UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-9391
THE FORESTER FUNDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
612 Paddock Lane
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
Thomas H. Forester
Forester Capital Management, Ltd.
612 Paddock Lane
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 573-0365
Date of fiscal year end: March 31
Date of reporting period: March 31, 2005
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
Forester Value Fund
ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 31, 2005
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
ANNUAL REPORT
March 31, 2005
This report is submitted for the general information of shareholders of The Forester Funds. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless accompanied or preceded by an effective Prospectus for the Funds, which contains more information concerning the Funds' investment policies, as well as fees and expenses and other pertinent information. Read the Prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.
FORESTER VALUE FUND
Letter to Shareholders
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
We are pleased to announce a very strong year for the Forester Value Fund. For calendar year 2004 we were the top Large Cap Value Fund in Morningstar out of 989 funds. For the year ended March 31, 2005, the Value Fund returned 23.1% versus 6.7% for the S&P 500. Since inception, the Value Fund has returned 6.8% annualized while the S&P 500 has lost 0.9% annualized. The strong returns were due to effective hedging, strong stock selection, overweighting energy stocks and staying out of trouble.
Energy stocks were the big gainers over the past year. The fund was overweight energy in the second half of 2004 which proved beneficial. The ability of producing countries like Saudi Arabia to meet additional demand from emerging countries like China was tested this past year. In the past, countries like Saudi Arabia could just pump more oil and reduce the overall price. This is not now the case. The price of oil is likely to be much more volatile and driven by global GDP growth ahead. Recessions will bring a drop in prices while global expansions will spike oil prices. Conooco had strong returns due to its large reserves which are revalued upward as the forward price of oil climbs.
The Fund generally buys stocks with exceptional appreciation potential, due to the stock's price being significantly below the intrinsic value of the company. The Fund views these stocks as bargain stocks.
An example of this was Cardinal Health, whose shares were hit in mid-2004 over investor concern about lower earnings as it moved to a new distribution model. We believed that the worst was priced in, the decline was overdone and that the shares were undervalued. The shares have since recovered nicely after investors realized that its earnings would not be penalized as much as feared. The stock should now grow based on future earnings growth and the confidence in that growth.
Stock valuations are currently at rich levels. Earnings have grown more than the prices of stocks so earnings based valuations have gone down, but are still above the more normal levels of the mid-
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
teens. We buy lower valuation bargain stocks which have excellent appreciation potential. We believe that this will allow us to perform even in expensive markets.
Thank you for investing with us.
Best wishes,
/s/Thomas H. Forester, President
FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND RETURNS
SINCE
FUND/INDEX
1-YEAR
3-YEAR
INCEPTION
Forester Value Fund
23.1%
9.3%
6.8%
S&P 500 Stock Index
6.7
2.7
-0.9
The chart assumes an initial gross investment of $10,000 made on 9/10/99 (inception).
PERFORMANCE IS HISTORICAL AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. AN
INVESTMENT IN A MUTUAL FUND CONTAINS RISKS WHICH ARE DISCUSSED IN THE
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
PROSPECTUS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST OR SEND MONEY.
The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares in the Fund, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends.
The S&P 500 Stock Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of large stocks which is a commonly used measure of common stock total return performance.
EXPENSE EXAMPLE
For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2005
As a shareholder of the Forester Value Fund (the "Fund"), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may also incur additional costs such as a transaction fee charged on the purchase or sale of the Fund or an asset-based management fee. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from October 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005.
ACTUAL EXPENSES
The first line of the table on the next page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number
in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during the period.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES
The second line of the table on the next page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds' actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds' actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any costs that may be associated with investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing the ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if any costs associated with investing through a financial intermediary were included, your costs would have been higher.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
Expenses
Beginning Ending
paid during
account
account
period
value
value
10/1/04-
10/1/04
3/31/05
3/31/05(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,059.05
$6.93
Hypothetical
(5% return
before expenses)
1,000.00
1,018.20
6.79
(1) The 1.35% expense ratio (before reimbursements) for the Forester Value Fund multiplied by the average account value over the period, and multiplied by 0.4986 (to reflect the one-half year period).
