| Investment Objective: |
The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in "dividend growth" companies. The Fund invests predominantly in equity securities, primarily common stock. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, depositary receipts, and securities convertible into common stocks, as well as equity-related instruments. The Fund may invest in companies of any size, across the entire market capitalization spectrum. The Fund maintains the flexibility to invest in securities of companies from a variety of sectors, but from time to time, based on economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in particular sectors, such as technology, industrials or healthcare. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities (typically through the purchase of depositary receipts). The Fund, the investment manager applies a research-driven, "bottom up" fundamental approach. As a "bottom-up" investor focusing primarily on individual securities, the investment manager looks for companies that it believes meet the criteria for dividend growth above and are fundamentally sound and attempts to acquire them at attractive prices. |
