As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2000.
File No. 33-79742
811-8546
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [ ]
AMENDMENT NO. 10 [X]
THE BRAMWELL FUNDS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151
(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 308-0505
Elizabeth R. Bramwell
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151
(Name and address of agent for service of process)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
X on October 31, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
----
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)of Rule 485
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
----
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Prospectus
November 1, 2000
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
[Bramwell Funds Logo]
Bramwell Growth Fund
For Investors Seeking Primarily Long-Term Capital Growth and Secondarily Current
Income
Bramwell Focus Fund
For Investors Seeking Long-Term Capital Appreciation
"Focused on the future, guided by the past"
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Elizabeth R. Bramwell, CFA
President and Chief Investment Officer
<PAGE>
How to Use This Prospectus
This prospectus is designed to help you make an informed decision about
investing in the Bramwell Growth Fund or the Bramwell Focus Fund. When both
funds are discussed together, they will be referred to as the "Funds," and when
discussed individually, the "Fund." The investment adviser for both of the Funds
is Bramwell Capital Management, Inc.
The prospectus has four main sections each covering different topics.
1
THE FUNDS covers such topics as the Funds' investment goals, principal
strategies, investment selection process, principal risks, performance history
and fees and expenses.
2
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS discusses the background and experience of the directors
of the Funds and the people and entities who are mainly responsible for the
day-to-day operation of the Funds.
3
HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES covers the investment options available to you should
you decide to invest in the Funds as well as how to set up your account.
4
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS provides you with additional performance data and financial
information.
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Table of Contents
The Funds.....................................................................4
Goals of Each Fund............................................................4
Principal Strategies of the Funds.............................................4
Investment Selection Process..................................................5
Principal Risks...............................................................6
Performance History...........................................................7
Fees and Expenses.............................................................8
Management of the Funds.......................................................9
Investment Adviser............................................................9
Portfolio Manager............................................................10
Board of Directors...........................................................11
How to Buy and Sell Shares...................................................12
Net Asset Value..............................................................12
How to Open and Add to Your Account..........................................13
Additional Purchase Information..............................................15
How to Sell Your Shares......................................................15
Telephone and Wire Transactions..............................................18
Signature Guarantees.........................................................18
Financial Service Agents.....................................................19
Exchange Privileges..........................................................19
Retirement Plans.............................................................21
Automatic Investment Plans...................................................21
Shareholder Communications...................................................21
Dividends and Distributions..................................................22
Taxes........................................................................22
Financial Highlights.........................................................23
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<PAGE>
The Funds
---------
Goals of Each Fund
The Bramwell Growth Fund seeks primarily long-term capital growth and
secondarily current income.
The Bramwell Focus Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Principal Strategies of the Funds
The Bramwell Growth Fund is a diversified fund that invests primarily
in a broad range of common stocks of companies that the adviser believes have
above average growth potential.
The Bramwell Focus Fund is a non-diversified fund with a concentrated
portfolio, normally comprised of 20 to 30 securities, that invests primarily in
common stocks of companies that the adviser believes have above average growth
potential.
Why a Mutual Fund?
A mutual fund is a pooled investment vehicle that allows investors an
opportunity to participate in the financial markets under continual supervision
by professional management and with economies of scale not generally achieved by
an individual. Although a fund strives to achieve its stated investment goals,
no assurance can be given that it will do so. You may lose money by investing.
Investment in a mutual fund is not insured by the FDIC or any governmental
agency. An individual mutual fund is not a complete or balanced investment
program.
Diversified Funds
o Invest in a broad number of securities.
o Cannot invest, with respect to 75% of their assets, more than 5% of their
assets in the securities of any one issuer.
o Are less dependent on the performance of any single investment choice.
Non-Diversified Funds
o Invest in a limited number of securities.
o Cannot invest, with respect to 50% of their assets, more than 5% of their
assets in the securities of any one issuer.
o Have a higher risk profile in that the price movement of a single stock may
have a greater positive or negative effect on overall portfolio
performance.
Neither type of fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in a single
issuer (other than securities issued by the U.S. government) and neither type of
fund may own more than 10% of the outstanding voting shares of any one issuer.
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Investment Selection Process
The Funds' adviser, Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. ("BramCap") attempts
to identify companies that are expected to grow as a result of the potential
long-term return from their investment in research, development, capital
spending and market expansion. The potential return on investment may not be
reflected in a one-year period in the equity market. In addition, BramCap looks
for companies that it perceives to be attractively valued relative to their
future growth prospects, as well as to that of the market as a whole. To provide
BramCap more flexibility in the selection of potential investments, the Board of
Directors of the Funds may modify each Fund's investment objectives without
shareholder approval.
When selecting investments for the Funds, BramCap utilizes a blended "top-down"
and "bottom-up" approach. In top-down analysis, focus is on such macroeconomic
factors as inflation, interest and tax rates, currency and political climate. In
bottom-up analysis, focus is on company-specific variables, such as competitive
industry dynamics, market leadership, proprietary products and services, and
management expertise, as well as on financial characteristics, such as returns
on sales and equity, debt/equity ratios and earnings and cash flow growth.
To the extent current income is a secondary investment objective of the Bramwell
Growth Fund, BramCap also analyzes a company's dividend paying characteristics
when selecting investments for that Fund.
Fundamental research supports investment decisions. Information sources include
corporate financial reports and press releases, company presentations, meetings
with management, general economic and industry data supplied by government
agencies and trade associations, and research reports provided by Wall Street
analysts.
BramCap then synthesizes and analyzes information gathered from fundamental
research to develop financial and valuation models for each individual company
in order to project future sales and earnings growth potential and relative
valuations and to facilitate informed investment decisions.
BramCap sells investments when the valuation of the underlying company relative
to its future growth rate appears to have become excessive, or the fundamentals
of a company are perceived to be deteriorating, or more attractive alternative
investments surface.
Core Investments
Both Funds invest primarily in common stocks of companies headquartered in the
United States. Both Funds may also invest up to 25% of their assets, measured at
the time of investment, in equities of foreign issuers.
Risk Management
Both Funds may hold cash or cash equivalents and invest without limit in U.S.
government obligations when adverse economic or market conditions exist, in the
event
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of exceptional redemption requests or when BramCap determines that a temporary
defensive position is advisable. Under these circumstances, the Funds may not
achieve their investment goals.
Although not anticipated to be widely used, the Funds may also use for risk or
portfolio management purposes various techniques and hedging instruments to
increase or decrease their exposure to the effects of possible changes in
security prices, currency exchange rates or other factors that affect the value
of the Funds' portfolios. These techniques and instruments include, but are not
limited to, options on securities and securities indices, futures, foreign
currency contracts, repurchase agreements, short sales and securities lending.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for a complete description of
the investment policies and restrictions of each Fund.
Principal Risks
General Risks
Investment in any mutual fund has inherent risks. The Funds are subject to the
same general risks as all mutual funds. Both Funds will invest primarily in the
common stocks of various companies, subjecting the Funds, and you as a
shareholder, to the risks of common stock investing. While both Funds are best
suited for investors seeking long-term performance, the Focus Fund should be
regarded as more aggressive in that the price movement of a single stock may
have a greater positive or negative effect on overall portfolio performance. The
Funds are not intended either by themselves or together to constitute a balanced
investment program. There is no assurance that the investment objectives of the
Funds will be realized or that a Fund's portfolio will not decline in value. You
may lose money by investing in the Funds. You should consider your own risk
tolerance, investment goals and investment timeline before committing money to
an investment in any mutual fund. Significant factors that can affect the Funds'
performance are:
Market Risk
Economic conditions change and stock markets are volatile. Political and
economic factors such as changes in inflation and interest rates, currency
fluctuations, political climate and taxes may have a negative impact on the
performance of the Funds.
Individual Company Risk
Changes in factors specific to a particular company, such as its competitive
position, quality of management or demand for its products and services, may
also have a negative impact on the performance of the Funds.
Foreign Investing Risk
Both Funds may invest up to 25% of their assets, measured at the time of
investment, in foreign equities. Foreign investments may be riskier than U.S.
investments because of factors such as unstable international political and
economic conditions, currency
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<PAGE>
fluctuations, foreign controls on investment and currency exchange, withholding
taxes, a lack of adequate company information, less liquid and more volatile
markets, immature economic structures, unfamiliar legal systems and a lack of
government regulation.
Hedging Risk
Investing for hedging purposes may result in certain transaction costs which may
reduce a Fund's performance. In addition, no assurances can be given that each
hedge will be perfectly correlated with the security or currency that it is
being hedged against.
Non-Diversified Portfolio Risk
The Focus Fund is a non-diversified fund, meaning that it may hold fewer
securities than a diversified portfolio. This increases the risk that the value
of the Focus Fund could be affected to a greater degree by the underperformance
of any single investment choice.
Performance History
The bar chart and table that follow are intended to indicate the risks of
investing in the Funds as well as their relative performance. The bar chart
shows the Growth Fund's calendar year total returns for each whole year since
its inception, August 1, 1994, together with the best and worst quarters during
that period. The bar chart is intended to indicate the risks of investing in the
Fund by showing the difference in the Fund's investment returns from one year to
the next. The following table shows the relative performance of the Growth Fund
by comparing the Fund's average annual total returns to that of the S&P 500(R)
Index, a widely recognized unmanaged index of stock performance, for calendar
year periods ending December 31, 1999. How the Fund has performed in the past is
not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future.
[Bramwell Growth Fund Bar Chart: 1995--32.55%; 1996--12.82%; 1997--33.67%;
1998--34.50%; 1999--25.66%]
Best Quarter (12-31-98) 22.70%
Worst Quarater (9-30-98) (9.98)%
The Growth Fund's total return for the period from January 1, 2000 through
September 30, 2000 was 7.68% versus a decline of (1.39)% for the S&P 500(R)
Index.
Calendar year periods Since(a)
ending 12/31/99 One Year Five Year Inception
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bramwell Growth Fund 25.66% 27.57% 25.78%
S&P 500(R)Index 21.05% 28.57% 26.44%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) From August 1, 1994.
The following table shows the relative performance of the Focus Fund by
comparing the Fund's total return since its inception, November 1, 1999, to that
of the S&P 500(R) Index through September 30, 2000. How the Fund has performed
in the past is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the
future.
Period ending 9/30/00 Since Inception(a)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bramwell Focus Fund 27.10%
S&P 500(R) Index 6.54%
--------------------------------------------------------------
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<PAGE>
(a) From October 31, 1999.
The Focus Fund's total return for the period from January 1, 2000 through
September 30, 2000 was 6.45% versus a (1.39)% decline for the S&P 500(R) Index.
Note: The Focus Fund commenced operations on November 1, 1999 and therefore does
not have a complete calendar year of performance to report.
The annual expense ratios for both Funds are contractually capped at 1.75% by
their adviser through June 30, 2002, after which time, the expense limitations
may be terminated or revised at any time. The agreement to cap the expense ratio
of the Growth Fund favorably affected performance through June 30, 1997 and has
favorably affected the performance of the Focus Fund through September 30, 2000.
Fees and Expenses
All mutual fund investors pay certain fees and expenses when they invest. The
tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Funds.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Both Funds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales Charges or Loads None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
Growth Fund Focus Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fees 1.00% 1.00%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees(a) 0.25% 0.25%
Other Expenses(b) 0.29% 4.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.54% 5.46%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursement(c) -- (3.71)%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Expenses 1.54% 1.75%
(a) The Funds have adopted Rule 12b-1 plans which authorize the Funds to pay
expenses related to the distribution of their shares. The maximum
distribution fee is 0.25% of each Fund's average net assets per year.
Because these fees are paid out of the Funds' assets on an ongoing basis,
the distribution expenses you pay over time will increase the cost of your
investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
(b) Such expenses include custodian, transfer agency and administration fees
and other customary Fund expenses.
(c) BramCap has contractually agreed to limit the total expenses of the Funds
(excluding interest, taxes, brokerage and extraordinary expenses) to an
annual rate
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<PAGE>
of 1.75% of each Fund's average net assets through June 30, 2002. In light
of this obligation, BramCap expects to waive a portion of its management
fee, if necessary for the Focus Fund for the fiscal years ending June 30,
2001 and 2002 in order to limit the Fund's total expenses to 1.75% for
those periods. After such date, the expense limitation may be terminated or
revised at any time.
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Funds
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
example also assumes that your investment has a 5.0% return each year and that
the Funds' operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be
higher or lower, your costs -- based on these assumptions -- would be:
One Three Five Ten
Year Years Years Years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growth Fund $157 $486 $ 839 $1,834
Focus Fund $178 $942 $2,096 $4,933
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Funds
-----------------------
Investment Adviser
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. ("BramCap"), located at 745 Fifth Avenue, New
York, NY 10151, serves as investment adviser to the Funds under Investment
Advisory Agreements which provide that BramCap will furnish continuous
investment advisory services and management to the Funds. In addition to the
Funds, BramCap is the adviser to individual and institutional accounts.
BramCap supervises and manages the investment portfolios of the Funds. Subject
to policies adopted by the Board of Directors of the Funds, BramCap directs the
purchase or sale of investment securities in the day-to-day management of the
Funds' investment portfolios. BramCap, at its own expense and without
reimbursement from the Funds, furnishes office space and all necessary office
facilities, equipment and executive personnel for making the investment
decisions necessary for managing the Funds and maintaining their organization.