TOP TEN HOLDINGS |
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
WYETH |
4.0% |
ALTRIA GROUP, INC. |
4.0% |
ST. PAUL TRAVELERS COMP |
4.0% |
PFIZER INC. |
4.0% |
ARCHER DANIELS-MIDLAND CO. |
3.9% |
WACHOVIA CORP |
3.9% |
SARA LEE CORP. |
3.9% |
CHEVRON CORP |
3.9% |
CONOCO PHILLIPS |
3.9% |
BANK OF AMERICA CORP |
3.9% |
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
SECTOR BREAKDOWN
March 31, 2005
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
March 31, 2005
NUMBER |
|||||
OF SHARES |
VALUE |
||||
COMMON STOCKS - 93.6% |
|||||
AUTO & TRUCK PARTS - 3.8% |
|||||
Johnson Controls |
260 |
$14,498 |
|||
BEVERAGES (NON-ALCOHOLIC) - 3.7% |
|||||
Coca-Cola Enterprises |
690 |
$14,159 |
|||
BIOTECHNOLOGY & DRUGS - 3.8% |
|||||
Cardinal Health, Inc. |
260 |
$14,508 |
|||
CAPITAL GOODS - 3.8% |
|||||
Eaton Corp |
220 |
$14,388 |
|||
CHEMICALS - 3.8% |
|||||
Dow Chemical Company |
290 |
$14,456 |
|||
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES - 3.6% |
|||||
Verizon Communications |
380 |
$13,490 |
|||
ELECTRIC UTILITIES - 7.5% |
|||||
Dominion |
190 |
$14,142 |
|||
Exelon Corporation |
310 |
14,226 |
|||
$28,368 |
|||||
FOOD PROCESSING - 7.8% |
|||||
Archer Daniels |
600 |
$14,748 |
|||
Sara Lee Corp. |
660 |
14,626 |
|||
$29,374 |
|||||
GROCERY - 3.8% |
|||||
Kroger Co. * |
900 |
$14,427 |
|||
INSURANCE (PROPERTY & CASUALTY) - 11.4% |
|||||
Hartford |
210 |
$14,397 |
|||
St. Paul Travelers Co |
410 |
15,059 |
|||
American International Group |
250 |
13,853 |
|||
$43,309 |
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES March 31, 2005 (continued) |
|||
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES - 8.0% |
|||
Pfizer |
570 |
$14,974 |
|
Wyeth |
360 |
15,185 |
|
$30,159 |
|||
MONEY CENTER BANKS - 11.6% |
|||
Bank of America |
330 |
$14,553 |
|
Citigroup Inc. |
320 |
14,381 |
|
Wachovia Corporation |
290 |
14,764 |
|
$43,698 |
|||
OIL & GAS - INTEGRATED - 7.7% |
|||
Chevron |
250 |
$14,578 |
|
ConocoPhillips |
135 |
14,558 |
|
$29,136 |
|||
RAILROADS - 1.8% |
|||
Union Pacific |
100 |
$6,970 |
|
REAL ESTATE - 3.7% |
|||
Equity Office Properties |
470 |
$14,161 |
|
RESTAURANTS - 3.7% |
|||
McDonald's Corporation |
450 |
$14,013 |
|
TOBACCO - 4.1% |
|||
Altria Group, Inc. |
230 |
$15,039 |
|
Total Common Stocks |
$354,153 |
||
(cost $352,594) |
|||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT - 6.4% |
|||
HUNTINGTON MONEY FUND |
$75,251 |
||
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES - 0.0% |
($51,216) |
||
Net Assets - 100% |
$378,188 |
* non-income producing during period.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 2005
Forester |
||||||
|
Value Fund |
|||||
ASSETS |
||||||
Investments in securities (cost $352,594) |
$354,153 |
|||||
Cash |
75,251 |
|||||
Receivables: |
||||||
Securities sold |
102,154 |
|||||
Dividends and Interest |
713 |
|||||
|
||||||
Total assets |
532,271 |
|||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||
Accrued management fees |
245 |
|||||
Payable for securities purchased |
153,838 |
|||||
Total liabilities |
154,083 |
|||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||
1,000,000,000 shares of $.0001 par value |
||||||
authorized; 34,671 shares issued |
||||||
and outstanding) |
$378,188 |
|||||
NET ASSETS |
||||||
At March 31, 2005, net assets consist of: |
||||||
Paid-in capital |
$377,201 |
|||||
Undistributed net investment income |
1,490 |
|||||
Accumulated net realized losses |
(2,061) |
|||||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments |
1,558 |
|||||
Total Net Assets |
$378,188 |
|||||
NET ASSET VALUE, OFFERING AND REPURCHASE |
||||||
PRICE PER SHARE |
||||||
($378,188 / 34,671 shares) |
$10.91 |
|||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Forester Value Fund
For the Years Ended
March 31,
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Forester Value Fund
For the Years Ended March, 31
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|
(For a share outstanding throughout each period) |
|||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|||||
Beginning of period |
$10.01 |
$10.02 |
$10.00 |
$10.10 |
$10.14 |
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS |
|||||
Net investment income |
0.11 |
0.03 |
0.09 |
0.23 |
0.53 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on |
|||||
investment transactions |
2.19 |
(0.01) |
0.48 |
- |
0.02 |
Total from investment operations |
2.30 |
0.02 |
0.57 |
0.23 |
0.55 |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS |
(1.42) |
(0.03) |
(0.55) |
(0.33) |
(0.59) |
NET ASSET VALUE |
|||||
End of period |
$10.91 |
$10.01 |
$10.02 |
$10.00 |
$10.10 |
TOTAL RETURN |
23.18% |
0.24% |
5.74% |
2.25% |
5.48% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA |
|||||
Net assets, end of period |
$378,188 |
$58,635 |
$108,498 |
$55,308 |
$54,113 |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets: |
|||||
After waiver |
0.27% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Before waiver |
1.37% |
34.65% |
19.61% |
5.02% |
4.78% |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets |
1.97% |
0.30% |
0.86% |
2.18% |
5.23% |
Portfolio turnover rate |
243% |
0% |
103% |
0% |
0% |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2005
(1)
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Forester Funds, Inc. (the "Company") is an open-end diversified investment company currently offering two series of shares: The Forester Value Fund and The Forester Discovery Fund. The Company was incorporated as a Maryland corporation on April 7, 1999. The accompanying financial statements are those of the Forester Value Fund (the "Fund"). The Fund commenced operations on September 10, 1999.
The objective of the Fund is to seek long-term growth of capital.
