UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-07883
ICON Funds
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
| | |
5299 DTC Blvd. Suite 1200 Greenwood Village, | | CO 80111 |
|
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
Erik L. Jonson 5299 DTC Blvd. Suite 1200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-790-1600
Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2009
Date of reporting period: September 30, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
2009 Annual Report
ICON Diversified Funds
Investment Update
ICON Core Equity Fund
ICON Equity Income Fund
ICON Long/Short Fund
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
1-800-764-0442 ï www.iconfunds.com
AR-DIV-09 K04081
You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.
When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.
Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.
You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.
1-800-764-0442 • www.iconfunds.com
Table of Contents
| | | | |
| | | | |
About This Report (Unaudited) | | | 2 | |
| | | | |
Message from ICON Funds (Unaudited) | | | 5 | |
| | | | |
Management Overview (Unaudited) and Schedules of Investments | | | | |
ICON Bond Fund | | | 9 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 20 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 27 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 35 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 44 | |
| | | | |
Financial Statements | | | 55 | |
| | | | |
Financial Highlights | | | 62 | |
| | | | |
Notes to Financial Statements | | | 68 | |
| | | | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | | 86 | |
| | | | |
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example (Unaudited) | | | 87 | |
| | | | |
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited) | | | 90 | |
| | | | |
Other Information (Unaudited) | | | 93 | |
About This Report (unaudited)
Historical Returns
All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions, and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser may have reimbursed certain fees or expenses of some of the Funds. If not for these reimbursements, performance would have been lower. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, results would have been lower.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.
Portfolio Data
This Report reflects ICON’s views, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2009, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.
Opinions and forecasts regarding industries, companies and/or themes, and portfolio composition and holdings are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions, and should not be construed as a recommendation of any specific security, industry or sector. Each Fund’s holdings as of September 30, 2009 are included in each Fund’s Schedule of Investments.
While ICON’s quantitative investment methodology primarily considers company-specific factors beyond financial data, various company factors may impact a stock’s performance, and therefore, Fund performance. Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock
exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. The ICON system relies on the integrity of financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.
According to ICON, value investing is an analytical, quantitative approach to investing that employs various factors, including projecting earnings growth estimates, in an effort to determine whether securities are over- or underpriced relative to ICON’s estimates of their intrinsic value. Value investing involves risks and uncertainties and does not guarantee better performance or lower costs than other investment methodologies. ICON’s value-to-price ratio is a ratio of intrinsic value, as calculated using ICON’s proprietary valuation methodology, of a broad range of domestic and international securities within ICON’s system as compared to the current market price of those securities.
This Report contains statements regarding industry or sector themes, new market themes, investment outlook, relative strength, value-to-price ratios, and investment team expectations, beliefs, goals and the like that are based on current expectations, recent individual stock performance relative to current market prices, estimates of company values and other information supplied to the market by the companies we follow. Words such as “expects,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “value,” “intrinsic value,” “indicates,” “believes,” “considers,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements, which are not statements of historical fact. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to assess. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of important factors, including, among others: stock price fluctuations; the integrity and accuracy of historical and projected financial and other information supplied by companies to the public; interest rates; future earnings growth rates; the risks noted in this Report and other factors beyond the control of our investment team. Therefore, actual outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements.
There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.
There are risks associated with selling short, including the risk that the ICON Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short price, resulting in a loss. The ICON Long/Short Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited as a loss occurs when the value of a security sold short increases. Call options involve certain risks, such as limited gains and lack of liquidity in the underlying securities, and are not suitable for all investors. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified
investment. Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks.
Investing in fixed income securities such as bonds involves interest rate risk. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities generally decreases. The ICON Bond Fund and the Equity Income Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in high-yield bonds that are below investment grade. High-yield bonds involve a greater risk of default and price volatility than U.S. Government and other higher-quality bonds.
The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.
Comparative Indexes
The comparative indexes discussed in this Report are meant to provide a basis for judging a Fund’s performance against specific securities indexes. Each index shown accounts for both change in the security price and reinvestment of dividends and distributions (except as noted), but does not reflect the costs of managing a mutual fund. The Funds’ portfolios may significantly differ in holdings and composition from the index. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.
| |
• | The unmanaged Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Composite 1500 Index (“S&P Composite 1500 Index”) is a broad-based capitalization-weighted index comprising 1,500 stocks of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap U.S. companies. |
|
• | The unmanaged Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index (formerly known as the Lehman Brothers U.S. Universal Index) represents the union of the U.S. Aggregate Index, the U.S. High-Yield Corporate Index, the 144A Index, the Eurodollar Index, the Emerging Markets Index, the non-ERISA portion of the Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (“CMBS”) Index and the CMBS High-Yield Index. All securities in this market-value weighted index have at least one year remaining to maturity and meet certain minimum issue size criteria. |
Index returns and statistical data included in this Report are provided by Bloomberg, FactSet Research Systems, and Barclays Capital.
Financial Intermediary
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.
Message From ICON Funds
Road to Recovery
At ICON we believe the bear market from late 2007 through March 2009 can be divided into three phases. The three distinct phases can be seen in the chart below, which reflects the S & P 1500 Index, a broad measure of the U.S. stock market, over the course of a roughly two year period.
Looking at this graph, one can see how the first phase lasted almost a year, beginning with a generally slow, steady decline following the Index’s peak in October 2007. The second phase was a sharp week-long crash following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008. And the third phase was driven by economic uncertainty as economists (professional and amateur) revised their forecasts for the recession outward and downward, unable to clearly see an end or bottom. As an example, Bloomberg surveys of over 80 economists in January and February 2009 show 3rd quarter GDP forecasts being rapidly revised downward. By mid-March 2009, economists predicted 3rd quarter GDP growth would be 0% on an annual basis. These downward revisions coincided with the stock market’s continued gradual decline that was the final leg of phase 3.
Source: Factset
Message From ICON Funds 5
By mid-September 2009, a survey of those same economists revealed a 3rd quarter GDP forecast of 2.9% growth. That is a huge upward revision since March. If the upward revision proves accurate, it suggests economists and investors alike let their fear and anxiety get the better of them in late 2008 and early 2009. In other words, it seems (and we believe) the bleak initial outlook of 0% growth for 3rd quarter 2009 was both unduly negative and likely way off the mark.
As seen in the graph, the stock market quickly recovered its losses from phase 3 in roughly six months between March and August 2009. The S & P 1500 Index gained 59.9% from March 9 through September 30. Annualized, it equates to a pace of 130.7%, putting this rally among the best by historical standards.
As the market rallied and recovered from phase 3 of the bear market, stock prices moved higher - but so has underlying value as measured by ICON. Over time we bring new earnings into our equation for each company we analyze. In so doing, we drop off old, stale earnings. Our normal process of bringing in 2009 earnings and 2010 estimates has generally added modestly to our calculation of the intrinsic value of most companies. A much bigger boost in intrinsic value has come from the rally in corporate bonds and the accompanying drop in yields. Lower yields equate to higher valuation readings under the ICON system. As corporate bond yields drop and earnings increase, value becomes a target that continually moves higher with prices struggling to play catch-up.
Now, what about recovering from phases 2 and 1 of the bear market? Based on ICON’s valuation readings we feel we can make a few encouraging observations. We believe stocks are currently priced about 10% below our estimate of intrinsic value. If corporate bond yields continue to drop to historical normal levels, and assuming normal earnings growth, we believe conditions are in place for fair market values to eventually exceed even those seen at their peak levels toward the end of 2007. To cut to the chase, we feel we could see a recovery from phases 1 and 2 over the next couple of years.
As for the earnings portion, consensus forecasts from I/B/E/S for S & P 500 index companies anticipate earnings recovery in 2010 and 2011. Although there is often a rapid rebound in earnings coming out of a recession, the I/B/E/S analysts surveyed appear cautious in their forecasts for this recovery. The analysts expect operating EPS for the S & P 500 companies to rise to $71.17 in 2010 (a 27.7% increase over the 2009 estimate of $55.72) and another 13.8% to $81 in 2011. This forecasted earnings growth will increase value (as calculated using ICON’s proprietary methodology) when
6 Message From ICON Funds
earnings are introduced into our valuation equation over the next year or two.
Our belief that corporate bond yields can keep dropping is based on a continuation of the unwinding from the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy last fall. When Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September 2008, corporate bond yields and their spread above Treasury Bonds rose dramatically. Bond investors evidently feared and anticipated many defaults. With the economic and financial setting proving to be better than was initially expected last year, corporate bond yields have been dropping. Yields are far from being back to normal levels, however. Our expectation that corporate bond yields will continue to drop is based on more than just “hoping yields return to normal levels.” Rather, corporate bonds of various qualities and maturities have the valuation and relative strength readings under our system to suggest their moves can continue. In other words, the ICON bond model suggests the rally in corporate bonds is sustainable.
Thus, our case for valuation readings approaching levels not seen since late 2007 is threefold. First, stocks are still priced below our estimate of fair value. Second, we believe new earnings over the next two years will push values higher. Third, and finally, declining yields on corporate bonds should likewise raise value.
The path to recovery is nonetheless unpredictable. During phase 2, from September 30 through October 10, 2008, the S & P 1500 Index dropped 22.9% in eight trading days. Could the phase 2 recovery be a mirror image of the phase 2 collapse, with an equally dramatic upside? It’s possible, but unlikely in our opinion. Instead, a path of two steps forward and one step back is more likely. There remain a lot of jittery, skeptical investors who use advances as an opportunity to exit. To move higher, the market has to absorb or “take out” their shares. While valuations may justify price levels back to those seen at the peak in 2007, the path for stock prices may be a grind.
In conclusion, we see the path to recovery occurring over three distinct phases. As investors came to believe the depression they feared last winter would not materialize, we experienced a phase 3 recovery. We expect the phase 2 recovery will occur as investors realize that the bond default potential is greatly reduced with the start of an economic recovery: in other words, phase 2 might be seen as an unwinding of the Lehman Brothers fallout. We believe phase 1 recovery will occur as investors acknowledge the fact that corporate earnings are advancing - typical of an economic recovery.
So far, off the low last March, the leading industries have come from the Financials sector. Next in line are the cyclical economically sensitive
Message From ICON Funds 7
industries from the following sectors: Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology. Lagging, but still participating, are the so called “recession proof” industries from sectors like Health Care, Utilities and Consumer Staples.
On the road to recovery, ICON will stick to its system of industry rotation as we work to capture industry themes and leadership. While our research team has adjusted to and learned from these unprecedented times, there is always room for improvement. We have emerged from the bear market as a better, more effective money manager and we look forward to serving you in the years ahead.
Yours truly,
Craig T. Callahan, DBA
Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Adviser
8 Message From ICON Funds
Class I IOBIX
Class C IOBCX
Class Z IOBZX
Management Overview
ICON Bond Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | For the Fund’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the ICON Bond Fund outperformed the Barclays Capital US Universal Index. The Fund returned 13.50% for the Class I shares, 12.80% for the Class C shares and 13.79% for the Class Z shares, while the Barclays Capital US Universal Index returned 10.91%. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The Fund’s healthy exposure to generally riskier corporate bonds and underweight position in risk free Treasury bonds was the primary factor behind the Fund’s relative outperformance. At the outset of the fiscal year, Treasury yields were abnormally low due to the panic following the credit crisis of 2008. On October 1, 2008 the 10-year constant maturity US Treasury yield was 3.81% versus a 6.80% weekly average over the past 50 years. |
At the same time, credit spreads (corporate yields relative to an applicable Treasury yield) were near all time highs. On October 3, 2008, the Moody’s Aaa Index traded at 226 basis points above the 10-year US Treasury yield, while the Moody’s Baa Index traded at 416 basis points above the 10-year US Treasury. By comparison, over the past 50 years, the Moody’s Aaa Index has averaged just an 83 basis point spread over the 10-year Treasury while the Baa Index has averaged 181 basis points above the 10-year Treasury.
During fiscal year 2009, ICON’s valuation system, quantitatively based on comparing historical relationships across the credit curve to current relationships, saw tremendous value in corporate bonds and very little value in Treasury bonds. At the same time, the ICON system relies on its relative strength calculations, which pointed to Treasury bonds and away from corporate bonds as the flight to quality clearly favored the former. This left Agency bonds, which offered solid relative strength and decent value after the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as investors became more assured that Agency bonds at least had the full faith and support of the US government.
The Fund tilted toward Agencies in October and November 2008 and this proved prescient as investors continued to stampede out of riskier assets
and into cash and other assets perceived as more stable. On December 5, 2008 the spread between the Moody’s Baa Index and the 10-year Treasury peaked at a 70-year high of 612 basis points. In January 2009, investors who had evidently been hoarding cash recognized the value in corporate bonds and began pouring money into bond funds. Net new cash flows into bond funds rose from -$63.39 billion in the last calendar quarter of 2008 to $53.36 billion in the first quarter of 2009, to $88.92 billion in the second quarter, and to an estimated $132.45 billion in the third quarter. This increase in demand for bonds tightened spreads and led corporate bonds to one of their best years ever. As relative strength began to reemerge in corporate bonds, the Fund took a strong overweight position and fully participated in this rally.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | As discussed above, the Fund’s composition, which was heavy in corporate debt and light in US Treasury debt, was essential to the Fund’s outperforming its benchmarks. The Moody’s Baa Index yield fell from 7.85% at the outset of the fiscal year to 6.17% at the end of the year. Similarly, the Moody’s Aaa Index yield fell from 6.01% at the outset of the fiscal year to 5.04% by year-end. In contrast, the constant maturity 10-year US Treasury note yield fell only 54 basis points from 3.85% to 3.31%. |
The Fund’s tilt towards Agency debt at the beginning of the fiscal year aided performance as corporate bond yields rose during October and November of 2008. Finally, the Fund’s strong weighting and timing in Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”) added to performance. The Fund added $10.42 million in TIPS from December to mid-March when inflation expectations were low and sold the same securities for $10.79 million in May and June as inflation expectations increased with the strong equity rally.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the bond market? |
| |
A. | Although corporate credit spreads have tightened, there is room for spreads to narrow significantly based on historical averages. As of September 25, 2009, the Moody’s Aaa Index yield stood at 171 basis points over the 10-year constant maturity US Treasury versus its 89 basis point weekly average dating back to January 1962. Similarly, the Moody’s Baa Index yield stood at 284 basis points over the 10-year constant maturity US Treasury compared to its 191 basis point weekly average since January 1962. Based on ICON’s system, these conditions suggest considerable value remains in corporate bonds along with exceptional relative strength following the 2009 rally. |
Although we believe fixed coupon Treasury bonds should be avoided given their current metrics, as fiscal year 2009 comes to an end we are not overly concerned with rampant inflation or rapidly rising government bond yields. Our research suggests inflation tends to be mild following recessions. Further, we believe unemployment, rising savings rates and diminished resource utilization should keep inflation and government bond yields relatively low for the near future. Finally, the continued demand for bonds from investors in the face of a deleveraging corporate and consumer environment should support lower bond yields. In sum, we remain relatively bullish on the bond market in general and the corporate bond market in particular.
ICON Bond Fund
Credit Diversification
September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Aaa | | | 0.3% | |
Aa1 | | | 0.9% | |
Aa2 | | | 3.1% | |
Aa3 | | | 1.3% | |
A1 | | | 6.7% | |
A2 | | | 12.3% | |
A3 | | | 14.2% | |
Baa1 | | | 10.0% | |
Baa2 | | | 12.1% | |
Baa3 | | | 20.2% | |
Ba1 | | | 5.3% | |
Ba2 | | | 2.3% | |
Ba3 | | | 1.8% | |
B1 | | | 2.5% | |
B2 | | | 0.8% | |
B3 | | | 0.1% | |
Caa1 | | | 0.6% | |
Ca | | | 0.4% | |
Not Rated | | | 0.6% | |
| | | | |
| | | 95.5% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon corporate bond investments as a percentage of net assets.