BramCap also pays the salaries and fees of all Officers and Directors of The
Bramwell Funds, Inc. (except the fees paid to disinterested Directors). For its
services, BramCap receives a fee of 1% per year of the average daily net assets
of each Fund.
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<PAGE>
Portfolio Manager
Elizabeth R. Bramwell, who is the founder, sole shareholder and Chief Executive
Officer of BramCap, as well as President and Chief Investment Officer of The
Bramwell Funds, Inc., manages the investment program of each Fund and is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund's portfolio.
Ms. Bramwell, a Chartered Financial Analyst, has more than thirty years of
experience as a securities analyst/portfolio manager.
Ms. Bramwell's Prior Record
Prior to forming BramCap in February 1994, Ms. Bramwell was President, Chief
Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager and a Trustee of The Gabelli Growth Fund
from its inception, April 10, 1987, through February 9, 1994. The cumulative
total return for The Gabelli Growth Fund from its inception through December 31,
1993 was 184%. At December 31, 1993, that fund had $695 million in net assets.
As President and Chief Investment Officer of The Gabelli Growth Fund, Ms.
Bramwell had full discretionary authority over the selection of investments for,
and was primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of that fund.
Average annual returns for the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended
December 31, 1993 and for the entire period during which Ms. Bramwell managed
that fund compared with the performance of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
Stock Total Return Index were:
The Gabelli Growth S&P
Fund (a, b) 500(R) Index(c)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One Year 11.3% 10.1%
Three Years 16.0% 15.6%
Five Years 16.5% 14.6%
Inception through February 9, 1994 16.6% 10.8%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Average annual total return reflects changes in share prices and
reinvestment of dividends and distributions and is net of all actual fees
and expenses incurred by The Gabelli Growth Fund.
(b) The expense ratio of The Gabelli Growth Fund was capped at 2.00% for the
period April 10, 1987 to December 31, 1987 (reflecting annualized
reimbursement of expenses of 4.45%) and was capped at 2.30% for the 1988
calendar year, reflecting reimbursement of expenses of 2.08%. Thereafter,
the expense ratio declined to 1.85% in 1989, 1.50% in 1990, 1.45% in 1991,
1.41% in 1992, 1.41% in 1993, and 1.36% in 1994, reflecting, in general,
economies of scale associated with an increase in assets under management.
Using the expense ratio of the Bramwell Growth Fund for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2000 of 1.54%, The Gabelli Growth Fund performance
portrayed above would be higher in those time periods in which its expense
ratio was less than 1.54% and lower in those time periods in which its
expense ratio was more than 1.54%.
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<PAGE>
(c) The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Total Return Index is an
unmanaged index of common stocks that is considered to be generally
representative of the United States stock market. The Index is adjusted to
reflect reinvestment of dividends.
Historical performance is not indicative of future performance. Although the
Bramwell Growth Fund and The Gabelli Growth Fund have substantially similar
objectives, policies, and strategies, The Gabelli Growth Fund is a separate fund
and its historical performance is not indicative of the future performance of
the Bramwell Growth Fund. Share prices and investment returns will fluctuate
reflecting market conditions, as well as changes in company-specific
fundamentals of portfolio securities.
Ms. Bramwell is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Columbia University Graduate
School of Business. She began her career as an analyst with Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company from 1967 through 1973 (Assistant Vice President 1972-1973), was a
securities analyst and Vice President of William D. Witter, Inc. from 1974 to
1976 and a Vice President and group head in the Investment Research Department
of Bankers Trust Company from 1976 to 1978. Ms. Bramwell was a Limited Partner
of and/or securities analyst with Kenneth S. Davidson Partners, a private
investment partnership from 1979 to 1985 and Director of Research of Gabelli &
Company from 1985 through 1989.
Board of Directors
The Funds, as part of The Bramwell Funds, Inc., are governed by its Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the business and
affairs of the Funds. In addition to Ms. Bramwell, the Directors are:
J. Sinclair Armstrong
444 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Director, Secretary and Treasurer, The Reed Foundation (1986-present)
(philanthropy); Partner (1980-1984) and Counsel (1984-1995), Winston & Strawn
(formerly Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan, formerly Whitman Ransom) (law firm);
Executive Vice President, U.S. Trust Co. of New York (1959-1980); Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, Department of
the Navy (1957-1959); Chairman (1955-1957) and Commissioner, Securities and
Exchange Commission (1953-1957).
Charles L. Booth, Jr.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10151
Private Investor (1993-present); Executive Vice President and Chief Investment
Officer, The Bank of New York (1974-1993); Director and Senior Vice President,
Alliance Capital (1972-1974) investment management; Senior Vice President and
Senior Investment Officer, American Security and Trust (merged into Nationsbank)
(1965-1972); Trustee, Marymount Manhattan College (1995-present) educational
institution;
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Trustee, Levco Series Trust (1997-present); Trustee, United Board for Christian
Higher Education in Asia (1999-present) philanthropy.
George F. Keane
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10151
President Emeritus and founding Chief Executive Officer, The Common Fund
(1971-1992) and Endowment Advisers (1987-1992) (organizations that provide
investment management programs for colleges and universities); Trustee,
Nicholas-Applegate Investment Trust (1993-present); Member, Investment Advisory
Committee, New York State Common Retirement Fund (1982-present); Director,
Northern Trust of Connecticut (1991-present), Universal Stainless & Alloy
Products (1994-present), Universal Bond Fund, Bermuda (1996-present) and
Security Capital Real Estate Funds (1997-present).
James C. Sargent
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10151
Counsel, Opton, Handler, Gottlieb, Feiler & Katz (1995-present) (law firm);
Director, Scan-Graphics (1992-present), Austin's International (1992-present);
Former Partner, Winston & Strawn (formerly Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan,
formerly Whitman Ransom) (1964-1994) (law firm); Associate General Counsel, CIT
Finance Corporation (1960-1964); SEC Regional Administrator, New York City
(1955-1956) and Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission (1956-1960).
Martha R. Seger, Ph.D.
220 Park Avenue
Birmingham, MI 40889
Chairman and Financial Economist, Martha Seger & Associates (1992-present);
Current Director, Amerisure, Fluor, Kroger, Xerox, Tucson Electric Power and
Unisource Energy Company; Governor, Federal Reserve Board (1984-1991);
Commissioner of Financial Institutions, State of Michigan (1981-1982); Chief
Economist, Detroit Bank & Trust (Comerica) (1967-1974).
How to Buy and Sell Shares
--------------------------
Net Asset Value
The price at which you purchase and redeem shares of a Fund is equal to the net
asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund as determined on the date of your
purchase or redemption. The NAV is calculated by taking the total value of a
Fund's assets, subtracting out the Fund's liabilities, and dividing the result
by the number of Fund shares outstanding. This calculation is performed by the
Administrator for the Funds, Sunstone Financial Group, Inc., at the end of
regular trading hours on the New York
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Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. New York City time) on days that the New
York Stock Exchange is open. Portfolio securities are valued based on market
quotations or, if not readily available, at fair value as determined in good
faith under procedures established by the Board of Directors of The Bramwell
Funds, Inc. To the extent a Fund holds securities listed primarily on a foreign
exchange, the NAV of a Fund may change on a day when you are not able to
purchase or redeem shares because the foreign exchange may have different days
of operation.
You can place an order to buy or sell shares of a Fund, as described as follows,
by contacting the Funds' Transfer Agent, Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC. Your
order, if in proper form, will be processed upon receipt. Once accepted, the
purchase price or sale price of your order will be equal to the next NAV
calculation.
How to Open and Add to Your Account
You may purchase shares of the Funds by any of the following methods.
To Open an Account
------------------
By Mail or Courier o Complete and sign the Purchase Application.
o Make your check payable to:
Bramwell Funds
o Mail to:
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
o Overnight Courier to:
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
By Telephone o Telephone transactions may not be used for
initial purchases.
o If you want to make subsequent telephone
transactions, please select this service
on your initial Purchase Application or
call 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227) to set
up your account.
By Wire o Call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-BRAMCAP
(1-800-272-6227) to notify them that you
intend to purchase shares by wire and to
verify wire instructions.
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o Then, wire funds care of:
Firstar Bank, N.A.
Milwaukee, WI
ABA #: 042000013
Credit:
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
Account #: 112-952-137
Further credit:
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Name of Fund to be purchased
Shareholder Account #: _______________
Shareholder Name/Registration:
--------------------------------------
Include your name, address and
taxpayer identification number.
To Add to an Account
--------------------
By Mail or Courier o Additional investment forms will be included
with each shareholder statement that you
receive.
o If you wish to add to an account, complete
this form and include it with your check
made payable to:
Bramwell Funds
o Print your account name, address and
Bramwell account number on your check.
o Mail or overnight the form and check to the
appropriate address listed above.
By Telephone o Call 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227) to make
your purchase from a bank checking or money
market account by electronic funds transfer.
Specify your account name, address and
Bramwell account number.
o This service must be established by you in
advance by following the instructions listed
above.
By Wire o Follow the instructions listed above. Please
note that wires may be rejected if they do
not contain complete account information.
All purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on U.S.
banks. No cash will be accepted. You will be charged a $25 fee for any check
returned to the Transfer Agent for reasons such as insufficient funds, stop
payment or a closed account.
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You will also be responsible for any losses suffered by the Funds as a result.
The management of the Funds reserves the right to reject any purchase order for
Fund shares.
If you have any questions, a telephone representative will be pleased to provide
the information that you need. Please call the following toll-free number:
1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227).
Minimum Investment Requirements
Account Type Initial Additional
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular $1,000 $100
IRA and
IRA Rollover 500 100
Roth IRA 500 100
SEP/IRA 500 100
Gift to Minor 500 50
Automatic Investment Plan 50 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Purchase Information
Federal regulations require that you provide a certified taxpayer identification
number whenever you open or reopen an account. Congress has mandated that if you
fail to provide and certify to the accuracy of your social security number or
other taxpayer identification number, the Funds will be required to withhold 31%
of all dividends, distributions and payments, including redemption proceeds, to
which you are entitled, as a backup withholding procedure.
For reasons of economy and convenience, the Funds will not issue certificates
for shares purchased.
How to Sell Your Shares
You may sell (redeem) your shares at any time. Ordinarily, the Funds will make
payment to you by check for the shares that you sold (redeemed) within three
business days after the Transfer Agent receives your properly completed request.
Your shares will be sold at the next NAV per share calculated after your request
is received in proper form by the Transfer Agent. However, the right of
redemption may be suspended or payment may be postponed under unusual
circumstances such as when trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted
or when it is not reasonably practical for the Funds to determine the fair
market value of their net assets. Payment for shares that you purchased by check
will not be made until your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar
days from your original purchase date. The Funds reserve the right to make
payments wholly or partly in portfolio securities if the Board of Directors of
The Bramwell Funds, Inc. determines that it is in the best interests of a Fund
to do so.
You may request the sale of your shares by any of the following methods.
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By Mail or Courier Request the sale of your shares in a letter that
includes:
o Your Bramwell account number.
o The name of the Fund whose shares you wish
to sell.
o The number of shares or dollar amount to be
sold.
o The signatures of all account owners exactly
as they are registered on the account.
o How and where to send the proceeds.
o In the case of shares being redeemed from an
IRA or SEP/IRA Plan, a statement of whether
or not federal income tax should be withheld
(in the absence of any statement, federal
tax will be withheld).
Mail to: The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
Overnight Courier to: The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Note: You may need to obtain any required
signature guarantees or other documentation.
By Telephone o You must select this service in writing
prior to making a telephone redemption.
o Thereafter, call 1-800-BRAMCAP
(1-800-272-6227) to redeem shares of a Fund.
o Proceeds must be mailed directly to you or
transmitted to your predesignated bank
account at a domestic bank.
o To change your designated account, send a
written request with appropriate signature
guarantees to the Transfer Agent.
o To change your mailing address, call
1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227) or send a
written request with appropriate signature
guarantees to the Transfer Agent.
- 16 -
<PAGE>
o Any written redemption requests received
within 15 days after an address change must
be accompanied by a signature guarantee and
no telephone redemptions will be allowed
within 15 days of such change.
o The Funds reserve the right to limit your
number of telephone redemptions, and once
made, they may not be modified or canceled.
o During periods of substantial economic or
market changes, telephone redemptions may be
difficult to implement. If you are unable to
contact the Transfer Agent by telephone, you
may also redeem your shares by delivering a
redemption request to the Transfer Agent by
mail as previously described.
o As with purchases by telephone, the Funds
will not be held liable for following
instructions communicated by telephone that
they reasonably believe are genuine.
By Wire o Contact the Transfer Agent at 1-800-BRAMCAP
(1-800-272-6227) with wire instructions.
o Payment will normally be made in federal
funds on the next business day.
o The Transfer Agent will wire redemption
proceeds only to the bank and account
designated on your initial Purchase
Application or in written instructions
subsequently received by the Transfer Agent.
o The recipient bank must be a commercial bank
that is a member of the Federal Reserve
System.
o The Transfer Agent currently charges a
$12.00 fee for each payment made by wire,
which fee will be deducted from your
account
- 17 -
<PAGE>
Telephone and Wire Transactions
Only bank accounts held at domestic financial institutions that are Automated
Clearing House ("ACH") members can be used for telephone transactions. Telephone
transactions may not be used for initial purchases. Your account must already be
established prior to initiating telephone purchases. Your shares will be
purchased at the next determined NAV per share of the Fund calculated after the
Transfer Agent receives payment for shares purchased by electronic funds
transfer through the ACH system. Most transfers are completed within three
business days after your call to place your order. To preserve flexibility, the
Funds may revise or remove the ability to purchase shares by phone, or may
charge a fee for such service, although currently, the Funds do not expect to
charge a fee. You will be notified in advance of any changes in these policies.