SECURITY VALUATION
Portfolio securities that are listed on national securities exchanges or the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last sale price as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or in the absence of recorded sales, at the average of readily available closing bid and asked prices on such exchanges or such System. Unlisted securities that are not included in such System are valued at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter-market. Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Advisor under procedures established by and under the general supervision and responsibility of the Fund's Board of Directors. Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, if their original maturity was 60 days or less, or by amortizing the values as of the 61st day prior to maturity, if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company and as such will not be subject to federal income taxes on otherwise taxable income (including net realized capital gains) which is distributed to shareholders.
SECURITY TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS
As is common in the industry, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (the date the securities are purchased or sold). Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Bond premiums and discounts are amortized in accordance with Federal income tax regulations. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
March 31, 2005
USE OF ESTIMATES IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
SHORT SALES: The Fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the fair value of that security. When the Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale. A gain, limited to the price at which the Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in siz, will be recognized upon the termination of a short sale.
OPTION WRITING: When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains from investments. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or, if the premium is less than the amount paid for the closing transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by the Fund. The Fund as a writer of an option bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.
(2)
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
For the year ended March 31, 2005, Forester Capital Management, Ltd. (the "Advisor") provided the Fund with investment management services under an Investment Advisory Agreement. The Advisor furnished all investment advice, office space and certain administrative services, and personnel needed by the Fund. As compensation for its services, the Advisor was entitled to a monthly fee at the annual rate of 1.35% based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund. For the year ended March 31, 2005, the Advisor voluntarily waived advisory fees in the amounts of $811 and reimbursed other expenses in the amount of $284. The Advisor has voluntarily reimbursed the Fund for broker commissions incurred in the purchase and sales of portfolio securities. These reimbursements have been reflected as an adjustment to the cost and proceeds of the securities purchased and sold in the Funds portfolio. These reimbursements totaled $2,479 for the year ended March 31, 2005.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
March 31, 2005
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to which the Fund may pay broker-dealers for distributing shares of the Fund. This expense is limited to 1/4 of 1% of the Fund's average net assets. For the year ended March 31, 2005, no such reimbursements were made.
(3)
PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
For the year ended March 31, 2005 purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) were $597,413 and $249,955. At March 31, 2005 the gross unrealized appreciation for all securities totaled $7,635 and the gross unrealized depreciation for all securities totaled $6,077 for a net unrealized appreciation of $1,558.
(4) PUT & CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED |
|||
As of March 31, 2005 the Fund had no put option positions. |
|||
Transactions in put options purchased during the year ended |
|||
March 31, 2005 were as follows: |
|||
Number of |
Premiums |
||
Contracts |
Paid |
||
Options outstanding at March 31, 2004 |
0 |
$ 0 |
|
Options purchased |
9 |
5,940 |
|
Options terminated in closing purchase transaction |
(1) |
(800) |
|
Options expired |
(8) |
(5,140) |
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2005 |
0 |
$ 0 |
|
As of March 31, 2005 the Fund had no call option positions. |
|||
Transactions in call options purchased during the year ended |
|||
March 31, 2005 were as follows: |
|||
Number of |
Premiums |
||
Contracts |
Paid |
||
Options outstanding at March 31, 2004 |
0 |
$ 0 |
|
Options purchased |
2 |
1,900 |
|
Options terminated in closing purchase transaction |
0 |
0 |
|
Options expired |
(2) |
(1,900) |
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2005 |
0 |
$ 0 |
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
March 31, 2005
(5)
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND TAX COMPONENTS OF CAPITAL
Income and long-term capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The U.S. federal income tax basis of the Funds investments at March 31, 2005 was $353,331 and net unrealized appreciation for U.S. federal income tax purposes was $822 (gross unrealized appreciation of $ 6,899; gross unrealized depreciation of $6,077).
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were as
follows:
2005 |
2004 |
|||
Ordinary income |
$7,279 |
$298 |
As of March 31, 2005 the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were $2,227 of
undistributed ordinary income.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and
Board of Directors
The Forester Funds, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The Forester Value Fund, (the "Fund"), a series of The Forester Funds, Inc., including the schedule of investments, as of March 31, 2005 and the related statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and financial highlights for the year then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The financial statements and financial highlights for the years ended March 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were audited by other auditors whose reports expressed unqualified opinions on those statements.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities and cash owned as of March 31, 2005, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Forester Value Fund as of March 31, 2005, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Abington, Pennsylvania |
/s/Sanville and Co. |
May 25, 2005 |
Certified Public Accountants |
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
As a Maryland corporation, the business and affairs of the Company are managed by its officers under the direction of its Board of Directors. The name, age, address, principal occupations during the past five years, and other information with respect to each of the directors and officers of the Company are as follows:
Number of |
|||||
Portfolios |
|||||
Term of |
In Fund |
Other |
|||
Office and |
Principal |
Complex |
Director- |
||
Name, |
Position(s) |
Length |
Occupations |
oversees |
ships |
Address, |
Held with |
of Time |
in Past 5 |
by |
held by |
Age |
the Funds |
Served |
Years |
Director |
Director |
-------------------- |
----------- |
------------- |
-------------------------------- |
-------------- |
------------ |
*Thomas H. Forester |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Forester has been the |
2 |
None |
Age: 46 |
President |
2 years |
President of the Advisor |
||
Address: c/o |
Treasurer |
Since 2/99, Officer and |
|||
612 Paddock Lane |
Portfolio Manager with |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
Dreman Value Advisors |
||||
from 5/97 - 1/99. |
|||||
Wayne A. Grudem |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Grudem has been a Pro- |
2 |
None |
Age: 57 |
2 years |
fessor at Phoenix Seminary |
|||
Address: c/o |
since August, 2001. Before, |
||||
612 Paddock Lane |
he was a Professor at Trinity |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
International University for |
||||
more than five years. |
|||||
Michael B. Kelley |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Kelley has been a National |
2 |
None |
Age: 45 |
2 years |
Account Executive for American |
|||
Address: c/o |
Hotel Supply since January, 2004 |
||||
612 Paddock Lane |
Before, he was a Sales Executive |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
at WW Grainger for more than 5 years |
*Mr. Forester is a director who is an "interested person" of the Fund by virtue of being an officer of the Fund. Mr. Forester is also an officer of the investment manager and owns 16.8% of the shares of the Fund.