Ratings based on Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
ICON Bond Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Bond Fund - Class I | | | | 9/30/02 | | | | | | 13.50 | % | | | | | 4.00 | % | | | | | 4.79 | % | | | | | 1.08 | % | | | | | 1.00 | % | |
|
|
Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index | | | | | | | | | | 10.91 | % | | | | | 5.16 | % | | | | | 5.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Bond Fund - Class C | | | | 10/21/02 | | | | | | 12.80 | % | | | | | 3.37 | % | | | | | 4.54 | % | | | | | 2.42 | % | | | | | 1.60 | % | |
|
|
Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index | | | | | | | | | | 10.91 | % | | | | | 5.16 | % | | | | | 5.67 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Bond Fund - Class Z | | | | 5/6/04 | | | | | | 13.79 | % | | | | | 4.22 | % | | | | | 4.72 | % | | | | | 186.00 | % | | | | | 0.75 | % | |
|
|
Barclays Capital U.S. Universal Index | | | | | | | | | | 10.91 | % | | | | | 5.16 | % | | | | | 5.58 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Bond Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class I shares on the Class’ inception date of 9/30/02 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Bond Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
Corporate Bonds (95.5%) | | | | |
$ | 220,000 | | | Ace INA Holdings, Inc. | | | 8.88 | % | | | 08/15/29 | | | $ | 273,822 | |
| 500,000 | | | AK Steel Corp. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 06/15/12 | | | | 501,875 | |
| 700,000 | | | Alcoa, Inc.(a) | | | 6.50 | % | | | 06/01/11 | | | | 724,300 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Alcoa, Inc. | | | 5.55 | % | | | 02/01/17 | | | | 970,743 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Alcoa, Inc. | | | 6.75 | % | | | 07/15/18 | | | | 1,002,484 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Allied Waste North America | | | 6.50 | % | | | 11/15/10 | | | | 1,032,500 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Allied Waste North America | | | 6.88 | % | | | 06/01/17 | | | | 1,056,177 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Altria Group, Inc. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 02/06/14 | | | | 1,139,735 | |
| 500,000 | | | AmerenEnergy Generating Co. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 04/15/18 | | | | 506,086 | |
| 1,800,000 | | | American Express Credit Co.(c) | | | 0.37 | % | | | 02/24/12 | | | | 1,723,493 | |
| 500,000 | | | American Express Credit Co. | | | 7.30 | % | | | 08/20/13 | | | | 554,496 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | American Express Credit Co. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 03/19/18 | | | | 1,100,078 | |
| 250,000 | | | American General Finance Corp. | | | 3.88 | % | | | 10/01/09 | | | | 250,000 | |
| 250,000 | | | American General Finance Corp. | | | 5.20 | % | | | 12/15/11 | | | | 201,580 | |
| 750,000 | | | American General Finance Corp. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 10/01/12 | | | | 579,670 | |
| 400,000 | | | American International Group, Inc. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 10/18/11 | | | | 370,038 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Anadarko Petroleum Corp. | | | 8.70 | % | | | 03/15/19 | | | | 1,195,661 | |
| 650,000 | | | Arizona Public Service Co. | | | 6.38 | % | | | 10/15/11 | | | | 690,069 | |
| 500,000 | | | AT&T, Inc. | | | 5.80 | % | | | 02/15/19 | | | | 535,018 | |
| 500,000 | | | AutoZone, Inc.(a) | | | 4.38 | % | | | 06/01/13 | | | | 505,058 | |
| 500,000 | | | AutoZone, Inc. | | | 5.50 | % | | | 11/15/15 | | | | 530,477 | |
| 500,000 | | | Ball Corp. | | | 6.88 | % | | | 12/15/12 | | | | 506,250 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 6.25 | % | | | 04/15/12 | | | | 1,591,561 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 09/15/12 | | | | 1,026,781 | |
| 1,250,000 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 5.42 | % | | | 03/15/17 | | | | 1,194,322 | |
| 950,000 | | | Bank of America Corp.(c) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 06/15/17 | | | | 791,445 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | BB&T Corp. | | | 6.50 | % | | | 08/01/11 | | | | 2,111,772 | |
| 410,000 | | | Bell Atlantic Maryland | | | 8.30 | % | | | 08/01/31 | | | | 469,161 | |
| 750,000 | | | Boston Scientific Corp. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 06/15/11 | | | | 770,625 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Caterpillar Financial Services Corp. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 02/17/14 | | | | 1,644,475 | |
| 150,000 | | | Centex Corp. | | | 4.55 | % | | | 11/01/10 | | | | 151,500 | |
| 1,127,000 | | | Chartered Semiconductor - YD | | | 5.75 | % | | | 08/03/10 | | | | 1,131,865 | |
| 500,000 | | | Chesapeake Energy Corp. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 08/15/14 | | | | 483,750 | |
| 500,000 | | | Chesapeake Energy Corp. | | | 6.63 | % | | | 01/15/16 | | | | 472,500 | |
| 450,000 | | | Cincinnati Financial Corp. | | | 6.90 | % | | | 05/15/28 | | | | 279,703 | |
14 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
$ | 750,000 | | | CIT Group, Inc. | | | 4.75 | % | | | 12/15/10 | | | $ | 518,117 | |
| 355,000 | | | CIT Group, Inc. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 04/02/12 | | | | 223,778 | |
| 775,000 | | | Citigroup, Inc. | | | 6.50 | % | | | 01/18/11 | | | | 803,644 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Citigroup, Inc. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 02/21/12 | | | | 1,038,814 | |
| 850,000 | | | Citigroup, Inc. | | | 5.30 | % | | | 10/17/12 | | | | 876,987 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Citigroup, Inc.(c) | | | 0.58 | % | | | 06/09/16 | | | | 831,532 | |
| 639,000 | | | Comcast Cable Communications Holdings | | | 8.38 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 742,167 | |
| 400,000 | | | Comcast Cable Communications Holdings | | | 8.88 | % | | | 05/01/17 | | | | 493,307 | |
| 500,000 | | | Comcast Cable Holdings LLC | | | 9.80 | % | | | 02/01/12 | | | | 576,193 | |
| 550,000 | | | Comerica Bank | | | 7.13 | % | | | 12/01/13 | | | | 533,832 | |
| 500,000 | | | ConocoPhillips | | | 4.75 | % | | | 02/01/14 | | | | 537,935 | |
| 500,000 | | | Consolidated Edison Co. of New York | | | 5.55 | % | | | 04/01/14 | | | | 547,235 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 4.55 | % | | | 06/15/15 | | | | 974,489 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Coventry Health Care, Inc. | | | 5.88 | % | | | 01/15/12 | | | | 1,979,538 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Coventry Health Care, Inc. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 01/15/15 | | | | 964,284 | |
| 114,000 | | | Cox Communications, Inc. | | | 7.63 | % | | | 06/15/25 | | | | 128,992 | |
| 500,000 | | | Credit Suisse New York - YD | | | 5.50 | % | | | 05/01/14 | | | | 537,290 | |
| 500,000 | | | Credit Suisse New York - YD | | | 6.00 | % | | | 02/15/18 | | | | 523,478 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Credit Suisse USA, Inc. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 11/15/11 | | | | 1,079,485 | |
| 500,000 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 5.75 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 533,165 | |
| 1,100,000 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 7.38 | % | | | 02/01/19 | | | | 1,294,461 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | CVS Caremark Corp. | | | 5.75 | % | | | 06/01/17 | | | | 1,070,505 | |
| 750,000 | | | Daimler Finance NA | | | 8.00 | % | | | 06/15/10 | | | | 780,619 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Daimler Finance NA | | | 7.75 | % | | | 01/18/11 | | | | 1,059,899 | |
| 2,500,000 | | | Daimler Finance NA | | | 6.50 | % | | | 11/15/13 | | | | 2,693,382 | |
| 500,000 | | | Denbury Resources, Inc. | | | 9.75 | % | | | 03/01/16 | | | | 531,250 | |
| 232,000 | | | Dillard’s, Inc. | | | 9.13 | % | | | 08/01/11 | | | | 229,100 | |
| 850,000 | | | DPL, Inc. | | | 6.88 | % | | | 09/01/11 | | | | 915,288 | |
| 450,000 | | | E.I. Du Pont de Nemours | | | 5.00 | % | | | 07/15/13 | | | | 490,189 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours(a) | | | 4.75 | % | | | 03/15/15 | | | | 1,071,852 | |
| 450,000 | | | Exelon Generation Co., LLC | | | 5.35 | % | | | 01/15/14 | | | | 475,997 | |
| 750,000 | | | Exelon Generation Co., LLC | | | 6.20 | % | | | 10/01/17 | | | | 818,523 | |
| 500,000 | | | Farmers Insurance Capital Notes(b) | | | 7.20 | % | | | 07/15/48 | | | | 419,383 | |
| 6,000 | | | First American Financial Corp. | | | 7.55 | % | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 4,312 | |
| 23,000 | | | FirstEnergy Corp. | | | 6.45 | % | | | 11/15/11 | | | | 24,876 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Fiserv, Inc. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 11/20/12 | | | | 1,083,837 | |
| 750,000 | | | Fortune Brands, Inc. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 12/01/13 | | | | 751,490 | |
| 500,000 | | | Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | | 8.25 | % | | | 04/01/15 | | | | 531,875 | |
| 600,000 | | | Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. | | | 8.38 | % | | | 04/01/17 | | | | 638,250 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Frontier Communications Corp. | | | 8.13 | % | | | 10/01/18 | | | | 1,006,250 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp. | | | 5.25 | % | | | 10/19/12 | | | | 1,057,242 | |
Schedule of Investments 15
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
$ | 500,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp. | | | 5.45 | % | | | 01/15/13 | | | $ | 526,935 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp.(c) | | | 0.61 | % | | | 05/08/13 | | | | 912,009 | |
| 500,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp. | | | 4.75 | % | | | 09/15/14 | | | | 513,275 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp.(c) | | | 0.66 | % | | | 05/11/16 | | | | 840,043 | |
| 397,000 | | | Genworth Financial, Inc. | | | 5.65 | % | | | 06/15/12 | | | | 380,914 | |
| 450,000 | | | Hartford Financial Services Group | | | 5.25 | % | | | 10/15/11 | | | | 450,192 | |
| 700,000 | | | Hartford Financial Services Group | | | 5.38 | % | | | 03/15/17 | | | | 640,881 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Hartford Financial Services Group | | | 6.30 | % | | | 03/15/18 | | | | 974,298 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Hartford Financial Services Group | | | 6.00 | % | | | 01/15/19 | | | | 948,336 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Health Care Property Investors, Inc. | | | 5.65 | % | | | 12/15/13 | | | | 989,334 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Horace Mann Educators Corp. | | | 6.85 | % | | | 04/15/16 | | | | 969,698 | |
| 500,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 05/15/12 | | | | 540,131 | |
| 900,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp. | | | 5.90 | % | | | 06/19/12 | | | | 949,911 | |
| 500,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp. | | | 4.75 | % | | | 07/15/13 | | | | 508,277 | |
| 1,900,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp.(c) | | | 0.10 | % | | | 11/10/13 | | | | 1,642,417 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp. | | | 5.00 | % | | | 06/30/15 | | | | 2,007,664 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Humana, Inc. | | | 7.20 | % | | | 06/15/18 | | | | 1,012,067 | |
| 900,000 | | | Ingersoll-Rand Global Holding Co. | | | 9.50 | % | | | 04/15/14 | | | | 1,063,466 | |
| 950,000 | | | International Business Machines Corp. | | | 8.38 | % | | | 11/01/19 | | | | 1,255,462 | |
| 250,000 | | | International Lease Finance Corp. | | | 5.63 | % | | | 09/15/10 | | | | 238,569 | |
| 294,000 | | | International Lease Finance Corp. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 09/01/10 | | | | 275,682 | |
| 800,000 | | | International Lease Finance Corp. | | | 5.75 | % | | | 06/15/11 | | | | 728,709 | |
| 900,000 | | | International Paper Co. | | | 7.95 | % | | | 06/15/18 | | | | 975,562 | |
| 450,000 | | | John Hancock(b) | | | 7.38 | % | | | 02/15/24 | | | | 471,365 | |
| 1,850,000 | | | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 6.63 | % | | | 03/15/12 | | | | 2,019,763 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | JPMorgan Chase Bank NA(c) | | | 0.63 | % | | | 06/13/16 | | | | 930,047 | |
| 950,000 | | | Kraft Foods, Inc. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 02/01/18 | | | | 1,006,695 | |
| 750,000 | | | Land O’Lakes, Inc. | | | 9.00 | % | | | 12/15/10 | | | | 760,312 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Lincoln National Corp. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 03/15/18 | | | | 1,034,433 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Lincoln National Corp. | | | 8.75 | % | | | 07/01/19 | | | | 2,313,134 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Marathon Oil Corp. | | | 6.50 | % | | | 02/15/14 | | | | 1,651,770 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Massey Energy Co. | | | 6.63 | % | | | 11/15/10 | | | | 982,750 | |
| 1,350,000 | | | Merrill Lynch & Co. | | | 5.45 | % | | | 02/05/13 | | | | 1,399,843 | |
| 1,100,000 | | | Merrill Lynch & Co.(c) | | | 0.62 | % | | | 05/05/14 | | | | 974,006 | |
| 500,000 | | | MetLife, Inc. | | | 6.75 | % | | | 06/01/16 | | | | 558,004 | |
| 500,000 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 4.20 | % | | | 06/01/19 | | | | 514,790 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Morgan Stanley | | | 5.75 | % | | | 08/31/12 | | | | 1,070,112 | |
| 500,000 | | | Morgan Stanley | | | 5.30 | % | | | 03/01/13 | | | | 523,916 | |
| 500,000 | | | Morgan Stanley(c) | | | 0.84 | % | | | 01/09/14 | | | | 465,208 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Morgan Stanley | | | 4.75 | % | | | 04/01/14 | | | | 1,488,930 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Morgan Stanley(c) | | | 0.99 | % | | | 10/15/15 | | | | 914,707 | |
16 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
$ | 1,000,000 | | | Motorola, Inc. | | | 7.63 | % | | | 11/15/10 | | | $ | 1,041,250 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Motorola, Inc. | | | 8.00 | % | | | 11/01/11 | | | | 1,066,012 | |
| 600,000 | | | Nalco Co. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 11/15/11 | | | | 600,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | National City Bank(c) | | | 0.68 | % | | | 06/07/17 | | | | 801,312 | |
| 400,000 | | | New Jersey Bell Telephone | | | 7.85 | % | | | 11/15/29 | | | | 443,326 | |
| 500,000 | | | Newfield Exploration Co. | | | 7.13 | % | | | 05/15/18 | | | | 498,750 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Newmont Mining Corp. | | | 5.13 | % | | | 10/01/19 | | | | 999,558 | |
| 122,000 | | | NLV Financial Corp.(b) | | | 6.50 | % | | | 03/15/35 | | | | 78,587 | |
| 900,000 | | | Nordstrom, Inc. | | | 6.75 | % | | | 06/01/14 | | | | 987,294 | |
| 500,000 | | | NRG Energy, Inc. | | | 7.38 | % | | | 02/01/16 | | | | 483,750 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | NRG Energy, Inc. | | | 7.38 | % | | | 01/15/17 | | | | 967,500 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Peabody Energy Corp. | | | 6.88 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 1,010,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 03/30/20 | | | | 998,854 | |
| 600,000 | | | PPG Industries, Inc. | | | 5.75 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 634,330 | |
| 1,750,000 | | | PPL Energy Supply LLC | | | 6.50 | % | | | 05/01/18 | | | | 1,885,718 | |
| 950,000 | | | Protective Life Corp. | | | 6.40 | % | | | 01/15/18 | | | | 927,503 | |
| 400,000 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 5.10 | % | | | 09/20/14 | | | | 404,205 | |
| 1,600,000 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 4.75 | % | | | 09/17/15 | | | | 1,588,774 | |
| 2,050,000 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 6.10 | % | | | 06/15/17 | | | | 2,059,043 | |
| 225,000 | | | PSEG Energy Holdings LLC | | | 8.50 | % | | | 06/15/11 | | | | 238,254 | |
| 500,000 | | | R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. | | | 4.95 | % | | | 04/01/14 | | | | 481,121 | |
| 750,000 | | | RadioShack Corp. | | | 7.38 | % | | | 05/15/11 | | | | 757,500 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | | 6.20 | % | | | 11/15/16 | | | | 990,285 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Reynolds American, Inc. | | | 7.25 | % | | | 06/01/12 | | | | 1,074,117 | |
| 900,000 | | | Reynolds American, Inc. | | | 7.25 | % | | | 06/01/13 | | | | 979,240 | |
| 1,250,000 | | | Rio Tinto Finance USA, Ltd. - YD | | | 5.88 | % | | | 07/15/13 | | | | 1,346,782 | |
| 250,000 | | | Rogers Communications, Inc. - YD | | | 8.00 | % | | | 12/15/12 | | | | 256,875 | |
| 800,000 | | | Rohm & Haas Co. | | | 5.60 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 835,257 | |
| 500,000 | | | Rohm & Haas Co. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 09/15/17 | | | | 498,206 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Rowan Cos., Inc. | | | 7.88 | % | | | 08/01/19 | | | | 1,075,180 | |
| 600,000 | | | Ryder System, Inc. | | | 5.00 | % | | | 04/01/11 | | | | 615,224 | |
| 500,000 | | | Ryder System, Inc. | | | 5.85 | % | | | 03/01/14 | | | | 520,197 | |
| 500,000 | | | Sempra Energy Corp. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 02/01/13 | | | | 529,671 | |
| 500,000 | | | Simon Property Group LP | | | 4.88 | % | | | 03/18/10 | | | | 504,319 | |
| 500,000 | | | Simon Property Group LP | | | 5.00 | % | | | 03/01/12 | | | | 515,604 | |
| 500,000 | | | Simon Property Group LP | | | 5.75 | % | | | 05/01/12 | | | | 522,467 | |
| 500,000 | | | Simon Property Group LP | | | 5.45 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 511,026 | |
| 1,750,000 | | | SLM Corp. | | | 5.13 | % | | | 08/27/12 | | | | 1,497,429 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | SLM Corp. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 01/15/13 | | | | 833,758 | |
| 500,000 | | | SLM Corp. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 05/15/14 | | | | 382,689 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a) | | | 8.00 | % | | | 10/15/09 | | | | 1,000,000 | |
Schedule of Investments 17
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
$ | 1,000,000 | | | State Street Bank & Trust(c) | | | 0.51 | % | | | 12/08/15 | | | $ | 926,422 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Suntrust Bank(c) | | | 0.90 | % | | | 04/01/15 | | | | 865,840 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Target Corp. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 01/15/18 | | | | 1,126,614 | |
| 350,000 | | | Telefonica de Argentina - YD | | | 9.13 | % | | | 11/07/10 | | | | 364,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | Tennessee Gas Pipeline | | | 7.00 | % | | | 10/15/28 | | | | 532,781 | |
| 500,000 | | | Tesoro Corp. | | | 6.63 | % | | | 11/01/15 | | | | 462,500 | |
| 1,100,000 | | | The AES Corp. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 10/15/15 | | | | 1,105,500 | |
| 600,000 | | | The Black & Decker Corp. | | | 8.95 | % | | | 04/15/14 | | | | 705,038 | |
| 500,000 | | | The Coca-Cola Co. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 03/15/19 | | | | 527,674 | |
| 400,000 | | | The Dow Chemical Co. | | | 6.00 | % | | | 10/01/12 | | | | 426,021 | |
| 800,000 | | | The Dow Chemical Co. | | | 7.60 | % | | | 05/15/14 | | | | 884,999 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | The Dow Chemical Co. | | | 5.70 | % | | | 05/15/18 | | | | 985,914 | |
| 250,000 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | 7.35 | % | | | 10/01/09 | | | | 250,046 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | 5.70 | % | | | 09/01/12 | | | | 1,078,974 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.(c) | | | 0.74 | % | | | 03/22/16 | | | | 943,118 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | 7.50 | % | | | 02/15/19 | | | | 1,143,617 | |
| 750,000 | | | The Western Union Co. | | | 5.93 | % | | | 10/01/16 | | | | 812,714 | |
| 250,000 | | | The Williams Cos., Inc. | | | 7.13 | % | | | 09/01/11 | | | | 265,082 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Torchmark Corp. | | | 6.38 | % | | | 06/15/16 | | | | 2,040,560 | |
| 750,000 | | | Transocean, Ltd. - YD | | | 5.25 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 792,975 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Unilever Capital Corp. | | | 4.80 | % | | | 02/15/19 | | | | 1,050,820 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | United States Steel Corp. | | | 6.05 | % | | | 06/01/17 | | | | 933,992 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | 5.50 | % | | | 11/15/12 | | | | 1,070,831 | |
| 500,000 | | | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | 4.88 | % | | | 02/15/13 | | | | 519,686 | |
| 1,660,000 | | | Valero Energy Corp. | | | 6.13 | % | | | 06/15/17 | | | | 1,713,850 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 6.88 | % | | | 06/15/12 | | | | 1,115,067 | |
| 500,000 | | | Verizon Pennsylvania | | | 5.65 | % | | | 11/15/11 | | | | 532,603 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Viacom, Inc. | | | 6.63 | % | | | 05/15/11 | | | | 1,047,528 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Wachovia Corp.(c) | | | 0.67 | % | | | 08/01/13 | | | | 1,910,890 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Wachovia Corp. | | | 5.25 | % | | | 08/01/14 | | | | 1,523,346 | |
| 500,000 | | | Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 5.25 | % | | | 10/23/12 | | | | 533,468 | |
| 900,000 | | | Wells Fargo Bank NA(c) | | | 0.65 | % | | | 05/16/16 | | | | 777,058 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Whirlpool Corp. | | | 7.75 | % | | | 07/15/16 | | | | 1,074,941 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Whiting Petroleum Corp. | | | 7.00 | % | | | 02/01/14 | | | | 987,500 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Willis Group Holdings, Ltd. | | | 6.20 | % | | | 03/28/17 | | | | 978,884 | |
| 100,000 | | | Xerox Corp. | | | 5.65 | % | | | 05/15/13 | | | | 104,059 | |
| 500,000 | | | Xerox Corp. | | | 7.63 | % | | | 06/15/13 | | | | 513,489 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $158,625,879) | | | 163,954,897 | |
18 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
U.S. Government And U.S. Government Agency Bonds (0.5%) | | | | |
$ | 825,000 | | | Fannie Mae | | | 5.13 | % | | | 01/02/14 | | | $ | 875,325 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total U.S. Government And U.S. Government Agency Bonds (Cost $808,682) | | | 875,325 | |
Foreign Government Bond (0.3%) | | | | |
| 500,000 | | | Republic of South Africa - YD | | | 6.50 | % | | | 06/02/14 | | | | 547,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $514,179) | | | 547,500 | |
Short-Term Investment (3.0%) | | | | |
| 5,142,191 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | | | | | | | | | 5,142,191 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $5,142,191) | | | 5,142,191 | |
Mutual Funds (1.7%) | | | | |
| 2,877,101 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | | | | | | | | | 2,877,101 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $2,877,101) | | | 2,877,101 | |
Total Investments 101.0% (Cost $167,968,032) | | | 173,397,014 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (1.0)% | | | (1,724,116 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 171,672,898 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(b) | | Security was acquired pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may be deemed to be restricted for resale. These securities are considered to be illiquid. The aggregate value of these securities at September 30, 2009 was $969,335, which represented 0.56% of the Fund’s Net Assets. |
|
(c) | | Floating Rate Security. Rate disclosed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
YD | | Yankee Dollar Bond |
Schedule of Investments 19
Class I ICNIX
Class C ICNCX
Class Z ICNZX
Class A ICNAX
Management Overview
ICON Core Equity Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the Fund’s benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, lost 6.77%, compared to the ICON Core Equity Fund’s return of -19.22% for Class I shares, -19.98% for Class C shares, and -19.31% for Class Z shares. Class A shares of the Fund have returned -20.05% (and -24.68% with maximum sales charge). Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | We utilize a two-part investment process that relies on aggregated company-specific valuations and relative strength measurements to aid in our industry rotation methodology. In response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better-equipped to handle all types of market conditions. |
Going into calendar year 2009, we saw bargains in virtually every segment of the equity market. Because we saw value throughout the market, the Fund was fully invested and heavily allocated in the cyclical-based Financial, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, and Energy Sectors in anticipation of a market rebound. Unfortunately, fears about the economy and consumer demand disconnected equity prices from their fundamentals and the market continued its free-fall with the S&P 1500 Index losing almost 25% in just over 2 months between December 31, 2008 and March 9, 2009. While the Fund’s holdings were distributed where we thought we saw the most value, the Fund nonetheless underperformed the benchmarks during this time period.
