BERWYN INCOME FUND
a series of THE BERWYN FUNDS
2000
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Shareholders Services a no load
c/o PFPC Inc. mutual fund
P. O. Box 8821
Wilmington, DE 19899 (800) 992-6757
BERWYN INCOME FUND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
August 8, 2000 Net Asset Value Per Share: $9.98
Dear Berwyn Income Shareholder:
The total return to shareholders of the Berwyn Income Fund (BIF) during the
first half of 2000
was 1.42 percent versus 4.37 percent in the first half of 1999. The net asset
value per share
declined from $10.00 on December 31, 1999 to $9.73 on June 30, 2000.
Dividends of $0.20 and
$0.21 were paid from net investment income in March and in June, respectively.
Within the context of the overall activity in the bond and equity markets, BIF
turned in a
respectable performance in the first half. The bond markets, while volatile,
began to recover
after experiencing a dismal year in 1999. U.S. Treasury, AAA and AA rated
corporate bond
prices fluctuated widely because of the uncertainty surrounding the rapid
economic expansion
and the future of interest rates. Ultimately, investment grade bonds, as
represented by the
Salomon Smith Barney Broad Investment Grade Bond Index, closed with a positive
total return
of 3.92% for the half-year. High yield bonds were treated more harshly.
Even though these
lower quality credits rallied in June, the total return for the Salomon Smith
Barney High Yield
Composite Index was a negative 1.68% for the six months ending June 30th.
There was great concern amongst investors last year that the powerful economic
expansion, in
combination with a labor shortage, would lead to a surge in the inflation
rate; hence, the weak
bond market. No one knew to what level the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) would
have to raise
interest rates to slow the expansion to a sustainable pace. The FRB has
raised short-term interest
rates six times during the year ending June 30, 2000. The economic and
inflation statistics
released during the second quarter helped alleviate investors' concerns. They
developed more
confidence that the economy was not expanding uncontrollably, and that the FRB
could relax its
tightening stance. This contributed to stabilizing the bond markets in the
first half of this year.
Perhaps even more relevant to the stabilization of the bond markets was the
severe correction in
the high technology sector of the stock market. Chairman Greenspan's concerns
about the
speculative valuations in this area have been widely discussed. The NASDAQ
Index, heavily
weighted in technology, fell 40.7% from its high of 5133 on March 10th to a
low of 3043 on
May 24th. The correction in the NASDAQ did much to moderate the expectations
of technology
investors, and probably served to ease Chairman Greenspan's immediate worries
about the
consequences of the ongoing speculation.
Regarding the equity market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the
Standard &
Poor's 500 Index (S&P) performed poorly in the first half. The total returns
for these indices
were both negative, 8.45 and 0.42 percent, respectively. Our one benchmark
with equity
exposure, the Lipper Income Fund Index, is an index comprised of mutual funds,
some of which
are heavily weighted with blue chip stocks selling at high price to earnings
ratios. The first half
total return for this index was 1.97 percent. The stock portion of BIF has
little exposure to high
technology and other stocks in the high growth/ high P/E category. Rather, it
consists primarily
of small, out-of-favor companies selling at low P/E's, with a strong
representation in high
dividend-paying real estate investment trusts and utilities. We believe that
the stock portion of
the portfolio is defensive, yet has the potential for substantial capital
gains.
The composition of BIF's investments by asset class as of June 30, 2000 is as
follows:
Dividend-paying Common Stocks 28.71%
Corporate Bonds 36.50
Convertible Bonds 21.88
Convertible Preferred Stock 9.46
Preferred Stocks 3.45
The weighted average maturity of the bonds in the portfolio is 9.8 years. The
duration of the
bonds is 5.6 years. The credit quality of the bonds, constituting 58.38% of
the portfolio, is as
follows: investment grade, 30.65 percent; rated less than investment grade,
17.86; and, not rated,
9.87 percent.
