, Shareholder approval of an action shall remain in effect until such time as the approved action is implemented or the Shareholders vote to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an agreement of merger, consolidation, conversion or reorganization may be terminated or amended notwithstanding prior approval if so authorized by such agreement of merger, consolidation, conversion or reorganization pursuant to Section 3815 of the DSTA and/or pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws and Section 3806 of the DSTA.
Section 7. WAIVER OF NOTICE BY CONSENT OF ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS. Attendance by a Shareholder, in person or by proxy, at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting with respect to that Shareholder, except when the Shareholder attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Whenever notice of a Shareholders' meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the time notice is required to be given, by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. The waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of, or the business to be transacted at, the meeting.
Section 8. PROXIES. Every Shareholder entitled to vote for Trustees or on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy executed by the Shareholder and filed with the secretary of the Trust; provided, that an alternative to the execution of a written proxy may be permitted as described in the next paragraph of this Section 8. A proxy shall be deemed executed if the Shareholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic or electronic transmission or otherwise) by the Shareholder or the Shareholder's attorney-in-fact. A valid proxy that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless revoked by the Shareholder executing it, or using one of the permitted alternatives to execution, described in the next paragraph, by a written notice delivered to the secretary of the Trust prior to the exercise of the proxy or by the Shareholder's attendance and vote in person at the meeting; provided, however, that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy unless otherwise expressly provided in the proxy. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
With respect to any Shareholders' meeting, the Board, or, in case the Board does not act, the president, any vice president or the secretary, may permit proxies by electronic transmission, telephonic, computerized, telecommunications or other reasonable alternative to the execution of a written instrument authorizing the holder of the proxy to act. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more Persons shall be valid if executed, or a permitted alternative to execution is used, by any one of them unless, at or prior to the exercise of the proxy, the secretary of the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest with the challenger.
Section 9. INSPECTORS. Before any meeting of Shareholders, the chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, or in the absence of the president, any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust, may appoint any person other than nominees for office to act as inspector at the meeting or any adjournment. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, or in the absence of the president, any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust, shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Such appointments may be made by such officers in person or by telephone.
The inspector shall:
(a) determine the number of Shares and the voting power of each, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; (b) receive votes or ballots;
(c) hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;
(d) count and tabulate all votes;
(e) determine when the polls shall close;
(f) determine the result of voting; and
(g) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Shareholders.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
Section 1. VACANCIES.
(a) Whenever a vacancy in the Board shall occur (by reason of death, resignation, removal, retirement, an increase in the authorized number of Trustees or other cause), until such vacancy is filled as provided herein or the number of authorized Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees is decreased pursuant to Article IV, Section 1 of the Declaration of Trust, the Trustee(s) then in office, regardless of the number and even if less than a quorum, shall have all the powers granted to the Board and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Board by the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws as though such number constitutes the entire Board.
(b) Vacancies in the Board of Trustees may be filled by not less than a majority vote of the Trustee(s) then in office, regardless of the number and even if less than a quorum and a meeting of Shareholders shall be called for the purpose of electing Trustees if required by the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding the above, whenever and for so long as the Trust is a participant in or otherwise has in effect a plan under which the Trust may be deemed to bear expenses of distributing its Shares as that practice is described in Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, then the selection and nomination of each of the Trustees who is not an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, any Adviser or the principal underwriter of the Trust (such Trustees are referred to herein as "Disinterested Trustees"), shall be, and is, committed to the discretion of the Disinterested Trustees remaining in office. In the event that all Trustee offices become vacant, an authorized officer of the Investment Adviser that has the greatest amount of assets of the Trust under management shall serve as the sole remaining Trustee effective upon the vacancy in the office of the last Trustee. In such case, the authorized officer of the Investment Adviser, as the sole remaining Trustee, shall, as soon as practicable, fill all of the vacancies on the Board; provided, that the percentage of Trustees who are Disinterested Trustees shall be no less than that required by the 1940 Act. Upon the qualification of such Trustees, the authorized officer of the Investment Adviser shall resign as Trustee and a meeting of the Shareholders shall be called, as required by the 1940 Act, for the election of Trustees.
Section 2. PLACE OF MEETINGS AND MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE. All meetings of the Board may be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware that is designated from time to time by the Board, the chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, or in the absence of the president, any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings shall be held at the offices of the Trust. Any meeting, regular or special, may be held, with respect to one or more participating Trustees, by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as all Trustees participating in the meeting can hear one another, and all such Trustees shall be deemed to be present in person at such meeting.
t 6 0 Section 3. QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, a majority of the Board of Trustees then in office shall be present in person in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the departure of Trustees from the meeting, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. Subject to Article III, Sections 1 and 7 of these By-Laws, and except as otherwise provided herein or required by applicable law, the vote of not less than a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board, the chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, or in the absence of the president, any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust. Regular meetings may be held without notice.
Section 5. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by any Trustee, the chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of the chairperson of the Board, the president of the Trust, or in the absence of the president, any vice president or other authorized officer of the Trust.
Notice of the purpose, time and place of special meetings (or of the time and place for each regular meeting for which notice is given) shall be given personally, sent by first-class mail, courier, cablegram or telegram, charges prepaid, or by facsimile or electronic mail, addressed to each Trustee at that Trustee's address as has been provided to the Trust for purposes of notice; provided, that, in case of a national, regional or local emergency or disaster, which prevents such notice, such notice may be given by any means available or need not be given if no means are available. In case the notice is mailed, it shall be deemed to be duly given if deposited in the United States mail at least seven (7) days before the time the meeting is to be held. In case the notice is given personally or is given by courier, cablegram, telegram, facsimile or electronic mail, it shall be deemed to be duly given if delivered at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting if the meeting is to be held at the offices of the Trust.
Section 6. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever notice is required to be given to a Trustee under this Article, a written waiver of notice signed by the Trustee, whether before or after the time notice is required to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. The waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of, or the business to be transacted at, the meeting. All such waivers shall be filed with the records of the Trust or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the Trustee attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 7. ADJOURNMENT. A majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Board, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Any adjournment will not delay or otherwise affect the effectiveness and validity of any business transacted at the meeting prior to adjournment. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 8. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. Notice of the time and place of an adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days after the date of the original meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Trustee.
Section 9. COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES. Trustees may receive from the Trust reasonable compensation for their services and reimbursement of reasonable expenses as may be determined by the Board. This Section 9 shall not be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation and reimbursement of expenses for those services.
Section 10. CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD. The chairperson of the Board shall be a Trustee who is a Disinterested Trustee and shall be elected by vote of the majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office. The chairperson of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or as provided in the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws. In the absence of the chairperson of the Board at a meeting of the Board, a Disinterested Trustee chosen by the Disinterested Trustees present at the meeting of the Board shall preside at the meeting of the Board.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. COMMITTEES OF TRUSTEES. The Board may, by majority vote, designate one or more committees of the Board, each consisting of two (2) or more Trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may, by majority vote, designate one or more Trustees as alternate members of any such committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided by the Board, shall have such authority as delegated to it by the Board from time to time, except with respect to:
(a) the approval of any action which under the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws or applicable law requires approval by a majority of the entire Board or certain members of the Board;
(b) the filling of vacancies on the Board or on any committee thereof; provided however, that such committee may nominate Trustees to fill such vacancies, subject to the Trust's compliance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder;
(c) the amendment, restatement or repeal of the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws or the adoption of a new Declaration of Trust or new By-Laws;
(d) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board; or
(e) the designation of any other committee of the Board or the members of such committee.
Section 2. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF BOARD COMMITTEES. Meetings and actions of any committee of the Board shall, to the extent applicable, be held and taken in the manner provided in Article IV of the Declaration of Trust and Article III of these By-Laws, with such changes in the context thereof as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members, except that the time of regular meetings of any committee may be determined either by the Board or by the committee. Special meetings of any committee may also be called by resolution of the Board or such committee, and notice of special meetings of any committee shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board may from time to time adopt other rules for the governance of any committee.