You may also request by telephone a change of address, a change in investments
made through an Automatic Investment Plan (see page 20), and a change in the
manner in which you receive dividends (see page 20).
The Funds will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that your telephone
instructions are genuine. These procedures may include, among others, requiring
some form of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone
instructions, providing written confirmations of all such transactions, and/or
tape recording of all telephone instructions. Assuming the Funds follow these
procedures, the Funds will not be liable for any loss, cost, or expense for
acting upon telephone instructions or for any unauthorized telephone redemption.
As a result of this policy, you will bear the risk of any loss unless the Funds
have failed to follow their procedure(s).
If you purchase your initial shares by wire, you must prepare and file a
Purchase Application, marked "follow-up," with the Transfer Agent. The Transfer
Agent must receive the Purchase Application before any of the shares purchased
can be redeemed. You should contact your bank (which will need to be a
commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System) for information
on sending funds by wire, including any fees that your bank may charge for these
services.
Signature Guarantees
Signature guarantees are designed to protect both you and the Funds from fraud.
Signature guarantees can be obtained from most banks, credit unions or savings
associations, or from broker/dealers, municipal securities broker/dealers,
government securities broker/dealers, national securities exchanges, registered
securities associations or clearing agencies deemed eligible by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Notaries public cannot provide signature guarantees.
You are required to obtain a signature guarantee for each account owner if:
o You change ownership on your account.
o You want redemption proceeds sent to a different address from that
registered on your account.
- 18 -
<PAGE>
o Redemption proceeds are to be made payable to someone other than your
account's registered owner(s).
o Redemption proceeds are transmitted by federal wire transfer to your bank.
o A change of address request has been received by the Transfer Agent within
the past 15 days.
o Redemption is equal to or in excess of $25,000.
Financial Service Agents
You may also purchase (and sell) shares through a Financial Service Agent by
opening and maintaining an account with a securities broker or other financial
institution.
If you purchase shares through a Financial Service Agent, please refer to their
program materials for any additional special provisions or conditions that may
be different from those described in this Prospectus. Financial Service Agents
have the responsibility of transmitting your purchase orders and funds, and of
crediting your account following redemptions, in a timely manner in accordance
with their customer agreements and this Prospectus.
If you place an order for Fund shares through a Financial Service Agent in
accordance with their procedures your purchase will be processed at the net
asset value calculated at 4:00 p.m. New York City time on that day.
The Funds understand that some Financial Service Agents may impose certain
conditions on their clients which are in addition to or different from those
described in this Prospectus, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulatory authorities, may charge their clients direct fees. Certain Financial
Service Agents may receive compensation from the Funds under the Funds' 12b-1
plan. Certain Financial Service Agents may enter into agreements with the Funds
which permit them to confirm purchase orders on behalf of customers by phone,
with payment to follow no later than the Funds' pricing on the following
business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Financial Service
Agent could be held liable for resulting fees or losses.
Exchange Privileges
The following table describes your exchange privileges:
Minimum Transfer
From: To: Amount: dd
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bramwell Growth Fund Bramwell Focus Fund $1,000
Firstar Money Market $1,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bramwell Focus Fund Bramwell Growth Fund $1,000
Firstar Money Market $1,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Firstar Money Market(a) Bramwell Growth Fund $1,000
Bramwell Focus Fund $1,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 19 -
<PAGE>
(a) The Firstar Money Market Fund ("Firstar Money Market") is described in a
separate prospectus which contains more complete information about that
fund. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus for the Firstar Money Market
Fund by calling 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227) and are advised to read it
carefully before authorizing any investment in shares of that fund.
How to Exchange Your Shares
Telephone Exchanges
To make a telephone exchange, call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-BRAMCAP
(1-800-272-6227). You must have selected the telephone exchange option on your
initial Purchase Application when your account was opened. Otherwise, complete a
written request for telephone exchange privileges, including signature
guarantees, and send it to the Transfer Agent prior to making a telephone
exchange. Currently, a $5.00 fee is charged to your account for each telephone
exchange. The fee will be charged to the account from which the funds are being
withdrawn prior to effecting the exchange.
Written Exchanges
To make a written exchange, write to The Bramwell Funds, Inc., Firstar Mutual
Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, or for overnight
delivery, The Bramwell Funds, Inc., Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, 615 East
Michigan Street, 3rd Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53202. There is no fee for a written
exchange request.
Your exchange will be made at the NAV per share of the shares to be redeemed,
and the NAV per share of the shares to be purchased, in both cases as next
determined after the exchange request is received. Once your exchange request is
made, either by telephone or in writing, it may not be modified or canceled.
Although there are currently no such limitations, both the Funds and Firstar
reserve the right to limit the frequency of exchanges or to otherwise restrict
exchanges in order to ensure that exchanges do not disadvantage the Funds and
its other investors (or in the case of Firstar, Firstar and its other
investors). You will be notified at least 60 days in advance of any changes in
such limitations. The exchange privilege is only available in states where the
shares to be purchased may legally be sold.
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event,
and accordingly, you may realize a capital gain or loss. Before making an
exchange request, you should consult with your tax advisor to determine the tax
consequences of a particular exchange.
Redemption at the Option of the Funds
In order to relieve the Funds of the cost of maintaining very small accounts,
the Funds reserve the right to redeem all of the shares in your account if the
net asset value of your account remains below $500. Before such involuntary
redemption occurs, the Funds will give you 30 days' written notice to bring your
account balance up to $500. This minimum
- 20 -
<PAGE>
balance requirement does not apply to IRAs and other tax-sheltered investment
accounts. The right of redemption shall not apply if the value of your account
drops below $500 as the result of market action.
Retirement Plans
The Funds offer a variety of retirement plans including IRAs and SEP/IRAs that
may allow you to shelter a portion of your income from taxes. Complete
information including application forms, descriptions of applicable service fees
and certain limitations on contributions and withdrawals, are available from the
Transfer Agent by calling 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227).
Automatic Investment Plans
You may automatically purchase shares of the Funds on a regular basis ($50
minimum per transaction) under each Fund's Automatic Investment Plan. Under the
plans, your designated bank or other financial institution debits a
preauthorized amount from your account each month or quarter and applies the
amount to the purchase of Fund shares. An Automatic Investment Plan must be
implemented with a financial institution that is a member of the Automated
Clearing House. Also, the Funds must have a currently effective registration in
those states in which it is required. Applications to establish an Automatic
Investment Plan are available from the Transfer Agent by calling 1-800-BRAMCAP
(1-800-272-6227).
Using an Automatic Investment Plan facilitates dollar-cost averaging because
investing equal dollar amounts periodically in a fluctuating market leads to
buying more shares at lows and fewer shares at highs. Of course, dollar-cost
averaging cannot assure a profit or protect you against losses in a declining
market.
Shareholder Communications
Each Fund will provide you with the following statements and reports to keep you
informed regarding the status of your investment account:
Confirmation Statements After each transaction that affects your
account balance or account registration.
Account Statements Regular account statements quarterly.
You will also receive a yearly statement
explaining the tax characteristics of
any dividends or distributions that you
may have received throughout the year.
Financial Reports At least semi-annually. The annual
report will include audited financial
statements. To reduce Fund expenses,
one copy of each report will be mailed
to each taxpayer
- 21 -
<PAGE>
identification number even though you
may have more than one account in the
Funds.
If you have questions about your account, have general questions about investing
in the Funds, or wish to have additional information sent to you, please call
1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272--6227). In addition, if you wish to make a change in
your address of record or a change in the investments you make through the
Automatic Investment Plan, call 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227).
Dividends and Distributions
The Funds intend to pay dividends from net investment income and net realized
capital gains (not offset by capital loss carryovers) on an annual basis in
December. You may elect to reinvest all income dividends and capital gains
distributions in shares of the appropriate Fund or you may elect to receive all
dividends and distributions in cash. You make this election on your initial
Purchase Application. If you do not specify an election, all income dividends
and capital gains distributions will automatically be reinvested in full and
fractional shares of the appropriate Fund calculated to the nearest 1,000th of a
share. Shares will be purchased at the NAV in effect on the business day after
the dividend record date and will be credited to your account on such date.
Reinvested dividends and distributions receive the same tax treatment as those
paid in cash.
You may change your election at any time by calling the Transfer Agent at
1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227) or by sending written notification to The
Bramwell Funds, Inc., Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701,
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701. Your new election will become effective for
distributions with a dividend record date on or after the date that the Transfer
Agent receives notice of your election.
Taxes
Federal Taxes
The following is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal tax and foreign income
tax issues. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for a more
detailed discussion of these topics. You should consult your own tax advisor
with regard to the federal tax consequences of your prospective purchase,
ownership or disposition of shares of a Fund, as well as the tax consequences
arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing
jurisdiction.
Dividends out of net investment income and distributions of net short-term
capital gains are taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income. Dividends from
net investment income and net short-term capital gains may be eligible for the
corporate dividends-received deduction.
The excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses
realized and distributed by a Fund to its shareholders as capital gains
distributions is taxable to the shareholders as long-term capital gain,
regardless of the length of time a shareholder has held his or her Fund shares.
- 22 -
<PAGE>
An income dividend or capital gains distribution declared by a Fund during
October, November or December of a year to shareholders of record as of a
specified date in such a month that is paid during January of the following year
is includable in the prior year's taxable income of shareholders that are
calendar year taxpayers.
Any dividend or distribution received by a shareholder on shares of a Fund
shortly after the purchase of such shares by him or her will have the effect of
reducing the net asset value of such shares by the amount of such dividend or
distribution. Furthermore, such dividend or distribution, although in effect a
return of capital, is subject to applicable taxes to the extent that the
investor is subject to such taxes regardless of the length of time he or she may
have held his or her shares.
Upon a sale or other disposition of Fund shares which are held as a capital
asset, a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss which may be long-term
or short-term, depending on the shareholder's holding period for the shares.
A Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 31% of
all taxable distributions payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund
with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required
certifications or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to
backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts
withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax
liability.
Shareholders will be advised annually as to the federal tax status of dividends
and capital gains distributions made by a Fund for the preceding year.
Distributions by a Fund generally will be subject to state and local taxes.
Foreign Income Taxes
Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may
be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. It is not expected
that a Fund will be able to "pass through" these taxes to shareholders but such
taxes generally will be deductible by a Fund.
Financial Highlights
--------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the financial
performance of the Funds. Certain information in the table reflects financial
results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the
rate that you would have earned if you had invested in the Funds (assuming
reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information in the table
has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Funds' financial statements, are included in the Funds' annual report, which is
available by calling 1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227).
- 23 -
<PAGE>
Bramwell Funds, Inc.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Financial Highlights Growth Focus
Fund Fund
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal
Year Year Year Year Year Period
Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
Selected Per Share Data(2) 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 2000(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $26.07 $23.05 $17.53 $14.60 $12.30 $10.00
Income from investment
operations:
Net investment income (loss) (0.27) (0.18) (0.13) (0.15) (0.08) (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized
gains on securities 5.91 4.45 6.82 3.35 2.42 2.30
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total from investment
operations 5.64 4.27 6.69 3.20 2.34 2.26
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Less distributions:
Distributions from capital gains (1.23) (1.25) (1.17) (0.27) (0.04) ---
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net asset value, end of
period $30.48 $26.07 $23.05 $17.53 $14.60 $12.26
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Total return(3) 22.5% 19.4% 39.5% 22.2% 19.0% 22.6%
Supplemental data
and ratios:
Net assets, end of
period (000s) $275,976 $268,726 $205,922 $125,924 $141,455 $6,452
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (4,5) 1.54% 1.58% 1.66% 1.75% 1.75% 1.75%
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average (0.93)% (0.79)% (0.75)% (0.85)% (0.66)% (0.69)%
net assets (4,5)
Portfolio turnover rate(3) 25% 38% 49% 82% 118% 66%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 From October 31, 1999.
2 Information presented relates to a share of capital stock of outstanding
for the entire period.
3 Not annualized for periods less than a full year.
4 Net of reimbursements and waivers. For the Growth Fund, absent
reimbursements and waivers of expenses by the adviser, except for the years
ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998 where there were no reimbursements or
waivers, the ratios of expenses and net investment income (loss) to average
net assets for the years ended June 30, 1997 and 1996, would have been
1.77% and (0.87)%; and 1.79% and (0.70)%, respectively. For the Focus Fund,
absent reimbursements and waivers of expenses by the adviser, the ratio of
expenses and net investment income (loss) to
- 24 -
<PAGE>
average net assets for the period ended June 30, 2000, would have been
5.46% and (4.40)%, respectively.
5 Annualized for periods less than a full year.
</TABLE>
- 25 -
<PAGE>
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Bramwell Growth Fund
Bramwell Focus Fund
Investment Adviser
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc.
Administrator
Sunstone Financial Group, Inc.
