Managers AMG Funds
ESSEX AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2000
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Semi-Annual Report
April 30, 2000
(unaudited)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Begins
on Page
Letter to Shareholders 1
Summary of Industry Weightings and Top Ten Holdings
2
Schedules of Portfolio Investments 3
Detailed portfolio listings by security type and
industry sector,
as valued at April 30, 2000
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 6
Fund balance sheets, Net Asset Value (NAV)
per share computation and
cumulative undistributed amounts
Statement of Operations 7
Detail of sources of income, fund expenses,
and realized and unrealized
gains (losses) during the period
Statement of Changes in Net Assets 8
Detail of changes in fund assets for the
period
Financial Highlights 9
Net asset value, total return, expense ratios,
turnover ratio and net assets
Notes to Financial Statements 10
Accounting and distribution policies, details of
agreements and transactions
with fund management and description of
certain investment risks
Investments in Managers AMG Funds are not deposits or
obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank.
Shares of the Fund are not federally insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Federal Reserve
Board, or any governmental agency.
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
It is my pleasure to present to you the
first semi-annual report for the Managers AMG
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund. The launch of the
Fund on November 1, 1999 was very successful from
many perspectives. The timing of the launch was,
by chance, just in time to take advantage of the
dramatic appreciation of "growth" stocks during
November and December. Thus, it is gratifying to
know that early investors into the Fund have been
able to witness good results right from the start.
The strong performance continued into the first
quarter of 2000, and despite a sharp correction in
March and April, the Fund has provided a return of
51.0% for the first six months of operation. This
compares very favorably against the 7.9% return
for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index for the same
time period. Finally, the rapid appreciation
along with the public interest that good
performance generates enabled the Fund to quickly
build to a viable size, ending the period at $268
million in assets.
In light of the Essex style of investing, we
should expect a fair amount of volatility.
Volatility is a necessary consequence of growth
oriented investing even if the portfolio managers
seek to limit the risks in their portfolios. This
is because growth investors are looking ahead to
the future profitability of their investments, and
small changes in expectations can lead to large
changes in the price of securities. Short-term
volatility is detrimental to short-term investors
but can be advantageous to long-term investors if
managed correctly.
In order to help our shareholders cope with
the ever-changing markets and understand the
performance of their Fund, we are pleased to
provide timely reports about the Fund on the
internet at www.managersamg.com. The current and
historical net asset value per share of the Fund
is always available on the site. Also, there is a
quarterly fact sheet that illustrates the
performance of the Fund, the portfolio
characteristics, sector allocations and other
information about the Fund and portfolio managers.
In addition, we are currently posting the most
recent month-end portfolio holdings (delayed by
about two weeks) so that shareholders can see
exactly how the Fund is invested. Any news or
other pertinent information such as expected
distributions will be posted on the site as it
becomes available. In the coming months we are
working to provide investors internet access to
account specific information such as share
balances and trading histories as well as
transactions.
The following report contains a listing of
the investment portfolio and financial statements.
Should you have any questions about this report,
please feel free to contact us at 1-800-835-3879,
or visit our website at www.managersamg.com.
We thank you for your investment in Managers
AMG Funds.