Improved debt markets and economic outlooks sparked one of the strongest equity rallies in recent history, as the S&P 1500 Index increased over 59% between March 9 and September 30, 2009. The ICON Core Equity Fund, utilizing the modified methodology referenced above, performed well during this rally, returning over 64% and outperforming the broad-based S&P 1500 by over 400 basis points.
One other performance time-period is important to note. Our modified valuation calculation went into effect on February 1, 2009. Between February 1 and fiscal year-end, the ICON Core Equity Fund returned 34.52% compared to a return of 31.24% for the S&P 1500 Index. In other words, the Fund outperformed its benchmark by over 300 basis points. While this is a relatively short time period, we believe the Fund’s performance reflects the improvements of the modified formula and we hope to continue using these modifications effectively in the future.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | The ICON Core Equity Fund faced a challenging environment in fiscal year 2009. In spite of the rally off the March 9 low, only two of the nine sectors we follow within the S&P 1500 produced positive returns during the time period: Information Technology & Consumer Discretionary. The seven remaining sectors produced negative returns. The sectors that contributed most to the Fund’s performance were Information Technology, Materials, and Energy. The sectors that detracted most from absolute performance include Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary. Overweight industry positions and underperformance within these sectors created negative returns during the last 12 months. |
On an industry level, looking at the S&P 1500 Index, the variance of returns across the market as a whole is remarkable to us. For example, the best performing industry produced a positive 84% return while the worst performing industry produced a -68% return. Additionally, only 49 of the 154 industries within the S&P 1500 produced positive returns during fiscal year 2009, creating an environment where the majority of industries produced negative absolute returns. The industries that contributed most to the Fund’s performance include investment banking & brokerage, systems software, diversified chemicals, multi-line insurance, and commodity chemicals. The industries that detracted most from performance during fiscal year 2009 include other diversified financial services, regional banks, life & health insurance, managed health care, and airlines.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the equity market? |
| |
A. | As of the end of fiscal year 2009, we calculated a value-to-price ratio (“V/P”) of 1.09 for the domestic equity markets. Thus, under the ICON methodology, a V/P of 1.09 indicates domestic stocks are trading at an approximate 9% discount to our estimation of their intrinsic value. While many economic pundits and market analysts have claimed that the market has moved “too far, too fast”, our disciplined valuation approach nonetheless suggests upside potential for our investors. On a sector basis, |
| | |
| | the most attractive areas within the market continue to be Financials, Industrials, Information Technology, and Health Care. Moving forward, we will continue to do what we’ve always done by allocating towards industries within these sectors that reflect strong combinations of value and relative strength. |
ICON Core Equity Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 21.4% | |
Industrials | | | 18.2% | |
Information Technology | | | 17.5% | |
Energy | | | 10.0% | |
Health Care | | | 9.3% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 8.0% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 6.9% | |
Materials | | | 5.9% | |
| | | | |
| | | 97.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stock as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Core Equity Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 5.6% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 5.3% | |
Computer Hardware | | | 4.8% | |
Railroads | | | 4.4% | |
Apparel Retail | | | 4.4% | |
Diversified Banks | | | 4.2% | |
Communications Equipment | | | 4.2% | |
Industrial Machinery | | | 4.2% | |
Health Care Equipment | | | 3.9% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 3.9% | |
Other Diversified Financial Services | | | 3.7% | |
Movies & Entertainment | | | 3.1% | |
Systems Software | | | 3.1% | |
Drug Retail | | | 3.0% | |
Airlines | | | 3.0% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 3.0% | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | | | 2.9% | |
Investment Banking & Brokerage | | | 2.6% | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 2.2% | |
Internet Software & Services | | | 2.1% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 2.1% | |
Consumer Finance | | | 2.1% | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 2.1% | |
Industrial Gases | | | 2.1% | |
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation | | | 1.6% | |
Health Care Services | | | 1.6% | |
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 1.5% | |
Technology Distributors | | | 1.4% | |
Homebuilding | | | 1.2% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 1.2% | |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services | | | 1.1% | |
Footwear | | | 1.0% | |
Health Care Distributors | | | 1.0% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 3.6% | |
| | | | |
| | | 97.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stock as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Core Equity Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Core Equity Fund - Class I | | | | 10/12/00 | | | | | | -19.22 | % | | | | | -2.85 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.27 | % | | | | | 1.27 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | -0.02 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Core Equity Fund - Class C | | | | 11/28/00 | | | | | | -19.98 | % | | | | | -3.65 | % | | | | | -0.08 | % | | | | | 2.05 | % | | | | | 2.05 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | -0.16 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Core Equity Fund - Class Z | | | | 5/6/04 | | | | | | -19.31 | % | | | | | -2.89 | % | | | | | -1.63 | % | | | | | 1.34 | % | | | | | 1.34 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.47 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Core Equity Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -20.05 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -12.12 | % | | | | | 2.09 | % | | | | | 2.09 | % | |
|
|
ICON Core Equity Fund - Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -24.68 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -13.66 | % | | | | | 2.09 | % | | | | | 2.09 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.17 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Since Inception performance results for Class C shares include returns for certain time periods that were restated as of June 8, 2004. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Core Equity Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class I shares on the Class’ inception date of 10/12/00 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Core Equity Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (97.2%) |
| 22,100 | | | Accenture PLC | | $ | 823,667 | |
| 52,800 | | | Aflac, Inc. | | | 2,256,672 | |
| 13,500 | | | Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | | 1,047,330 | |
| 37,500 | | | Alaska Air Group, Inc.† | | | 1,004,625 | |
| 58,900 | | | Albemarle Corp. | | | 2,037,940 | |
| 35,900 | | | Amedisys, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,566,317 | |
| 52,300 | | | Avnet, Inc.† | | | 1,358,231 | |
| 159,400 | | | Bank of America Corp.(a) | | | 2,697,048 | |
| 60,700 | | | BE Aerospace, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,222,498 | |
| 11,700 | | | Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | | 816,075 | |
| 37,600 | | | Cash America International, Inc. | | | 1,134,016 | |
| 12,200 | | | China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. - ADR(a) | | | 1,038,830 | |
| 104,100 | | | Cisco Systems, Inc.† | | | 2,450,514 | |
| 19,900 | | | Computer Sciences Corp.† | | | 1,048,929 | |
| 29,800 | | | Covance, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,613,670 | |
| 16,600 | | | Credicorp, Ltd. | | | 1,290,816 | |
| 50,400 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 2,109,744 | |
| 39,700 | | | CVS Caremark Corp. | | | 1,418,878 | |
| 31,800 | | | Desarrolladora Homex S.A. de C.V. - ADR†(a) | | | 1,201,404 | |
| 21,600 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.(a) | | | 2,063,232 | |
| 60,400 | | | Dollar Financial Corp.†(a) | | | 967,608 | |
| 13,200 | | | FMC Corp. | | | 742,500 | |
| 112,600 | | | General Electric Co.(a) | | | 1,848,892 | |
| 4,300 | | | Google, Inc. - Class A† | | | 2,132,155 | |
| 46,600 | | | Guess?, Inc. | | | 1,726,064 | |
| 44,300 | | | Hewlett-Packard Co. | | | 2,091,403 | |
| 26,400 | | | Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 980,760 | |
| 21,900 | | | International Business Machines Corp. | | | 2,619,459 | |
| 21,800 | | | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 955,276 | |
| 14,300 | | | McDonald’s Corp. | | | 816,101 | |
| 37,400 | | | Medtronic, Inc. | | | 1,376,320 | |
| 36,300 | | | Merck & Co., Inc.(a) | | | 1,148,169 | |
| 48,600 | | | Methanex Corp. | | | 841,266 | |
| 60,100 | | | MetLife, Inc.(a) | | | 2,288,008 | |
| 116,900 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 3,026,541 | |
| 39,400 | | | Middleby Corp.†(a) | | | 2,167,394 | |
| 17,300 | | | Morgan Stanley | | | 534,224 | |
| 16,200 | | | Murphy Oil Corp.(a) | | | 932,634 | |
| 99,400 | | | Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. | | | 488,054 | |
| 58,800 | | | Noble Corp. | | | 2,232,048 | |
| 89,800 | | | PAREXEL International Corp.† | | | 1,220,382 | |
| 37,600 | | | Parker Hannifin Corp.(a) | | | 1,949,184 | |
| 35,500 | | | Patterson Cos., Inc.† | | | 967,375 | |
| 12,100 | | | Praxair, Inc. | | | 988,449 | |
| 19,800 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 988,218 | |
Schedule of Investments 25
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 105,400 | | | Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.†(a) | | $ | 983,382 | |
| 24,700 | | | Research In Motion, Ltd.† | | | 1,668,485 | |
| 128,700 | | | Ship Finance International, Ltd.(a) | | | 1,581,723 | |
| 59,600 | | | SkyWest, Inc. | | | 988,168 | |
| 43,200 | | | StatoilHydro ASA - ADR | | | 973,728 | |
| 161,200 | | | Symmetry Medical, Inc.† | | | 1,671,644 | |
| 11,300 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.(a) | | | 2,083,155 | |
| 79,400 | | | The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | | | 2,104,100 | |
| 50,500 | | | Time Warner, Inc.(a) | | | 1,453,390 | |
| 43,000 | | | TJX Cos., Inc. | | | 1,597,450 | |
| 11,500 | | | Transocean, Ltd.† | | | 983,595 | |
| 57,900 | | | Tyco International, Ltd. | | | 1,996,392 | |
| 64,900 | | | U.S. Bancorp | | | 1,418,714 | |
| 39,000 | | | Union Pacific Corp. | | | 2,275,650 | |
| 33,400 | | | Urban Outfitters, Inc.† | | | 1,007,678 | |
| 21,100 | | | V.F. Corp. | | | 1,528,273 | |
| 56,200 | | | Viacom, Inc. - Class B† | | | 1,575,848 | |
| 42,600 | | | Walgreen Co.(a) | | | 1,596,222 | |
| 50,300 | | | Wells Fargo & Co.(a) | | | 1,417,454 | |
| 39,500 | | | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | | | 981,180 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $77,720,435) | | | 96,115,151 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (4.3%) |
$ | 4,248,126 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 4,248,126 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $4,248,126) | | | 4,248,126 | |
Mutual Funds (28.1%) | | | | |
| 27,814,062 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 27,814,062 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $27,814,062) | | | 27,814,062 | |
Total Investments 129.6% (Cost $109,782,623) | | | 128,177,339 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (29.6)% | | | (29,270,691 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 98,906,648 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
26 Schedule of Investments
Class I IOEIX
Class C IOECX
Class Z IOEZX
Class A IEQAX
Management Overview
ICON Equity Income Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The ICON Equity Income Fund returned -9.48% for the Class I shares, -10.12% for the Class C shares, -9.20% for the Class Z shares for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 underperforming the Fund’s benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which lost 6.77% during the same period. Class A shares of the Fund returned -9.53% (and -14.74% with maximum sales charge) during the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The Equity Income Fund lagged its benchmark as the financial crisis that began last year culminated in a widespread, broad market sell-off in March 2009. Asset write-downs eroded the capital structure of numerous commercial and investment banks, culminating with the collapse of 107 financial institutions - with 11 of these closures reported by the FDIC during September 2009. |
The Federal Reserve continued its extraordinary steps to infuse liquidity and stimulate lending during fiscal year 2009. The target for the Federal Funds Rate was lowered from 2.00% to between 0% and 0.25% and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”), begun in 2008 under the Bush administration, was handed off to Timothy Geithner under the Obama administration. As the year progressed and the markets improved, several banks began to repay TARP funds they had received earlier.