The five sectors of the economy with the largest representation at mid-year
were:
Industrial Basic Materials 19.89%
Consumer Cyclicals 14.69
Energy 13.77
Financial 13.69
Capital Goods 12.38
BIF's ten largest holdings at mid-year are listed below:
Company
Security
Percent
Chase Manhattan
7.125% due 2/01/07
4.20
Dixie Group
7.00% due 5/15/12
4.10
Callon Petroleum
Preferred stock
4.00
Ford
6.375% due 11/05/08
4.00
IMC Global
7.30% due 1/15/28
3.90
Trans Lux
7.50% due 12/01/06
3.90
Impala Platinum
Common stock
3.60
Ashland Oil
8.23% due 2/26/07
3.30
Cyprus Amax
7.375 % due 5/15/07
3.10
Standard Commercial
7.25% due 3/31/07
3.00
At mid-year, the total net assets in BIF were approximately $46 million. The
annualized expense
ratio was 0.90 percent.
In the BIF 1999 Annual Report, we discussed how investors have been
conditioned by the long-
term bull market in blue chip stocks to favor growth and momentum style
investments. This is
demonstrated by their willingness to pay unprecedentedly high price-to-
earnings ratios for
common stocks as represented by the major averages. In the past two and one-
half years, there
has been a relatively narrow focus, namely on the high growth technology and
Internet areas,
which have performed extremely well. Most other investments, perceived to have
limited growth
prospects or to be defensive in nature, have languished.
While the preference for growth began with meaningful fundamental developments
in our
domestic and world economies, it appears to have reached such an extreme as to
have created
huge excesses and imbalances in the financial markets. In our opinion,
investors have become
complacent about the risks inherent in stock investing, and appear to lack an
appreciation for the
safety and high real interest rates available in defensive alternatives such
as Treasury and
corporate bonds. It is our belief that for investors seeking income and the
potential for capital
gains with little downside risk, these imbalances have created opportunity.
Going forward we anticipate continued volatility and disappointment in the
overpriced areas of
the stock market. Concurrently, we expect greater consideration for neglected
areas of the
financial markets. The financial markets function to allocate capital to
achieve the highest
returns in accordance with risk. When serious imbalances occur, it may take
months or years to
correct. What we have seen in the first half, that is, the stabilization of
the bond market and the
correction in the NASDAQ, could be an early step in a long process. Other
neglected defensive
sectors, which demonstrated improved performance in the first half, include
REITs and utilities.
For example, Otter Tail Power (OTTR), the mid-western utility mentioned in the
first quarter
report, appreciated in price 10.5 percent during the first six months of the
year. (OTTR was 2.4
percent of the total BIF portfolio on June 30, 2000.)
Disinflation continues to be a powerful force in the world economy, fostered
by international
competition and technology. In this environment the high real rates of return
on investment
grade corporate bonds are extremely attractive. Even though the strong
economy is exerting
pressure towards higher interest rates in the near term, corporate bonds still
seem undervalued.
Given the potential for an economic slowdown and/or a significant stock market
correction, we
continue to think it appropriate to expand the proportion of investment grade
corporate bonds in
coming months.
While the primary purposes of BIF are to generate income and preserve capital,
we are also
striving for an attractive total return. Within the BIF portfolio, carefully
selected high yield
bonds have the potential for ratings upgrades. Companies such as Hilton
Hotels and Tenet
Healthcare should benefit from their sound business strategies in a healthy
consumer
environment. Many of the investments in the common stock, convertible
preferred stock and
convertible bond portion of the portfolio are in economically sensitive areas
that should improve
in line with the global economic recovery. Examples of these would be Impala
Platinum and
Robbins & Myers. It is our opinion that we are in the early stages of a
worldwide economic
recovery and are positioned to realize ongoing benefits.
Sincerely,
Edward A. Killen Robert E. Killen
Portfolio Manager President
Note: Returns for Berwyn Income Fund are net of all expenses, advisory
fees and commission
charges and include the reinvestment of dividends and interest (total return).