Sincerely,
/s/ Peter M. Lebovitz
Peter M. Lebovitz
President
Managers AMG Funds
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Summary of Industry Weightings as of April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
Major Sectors Fund Weighting
Capital Goods 1.2 %
Communication Services 3.3
Consumer Cyclicals 1.5
Consumer Staples 9.3
Energy 7.6
Financials 6.5
Health Care 19.4
Technology 45.7
Utilities 0.9
Other 4.6
Top Ten Holdings as of April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
Security Name Fund Weighting
Sybron International Corp. 2.6 %
Walt Disney Co., The 2.5
VeriSign, Inc. 2.4
Phone.com, Inc. 2.4
Nokia Corp., Sponsored ADR 2.4
Schlumberger, Ltd. 2.3
Packard BioScience Co. 2.2
Redback Networks, Inc. 2.2
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. 2.2
Genentech, Inc. 2.1
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Schedule of Portfolio Investments
April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
Shares Value
Common Stocks - 95.4%
Capital Goods - 1.2%
Millipore Corp. 47,700 3,419,494
Communication Services - 3.3%
Allied Riser Communications Corp.* 159,400
3,098,338
AT&T Wireless Group* 45,400 1,444,288
Covad Communications Group, Inc.* 34,438
949,197
Telesystem International Wireless, Inc.* 102,210
3,321,824
Total Communication Services 8,813,647
Consumer Cyclicals - 1.5%
CMGI, Inc.* 19,960 1,423,398
Home Depot, Inc. 47,575 2,667,173
Total Consumer Cyclicals 4,090,571
Consumer Staples - 9.3%
Adolph Coors Co. 92,700 4,727,700
Brinker International, Inc.* 90,200 2,875,125
Cheesecake Factory, Inc., The* 44,600
1,811,875
McDonald's Corp. 43,300 1,650,813
Outback Steakhouse, Inc.* 48,300 1,578,806
P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc.* 51,500
1,799,281
Starbucks Corp.* 39,100 1,180,331
Walt Disney Co., The 155,700 6,743,756
Whole Foods Market, Inc.* 58,200 2,473,500
Total Consumer Staples 24,841,187
Energy - 7.6%
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 63,200 2,745,250
Grant Prideco, Inc.* 49,700 956,725
R&B Falcon Corp.* 265,000 5,498,750
Schlumberger, Ltd. 82,100 6,285,781
Smith International, Inc.* 37,800 2,872,800
Weatherford International, Inc.* 49,700
2,019,063
Total Energy 20,378,369
Financials - 6.5%
American International Group, Inc. 45,500
4,990,781
eSPEED, Inc., Class A* 71,840 3,380,970
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. 51,600
3,960,300
State Street Corp. 52,400 5,076,250
Total Financials 17,408,301
Health Care - 19.4%
Albany Molecular Research, Inc.* 75,000
3,290,625
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 102,000 5,348,625
EPIX Medical, Inc.* 159,200 2,766,100
Genentech, Inc.* 47,500 5,557,500
INAMED Corp.* 16,500 676,500
MedImmune, Inc.* 9,780 1,558,076
Medtronic, Inc. 73,770 3,831,429
Protein Design Labs, Inc.* 41,500 4,225,219
QLT PhotoTherapeutics, Inc.* 86,300 4,795,044
Sepracor, Inc.* 55,700 5,117,438
Sybron International Corp.* 225,400 7,015,575
Symyx Technologies* 3,700 122,794
Teva Pharmaceutical Ind., Ltd., Sponsored ADR 61,400
2,693,925
Tularik, Inc.* 173,310 4,885,175
Total Health Care 51,884,025
Technology - 45.7%
Aclara Biosciences, Inc.* 8,400 316,587
Aether Systems, Inc.* 29,040 4,833,345
Allaire Corp.* 39,960 2,200,298
America Online, Inc.* 53,000 3,170,063
Ariba, Inc.* 36,020 2,660,978
BEA Systems, Inc.* 115,200 5,536,800
Broadcom Corp., Class A* 23,310 4,016,604
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.* 47,260
5,842,518
Ciena Corp.* 17,300 2,137,631
Ditech Communications Corp.* 62,400 5,296,200
i2 Technologies, Inc.* 32,340 4,177,924
Inktomi Corp.* 25,400 3,908,425
JDS Uniphase Corp.* 11,640 1,206,923
Juniper Networks, Inc.* 10,800 2,295,675
KLA-Tencor Corp.* 41,400 3,099,825
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.* 91,700
4,883,025
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.* 37,730
2,443,018
Metasolv Software, Inc.* 80,260 2,648,580
Micromuse, Inc.* 25,720 2,522,168
Nokia Corp., Sponsored ADR 112,800 6,415,500
Packard BioScience Co.* 500,000 5,937,500
PE Corp., PE Biosystems Group 84,000 5,040,000
Pharmacopeia, Inc.* 50,000 2,037,500
Phone.com, Inc.* 76,440 6,416,182
Polycom, Inc.* 55,860 4,416,430
Redback Networks, Inc.* 74,940 5,924,943
Sun Microsystems, Inc.* 34,900 3,208,618
Teradyne, Inc.* 25,900 2,849,000
VeriSign, Inc.* 46,580 6,474,620
Vignette Corp.* 110,130 5,313,772
Waters Corp.* 55,000 5,211,250
Total Technology 122,441,902
Utilities - 0.9%
Enron Corp. 34,200 2,383,313
Total Common Stocks
(cost $240,904,677) 255,660,809
Short-Term Investments - 11.0%