Section 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The Board may appoint one or more advisory committees comprised of such number of individuals appointed by the Board who may meet at such time, place and upon such notice, if any, as determined by the Board. Such advisory committees shall have no power to require the Trust to take any specific action.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust shall be a President, which shall be the chief executive officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chief Compliance Officer. The Trust may also have, at the discretion of the Board, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and such other officers, who shall have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws or as the Board, or to the extent permitted by the Board, as the president, may from time to time determine. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of president and vice president.
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust shall be appointed by the Board, or, to the extent permitted by the Board, by the president, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, or, to the extent permitted by the Board, and except for the chief compliance officer, at the pleasure of the president, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.
Section 3. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or, to the extent permitted by the Board, by the president; provided, that only the Board may remove the chief compliance officer of the Trust, whether with or without cause.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trust. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some later time and unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Trust under any contract to which the officer is a party.
Section 4. VACANCIES IN OFFICES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, incapacity or other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these By-Laws for regular appointment to that office.
Section 5. PRESIDENT. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust and, subject to the control of the Board, have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president and chief executive officer of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or as provided in the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.
Section 6. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence, resignation, removal, incapacity or death of the president, the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board or if not ranked, a vice president designated by the Board, shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the president until the president's return, his incapacity ceases or a new president is appointed. Each vice president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board or the president, or as provided in the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.
Section 7. SECRETARY. The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the offices of the Trust or such other place as the Board may direct a book of minutes of all meetings and actions (including consents) of the Board, committees of the Board and Shareholders. The secretary shall keep a record of the time and place of such meetings, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at Board meetings or committee meetings, the number of Shares present or represented by proxy at Shareholders' meetings, and the proceedings.
The secretary shall cause to be kept at the offices of the Trust or at the office of the Trust's transfer agent or other duly authorized agent, a share register or a duplicate share register showing the names of all Shareholders and their addresses, the number, Series and classes (if applicable) of Shares held by each, the number and date of certificates, if any, issued for such Shares and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board required by the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws or by applicable law to be given and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the president of the Trust, or as provided in the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.
Section 8. TREASURER. The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Trust and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Trust (and every Series and class thereof), including accounts of assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and Shares. All books shall be kept in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws.
The treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Trust with such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Trust (and any Series and class thereof) as may be ordered by the Board, shall render to the president of the Trust and the Board, whenever either requests it, an account of all of his transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the Trust (and any Series and class thereof), and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board and as provided in the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.
Section 9. CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER. The chief compliance officer shall be the chief officer of the Trust that is responsible for the compliance of the Trust with the federal securities laws and, particularly, Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. The chief compliance officer shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of compliance by the Trust with the federal securities laws and the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust. The compensation of the chief compliance officer shall be set by the Board and the Board shall have exclusively the power to hire and remove the chief compliance officer. The chief compliance officer shall prepare and make the annual report to the Board concerning the compliance policies and procedures as required by Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI
RECORDS AND REPORTS
Section 1. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER. The Trust shall keep at its offices or at the office of its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent, records of its Shareholders, that provide the names and addresses of all Shareholders and the number, Series and classes, if any, of Shares held by each Shareholder. Such records may be inspected during the Trust's regular business hours by any Shareholder, or its duly authorized representative, upon reasonable written demand to the Trust, for any purpose reasonably related to such Shareholder's interest as a Shareholder.
Section 2. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS. The Trust shall keep at its offices the original or a copy of the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws, as amended or restated from time to time, where they may be inspected during the Trust's regular business hours by any Shareholder, or its duly authorized representative, upon reasonable written demand to the Trust, for any purpose reasonably related to such Shareholder's interest as a Shareholder.
Section 3. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF OTHER RECORDS. The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the Shareholders, the Board, any committee of the Board or any advisory committee shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board or, in the absence of such designation, at the offices of the Trust. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall be kept either in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form.
If information is requested by a Shareholder, the Board, or, in case the Board does not act, the president, any vice president or the secretary, shall establish reasonable standards governing, without limitation, the information and documents to be furnished and the time and the location, if appropriate, of furnishing such information and documents. Costs of providing such information and documents shall be borne by the requesting Shareholder. The Trust shall be entitled to reimbursement for its direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in declining unreasonable requests (in whole or in part) for information or documents.
The Board, or, in case the Board does not act, the president, any vice president or the secretary, may keep confidential from Shareholders for such period of time as the Board or such officer, as applicable, deems reasonable any information that the Board or such officer, as applicable, reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information that the Board or such officer, as the case may be, in good faith believes would not be in the best interests of the Trust to disclose or that could damage the Trust or its business or that the Trust is required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep confidential.
Section 4. INSPECTION BY TRUSTEES. Every Trustee shall have the absolute right during the Trust's regular business hours to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the Trust. This inspection by a Trustee may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL MATTERS
Section 1. CHECKS, DRAFTS, EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of or payable to the Trust shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as the Board from time to time shall determine.
Section 2. CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED. The Board, except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws, may authorize any officer or officers or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust or any Series thereof and this authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 3. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES. A certificate or certificates for Shares may be issued to Shareholders at the discretion of the Board. All certificates shall be signed in the name of the Trust by the Trust's president or vice president, and by the Trust's treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the secretary or any assistant secretary, certifying the number of Shares and the Series and class thereof, if any, owned by the Shareholder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer or transfer agent or other duly authorized agent who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer or transfer agent or other duly authorized agent before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if such person were an officer or transfer agent or other duly authorized agent at the date of issue. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may adopt and use a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares by electronic or other means.
Section 4. LOST CERTIFICATES. Except as provided in this Section 4, no new certificates for Shares shall be issued to replace an old certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Trust and cancelled at the same time. The Board may, in case any Share certificate or certificate for any other security is lost, stolen, or destroyed, authorize the issuance of a replacement certificate on such terms and conditions as the Board may require, including a provision for indemnification of the Board and the Trust secured by a bond or other adequate security sufficient to protect the Trust and the Board against any claim that may be made against either, including any expense or liability on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the replacement certificate.
Section 5. REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER ENTITIES HELD BY TRUST. The Trust's president or any vice president or any other person authorized by the Board or by any of the foregoing designated officers, is authorized to vote or represent on behalf of the Trust, or any Series thereof, any and all shares of any corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity, foreign or domestic, standing in the name of the Trust or such Series thereof. The authority granted may be exercised in person or by a proxy duly executed by such authorized person.
Section 6. TRANSFERS OF SHARES. Shares are transferable, if authorized by the Declaration of Trust, only on the record books of the Trust by the Person in whose name such Shares are registered, or by his or her duly authorized attorney-in-fact or representative. Shares represented by certificates shall be transferred on the books of the Trust upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of Shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Trust or its agents may reasonably require. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated Shares, such uncertificated Shares shall be transferred on the record books to the Person entitled thereto, or certificated Shares shall be made to the Person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Trust. The Trust, its transfer agent or other duly authorized agents may refuse any requested transfer of Shares, or request additional evidence of authority to safeguard the assets or interests of the Trust or of its Shareholders, in their sole discretion. In all cases of transfer by an attorney-in-fact, the original power of attorney, or an official copy thereof duly certified, shall be deposited and remain with the Trust, its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent. In case of transfers by executors, administrators, guardians or other legal representatives, duly authenticated evidence of their authority shall be presented to the Trust, its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent, and may be required to be deposited and remain with the Trust, its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent.
Section 7. HOLDERS OF RECORD. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust, its transfer agent or other duly authorized agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of the Trust and as to the number, Series and classes, if any, of Shares held from time to time by each such Shareholder. The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any Share as the owner thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Share on the part of any other Person, whether or not the Trust shall have express or other notice thereof.
Section 8. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust, and each Series thereof, shall be determined by the Board.
Section 9. HEADINGS; REFERENCES. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. Any references herein to specific sections of the DSTA, the Code or the 1940 Act shall refer to such sections as amended from time to time or any successor sections thereof.
Section 10. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS.
(a) The provisions of these By-Laws are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the Declaration of Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, the DSTA, or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed not to have constituted a part of these By-Laws from the time when such provisions became inconsistent with such laws or regulations; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of these By-Laws or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of these By-Laws shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of these By-Laws in any jurisdiction.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS. These By-Laws may be amended, restated or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote.