All index returns
listed herein also include the reinvestment of dividends and interest (total
return). The
investment return and the principal value of an investment in BIF will
fluctuate so that an
investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their
original cost.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
JUNE 30, 2000
(Unaudited)
Assets:
Investments in Securities, at Market Value $45,204,306
(Cost $53,411,465) (Note 2)
Receivables:
Interest 585,304
Dividends 96,670
Investment Securities Sold 515,772
Total Assets 46,402,052
Liabilities:
Payable to Custodian 253,905
Accrued Expenses 14,041
Investment Advisory Fee Payable 19,098
Total Liabilities 287,044
Net Assets: (1)
Applicable to 4,740,322 Outstanding Shares of
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
(Authorized 20,000,000 Shares) $46,115,008
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption
Price Per Share ($46,115,008 / 4,740,322
Outstanding Shares) $ 9.73
(1) On June 30, 2000 Net Assets consisted of the following:
Common Stock, Par Value $1.00 4,740,322
Paid-in Capital 58,367,602
Undistributed Net Investment Income 316,030
Accumulated Net Realized Capital Loss (9,101,787)
Net Unrealized Depreciation of Investment Securities (8,207,159)
$46,115,008
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
(Unaudited)
Investment Income:
Interest $1,498,606
Dividends 774,822
Total Investment Income $2,273,428
Expenses:
Investment Advisory Fee (Note 3) 125,327
Transfer Agent 17,911
Custodian 14,607
Professional Fees 22,597
Registration Fees 15,950
Directors' Fees 1,600
Printing Costs 8,446
Office Expenses 8,738
Insurance 6,143
Taxes (Other than Income Tax) 2,757
Total Expenses 224,076
Net Investment Income 2,049,352
Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments:
Net Realized Loss from Sales of Securities (4,973,527)
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
on Investment Securities 3,608,540
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments (1,364,987)
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations $684,365
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
(Unaudited)
Six Months Six Months
Ended Ended
06/30/00 06/30/99
Increase in Net Assets from Investment Activities:
Net Investment Income $2,049,352 $2,243,940
Net Realized Loss from Sales of Securities (4,973,527) (2,409,026)
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation
on Investment Securities 3,608,540 3,623,680
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting
from Operations 684,365 3,458,594
Distributions to Shareholders:
From Net Investment Income (1,991,922) (2,742,652)
Capital Share Transactions: (1)
Net Proceeds from Sales of Shares 10,870,149 15,183,318
Cost of Shares Redeemed (22,343,363) (46,915,787)
Distributions Reinvested 1,555,161 2,163,941
Net Decrease in Net Assets from
Capital Share Transactions (9,918,053) (29,568,527)
Total Decrease in Net Assets (11,225,610) (28,852,585)
Net Assets:
Beginning of Period 57,340,618 103,623,570
End of Period (Including Undistributed Net
Investment Income of $316,030 and
$1,663,558 at June 30, 2000 and 1999,
respectively) $46,115,008 $74,770,985
(1) Shares Issued and Redeemed:
Shares Sold 1,105,825 1,410,485
Shares Redeemed (2,260,094) (4,359,964)
Shares Reinvested 159,014 203,143
(995,255) (2,746,336)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
(Unaudited)
SIX MONTHS
ENDED YEAR ENDED
06/30/00 12/31/99 12/31/98 12/31/97 12/31/96 12/31/95
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period $10.00 $10.72 $12.51
$12.31 $11.95 $10.75
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______
Income from Investment Operations:
Net Investment Income 0.40 0.91 0.90 0.77 0.76 0.73
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Securities (0.26) (0.81) (1.44) 0.84
0.87 1.48
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______
Total from Investment Operations 0.14 0.10 (0.54)
1.61 1.63 2.21
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______
Less Distributions:
From Net Investment Income (0.41) (0.82) (0.92) (0.77)
(0.80) (0.70)
From Net Realized Gains (0.00) (0.00) (0.15) (0.64)
(0.47) (0.31)
From Capital (0.00) (0.00) (0.18) (0.00) (0.00)
(0.00)
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______
Total Distributions (0.41) (0.82) (1.25)
(1.41) (1.27) (1.01)
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______
Net Asset Value, End of Period 9.73 $10.00 $10.72 $12.51
$12.31 $11.95
Total Return 1.42% 0.83% (4.57%) 13.36% 13.99%
21.0%
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Net Assets, End of Period (000) $46,115 $57,341 $103,624
$180,823 $137,166 $119,552
Ratio of Expenses to Average
Net Assets 0.90%* 0.77% 0.66% 0.65% 0.68% 0.73%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets 8.16%* 6.92% 6.27% 6.15% 6.35% 6.78%
Portfolio Turnover Rate 14%* 7% 31% 53% 38% 39%
*Annualized
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
JUNE 30, 2000
Number of
Shares COMMON STOCKS - 28.1% Value*
BANKING - 0.7%
19,700 First Essex Bancorp, Inc. $ 313,969
COMMERCIAL PRINTING - 2.3%
30,148 Courier Corp. 851,680
28,500 Ennis Business Forms 228,000
1,079,680
DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING - 0.9%
47,851 Lindberg Corp. 334,957
15,900 Synalloy Corp. 105,338
440,295
FOREST & PAPER PRODUCTS - 0.8%
7,300 Greif Brothers Corp. 224,019
2,215,148 Repap Enterprises, Inc. 137,339
361,358
MANUFACTURED HOUSING - 0.4%
31,300 Patrick Industries, Inc. 195,625
MACHINERY MANUFACTURER - 0.6%
25,700 Hardinge, Inc. 271,456
METALS & MINING INDUSTRY - 3.8%
3,600 Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. 92,925
44,416 Impala Platinum Holdings Limited 1,652,225
1,745,150
OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION - 2.4%
11,000 Berry Petroleum Co. 187,000
163,511 Ranger Oil Ltd. 899,310
1,086,310
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
Number of
Shares COMMON STOCKS (Continued) Value*
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST - 7.6%
10,500 First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. $ 309,750
42,150 Hospitality Property Trust 951,009
34,500 Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. 828,000
3,000 Prologis Trust 63,938
77,700 Town & Country Trust 1,335,468
3,488,165
STEEL & STEEL PRODUCTS - 0.3%
17,158 AK Steel Holding Corp. 137,264
TEXTILE INDUSTRY - 0.2%
27,402 Dixie Group, Inc. 106,183
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY - 2.6%
113,400 Anangel-American Shipholding - SP ADR 531,563
35,700 Stolt-Nielsen S.A. ADR 638,137
1,169,700
UTILITIES - 5.5%
3,000 Hawaiian Electric Industries 98,438
32,200 Laclede Gas Co. 619,850
53,900 Otter Tail Power Co. 1,121,794
42,100 Sempra Energy 715,700
2,555,782
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $13,123,889) 12,950,937
PREFERRED STOCKS - 12.7%
FOOD PROCESSING - 0.4%
13,500 Chiquita Brands International, Inc. PFD Series A CV
189,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
Number of
Shares PREFERRED STOCKS (Continued) Value*
METALS & MINING INDUSTRY - 3.5%
20,700 Battle Mountain Gold Co. PFD CV $325 $ 610,650
28,400 Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold PFD A CV 0.05 SH
378,075
15,600 Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold PFD D 187,200
23,120 Hecla Mining PFD B CV 445,060
1,620,985
OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION - 5.0%
52,165 Callon Petro Co. PFD A CV 1,851,857
13,800 Western Gas Resources, Inc. PFD CV 470,063
2,321,920
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST - 3.0%
16,500 First Industrial Realty PFD A 393,938
29,100 Mid America Apt. Communities PFD A 567,450
20,000 Prologis Trust 410,000
1,371,388
STEEL & STEEL PRODUCTION - 0.8%
19,567 Bethlehem Steel Corp. 3.5% PFD CV 352,206
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost $7,864,190) 5,855,499
Face
Amount CORPORATE BONDS - 57.2%
AUTO & AUTOMOTIVE PARTS - 4.2%
$ 2,027,000 Ford 6.375% 11/05/08 1,849,450
135,000 Mascotech, Inc. 4.5% 12/15/03 100,744
1,950,194
BANKING - 4.3%
2,000,000 Chase Manhattan 7.125% 02/01/07 1,941,882
20,000 Nations Bank Corp. 6.375% 02/15/08 18,289
1,960,171
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY - 3.9%
2,130,000 IMC Global Inc. 7.30% 01/15/28 1,805,171
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
Face
Amount CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) Value*
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES - 0.8%
$ 400,000 Advanta Corp. $ 387,562
DRUGSTORE - 1.3%
3,014,000 Drug Emporium, Inc. 7.75% CV 10/01/14 602,800
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - 2.2%
1,000,000 Emerson Electric 1,028,087
ELECTRONICS - 6.9%
1,243,000 Kollmorgen Corp. 8.75% CV 05/01/09 1,232,124
171,000 Kent Electronics 4.5% 09/01/04 151,976
2,224,000 Trans-Lux Corp. 7.5% CV 12/01/06 1,809,780
3,193,880
FINANCE INDUSTRY - 0.0%
20,000 General Motors Acceptance Corp. 5.875% 01/22/03
19,250
FOREST & PAPER PRODUCTS - 2.8%
750,000 Georgia Pacific 7.25% 06/01/28 643,496
30,000 Georgia Pacific 7.375% 12/01/25 26,176
727,000 Stone Container Corp. 6.75% CV 02/15/07 583,418
1,253,090
HEALTH CARE - 2.8%
1,300,000 Omnicare, Inc. 5% 12/01/07 874,250
455,000 Tenet Health Care 8% 1/15/05 436,800
1,311,050
HOTEL - 0.0%
20,000 Hilton Hotels 5% 5/15/06 15,800
MACHINERY MANUFACTURING - 1.4%
670,000 Robbins & Myers 6.5% CV 09/01/03 653,250
METALS AND MINING - 3.5%
500,000 Campbell Resources, Inc. 7.5% CV 7/20/04 185,625
1,500,000 Cypress Amax Minerals Co. 7.375% 05/15/07 1,437,660
1,623,285
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
Face
Amount CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) Value*
OFFICE EQUIPMENT - 2.4%
$1,250,000 XEROX Corp. 8% 02/01/27 $ 1,080,339
25,000 XEROX Corp. 8.125% 04/15/02 25,176
1,105,515
OIL & GAS - 4.9%
1,500,000 Ashland Oil, Inc. 8.23% 02/26/07 1,499,601
700,000 Gulf Canada Resources Ltd. 9.625% 07/01/05
712,250
2,211,851
OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION - 1.3%
600,000 Swift Energy 6.25% CV 11/15/06 580,500
RETAIL INDUSTRY - 2.4%
1,524,000 Dairy Mart Stores 10.25% 03/15/04 1,112,520
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY - 1.6%
750,000 GTE 7.51% 04/01/09 738,435
TEXTILE - 4.0%
2,994,000 Dixie Group, Inc. 7% CV 05/05/12 1,856,280
TOBACCO - 3.0%
2,329,000 Standard Commercial Corp. 7.25% CV 03/31/07 1,391,578
TRANSPORTATION - 1.5%
1,000,000 Transportacion Maritima Mexicana SA 10% 11/15/06
680,000
UTILITY - 2.0%
1,000,000 Consolidated Edison 6.25% 02/01/08 917,507
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $32,402,050) 26,397,776
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
Number of
Shares WARRANTS - 0%
Value*
6,000 IMC Global, Inc. $ 94
TOTAL WARRANTS (Cost $21,336) 94
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (Cost $53,411,465) - 98.0% 45,204,306
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 2.0% 910,702
NET ASSETS - 100% $46,115,008
__________________________________________
* See Note 2 to the Financial Statements.
