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April 2003 To Our Fellow Shareholders: "A
cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing."
We have often commented on the distinction between price and value. The current market environment is decidedly focused on price; some of the resultant adjustments are appropriate while others are not. The upshot is an odd pairing of near-term frustration with long-term opportunity for us and for you. Current general market concerns and a continued negative economic environment include both well known items we have reviewed in the past as well as a few new developments. Fallout from the late ‘90s bull market excesses continues. The economy is weak as it slowly digests overcapacity. Geopolitical uncertainty remains high even for those already thinking beyond the current conflict. And most recently, the SARS health scare appears poised to trim some percentage points from economic growth domestically and internationally. Within this context, we continue to advise shareholders to maintain modest positive return expectations, but also to sustain their confidence. We have carefully selected portfolio companies that, in our opinion, retain the ability to perform well in their respective industries in an improved economic climate. In the waiting period until then, most portfolio companies are quietly (and perhaps invisibly to the casual observer) growing their intrinsic value and positioning their operations for better times. Some of them are even now experiencing success that makes them more valuable enterprises in the long run, exhibiting merits that will unfortunately have to wait for recognition in a more optimistic setting. We will provide additional portfolio detail in our forthcoming First Quarter 2003 Portfolio Commentary. There
are many examples of endeavors where intervening progress, or perception
thereof, varies and even ebbs on a path to ultimate advancement. In the
purely financial realm, there are periodic instances in which the owners
of assets rationally choose to ignore price quotes they deem inadequate.
Homeowners wait for the right buyer, or the right buying season, or a
better economy. Commercial real estate construction responds to pricing
incentives, as does the production of agricultural and material commodities.
Private business owners recognize certain climates as more or less favorable
to selling their equity interests. (Witness the current moribund state
of the market for initial public offerings experiencing its lowest volume
in decades.) Equity owners should act no less rationally; nonetheless,
ample evidence indicates that they quite often do. As always, we thank you for your support.
For more information
about the Fund, including objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses,
please obtain a copy of the Fund's prospectus which is available by calling
1-800-622-2474 or at www.oakvaluefund.com. Please read the prospectus
carefully before you invest.
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