Section 2. AMENDMENT BY TRUSTEES. These By-Laws may also be amended, restated or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted by the Board, by a vote of the Board as set forth in Article III, Section 3 of these By-Laws.
Section 3. OTHER AMENDMENT. Subject to the 1940 Act, these By-Laws may also be amended pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2(a) of the Declaration of Trust and Section 3815(f) of the DSTA.
Adopted: August 8, 2006
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made this 1st day ofJanuary, 2007 (this "Agreement"), by and between California Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of the series of the Trust identified herein, and CCM Partners, a limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the State of California (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio, and the Trust has established multiple series (each a "Fund");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time (the "Advisers Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory services and certain specifically identified administrative services to the Funds, and the Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Funds in the manner and on the terms hereinafter set forth.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Trust and the Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints CCM Partners to act as Adviser to the Funds for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
2. Portfolio Management Duties. Subject to the ultimate supervision and direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees and the Trust, the Adviser shall regularly provide the Funds with investment research, advice, management and supervision and shall furnish a provide a continuous investment program for the assets of the Funds and determine the composition of the assets of the Funds, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments for the Funds. The Adviser will provide investment research and analysis, which may consist of computerized investment methodology, and will conduct a continuous program of evaluation of each Fund's investments, and the Adviser is hereby authorized to execute and perform investment management such services on behalf of the Funds. The Adviser will also provide to the Funds the administrative services set forth in Sections 2(c), 2(d) and 2(e) hereof. The Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Funds' investment objective or objectives, investment policies, and investment restrictions as stated in the Trust's prospectuses and statement of additional information, each as supplemented or amended from time to time (as so supplemented or amended, the "Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions, in performing these duties, the Adviser:
(a) Is responsible, in connection with its responsibilities under
this Section 2, for decisions to buy and sell securities and other
investments for the Funds, for broker-dealer and futures commission
merchant ("FCM") selection, and for negotiation of commission rates. The
Adviser's primary consideration in effecting a security or other
transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Funds. Subject to
such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine and consistent with
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable
regulatory interpretations thereof, the Adviser shall not be deemed to
have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this
Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Fund to pay
a broker or dealer, acting as agent, for effecting a portfolio transaction
at a price in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer
would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser
determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by
such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to the
Funds and to its other clients as to which it exercises investment
discretion. To the extent consistent with these standards, and in
accordance with applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, and subject to any other applicable laws and regulations, the
Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on
behalf of the Funds to any affiliate that is registered as a broker or
dealer with the SEC, or to such brokers and dealers that also provide
research or statistical research and material, or other services to the
Funds or the Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and
proportions as the Adviser shall determine consistent with the above
standards, and, upon request, the Adviser will report on said allocations
to the Trust and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, indicating the
brokers or dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis
therefore.
(b) May, on occasions when the purchase or sale of a security is deemed to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as any other investment advisory clients, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but shall not be obligated to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased with those of its other clients where such aggregation is not inconsistent with the policies set forth in the Registration Statement. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Adviser in a manner that is fair and equitable in the judgment of the Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(c) Will provide persons satisfactory to the Trust's Board of Trustees to act as officers and employees of the Trust and a Fund (such officers and employees, as well as certain Trustees, may be trustees, directors, officers, partners, or employees of the Adviser or its affiliates).
(d) Will furnish a Fund with office space and equipment reasonably necessary for the investment operations of the Fund.
(e) Will furnish a Fund with reports, statements and other data on securities, economic conditions and other pertinent subjects which the Trust's Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
(f) Will regularly report to the Trust's Board of Trustees on the investment program for the Funds and the issuers and securities represented in the Fund's portfolio and render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports with respect to the Fund's investment activities as the Board may reasonably request;
(g) Shall be responsible for making reasonable inquiries and for reasonably ensuring that any employee or other affiliated person of the Adviser has not, to the best of the Adviser's knowledge:
(i) been convicted, in the last ten (10) years, of any felony or misdemeanor involving the purchase or sale of any security or arising out of such person's conduct as an underwriter, broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer, transfer agent, or entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or as an affiliated person, salesman, or employee of any investment company, bank, insurance company, or entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act; or
(ii) been permanently or temporarily enjoined by reason of any misconduct, by order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction from acting as an underwriter, broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer, transfer agent, or entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or as an affiliated person, salesman or employee of any investment company, bank, insurance company, or entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity or in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.
(h) Will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Funds all records and other information related to the Funds, including the performance records of such Funds, and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Funds or when so requested by the Funds; provided, however, that records and information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law or regulation or otherwise in connection with investigations or inquiries contemplated under Section 9 hereof, or if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Adviser, or if available from a source other than the Trust, the Adviser or the Funds which does not owe a duty of confidentiality to the Trust, the Adviser or the Funds.
(i) Will use its reasonable best efforts (i) to retain the services of the Portfolio Employees who manage the portfolios of the Funds, from time to time and (ii) to promptly obtain the services of a Portfolio Employee acceptable to the Trust if the services of any of the Portfolio Employees are no longer available to the Adviser.
(j) Will obtain the approval of the Trust prior to designating a new Portfolio Employee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that, if the services of a Portfolio Employee are no longer available to the Adviser due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Adviser (e.g., voluntary resignation, death or disability), the Adviser may designate an interim Portfolio Employee who (i) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trust and (ii) shall function for a reasonable period of time until the Adviser designates an acceptable permanent replacement; provided, however, that if the Trust does not consent to the designation of a Portfolio Employee, Trust and Adviser agree to cooperate in good faith to identify a replacement Portfolio Employee.
(k) Will, to the extent practicable, notify the Board of Trustees in advance of any impending change in Portfolio Employee, portfolio management or any other material matter that may require disclosure to the Board, shareholders of the Funds or dealers in Fund shares.
3. Disclosure about Adviser. The Adviser has reviewed the Registration Statement and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Adviser or information relating, directly or indirectly, to the Adviser, and with respect to the disclosure of the investment activities of the Funds and other matters for which the Adviser is contractually responsible hereunder such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made. The Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a duly registered investment adviser in all states in which the Adviser is required to be registered. The Adviser agrees to provide the Trust with current copies of the Adviser's Form ADV, and any supplements or amendments thereto.
4. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement:
(a) The Adviser shall bear and pay the costs of rendering the services to be performed by it under this Agreement. In addition, with respect to the investment operations of the Fund, the Adviser is responsible for (i) the compensation of any of the Trust's trustees, officers, and employees who are affiliates of the Adviser (except for the salary or other compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") of the Trust, who may be an affiliate of the Adviser, as to which that portion of such compensation and related costs allocable to his or her duties as the CCO of the Trust will be reimbursed by the Trust to Adviser as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, (ii) the expenses of printing and distributing the Fund's prospectuses, statements of additional information, and sales and advertising materials (but not the legal, auditing or accounting fees attendant thereto) to prospective investors (but not to existing shareholders), and (iii) providing office space and equipment reasonably necessary for the investment operations of the Funds.
(b) Each Fund is responsible for and has assumed the obligation for payment of all of its expenses, other than as stated in Section 4(a) hereof, including but not limited to: fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, registration and transfer of its shares; brokerage and commission expenses; all expenses of transfer, receipt, safekeeping, servicing and accounting for the cash, securities and other property of the Fund including all fees and expenses of its custodian, shareholder services agent and accounting services agent; interest charges on any borrowings; costs and expenses of pricing and calculating its daily net asset value and of maintaining its books of account required under the 1940 Act; taxes, if any; expenditures in connection with meetings of the Fund's shareholders that the Board of Trustees determines are properly payable by the Fund; expenditures in connection with the meeting of the Board of Trustees' salaries and expenses of officers and fees and expenses of members of the Trust's Board of Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not members of, affiliated with or interested persons of the Adviser (except as otherwise provided in Section 4(a) hereof with respect to the CCO's compensation and related costs); insurance premiums on property or personnel of a Fund which inure to its benefit or the benefit of its Officers and Trustees with respect to their Fund-related activities, including liability and fidelity bond insurance; the cost of preparing and printing reports, proxy statements, prospectuses and statements of additional information of a Fund or other communications for distribution to existing shareholders; legal, auditing and accounting fees; trade association dues; fees and expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining registration of its shares for sale under federal and applicable state and foreign securities laws; all expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping, dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of the Fund, if any; all administrative services not specifically made part of the Adviser's investment responsibilities hereunder; and all other charges and costs of its operation plus any extraordinary and non-recurring expenses, except as herein otherwise prescribed.