We believe the volatility experienced by the Fund was a reflection in part of the fear that dominated the broader markets for the first half of the fiscal year. As investors worried about the prospect of a crushing economic downturn, the broad S&P 1500 index reached new lows for the decade on March 9, 2009. Shortly thereafter, however, signs emerged that the economy may have bottomed without the U.S. experiencing the depression many investors feared and anticipated, and the equity markets rallied in response. From March 9 to the end of the fiscal year, the S&P 1500 index returned 59.91%. The ICON Equity Income Fund Class I gained 64.28% during the same time period.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully
accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | The Fund was able to take advantage of opportunities in the high yield bond market in early 2009. Later in the fiscal year, we opted to purchase high yield ETFs rather than the bonds directly in an effort to manage the bid/ask spreads. We availed ourselves of a similar opportunity with preferred stocks as well. While the Fund did hold some preferred stock directly, the Fund held a larger position in preferred ETFs. These ETFs not only helped in the overall current yield of the Fund, they also contributed to the Fund’s returns through capital appreciation. The Fund’s Information Technology sector holdings (and, in particular, the Fund’s position in the semiconductor industry) likewise benefited returns. |
The first half of fiscal year 2009 was marked by extreme volatility, with sudden, dramatic shifts in sector leaders. This environment made it difficult for us to uncover a lasting theme of any sort. Although we were quick to identify industries which seemed to initially perform well off each market low, new industry leadership would quickly emerge in a schizophrenic market. Performance suffered as the Fund lost ground when industry leaders became industry laggards virtually overnight. The Fund’s positions in the Financial and Industrial sectors in particular proved detrimental to performance.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the market? |
| |
A. | As the fiscal year ends, we measure the fair value for the broad equity market to be approximately 9% higher than where prices are currently trading. Further, corporate bond yields (which are still significantly higher than treasury yields) could extend the current market rally. The favorable spreads in corporate bond yields suggest there may be opportunities for income and capital appreciation for both high yield bonds and preferred stock. |
ICON Equity Income Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 20.5% | |
Information Technology | | | 10.2% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 9.0% | |
Industrials | | | 7.7% | |
Materials | | | 6.9% | |
Energy | | | 6.3% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 3.7% | |
Health Care | | | 2.9% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 5.0% | |
| | | | |
| | | 72.2% | |
| | | | |
| |
| Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets. |
ICON Equity Income Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 5.4% | |
Mortgage REITs | | | 4.2% | |
Industrial Machinery | | | 3.6% | |
Diversified Chemicals | | | 3.4% | |
Diversified Banks | | | 3.1% | |
Systems Software | | | 2.9% | |
Property & Casualty Insurance | | | 2.8% | |
Personal Products | | | 2.6% | |
Asset Management & Custody Banks | | | 2.4% | |
Semiconductors | | | 2.4% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 2.2% | |
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation | | | 2.2% | |
Publishing | | | 2.1% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 2.1% | |
Computer Hardware | | | 2.0% | |
Electronic Manufacturing Services | | | 1.9% | |
Household Appliances | | | 1.8% | |
Marine | | | 1.7% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 1.5% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 1.4% | |
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders | | | 1.4% | |
Leisure Products | | | 1.3% | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 1.3% | |
Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks | | | 1.3% | |
Commodity Chemicals | | | 1.3% | |
Movies & Entertainment | | | 1.2% | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 1.1% | |
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 1.1% | |
Gas Utilities | | | 1.1% | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 1.1% | |
Household Products | | | 1.0% | |
Regional Banks | | | 1.0% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 6.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 72.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Equity Income Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Equity Income Fund - Class I | | | | 9/30/02 | | | | | | -9.48 | % | | | | | 0.53 | % | | | | | 6.29 | % | | | | | 1.23 | % | | | | | 1.23 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 6.26 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Equity Income Fund - Class C | | | | 11/8/02 | | | | | | -10.12 | % | | | | | -0.39 | % | | | | | 4.52 | % | | | | | 2.34 | % | | | | | 2.20 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 4.86 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Equity Income Fund - Class Z | | | | 5/10/04 | | | | | | -9.20 | % | | | | | 0.62 | % | | | | | 2.04 | % | | | | | 11.18 | % | | | | | 1.20 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.97 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Equity Income Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -9.53 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.95 | % | | | | | 5.40 | % | | | | | 1.44 | % | |
|
|
ICON Equity Income Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -14.74 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -5.64 | % | | | | | 5.40 | % | | | | | 1.44 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.17 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Equity Income Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class I shares on the Class’ inception date of 9/30/02 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Equity Income Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (72.2%) |
| 11,400 | | | Abercrombie & Fitch Co. - Class A | | $ | 374,832 | |
| 17,000 | | | Aflac, Inc. | | | 726,580 | |
| 10,900 | | | Alliant Energy Corp. | | | 303,565 | |
| 55,200 | | | Allianz SE - ADR | | | 688,896 | |
| 43,500 | | | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. - REIT | | | 789,090 | |
| 62,500 | | | Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp. - REIT | | | 492,500 | |
| 77,400 | | | Apollo Investment Corp. | | | 739,170 | |
| 16,600 | | | Avon Products, Inc. | | | 563,736 | |
| 37,200 | | | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. - ADR | | | 663,648 | |
| 47,100 | | | Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. - ADR | | | 760,665 | |
| 8,600 | | | BP PLC - ADR | | | 457,778 | |
| 11,400 | | | Caterpillar, Inc. | | | 585,162 | |
| 19,000 | | | Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 615,030 | |
| 12,700 | | | Cooper Industries PLC - Class A | | | 477,139 | |
| 28,200 | | | Crane Co. | | | 727,842 | |
| 6,500 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. | | | 620,880 | |
| 13,700 | | | E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. | | | 440,318 | |
| 12,000 | | | Eastman Chemical Co. | | | 642,480 | |
| 7,700 | | | Eaton Corp. | | | 435,743 | |
| 13,200 | | | Federated Investors, Inc. | | | 348,084 | |
| 13,200 | | | Harsco Corp. | | | 467,412 | |
| 41,200 | | | Intel Corp. | | | 806,284 | |
| 7,600 | | | International Business Machines Corp. | | | 909,036 | |
| 63,600 | | | Jabil Circuit, Inc. | | | 852,876 | |
| 7,800 | | | Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | 460,044 | |
| 8,300 | | | Lubrizol Corp. | | | 593,118 | |
| 7,300 | | | M&T Bank Corp. | | | 454,936 | |
| 15,400 | | | Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | | | 279,356 | |
| 15,100 | | | Merck & Co., Inc. | | | 477,613 | |
| 14,700 | | | Meredith Corp. | | | 440,118 | |
| 33,800 | | | Methanex Corp. | | | 585,078 | |
| 79,700 | | | MFA Financial, Inc. | | | 634,412 | |
| 51,400 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 1,330,746 | |
| 160,900 | | | Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. | | | 790,019 | |
| 32,100 | | | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. - Class A | | | 594,813 | |
| 8,100 | | | Nucor Corp. | | | 380,781 | |
| 13,200 | | | ONEOK, Inc. | | | 483,384 | |
| 10,800 | | | Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. | | | 403,596 | |
| 26,700 | | | Partner Communications Co., Ltd. - ADR | | | 502,494 | |
| 49,000 | | | PDL BioPharma, Inc. | | | 386,120 | |
| 27,800 | | | Pfizer, Inc. | | | 460,090 | |
| 14,600 | | | Polaris Industries, Inc. | | | 595,388 | |
| 51,000 | | | Protective Life Corp. | | | 1,092,420 | |
| 7,700 | | | Reynolds American, Inc. | | | 342,804 | |
| 16,400 | | | San Juan Basin Royalty Trust | | | 296,184 | |
| 13,600 | | | Sasol - ADR | | | 518,432 | |
| 46,500 | | | Ship Finance International, Ltd. | | | 571,485 | |
| 12,200 | | | Snap-on, Inc. | | | 424,072 | |
| 20,500 | | | Sun Life Financial, Inc. | | | 640,420 | |
| 14,900 | | | The Allstate Corp. | | | 456,238 | |
| 18,200 | | | The Dow Chemical Co. | | | 474,474 | |
| 20,300 | | | The Empire District Electric Co. | | | 367,227 | |
32 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 9,100 | | | The Stanley Works | | $ | 388,479 | |
| 15,500 | | | Thomson Reuters Corp. | | | 520,335 | |
| 19,000 | | | Time Warner, Inc. | | | 546,820 | |
| 53,300 | | | United Online, Inc. | | | 428,532 | |
| 6,900 | | | V.F. Corp. | | | 499,767 | |
| 45,900 | | | XL Capital, Ltd. - Class A | | | 801,414 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $24,719,382) | | | 32,709,955 | |
|
Preferred Stocks (1.2%) |
| 12,100 | | | ING Groep N.V., 7.38% | | | 200,860 | |
| 13,200 | | | Wells Fargo Capital XII, 7.88% | | | 335,412 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $506,796) | | | 536,272 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
Corporate Bonds (5.4%) |
$ | 250,000 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 9/11/12 | | | $ | 261,709 | |
| 183,000 | | | Comcast Cable Communications Holdings | | | 8.38 | % | | | 3/15/13 | | | | 212,545 | |
| 600,000 | | | Daimler Finance NA | | | 6.50 | % | | | 11/15/13 | | | | 646,412 | |
| 450,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp. - Series A | | | 6.00 | % | | | 6/15/12 | | | | 481,961 | |
| 413,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp. | | | 4.75 | % | | | 7/15/13 | | | | 419,837 | |
| 400,000 | | | Merrill Lynch & Co. | | | 5.45 | % | | | 2/5/13 | | | | 414,768 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $2,322,561) | | | 2,437,232 | |
Convertible Corporate Bonds (0.7%) |
| 400,000 | | | Molina Healthcare, Inc. - Series H | | | 3.75 | % | | | 10/1/14 | | | | 330,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Convertible Corporate Bonds (Cost $384,843) | | | 330,000 | |
U.S. Government Bonds (9.2%) |
| 500,000 | | | Financing Corp. | | | 9.40 | % | | | 2/8/18 | | | | 685,164 | |
| 500,000 | | | Fannie Mae | | | 7.25 | % | | | 5/15/30 | | | | 685,445 | |
| 350,000 | | | Freddie Mac | | | 6.75 | % | | | 3/15/31 | | | | 457,949 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Freddie Mac | | | 5.50 | % | | | 7/18/16 | | | | 1,134,138 | |
| 400,000 | | | U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 8.00 | % | | | 11/15/21 | | | | 566,188 | |
| 600,000 | | | U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 4.50 | % | | | 2/15/36 | | | | 644,437 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total U.S. Government Bonds (Cost $3,973,460) | | | 4,173,321 | |
Schedule of Investments 33
| | | | | | | | |
Underlying Security/
| | | | |
Expiration Date/
| | | | |
Exercise Price | | Contracts | | Value |
|
|
Call Options Purchased (0.9% ) | | | | | | | | |
Amedisys, Inc., Expiration December 2009, Exercise price $40.00 | | | 45 | | | $ | 27,000 | |
Bank of America Corp., Expiration January 2011, Exercise price $17.50 | | | 229 | | | | 87,020 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc., Expiration January 2011, Exercise price $20.00 | | | 175 | | | | 98,000 | |
Hewlett-Packard Co., Expiration February 2010, Exercise price $48.00 | | | 104 | | | | 30,160 | |
Hewlett-Packard Co., Expiration January 2011, Exercise price $40.00 | | | 100 | | | | 108,500 | |
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc., Expiration April 2010, Exercise price $45.00 | | | 75 | | | | 44,625 | |
Research In Motion, Ltd., Expiration January 2010, Exercise price $90.00 | | | 56 | | | $ | 8,232 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Call Options Purchased (Cost $334,264) | | | 403,537 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value | |
| |
|
Exchange Traded Funds (8.4%) |
| 8,600 | | | iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond Fund | | $ | 742,610 | |
| 27,900 | | | iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund | | | 1,011,933 | |
| 72,100 | | | PowerShares Financial Preferred Portfolio | | | 1,142,785 | |
| 49,500 | | | PowerShares High Yield Corporate Bond Portfolio | | | 877,635 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Exchange Traded Funds (Cost $2,629,144) | | | 3,774,963 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (0.8%) |
$ | 383,755 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 383,755 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $383,755) | | | 383,755 | |
Total Investments 98.8% (Cost $35,254,205) | | | 44,749,035 | |
Other Assets Less Liabilities 1.2% | | | 524,315 | |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 45,273,350 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
|
REIT | | Real Estate Investment Trust |
34 Schedule of Investments
Class I IOCIX
Class C IOCCX
Class Z IOCZX
Class A IOCAX
Management Overview
ICON Long/Short Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The Fund’s benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, lost 6.77% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. In comparison, the ICON Long/Short Fund returned -12.40% for Class I shares, -13.10% for Class C shares, -12.10% for Class Z shares and -12.39% for Class A shares (-17.46% with maximum sales charge). |
Although the Fund also delivered subpar risk adjusted returns with a negative Alpha, Sharpe Ratio, and Sortino Ratio, these measures all improved dramatically in the final two quarters of the year as described below. Total returns and other performance statistics for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The credit crunch of 2008 and the way ICON’s model dealt with this once-in-a-lifetime liquidity crisis are the primary factors behind the Fund’s relative performance. After the collapse of Lehman Brothers, investors across the world sold assets perceived as risky and hoarded cash. In the last calendar quarter of 2008 alone, net sales out of Bond Mutual Funds totaled -$157 billion while net sales of Money Market Funds totaled $444 billion. This stampede out of riskier assets and into cash drove bond yields higher and credit spreads (that is, the difference between a risky corporate bond’s yield and a comparable maturity US Treasury bond), to 70-year highs. |
Although ICON’s equity valuation model (which, among other things, relied upon a stock’s Beta factored by the Moody’s Aaa Bond Index yield to account for opportunity costs) captured some of this spread widening, it did not account for the dramatic spread widening in riskier bonds rated below Aaa. To illustrate, the average monthly difference between the Moody’s Aaa Index and the Moody’s Baa Index from January 1919 to September 2008 was just 119 basis points. It briefly touched 269 basis points in the recession of 1982, but reached an astonishing level of 338 basis points in December 2008 - a level unseen since the 344 basis spread recorded in the midst of the Great Depression in November 1933. Because we did not adequately account for this extra 219 basis points of risk in our valuation model, we continued to see compelling value in a
punishing environment for equities. Accordingly, the Long/Short Fund held a minimal short weighting through the end of 2008 and into 2009.
After extremely disappointing returns in 2008, we made a modification to our model in an effort to better account for company-specific risk. Although we are disappointed we did not make this change before the first quarter of 2009, we do feel the adjusted model has affected performance positively. By comparison, for the first two quarters of this fiscal year, the Long Short Class I shares fell 29.65% versus a 30.94% decline for the S&P 1500. With a Beta of .80, the Fund showed a -.05 alpha, a -1.11 Sharpe Ratio, and a -0.99 Sortino Ratio assuming a 4% minimum acceptable return (MAR). For the second two quarters of this fiscal year the Fund entirely used the new valuation system and returned 24.52% versus a 35.00% return for the S&P 1500. This 70.06% upside capture was done with a .55 Beta, a .04 Alpha, a 3.97 Sharpe Ratio and a 2.51 Sortino Ratio assuming a 4% MAR. The statistics shown were calculated using daily return data.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | Sector tilts by the Fund greatly affected performance. An overweight and underperforming position in the Financials sector was by far the biggest drag on performance. The Fund was pulled strongly to the sector in 2008 and early 2009. We discovered too late that our valuations failed to capture the dramatic spread widening in corporate bonds during the flight to safety following the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The Fund’s performance was also negatively affected by significant weights in the falling Industrials, Health Care and Leisure and Consumer Staples sectors. |
On the positive side, the Fund’s long holdings in the Materials sector rose approximately 70% versus a -3.48% return for the S&P 1500 Materials Index. The Fund’s long exposure to the Energy sector returned 6.71% versus a loss of 14.42% for the S&P 1500 Energy Index, while the Fund’s long positions in the Consumer Discretionary sector returned 6.99% versus a 2.82% return for the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index.
The Fund’s short weightings throughout the year also affected performance. As mentioned earlier, the Fund initially saw considerable value in equities in late 2008 and early 2009 and held minimal short positions. This left the Fund considerably exposed to market risk and the Fund’s Class I shares captured 95.83% of the downside over the first two quarters of the fiscal year. Although the Fund held considerable short positions in the second two quarters of the fiscal year, the Class I share was able to capture 70.06% of the upside over the time period. Furthermore during the S&P 1500’s 7.07% slide from June 12 to July 10,
the Class I share fell 3.00% reflecting a 42.43% downside capture. During the S&P 1500’s 3.26% slide from August 26 to September 2, the Class I share fell 1.13% for a 34.66% downside capture. Finally, during the S&P 1500’s late 1.39% slide from September 22 to September 30, the Class I share fell .09% for a 6.47% downside capture.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the equity market? |
| |
A. | As fiscal year 2009 came to an end, ICON’s valuation model showed a 1.09 overall value to price ratio for the broad equity market. Although this reading suggests some upside for equities, we will maintain significant short weightings until we see more compelling value. On a sector level we see a better combination of value and strength from the more cyclical sectors and we will continue to tilt in favor of the cyclical and away from the defensive sectors until our model suggests otherwise. |
ICON Long/Short Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 29.4% | |
Information Technology | | | 17.2% | |
Health Care | | | 15.1% | |
Energy | | | 14.0% | |
Industrials | | | 13.9% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 8.9% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 3.6% | |
Materials | | | 2.5% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 2.4% | |
| | | | |
| | | 107.0% | |
| | | | |
| |
| Percentages are based upon long positions excluding short-term investments and mutual funds as a percentage net assets. |
ICON Long/Short Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 8.6% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 7.3% | |
Investment Banking & Brokerage | | | 6.1% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 5.4% | |
Other Diversified Financial Services | | | 4.9% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 4.4% | |
Railroads | | | 4.4% | |
Systems Software | | | 3.8% | |
Computer Hardware | | | 3.7% | |
Health Care Distributors | | | 3.6% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 3.6% | |
Internet Software & Services | | | 3.3% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 3.1% | |
Diversified Banks | | | 3.0% | |
Health Care Equipment | | | 2.8% | |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services | | | 2.8% | |
Property & Casualty Insurance | | | 2.7% | |
Communications Equipment | | | 2.5% | |
Drug Retail | | | 2.2% | |
ICON Long/Short Fund
Industry Composition (continued)
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Household Products | | | 2.1% | |
Food Distributors | | | 2.0% | |
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing | | | 1.6% | |
Multi-Utilities | | | 1.6% | |
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | | | 1.6% | |
Apparel Retail | | | 1.5% | |
Cable & Satellite | | | 1.3% | |
Reinsurance | | | 1.3% | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 1.2% | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 1.2% | |
IT Consulting & Other Services | | | 1.1% | |
Consumer Finance | | | 1.1% | |
Mortgage REITs | | | 1.1% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 10.1% | |
| | | | |
| | | 107.0% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon long positions excluding short-term investments and mutual funds as a percentage net assets.
ICON Long/Short Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Long/Short Fund - Class I | | | | 9/30/02 | | | | | | -12.40 | % | | | | | -0.84 | % | | | | | 4.39 | % | | | | | 1.47 | % | | | | | 1.47 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 6.26 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Long/Short Fund - Class C | | | | 10/17/02 | | | | | | -13.10 | % | | | | | -1.67 | % | | | | | 2.71 | % | | | | | 2.31 | % | | | | | 2.31 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 5.58 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Long/Short Fund - Class Z | | | | 5/6/04 | | | | | | -12.10 | % | | | | | -0.73 | % | | | | | -0.74 | % | | | | | 2.37 | % | | | | | 1.44 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.47 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Long/Short Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -12.39 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -8.84 | % | | | | | 1.72 | % | | | | | 1.72 | % | |
|
|
ICON Long/Short Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -17.46 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -10.45 | % | | | | | 1.72 | % | | | | | 1.72 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.17 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Long/Short Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class I shares on the Class’ inception date of 9/30/02 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Long/Short Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (85.3%) |
| 6,500 | | | 3M Co.x | | $ | 479,700 | |
| 10,000 | | | Accenture PLC | | | 372,700 | |
| 4,500 | | | Aflac, Inc.x | | | 192,330 | |
| 1,500 | | | Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | | 116,370 | |
| 14,000 | | | Amerisource-Bergen Corp.x | | | 313,320 | |
| 15,000 | | | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. - REITx | | | 272,100 | |
| 10,000 | | | Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp. - REIT | | | 78,800 | |
| 22,900 | | | Apollo Investment Corp. | | | 218,695 | |
| 5,000 | | | Archer Daniels Midland Co.x | | | 146,100 | |
| 9,000 | | | ATC Technology Corp.† | | | 177,840 | |
| 7,000 | | | Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | | 275,100 | |
| 28,000 | | | Bank of America Corp.x(a) | | | 473,760 | |
| 5,000 | | | Bayer AG - ADR(a) | | | 348,000 | |
| 4,500 | | | Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | | 313,875 | |
| 5,000 | | | Bemis Co., Inc. | | | 129,550 | |
| 6,200 | | | BP PLC - ADRx(a) | | | 330,026 | |
| 5,000 | | | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.x | | | 399,150 | |
| 8,000 | | | Canadian National Railway Co. - ADR(a) | | | 391,920 | |
| 7,000 | | | Cardinal Health, Inc.x | | | 187,600 | |
| 5,300 | | | Cash America International, Inc.x | | | 159,848 | |
| 6,100 | | | Chevron Corp.x | | | 429,623 | |
| 5,000 | | | Chubb Corp.x | | | 252,050 | |
| 5,500 | | | Cintas Corp.(a) | | | 166,705 | |
| 25,000 | | | Comcast Corp. - Class A | | | 422,250 | |
| 5,000 | | | Computer Sciences Corp.† | | | 263,550 | |
| 10,000 | | | CVS Caremark Corp.x | | | 357,400 | |
| 9,700 | | | Delphi Financial Group, Inc. - Class Ax | | | 219,511 | |
| 4,400 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.x(a) | | | 420,288 | |
| 5,000 | | | eBay, Inc.† | | | 118,050 | |
| 5,000 | | | Eli Lilly and Co. | | | 165,150 | |
| 5,300 | | | Eni SpA - ADRx | | | 264,205 | |
| 900 | | | Entergy Corp. | | | 71,874 | |
| 2,500 | | | Everest Re Group, Ltd. | | | 219,250 | |
| 3,000 | | | Exxon Mobil Corp.x | | | 205,830 | |
| 6,000 | | | Fiserv, Inc.†x | | | 289,200 | |
| 4,500 | | | FMC Corp.(a) | | | 253,125 | |
| 1,200 | | | FPL Group, Inc.x | | | 66,276 | |
| 3,500 | | | GATX Corp.(a) | | | 97,825 | |
| 6,000 | | | General Dynamics Corp. | | | 387,600 | |
| 10,000 | | | GlaxoSmithKline PLC - ADR | | | 395,100 | |
| 900 | | | Google, Inc. - Class A†x | | | 446,265 | |
| 7,700 | | | Harris Corp. | | | 289,520 | |
| 9,200 | | | HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | | 251,620 | |
| 15,600 | | | Hewlett-Packard Co.x | | | 736,476 | |
| 4,000 | | | International Business Machines Corp.x | | | 478,440 | |
| 10,000 | | | Johnson & Johnson, Inc.x | | | 608,900 | |
| 8,000 | | | Kimberly-Clark Corp.x | | | 471,840 | |
| 2,000 | | | Kirby Corp.† | | | 73,640 | |
| 2,000 | | | Lender Processing Services, Inc.x | | | 76,340 | |
| 8,200 | | | Lincoln National Corp.x | | | 212,462 | |
| 13,400 | | | Loews Corp.x | | | 458,950 | |
| 2,500 | | | Lubrizol Corp. | | | 178,650 | |
| 5,000 | | | LUKOIL - ADRx | | | 274,250 | |
| 5,300 | | | McDonald’s Corp. | | | 302,471 | |
| 7,100 | | | McKesson Corp.x(a) | | | 422,805 | |
40 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 10,000 | | | Medtronic, Inc. | | $ | 368,000 | |
| 19,000 | | | Merck & Co., Inc.(a) | | | 600,970 | |
| 4,500 | | | MetLife, Inc.x | | | 171,315 | |
| 48,200 | | | Microsoft Corp.x | | | 1,247,898 | |
| 5,700 | | | Morgan Stanley | | | 176,016 | |
| 2,000 | | | Nike, Inc. - Class Bx | | | 129,400 | |
| 5,800 | | | Noble Corp.x | | | 220,168 | |
| 8,000 | | | Norfolk Southern Corp. | | | 344,880 | |
| 10,000 | | | Novartis AG - ADR | | | 503,800 | |
| 7,100 | | | NV Energy, Inc. | | | 82,289 | |
| 10,000 | | | Patterson Cos., Inc.†x | | | 272,500 | |
| 2,000 | | | PetroChina Co., Ltd. - ADRx | | | 227,500 | |
| 12,300 | | | Pfizer, Inc. | | | 203,565 | |
| 3,600 | | | Portland General Electric Co. | | | 70,992 | |
| 1,500 | | | Praxair, Inc. | | | 122,535 | |
| 4,000 | | | Procter & Gamble Co.x | | | 231,680 | |
| 3,300 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc.x | | | 164,703 | |
| 7,000 | | | Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | | | 220,080 | |
| 4,500 | | | Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. | | | 200,700 | |
| 18,000 | | | Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.† | | | 167,940 | |
| 6,000 | | | Sempra Energy Corp. | | | 298,860 | |
| 2,500 | | | Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. - ADRx | | | 200,425 | |
| 5,000 | | | Siemens AG - ADRx(a) | | | 464,800 | |
| 14,500 | | | StatoilHydro ASA - ADR | | | 326,830 | |
| 5,000 | | | Stryker Corp.(a) | | | 227,150 | |
| 3,700 | | | Sun Life Financial, Inc.x | | | 115,588 | |
| 5,000 | | | Sysco Corp.x | | | 124,250 | |
| 5,700 | | | Target Corp.(a) | | | 266,076 | |
| 11,400 | | | The Allstate Corp.x | | | 349,068 | |
| 2,200 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.(a) | | | 405,570 | |
| 10,000 | | | TJX Cos., Inc.x | | | 371,500 | |
| 4,200 | | | Torchmark Corp.x | | | 182,406 | |
| 5,500 | | | Total S.A. - ADRx | | | 325,930 | |
| 5,000 | | | Transocean, Ltd.†x | | | 427,650 | |
| 5,700 | | | Travelers Cos., Inc.x | | | 280,611 | |
| 16,500 | | | U.S. Bancorp | | | 360,690 | |
| 5,500 | | | Union Pacific Corp.x | | | 320,925 | |
| 2,500 | | | V.F. Corp.x | | | 181,075 | |
| 2,000 | | | W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | | 178,720 | |
| 10,000 | | | Walgreen Co.(a) | | | 374,700 | |
| 15,100 | | | Wells Fargo & Co.x(a) | | | 425,518 | |
| 5,000 | | | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | | | 124,200 | |
| 8,000 | | | World Acceptance Corp.†x | | | 201,680 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $24,947,246) | | | 27,985,428 | |
Preferred Stocks (1.4%) | | | | |
| 20,935 | | | Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VI, 6.60%(a) | | | 478,365 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $310,067) | | | 478,365 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Interest
| | | Maturity
| | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | | Date | | | Value | |
| |
|
Corporate Bonds (20.3%) |
$ | 100,000 | | | Alcoa, Inc.x | | | 6.50 | % | | | 06/01/11 | | | $ | 103,471 | |
| 500,000 | | | American Express Credit Co.x | | | 5.00 | % | | | 12/02/10 | | | | 515,031 | |
| 70,000 | | | American International Group, Inc. | | | 5.38 | % | | | 10/18/11 | | | | 64,757 | |
| 100,000 | | | Citigroup, Inc. | | | 5.30 | % | | | 10/17/12 | | | | 103,175 | |
| 500,000 | | | Credit Suisse New York - YD x | | | 5.50 | % | | | 05/01/14 | | | | 537,289 | |
| 500,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp.x | | | 4.75 | % | | | 09/15/14 | | | | 513,275 | |
| 250,000 | | | Hartford Financial Services Group | | | 5.38 | % | | | 03/15/17 | | | | 228,886 | |
| 500,000 | | | HSBC Finance Corp.x | | | 4.75 | % | | | 07/15/13 | | | | 508,277 | |
| 500,000 | | | Merrill Lynch & Co.x | | | 5.45 | % | | | 02/05/13 | | | | 518,460 | |
| 500,000 | | | Morgan Stanleyx | | | 4.75 | % | | | 04/01/14 | | | | 496,310 | |
Schedule of Investments 41
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Interest
| | | Maturity
| | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | | Date | | | Value | |
| |
|
$ | 500,000 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc.x | | | 5.10 | % | | | 09/20/14 | | | $ | 505,257 | |
| 400,000 | | | Simon Property Group LPx | | | 5.45 | % | | | 03/15/13 | | | | 408,821 | |
| 500,000 | | | The Dow Chemical Co.x | | | 6.00 | % | | | 10/01/12 | | | | 532,526 | |
| 100,000 | | | The Dow Chemical Co.x | | | 7.60 | % | | | 05/15/14 | | | | 110,625 | |
| 500,000 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.x | | | 7.35 | % | | | 10/01/09 | | | | 500,093 | |
| 500,000 | | | Wachovia Corp.x | | | 5.25 | % | | | 08/01/14 | | | | 507,782 | |
| 500,000 | | | Xerox Corp. x | | | 5.65 | % | | | 05/15/13 | | | | 520,293 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $6,041,061) | | | 6,674,328 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Short-Term Investments (5.7%) |
$ | 1,856,228 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | $ | 1,856,228 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $1,856,228) | | | 1,856,228 | |
|
Mutual Funds (14.0%) |
| 4,590,112 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | $ | 4,590,112 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $4,590,112) | | | 4,590,112 | |
Total Investments 126.7% (Cost $37,744,714) | | | 41,584,461 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (26.7)% | | | (8,763,643 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 32,820,818 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
x | | Portion of security is pledged as collateral for call options written and/or securities sold short. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
|
REIT | | Real Estate Investment Trust |
|
YD | | Yankee Dollar Bond |
42 Schedule of Investments
ICON Long/Short Fund
Schedule of Securities Sold Short
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares | | Short Security | | Value |
|
|
| 5,000 | | | Bill Barrett Corp.† | | $ | 163,950 | |
| 5,000 | | | Broadcom Corp.† | | | 153,450 | |
| 3,500 | | | Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. | | | 125,125 | |
| 5,500 | | | Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | | 170,830 | |
| 10,000 | | | Cognex Corp. | | | 163,800 | |
| 5,000 | | | Computer Programs & Systems, Inc. | | | 207,050 | |
| 20,000 | | | Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund | | | 549,400 | |
| 100,000 | | | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | | | 1,494,000 | |
| 3,500 | | | First Financial Bankshares, Inc. | | | 173,110 | |
| 12,382 | | | First Horizon National Corp.† | | | 163,814 | |
| 1,500 | | | Hittite Microwave Corp.† | | | 55,170 | |
| 10,000 | | | iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund | | | 986,600 | |
| 5,000 | | | iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund | | | 461,850 | |
| 2,500 | | | Itron, Inc.† | | | 160,350 | |
| 10,000 | | | Jefferies Group, Inc.† | | | 272,300 | |
| 2,500 | | | Linear Technology Corp. | | | 69,075 | |
| 6,044 | | | Marriott International, Inc. - Class A | | | 166,754 | |
| 10,000 | | | Materials Select Sector SPDR Trust | | | 309,000 | |
| 2,300 | | | Microchip Technology, Inc. | | | 60,950 | |
| 5,000 | | | NVIDIA Corp.† | | | 75,150 | |
| 6,000 | | | Penn National Gaming, Inc.† | | | 165,960 | |
| 8,000 | | | Petrohawk Energy Corp.† | | | 193,680 | |
| 7,900 | | | Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc. | | | 242,056 | |
| 5,000 | | | PS Business Parks, Inc. | | | 256,600 | |
| 4,000 | | | Public Storage | | | 300,960 | |
| 6,000 | | | Range Resources Corp. | | | 296,160 | |
| 4,500 | | | Ryder System, Inc. | | | 175,770 | |
| 40,000 | | | SPDR Trust - Series 1 | | | 4,222,400 | |
| 7,800 | | | St. Joe Corp.† | | | 227,136 | |
| 7,500 | | | Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | | | 247,725 | |
| 2,500 | | | Supertex, Inc.† | | | 75,000 | |
| 50,000 | | | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | | | 1,043,500 | |
| 4,000 | | | Vail Resorts, Inc.† | | | 134,160 | |
| 12,500 | | | Werner Enterprises, Inc. | | | 232,875 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Securities Sold Short (Proceeds $13,036,404) | | $ | 13,795,710 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
Schedule of Investments 43
Class I IOCIX
Class C IOCCX
Class Z IOCZX
Class A ICNAX
Management Overview
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund Perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The Fund outperformed its benchmark for the period. The Fund’s Class I shares declined 5.98%, while the benchmark S&P 1500 Composite Index fell 6.77%. The Class C shares declined 6.69%, the Class Z shares declined 5.79% and the Class A shares of the Fund returned negative 6.05% (and negative 11.48% with maximum sales charge). Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors influenced the Fund’s relative performance during the period? |
| |
A. | Three primary factors influenced the Fund’s performance over the past fiscal year: valuation, volatility, and the overall impact of the Fund’s use of derivatives to hedge risk. Entering the period, our quantitative analysis indicated that the market was underpriced. In addition, the volatility that had already been roiling the market since the fall of 2007 reached all time highs early in fiscal year 2009. Further, the extreme volatility caused significant, short swings in different market sectors. This volatility created a difficult environment for our theme-oriented investment style. |
With respect to market valuation, we entered fiscal year 2009 with an overall market value-to-price ratio of 1.34. Our quantitative, bottom-up approach to valuing the market indicated that the approximately 1900 stocks we track were trading on average at about a 34% discount to our estimate of what they were intrinsically worth. In short, entering the period we believed there was significant upside potential in the U.S. equity market. At ICON, we often see a correlation between market over- and underpricing and the degree to which investors’ decisions reflect either greed or fear. And as we entered fiscal year 2009, fear and negative sentiment seemed pervasive among everyday consumers.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which, since 1968, has surveyed individuals about their optimism over the economy six months forward, plummeted during the first five months of the fiscal period. At the beginning of fiscal year 2009 the Index value was 61.4. By the end of February, the survey value hit an all-time low of 25.3. Looking back, it appears this precipitous decline in consumer confidence was manifested also in significant downward pressure on stocks. Although
ICON prides itself on its non-emotional, quantitative approach to investing, it seemed obvious to us that the worst financial crisis since the great depression had decimated consumer confidence. The resulting fear and uncertainty led investors to sell stocks almost indiscriminately, causing equity prices to fall well below our estimate of their intrinsic value.
We stayed almost fully invested during this period and, as a result, the prices of the underlying securities held in the Fund declined. Because the Fund uses an option hedging technique in an effort to provide some downside protection during market declines, the Fund was able to hold up better than its broad market index during this five-month period. From September 30, 2008 to February 27, 2009, the S&P 1500 Index fell 36.50%, while the Fund fell 22.90%. The Fund’s options helped the Fund outperform its benchmark during an especially volatile time in October, when the S&P 1500 fell 17.92% in just five trading days (between October 3 and October 10, 2008). In contrast, the Fund declined only 3.21% during this same period. One has to go back to “Black Monday” on October 19, 1987 to find such an extreme short-term decline.
Market volatility during the first five months of fiscal year 2009 was virtually unprecedented. This extreme volatility continued in early March, but this time in an upward trajectory as the market began an abrupt move higher. In just 13 trading days between March 9 and March 26, 2009, the S&P 1500 Index rose 23.66%. This dramatic move was among the best in U.S. stock market history.
Unfortunately, the market’s sudden about-face represented a worst-case scenario for the Fund. Because the Fund hopes to provide investors some downside protection in falling markets, there is a trade-off. The use of options as a hedge will generally limit the upside potential of the Fund during rising markets. In the extreme rally that took place during the 13-day trading period just mentioned, the derivative hedge limited participation in the extreme upward move. From March 9, 2009 to March 26, 2009, for example, the Fund’s Class I shares rose just 5.02%. Although the use of options successfully dampened the Fund’s decline in the extreme downturn that took place during the first week of October, by design it limited some of the upside during the dramatic rally that took place in early March 2009.
The Fund likewise attempts to reduce volatility relative to the broad market as measured by the S&P 1500 Index. Amid the historically high volatility that marked this fiscal year, the Fund did meet this goal. This reduction in relative volatility can easily be measured through a stock market statistic called “beta”. Beta measures how the price of a stock
moves relative to the movement in the price of an index. A beta of 1.00 means that a stock is moving up or down exactly as much as the index it is being measured against over a specific period of time. A beta higher than 1.00 indicates that the stock is moving in greater magnitude than its index (suggesting the stock is more volatile than the index), while a beta of less than 1.00 shows that a stock is moving up or down less than its index over a specific period of time. The beta of the Fund over this past fiscal year was .44 using daily data, indicating that it was much less volatile than the S&P 1500 Index over the period.
Thus over the course of the fiscal year, the use of options allowed the Fund to capture less of the downside while helping reduce the impact of market volatility on the Fund. Because the Fund’s underlying equities underperformed the S&P 1500 Index, however, we outperformed the Fund’s benchmark by only .79% for the fiscal year.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | In assessing the underperformance of the holdings in the Fund, it is instructive to break down returns by sectors. At ICON, we use our value-based approach to investing to tilt toward those sectors we believe offer the best upside potential based on our quantitative analysis. We track and invest in nine different economic sectors. |
Over the past fiscal year our quantitative valuation analysis tilted us in the direction of economically sensitive sectors like Materials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary. We overweighted those sectors relative to our S&P 1500 benchmark. Our analysis similarly tilted us toward the Financials sector. These sector tilts were detrimental to the performance of the Fund during the five-month decline described above, but proved beneficial from the March 9, 2009 low to the end of the period.
For example, from September 30, 2008 to March 9, 2009, the S&P 1500 Financials sector index fell 66.55%, significantly underperforming the broader market (that is, the S&P 1500 Index), which declined 41.69%. On the flipside, from the March 9 low to the end of the period, the Financials sector index rose 129.32% while the broader market index increased 59.91%. Still, the Financials sector tilts established over the full period resulted in a decline of 5.98% for the class I shares. As shown above, the benchmark declined 6.77%. While the underlying equities in the Fund significantly underperformed the S&P 1500 Index, the Fund ultimately outperformed its benchmark. This highlights the benefit of the options hedging to the overall performance of the Fund over the entire period.
| |
Q. | What is the investment outlook for the equity market? |
| |
A. | Stocks ended the period trading at about a 9% percent discount to our calculation of their intrinsic value. We therefore believe that while we ended the fiscal year with the market in the midst of an explosive rally - the S&P 500 Index was up 58.25% from the March 9 low to the end of the fiscal period - additional upside potential still exists. Further, a Bloomberg survey of 66 analysts reveals their consensus for third quarter GDP estimates of a 3.20% increase. Should the analysts’ estimates turn out to be accurate, the increase in GDP would represent the first positive GDP number since the 4th quarter of 2007. |
The potential for positive GDP in the third quarter of this year supports our quantitative analysis that the bear market that began in October 2007 may have come to an end in early March, 2009. There is a well-documented relationship between the stock market and the economy which holds that the stock market bottoms about six to nine months prior to the end of a recession. If the analysts are correct and we do get a positive GDP number for the third quarter of this year, then the low reached in early March of this year would have occurred about 6 months prior to the turn in the economy. Given that this scenario appears to be a real possibility and given that our quantitative analysis indicates that the market remains undervalued, we believe a bull market may be underway.
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 26.0% | |
Information Technology | | | 18.2% | |
Health Care | | | 12.8% | |
Industrials | | | 12.8% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 7.6% | |
Energy | | | 6.8% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 5.6% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 5.2% | |
Materials | | | 4.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.3% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stock as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Computer Hardware | | | 5.6% | |
Other Diversified Financial Services | | | 5.0% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 5.0% | |
Investment Banking & Brokerage | | | 4.0% | |
Systems Software | | | 3.6% | |
Diversified Banks | | | 3.4% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 3.3% | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 3.1% | |
Railroads | | | 3.1% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 3.0% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 3.0% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 2.8% | |
Health Care Services | | | 2.8% | |
Health Care Distributors | | | 2.3% | |
Property & Casualty Insurance | | | 2.3% | |
Internet Software & Services | | | 2.3% | |
Movies & Entertainment | | | 2.2% | |
Paper Packaging | | | 2.1% | |
Asset Management & Custody Banks | | | 2.0% | |
Semiconductors | | | 2.0% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 1.9% | |
Industrial Machinery | | | 1.9% | |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services | | | 1.9% | |
Apparel Retail | | | 1.8% | |
Footwear | | | 1.6% | |
Gas Utilities | | | 1.5% | |
Drug Retail | | | 1.5% | |
Consumer Finance | | | 1.4% | |
Electric Utilities | | | 1.3% | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 1.3% | |
Integrated Telecommunication Services | | | 1.3% | |
Health Care Equipment | | | 1.2% | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 1.1% | |
Packaged Foods & Meats | | | 1.0% | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | | | 1.0% | |
Communications Equipment | | | 1.0% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 13.7% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.3% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stock as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund - Class I | | | | 9/30/02 | | | | | | -5.98 | % | | | | | 0.83 | % | | | | | 5.23 | % | | | | | 1.30 | % | | | | | 1.30 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 6.26 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund - Class C | | | | 11/21/02 | | | | | | -6.69 | % | | | | | 0.03 | % | | | | | 3.41 | % | | | | | 2.52 | % | | | | | 2.21 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 4.69 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund - Class Z | | | | 5/6/04 | | | | | | -5.79 | % | | | | | 1.09 | % | | | | | 1.59 | % | | | | | 4.39 | % | | | | | 1.21 | % | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.47 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -6.05 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -1.39 | % | | | | | 3.75 | % | | | | | 1.46 | % | |
|
|
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -11.48 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.13 | % | | | | | 3.75 | % | | | | | 1.46 | % | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | | | | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.17 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class I shares on the Class’ inception date of 9/30/02 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (99.3%) |
| 7,400 | | | 3M Co.x | | $ | 546,120 | |
| 11,900 | | | AGL Resources, Inc.(a) | | | 419,713 | |
| 7,600 | | | Air Methods Corp.†x | | | 247,532 | |
| 6,000 | | | Allergan, Inc. | | | 340,560 | |
| 24,900 | | | Allianz SE - ADRx | | | 310,752 | |
| 15,700 | | | Altria Group, Inc.x | | | 279,617 | |
| 3,400 | | | America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. - ADR | | | 149,022 | |
| 11,400 | | | American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 353,286 | |
| 9,900 | | | Ameriprise Financial, Inc.x | | | 359,667 | |
| 20,200 | | | Amerisource-Bergen Corp.(a) | | | 452,076 | |
| 31,900 | | | Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp. - REIT | | | 251,372 | |
| 7,400 | | | Assured Guaranty, Ltd. | | | 143,708 | |
| 10,200 | | | AT&T, Inc. | | | 275,502 | |
| 9,700 | | | ATC Technology Corp.†x | | | 191,672 | |
| 15,500 | | | Atwood Oceanics, Inc.†x | | | 546,685 | |
| 60,900 | | | Bank of America Corp.x(a) | | | 1,030,428 | |
| 21,100 | | | BE Aerospace, Inc.†x | | | 424,954 | |
| 11,800 | | | Bemis Co., Inc. | | | 305,738 | |
| 5,100 | | | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. | | | 407,133 | |
| 10,300 | | | Cash America International, Inc.x | | | 310,648 | |
| 3,400 | | | China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. - ADR(a) | | | 289,510 | |
| 11,600 | | | CIGNA Corp.x | | | 325,844 | |
| 9,600 | | | Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.† | | | 371,136 | |
| 4,800 | | | Computer Sciences Corp.† | | | 253,008 | |
| 10,300 | | | ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | 223,304 | |
| 9,100 | | | Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 294,567 | |
| 4,100 | | | Cooper Industries PLC - Class A | | | 154,037 | |
| 8,300 | | | Crane Co.(a) | | | 214,223 | |
| 5,200 | | | Credicorp, Ltd.x | | | 404,352 | |
| 10,900 | | | CSX Corp.x | | | 456,274 | |
| 8,300 | | | CVS Caremark Corp. | | | 296,642 | |
| 19,700 | | | Dell, Inc.† | | | 300,622 | |
| 11,000 | | | Delphi Financial Group, Inc. - Class Ax | | | 248,930 | |
| 3,700 | | | Desarrolladora Homex S.A. de C.V. - ADR†(a) | | | 139,786 | |
| 4,900 | | | Deutsche Bank AG - ADRx | | | 376,173 | |
| 4,300 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.(a) | | | 410,736 | |
| 16,400 | | | Dollar Financial Corp.†x | | | 262,728 | |
| 6,800 | | | E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. | | | 218,552 | |
| 7,400 | | | eBay, Inc.† | | | 174,714 | |
| 6,900 | | | Express Scripts, Inc.†x | | | 535,302 | |
| 5,200 | | | Fiserv, Inc.† | | | 250,640 | |
| 13,000 | | | General Electric Co.(a) | | | 213,460 | |
| 10,900 | | | GlaxoSmithKline PLC - ADR | | | 430,659 | |
| 1,600 | | | Google, Inc. - Class A† | | | 793,360 | |
| 8,900 | | | Guess?, Inc.x | | | 329,656 | |
| 4,100 | | | Henry Schein, Inc.†(a) | | | 225,131 | |
| 19,000 | | | Hewlett-Packard Co.x | | | 896,990 | |
| 5,700 | | | Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 211,755 | |
| 7,100 | | | Hubbell, Inc. - Class Bx | | | 298,200 | |
| 14,700 | | | ING Groep N.V. - ADR†x | | | 262,101 | |
| 4,400 | | | Ingersoll-Rand PLC | | | 134,948 | |
| 42,800 | | | Intel Corp.x | | | 837,596 | |
| 9,600 | | | International Business Machines Corp.x | | | 1,148,256 | |
| 18,800 | | | JPMorgan Chase & Co.x | | | 823,816 | |
| 3,800 | | | Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | 224,124 | |
Schedule of Investments 51
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 8,000 | | | Lincoln National Corp.x | | $ | 207,280 | |
| 6,500 | | | Loews Corp. | | | 222,625 | |
| 4,900 | | | Lubrizol Corp. | | | 350,154 | |
| 5,600 | | | Massey Energy Co. | | | 156,184 | |
| 4,500 | | | Medco Health Solutions, Inc.† | | | 248,895 | |
| 9,500 | | | Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. - Class A | | | 202,825 | |
| 14,100 | | | Medtronic, Inc.x | | | 518,880 | |
| 19,400 | | | Merck & Co., Inc.(a) | | | 613,622 | |
| 7,000 | | | MetLife, Inc.x | | | 266,490 | |
| 59,100 | | | Microsoft Corp.x | | | 1,530,099 | |
| 8,200 | | | Middleby Corp.† | | | 451,082 | |
| 10,300 | | | Morgan Stanleyx | | | 318,064 | |
| 4,800 | | | Murphy Oil Corp.x | | | 276,336 | |
| 9,300 | | | Nalco Holding Co. | | | 190,557 | |
| 5,900 | | | Nike, Inc. - Class Bx | | | 381,730 | |
| 4,600 | | | Novartis AG - ADR | | | 231,748 | |
| 12,000 | | | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. - Class A | | | 222,360 | |
| 6,400 | | | Occidental Petroleum Corp.x | | | 501,760 | |
| 6,300 | | | ONEOK, Inc. | | | 230,706 | |
| 9,900 | | | Owens-Illinois, Inc.† | | | 365,310 | |
| 9,400 | | | PAREXEL International Corp.† | | | 127,746 | |
| 11,100 | | | Patterson Cos., Inc.† | | | 302,475 | |
| 2,200 | | | PepsiCo, Inc. | | | 129,052 | |
| 17,200 | | | Pfizer, Inc. | | | 284,660 | |
| 6,500 | | | Pinnacle West Capital Corp.(a) | | | 213,330 | |
| 7,800 | | | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.x | | | 379,002 | |
| 13,300 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc.x | �� | | 663,803 | |
| 2,700 | | | Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | | | 140,913 | |
| 6,200 | | | Research In Motion, Ltd.†x | | | 418,810 | |
| 6,700 | | | Rock-Tenn Co. - Class A | | | 315,637 | |
| 5,500 | | | Sasol - ADRx | | | 209,660 | |
| 4,500 | | | Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. - ADRx | | | 360,765 | |
| 5,500 | | | Siemens AG - ADR(a) | | | 511,280 | |
| 7,400 | | | Snap-on, Inc.x | | | 257,224 | |
| 10,200 | | | Sonoco Products Co. | | | 280,908 | |
| 9,300 | | | State Street Corp.x | | | 489,180 | |
| 5,600 | | | SYNNEX Corp.†(a) | | | 170,688 | |
| 15,800 | | | Sysco Corp.x | | | 392,630 | |
| 5,600 | | | Target Corp.x(a) | | | 261,408 | |
| 11,700 | | | The Allstate Corp.x | | | 358,254 | |
| 7,400 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.x | | | 1,364,190 | |
| 10,300 | | | The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.x | | | 272,950 | |
| 17,200 | | | The Walt Disney Co. | | | 472,312 | |
| 5,200 | | | Time Warner Cable, Inc.† | | | 224,068 | |
| 8,400 | | | Time Warner, Inc. | | | 241,752 | |
| 11,300 | | | TJX Cos., Inc.x | | | 419,795 | |
| 2,700 | | | Transocean, Ltd.†x | | | 230,931 | |
| 6,600 | | | Travelers Cos., Inc. | | | 324,918 | |
| 7,600 | | | Unilever N.V. | | | 219,336 | |
| 7,800 | | | Union Pacific Corp.x | | | 455,130 | |
| 11,300 | | | United Technologies Corp.x | | | 688,509 | |
| 3,900 | | | V.F. Corp.x | | | 282,477 | |
| 7,300 | | | Varian Medical Systems, Inc.†(a) | | | 307,549 | |
| 8,500 | | | Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 257,295 | |
| 4,200 | | | Visa, Inc. - Class Ax | | | 290,262 | |
| 9,200 | | | Walgreen Co.(a) | | | 344,724 | |
| 24,400 | | | Wells Fargo & Co.x(a) | | | 687,592 | |
| 6,900 | | | Western Digital Corp.† | | | 252,057 | |
| 12,600 | | | Wolverine World Wide, Inc.x | | | 312,984 | |
| 8,600 | | | XL Capital, Ltd. - Class Ax | | | 150,156 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $35,127,322) | | | 41,930,436 | |
52 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Underlying Security/
| | | | |
Expiration Date/
| | | | |
Exercise Price | | Contracts | | Value |
|
|
Put Options Purchased (0.3% ) | | | | |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration November 2009, Exercise price $950.00 | | | 115 | | | $ | 113,275 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Put Options Purchased (Cost $138,386) | | | 113,275 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value | |
| |
|
Short-Term Investments (18.8%) |
$ | 7,938,217 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | $ | 7,938,217 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $7,938,217) | | | 7,938,217 | |
|
Mutual Funds (9.6%) |
| 4,073,701 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 4,073,701 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $4,073,701) | | | 4,073,701 | |
Total Investments 128.0% (Cost $47,277,626) | | | 54,055,629 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (28.0)% | | | (11,808,646 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 42,246,983 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
x | | Portion of security is pledged as collateral for call options written and/or securities sold short. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
|
REIT | | Real Estate Investment Trust |
Schedule of Investments 53
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund
Schedule of Written Call Options
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Underlying Security/
| | | | |
Expiration Date/
| | | | |
Exercise Price | | Contracts | | Value |
|
|
S&P 500 Index, Expiration October 2009, Exercise Price $1,065.00 | | | 140 | | | $ | 217,700 | |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration November 2009, Exercise Price $1,045.00 | | | 130 | | | | 544,050 | |
S&P 500 Index, Expiration November 2009, Exercise Price $1,050.00 | | | 140 | | | | 540,400 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Options Written (Premiums received $1,358,925) | | $ | 1,302,150 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
54 Schedule of Investments
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | ICON
| | | ICON Equity
| | | ICON
| | | ICON Risk-
| |
| | ICON
| | | Core Equity
| | | Income
| | | Long/Short
| | | Managed
| |
| | Bond Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at cost | | $ | 167,968,032 | | | $ | 109,782,623 | | | $ | 35,254,205 | | | $ | 37,744,714 | | | $ | 47,277,626 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at value† | | | 173,397,014 | | | | 128,177,339 | | | | 44,749,035 | | | | 41,584,461 | | | | 54,055,629 | |
Cash | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,236 | | | | 860 | |
Deposits for short sales | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 14,320,852 | | | | - | |
Receivables: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund shares sold | | | 773,282 | | | | 206,550 | | | | 418,351 | | | | 30,200 | | | | 48,314 | |
Investments sold | | | - | | | | - | | | | 371,554 | | | | 1,057,426 | | | | 178,503 | |
Interest | | | 2,371,969 | | | | 3,758 | | | | 87,514 | | | | 103,369 | | | | 521 | |
Dividends | | | - | | | | 122,325 | | | | 162,316 | | | | 55,603 | | | | 36,826 | |
Expense reimbursements by Adviser | | | 35,897 | | | | - | | | | 9,588 | | | | 19,974 | | | | 8,792 | |
Foreign tax reclaims | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 661 | | | | - | |
Other assets | | | 73,567 | | | | 55,705 | | | | 51,577 | | | | 51,981 | | | | 54,103 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | | 176,651,729 | | | | 128,565,677 | | | | 45,849,935 | | | | 57,226,763 | | | | 54,383,548 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Options written, at value (premiums received $1,358,925) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,302,150 | |
Securities sold short, at value (proceeds of $13,036,404) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 13,795,710 | | | | - | |
Payable for income on short positions | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 21,523 | | | | - | |
Payables: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Due to custodian bank | | | - | | | | - | | | | 349 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Due to prime broker | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,042,597 | | | | 6,611,814 | |
Interest | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 491 | | | | - | |
Investments purchased | | | 991,250 | | | | 1,646,553 | | | | - | | | | 1,735,798 | | | | - | |
Payable for collateral received on securities loaned | | | 2,877,101 | | | | 27,814,062 | | | | - | | | | 4,590,112 | | | | 4,073,701 | |
Fund shares redeemed | | | 373,878 | | | | 65,536 | | | | 114,559 | | | | 152,890 | | | | 102,904 | |
Distributions due to shareholders | | | 597,765 | | | | - | | | | 406,397 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Advisory fees | | | 83,742 | | | | 60,154 | | | | 28,492 | | | | 23,939 | | | | 25,880 | |
Accrued distribution fees | | | 36,859 | | | | 40,212 | | | | 11,536 | | | | 16,545 | | | | 10,635 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 995 | | | | 571 | | | | 263 | | | | 192 | | | | 245 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 8,394 | | | | 17,633 | | | | 9,501 | | | | 11,588 | | | | 6,113 | |
Administration fees | | | 6,782 | | | | 3,869 | | | | 1,758 | | | | 1,017 | | | | 1,545 | |
Trustee fees | | | 313 | | | | 930 | | | | 628 | | | | 465 | | | | 372 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 1,752 | | | | 9,509 | | | | 3,102 | | | | 13,078 | | | | 1,206 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 4,978,831 | | | | 29,659,029 | | | | 576,585 | | | | 24,405,945 | | | | 12,136,565 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - all share classes | | $ | 171,672,898 | | | $ | 98,906,648 | | | $ | 45,273,350 | | | $ | 32,820,818 | | | $ | 42,246,983 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class I | | $ | 166,145,056 | | | $ | 62,962,587 | | | $ | 41,622,592 | | | $ | 15,209,331 | | | $ | 37,474,725 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class C | | $ | 4,440,736 | | | $ | 33,088,993 | | | $ | 3,347,683 | | | $ | 15,093,243 | | | $ | 3,198,614 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class Z | | $ | 1,087,106 | | | $ | 886,562 | | | $ | 65,745 | | | $ | 128,375 | | | $ | 72,305 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class A | | $ | - | | | $ | 1,968,506 | | | $ | 237,330 | | | $ | 2,389,869 | | | $ | 1,501,339 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | ICON
| | | ICON Equity
| | | ICON
| | | ICON Risk-
| |
| | ICON
| | | Core Equity
| | | Income
| | | Long/Short
| | | Managed
| |
| | Bond Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Net Assets Consist of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 166,078,224 | | | $ | 146,873,436 | | | $ | 78,446,160 | | | $ | 96,402,259 | | | $ | 63,362,117 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss) | | | (329,006 | ) | | | 1,543,338 | | | | 7,965 | | | | 170,533 | | | | 6,269 | |
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss) from investment , written options and securities sold short transactions | | | 494,698 | | | | (67,904,842 | ) | | | (42,675,605 | ) | | | (66,832,415 | ) | | | (27,956,181 | ) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments, written options and securities sold short | | | 5,428,982 | | | | 18,394,716 | | | | 9,494,830 | | | | 3,080,441 | | | | 6,834,778 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 171,672,898 | | | $ | 98,906,648 | | | $ | 45,273,350 | | | $ | 32,820,818 | | | $ | 42,246,983 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 16,156,312 | | | | 6,937,506 | | | | 4,047,314 | | | | 1,297,159 | | | | 3,594,205 | |
Class C | | | 430,977 | | | | 3,952,817 | | | | 329,568 | | | | 1,348,351 | | | | 323,900 | |
Class Z | | | 105,925 | | | | 97,713 | | | | 6,410 | | | | 10,883 | | | | 6,815 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | 225,425 | | | | 23,234 | | | | 204,845 | | | | 144,440 | |
Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | $ | 10.28 | | | $ | 9.08 | | | $ | 10.28 | | | $ | 11.73 | | | $ | 10.43 | |
Class C | | $ | 10.30 | | | $ | 8.37 | | | $ | 10.16 | | | $ | 11.19 | | | $ | 9.88 | |
Class Z | | $ | 10.26 | | | $ | 9.07 | | | $ | 10.26 | | | $ | 11.80 | | | $ | 10.61 | |
Class A | | $ | - | | | $ | 8.73 | | | $ | 10.21 | | | $ | 11.67 | | | $ | 10.39 | |
Class A maximum offering price (100%/(100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share | | $ | - | | | $ | 9.26 | | | $ | 10.83 | | | $ | 12.38 | | | $ | 11.02 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
† Includes securities on loan of | | $ | 2,769,200 | | | $ | 26,956,341 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,459,359 | | | $ | 3,949,994 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statements of Operations
For the year ended September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | ICON
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Bond
| | | ICON Core
| | | Equity
| | | Long/Short
| | | Risk-Managed
| |
| | Fund | | | Equity Fund | | | Income Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Investment Income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 6,725,342 | | | $ | 8,646 | | | $ | 402,047 | | | $ | 229,545 | | | $ | 11,082 | |
Dividends | | | 37,877 | | | | 2,140,206 | | | | 3,055,646 | | | | 1,535,393 | | | | 1,448,738 | |
Income from securities lending, net | | | 12,592 | | | | 187,972 | | | | - | | | | 91,903 | | | | 126,879 | |
Foreign taxes withheld | | | - | | | | (3,537 | ) | | | (1,418 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Income | | | 6,775,811 | | | | 2,333,287 | | | | 3,456,275 | | | | 1,856,841 | | | | 1,586,699 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advisory fees | | | 784,955 | | | | 665,457 | | | | 434,700 | | | | 459,570 | | | | 394,130 | |
Distribution fees: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 315,652 | | | | 134,808 | | | | 135,412 | | | | 85,425 | | | | 120,084 | |
Class C | | | 35,163 | | | | 323,159 | | | | 33,689 | | | | 169,924 | | | | 33,228 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | 3,804 | | | | 909 | | | | 6,836 | | | | 2,524 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 48,739 | | | | 29,556 | | | | 20,584 | | | | 20,184 | | | | 19,197 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 96,951 | | | | 166,790 | | | | 98,124 | | | | 102,861 | | | | 77,674 | |
Administration fees | | | 65,061 | | | | 44,032 | | | | 28,730 | | | | 26,756 | | | | 26,043 | |
Registration fees: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 24,456 | | | | 14,443 | | | | 16,511 | | | | 24,999 | | | | 19,003 | |
Class C | | | 13,311 | | | | 12,973 | | | | 11,568 | | | | 12,830 | | | | 11,678 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | 10,559 | | | | 10,272 | | | | 10,512 | | | | 10,381 | |
Insurance expense | | | 10,273 | | | | 12,015 | | | | 10,458 | | | | 16,856 | | | | 8,816 | |
Trustee fees and expenses | | | 15,088 | | | | 11,957 | | | | 7,394 | | | | 7,933 | | | | 6,888 | |
Interest expense | | | 4,725 | | | | 155 | | | | 6,263 | | | | 22,780 | | | | 20,055 | |
Other expenses | | | 67,345 | | | | 87,074 | | | | 57,785 | | | | 83,623 | | | | 64,646 | |
Dividends on short positions | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 219,694 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total expenses before expense reimbursement and transfer agent earnings credit | | | 1,481,719 | | | | 1,516,782 | | | | 872,399 | | | | 1,270,783 | | | | 814,347 | |
Transfer agent earning credit | | | (136 | ) | | | (147 | ) | | | (118 | ) | | | (132 | ) | | | (113 | ) |
Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement | | | (144,367 | ) | | | - | | | | (36,020 | ) | | | (62,226 | ) | | | (34,273 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Expenses | | | 1,337,216 | | | | 1,516,635 | | | | 836,261 | | | | 1,208,425 | | | | 779,961 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income/(Loss) | | | 5,438,595 | | | | 816,652 | | | | 2,620,014 | | | | 648,416 | | | | 806,738 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Written Options | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | 1,554,731 | | | | (53,156,403 | ) | | | (32,693,378 | ) | | | (39,704,721 | ) | | | (23,948,145 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from written option transactions | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 14,367 | | | | 4,056,985 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from securities sold short | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,561,368 | | | | - | |
Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on investments | | | 11,782,343 | | | | 23,270,077 | | | | 9,486,473 | | | | 9,908,366 | | | | 9,066,050 | |
Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on written options | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 101,121 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Written Options | | | 13,337,074 | | | | (29,886,326 | ) | | | (23,206,905 | ) | | | (25,220,620 | ) | | | (10,723,989 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | 18,775,669 | | | $ | (29,069,674 | ) | | $ | (20,586,891 | ) | | $ | (24,572,204 | ) | | $ | (9,917,251 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Bond Fund | | | ICON Core Equity Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | $ | 5,438,595 | | | $ | 4,922,615 | | | $ | 816,652 | | | $ | 452,648 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions, securities sold short and written options | | | 1,554,731 | | | | 669,257 | | | | (53,156,403 | ) | | | (14,748,439 | ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and written options and securities sold short | | | 11,782,343 | | | | (6,778,176 | ) | | | 23,270,077 | | | | (31,524,489 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | 18,775,669 | | | | (1,186,304 | ) | | | (29,069,674 | ) | | | (45,820,280 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | (5,269,023 | ) | | | (5,247,750 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class C | | | (146,269 | ) | | | (88,949 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class Z | | | (19,370 | ) | | | (142 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Net realized gains | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (7,187,602 | ) |
Class C | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (7,656,597 | ) |
Class Z | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (109,019 | ) |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (124,615 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease from dividends and distributions | | | (5,434,662 | ) | | | (5,336,841 | ) | | | - | | | | (15,077,833 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund Share Transactions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 110,025,884 | | | | 52,872,632 | | | | 34,414,296 | | | | 40,848,727 | |
Class C | | | 3,715,970 | | | | 2,345,458 | | | | 3,488,160 | | | | 5,417,694 | |
Class Z | | | 1,024,697 | | | | 10,634 | | | | 568,499 | | | | 375,126 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,065,854 | | | | 1,883,178 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 5,195,686 | | | | 5,171,793 | | | | - | | | | 6,810,276 | |
Class C | | | 141,136 | | | | 86,070 | | | | - | | | | 7,380,164 | |
Class Z | | | 593 | | | | 142 | | | | - | | | | 107,124 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 112,656 | |
Shares repurchased | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | (62,932,616 | ) | | | (73,834,034 | ) | | | (32,263,347 | ) | | | (28,889,006 | ) |
Class C | | | (2,543,325 | ) | | | (1,002,203 | ) | | | (13,186,346 | ) | | | (20,488,331 | ) |
Class Z | | | (14,142 | ) | | | (13,684 | ) | | | (530,397 | ) | | | (68,187 | ) |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | (649,988 | ) | | | (827,329 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions | | | 54,613,883 | | | | (14,363,192 | ) | | | (7,093,269 | ) | | | 12,662,092 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets | | | 67,954,890 | | | | (20,886,337 | ) | | | (36,162,943 | ) | | | (48,236,021 | ) |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 103,718,008 | | | | 124,604,345 | | | | 135,069,591 | | | | 183,305,612 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 171,672,898 | | | $ | 103,718,008 | | | $ | 98,906,648 | | | $ | 135,069,591 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | ICON Long/Short Fund | | | ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | |
Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 2,620,014 | | | $ | 2,873,541 | | | $ | 648,416 | | | $ | 1,479,998 | | | $ | 806,738 | | | $ | 758,092 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (32,693,378 | ) | | | (9,999,212 | ) | | | (35,128,986 | ) | | | (26,496,920 | ) | | | (19,891,160 | ) | | | 1,899,110 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9,486,473 | | | | (15,900,667 | ) | | | 9,908,366 | | | | (37,411,114 | ) | | | 9,167,171 | | | | (12,308,836 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (20,586,891 | ) | | | (23,026,338 | ) | | | (24,572,204 | ) | | | (62,428,036 | ) | | | (9,917,251 | ) | | | (9,651,634 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (2,442,168 | ) | | | (2,634,085 | ) | | | (1,205,084 | ) | | | (399,948 | ) | | | (748,790 | ) | | | (730,001 | ) |
| (123,710 | ) | | | (74,308 | ) | | | (359,390 | ) | | | - | | | | (37,849 | ) | | | (17,592 | ) |
| (2,966 | ) | | | (1,668 | ) | | | (4,344 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,338 | ) | | | (1,990 | ) |
| (17,663 | ) | | | (6,596 | ) | | | (80,999 | ) | | | (7,652 | ) | | | (14,552 | ) | | | (4,914 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | (12,299,870 | ) | | | - | | | | (9,426,798 | ) | | | - | | | | (3,156,831 | ) |
| - | | | | (509,032 | ) | | | - | | | | (1,802,594 | ) | | | - | | | | (103,778 | ) |
| - | | | | (4,033 | ) | | | - | | | | (8,704 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,015 | ) |
| - | | | | (33,610 | ) | | | - | | | | (264,846 | ) | | | - | | | | (13,118 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (2,586,507 | ) | | | (15,563,202 | ) | | | (1,649,817 | ) | | | (11,910,542 | ) | | | (803,529 | ) | | | (4,030,239 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17,031,691 | | | | 32,408,389 | | | | 3,640,010 | | | | 71,979,977 | | | | 14,905,319 | | | | 44,002,873 | |
| 1,003,478 | | | | 1,321,434 | | | | 783,734 | | | | 7,910,378 | | | | 1,277,270 | | | | 2,960,233 | |
| 4,455 | | | | 55,480 | | | | 26,476 | | | | 504,312 | | | | 57,628 | | | | 446,647 | |
| 477,212 | | | | 186,596 | | | | 293,068 | | | | 3,456,617 | | | | 1,280,397 | | | | 687,944 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2,330,556 | | | | 14,280,781 | | | | 1,110,666 | | | | 9,338,356 | | | | 737,233 | | | | 3,844,378 | |
| 113,379 | | | | 550,445 | | | | 331,307 | | | | 1,686,440 | | | | 33,619 | | | | 119,074 | |
| 2,966 | | | | 5,700 | | | | 4,257 | | | | 8,484 | | | | 2,338 | | | | 4,005 | |
| 16,732 | | | | 40,115 | | | | 69,277 | | | | 218,920 | | | | 12,100 | | | | 17,075 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (53,677,014 | ) | | | (35,964,387 | ) | | | (62,354,601 | ) | | | (167,590,194 | ) | | | (50,438,637 | ) | | | (29,452,929 | ) |
| (1,647,586 | ) | | | (1,164,749 | ) | | | (8,349,905 | ) | | | (13,749,105 | ) | | | (1,977,570 | ) | | | (604,737 | ) |
| (11,436 | ) | | | (1,352 | ) | | | (351,623 | ) | | | (271,710 | ) | | | (325,048 | ) | | | (26,662 | ) |
| (521,267 | ) | | | (166,362 | ) | | | (1,949,938 | ) | | | (3,220,063 | ) | | | (687,665 | ) | | | (42,105 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (34,876,834 | ) | | | 11,552,090 | | | | (66,747,272 | ) | | | (89,727,588 | ) | | | (35,123,016 | ) | | | 21,955,796 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (58,050,232 | ) | | | (27,037,450 | ) | | | (92,969,293 | ) | | | (164,066,166 | ) | | | (45,843,796 | ) | | | 8,273,923 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 103,323,582 | | | | 130,361,032 | | | | 125,790,111 | | | | 289,856,277 | | | | 88,090,779 | | | | 79,816,856 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 45,273,350 | | | $ | 103,323,582 | | | $ | 32,820,818 | | | $ | 125,790,111 | | | $ | 42,246,983 | | | $ | 88,090,779 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Bond Fund | | | ICON Core Equity Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Transactions in Fund Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 11,482,901 | | | | 5,266,742 | | | | 4,484,288 | | | | 3,159,841 | |
Class C | | | 394,493 | | | | 230,968 | | | | 493,140 | | | | 415,353 | |
Class Z | | | 106,530 | | | | 1,071 | | | | 69,039 | | | | 26,683 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | 141,844 | | | | 141,172 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 534,012 | | | | 514,757 | | | | - | | | | 459,223 | |
Class C | | | 14,570 | | | | 8,598 | | | | - | | | | 531,329 | |
Class Z | | | 60 | | | | 14 | | | | - | | | | 7,238 | |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7,775 | |
Shares repurchased | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | (6,559,440 | ) | | | (7,363,485 | ) | | | (4,364,896 | ) | | | (2,118,855 | ) |
Class C | | | (266,193 | ) | | | (99,871 | ) | | | (1,833,735 | ) | | | (1,552,228 | ) |
Class Z | | | (1,498 | ) | | | (1,359 | ) | | | (79,984 | ) | | | (4,689 | ) |
Class A | | | - | | | | - | | | | (88,346 | ) | | | (62,207 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) | | | 5,705,435 | | | | (1,442,565 | ) | | | (1,178,650 | ) | | | 1,010,635 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 10,987,779 | | | | 12,430,344 | | | | 12,392,111 | | | | 11,381,476 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 16,693,214 | | | | 10,987,779 | | | | 11,213,461 | | | | 12,392,111 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss) | | $ | (329,006 | ) | | $ | (297,908 | ) | | $ | 1,543,338 | | | $ | 702,010 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | ICON Long/Short Fund | | | ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | |
Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2,000,622 | | | | 2,409,932 | | | | 340,946 | | | | 4,122,378 | | | | 1,569,658 | | | | 3,538,611 | |
| 129,891 | | | | 99,285 | | | | 78,797 | | | | 476,043 | | | | 145,207 | | | | 251,905 | |
| 480 | | | | 4,082 | | | | 2,545 | | | | 30,543 | | | | 5,713 | | | | 35,779 | |
| 54,286 | | | | 13,938 | | | | 28,761 | | | | 205,076 | | | | 137,816 | | | | 56,323 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 259,726 | | | | 1,018,360 | | | | 109,323 | | | | 528,188 | | | | 81,150 | | | | 306,393 | |
| 12,741 | | | | 39,498 | | | | 33,955 | | | | 99,261 | | | | 4,017 | | | | 9,910 | |
| 331 | | | | 416 | | | | 418 | | | | 478 | | | | 243 | | | | 325 | |
| 1,909 | | | | 2,873 | | | | 6,852 | | | | 12,424 | | | | 1,363 | | | | 1,372 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (6,514,734 | ) | | | (2,691,935 | ) | | | (5,931,965 | ) | | | (10,278,275 | ) | | | (5,380,747 | ) | | | (2,379,180 | ) |
| (193,327 | ) | | | (84,944 | ) | | | (831,324 | ) | | | (880,400 | ) | | | (217,823 | ) | | | (50,918 | ) |
| (1,218 | ) | | | (101 | ) | | | (31,165 | ) | | | (15,100 | ) | | | (35,997 | ) | | | (1,992 | ) |
| (56,756 | ) | | | (12,649 | ) | | | (185,853 | ) | | | (199,994 | ) | | | (71,413 | ) | | | (3,410 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (4,306,049 | ) | | | 798,755 | | | | (6,378,710 | ) | | | (5,899,378 | ) | | | (3,760,813 | ) | | | 1,765,118 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8,712,575 | | | | 7,913,820 | | | | 9,239,948 | | | | 15,139,326 | | | | 7,830,173 | | | | 6,065,055 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4,406,526 | | | | 8,712,575 | | | | 2,861,238 | | | | 9,239,948 | | | | 4,069,360 | | | | 7,830,173 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 7,965 | | | $ | 10,408 | | | $ | 170,533 | | | $ | 1,164,664 | | | $ | 6,269 | | | $ | (9,707 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of expenses to
| | | Ratio of net investment
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | average
| | | income to average
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | net assets(a) | | | net assets(a) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Before
| | | After
| | | Before
| | | After
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | | |
| | | | | Income from
| | | Less dividends
| | | | | | | | | | | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | | |
| | | | | investment operations | | | and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| | | | | | | | | | | | Net assets,
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | | |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| | | Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | end of
