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Market Risk - The
value of the Fund’s investments may change, and
possibly decrease, perhaps severely, in response to
fluctuations in the stock markets generally.
Focused Portfolio Risk
- The Fund is "non-diversified" and invests
in the securities of a limited number of issuers. As
a result, changes in the market value of a single issuer
could cause greater fluctuations in the value of the
Fund’s shares than would occur in a more diversified
fund.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Risk
- This is the risk that the value of the Fund’s
investments in securities of foreign issuers will be
affected adversely by foreign economic, social and political
conditions and developments or by the application of
foreign legal, regulatory, accounting and auditing standards
or foreign taxation policies or by currency fluctuations
and controls. The risks to the Fund and, therefore,
to your investment in the Fund of investing in foreign
securities include expropriation, settlement difficulties,
market illiquidity and higher transaction costs. The
prices of foreign securities may move in a different
direction than the prices of U.S. securities. In addition,
the prices of foreign securities may be more volatile
than the prices of U.S. securities.
Currency Risk - This
refers to the risk that securities which trade or are
denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar
may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange
rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. Dollar
relative to a foreign currency will generally cause
the U.S. Dollar value of an investment denominated in
that currency to decline. Currency risk may be hedged
or unhedged. Unhedged currency exposure may result in
gains or losses as a result of change in the relationship
between the U.S. Dollar and the respective foreign currency.
Risks of a Managed Fund
- Performance of individual securities can vary widely.
The investment decisions of the Fund’s investment
adviser may cause the Fund to underperform benchmark
indices. The Fund may also underperform other mutual
funds with similar investment strategies. The Fund’s
investment adviser may be incorrect in an assessment
of a particular industry or company, or the investment
adviser may not buy chosen securities at the lowest
possible prices or sell securities at the highest possible
prices. As with any mutual fund investment, there can
be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment
goals.
Other Investment Information
- Ordinarily, the Fund’s portfolio will be invested
primarily in common stocks. However, the Fund is not
required to be fully invested in common stocks and,
in fact, usually maintains certain cash reserves. Depending
upon market conditions, cash reserves may be a significant
percentage of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund
usually invests its cash reserves principally in U.
S. Government securities.
Portfolio Turnover Rate - The portfolio turnover
rate for the Fund is included in the Financial Highlights
section of the prospectus. Normally, the Fund purchases
and holds securities for sufficient periods to realize
long-term capital appreciation and to qualify for long-term
capital gain tax treatment. This means that the Fund’s
portfolio turnover rate is usually lower than many other
funds. Portfolio turnover, however, will not be a limiting
factor when management deems changes appropriate and
the Fund’s portfolio turnover in such cases may
exceed 50%. A higher rate of portfolio turnover increases
brokerage and other expenses and may affect the Fund’s
returns. A higher portfolio turnover rate also may result
in the realization of net short-term capital gains,
which, when distributed, are taxable to the Fund’s
shareholders
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