(c) In the execution of its duties under this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement of actual costs incurred by the Adviser for expenses which are otherwise the obligation of the Funds. The Funds shall promptly reimburse the Adviser for such costs and expenses, except to the extent the Adviser has otherwise agreed to bear such expenses.
5. Compensation.
(a) The Fund shall pay to the Adviser, and the Adviser agrees to accept, as full compensation for all specifically identified administrative services and investment management and advisory services furnished or provided to a Fund pursuant to this Agreement, a management fee as set forth in on Schedule A attached hereto, as may be amended in writing from time to time by the Trust and the Adviser.
(b) The management fee shall be accrued daily by each Fund and paid to the Adviser on the first business day of the succeeding month.
(c) The initial fee under this Agreement shall be payable on the first business day of the first month following the effective date of this Agreement and shall be prorated as set forth below. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the end of any month, the fee to the Adviser shall be prorated for the portion of any month in which this Agreement is in effect which is not a complete month according to the proportion which the number of calendar days in the month during which the Agreement is in effect bears to the number of calendar days in the month, and shall be payable within ten (10) days after the date of termination.
(d) The Adviser may voluntarily reduce any portion of the compensation or reimbursement of expenses due to it pursuant to this Agreement and may agree to make payments to limit the expenses that are the responsibility of a Fund under this Agreement. Except as the Adviser may otherwise agree with respect to the Fund, any such reduction or payment shall be applicable only to such specific reduction or payment and shall not constitute an agreement to reduce any future compensation or reimbursement due to the Adviser hereunder or to continue future payments. Any fee withheld pursuant to this paragraph 5(d) from the Adviser may be reimbursed by a Fund to the Adviser anytime in the three fiscal years next succeeding the fiscal year of the withholding if the following conditions are met: (i) the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit; (ii) the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated; and (iii) the Board of Trustees approves the reimbursement as being not inconsistent with the best interests of shareholders.
6. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) The Adviser agrees that, if legally permitted, it shall immediately notify the Board of Trustees in the event (i) that the SEC or any state has censured the Adviser; placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, and (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any Fund has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Adviser further agrees to notify the Board of Trustees immediately of any material fact known to the Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Trust that relates to the Adviser or any Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect.
7. Independent Contractor. The Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Trust from time to time, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed its agent. The Adviser understands that unless expressly provided herein or authorized from time to time by the Trust, the Adviser shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed the Trust's agent.
8. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Funds are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's or the Trust's request, although the Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records that the Adviser maintains and to preserve the records required by Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act for the period specified in that Rule.
9. Cooperation. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with each other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement, the Trust or the Funds.
10. Services Not Exclusive. It is expressly understood and agreed that the services to be rendered by the Adviser to the Funds are not exclusive, and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Adviser (or its affiliates) from providing similar or different services to other clients (whether or not their investment objectives and policies are similar to those of the Funds) or from engaging in other activities so long as its ability to render the services provided for in this Agreement shall not be impaired thereby. The Trust's employment of the Adviser is not an exclusive arrangement, and the Trust may from time to time employ other individuals or entities to furnish it with the services provided for herein.
11. Adviser's Liability and Indemnification.
(a) The Adviser shall have responsibility for the accuracy and completeness (and liability for the lack thereof) of the statements in the Fund's offering materials (including the prospectus, the statement of additional information, advertising and sales materials), except for information supplied by the Trust or another third party for inclusion therein.
(b) The Adviser shall be liable to the Fund for any loss (including brokerage charges) incurred by the Fund as a result of any improper investment made by the Adviser.
(c) Except as provided in Section 11(b) hereof and as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Trust agrees that the Adviser, any affiliated person of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") controls the Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust, or any Fund or any shareholder of any Fund, for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement (including any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Funds), except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Adviser's obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(d) The Adviser agrees to reimburse the Trust for any and all costs,
expenses, and counsel and Trustees' fees reasonably incurred by the Trust
in the preparation, printing and distribution of proxy statements,
amendments to its Registration Statement, holdings of meetings of its
shareholders or Trustees, the conduct of factual investigations, any legal
or administrative proceedings (including any applications for exemptions
or determinations by the Securities and Exchange Commission) which the
Trust incurs as the result of action or inaction of the Adviser or any of
its partners where the action or inaction necessitating such expenditures
(i) is directly or indirectly related to any transactions or proposed
transaction in the interests or control of the Adviser or its affiliates
(or litigation related to any pending or proposed future transaction in
such interests or control) which shall have been undertaken without the
prior, express approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees; or (ii) is
within the sole control of the Adviser or any of its affiliates or any of
their officers, partners, employees, or agents. So long as this Agreement
is in effect, the Adviser shall pay to the Trust the amount due for
expenses subject to this subparagraph 11(b) within thirty (30) days after
a bill or statement has been received from the Trust therefore. This
provision shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any claim which the Trust
may have or may assert against the Adviser or others for costs, expenses,
or damages heretofore incurred by the Trust or for costs, expenses or
damages the Trust may hereafter incur which are not reimbursable to it
hereunder.
(e) No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust, or partner or officer of the Adviser, from liability in violation of Sections 17(h) and (i) of the 1940 Act.
12. Best Efforts and Judgment. The Adviser shall use its best judgment and efforts in rendering the advice and, services to a Fund as contemplated by this Agreement.
13. Adviser's Personnel. The Adviser shall, at its own expense (except as may be otherwise provided in Section 4(a) hereof), maintain such staff and employ or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it shall from time to time determine to be necessary to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Adviser shall be deemed to include persons employed or retained by the Adviser to furnish statistical information, research, and other factual information, advice regarding economic factors and trends, information with respect to technical and scientific developments, and such other information, advice and assistance as the Adviser or the Trust's Board of Trustees may desire and reasonably request.
14. Reports by Fund to Adviser. Each Fund from time to time will furnish to the Adviser detailed statements of its investments and assets, and information as to its investment objective and needs, and will make available to the Adviser such financial reports, proxy statements, legal and other information relating to the Fund's investments as may be in its possession or available to it, together with such other information as the Adviser may reasonably request.
15. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall take effect with respect to each Fund as of May 12, 2006 or, if later, as of the date set forth next to such Fund's name on Schedule A hereto, and shall remain in effect for two years from such date, and continue thereafter on an annual basis with respect to such Fund; provided that such annual continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of the entire Board of Trustees of the Trust, or (b) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of such Fund, and provided that continuance is also approved by the vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, the Trust, or the Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement may not be materially amended with respect to a Fund without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of such Fund, except to the extent permitted by any exemption or exemptions that may be granted upon application made to the SEC or by any applicable SEC rule or No-Action precedent. This Agreement may be terminated:
(i) by the Trust at any time with respect to the services provided by the Adviser, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust or, with respect to a particular Fund, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund, on 60 days' written notice to the Adviser;
(ii) by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the Trust;
(iii) by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser.
However, any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of a particular Fund shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to that Fund notwithstanding (a) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other Fund or other series of the Trust or (b) that this Agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, unless such approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise. This Agreement will terminate automatically with respect to the services provided by the Adviser in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, by the Adviser, or upon the termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement.
(b) The Trust and Adviser will cooperate with each other to ensure that portfolio or other transactions in progress at the date of termination of this Agreement shall be completed in accordance with the terms of such transactions, and to this end each party shall provide the other party with all reasonably necessary information and documentation to secure the implementation thereof.
16. [Intentionally Omitted]
17. Trading in Fund Shares. The Adviser agrees that neither it nor any of its partners, officers or employees shall take any short position in the shares of the Fund. This prohibition shall not prevent the purchase of such shares by any of the officers and partners or bona fide employees of the Adviser or any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for such persons or affiliates thereof, at a price not less than the net asset value thereof at the time of purchase, as allowed pursuant to rules promulgated under the 1940 Act.