Counsel
Dechert
Independent Certified Public Accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Custodian
Firstar Bank, N.A.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
- 26 -
<PAGE>
This page is intentionally left blank.
- 27 -
<PAGE>
This page is intentionally left blank.
- 28 -
<PAGE>
Where to go for Additional Information About the Funds
For additional information about the Bramwell Growth Fund or the Bramwell Focus
Fund, the following documents are available to you:
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports - Additional information about the Funds' investments
is available in each Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In
these reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds' performance during
the most recent fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information - Additional information about the Funds'
structure and operations can be found in the Statement of Additional
Information. The information presented in the Statement of Additional
Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally
considered to be part of this prospectus.
To request a free copy of any of the materials described above, or to make any
other inquiries, please call, write, or e-mail us:
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
1-800-BRAMCAP (1-800-272-6227)
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our web site: www.bramwell.com for further information and for downloading
a Prospectus and an Application.
Obtaining Information From the Securities and Exchange Commission
Reports and other information about the Funds (including the Funds' Statement of
Additional Information) may also be obtained from the Securities and Exchange
Commission:
1. By going to the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.
where you can review and copy the information. Information on the operation
of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at
1-202-942-8090.
2. By accessing the Commission's Internet site at www.sec.gov where you can
view, download and print the information.
3. By electronic request via e-mail to [email protected] or by writing to the
Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549-0102, where, upon payment of a duplicating fee,
copies of the information will be sent to you.
SEC file number 811-8546
BR-402-1000
- 29 -
<PAGE>
The Bramwell Funds, Inc.
Bramwell Growth Fund
A No-Load Diversified Mutual Fund for Investors Seeking
Primarily Long-Term Capital Growth and Secondarily Current Income
Bramwell Focus Fund
A No-Load Non-Diversified Mutual Fund for Investors Seeking
Long-Term Capital Appreciation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
November 1, 2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read
in conjunction with the prospectus for the Bramwell Growth Fund and the Bramwell
Focus Fund (each a "Fund" and together, the "Funds") dated November 1, 2000, as
amended from time to time, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by
calling 1-800-BRAMCAP or writing to Sunstone Financial Group, Inc., 803 West
Michigan Street, Suite A, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233-2301. The Bramwell Funds'
Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fundamental Investment Policies 1
Investment Objectives and Non-Fundamental Policies 2
Further Information About Potential Investments and Fund Risks 2
Directors and Officers 14
Investment Advisory Services 18
Other Services 18
Distribution Plan 20
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage 20
Code of Ethics 22
Performance Information 22
Tax Status 24
Net Asset Value 29
Capital Structure 30
Further Information about Redemption of Shares 31
Experts 31
Financial Statements 32
Appendix 33
<PAGE>
Fundamental Investment Policies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fundamental policies of each Fund are listed below. They may not be changed
without the approval of a majority of a Fund's outstanding voting securities,
which is defined as the lesser of (a) more than 50% of its outstanding voting
securities or (b) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting at
which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or
represented by proxy.
Fundamental Investment Policies of the Bramwell Growth Fund
o With respect to 75% of its assets, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of
the market value of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer
(other than obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest
by the U.S. Government or any agency or instrumentality thereof).
o With respect to 75% of its assets, the Fund may not purchase more than 10%
of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer (other than obligations
of the U.S. Government).
Fundamental Investment Policies of the Bramwell Focus Fund
o With respect to 50% of its assets, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of
the market value of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer
(other than obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest
by the U.S. Government or any agency or instrumentality thereof).
o With respect to 50% of its assets, the Fund may not purchase more than 10%
of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer (other than obligations
of the U.S. Government).
Fundamental Investment Policies of Both the Bramwell Growth Fund and the
Bramwell Focus Fund
o The Funds may not issue senior securities or borrow money except for
temporary purposes in amounts up to 10% of their net assets (including the
amount borrowed) less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at
the time of such borrowing, provided that collateral arrangements with
respect to currency exchange contracts, futures contracts and other
permitted investments shall not be deemed to entail the issuance of senior
securities if appropriately covered. The Funds will not make any
investments while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the value of their
total assets.
o The Funds may not invest 25% or more of their net assets in one or more
issuers conducting their principal business in the same industry.
1
<PAGE>
o The Funds may not make loans, although they may invest in debt securities,
enter into repurchase agreements and lend their portfolio securities.
o The Funds may not invest in securities or other assets that the Board of
Directors determines to be illiquid if more than 15% of that Fund's net
assets would be invested in such securities.
o The Funds may not (a) purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts
(other than financial futures and related options), (b) invest in oil, gas,
or mineral exploration or development programs or leases, or (c) purchase
securities on margin, except for such short-term credit as may be necessary
for the clearance of transactions and except for borrowings in amounts not
exceeding 10% of their net assets.
o The Funds may not purchase or sell real estate or make real estate mortgage
loans or invest in real estate limited partnerships, except that the Funds
may purchase or sell securities issued by entities engaged in the real
estate industry or instruments backed by real estate.
o The Funds may not act as underwriters of securities issued by others,
except to the extent they may be deemed to be underwriters in connection
with the disposition of portfolio securities of their Funds.
The percentage limitations set forth above, as well as those described elsewhere
in the Prospectus and this SAI, apply only at the time an investment is made or
other relevant action is taken by a Fund, except with respect to the fundamental
investment policy concerning the issuance of senior securities and borrowing
money.
Investment Objectives and Non-Fundamental Policies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to provide a degree of flexibility, each Fund's investment objectives,
as well as other Fund policies which are not deemed fundamental, may be modified
by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. Any change in a Fund's
investment objectives may result in the Fund having investment objectives
different from the objectives which the shareholder considered appropriate at
the time of investment in the Fund. However, a Fund will not change its
investment objectives, non-fundamental policies or investment restrictions
without written notice to shareholders.
As a non-fundamental policy, each Fund may not purchase or retain the securities
of any issuer if those officers or directors of the Fund or its investment
adviser owning individually more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer
together own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
Further Information About Potential Investments and Fund Risks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund may invest from time to time in any of the following securities up to
the limits as stated below or use any of the following investment techniques to
increase or decrease its
2
<PAGE>
exposure to the effects of possible changes in security prices, currency
exchange rates or other factors that affect the value of its portfolio. These
techniques may be used by the Funds for risk or portfolio management purposes
or, in the case of securities lending and repurchase agreements, for incidental
income and not for speculation. The following descriptions are designed to
inform you about the general characteristics and related risks of these
investments and investment techniques.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Each Fund may hold cash and cash equivalents without limit when a temporary
defensive position is deemed advisable. The cash equivalents in which a Fund may
invest include fixed-income securities, such as certificates of deposit of U.S.
banks, commercial paper and commercial paper master notes if the bank or
commercial paper issuer has been rated within the two highest grades assigned by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") or has been determined by the Investment Adviser to be of equivalent
quality or, in the case of banks, provided the bank has capital, surplus and
undivided profits, as of the date of its most recently published annual
financial statements, with a value in excess of $100,000,000 at the date of
investment. Commercial paper master notes are unsecured promissory notes issued
by corporations to finance short-term credit needs. They permit a series of
short-term borrowings under a single note. Borrowings under commercial paper
master notes are payable in whole or in part at any time, may be prepaid in
whole or in part at any time, and bear interest at rates which are fixed to
known lending rates and automatically adjust when such known lending rates
change. There is no secondary market for commercial paper master notes. The
investment adviser, Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. ("BramCap") will monitor
the creditworthiness of the issuer of the commercial paper master notes while
any borrowings are outstanding.
U.S. Government Obligations
Each Fund may invest without limit in U.S. Government obligations when a
temporary defensive position is advisable. Examples of the types of U.S.
Government obligations that may be held by each Fund include, in addition to
U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills, the obligations of the Federal Home Loan
Bank, Federal Farm Credit Bank, Federal Land Bank, the Federal Housing
Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United
States, Small Business Administration, Government National Mortgage Association,
Federal National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Student
Loan Marketing Association, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, Tennessee Valley
Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation and Maritime Administration.
Obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government,
such as those of the Government National Mortgage Association, are supported by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, are supported by the right of the
issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal
National Mortgage Association, are supported by the discretionary authority of
the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's obligations; still others, such as
those
3
<PAGE>
of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of
the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would
provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities if it
is not obligated to do so by law.
Foreign Securities
Each Fund invests primarily in securities of companies domiciled in the United
States, but each Fund may also invest up to 25% of its assets, measured at the
time of investment, in securities of foreign issuers. Such investments may be
made either directly in such issuers or indirectly through American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs") or closed-end investment companies. It is possible that some
material information about unsponsored ADRs will be unavailable.
Foreign securities involve certain inherent risks that are different from those
of domestic issuers, including political or economic instability of the issuer
or the country of issue, diplomatic developments which could affect U.S.
investments in those countries, changes in foreign currency and exchange rates
and the possibility of adverse changes in investment or exchange control
regulations.
Most foreign stock markets are not as large or liquid as in the United States,
fixed commissions on foreign stock exchanges are generally higher than the
negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, and there is generally less government
supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and companies
than in the United States. You should recognize that foreign markets have
different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have
been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.
Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when assets of a Fund are
uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of a Fund to make
intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to
miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio
securities due to settlement problems either could result in losses to a Fund
due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio security or, if a Fund has
entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in a possible
liability to the purchaser. Payment for securities without delivery may be
required in certain foreign markets.
Further, a Fund may encounter difficulties or be unable to pursue legal remedies
and obtain judgments in foreign courts. Foreign governments can also levy
confiscatory taxes, expropriate assets, and limit repatriations of assets.
Typically, there is less publicly available information about a foreign company
than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies may be subject to less
stringent reserve, auditing and reporting requirements. It may be more difficult
for a Fund's agents to keep currently informed about corporate actions such as
stock dividends or other matters which may affect the prices of portfolio
securities. Communications between the United States and foreign countries may
be less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of
delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for
portfolio securities. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or
unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national
product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and
balance of payments position.
4
<PAGE>
Because investments in foreign securities will usually involve currencies of
foreign countries, and because each Fund may hold foreign currencies, the value
of the assets of a Fund as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or
unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control
regulations, and a Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between
various currencies. Although each Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S.
dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into
U.S. dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors
should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange
dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on
the difference (the "spread") between the prices at which they are buying and
selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency
to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund
desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Each Fund will conduct its foreign
currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot
rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering
into forward foreign currency exchange contracts or by purchasing or writing put
or call options on foreign currencies.
As a result of these and other factors, foreign securities purchased by a Fund
may be subject to greater price fluctuation and risk than securities of U.S.
companies.
Illiquid or Restricted Securities
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, for
which there is a limited trading market and for which a low trading volume of a
particular security may result in abrupt and erratic price movements. A Fund may
be unable to dispose of its holdings in illiquid securities at acceptable prices
and may have to dispose of such securities over extended periods of time.
BramCap will take reasonable steps to bring a Fund into compliance with this
policy if the level of illiquid investments exceeds 15%. A Fund may invest in
(i) securities that are sold in private placement transactions between their
issuers and their purchasers and that are neither listed on an exchange nor
traded over-the-counter, and (ii) securities that are sold in transactions
between qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such securities are subject to contractual
or legal restrictions on subsequent transfer. As a result of the absence of a
public trading market, such restricted securities may in turn be less liquid and
more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. Although these
securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices
realized from the sales could, due to illiquidity, be less than those originally
paid by a Fund or less than their fair value. In some instances, it may be
difficult to locate any purchaser.
In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject
to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that may be
applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If any privately placed or
Rule 144A securities held by a Fund are required to be registered under the
securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may
be required to bear the expenses of registration. Securities which are freely
tradable under Rule 144A may be treated as liquid if the Board of Directors of
the Funds is satisfied that there is sufficient trading activity and reliable
price information. Investing in Rule 144A securities could
5
<PAGE>
have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of a Fund's portfolio if
qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing
such 144A securities.
Other Investment Companies
In seeking to attain its investment objectives, each Fund may invest in
securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by
the 1940 Act. Each Fund intends to limit its investments so that, as determined
immediately after a securities purchase is made: (i) not more than 5% of the
value of its net assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment
company; (ii) not more than 10% of the value of its net assets will be invested
in the aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group; and (iii) not
more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will
be owned by either Fund. As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund
would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other
investment company's expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be
in addition to the advisory and other expenses that a Fund bears in connection
with its own operations.
Warrants and Rights
Each Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in warrants or rights, valued at
the lower of cost or market, which entitle the holder to buy equity securities
during a specific period of time. Each Fund will make such investments only if
the underlying equity securities are deemed appropriate by BramCap for inclusion
in the Fund's portfolio. Included in the 5% amount, but not to exceed 2% of net
assets, are warrants and rights whose underlying securities are not traded on
principal domestic or foreign exchanges. Warrants and rights acquired by a Fund
in units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.
Convertible Securities
Each Fund may invest only in high grade convertible securities; that is, bonds,
notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible
into common stocks. "High grade" securities are those rated within the three
highest ratings categories of S&P or Moody's or that are determined by BramCap
to be of equivalent quality. Investments in convertible securities may provide
incidental income through interest and dividend payments and/or an opportunity
for capital appreciation by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted,
have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities.
Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market
value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and,
conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of
the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities
typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stock changes,
and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity
securities. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines,
convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may
not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common
stock.
6
<PAGE>
When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of
the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the
underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common
stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in
convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common
stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a
stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income)
with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities
generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality
because of their conversion or exchange features.
Convertible securities are generally subordinated to other similar but
non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as
corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity
securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock of the
same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds
and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar
non-convertible securities.
Securities Lending
For incremental income purposes, a Fund may lend its portfolio securities
constituting up to 30% of its net assets to U.S. or foreign banks or
broker/dealers which have been rated within the two highest grades assigned by
S&P or Moody's, or which have been determined by BramCap to be of equivalent
quality. BramCap is responsible for monitoring compliance with this rating
standard during the term of any securities lending agreement. In compliance with
Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines, any loans by a Fund of securities
in its portfolio would be required to be secured with collateral (consisting of
any combination of U.S. currency, securities issued or guaranteed by the United
States Government or any agency thereof, or irrevocable letters of credit or
other debt securities issued by entities rated within the two highest grades
assigned by S&P or Moody's or determined by BramCap to be of equivalent
quality).
The borrower must agree to add to such collateral to cover increases in the
market value of the loaned securities and a Fund must be entitled to terminate
any loan at any time, with the borrower obligated to redeliver borrowed
securities within five trading days. The borrower must agree that a Fund will
receive all dividends, interest or other distributions on loaned securities and
a Fund must be able to vote loaned securities whenever the right to vote is
material to a Fund's performance.
Securities lending involves the risk that the borrowing institution will fail to
redeliver the securities when due. However, loans of securities each Fund will
be fully collateralized at all times by at least 100% of the current market
value of the lent securities. Securities lending also involves the risk of delay
in receiving additional collateral, and possibly a loss of rights in the
collateral if the borrower of the securities becomes insolvent.
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<PAGE>
Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase agreements may be entered into by each Fund for incremental income
purposes. A repurchase agreement provides a means for a Fund to earn income on
funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which a Fund
acquires a security and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase
the security at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase
agreement are held in a segregated account and the value of such securities is
kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase
price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the
Fund, or the purchase and repurchase price may be the same, with interest at a
stated rate. In either case, the income to a Fund is unrelated to the interest
rate on the security itself.
Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with any foreign or domestic bank
or broker/dealer if the bank or broker/dealer has been rated within the two
highest grades assigned by S&P or Moody's or has been determined by BramCap to
be of equivalent quality. BramCap is responsible for monitoring compliance with
this rating standard during the term of any repurchase agreement. A Fund will
not enter into repurchase agreements with entities other than banks or
broker/dealers or invest over 5% of its assets in repurchase agreements with
maturities of more than seven days.
Short Sales
Each Fund may make limited short sales of securities. A short sale is a
transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation
that the market price of that security will decline. The market value of the
securities sold short will not exceed either 5% of a Fund's net assets or 5% of
each issuer's voting securities. A Fund may also make short sales "against the
box" without respect to such limitations. In this type of short sale, at the
time of the sale, the Fund owns or has the immediate and unconditional right to
acquire at no additional cost the identical security.
Short sales involve transactions in which a Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a market price decline in that security. If the market
price of the security goes up, a Fund could face unlimited liability.
Options
Each Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered put and call options and purchase put
and call options on securities or securities indices that are traded on United
States and foreign exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Such options
can include long-term options with durations of up to three years. The value of
the underlying securities on which options may be written at any one time will
not exceed 15% of the net assets of a Fund. A Fund will not purchase put or call
options if the aggregate premium paid for such options would exceed 5% of its
net assets at the time of purchase.
8
<PAGE>
An option on a security is a contract that permits the purchaser of the option,
in return for the premium paid, the right to buy a specified security, index or
currency (in the case of a call option) or to sell a specified security, index
or currency (in the case of a put option) from or to the writer of the option at
a designated price during the term of the option. An option on a securities
index permits the purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the
right to receive from the seller cash equal to the difference between the
closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The gain or
loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments
making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the
underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities,
as is the case with respect to options on securities. Each Fund may write a call
or put option only if the option is "covered." This means that so long as a Fund
is obligated as the writer of a call option, it will own the underlying
securities subject to the call, or hold a call at the same or lower exercise
price, for the same exercise period, and on the same securities as the written
call. A put is covered if a Fund maintains liquid assets with a value equal to
the exercise price in a segregated account, or holds a put on the same
underlying securities at an equal or greater exercise price. Put options and
call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational
mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or
sold.
Each Fund may invest in both conventional options which generally have a maximum
life of nine months or less as well as longer term options which may be
exercised for longer periods of up to two or three years. Premiums paid (or
received) upon the purchase (or sale) of these long term options may be two to
three times the price of a short-term option.
Each Fund's purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect
its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar
instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving a Fund
the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A Fund's
purchase of a call option on a security, index or currency might be intended to
protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument
that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may
purchase such instrument. If a Fund sells a call option, the premium that it
receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium,
against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in
its portfolio or will increase the Fund's income. The sale of put options can
also provide income.
Even though a Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against
loss, a call sold by a Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to
possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the
underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or
instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
A Fund's ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of a put or
call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market.
Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an
exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)
restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying
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<PAGE>
securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the
normal operations of an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an
exchange to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more
exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series
of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange
would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would
generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during
which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the
option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial
instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
Futures
Each Fund may enter into financial futures contracts or purchase or sell put and
call options on such futures. Futures are generally bought and sold on
commodities exchanges. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation
by a Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial
instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified
price (or the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to
options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the
purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a
futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
Each Fund's use of financial futures and options thereon will in all cases be
consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and in particular the rules
and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and will be entered
into only for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management)
or other portfolio management purposes. Typically, maintaining a futures
contract or selling an option thereon requires a Fund to deposit with a
financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or
other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10%
of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances).
Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited
thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract
fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a
premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the Fund.
If a Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post
initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting
futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and
options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction
but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to
settlement at an advantageous price, or that delivery will occur.
A Fund will not enter into a futures contract or related option (except for
closing transactions) if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the amount of its
initial margin and premiums on open futures contracts and options thereon would
exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current value); however, in the
case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of the purchase, the
in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5% limitation.
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<PAGE>
There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when a Fund
seeks to close out a futures or futures option position. A Fund would be exposed
to possible loss on the position during the interval because of inability to
close, and would continue to be required to meet margin requirements until the
position is closed, which could result in a decrease in the Fund's net asset
value. The liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be
adversely affected by "daily price fluctuation limits" established by commodity
exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price
during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the
contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus
preventing the liquidation of open futures positions. The trading of futures
contracts is also subject to the risk of trading halts, suspensions, exchange or
clearing house equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a
brokerage firm or clearing house or other disruptions of normal trading
activity, which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate
existing positions or to recover excess variation margin payments.
The Funds may use options and futures as a hedging technique. Options and
futures may fail as a hedging technique in cases where the price movements of
the securities underlying the options and futures do not follow the price
movements of the portfolio securities subject to the hedge and the loss from
investing in futures transactions is theoretically potentially unlimited.
Moreover, gains and losses on investments in options and futures depend on
BramCap's ability to predict correctly the direction of stock prices, interest
rates and other economic factors.
Currency Transactions
When a Fund holds portfolio securities denominated in a foreign currency, the
Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to attempt to
minimize the risk to the Fund from adverse changes in the relationship between
the U.S. dollar and those foreign currencies. Each Fund has no specific
limitation on the percentage of assets it may commit to forward foreign currency
contracts, subject to its stated investment objective and policies, except that
a Fund will not enter into such contracts if the amount of assets set aside to
cover such contracts would impede portfolio management or a Fund's ability to
meet redemption requests. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts
will be used to protect a Fund from adverse currency movements, they also
involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately
predicted.
When a Fund enters into a forward foreign currency exchange contract, it relies
on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may
result in a Fund's incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price
considered to be advantageous.
Each Fund may also purchase put and call options and write covered put and call
options on foreign currencies for the purpose of protecting against declines in
the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency denominated portfolio securities and
against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of such securities to be acquired. As
in the case of other kinds of options, however, the writing of an option on a
foreign currency constitutes only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the
premium received, and a Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign
currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses.
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<PAGE>
A Fund may cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or
sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to
other currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects to have
portfolio exposure.
A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves a privately negotiated
obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific
currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date
of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the
contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the
notional difference among two or more currencies. Each Fund may enter into
currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors
of the obligations which have received) a rating within the two highest grades
assigned by S&P or Moody's or that are determined by the investment adviser to
be of equivalent quality.
A Fund's dealings in currency transactions will be limited to hedging involving
either specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is
entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or
liabilities of a Fund, which will generally arise in connection with the
purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom.
Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to
portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
A Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent
greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset
other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering
into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are
denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency,
other than with respect to cross hedging as described below.
A Fund may cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or
sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to
other currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects to have
portfolio exposure.
Currency transactions can result in losses to a Fund if the currency being
hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not
anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between
various currencies may not be present during the particular time that a Fund is
engaging in proxy hedging.
Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other
portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the
issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and
sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by
government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange
restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a Fund if it
is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations
and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless,
resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that
country's economy.
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Segregated Accounts
Futures contracts, options, options on futures contracts, foreign forward
currency contracts and foreign currency contracts require a Fund to segregate or
designate liquid assets as collateral with its custodian to the extent Fund
obligations are not otherwise "covered" through ownership of the underlying
security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount
of any obligation by a Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be
covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be
delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or
liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be
segregated or designated with the custodian. The segregated or designated assets
cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their
place or it is no longer necessary to segregate or designate them.
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Directors and Officers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the
Board of Directors. The Directors and Officers of the Funds and their principal
occupations during the past five years are set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions held Principal Occupations
Name, Address and Age with the Funds During the Past Five Years
--------------------- -------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Elizabeth R. Bramwell* Director, President President and Chief Executive Officer, Bramwell
745 Fifth Avenue and Chief Executive, Capital Management (February 1994-present);
New York, NY 10151 Financial and President, Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio
Age: 59 Investment Officer Manager and Trustee, The Gabelli Growth Fund
(April 1987-February 1994).
J. Sinclair Armstrong Director Director, Secretary and Treasurer, The Reed
444 Madison Avenue Foundation, (1986-present) (philanthropy);
New York, NY 10022 Partner (1980-1984) and Counsel (1984-1995),
Age: 85 Winston & Strawn (formerly Whitman Breed Abbott
& Morgan, formerly Whitman Ransom) (law firm);
Executive Vice President, U.S. Trust Co. of New
York (1959-1980); Assistant Secretary of the
Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller,
Department of the Navy (1957-1959); Chairman
(1955-1957) and Commissioner, Securities and
Exchange Commission (1953-1957).
Charles L. Booth, Jr. Director Private Investor (1993-present); Executive Vice
745 Fifth Avenue President and Chief Investment Officer, The Bank
New York, NY 10151 of New York (1974-1993); Director and Senior Vice
Age: 67 President, Alliance Capital (1972-1974) (investment
management); Senior Vice President and Senior
Investment Officer, American Security and Trust
(merged into NationsBank) (1965-1972); Trustee,
Marymount Manhattan College (1995-present)
(educational institution); Trustee, Levco Series
Trust (1997-present); Trustee, United Board
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions held Principal Occupations
Name, Address and Age with the Funds During the Past Five Years
--------------------- -------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
for Christian Higher Education in Asia (1999-present)
(philanthropy).
George F. Keane Director President Emeritus and founding Chief Executive
745 Fifth Avenue Officer, The Common Fund (1971-1992) and
New York, NY 10151 Endowment Advisors (1987-1992), (organizations
Age: 71 that provide investment management programs for
colleges and universities); Trustee, Nicholas-Applegate
Investment Trust (1993-present); Member, Investment
Advisory Committee, New York State Common Retirement Fund
(1982-present); Director, Northern Trust of Connecticut
(1991-present), Universal Stainless & Alloy Products
(1994-present), Universal Bond Fund, Bermuda (1996-present)
and Security Capital Real Estate Funds (1997-present).
James C. Sargent Director Counsel, Opton, Handler, Gottlieb, Feiler &
745 Fifth Avenue Katz (1995-present) (law firm); Director,
New York, NY 10151 Scan-Graphics (1992-present), Austin's
Age: 84 International (1992-present); Former Partner,
Winston & Strawn (formerly Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan,
formerly Whitman Ransom) (1964-1994)(law firm); Associate
General Counsel, CIT Finance Corporation (1960-1964); SEC
Regional Administrator, New York City (1955-1956) and
Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission (1956-1960).
Martha R. Seger, Ph.D. Director Chairman and Financial Economist, Martha Seger & Associates
220 Park Avenue (1992-present); Current Director, Amerisure, Fluor, Kroger,
Birmingham, MI 40889 Xerox, Tucson Electric Power and Unisource Energy Company;
Age: 68 Governor, Federal Reserve Board (1984-1991); Commissioner of
Financial Institutions, State of Michigan
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions held Principal Occupations
Name, Address and Age with the Funds During the Past Five Years
--------------------- -------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
(1981-1982); Chief Economist, Detroit Bank & Trust (Comerica
(1967-1974).