Other Investment Companies - 9.3%**
Calvert Cash Reserves Institutional
Prime Fund, 6.01% 1,936,257 1,936,257
CitiFunds Institutional Liquid
Reserves, Class A, 6.00% 918,873 918,873
Harris Insight Money Market Fund, 6.05% 10,004,994
10,004,994
JPM Prime Money Market Fund, 5.72% 12,021,231
12,021,231
Total Other Investment Companies 24,881,355
Repurchase Agreement - 1.7%
State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 04/28/00,
due 05/01/00, 5.20%, total to be received
$4,574,827 (secured by $4,685,000 Federal
National Mortgage Association, 6.10%,
due 09/14/01, market value $4,634,340), at cost
4,572,845 4,572,845
Total Short-Term Investments
(cost $29,454,200) 29,454,200
Total Investments - 106.4%
(cost $270,358,877) 285,115,009
Other Assets, less Liabilities - (6.4)% (17,025,714)
Net Assets - 100.0% 268,089,295
Note: Based on the cost of investments of $270,358,877 for
federal income tax purposes at April 30, 2000, the
aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation
was $34,235,323 and $19,479,191, respectively, resulting in
net unrealized appreciation of investments of $14,756,132.
* Non-income-producing securities.
** Yields shown for each investment company
represents the April 30, 2000, seven-day average yield,
which refers to the sum of the previous seven days'
dividends paid, expressed as an annual percentage.
Investment Abbreviations:
ADR: Securities whose value is determined or significantly
influenced by trading on exchanges not located in the
United States or Canada. ADR after the name of a holding
stands for American Depositary Receipt, representing
ownership of foreign securities on deposit with a domestic
custodian bank. Sponsored ADRs are initiated by the
underlying foreign company.
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
Assets:
Investments at value* 285,115,009
Receivable for investments sold
13,290,022
Receivable for Fund shares sold 839,511
Dividends, interest and other receivables 6,097
Prepaid expenses 25,235
Total assets 299,275,874
Liabilities:
Payable for investments purchased 30,462,686
Payable for Fund shares repurchased 398,391
Accrued expenses:
Investment advisory and management fees 225,537
Other 99,965
Total liabilities 31,186,579
Net Assets 268,089,295
Shares outstanding 17,757,576
Net asset value, offering and redemption
price per share 15.10
Net Assets Represent:
Paid-in capital 258,096,933
Net investment loss (299,086)
Accumulated net realized loss from investments (4,464,684)
Net unrealized appreciation of investments 14,756,132
Net Assets 268,089,295
*Investments at cost 270,358,877
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Statement of Operations
For the six months ended April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
Investment Income:
Interest income 671,797
Dividend income 83,699
Foreign withholding tax (3,983)
Total investment income 751,513
Expenses:
Investment advisory and management fees
955,091
Registration 49,808
Professional fees 28,750
Custodian 15,104
Transfer agent 14,773
Trustees 12,604
Insurance 5,034
Miscellaneous 8,421
2
Total expenses before reimbursement
1,089,585
Expense reimbursement (38,986)
Net expenses 1,050,599
Net investment loss
(299,086)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):
Net realized loss on investment transactions
(4,464,684)
Net unrealized appreciation of investments
14,756,132
Net realized and unrealized gain
10,291,448
Net Increase in Net Assets
Resulting from Operations 9,992,362
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Statement of Changes in Net Assets (unaudited)
For the
six months ended
April 30, 2000
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
From Operations:
Net investment loss (299,086)
Net realized loss on investment transactions
(4,464,684)
Net unrealized appreciation of investments
14,756,132
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations 9,992,362
From Capital Share Transactions:
Proceeds from sale of shares 295,991,597
Cost of shares repurchased (37,994,664)
Net increase from capital share transactions
257,996,933
Total increase in net assets
267,989,295
Net Assets:
Beginning of period 100,000
End of period 268,089,295
End of period net investment loss (299,086)
Share Transactions:
Sale of shares 20,195,535
Shares repurchased (2,447,959)
Net increase in shares 17,747,576
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Financial Highlights
For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout the period (unaudited)
For the six months ended