18. Conflicts with Trust's Governing Documents and Applicable Laws. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or any Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, or any applicable statute or regulation, or to relieve or deprive the Board of Trustees of the Trust of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust and the Fund.
19. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation, order or rule, including the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and any rules, regulations or orders of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
(b) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(c) This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise with regard to any party hereunder, such provisions with respect to other parties hereto shall not be affected thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below on the day and year first above written.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS a Delaware statutory trust a California limited partnership By: By: -------------------------- -------------------------------- Christopher P. Browne RFS Partners, Treasurer its General Partner By: Richard F. Shelton, Inc., its General Partner By: -------------------------------- Stephen C. Rogers, Co-trustee of Richard F. Shelton Trust, Sole Shareholder of Richard F. Shelton, Inc. |
Schedule A
FEE SCHEDULE
Each Fund shall pay to the Adviser, as full compensation for all specifically identified administrative and investment management and advisory services furnished or provided to that Fund, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, a management fee based upon the Fund's average daily net assets at the following per annum rates:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- California Tax-Free Income Fund 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $100 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $100 million up to and including $500 million; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $500 million. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- California Insured Intermediate 0.50% of the value of the average daily Fund net assets up to and including assets of $100 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $100 million up to and including $500 million; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $500 million. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- California Tax-Free Money Market 0.50% of the value of the average daily Fund net assets up to and including assets of $100 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $100 million up to and including $500 million; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $500 million. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Government Securities Fund 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $100 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $100 million up to and including $500 million; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $500 million. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The United States Treasury Trust 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $100 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $100 million up to and including $500 million; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $500 million. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-Term U.S. Government Bond 0.50% of the value of the average daily Fund net assets up to and including assets of $500 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $500 million up to and including $1 billion; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $1 billion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P 500 Index Fund 0.25% of the value of the average daily net assets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P MidCap Index Fund 0.40% of the value of the average daily net assets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S&P SmallCap Index Fund 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $500 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $500 million up to and including $1 billion; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $1 billion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NASDAQ-100 Index Fund 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $500 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $500 million up to and including $1 billion; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $1 billion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- European Growth & Income Fund 0.85% of the value of the average daily net assets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity Income Fund 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets up to and including assets of $500 million; plus 0.45% of the average daily net assets over $500 million up to and including $1 billion; plus 0.40% of the average daily net assets over $1 billion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- |
FEE LIMITATIONS
California Investment Trust Funds: To the extent that the gross operating costs and expenses of each of the following Funds (excluding any extraordinary expenses, such as litigation) exceed 1.00% (or 1.50% for Class K shares) of that Fund's average daily net asset value for any one fiscal year, the Adviser shall reimburse that Fund for the amount of such excess expenses:
California Tax-Free Income Fund
California Insured Intermediate Fund
California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
U.S. Government Securities Fund
The United States Treasury Trust
Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund
S&P 500 Index Fund
S&P MidCap Index Fund
S&P SmallCap Index Fund
NASDAQ-100 Index Fund
European Growth & Income Fund
Equity Income Fund
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST AND CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST II
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT dated as of October 31, 2006-to the Custody Agreement, dated January 3, 2005, as amended February 27, 2006, (the "Agreement"), is entered by and between CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust, formerly known as CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust and CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST II, a Massachusetts business trust, (collectively the "Trusts") and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the "Custodian").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties have entered into a Custody Agreement; and WHEREAS, the Trusts and the Custodian desire to amend said Agreement; and WHEREAS, Article 14.4 of the Agreement allows for its amendment by a written instrument executed by the parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Effective August 8, 2006, California Investment Trust, formerly a Massachusetts business trust, became a Delaware statutory trust; and
Effective October 31, 2006, all references to Trusts in the Agreement shall mean California Investment Trust.
Except to the extent amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year first written above.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: /s/ Stephen C. Rogers By: /s/s Michael R. McVay Printed Name: Stephen C. Rogers Printed Name: Michael R. McVay Title: President Title: Vice President |
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
RESTATED FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of this 1st day of January, 2007, by and between California Investment Trust, a Delaware business trust (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust") and CCM Partners, LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California (hereinafter referred to as "CCM").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each with its own separate investment portfolio (each a "Fund");
WHEREAS, CCM is a limited partnership and, among other things, is in the business of providing fund administration services for the benefit of its customers;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain CCM to act as Administrator for each Fund of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and each Fund has entered into a Management Agreement (each as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the "Management Agreement") with CCM and desires this Agreement to complement and enlarge upon the administrative duties imposed by such Management Agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made, the Trust and CCM agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR
The Trust hereby appoints CCM as Administrator of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and CCM hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement and with respect to the services and duties that are not covered by a Management Agreement between CCM and each Fund (or the Trust), CCM shall perform such services and duties in consideration of the compensation provided for herein.
2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CCM
CCM shall perform, render or make available all services required for the administration of each Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, CCM shall have the following duties and responsibilities and perform the following services:
A. General Fund Management
1. Act as liaison among all Fund service providers and the Trust.
2. Supply:
a. Corporate secretarial services
b. Office facilities (which may be in CCM's or its affiliate's own offices)
c. Non-investment-related statistical and research data as needed
3. Coordinate Board communication by:
a. Establishing meeting agendas
b. Preparing Board reports based on financial and administrative data
c. Securing and monitoring fidelity bond and director and officer liability coverage, and making the necessary SEC filings relating thereto
d. Coordinate preparation of minutes of meetings of the Board and shareholders
e. Recommend dividend declarations to the Board, prepare and distribute to appropriate parties notices announcing declaration of dividends and other distributions to shareholders
f. Provide personnel to serve as officers of the Trust if so elected by the Board and attend Board meetings to present materials for Board review
g. Assist the Board in identifying and qualifying new members to Trust's Board of Trustees
4. Audits
a. Prepare appropriate schedules and assist independent auditors
b. Provide information to SEC and facilitate audit process
c. Provide office facilities
5. Assist in overall operations of the Fund
6. Pay Fund expenses upon written authorization from the Trust
7. Monitor arrangements under shareholder services plan
8. Design, maintain and supply content for the Funds' website
B. Compliance
1. Regulatory Compliance
a. Monitor compliance with 1940 Act requirements, including:
1) Asset diversification tests
2) Total return and SEC yield calculations
3) Maintenance of books and records under Rule 31a-3
b. Monitor Fund's compliance with the policies and investment limitations of the Trust as set forth in its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
c. Maintain awareness of applicable regulatory and operational service issues and recommend dispositions
d. Assist Funds with satisfying the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, including the establishment and implementation of disclosure controls and procedures
e. Execute and administer the Funds' proxy voting policies and procedures and reporting requirements related to the Funds' proxy voting records
f. Monitor controls and mechanisms regarding market timing and frequent trading
g. Monitor and perform fair valuation pricing procedures
h. Monitor and perform procedures regarding selective disclosure of portfolio holdings
i. Memorialize, monitor and enact a general compliance function
j. Respond to and coordinate actions pertaining to inquiries, audits and requests from governmental authorities and self regulatory organizations.