PROXY VOTING
The Companys Board of Directors has approved proxy voting procedures for the Fund, setting forth guidelines and procedures for the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Fund. Records of the Funds proxy voting records are maintained and are available for inspection. The Board is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the procedures. The proxy voting record of the Fund can be reviewed on the web site of the Fund at www.forestervalue.com. The Proxy voting history is located under Fund Information, Proxy Voting.
THE FORESTER VALUE FUND
QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Company now files a complete schedule of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. These forms are available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. They may be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-723-0330.
The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Companys directors and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-800-388-0365.
Forester Discovery Fund
ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 31, 2005
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
ANNUAL REPORT
March 31, 2005
This report is submitted for the general information of shareholders of The Forester Discovery Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless accompanied or preceded by an effective Prospectus for the Funds, which contains more information concerning the Funds' investment policies, as well as fees and expenses and other pertinent information. Read the Prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.
FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
Letter to Shareholders
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
Our strategy has been to be patient for stock valuations to become attractive so that future returns will be strong. While we are confident of this strategy over the longer term, there are times when the market rallies and our performance looks subdued. This continued to be one of those times. The Discovery Fund returned 0.9% versus 15.1% for the MSCI EAFE Net Index and 6.7% for the S&P 500 for the year ended March 31, 2005. Even after the past two years, we are still ahead of both benchmarks since inception.
So what do we expect going forward? We believe that the massive stimulus that has been thrown at global markets is largely over. The US Federal Reserve has been raising short term interest rates for almost a year now. When Fed Funds rates are at 1% and 10-year US treasury rates are near 4% a construction and durables boom happens. Home prices go up, consumers feel rich and consume more than they otherwise would. This is what happened in both Australia and the UK which seem to be about 6-12 months ahead of us. In both of those countries there was a housing bubble due to generational low interest rates. As interest rates reverse, the bubble pops and prices decline. Now consumers consume less than they normally would. We think that this is beginning to happen in Australia and the UK and is starting to happen in the US. This is not good for stocks.
In 2000 when the technology bubble popped, the US Fed had two choices, lower rates modestly, accept a recession but set the groundwork for a long term recovery, or lower rates aggressively, fight off a recession but set the groundwork for a short term recovery and an even worse recession later. They chose the latter and we believe that we are heading for a global recession. Already, Europe and Japan have been weak. The US is seeing slower than expected growth and China is uncertain. Given the added leverage that was added due to generational low interest rates, consumers may have difficulty adding to consumption. This is why we are being conservative and defensive.
If stock valuations were at the more normal levels of the mid- to low-teens, we would be in stocks and would feel protected by our stock selection and average valuations. However, with high valuations, poor returns loom ahead. That is why we are content to wait until we are paid to take risk. While we wait, we like our company. None other than Warren Buffett and Sir John Templeton have significant weightings in cash.
Thank you for investing with us.
Best wishes,
/s/Thomas H. Forester, President
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND RETURNS
SINCE
FUND/INDEX 1-YEAR 3-YEAR INCEPTION
Forester Discovery Fund
0.9%
1.0%
2.4%
MSCI EAFE Net Index
15.1
11.6
1.5
S&P 500 Stock Index
6.7
2.7
-0.9
The chart assumes an initial gross investment of $10,000 made on 9/10/99 (inception).
PERFORMANCE IS HISTORICAL AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. AN
INVESTMENT IN A MUTUAL FUND CONTAINS RISKS WHICH ARE DISCUSSED IN THE
PROSPECTUS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST OR SEND MONEY.
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares in the Fund, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends.
The MSCI EAFE Net Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of companies throughout the world, excluding the U.S. and Canada, including net reinvested dividends. The S&P 500 Stock Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of large stocks which is a commonly used measure of common stock total return performance. All indexes are unmanaged and include reinvested dividends.
EXPENSE EXAMPLE
For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2005
As a shareholder of the Forester Discovery Fund (the "Fund"), you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may also incur additional costs such as a transaction fee charged on the purchase or sale of the Fund or an asset-based management fee. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from October 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005.
ACTUAL EXPENSES
The first line of the table on the next page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during the period.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES
The second line of the table on the next page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds' actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds' actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any costs that may be associated with investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing the ongoing costs only,
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if any costs associated with investing through a financial intermediary were included, your costs would have been higher.
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
Expenses
Beginning Ending
paid during
account
account
period
value
value
10/1/04-
10/1/04
3/31/05
3/31/05(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,006.85
$6.75
Hypothetical
(5% return
before expenses)
1,000.00
1,018.20
6.79
(1)
The 1.35% expense ratio (before reimbursements) for the Forester Discovery Fund multiplied by the average account value over the period, and multiplied by 0.4986 (to reflect the one-half year period).