Mary F. McCollum Secretary and Treasurer Executive Vice President, Bramwell Capital Management
745 Fifth Avenue (May 1994-present); Vice President, Operations and Corporate
New York, NY 10151 Secretary (1985-1993), Assistant Treasurer/ Assistant Secretary
Age: 54 (1983-1985) and Financial Administrator (1982-1983), The
Common Fund (investment management).
Margaret A. Bancroft Assistant Secretary Partner, Dechert (law firm and counsel to the
30 Rockefeller Plaza Funds).
New York, NY 10112
Age: 62
---------------------
* Directors who are "interested persons" of the Funds, as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). The Directors of the Funds
who are officers or employees of the investment adviser receive no
remuneration from the Funds. Each of the other Directors is paid an annual
retainer of $3,000 per Fund and a fee of $500 for each meeting attended per
Fund and is reimbursed for the expenses of attending meetings.
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of the
Directors by the Funds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000. Officers of the
Funds and Directors who are interested persons of the Funds do not receive any
compensation from the Funds. Neither Fund provides compensation in the form of
pension or retirement benefits to any of its Directors.
Compensation Table
(Fiscal YEAR ended June 30, 2000)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total
Pension or Compensation
Retirement From
Aggregate Benefits Estimated the Funds
Compensation Accrued Annual Benefits and Fund
From as Part of Upon Complex Paid1
Name of Director the Funds Fund Expenses Retirement to Directors
---------------- --------- -------------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Elizabeth R. Bramwell $0 None N/A $0
J. Sinclair Armstrong $6,500 None N/A $6,500
Isabel H. Benham $5,500 None N/A $5,500
Charles L. Booth, Jr. $2,000 None N/A $2,000
George F. Keane $6,500 None N/A $6,500
James C. Sargent $6,500 None N/A $6,500
Martha R. Seger $6,500 None N/A $6,500
--------------------------
1 The Funds are not part of any fund complex because they are not related to
any registered investment company and their investment adviser does not act
as investment adviser to any other registered investment company (although
it does act as subadviser with respect to the assets of such a company);
accordingly, the compensation reported in column (5) includes only
compensation paid by the Funds.
</TABLE>
As of September 30, 2000, the Officers and Directors of the Funds owned 1.83% of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bramwell Growth Fund and 14.20%
of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bramwell Focus Fund.
The Funds' shares are sold through broker-dealer intermediaries that establish
single, omnibus accounts with the Funds' transfer agent. As a result of this
arrangement, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., and National Financial Services, Corp.
each technically own in excess of 5.0% of the Growth Fund's outstanding shares.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. technically owns in excess of 5.0% of the Focus
Fund's outstanding shares. The beneficial owners of these shares, however, are
the individual investors who maintain accounts with these broker-dealer
intermediaries.
17
<PAGE>
Investment Advisory Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc., located at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
10151, serves as the Funds' investment adviser pursuant to an Investment
Advisory Agreement with each Fund. Under the terms of the agreements, BramCap
supervises and manages the investment portfolio of each Fund and, subject to
such policies as the Board of Directors of the Funds may determine, directs the
purchase or sale of investment securities in the day-to-day management of each
Fund's investment portfolio. BramCap, at its own expense and without
reimbursement from the Funds, furnishes office space and all necessary office
facilities, equipment and executive personnel for making the investment
decisions necessary for managing the Funds and maintaining each Fund's
organization, and will pay the salaries and fees of all officers and directors
of each Fund (except the fees paid to disinterested directors).
In addition to the Funds, BramCap is the adviser to individual and institutional
accounts and sub-adviser to another registered investment company. Elizabeth R.
Bramwell, CFA, who is the founder, sole shareholder and Chief Executive Officer
of BramCap, as well as President and Chief Investment Officer of the Bramwell
Funds, Inc., manages the investment program of each Fund and is primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund's portfolio.
For the advisory services provided and expenses assumed by it, the Funds pay
BramCap a fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of each Fund's average daily net
assets, payable at the monthly rate of 1/12 of 1% on the first business day of
each calendar month. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998,
the Bramwell Growth Fund paid BramCap investment advisory fees of $2,607,004,
$2,338,520 and $1,587,601, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Bramwell Focus Fund paid no
investment advisory fees to BramCap. During that period, BramCap earned
investment advisory fees of $28,130, pursuant to its investment advisory
agreement with the Fund, but voluntarily waived its entire fee and provided
additional subsidization to the Fund in order to limit the Fund's expenses to an
annual rate of 1.75% of its average net assets during that period.
BramCap has contractually agreed to limit the total expenses of the Funds
(excluding interest, taxes, brokerage and extraordinary expenses) to an annual
rate of 1.75% of each Fund's average net assets until June 30, 2002. After such
date, these expense limitations may be terminated or revised at any time.
Other Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund has entered into an Administration and Fund Accounting Agreement with
Sunstone Financial Group, Inc. ("Sunstone"), 803 W. Michigan Street, Suite A,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233-2301. Under the terms of the agreements, Sunstone
prepares and files all federal income tax and excise tax returns and state
income tax returns (other than those required to be made by
18
<PAGE>
the Bramwell Funds' custodian or transfer agent), oversees the Funds' insurance
relationships, reviews drafts of the Funds' registration and proxy statements,
prepares securities registration compliance filings pursuant to state securities
laws, compiles data for and prepares required notices and reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission, prepares financial statements for annual and
semi-annual reports to investors, monitors compliance with the Funds' investment
policies and restrictions, performs securities valuation, calculates daily net
asset values of the Funds, maintains all general ledger accounts and related
subledgers, prepares and monitors the Funds' expense accruals and causes all
appropriate expenses to be paid from fund assets, monitors the Funds' status as
a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, maintains and/or coordinates with the other service
providers the maintenance of the accounts, books and other documents required
pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and generally assists in each Fund's
administrative operations. Sunstone, at its own expense and without
reimbursement from the Funds, furnishes office space and all necessary office
facilities, equipment, supplies and clerical and executive personnel for
performing the services required to be performed by it under the agreements. For
the foregoing, Sunstone receives from the Funds a fee, computed daily and
payable monthly, based on the average net assets of each Fund at the annual rate
of 0.150 of 1% on the first $50 million of average net assets per Fund, and
decreasing as the net assets of each Fund reach certain levels, subject to an
annual minimum fee of $60,000 per Fund, per year, plus out-of-pocket expenses.
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Bramwell Growth
Fund paid Sunstone fees of $240,741, $229,426 and $184,829, respectively. For
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Bramwell Focus Fund paid Sunstone a fee
of $39,780.
The Funds pay all of their own expenses, including, without limitation, the cost
of preparing and printing their registration statements required under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act and any amendments thereto, the expense
of registering their shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in
the various states, advisory and administration fees, costs of organization and
maintenance of corporate existence, the printing and distribution costs of
prospectuses mailed to existing investors, reports to investors, reports to
government authorities and proxy statements, costs of meetings of shareholders,
fees paid to directors who are not interested persons of the Investment Adviser,
interest charges, taxes, legal expenses, association membership dues, auditing
services, insurance premiums, brokerage commissions and expenses in connection
with portfolio transactions, fees and expenses of the custodian of the Funds'
assets, charges of securities pricing services, printing and mailing expenses
and charges and expenses of dividend disbursing agents, accounting services
agents, registrars and stock transfer agents.
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Third Floor,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, is the Funds' Transfer and Dividend Disbursing
Agent.
Firstar Bank, N.A., 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Eleventh Floor, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, 53202, is the Funds' Custodian. The Custodian is responsible for the
safekeeping of a Fund's assets and the appointment of any subcustodian banks and
clearing agencies.
19
<PAGE>
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 100 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
53202, is the Funds' Independent Certified Public Accountant.
PricewaterhouseCoopers examines financial statements for each Fund and provides
other audit, tax and related services.
Distribution Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund has adopted a Service and Distribution Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Board of Directors believes that the adoption
of such plans may stimulate new sales of each Fund's shares, causing growth in
the size of each Fund and potentially leading to economies of scale and lower
expense ratios for both current and new shareholders. Each Plan authorizes
payments by a Fund in connection with the distribution of its shares at an
annual rate, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, or up to
0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
Payments may be made by a Fund under the Plan for the purpose of financing any
activity primarily intended to result in the sales of shares of the Fund as
determined by the Board of Directors. Such activities typically include
advertising; compensation for sales and sales marketing activities of Financial
Service Agents and others, such as dealers or distributors; shareholder account
servicing; and production and dissemination of prospectuses and sales and
marketing materials to prospective investors. To the extent any activity is one
which a Fund may finance without a Plan, the Fund may also make payments to
finance such activity outside of the Plan and not subject to its limitations.
Payments under the Plan are not tied exclusively to actual distribution and
service expenses, and the payments may exceed distribution and service expenses
actually incurred.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the distribution expenses related to
the Funds were $65,594 for Fund literature and materials, $183,392 for
advertising, $377,792 for broker fees, $78,561 for Fund reports and materials
for current shareholders and administration of current accounts, and $45,234 for
conferences and seminars, for a total of $750,573. The Bramwell Growth Fund and
the Bramwell Focus Fund paid $651,751 and $7,033, respectively, of the total
$750,573 in distribution expenses as reimbursement for these costs under the
Plan, with the balance being borne by BramCap. Distribution expenses that are
shared by both Funds are generally allocated between the Funds based upon
relative net asset size.
Administration of each Plan is regulated by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which
includes requirements that the Board of Directors receive and review at least
quarterly reports concerning the nature and qualification of expenses which are
incurred, that the Board of Directors approve all agreements implementing the
Plan and that the Plan may be continued from year-to-year only if the Board of
Directors concludes at least annually that continuation of the Plan is likely to
benefit shareholders.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the supervision of the Directors, decisions to buy and sell
securities for each Fund and negotiation of its brokerage commission rates are
made by the investment adviser. Transactions
20
<PAGE>
on United States stock exchanges involve the payment by a Fund of negotiated
brokerage commissions. There is generally no stated commission in the case of
securities traded in the over-the-counter market but the price paid by a Fund
usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. In certain
instances, a Fund may make purchases of underwritten issues at prices which
include underwriting fees.
In selecting a broker to execute each particular transaction, the investment
adviser takes the following into consideration: the best net price available;
the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker; the size and
difficulty in executing the order; and the value of the expected contribution of
the broker to the investment performance of a Fund on a continuing basis.
Accordingly, the cost of the brokerage commissions to a Fund in any transaction
may be greater than that available from other brokers if the difference is
reasonably justified by other aspects of the portfolio execution services
offered. For example, the investment adviser will consider the research and
investment services provided by brokers or dealers who effect or are parties to
portfolio transactions of a Fund or the investment adviser's other clients. Such
research and investment services include statistical and economic data and
research reports on particular companies and industries as well as research
software. Subject to such policies and procedures as the Directors may
determine, the investment adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully
or to have breached any duty solely by reason of its having caused a Fund to pay
a broker that provides research services to the investment adviser an amount of
commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the
amount another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the
investment adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the research service provided by such
broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the investment
adviser's ongoing responsibilities with respect to a Fund.
Research and investment information is provided by these and other brokers at no
cost to the investment adviser and is available for the benefit of other
accounts advised by the investment adviser and its affiliates, and not all of
the information will be used in connection with a Fund. While this information
may be useful in varying degrees and may tend to reduce the investment adviser's
expenses, it is not possible to estimate its value and in the opinion of the
investment adviser it does not reduce the investment adviser's expenses in a
determinable amount. The extent to which the investment adviser makes use of
statistical, research and other services furnished by brokers is considered by
the investment adviser in the allocation of brokerage business but there is no
formula by which such business is allocated. The investment adviser does so in
accordance with its judgment of the best interests of a Fund and its
shareholders.
For the Bramwell Growth Fund's fiscal years ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998,
the Fund paid a total of $196,736, $178,236 and $147,519, respectively, in
brokerage commissions. Of such amount for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000,
$23,580 in brokerage commissions with respect to portfolio transactions
aggregating $12,854,170 was placed with brokers or dealers who provide research
and investment information.
21
<PAGE>
For the Bramwell Focus Fund's fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, the Fund paid a
total of $9,456 in brokerage commissions. Of such amount for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2000, $180 in brokerage commissions with respect to portfolio
transactions aggregating $154,356 was placed with brokers or dealers who provide
research and investment information.
Code of Ethics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Funds and BramCap have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940
Act which is designed to eliminate conflicts of interest between the Funds,
BramCap and their personnel. The code permits such personnel to invest in
securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
Performance Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time-to-time, a Fund may advertise its "average annual total return" over
various periods of time. This total return figure shows the average percentage
change in value of an investment in a Fund from the beginning date of the
measuring period to the ending date of the measuring period. The figure reflects
changes in the price of a Fund's shares and assumes that any income dividends
and/or capital gains distributions made by a Fund during the period are
reinvested in shares of the Fund. Figures will be given for recent one-, five-
and ten-year periods (when applicable), and may be given for other periods as
well (such as from commencement of the Fund's operations, or on a year-by-year
basis). When considering "average" total return figures for periods longer than
one year, investors should note that a Fund's annual total return for any one
year in the period might have been greater or less than the average for the
entire period. A Fund also may use "aggregate" total return figures for various
periods, representing the cumulative change in value of an investment in the
Fund for the specific period (again reflecting changes in the Fund's share price
and assuming reinvestment of dividends and distributions). Aggregate total
returns may be shown by means of schedules, charts or graphs, and may indicate
subtotals of the various components of total return (that is, the change in
value of initial investment, income dividends and capital gains distributions).