April 30, 2000
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Period $10.00
Income from Investment Operations:
Net investment loss (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 5.12
Total from investment operations 5.10
Net Asset Value,
End of Period $15.10
Total Return (a)(c) 51.00%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets 1.10% (b)
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets
(0.31)% (b)
Portfolio turnover 114% (c)
Net assets at end of period (000's omitted) $268,089
Expense Reimbursement (d)
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets 1.14% (b)
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets
(0.35)% (b)
(a) Total return would have been less absent
the expense reimbursement.
(b) Annualized.
(c) Not annualized.
(d) Ratio information assuming no
reimbursement of Fund expenses in effect for the six months
ended April 30, 2000. (See Notes to Financial Statements.)
Essex Aggressive Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
April 30, 2000 (unaudited)
(1) Summary of Significant
Accounting Policies
Managers AMG Funds (the "Trust") is a no-load, open-end
management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts
business trust, and registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Currently, the
Trust is comprised of one investment series, Essex
Aggressive Growth Fund (the "Fund").
The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States which require management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of income and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates. The following is a summary of significant
accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation
of its financial statements:
(a) Valuation of Investments
Equity securities listed on an exchange are valued at the
last quoted sale price on the exchange where such
securities are principally traded on the valuation date,
prior to the close of trading on the NYSE, or, lacking any
sales, at the last quoted bid price on such principal
exchange prior to the close of trading on the NYSE.
Over?the?counter securities for which market quotations are
readily available are valued at the last sale price or,
lacking any sales, at the last quoted bid price on that
date prior to the close of trading on the NYSE. Short-term
investments, having a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less, are valued at amortized cost which approximates
market. Investments in other regulated investment
companies are valued at their end of day net asset value
per share. Securities and other instruments for which
market quotations are not readily available are valued at
fair value, as determined in good faith and pursuant to
procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the
"Trustees").
(b) Security Transactions
Security transactions are accounted for as of trade date.
Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined
on the basis of identified cost.
(c) Investment Income
and Expenses
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except
certain dividends from foreign securities where the ex-
dividend date may have passed are recorded as soon as the
Trust is informed of the ex-dividend date. Dividend income
on foreign securities is recorded net of withholding tax.
Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and
includes amortization of discounts and premiums when
required for federal income tax purposes. Non-cash
dividends included in dividend income, if any, are reported
at the fair market value of the securities received. Other
income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis.
Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Fund
are apportioned among the Fund and other affiliated funds
based upon their relative average net assets.
(d) Dividends and Distributions
Dividends resulting from net investment income, if any,
normally will be declared and paid annually. Distributions
of capital gains, if any, will be made on an annual basis
and when required for federal excise tax purposes. Income
and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance
with Federal income tax regulations which may differ from
generally accepted accounting principles. These
differences are primarily due to differing treatments for
losses deferred due to wash sales, contributed securities
and possibly equalization accounting for tax purposes.
Permanent book and tax basis differences, if any, relating
to shareholder distributions will result in
reclassifications to paid-in capital.