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
March 31, 2005
|
Percent of |
Market |
|
Net Assets |
Value |
Other Assets (Schwab US |
||
Treasury Money Fund) |
99.92% |
$34,863 |
Accrued Interest |
0.08% |
28 |
|
--------- |
--------- |
Net Assets |
100.00% |
$34,891 |
|
====== |
====== |
At March 31, 2005, cost is $34,863 and unrealized appreciation of securities for federal income tax purposes is $0.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 2005
|
The Forester |
|
Discovery Fund |
ASSETS |
|
Cash and equivalents |
$34,863 |
Accrued interest |
28 |
|
---------- |
Total assets |
34,891 |
|
---------- |
LIABILITIES |
- |
|
--------- |
NET ASSETS |
|
1,000,000,000 shares of $.0001 par value |
|
authorized; 3,476 shares issued |
|
and outstanding) |
$34,891 |
|
====== |
NET ASSET VALUE, OFFERING AND REDEMPTION |
|
PRICE PER SHARE |
|
($34,891 / 3,476 shares) |
$10.04 |
|
====== |
NET ASSETS |
|
At March 31, 2005, net assets consisted of: |
|
Paid-in capital |
$34,764 |
Undistributed net investment income |
127 |
|
------- |
|
$34,891 |
|
====== |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended March 31, 2005
|
The Forester |
|
Discovery Fund |
INVESTMENT INCOME |
|
Interest income |
$455 |
|
------ |
Total income |
455 |
|
------ |
EXPENSES |
|
Investment advisory fees (Note 2) |
718 |
|
------ |
Total expenses |
718 |
Less: expenses waived by Advisor (Note 2) |
(718) |
|
------ |
Net expenses |
- |
|
------ |
Net investment income |
455 |
|
------ |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN FROM INVESTMENTS |
|
Net realized gain on investments |
- |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments |
- |
|
------ |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING |
|
FROM OPERATIONS |
$ 455 |
|
===== |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
|
The Forester |
|
|
Discovery Fund |
|
For the Years Ended |
||
March 31, |
||
|
2005 |
2004 |
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS |
||
Net investment income |
$ 455 |
$ 244 |
Net realized gain |
||
on investments |
- |
- |
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments |
- |
- |
|
------- |
------- |
Net increase in net assets |
||
resulting from operations |
455 |
244 |
|
||
Distributions to shareholders |
(392) |
(293) |
Capital share transactions (Note 5) |
(21,608) |
293 |
Total increase/(decrease) |
(21,545) |
244 |
NET ASSETS |
||
Beginning of year |
56,436 |
56,192 |
|
|
|
End of year |
$34,891 |
$56,436 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Forester Discovery Fund
For the Years Ended March 31,
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|
(For a share outstanding throughout each period) |
|||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|||||
Beginning of period |
$10.02 |
$10.03 |
$10.00 |
$10.10 |
$10.14 |
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS |
|||||
Net investment income |
0.09 |
0.04 |
0.1 |
0.23 |
0.53 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on |
|||||
investment transaction |
- |
- |
0.06 |
- |
0.02 |
Total from investment operations |
0.09 |
0.04 |
0.16 |
0.23 |
0.55 |
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS |
(0.07) |
(0.05) |
(0.13) |
(0.33) |
(0.59) |
NET ASSET VALUE |
|||||
End of period |
$10.04 |
$10.02 |
$10.03 |
$10.00 |
$10.10 |
|
|||||
TOTAL RETURN |
0.92% |
0.42% |
1.62% |
2.25% |
5.48% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA |
|||||
Net assets, end of period |
$34,891 |
$56,436 |
$56,192 |
$55,308 |
$54,113 |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets |
|||||
After waiver |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Before waiver |
1.35% |
6.33% |
5.99% |
5.02% |
4.78% |
Ratio of net investment income to |
|||||
average net assets |
0.85% |
0.43% |
0.99% |
2.18% |
5.23% |
Portfolio turnover rate |
0% |
0% |
108% |
0% |
0% |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2005
(1)
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Forester Funds, Inc. (the "Company") is an open-end diversified investment company currently offering two series of shares: The Forester Value Fund and The Forester Discovery Fund. The Company was incorporated as a Maryland corporation on April 7, 1999. The accompanying financial statements are those of the Forester Discovery Fund (the "Fund"). The Fund commenced operations on September 10, 1999.
The objective of the Fund is to seek long-term growth of capital.
SECURITY VALUATION
Portfolio securities that are listed on national securities exchanges or the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last sale price as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or in the absence of recorded sales, at the average of readily available closing bid and asked prices on such exchanges or such System. Unlisted securities that are not included in such System are valued at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter-market. Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Advisor under procedures established by and under the general supervision and responsibility of the Fund's Board of Directors. Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, if their original maturity was 60 days or less, or by amortizing the values as of the 61st day
prior to maturity, if their original term to maturity exceeded 60 days.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company and as such will not be subject to federal income taxes on otherwise taxable income (including net realized capital gains) which is distributed to shareholders.
SECURITY TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS
As is common in the industry, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (the date the securities are purchased or sold). Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Bond premiums and discounts are amortized in accordance with Federal income tax regulations. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
THE FORESTER FUNDS
THE FORESTER DISCOVERY FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
March 31, 2005
USE OF ESTIMATES IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(2)
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
For the year ended March 31, 2005, Forester Capital Management, Ltd. (the "Advisor") provided the Fund with investment management services under an Investment Advisory Agreement. The Advisor furnished all investment advice, office space and certain administrative services, and personnel needed by the Fund. As compensation for its services, the Advisor was entitled to a monthly fee at the annual rate of 1.35% based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund. For the year ended March 31, 2005, the Advisor voluntarily waived advisory fees in the amounts of $718.