A Fund may quote its Fund's average annual total and/or aggregate total return
for various time periods in advertisements or communications to shareholders. A
Fund may also compare its performance to that of other mutual funds with similar
investment objectives and to stock and other relevant indices or to rankings
prepared by independent services or industry publications. When these
organizations' tracking results are used, a Fund will be compared to its
appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings or
the appropriate volatility grouping, where volatility is a measure of a Fund's
risk. For example, a Fund's total return may be compared to data prepared by
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Value Line Mutual Fund Survey and
CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. Total return data as reported in such national
financial publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times,
Investor's Business Daily, USA Today, Barron's, Money and Forbes as well as in
publications of a local or regional nature, may also be used in comparing Fund
performance.
22
<PAGE>
Each Fund's total return may also be compared to such indices as the:
o Dow Jones Industrial Average
o Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Total Return Index
o Nasdaq Composite OTC Index or Nasdaq Industries Index
o Consumer Price Index
o Russell 2000 Index
The performance of these unmanaged indices may assume reinvestment of dividends
or interest but generally does not reflect deductions for administrative and
management costs.
Performance figures are calculated in the following manner.
Average Annual Total Return
Average annual total return is the average annual compound rate of return for
periods of one year, five years and ten years, all ended on the last day of a
recent calendar quarter. Average annual total return quotations reflect changes
in the price of a Fund's shares and assume that all dividends and capital gains
distributions during the respective periods were reinvested in Fund shares.
Average annual total return is calculated by computing the average annual
compound rates of return of a hypothetical investment over such periods,
according to the following formula (average annual total return is then
expressed as a percentage):
T = (ERV/P)1/n - 1
Where:
T = average annual total return
P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is the value, at the end
of the applicable period, of a hypothetical $1,000
investment made at the beginning of the applicable
period.
It should be noted that average annual total return is based on historical
earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance. Average annual
total return for a Fund will vary based on changes in market conditions and the
level of the Fund's expenses. The average annual returns for the Bramwell Growth
Fund for the fiscal year and five-year period ended June 30, 2000 and since
inception (August 1, 1994) through June 30, 2000 were 22.53%, 24.30% and 24.50%,
respectively. The average annual return for the Bramwell Focus Fund for the
period since inception (November 1, 1999) through June 30, 2000 was 22.60%.
Comparison of Portfolio Performance
Comparison of the quoted non-standardized performance of various investments is
valid only if performance is calculated in the same manner. Since there are
different methods of calculating performance, investors should consider the
effect of the methods used to calculate performance
23
<PAGE>
when comparing performance of a Fund with performance quoted with respect to
other investment companies or types of investments.
From time to time, the average price-earnings ratio and other attributes of a
Fund's securities may be compared to the average price-earnings ratio and other
attributes of the securities that comprise the S&P 500.
Statistical and other information, as provided by the Social Security
Administration, may be used in marketing materials pertaining to retirement
planning in order to estimate future payouts of social security benefits.
Estimates may be used on demographic and economic data.
Marketing and other Fund literature may include a description of the potential
risks and rewards associated with an investment in a Fund. The description may
include a "risk/return spectrum" which compares a Fund to other funds advised by
BramCap, or broad categories of funds, such as money market, bond or equity
funds, in terms of potential risks and returns. Money market funds are designed
to maintain a constant $1.00 share price and have a fluctuating yield. Share
price, yield and total return of a bond fund will fluctuate. The share price and
return of an equity fund also will fluctuate. The description may also compare a
Fund to bank products, such as certificates of deposit. Unlike mutual funds,
certificates of deposit are insured up to $100,000 by the U.S.
Government and offer a fixed rate of return.
Risk/return spectrums also may depict funds that invest in both domestic and
foreign securities or a combination of bond and equity securities.
Tax Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax issues
concerning the Funds and the purchase, ownership, and disposition of Fund
shares. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all
aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light
of their particular circumstances, nor to certain types of shareholders subject
to special treatment under the federal income tax laws (for example, banks and
life insurance companies). This discussion is based upon present provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the regulations
promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all
of which are subject to change, which change may be retroactive. Prospective
investors should consult their own tax advisers with regard to the federal tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of Fund shares, as well
as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country, or
other taxing jurisdiction.
Each Fund intends to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter
M of the Code. Accordingly, a Fund generally must, among other things, (a)
derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the
sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other
income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock,
securities or currencies; and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of
each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets is
represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government
24
<PAGE>
securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other
securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to
an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of
the value of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer
(other than U.S. Government securities and the securities of other regulated
investment companies).
As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally will not be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on income and gains that it distributes to shareholders, if
at least 90% of the Fund's investment company taxable income (which includes,
among other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short-term
capital gains over net long-term capital losses) for the taxable year is
distributed. Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such income.
If in any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company
under the Code, the Fund would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary
corporation and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the
Fund in computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to
qualify, the Fund's distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund's current
or accumulated earnings and profits, would constitute dividends (eligible for
the corporate dividends received deduction) which are taxable to shareholders as
ordinary income, even though those distributions might otherwise (at least in
part) have been treated in the shareholders' hands as long-term capital gains.
If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it
must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to
qualify again as a regulated investment company.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year
distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax at the
Fund level. To avoid the tax, each Fund must distribute during each calendar
year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not
taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at
least 98% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for
certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31 of
the calendar year, and (3) all ordinary income and capital gains for previous
years that were not distributed during such years. To avoid application of the
excise tax, the Funds intend to make distributions in accordance with the
calendar year distribution requirement. A distribution will be treated as paid
on December 31 of a calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October,
November or December of that year with a record date in such a month and paid by
the Fund during January of the following year. Such distributions will be
taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are
declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.
Taxation of Options, Futures and Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
Any regulated futures contracts, any foreign currency contracts, and certain
options (namely, nonequity options and dealer equity options) in which a Fund
may invest may be "section 1256 contracts." Gains (or losses) on these contracts
generally are considered to be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or
losses. Also, section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of
25
<PAGE>
each taxable year (and on certain other dates prescribed in the Code) are
"marked to market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated
as though they were realized.
The transactions in options, futures and forward contracts undertaken by a Fund
may result in "straddles" for federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules
may affect the character of gains or losses realized by a Fund. In addition,
losses realized by a Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be
deferred under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in
calculating the taxable income for the taxable year in which such losses are
realized. Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have
been promulgated, the consequences of such transactions to a Fund are not
entirely clear. The straddle rules may increase the amount of short-term capital
gain realized by a Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to
shareholders.
A Fund may make one or more of the elections available under the Code which are
applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes any of the elections, the amount,
character and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected
straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according to the
election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may
operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected
straddle positions.
Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or
losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from
the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain may be increased or
decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not engage in such
transactions.
Constructive Sales
Recently enacted rules will affect the timing and character of gain if a Fund
engages in certain transactions that reduce or eliminate the Fund's risk of loss
with respect to appreciated financial positions, including stock and securities.
For example, if a Fund enters into a short sale of property while holding
property substantially identical to that sold short, the entry into the contract
will generally constitute a constructive sale and the Fund will recognize gain
(but not loss) as if the property it held had been sold. The character of gain
from a constructive sale will depend upon a Fund's holding period in the
property. If a short sale results in loss, the loss will be recognized at the
time of the closing of the short sale, and its character may be affected by the
straddle rules described above.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest in shares of foreign corporations that may be classified
under the Code as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs"). In general, a
foreign corporation is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets
constitute investment-type assets, or 75% or more of its gross income is
investment-type income. If a Fund receives a so-called "excess distribution"
with respect to PFIC stock, the Fund itself may be subject to a tax on a portion
of the excess distribution, whether or not the corresponding income is
distributed by the Fund to shareholders.
26
<PAGE>
In general, under the PFIC rules, an excess distribution is treated as having
been realized ratably over the period during which a Fund held the PFIC shares.
A Fund itself will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of an excess
distribution that is so allocated to prior Fund taxable years and an interest
factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had been payable in such prior
taxable years. Certain distributions from a PFIC as well as gain from the sale
of PFIC shares are treated as excess distributions. Excess distributions are
characterized as ordinary income even though, absent application of the PFIC
rules, certain excess distributions might have been classified as capital gain.
A Fund may be eligible to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC
shares. Under an election that currently is available in some circumstances, the
Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the
earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether distributions were
received from the PFIC in a given year. If this election were made, the special
rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would
not apply. In addition, another election would involve marking to market a
Fund's PFIC shares at the end of each taxable year, with the result that
unrealized gains would be treated as though they were realized and reported as
ordinary income. Any mark-to-market losses and any loss from an actual
disposition of Fund shares would be deductible as ordinary losses to the extent
of any net mark-to-market gains included in income in prior years.
Currency Fluctuations -- "Section 988" Gains or Losses
Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur
between the time a Fund accrues receivables or liabilities denominated in a
foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such receivables or
pays such liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss.
Similarly, on disposition of some investments, including debt securities and
certain forward contracts denominated in a foreign currency, gains or losses
attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the
acquisition and disposition of the position also are treated as ordinary gain or
loss. These gains and losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains
or losses, increase or decrease the amount of a Fund's investment company
taxable income available to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary
income.
Distributions
Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to a U.S.
shareholder as ordinary income, whether paid in cash or shares. Dividends paid
by a Fund to a corporate shareholder, to the extent such dividends are
attributable to dividends received from U.S. corporations by a Fund, may qualify
for the dividends received deduction. However, the revised alternative minimum
tax applicable to corporations may reduce the value of the dividends received
deduction. The excess of net long-term capital gains over the short-term capital
losses realized and distributed by a Fund to its U.S. shareholders as capital
gains distributions, whether paid in cash or in shares, is taxable to the
shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time a
shareholder has held his or her Fund stock, and is not eligible for the
dividends received deduction.
27
<PAGE>
Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal tax status of
distributions and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of newly
issued shares will receive a report as to the net asset value of the shares
received.
If the net asset value of shares is reduced below a shareholder's cost as a
result of a distribution by a Fund, such distribution generally will be taxable
even though it represents a return of invested capital. Investors should be
careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares of a Fund just prior
to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at this time may reflect the
amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a
distribution will receive a distribution which generally will be taxable to
them.
Disposition of Shares
Upon a redemption, sale or exchange of his or her shares of a Fund, a
shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss depending upon his or her basis
in the shares. A gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the
shares are capital assets in the shareholder's hands and generally will be
long-term or short-term, depending upon the shareholder's holding period for the
shares. Any loss realized on a redemption, sale or exchange will be disallowed
to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced (including through
reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before
and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis
of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. If a
shareholder held shares for six months or less and during that period received a
distribution taxable to the shareholder as long-term capital gain, any loss
realized on the sale of such shares during such six-month period would be a
long-term loss to the extent of such distribution.
Backup Withholding
Each Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")
all distributions and gross proceeds from the redemption of the Fund's shares,
except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. All distributions and
proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares will be subject to withholding of
federal income tax at a rate of 31% ("backup withholding") in the case of
non-exempt shareholders if (1) the shareholder fails to furnish the Fund with
and to certify the shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number or
social security number, (2) the IRS notifies the shareholder or the Fund that
the shareholder has failed to report properly certain interest and dividend
income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect, or (3) when required
to do so, the shareholder fails to certify that he or she is not subject to
backup withholding. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such
distributions or proceeds, whether reinvested in additional shares or taken in
cash, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
Other Taxation
Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes
depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders and
certain types of U.S. shareholders subject to special treatment under the U.S.
federal income tax law (e.g., banks and life insurance
28
<PAGE>
companies) may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those
summarized above.
Net Asset Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares are purchased at their net asset value per share. Each Fund calculates
its net asset value (NAV) as follows:
NAV = [(Value of Fund Assets) - (Fund Liabilities)]/
Number of Outstanding Shares
Net asset value is determined as of the end of trading hours on the NYSE
(currently 4:00 p.m. New York City time) on days that the NYSE is open.
A security listed or traded on a recognized stock exchange or quoted on NASDAQ
is valued at its last sale price prior to the time when assets are valued on the
principal exchange on which the security is traded or on NASDAQ. If no sale is
reported at that time, the most current bid price will be used. All other
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available
are valued at the most current bid price. Where quotations are not readily
available, a Fund's investments are valued at fair value as determined by
management and approved in good faith by the Directors. Debt securities which
will mature in more than 60 days and equity securities are valued at prices
furnished by a pricing service approved by the Directors subject to review and
determination of the appropriate price by BramCap, whenever a furnished price is
significantly different from the previous day's furnished price. Securities
which will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which
approximates market value.
Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as U.S. Government securities
and certain cash equivalents and repurchase agreements, is substantially
completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values
of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the shares of the
Funds are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange rates are also
generally determined prior to the close of the NYSE. Occasionally, events
affecting the value of such securities and such exchange rates may occur between
the times at which they are determined and at the close of the NYSE, which will
not be reflected in the computation of net asset value. If during such periods,
events occur which materially affect the value of such securities, the
securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined by management
and approved in good faith by the Directors.