k. Implement and enforce provisions of CCM's written code of ethics with respect to is supervised persons, and report thereon to the Board of the Funds
l. Implement the Funds' privacy policy and compliance with related regulations
2. Blue Sky Compliance
a. Oversee preparation and filing with the appropriate state securities authorities any and all required compliance filings relating to the registration of the securities of the Trust so as to enable the Trust to make a continuous offering of its shares in all states
b. Monitor status and maintain registrations in each state
c. Provide information regarding material developments in state securities regulation
3. SEC Registration and Reporting
a. Assist Trust counsel in updating Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and in preparing proxy statements and Rule 24f-2 notices
b. Prepare annual and semiannual reports, Form N-SAR filings and Rule 24f-2 notices
c. Coordinate the printing, filing and mailing of publicly disseminated Prospectuses and reports
d. File fidelity bond under Rule 17g-1
e. File shareholder reports under Rule 30b2-1
f. Monitor sales of each Fund's shares and ensure that such shares are properly registered with the SEC and the appropriate state authorities
g. File Rule 24f-2 notices
h. Track information and prepare certain disclosures related to expenses, portfolio holdings and performance discussion for annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders
i. Collect and summarize biographical, compensation, securities ownership and other information from portfolio managers of the Funds for SEC filings
4. IRS Compliance
a. Monitor Trust's status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M, including without limitation, review of the following:
1) Asset diversification requirements
2) Qualifying income requirements
3) Distribution requirements
b. Calculate required distributions (including excise tax distributions)
C. Financial Reporting
1. Provide financial data required by Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
2. Prepare financial reports for officers, shareholders, tax authorities, performance reporting companies, the Board, the SEC, and independent auditors
3. Supervise the Trust's Custodian and Trust Accountants in the maintenance of the Trust's general ledger and in the preparation of the Fund's financial statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments, of the determination of net asset value of the Trust's net assets and of the Trust's shares, and of the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders
4. Compute the yield, total return and expense ratio of each class of each Fund, and each Fund's portfolio turnover rate
5. Monitor the expense accruals and notify Trust management of any proposed adjustments
6. Prepare monthly financial statements, which will include without limitation the following items:
Schedule of Investments Statement of Assets and Liabilities Statement of Operations Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Cash Statement
Schedule of Capital Gains and Losses
7. Prepare quarterly broker security transaction summaries
D. Tax Reporting
1. Oversee the preparation and filing of appropriate federal and state tax returns including, without limitation, Forms 1120/8610 with any necessary schedules
2. Oversee the preparation of state income breakdowns where relevant
3. File Form 1099 Miscellaneous for payments to trustees and other service providers
4. Monitor wash losses
5. Calculate eligible dividend income for corporate shareholders
3. COMPENSATION
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, agrees to pay CCM for the performance of the duties listed in this Agreement, to the extent such duties are not covered by the Management Agreement between each Fund (or the Trust) and CCM, the fees and out-of-pocket expenses as set forth in the attached Exhibit A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to CCM shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
These fees may be changed from time to time, subject to mutual written Agreement between the Trust and CCM.
The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten (10) business days following the receipt of the billing notice.
4. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
A. CCM shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. CCM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond CCM's control, except a loss arising out of or relating to CCM's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct on its part in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if CCM has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless CCM from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees) which CCM may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against CCM by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to CCM's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith, negligence or from willful misconduct on its part in performance of its duties under this Agreement, (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to CCM by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, such duly authorized officer to be included in a list of authorized officers furnished to CCM and as amended from time to time in writing by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
CCM shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees) which the Trust may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by CCM as a result of CCM's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its control, CCM shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues beyond CCM's control. CCM will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of CCM. CCM agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available. Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect CCM's premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of CCM, upon reasonable notice to CCM.
Regardless of the above, CCM reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense.
B. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim which may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor's prior written consent.
C. CCM is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one or more series, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets of such series. CCM further agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholder or any individual shareholder of a series of the Trust, nor from the Trustees or any individual Trustee of the Trust.
5. PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
CCM agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where CCM may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
6. TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and will continue in effect for successive annual periods. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. However, this Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties.
7. RECORDS
CCM shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner, and for such period as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. CCM agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by CCM relating to the services to be performed by CCM hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such section and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Trust on and in accordance with its request.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California. However, nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
9. DUTIES IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of CCM's duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to CCM, CCM will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by CCM under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which CCM has maintained, the Trust shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from CCM's personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor.
10. NO AGENCY RELATIONSHIP
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower CCM to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name of, or for the account of the other party to this Agreement.
11. DATA NECESSARY TO PERFORM SERVICES
The Trust or its agent, which may be CCM, shall furnish to CCM the data necessary to perform the services described herein at times and in such form as mutually agreed upon if CCM is also acting in another capacity for the Trust, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve CCM of any of its obligations in such capacity.
12. NOTICES
Notices of any kind to be given by either party to the other party shall
be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered as follows:
Notice to CCM shall be sent to:
CCM Partners, LP
44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, CA 94104
and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
California Investment Trust 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100 San Francisco, CA 94104
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer or one or more counterparts as of the day and year first written above.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS, LP By: By: ---------------------------- --------------------------------- AS RESTATED: CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS, LP By: By: ---------------------------- --------------------------------- Date: October 7, 2005 Date: October 7, 2005 |
Exhibit A Administration Fee Schedule For combined assets of CIT less than $100 million* 0.10% between $100 million* and $500 million* 0.08% |
greater than $500 million* 0.06%
* Adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (rounded to the nearest $10 million) with a base year of 2004.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING EXPENSES AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING EXPENSES AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is effective as of the 1st day of January 2007, by and between CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (hereinafter called the "Trust"), on behalf of each series of the Trust listed in Appendix A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to individually as a "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"), and CCM PARTNERS, a limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the State of California (hereinafter called the "Advisor").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Advisor renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor dated January 1, 2007 (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Funds are responsible for, and have assumed the obligation for, payment of certain expenses pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement that have not been assumed by the Advisor; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to limit the Funds' respective Operating Expenses (as that term is defined in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Trust (on behalf of the Funds) desires to allow the Advisor to implement those limits;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:
1. Limit on Operating Expenses. The Advisor hereby agrees to limit each Fund's Operating Expenses to the respective annual rate of total Operating Expenses specified for that Fund in Appendix A of this Agreement (the "Expense Caps").
2. Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Operating Expenses" with respect to a Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund including the Advisor's investment advisory or management fee as described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, and other expenses described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, but does not include any Rule 12b-1 fees, front-end or contingent deferred loads, shareholder servicing fees, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, short sale dividend expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization or extraordinary expenses such as litigation.
3. Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses. The Advisor, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, retains its right to receive reimbursement of reductions of its investment advisory fee and Operating Expenses paid by it that are not its responsibility as described in the Investment Advisory Agreement.
4. Recoupment Balance. Any fee reduced by the Advisor, or Operating Expenses paid by it (collectively, "subsidies"), pursuant to this Agreement may be reimbursed by a Fund to the Advisor at anytime in the three fiscal years next succeeding the fiscal year of the withholding if the following conditions are met: (i) the reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit; (ii) the effect of the reimbursement is measured after all ordinary operating expenses are calculated; and (iii) the Board of Trustees approves the reimbursement as being not inconsistent with the best interests of shareholders (subsidies available for reimbursement to the Advisor under this paragraph are collectively referred to as the "Recoupment Balance"). For example, subsidized Operating Expenses relating to the period September 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003 would no longer be eligible for reimbursement after September 1, 2006. The Advisor generally seeks reimbursement on a rolling three-year basis whereby the oldest subsidies are recouped first. The Advisor may not request or receive reimbursement of the Recoupment Balance before payment of the Fund's operating expenses for the current year and cannot cause the Fund to exceed the Expense Cap or any other agreed upon expense limitation for that year in making such reimbursement. The Advisor agrees not to request or seek reimbursement of subsidized Operating Expenses that are no longer eligible for reimbursement.
5. Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of November 11, 2003 and shall remain in effect until August 31, 2004, unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 6 of this Agreement. This Agreement shall continue in effect thereafter for additional periods not exceeding one (1) year so long as such continuation is approved for each Fund at least annually by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (and separately by the disinterested Trustees of the Trust).
6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Trust on behalf of any one or more of the Funds or by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Advisor without payment of any penalty. The Advisor may decline to renew this Agreement by written notice to the Trust at least thirty (30) days before its annual expiration date.
7. Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party.
8. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
9. Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction of effect.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first above written.