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to which the Fund may pay broker-dealers for distributing shares of the Fund. This expense is limited to 1/4 of 1% of the Fund's average net assets. For the year ended March 31, 2005, no such reimbursements were made.
(3)
PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
Purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term investments, aggregated $0 and $0, respectively, for the year ended March 31, 2005.
(1)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
Income and long-term capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The U.S. federal income tax basis of the Funds investments at March 31, 2005 was $34,863.
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were as
follows:
2005 |
2004 |
|||
Ordinary income |
$392 |
$293 |
As of March 31, 2005 the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were $122 of undistributed ordinary income.
(2)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
2005 |
2004 |
|
|
||
Shares sold |
4,980 |
- |
Shares issued in reinvestment |
||
of distributions |
39 |
29 |
Shares redeemed |
(7,178) |
- |
------- |
------- |
|
Net increase/(decrease) in shares |
(2,159) |
29 |
|
===== |
===== |
Value of shares sold |
$50,000 |
$ - |
Value of shares issued in rein- |
||
vestment of distributions |
392 |
293 |
Value of shares redeemed |
(72,000) |
- |
-------- |
------- |
|
Net increase in value of shares |
$(21,608) |
$ 293 |
|
====== |
===== |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and
Board of Directors
The Forester Funds, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The Forester Discovery Fund, (the "Fund"), a series of The Forester Funds, Inc., including the schedule of investments, as of March 31, 2005 and the related statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and financial highlights for the year then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The financial statements and financial highlights for the years ended March 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were audited by other auditors whose reports expressed unqualified opinions on those statements.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities and cash owned as of March 31, 2005, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Forester Discovery Fund as of March 31, 2005, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Abington, Pennsylvania |
/s/Sanville and Co. |
May 25, 2005 |
Certified Public Accountants |
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
As a Maryland corporation, the business and affairs of the Company are managed by its officers under the direction of its Board of Directors. The name, age, address, principal occupations during the past five years, and other information with respect to each of the directors and officers of the Company are as follows:
Number of |
|||||
Portfolios |
|||||
Term of |
In Fund |
Other |
|||
Office and |
Principal |
Complex |
Director- |
||
Name, |
Position(s) |
Length |
Occupations |
oversees |
ships |
Address, |
Held with |
of Time |
in Past 5 |
by |
held by |
Age |
the Funds |
Served |
Years |
Director |
Director |
-------------------- |
----------- |
------------- |
-------------------------------- |
-------------- |
------------ |
*Thomas H. Forester |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Forester has been the |
2 |
None |
Age: 46 |
President |
2 years |
President of the Advisor |
||
Address: c/o |
Treasurer |
Since 2/99, Officer and |
|||
612 Paddock Lane |
Portfolio Manager with |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
Dreman Value Advisors |
||||
from 5/97 - 1/99. |
|||||
Wayne A. Grudem |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Grudem has been a Pro- |
2 |
None |
Age: 57 |
2 years |
fessor at Phoenix Seminary |
|||
Address: c/o |
since August, 2001. Before, |
||||
612 Paddock Lane |
he was a Professor at Trinity |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
International University for |
||||
more than five years. |
|||||
Michael B. Kelley |
Director |
Indefinite |
Mr. Kelley has been a National |
2 |
None |
Age: 45 |
2 years |
Account Executive for American |
|||
Address: c/o |
Hotel Supply since January, 2004 |
||||
612 Paddock Lane |
Before, he was a Sales Executive |
||||
Libertyville, IL 60048 |
at WW Grainger for more than 5 years |
*Mr. Forester is a director who is an "interested person" of the Fund by virtue of being an officer of the Fund. Mr. Forester is also an officer of the investment manager and owns 13% of the shares of the Discovery Fund.
PROXY VOTING
The Companys Board of Directors has approved proxy voting procedures for the Fund, setting forth guidelines and procedures for the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Fund. Records of the Funds proxy voting records are maintained and are available for inspection. The Board is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the procedures.
QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE
The Company now files a complete schedule of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. These forms are available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. They may be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-723-0330.
The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Companys directors and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-888-701-8405.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a)
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant [has/has not] adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.
(b)
For purposes of this item, code of ethics means written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
(1)
Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
(2)
Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Commission and in other public communications made by the registrant;
(3)
Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations;
(4)
The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and
(5)
Accountability for adherence to the code.
(c)
Amendments
During the period covered by the report, there have not been any amendments to the provisions of the code of ethics.
(d)
Waivers
During the period covered by the report, the registrant has not granted any express or implicit waivers from the provisions of the code of ethics.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The registrants board of directors has determined that Thomas Forester is an audit committee financial expert. Thomas Forester is not independent for purposes of this Item 3. Mr. Forester is considered an expert due to education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, or auditor or experience in one or more positions that involve the performance of similar functions;
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)
Audit Fees
FY 2004
$ 5,000
FY 2005
$ 9,688
(b)
Audit-Related Fees
Registrant
FY 2004
$ 0
FY 2005
$ 0
Nature of the fees:
N/A
(c)
Tax Fees
Registrant
FY 2004
$ 1,000
FY 2005
$ 1,000
Nature of the fees:
Tax filing and preparation.