For purposes of determining the net asset value per share of each Fund, all
assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be
converted into United States dollars at the mean between the bid and offer
prices of such currencies against United States dollars furnished by a pricing
service approved by the Directors.
Each Fund's net asset value per share will be calculated separately from the per
share net asset value of any other fund of the Company. "Assets belonging to" a
Fund consist of the consideration received upon the issuance of shares of the
particular Fund together with all net
29
<PAGE>
investment income, earnings, profits, realized gains/losses and proceeds derived
from the investment thereof, including any proceeds from the sale of such
investments, any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such
proceeds, and a portion of any general assets of the Company not belonging to a
particular series. Each Fund will be charged with the direct liabilities of that
Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Funds. Subject to the
provisions of the Charter, determinations by the Directors as to the direct and
allocable expenses, and the allocable portion of any general assets, with
respect to a particular Fund are conclusive.
Capital Structure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description of Shares
The Bramwell Growth Fund and the Bramwell Focus Fund are series of The Bramwell
Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), an open-end management investment company organized
as a Maryland corporation on June 3, 1994. The Company's Charter authorizes the
Board of Directors to issue up to 500 million shares of common stock, par value
$.0001 per share. Two hundred million shares of the Company's authorized common
stock have been allocated to each of the Bramwell Growth Fund and the Bramwell
Focus Fund. The shares of each Fund have equal voting, dividend, distribution
and liquidation rights, have no preemptive rights and only such conversion or
exchange rights as the Board may grant in its discretion. When issued for
payment as described in the Prospectus, each Fund's shares will be fully paid
and non-assessable.
Shareholders of each Fund are entitled to one vote for each full share held, and
fractional votes for fractional shares held, and will vote in the aggregate and
not by class or series except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act or the
Maryland General Corporation Law.
There will normally be no meetings of the shareholders for the purpose of
electing Directors unless and until such time as less than a majority of the
Directors holding office have been elected by shareholders.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted
to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company,
such as the Company, shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon
unless approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of each fund affected by
the matter. A fund is affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests
of each fund in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does
not affect any interest of the fund. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an
investment advisory agreement or 12b-1 distribution plan or any change in a
fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a
fund only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such fund.
However, the rule also provides that the ratification of independent public
accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election
of directors may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Company voting
without regard to particular funds.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law requiring
for any purpose the concurrence of a proportion greater than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
30
<PAGE>
total number of shares of the Company outstanding (or of a class or series of
the Company, as applicable) will be effective, except to the extent otherwise
required by the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. In addition, the Charter provides
that, to the extent consistent with the General Corporation Law of Maryland and
other applicable law, the By-Laws may provide for authorization to be given by
the affirmative vote of the holders of less than a majority of the total number
of shares of the Company outstanding (or of a class or series).
Further Information about Redemption of Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The right of redemption may be suspended, or the date of payment postponed
beyond the normal seven-day period by each Fund, under the following conditions
authorized by the 1940 Act: (1) for any period (a) during which the New York
Stock Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend or holiday closing, or
(b) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; (2) for
any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which (a) disposal by
a Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practical, or (b) it is not
reasonably practical for a Fund to determine the fair value of its net assets;
and (3) for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by
order permit for the protection of a Fund's shareholders.
The value of shares of a Fund on redemption may be more or less than the
shareholder's cost, depending upon the market value of the Fund's assets at the
time. Shareholders should note that if a loss has been realized on the sale of
shares of a Fund, the loss may be disallowed for tax purposes if shares of the
same Fund are purchased within (before or after) 30 days of the sale.
It is possible that conditions may exist in the future which would, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, make it undesirable for a Fund to pay for
redemptions in cash. In such cases the Board, taking into account BramCap's
advice, may authorize payment to be made in portfolio securities of a Fund.
However, the Funds have obligated themselves under the 1940 Act to redeem for
cash all shares presented for redemption by any one shareholder up to $250,000
(or 1% of the Fund's net assets if that is less) in any 90-day period.
Securities delivered in payment of redemptions are valued at the same value
assigned to them in computing the net asset value per share. Shareholders
receiving such securities generally will incur brokerage costs on their sales.
Experts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Financial Statements of the Funds as of June 30, 2000, incorporated by
reference into this Statement of Additional Information, have been so
incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, independent certified public accountants, given on the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
31
<PAGE>
Financial Statements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Funds' financial statements and notes thereto appearing in the June 30, 2000
Annual Report to Shareholders and the report thereon of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, independent certified public accountants, appearing therein, are
incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information. The Funds
will furnish, without charge, a copy of such Annual Report to Shareholders on
request. Requests should be made by calling 1-800-BRAMCAP or writing to Sunstone
Financial Group, Inc., 803 W. Michigan Street, Suite A, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53233.
32
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
Ratings of Investment Securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A rating of a rating service represents the service's opinion as to the credit
quality of the security being rated. However, the ratings are general and are
not absolute standards of quality or guarantees as to the creditworthiness of an
issuer. Consequently, the Funds' investment adviser believes that the quality of
debt securities in which a Fund invests should be continuously reviewed. A
rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, because it
does not take into account market value or suitability for a particular
investor. When a security has received a rating from more than one service, each
rating should be evaluated independently. Ratings are based on current
information furnished by the issuer or obtained by the ratings services from
other sources which they consider reliable. Ratings may be changed, suspended or
withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information, or
for other reasons.
The following is a description of the characteristics of ratings used by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Corporation.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. Ratings
Aaa--Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the smallest
degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt-edge". Interest
payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and
principal is secure. Although the various protective elements are likely to
change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such bonds.
Aa--Bonds rated Aa are judged to be high quality by all standards. Together with
the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They
are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as
large as in Aaa bonds or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater
amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risk
appear somewhat larger than in Aaa bonds.
A--Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be
considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa--Bonds rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
Ba--Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot
be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal
payments may be very moderate and
33
<PAGE>
thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B--Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa--Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. Such bonds may be in default or there
may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca--Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree.
Such bonds are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
Standard & Poor's Corporation Rating
AAA--Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating. Capacity to pay principal and
interest is extremely strong.
AA--Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay principal and interest and
differ from AAA bonds only in small degree.
A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest, although
they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB--Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit protection parameters,
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to
a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in this capacity
than for bonds in higher rated categories.
BB--B--CCC--CC--Bonds rated BB, B, CCC and CC are regarded, on balance, as
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates
the lowest degree of speculation among such bonds and CC the highest degree of
speculation. Although such bonds will likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk
exposures to adverse conditions.
34
<PAGE>
Part C: Other Information
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS
(a)(1) Articles of Incorporation(1)
(2) Articles Supplementary(3)
(b) By-Laws(1)
(c) Not Applicable
(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the
Bramwell Growth Fund(1)
(2) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the
Bramwell Focus Fund(3)
(3) Expense Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc. with rspect to the Bramwell Focus
Fund.
(4) Expense Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc. with rspect to the Bramwell
Growth Fund.
(e) Not Applicable
(f) Not Applicable
(g)(1) Custodian Agreement(1)
(2) Addendum to Custodian Agreement(2)
(h)(1) Form of Administrative and Fund Accounting Agreement(3)
(2) Form of Transfer Agent Agreement(3)
(i)(1) Opinion and Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads with respect
to the Growth Fund(1)
(2) Opinion and Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads with respect
to the Bramwell Focus Fund(3)
(3) Opinion and Consent of Dechert with respect to the
Bramwell Growth Fund and Bramwell Focus fund.
(j) Consent of Independent Accountants
(k) Not Applicable
(l)(1) Investment Representation Letters of the Bramwell Growth
Fund(1)
(2) Investment Representation Letters of the Bramwell Focus
Fund(3)
(m)(1) Service and Distribution Plan with respect to the Bramwell
Growth Fund(1)
<PAGE>
(2) Service and Distribution Plan with respect to the Bramwell
Focus Fund(3)
(n) Not Applicable
(o) Not Applicable
(p)(1) Code of Ethics of the Bramwell Funds, Inc. and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc.
(q) Certified Resolution pursuant to Rule 483(b)(3)
(r)(1) Powers of Attorney(1)
(2) Power or Attorney of Madame Seger(3)
------------------------
(1) Filed electronically with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on
October 30, 1997 (Accession Number 0000894579-97-000175)
(2) Filed electronically with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 on
August 13, 1999 (Accession Number 0000894579-99-000159)
(3) Filed electronically with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 on
October 27, 1999 (Accession Number 0000894579-99-000208)
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT
Not Applicable
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION
The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Maryland and is subject to Section 2-418 of the Corporation and
Associations Article of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Maryland (Maryland Law) controlling the indemnification of directors
and officers. Since the Registrant has its executive offices in the
State of New York, and is qualified as a foreign corporation doing
business in such State, the persons covered by the foregoing statute
may also be entitled to and subject to the limitations of the
indemnification provisions of Section 721-726 of the New York Business
Corporation Law.
The general effect of these statutes is to protect directors,
officers, employees and agents of the Registrant against legal
liability and expenses incurred by reason of their positions with the
Registrant. The statutes provide for indemnification from liability
for proceedings not brought on behalf of the corporation and for those
brought on behalf of the corporation, and in each case place
conditions under which indemnification will be permitted, including
requirements that the indemnified person acted in good faith. Under
certain conditions, payment of expenses in advance of final
disposition may be permitted. The Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant make the indemnification if its directors, officers,
employees and agents mandatory subject only to the conditions and
limitations imposed by the applicable provisions of the Maryland Law
and by the provisions of Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as interpreted and required to be implemented
by SEC
<PAGE>
Release No. IC-11330 of September 4, 1980.
In referring in its Articles of Incorporation to, and making
indemnification of directors subject to the conditions and limitations
of, both the applicable provisions of the Maryland Law and Section
17(h) of the 1940 Act, the Registrant intends that conditions and
limitations on the extent of the indemnification of directors and
officers imposed by the provisions of either the Maryland Law or
Section 17(h) shall apply and that any inconsistency between the two
will be resolved by applying the provisions of said Section 17(h) if
the condition or limitation imposed by Section 17(h) is the more
stringent. In referring in its Articles of Incorporation to SEC
Release No. IC-11330 as the source for interpretation and
implementation of said Section 17(h), the Registrant understands that
it would be required under its Articles of Incorporation to use
reasonable and fair means in determining whether indemnification of a
director or officer should be made and undertakes to use either (1) a
final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the
proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified (indemnitee)
was not liable to the Registrant or to its security holders by reason
of willful malfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office
(disabling conduct) or (2) in the absence of such a decision, a
reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the
indemnitee was not liable by reason of such disabling conduct, by (a)
the vote of a majority of a quorum of directors who are neither
"interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Registrant
nor parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in
a written opinion. Also, the Registrant will make advances of
attorney's fees or other expenses incurred by a director or officer in
his or her defense only if (in addition to his or her undertaking to
repay the advance if he or she is not ultimately entitled to
indemnification) (1) the indemnitee provides a security for his or her
undertaking, (2) the Registrant shall be insured against losses
arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a
quorum of the non-interested, non-party directors of the Registrant,
or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine,
based on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to
believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification. In addition, the Registrant will maintain a
directors' and officers' errors and omissions liability insurance
policy protecting directors and officers against liability for claims
made by reason of any acts, errors or omissions committed in their
capacity as directors or officers. The policy will contain certain
exclusions, among which is exclusion from coverage for active or
deliberate dishonest or fraudulent acts and exclusion for fines or
penalties imposed by law or other matters deemed uninsurable.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
<PAGE>
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
The descriptions of the Investment Adviser under the caption
"Management of the Funds" in the Prospectus and in the Statement of
Additional Information constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of
this Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein.
Bramwell Capital Management, Inc. also acts as investment adviser to
entities and individuals which are not registered investment companies
and as a subadviser to other registered investment companies.
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
Not Applicable
ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books or other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder are in the possession of Registrant, at the
Registrant's offices located at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York,
10151, except (1) records held and maintained by Firstar Bank
Milwaukee, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 11th Floor, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, 53201, relating to its functions as custodian, (2) records
held and maintained by Sunstone Financial Group, Inc., 207 East
Buffalo Street, Suite 400, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, relating to
its functions as administrator, and (3) records held and maintained by
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Third
Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, relating to its functions as
transfer agent.
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Not Applicable
<PAGE>
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS
Not Applicable.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Registrant certifies that it meets
all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York on the
31st day of October, 2000.
THE BRAMWELL FUNDS, INC.
By: *
----------------------------------------
Elizabeth R. Bramwell
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
* Director and President 10/31/00
----------------------------
Elizabeth R. Bramwell (principal executive, financial
and accounting officer)
* Director 10/31/00
----------------------------
J. Sinclair Armstrong
Director 10/31/00
----------------------------
Charles L. Booth, Jr.
* Director 10/31/00
----------------------------
George F. Keane
* Director 10/31/00
----------------------------
James C. Sargent
* Director 10/31/00
----------------------------
Martha R. Seger
* By: /s/ Margaret A. Bancroft
------------------------
Margaret A. Bancroft
as Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
Exhibits
99.D(3) Expense Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the Bramwell
Focus Fund
99.D(4) Expense Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc. with respect to the
Bramwell Growth Fund
99.I(3) Opinion and Consent of Dechert
99.J Consent of Independent Accountants
99.P(1) Code of Ethics of the Bramwell Funds, Inc. and Bramwell
Capital Management, Inc.