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS By: By: --------------------------- --------------------------- Name: Name: --------------------------- --------------------------- Title: Title: --------------------------- --------------------------- |
Appendix A
(updated November 11, 2003)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Fund Expense Limit Effective Date ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o U.S. Government Securities Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% December 4, 1985 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% January 18, 2000 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o The United States Treasury Trust Undesignated Class - 1.00% April 26, 1989 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o S&P 500 Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% April 20, 1992 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o S&P MidCap Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% April 20, 1992 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o S&P SmallCap Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% October 2, 1996 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Equity Income Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% September 4, 1996 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Nasdaq-100 Index Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% January 18, 2000 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o European Growth & Income Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% January 18, 2000 Class K - 1.50% October 31, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o California Tax-Free Income Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% December 4, 1985 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o California Insured Intermediate Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% December 20, 1992 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- o California Tax-Free Money Market Fund Undesignated Class - 1.00% December 4, 1985 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS By: By: --------------------------- --------------------------- Name: Name: --------------------------- --------------------------- Title: Title: --------------------------- --------------------------- Date: Date: --------------------------- --------------------------- CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST CCM PARTNERS |
Law Offices of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP 55 Second Street San Francisco, California 94105-3441 Telephone (415) 856-7000 Facsimile (415) 856-7100 Internet: www.paulhastings.com
January 2, 2007
California Investment Trust
44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, California 94104
Re: California Investment Trust - Shares of U.S. Government Securities Fund, Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund and California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as legal counsel to the California Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the Trust's Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to its Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Amendment") and relating to the issuance by the Trust of an indefinite number of shares, including, with respect to specified series of the Trust, Class K shares, of beneficial interest, no par value (the "Shares"), in respect of U.S. Government Securities Fund, Short-Term U.S. Government Bond Fund, The United States Treasury Trust, S&P 500 Index Fund, S&P MidCap Index Fund, S&P SmallCap Index Fund, Equity Income Fund, European Growth & Income Fund, Nasdaq-100 Index Fund, California Tax-Free Income Fund, California Insured Intermediate Fund and California Tax-Free Money Market Fund series of the Trust (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds").
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all records, documents and instruments submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, and the conformity to the originals of all records, documents, and instruments submitted to us as copies. We have based our opinion on the following:
(a) the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 8, 2006 (the "Declaration of Trust"), certified to us by an officer of the Trust as being a true, complete and correct copy of the Declaration of Trust and in effect on the date hereof;
(b) the Bylaws of the Trust dated August 8, 2006, certified to us by an officer of the Trust as being a true, complete and correct copy of the Bylaws and in effect on the date hereof;
California Investment Trust
January 2, 2007
(c) resolutions of the Trustees of the Trust adopted by unanimous written consent on August 8, 2006, ratifying the establishment of the Funds and authorizing the issuance of the Shares, certified by an officer of the Trust as being in full force and effect through the date hereof;
(d) a copy of the Amendment as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-1A; and
(e) a certificate of an officer of the Trust as to certain factual matters relevant to this opinion.
Our opinion below is limited to the federal law of the United States of America and the statutory trust law of the State of Delaware. We are not licensed to practice law in the State of Delaware, and we have based our opinion below solely on our review of Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code and the case law interpreting such Chapter as reported in a standard compilation thereof. We have not undertaken a review of other Delaware law or of any administrative or court decisions in connection with rendering this opinion. We disclaim any opinion as to any law other than federal law of the United States of America and the statutory trust law of the State of Delaware as described above, and we disclaim any opinion as to any statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order or other promulgation of any regional or local governmental authority.
Based on the foregoing and our examination of such questions of law as we have deemed necessary and appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, and assuming that (i) all of the Shares in respect of the Funds will be issued and sold for cash at the per-share public offering price on the date of their issuance in accordance with statements in the Funds' prospectus included in the Amendment and in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (ii) all consideration for the Shares will be actually received by the Funds, and (iii) all applicable securities laws will be complied with, it is our opinion that, when issued and sold by the Funds, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust.
This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the filing of the Amendment to the Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A with respect to the Funds and is solely for your benefit. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person, firm, corporation or other entity for any purpose, without our prior written consent. We disclaim any obligation to advise you of any developments in areas covered by this opinion that occur after the date of this opinion.
We hereby consent to (i) the reference to our firm as Legal Counsel in the prospectus and/or statement of additional information of the Funds included in the Amendment; and (ii) the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP |
CODE OF ETHICS
(Revised December 31 2006)
I. Legal Requirement
Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), requires every investment company (as well as its investment advisor and principal underwriter) to have a written Code of Ethics, which specifically deals with "insider trading" by "access persons." Access Persons are defined to include officers of California Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), directors and officers of CCM Partners (the "Adviser"), advisory personnel of the Adviser with substantial responsibility or with knowledge of the investments of the Funds constituting series of the Trust (each, a "Fund"), and each member of the Board of Trustees. The Rule also requires that reasonable diligence be used and procedures instituted to prevent violations of this Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics is designed to provide a program for detecting and preventing insider trading and other violations of fiduciary duties by requiring Access Persons to report personal holdings and securities transactions of securities of the types, which the Funds may purchase. The reason underlying this reporting requirement is the potential for insiders who have knowledge of what a Fund is doing to take advantage of this information to trade in advance of a Fund. If the security involved is thinly traded or if the Fund buys or sells in big enough blocks to move the market, this type of insider trading could disadvantage the Fund or unfairly benefit the insider. The Code of Ethics is also aimed at minimizing conflicts of interest and the appearance of such conflicts.
Under the Code of Ethics, all Access Persons, except Independent Trustees (who meet the exemptions in Sections VII), are required to file reports of their personal holdings and securities transactions (excluding securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; bankers' acceptances; bank certificates of deposit; commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, repurchase agreements, other money market instruments, and non-Reportable Funds) at least quarterly within 30 days after the close of the applicable quarter. These reports are then compared against the activities of the Funds and if a pattern emerges that indicates abusive trading of Access Persons of the Trust, the matter is referred to the Board of Trustees who will review the pattern and makes appropriate inquiries and decides what action, if any, is then necessary and for Access Persons of the Advisor, the Advisor will review the matter and make a report to the Board of Trustees upon the resolution of the matter. Additionally, Access Persons are required to obtain prior written approval before making any investment in an Initial Public Offering ("IPO") or private placement offering. Before approval of any such investment, the transaction will be carefully reviewed for any immediate or future potential conflicts of interest.
Independent Trustees who do not have day-to-day contact with the Funds and who do not have specific knowledge of the Funds' intended investments are not required to file any reports, and there is no restriction on their personal securities trading activities (excepted as provided for in Section VII).
This Code of Ethics is not intended to cover all possible areas of potential liability under the 1940 Act or under the federal securities laws in general. For example, other provisions of Section 17 of the 1940 Act prohibit various transactions between a registered investment company and affiliated persons, including the knowing sale or purchase of property to or from a registered investment company on a principal basis, and joint transactions (e.g., combining to achieve a substantial position in a security or commingling of funds) between an investment company and an affiliated person. Persons covered by this Code of Ethics are advised to seek advice before engaging in any transactions involving securities held or under consideration for purchase or sale by a Fund of the Trust.
In addition, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may impose fiduciary obligations and trading restrictions on Access Persons in certain situations. It is expected that Access Persons will be sensitive to these areas of potential conflict, even though this Code of Ethics does not address specifically these other areas of fiduciary responsibility.
II. Implementation
In order to implement this Code of Ethics, a compliance officer and two alternates should be designated. These individuals are:
Michael O'Callaghan, Compliance Officer Steve Rogers, Alternate Rodney Yee, Alternate
The compliance officer shall create a list of advisory persons and
other Access Persons and update the list with reasonable frequency. The
compliance officer shall circulate a copy of this Code of Ethics to each Access
Person, together with an acknowledgment of receipt, which shall be signed and
returned to the compliance officer by each Access Person. The compliance officer
is charged with responsibility for insuring that the reporting requirements of
this Code of Ethics (see Section VI) are adhered to by all Access Persons. The
compliance officer shall be responsible for ensuring that the review
requirements of this Code of Ethics (see Section VIII) are performed in a prompt
manner. The compliance officer shall also be responsible for giving special
prior approval to transactions that would otherwise be prohibited pursuant to
Section IV of this Code of Ethics.
III. Definitions
(a) "Access person" means any trustee, director or general partner, officer or advisory person of a Fund or Trust or the Adviser. Spouses, children and "immediate family members" sharing the household of such persons may also be considered an "Access Person" under this Code to the extent provided in the definition of "Beneficial ownership" below.
(b) "Advisory person" means (i) any employee of (A) a Trust, (B) an investment advisor to a Trust or (C) any company in control relationship to a Trust, who, in connection with his regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of a security by a Fund of the Trust, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and (ii) any natural person in a control relationship to a Trust or an investment adviser to a Trust who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a Trust with regard to the purchase or sale of a security.