(d)
All Other Fees
Registrant
FY 2004
$ 0
FY 2005
$ 0
Nature of the fees:
(e)
(1) The Registrant's audit committee has reviewed the scope and plan of the independent public accountants' annual and interim examinations, approve the services (other than the annual audit) to be performed for the Registrant by the independent public accountants and approve the fees and other compensation payable to the independent accountants.
(2) During 2005, all of the non-audit services provided by the Registrant's principal accountant were pre-approved by the audit committee.
(f) None.
(g) None.
(h) Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Companies. Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
Not applicable schedule filed with Item 1.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Funds. Not applicable.
Item 8. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Funds. Not applicable.
Item 9. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The registrant has not adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's board of directors.
Item 10. Controls and Procedures.
(a)
Based on an evaluation of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2005, the disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that the information required in filings on Forms N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.
(b)
There were no significant changes in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants second fiscal half-year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Item 11. Exhibits.
(a)(1)
EX-99.CODE ETH. Filed herewith.
(a)(2)
EX-99.CERT. Filed herewith.
(a)(3)
Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable. Applies to closed-end funds only.
(b)
EX-99.906CERT. Filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THE FORESTER FUNDS, INC.
By /s/Thomas H. Forester
Thomas H. Forester
CEO and CFO
Date June 21, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By /s/Thomas H. Forester
Thomas H. Forester
CEO and CFO
Date June 21, 2005
Exhibit 99.CERT
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Thomas H. Forester, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The Forester Funds, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940)] for the registrant and have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal half-year (the registrants second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: June 21, 2005
/s/Thomas H. Forester
Thomas H. Forester
CEO and CFO
EX-99.906CERT
CERTIFICATION
Thomas H. Forester, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of The Forester Funds, Inc. (the Registrant), does certify to the best of his knowledge that:
1.
The Registrants periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended March 31, 2005 (the Form N-CSR) fully complies with the requirements of Sections 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
2.
The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
The Forester Funds, Inc. Trust
/s/Thomas H. Forester
Thomas H. Forester
Date: June 21, 2005
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to The Forester Funds, Inc. Trust and will be retained by The Forester Funds, Inc. Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) or its staff upon request.
This certification is being furnished to the Commission solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with the Commission.
EX-99.CODE ETH
THE FORESTER FUNDS, INC.
AND
FORESTER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD.
CODE OF ETHICS
Amended effective as of May 27, 2004
I. DEFINITIONS
A. "Access person" means any director, officer or advisory person of the Fund or of the Adviser.
B. "Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
C. "Adviser" means Forester Capital Management Ltd.
D. "Advisory person" means: (i) any employee of the Fund or Adviser or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or Adviser, who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund or Managed Accounts, 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 the Fund or Adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund or Managed Accounts with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund or Managed Accounts.
E. A Covered Security is "being considered for purchase or sale" when a recommendation to purchase or sell the Covered Security has been made and communicated and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.
F. "Beneficial ownership" shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes as such Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
G. "Control" has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act.
H. "Covered Security" means a security as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the Act, except that it does not include:
(i) Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
(ii) Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
(iii) Shares issued by open-end registered investment companies.
I. "Disinterested director" means a director of the Fund who is not an "interested person" of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
J. "Fund" means The Forester Funds, Inc. or any series thereof.
K. "Initial Public Offering" means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
L. "Investment personnel" means: (i) any employee of the Fund or Adviser or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund or 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 the Fund or Managed Accounts; and (ii) any natural person who controls the Fund or Adviser and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund or Managed Accounts regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund or Managed Accounts.
M. A "Limited Offering" means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) thereof or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 thereunder.
N. "Managed Accounts" include any client account for which the Adviser provides investment management services.
O. "Purchase or sale of a Covered Security" includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security.
II. APPROVAL OF CODE OF ETHICS
A. The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Disinterested directors, shall approve this Code of Ethics and any material changes thereto. Prior to approving this Code of Ethics and any material changes thereto, the Board of Directors must determine that this Code of Ethics contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating Rule 17j-1(b) of the Act and shall receive a certification from the Adviser that it has adopted such procedures as are reasonably necessary to prevent access persons of the Adviser from violating this Code of Ethics.
B. No less frequently than annually, the officers of the Fund and the officers of the Adviser shall furnish a report to the Board of Directors of the Fund:
1. Describing issues arising under the Code of Ethics since the last report to the Board of Directors, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code of Ethics and sanctions imposed in response to such material violations. Such report shall also include a list of access persons under the Code of Ethics.
2. Certifying that the Fund and Adviser have adopted such procedures as are reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating the Code of Ethics.
C. This Code of Ethics, the certifications required by Sections II.A. and II.B.(2), and the reports required by Sections II.B. shall be maintained by the Fund's Administrator. The reports required by Section V shall be maintained by the Fund's President or designee.
III. EXEMPTED TRANSACTIONS
The prohibitions of Section IV of this Code of Ethics 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 of Covered Securities which are not eligible for purchase or sale by any Fund or any Managed Account; provided, however, that the prohibitions of Section IV.B of this Code of Ethics shall apply to such purchases and sales.
(c) Purchases or sales which are non-volitional on the part of either the access person or the Fund or Managed Account.
(d) Purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.
(e) 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.
