The fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of companies that are likely to participate in the growth of the American economy and whose dividends appear to be sustainable. Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in common stocks and other equity-type securities. For purposes of this policy, equity-type securities are securities that exhibit ownership characteristics, including common and preferred stock, securities convertible into common and preferred stock and depositary receipts representing ownership in common and preferred stock. The fund invests primarily in the United States and Canada.

The fund’s equity investments are limited to securities of companies that are included on an eligible list. When determining whether to include a security on the eligible list, the investment adviser principally considers whether a company is deemed to have a strong balance sheet and sustainable dividend payment prospects. Although the fund focuses on investments in medium to larger capitalization companies, the fund’s investments are not limited to a particular capitalization size.

The fund is nondiversified, which means it may invest a greater portion of its assets in fewer issuers than would otherwise be the case.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio managers in managing assets. Under this approach, a portfolio is divided into segments managed by individual managers. For more information regarding the investment process of the fund, see the “Management and organization” section of this prospectus.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund’s portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively valued companies that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.