(c) A security is "being considered for purchase or sale" when a recommendation to purchase or sell a security has been made and communicated and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.
(d) "Beneficial ownership" shall be interpreted in the same manner
as it would be in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"),
and the rules and regulations thereunder, with the exception that the
determination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership shall apply to all
securities which an Access Person has or acquires. The rules promulgated under
Section 16 of the 1934 Act provide that persons are presumed to have an indirect
pecuniary interest, and therefore "Beneficial ownership" of, securities that are
held by members of a person's "immediate family" sharing the same household, and
that "immediate family" includes any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and includes
adoptive relationships.
(e) "Control" has the same meaning as in Section 2(a) (9) of the 1940 Act.
(f) A Security "Held or to be Acquired" by any Fund means (i) any Security which, within the most recent 15 days from the date of determination (A) is or has been held by any Fund; or (B) is being or has been considered by any Fund or its investment adviser for purchase by the Fund; and (ii) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Security in sub-clause (i) of this definition.
(g) "Investment Personnel" of a Trust or of the Adviser means (i) any employee of a Trust or the Adviser (or of any company in a control relationship to the Trust or the Adviser) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund; or (ii) any natural person who controls the Trust or the Adviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund.
(h) "Purchase or sale of a security" includes the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security.
(i) "Reportable Fund" means, for a particular Access Person, any mutual fund for which the investment adviser with whom the Access Person is associated, if any (the "Associated Adviser"), serves as investment adviser (including any sub-adviser) or any mutual fund whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls the Associated Adviser, is controlled by the Associated Adviser, or is under common control with the Associated Adviser.
(j) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) (36)
of the 1940 Act, except that it shall not include shares of mutual funds that
are not Reportable Funds, securities issued by the Government of the United
States (including Government agencies or instrumentalities), short term debt
securities which are "government securities" within the meaning of Section 2(a)
(16) of the 1940 Act, bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit,
commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, repurchase
agreements and other money market instruments.
IV. Prohibited Purchases and Sales
No Access Person (except for any independent Trustees, who are presumed to have no actual knowledge of the following matters described in sub-clauses (a) and (b) below) shall purchase or sell directly or indirectly, any Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transactions acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, which Security to his or her actual knowledge at the time of such purchase or sale:
(a) is being considered for purchase or sale by a Reportable
Fund (Index Funds excepted, where an "Index Fund" is a
Fund which seeks to match the performance of an Index);
(b) has been purchased or sold by a Reportable Fund
within the most recent 7 days if such person
participated in the recommendation to, or the decision
by, the Reportable Fund to purchase or sell such
security (Index Funds transactions excepted).
These restrictions shall continue to apply until the recommendation has been rejected or any trade instruction to buy or sell has been completed or canceled. Knowledge of any such consideration, intention, recommendation or purchase or sale is always a matter of strictest confidence.
Investment Personnel must obtain prior written approval from the Adviser's compliance officer before making an investment in an IPO or private placement.
Exceptions. These restrictions and the requirement for prior approval shall not apply to purchases or sales which receive the prior approval of the compliance officer because they are only remotely potentially harmful to a Fund, or because they would be very unlikely to affect a highly institutional market, or because they clearly are not related economically to the securities to be purchased, sold or held by a Fund.
General Anti-Fraud Obligation. It is unlawful and prohibited for any affiliated person of a Fund, or any affiliated person of the investment adviser for the fund, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by the person of a Security Held or to be Acquired by a Fund:
A. To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any Fund;
B. To make any untrue statement of a material fact to the any Fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to any Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
C. To engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on any Fund; or
D. To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to any Fund.
V. Exempted Transactions/Securities
The prohibitions of Section IV of this Code (except for the General Anti-Fraud Obligations, to which there no exceptions applies) shall not apply to:
(a) Purchases or sales effected in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
(b) Purchases or sales, which fall below either 1,000 shares or $50,000, whichever is greater (except IPOs and private placements).
(c) Purchases or sales of securities, which are not eligible for purchase, or sale by any Fund (except IPOs and private placements).
(d) Purchases or sales, which are non-volitional on the part of either the Access Person or a Trust (except IPOs and private placements) (e.g., receipt of gifts).
(e) Purchases, which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment, plan.
(f) Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.
(g) Purchases and sales, which have received the prior approval of the compliance officer.
(h) Purchases and sales or securities, which are not, included in the definition of "Security" in Part III.g - i.e., non-Reportable Fund shares, government securities and money market instruments.
(i) Purchases and sales of securities, which are in an Index Fund.
VI. Reporting
(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth below, all Access Persons,
with the exception of the Independent Trustees who meet the requirements of
Section VII(a), shall report to the Trust or the Adviser the information
described in this Section VI(b) with respect to transactions in any security in
which such Access Person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any
direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security.
(b) Every report shall be made not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter and shall contain the following information:
(1) The date of the transaction, the title and the number of shares, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), and the principal amount of each security involved;
(2) The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale, or any other type of acquisition of disposition); ----
(3) The price at which the transaction was effected;
(4) The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and
(5) The date that the report is being submitted.
(c) For periods in which no reportable transactions were effected, the report shall contain a representation that no transactions subject to the reporting requirements were effected during the relevant time period.
(d) Any such report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such report that he has any director indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.
(e) Copies of statements or confirmations containing the information specified in paragraph (b) above may be submitted in lieu of listing the transactions.
(f) Each Access Person (with the exception of the Independent Trustees) must make an Initial Holdings Report within 10 days of becoming an Access Person and an Annual Holdings Report, which must contain information, current within 30 days before the report is submitted. Each of these reports must contain the following information:
(1) the title, number of shares and principal amount of each security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;
(2) the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account where such security was held; and
(3) the date that the report is being submitted.
VII. Exceptions to Reporting Requirements
(a) An independent Trustee, i.e., a Trustee of a Trust who is not an "interested person" (as defined in Section 2(a) (19) of the 1940 Act) of a Trust, is not required to file a report on a transaction in a security; provided, however, that such Trustee neither knew nor, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a trustee of a Trust, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction by the Trustee, such security is or was purchased or sold by a Trust or is or was being considered for purchase by its investment adviser.
(b) An independent Trustee is not required to furnish the Initial Holdings Report or the Annual Holdings Report specified in Section VI(f).
(c) Access Persons also need not make a report with respect to an exempted transaction security as described in Section V of this Code (e.g., non-Reportable Fund shares).
VIII. Review
The compliance officer (or the alternate, as appropriate) shall compare all reports of personal securities transactions with completed and contemplated portfolio transactions of each Fund to determine whether a violation of the Code of Ethics may have occurred. No person shall review his or her own report. Before making any determination that a violation has been committed by any person, the compliance officer shall give such person an opportunity to supply additional explanatory material. If a securities transaction of the compliance officer is under consideration, the Chairman shall act in all respects in the manner prescribed herein for the compliance officer.
If the compliance officer determines that a violation of the Code of Ethics has or may have occurred, he or she shall, following consultation with counsel to the Trust, submit his or her written determination, together with the transaction report, if any, and any additional explanatory material provided by the individual, to the President or, if the President shall be the compliance officer, the Treasurer, who shall make an independent determination of whether a violation has occurred.
The compliance officer shall be responsible for maintaining a current list of all Access Persons (including all Trustees) and for identifying all reporting Access Persons on such list, and shall take steps to ensure that all reporting Access Persons have submitted reports in a timely manner. Failure to submit timely reports will be communicated to the Board of Trustees.
IX. Board Oversight
The Board of Trustees must initially approve the Code of Ethics for the Trust and the Adviser, and the Board of Trustees must approve any material changes to the Code of Ethics within six (6) months of such change. The compliance officer shall (i) promptly notify the Board of any material violation of the Code; (ii) provide to the Board a written report summarizing any and all material issues that arose during the previous year, and (iii) annually certify that the Adviser has adopted procedures in compliance with the Code of Ethics and Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.
X. Sanctions
If a material violation of this Code occurs or a preliminary determination is made that a violation may have occurred, a report of the alleged violation shall be made to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees or the Adviser may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, a letter of censure, suspension, or termination of the employment of the violator, and/or a disgorging of any profits made by the violator.