** Considered to be an affiliate under the Investment Company Act of
1940
ADR American Depositary Receipt
CV Convertible Security
PFD Preferred Stock
SP Sponsored
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BERWYN INCOME FUND
A SERIES OF THE BERWYN FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2000
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION
The Berwyn Funds is a Delaware Business Trust registered under the Investment
Company Act
of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management company. Berwyn Income Fund
(the Fund) is
a portfolio series of The Berwyn Funds.
The Fund's investment objective is to provide investors with current income
while seeking to
preserve capital. Certain of the Fund's investments are in corporate debt
instruments; the
issuers' ability to meet these obligations may be affected by economic
developments in their
respective industries.
NOTE 2 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with generally
accepted
accounting principles for investment companies. The preparation of financial
statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management
to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in
the financial
statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Security Valuation: Securities listed on a national securities exchange
are valued at the last
quoted sales price. Securities not traded on the valuation date and
securities not listed are valued
at the last quoted bid price. Short-term investments are valued at amortized
cost which
approximates market value. The value of other assets and securities for which
no quotations are
readily available is determined in good faith at fair value using methods
determined by the Board
of Directors.
Federal Income Taxes: The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated
investment
company and distribute all of its taxable income and otherwise comply with the
provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Accordingly, no provision for
Federal income tax
is required in the financial statements.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are
accounted for on
the date the securities are purchased or sold. Costs used in determining
realized gains and losses
on sales of investment securities are those of specific securities sold.
Dividend income and
distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest
income is recorded
using the accrual method. Discounts and premiums on debt securities purchased
are amortized to
interest income over the lives of the respective securities.
Distributions to Shareholders: Dividends from net investment income are paid
quarterly to
the shareholders. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are
paid at least annually to
the shareholders. The amounts of distributions from net investment income and
net realized
capital gains are determined in accordance with Federal income tax
regulations, which may differ
from those amounts determined under generally accepted accounting principles.
These book/tax
differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these
differences are
permanent, they are adjusted to reflect their tax treatment in the period the
differences arise.
NOTE 3 - INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Fund has agreed to
pay The Killen
Group, Inc. (the "Investment Adviser") an investment advisory fee at an annual
rate of .50% of
the Fund's average daily net assets. The Investment Adviser and the Directors
and Officers of
the Investment Adviser, together with their families, owned 169,538 shares of
the Fund at June
30, 2000.
During the period ended June 30, 2000, the Fund paid $45,768 in commissions to
Berwyn
Financial Services, a brokerage company affiliated with the Investment
Adviser, to execute
certain portfolio transactions.
NOTE 4 - SECURITY TRANSACTIONS
During the period ended June 30, 2000, the Fund made purchases of $3,241,654
and sales of
$14,782,250 of investment securities other than short-term securities and U.S.
Government
securities.
Cost of securities owned at June 30, 2000 and the net realized gains or losses
on securities sold
for the period then ended for Federal income tax purposes were not materially
different from
amounts reported for financial reporting purposes.
At June 30, 2000, net unrealized depreciation for financial reporting and
Federal income tax
purposes aggregated $8,207,159 of which $3,053,999 related to appreciated
securities and
$11,261,158 related to depreciated securities.
Notes
Effective January 1, 1998, the Fund began to amortize premiums and accrete
discounts to interest income over the life of the bonds.
The effect of this change in accounting principle for the year ended December
31, 1998 is to increase per share net income by $0.04
and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets by 0.3%.
