The Fund is non-diversified, which means that a relatively high percentage of its assets may be invested in a limited number of securities.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to leave your money invested, and the amount of risk you are willing to take. Remember, in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund . The principal risks of investing in this Fund are:
+ Stock Market Risk
The market value of stocks held by the Fund may decline over a short, or even an extended period of time, resulting in a decrease in the value of a shareholder’s investment.
+ Management Risk
The investment process used by the Adviser, including the Adviser’s valuation models, to select securities for the Fund’s investment portfolio may not prove effective, and the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of the Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect in that the investments chosen by the Adviser may not perform as anticipated. Certain risks are inherent in the ownership of any security, and there is no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.
+ General Market Risk
Certain securities selected for the Fund’s portfolio may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
+ Recent Market Events Risk
U.S. and international markets have experienced and may continue to experience significant periods of volatility in recent years and months due to a number of economic, political and global macro factors including uncertainty regarding inflation and central banks’ interest rate changes, the possibility of a national or global recession, trade tensions and tariffs, political events and geopolitical conflicts. As a result of continuing political tensions and armed conflicts, including the wars in Europe and the Middle East, markets have experienced increased volatility. Continuing market volatility as a result of recent market conditions or other events may have an adverse effect on the performance of the Fund.
+ Company and Sector Risk
The Fund’s investment strategy requires that a company selected for investment must, among other criteria and in the determination of the Adviser, have attained a return on equity of 15% or greater for at least ten consecutive fiscal years. Due to the relatively limited number of companies that meet this investment criteria and thereby qualify for investment consideration, at times the Fund is prohibited from investing in certain companies and sectors that are experiencing strong market appreciation, but have not attained the high level of consistent, long-term business performance that is required for investment consideration by the Fund. As a result, the Fund’s performance may trail the overall market over a short or extended period of time compared to what its performance may have been if the Fund was able to invest in such rapidly growing, non-qualifying companies.
Further, a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in the equity securities of companies comprising one or more industry sectors and such sectors favored by the Adviser will change during certain market environments. As of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio was invested in the following sector:
◦ Information Technology Sector Risk. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the information technology sector, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the information technology sector. Companies in the information technology sector and companies that rely heavily on technology are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition.
+ Non-Diversification Risk
The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Therefore, the Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers or may invest a larger proportion of its assets in the obligations of a single issuer. As a result, the gains and losses on a single investment may have a greater impact on the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) and may make the Fund more volatile than more diversified funds.
+ Foreign Securities and Currency Risk
Non-U.S. securities are subject to risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad and differences between U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements and market practices, including fluctuations in foreign currencies. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Issuers of foreign securities may not be required to provide operational or financial information that is as timely or reliable as those required for issuers of U.S. securities. The