(e) Federal Taxes
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable
income and gains to its shareholders and to meet certain
diversification and income requirements with respect to
investment companies. Therefore, no provision for federal
income or excise tax is included in the accompanying
financial statements.
(f) Capital Stock
The Trust's Declaration of Trust authorizes for the
issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest, without par value. The Fund records sales and
repurchases of its capital stock on the trade date.
Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on
the ex-dividend date.
At April 30, 2000, one unaffiliated shareholder, an omnibus
account, individually held 27% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund.
(g) Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements provided that
the value of the underlying collateral, including accrued
interest, will be equal to or exceed the value of the
repurchase agreement during the term of the agreement. The
underlying collateral for all repurchase agreements is held
in safekeeping by the Fund's custodian.
If the seller defaults and the value of the collateral
declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings commence with
respect to the seller of the security, realization of the
collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
(2) Agreements and Trans-
actions with Affiliates
The Trust entered into an Investment Management Agreement
under which The Managers Funds LLC (the "Investment
Manager"), a subsidiary of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.
("AMG"), serves as investment manager to the Fund and is
responsible for the Fund's overall administration and
distribution. The Fund's investment portfolio is managed
by Essex Investment Management Company, LLC ("Essex"),
which serves pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement by and
between the Investment Manager and the Fund. AMG owns a
majority interest in Essex.
The Fund is obligated by its Investment Management
Agreement to pay an annual management fee to the Investment
Manager of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the
Fund. The Investment Manager, in turn, pays Essex 1.00% of
the average daily net assets of the Fund for its services
as sub-adviser. Under the Investment Management Agreement
with the Fund, the Investment Manager provides a variety of
administrative services to the Fund and, under its
distribution agreement with the Fund, the Investment
Manager provides a variety of shareholder and marketing
services to the Fund. The Investment Manager receives no
additional compensation from the Fund for these services.
Pursuant to a Reimbursement Agreement between the
Investment Manager and Essex, Essex reimburses the
Investment Manager for the costs the Investment Manager
bears in providing such services to the Fund.
The Investment Manager has contractually agreed, for a
period of not less than eighteen (18) months, to waive fees
and pay or reimburse the Fund to the extent total expenses
of the Fund exceed 1.10% of the Fund's average daily net
assets. The Fund is obligated to repay the Investment
Manager such amounts waived, paid or reimbursed in future
years provided that the repayment occurs within three (3)
years after the waiver or reimbursement and that such
repayment would not cause the Fund's expenses in any such
future year to exceed 1.10% of the Fund's average daily net
assets. In addition to any other waiver or reimbursement
agreed to by the Investment Manager, Essex from time to
time may waive all or a portion of its fee. In such an
event, the Investment Manager will, subject to certain
conditions, waive an equal amount of the management fee.
For the six months ended April 30, 2000, the Investment
Manager reimbursed the Fund $38,986.
The aggregate annual fee paid to each outside Trustee for
serving as a Trustee of the Trust is $4,000. The Trustee
fee expense shown in the financial statements represents
the Fund's allocated portion of the total fees and expenses
paid by the Fund and other affiliated funds in the complex.
(3) Purchases and Sales
of Securities
Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term
securities, for the six months ended April 30, 2000, were
$419,263,229 and $188,760,494, respectively. There were no
purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities.
Managers AMG Funds
Investment Manager, Administrator and Distributor
The Managers Funds LLC
40 Richards Avenue
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854-2325
(203) 857-5321 or (800) 835-3879
Sub-Adviser
Essex Investment Management Company, LLC
125 High Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(617) 342-3200
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, Massachusetts 02171
Legal Counsel
Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Transfer Agent
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
attn: The Managers Funds
P.O. Box 8517
Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8517
(800) 252-0682
Trustees
Jack W. Aber
William E. Chapman, II
Sean M. Healey*
Edward J. Kaier
Eric Rakowski
*Interested person.
This report is prepared of rthe information of shareholders.
It is authorized for distribution to prospective investors
Only when preceded or accompanied by an effective
Prospectus.
www.managersamg.com