IV. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
A. Except in a transaction exempted by Section III of this Code, no access person (other than the President of the Fund) shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Covered Security in which he has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership unless such purchase or sale has been "precleared" by the President of the Fund. No transaction shall be "precleared" if, at the time of such purchase or sale, such security is being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund or a Managed Account or is being purchased or sold by a Fund or a Managed Account, unless all transactions in such security by the Fund and Managed Accounts have been completed at the existing price level on a day prior to the day of the transaction requiring preclearance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Disinterested directors are not required to "preclear" transactions unless the Disinterested director knows or should have known at the time of such purchase or sale, such security is being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund or is being purchased or sold by a Fund. Except in a transaction exempted by Section III of this Code, no access person (other than the President of the Fund) shall purchase or redeem, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Fund in which he has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership unless such purchase or redemption has been "precleared" by the President of the Fund. No such transaction shall be "precleared" if the President of the Fund determines, in his sole discretion, that such transaction would be detrimental to the Fund because of the timing of the proposed purchase or redemption. Disinterested directors are not required to "preclear" transactions in shares of the Fund.
B. Investment personnel may not acquire any securities in an Initial Public Offering.
C. Except in a transaction exempted by Section III of this Code of Ethics, Investment Personnel (other than the Fund's President) must obtain approval from the Fund's President before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in any securities in a Limited Offering. The Fund's President must obtain approval from a Disinterested director before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in any securities in a Limited Offering. Prior approval shall not be given if the Fund's President or the Disinterested director, as applicable, believes that the investment opportunity should be reserved for the Fund or a Managed Account or is being offered to the individual by reason of his or her position with the Fund or the Adviser.
D. Except in a transaction exempted by Section III of this Code of Ethics, no access person shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which he has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership on a day during which the Fund or a Managed Account has a pending "buy" or "sell" order in the same security until that order is executed or withdrawn. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Disinterested directors are not subject to this prohibition unless he or she knows or should have known at the time of such purchase or sale that the Fund has such a pending "buy" or "sell" order in the same security.
E. Investment Personnel shall not receive any gift or other thing of more than de minimis value from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of the Fund. The annual receipt of gifts from the same source valued at $100 or less shall be considered de minimis. Additionally, the receipt of an occasional dinner, a ticket to a sporting event or the theater, or comparable entertainment also shall be considered to be of de minimis value.
F. Except for service which began prior to the effective date hereof, Investment Personnel shall not serve on the board of directors of publicly traded companies absent prior authorization of the Board of Directors of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund may so authorize such board service only if it determines that such board service is consistent with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
V. REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
A. Except as provided in Section V.B. of this Code of Ethics, every access person shall report to the Fund the information described in Section V.C., Section V.D. and Section V.E. of this Code of Ethics. All reports shall be filed with the Fund's President or designee.
B. 1. A Disinterested director of the Fund need not make a report pursuant to Section V.C. and V.E. of this Code of Ethics and need only report a transaction in a Covered Security pursuant to Section V.D. of this Code of Ethics if such Disinterested director, at the time of such transaction, knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his official duties as a director of the Fund, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding the date of the transaction by the director, such Covered Security was purchased or sold by the Fund or was being considered by the Fund or the Adviser for purchase or sale by the Fund.
2. An access person need not make a report with respect to transactions effected for, and Covered Securities held in, any account over which the person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
3. An access person need not make a quarterly transaction report pursuant to Section V.D. of this Code of Ethics if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Fund's President or designee with respect to the access person in the time period required by Section V.D., provided that all of the information required by Section V.D. is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements or in the records of the Fund.
C. Every access person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the person becomes an access person, file an initial holdings report containing the following information:
1. The number of shares of the Fund and the title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the access person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person becomes an access person;
2. The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the access person maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person; and
3. The date that the report is submitted by the access person.
D. Every access person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the end of a calendar quarter, file a quarterly transaction report containing the following information:
1. With respect to any transaction during the quarter in shares of the Fund or in a Covered Security in which the access person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:
(a) The date of the transaction, the title and the number of shares, and the principal amount of each security involved;
(b) The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
(c) The price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected;
(d) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and
(e) The date that the report is submitted by the access person.
2. With respect to any account established by the access person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person:
(a) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the access person established the account;
(b) The date the account was established; and
(c) The date that the report is submitted by the access person.
E. Every access person shall, no later than January 30 each year, file an annual holdings report containing the following information as of the preceding December 31:
1. The number of shares of the Fund and the title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered 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 maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person; and
3. The date that the report is submitted by the access person.
F. Any report filed pursuant to Section V.C., Section V.D. or Section V.E. of this Code of Ethics may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such report that he has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.
G. The Fund's President and the Fund's Administrator shall review all reports filed pursuant to Section V.C., Section V.D. or Section V.E. of this Code of Ethics. The Fund's President and the Fund's Administrator shall submit to the Board of Directors of the Fund for its review the quarterly reports filed by the Fund's President pursuant to Section V.D. of this Code of Ethics. The Fund's President or designee shall identify all access persons who are required to file reports pursuant to this Section V of this Code of Ethics and must inform such access persons of their reporting obligation.
H. Each year access persons shall certify to the Fund that (i) they have read and understand this Code of Ethics and recognize that they are subject thereto, and (ii) they have complied with the requirements of this Code of Ethics and that they have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of this Code of Ethics.
VI. SANCTIONS
Upon discovering a violation of this Code of Ethics, the Board of Directors of the Fund or the Adviser, as applicable, may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate.