Fund’s investment. Equity securities include common
stocks (including indirect holdings of common stock through depositary
receipts), as well as other equity securities such as preferred stocks and
convertible
securities.
As global funds, each Fund other than the
International Small Cap Fund invests in securities of issuers, or related
investments thereof, located in at least three countries, and at least 40% of
each applicable Fund’s total net assets is invested in securities of non-U.S.
issuers or related investments thereof (such as depositary receipts and derivative instruments). As an
international fund, the International Small Cap Fund invests in the securities
of issuers located in at least five countries outside the U.S.
The Funds may invest in non-U.S. equity securities
through depositary receipts, including ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and other similar global
instruments, which are generally subject to risks associated with equity
securities and investments in foreign (non-U.S.) securities. ADRs are receipts
issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign
issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S. securities markets. EDRs, which are
sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts, are receipts issued in
Europe, typically by non-U.S. banks and trust companies, that evidence ownership
of either non-U.S. or domestic underlying securities. GDRs are depositary
receipts structured like global debt issues to facilitate trading on an
international basis. ADRs are usually denominated in U.S. dollars and dividends
and other payments from the issuer are converted by the custodian into U.S.
dollars before payment to receipt holders. In most other respects, ADRs, EDRs
and GDRs for foreign securities have the same characteristics as the
underlying
securities.
The Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to
buying and selling equity securities is to identify assets that are selling in
the public market at a discount to their private market value (“PMV”). PMV is
the value the Adviser believes informed purchasers would be willing to pay to
acquire a company or other assets with similar characteristics.
Undervaluation of a company’s stock can result from
a variety of factors, such as a lack of investor recognition of:
•the underlying value of a company’s fixed assets,
•the value of a consumer or commercial franchise,
•changes in the economic or financial environment
affecting the
company,
•new, improved, or unique products or services,
•new or rapidly expanding markets,
•technological developments or advancements
affecting the company or its products, and
•changes in governmental regulations, political
climate, or competitive conditions.
The actual events that may lead to a significant
increase in the value of a company’s securities include:
•a change in the company’s management policies,
•an investor’s purchase of a large portion of the
company’s
stock,
•a merger or reorganization or recapitalization of
the
company,
•a sale of a division of the company, a tender offer
(an offer to purchase investors’ shares),
•the spin-off to shareholders of a subsidiary,
division, or other substantial assets, and
•the retirement or death of a senior officer or
substantial shareholder of the company.