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | Portfolio
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| | | dividends and
| | | value, end
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | turnover
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | | | distributions | | | of period | | | return* | | | thousands) | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | rate(b) | |
|
ICON Bond Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 9.44 | | | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | 0.84 | | | $ | 1.24 | | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | 10.28 | | | | 13.50 | % | | $ | 166,145 | | | | 1.09 | % | | | 1.00 | %(c) | | | 4.08 | % | | | 4.17 | % | | | 73.71 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 10.02 | | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.55 | ) | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.45 | ) | | | 9.44 | | | | (1.48 | )% | | | 100,985 | | | | 1.08 | % | | | 1.00 | %(c) | | | 4.06 | % | | | 4.14 | % | | | 73.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 10.00 | | | | 0.44 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.47 | | | | (0.45 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.45 | ) | | | 10.02 | | | | 4.80 | % | | | 123,102 | | | | 1.09 | % | | | 1.00 | %(c) | | | 4.34 | % | | | 4.42 | % | | | 34.40 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 10.16 | | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 0.27 | | | | (0.42 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | 10.00 | | | | 2.72 | % | | | 90,324 | | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.01 | %(c) | | | 4.14 | % | | | 4.24 | % | | | 66.82 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.52 | | | | 0.40 | | | | (0.29 | ) | | | 0.11 | | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 10.16 | | | | 1.05 | % | | | 82,415 | | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 3.72 | % | | | 3.80 | % | | | 76.28 | % |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.46 | | | | 0.34 | | | | 0.84 | | | | 1.18 | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | 10.30 | | | | 12.80 | % | | | 4,441 | | | | 2.40 | % | | | 1.60 | %(c) | | | 2.75 | % | | | 3.55 | % | | | 73.71 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 10.05 | | | | 0.35 | | | | (0.55 | ) | | | (0.20 | ) | | | (0.39 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.39 | ) | | | 9.46 | | | | (2.16 | )% | | | 2,725 | | | | 2.42 | % | | | 1.60 | %(c) | | | 2.71 | % | | | 3.53 | % | | | 73.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 10.02 | | | | 0.38 | | | | 0.04 | | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.39 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.39 | ) | | | 10.05 | | | | 4.27 | % | | | 1,491 | | | | 3.15 | % | | | 1.60 | %(c) | | | 2.28 | % | | | 3.82 | % | | | 34.40 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 10.18 | | | | 0.36 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 0.21 | | | | (0.36 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.37 | ) | | | 10.02 | | | | 2.09 | % | | | 968 | | | | 3.08 | % | | | 1.61 | %(c) | | | 2.17 | % | | | 3.64 | % | | | 66.82 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.54 | | | | 0.33 | | | | (0.28 | ) | | | 0.05 | | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | 10.18 | | | | 0.47 | % | | | 988 | | | | 3.42 | % | | | 1.69 | % | | | 1.46 | % | | | 3.19 | % | | | 76.28 | % |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.42 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.81 | | | | 1.26 | | | | (0.42 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.42 | ) | | | 10.26 | | | | 13.79 | % | | | 1,087 | | | | 1.91 | % | | | 0.75 | %(c) | | | 3.34 | % | | | 4.50 | % | | | 73.71 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 10.02 | | | | 0.44 | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (0.47 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 9.42 | | | | (1.43 | )% | | | 8 | | | | 186.00 | % | | | 0.75 | %(c) | | | (180.79 | )% | | | 4.46 | % | | | 73.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 10.00 | | | | 0.46 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.49 | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 10.02 | | | | 5.02 | % | | | 11 | | | | 31.60 | % | | | 0.75 | %(c) | | | (26.18 | )% | | | 4.67 | % | | | 34.40 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 10.15 | | | | 0.45 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 0.30 | | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | 10.00 | | | | 3.06 | % | | | 4 | | | | 25.40 | % | | | 0.76 | %(c) | | | (20.18 | )% | | | 4.47 | % | | | 66.82 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.51 | | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.28 | ) | | | 0.14 | | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 10.15 | | | | 1.30 | % | | | 5 | | | | 74.28 | % | | | 0.84 | % | | | (69.41 | )% | | | 4.03 | % | | | 76.28 | % |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.24 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (2.26 | ) | | | (2.16 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 9.08 | | | | (19.22 | )% | | | 62,963 | | | | 1.37 | % | | | 1.37 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | 208.48 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.59 | | | | 0.09 | | | | (4.07 | ) | | | (3.98 | ) | | | - | | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (1.37 | ) | | | 11.24 | | | | (25.99 | )% | | | 76,606 | | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 0.67 | % | | | 0.67 | % | | | 173.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 15.22 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 2.46 | | | | 2.48 | | | | - | | | | (1.11 | ) | | | (1.11 | ) | | | 16.59 | | | | 17.05 | % | | | 88,246 | | | | 1.24 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | 0.12 | % | | | 0.13 | % | | | 116.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.14 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 0.67 | | | | 0.65 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 15.22 | | | | 4.35 | % | | | 104,966 | | | | 1.23 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | (0.13 | )% | | | (0.13 | )% | | | 148.67 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 12.78 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | 2.41 | | | | 2.36 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 15.14 | | | | 18.47 | % | | | 93,780 | | | | 1.27 | % | | | N/A | | | | (0.33 | )% | | | N/A | | | | 136.82 | % |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.46 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (2.12 | ) | | | (2.09 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 8.37 | | | | (19.98 | )% | | | 33,089 | | | | 2.25 | % | | | 2.25 | % | | | 0.44 | % | | | 0.44 | % | | | 208.48 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 15.66 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (3.82 | ) | | | (3.83 | ) | | | - | | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (1.37 | ) | | | 10.46 | | | | (26.61 | )% | | | 55,364 | | | | 2.05 | % | | | 2.05 | % | | | (0.09 | )% | | | (0.09 | )% | | | 173.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.52 | | | | (0.10 | ) | | | 2.35 | | | | 2.25 | | | | - | | | | (1.11 | ) | | | (1.11 | ) | | | 15.66 | | | | 16.25 | % | | | 92,350 | | | | 2.02 | % | | | 2.02 | % | | | (0.68 | )% | | | (0.67 | )% | | | 116.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 14.58 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | 0.65 | | | | 0.51 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 14.52 | | | | 3.54 | % | | | 95,842 | | | | 2.03 | % | | | 2.02 | % | | | (0.91 | )% | | | (0.91 | )% | | | 148.67 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 12.41 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 2.32 | | | | 2.17 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 14.58 | | | | 17.49 | % | | | 78,145 | | | | 2.04 | % | | | N/A | | | | (1.10 | )% | | | N/A | | | | 136.82 | % |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.24 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (2.27 | ) | | | (2.17 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 9.07 | | | | (19.31 | )% | | | 887 | | | | 1.45 | % | | | 1.45 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 208.48 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.62 | | | | 0.09 | | | | (4.10 | ) | | | (4.01 | ) | | | - | | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (1.37 | ) | | | 11.24 | | | | (26.11 | )% | | | 1,222 | | | | 1.34 | % | | | 1.34 | % | | | 0.65 | % | | | 0.65 | % | | | 173.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 15.23 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 2.47 | | | | 2.50 | | | | - | | | | (1.11 | ) | | | (1.11 | ) | | | 16.62 | | | | 17.18 | % | | | 1,320 | | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 0.17 | % | | | 0.17 | % | | | 116.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.12 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 0.66 | | | | 0.68 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 15.23 | | | | 4.57 | % | | | 1,291 | | | | 0.99 | % | | | 0.98 | % | | | 0.12 | % | | | 0.12 | % | | | 148.67 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 12.79 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | 2.47 | | | | 2.33 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 15.12 | | | | 18.22 | % | | | 1,165 | | | | 1.76 | % | | | N/A | | | | (0.94 | )% | | | N/A | | | | 136.82 | % |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.92 | | | | 0.01 | | | | (2.20 | ) | | | (2.19 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 8.73 | | | | (20.05 | )% | | | 1,969 | | | | 2.43 | % | | | 2.43 | % | | | 0.11 | % | | | 0.11 | % | | | 208.48 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.32 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (4.02 | ) | | | (4.03 | ) | | | - | | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (1.37 | ) | | | 10.92 | | | | (26.76 | )% | | | 1,878 | | | | 2.09 | % | | | 2.09 | % | | | (0.08 | )% | | | (0.08 | )% | | | 173.81 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 15.09 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 2.40 | | | | 2.34 | | | | - | | | | (1.11 | ) | | | (1.11 | ) | | | 16.32 | | | | 16.25 | % | | | 1,390 | | | | 1.66 | % | | | 1.65 | % | | | (0.42 | )% | | | (0.41 | )% | | | 116.81 | % |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 15.80 | | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.71 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 15.09 | | | | (4.49 | )% | | | 128 | | | | 7.44 | % | | | 7.43 | % | | | (5.45 | )% | | | (5.44 | )% | | | 148.67 | % |
Financial Highlights
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
63
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of expenses to
| | | Ratio of net investment
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | average
| | | income to average
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | net assets(a) | | | net assets(a) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Before
| | | After
| | | Before
| | | After
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | | |
| | | | | Income from
| | | Less dividends
| | | | | | | | | | | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | | |
| | | | | investment operations | | | and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| | | | | | | | | | | | Net assets,
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | | |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| | | Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | end of
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | Portfolio
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| | | dividends and
| | | value, end
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | turnover
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | | | distributions | | | of period | | | return* | | | thousands) | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | rate(b) | |
|
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 11.87 | | | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | (1.59 | ) | | $ | (1.19 | ) | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | 10.28 | | | | (9.48 | )% | | $ | 41,623 | | | | 1.40 | % | | | 1.40 | %(c) | | | 4.58 | % | | | 4.58 | % | | | 148.56 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.48 | | | | 0.34 | | | | (3.00 | ) | | | (2.66 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (1.64 | ) | | | (1.95 | ) | | | 11.87 | | | | (17.76 | )% | | | 98,501 | | | | 1.23 | %(g) | | | 1.23 | %(c) | | | 2.48 | % | | | 2.48 | % | | | 132.93 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.94 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 2.26 | | | | 2.55 | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (1.01 | ) | | | 16.48 | | | | 17.67 | % | | | 124,668 | | | | 1.23 | %(h) | | | 1.22 | %(c) | | | 1.86 | % | | | 1.86 | % | | | 121.30 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.79 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.59 | | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (1.09 | ) | | | (1.44 | ) | | | 14.94 | | | | 4.02 | % | | | 133,835 | | | | 1.23 | % | | | 1.23 | %(c) | | | 1.96 | % | | | 1.96 | % | | | 162.84 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 14.33 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 1.54 | | | | 1.81 | | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | 15.79 | | | | 12.71 | % | | | 129,681 | | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.79 | % | | | 1.79 | % | | | 143.82 | % |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.73 | | | | 0.32 | | | | (1.56 | ) | | | (1.24 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.33 | ) | | | 10.16 | | | | (10.12 | )% | | | 3,348 | | | | 2.69 | % | | | 2.21 | %(c) | | | 3.21 | % | | | 3.69 | % | | | 148.56 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.33 | | | | 0.21 | | | | (2.97 | ) | | | (2.76 | ) | | | (0.20 | ) | | | (1.64 | ) | | | (1.84 | ) | | | 11.73 | | | | (18.60 | )% | | | 4,461 | | | | 2.34 | %(g) | | | 2.20 | %(c) | | | 1.40 | % | | | 1.54 | % | | | 132.93 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.85 | | | | 0.14 | | | | 2.23 | | | | 2.37 | | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (0.89 | ) | | | 16.33 | | | | 16.45 | % | | | 5,331 | | | | 2.33 | %(h) | | | 2.21 | %(c) | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.87 | % | | | 121.30 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.71 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.44 | | | | (0.21 | ) | | | (1.09 | ) | | | (1.30 | ) | | | 14.85 | | | | 3.03 | % | | | 4,753 | | | | 2.29 | % | | | 2.20 | %(c) | | | 0.91 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 162.84 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 14.27 | | | | 0.13 | | | | 1.54 | | | | 1.67 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) | | | 15.71 | | | | 11.71 | % | | | 3,861 | | | | 2.53 | % | | | 2.20 | % | | | 0.53 | % | | | 0.86 | % | | | 143.82 | % |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.84 | | | | 0.41 | | | | (1.57 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.42 | ) | | | 10.26 | | | | (9.20 | )% | | | 66 | | | | 8.73 | % | | | 1.21 | %(c) | | | (2.83 | )% | | | 4.69 | % | | | 148.56 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.46 | | | | 0.38 | | | | (3.04 | ) | | | (2.66 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (1.64 | ) | | | (1.96 | ) | | | 11.84 | | | | (17.81 | )% | | | 81 | | | | 11.18 | %(g) | | | 1.20 | %(c) | | | (7.14 | )% | | | 2.84 | % | | | 132.93 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.94 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 2.26 | | | | 2.56 | | | | (0.37 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (1.04 | ) | | | 16.46 | | | | 17.74 | % | | | 40 | | | | 11.08 | %(h) | | | 1.21 | %(c) | | | (7.96 | )% | | | 1.92 | % | | | 121.30 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.79 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.59 | | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (1.09 | ) | | | (1.44 | ) | | | 14.94 | | | | 4.04 | % | | | 24 | | | | 4.36 | % | | | 1.20 | %(c) | | | (1.20 | )% | | | 1.96 | % | | | 162.84 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 14.33 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 1.55 | | | | 1.83 | | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.37 | ) | | | 15.79 | | | | 12.89 | % | | | 23 | | | | 9.37 | % | | | 1.20 | % | | | (6.31 | )% | | | 1.86 | % | | | 143.82 | % |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.80 | | | | 0.38 | | | | (1.57 | ) | | | (1.19 | ) | | | (0.40 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.40 | ) | | | 10.21 | | | | (9.53 | )% | | | 237 | | | | 5.68 | % | | | 1.46 | %(c) | | | 0.26 | % | | | 4.48 | % | | | 148.56 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 16.40 | | | | 0.31 | | | | (2.99 | ) | | | (2.68 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (1.64 | ) | | | (1.92 | ) | | | 11.80 | | | | (17.98 | )% | | | 281 | | | | 5.40 | %(g) | | | 1.44 | %(c) | | | (1.67 | )% | | | 2.29 | % | | | 132.93 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.92 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 2.22 | | | | 2.49 | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (1.01 | ) | | | 16.40 | | | | 17.29 | % | | | 322 | | | | 3.77 | %(h) | | | 1.45 | %(c) | | | (0.60 | )% | | | 1.73 | % | | | 121.30 | % |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 15.04 | | | | 0.08 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.19 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.19 | ) | | | 14.92 | | | | 0.46 | % | | | 19 | | | | 38.36 | % | | | 1.44 | %(c) | | | (35.18 | )% | | | 1.74 | % | | | 162.84 | % |
ICON Long/Short Fund(f) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.76 | | | | 0.16 | | | | (1.91 | ) | | | (1.75 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.28 | ) | | | 11.73 | | | | (12.40 | )% | | | 15,209 | | | | 2.03 | % | | | 1.97 | %(c) | | | 1.44 | % | | | 1.50 | % | | | 131.79 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 19.26 | | | | 0.13 | | | | (4.86 | ) | | | (4.73 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (0.77 | ) | | | 13.76 | | | | (25.43 | )% | | | 93,243 | | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.47 | %(c) | | | 0.78 | % | | | 0.78 | % | | | 174.59 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 17.19 | | | | 0.07 | | | | 2.47 | | | | 2.54 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 19.26 | | | | 15.05 | % | | | 238,943 | | | | 1.46 | % | | | 1.46 | %(c) | | | 0.39 | % | | | 0.39 | % | | | 105.00 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.99 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 1.17 | | | | 1.20 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 17.19 | | | | 7.50 | % | | | 168,522 | | | | 1.45 | %(d) | | | 1.45 | %(c) | | | 0.18 | %(d) | | | 0.18 | % | | | 94.62 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.92 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 2.65 | | | | 2.57 | | | | - | | | | (0.50 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 15.99 | | | | 18.69 | % | | | 53,158 | | | | 1.58 | % | | | 1.58 | % | | | (0.53 | )% | | | (0.53 | )% | | | 112.06 | % |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.13 | | | | 0.06 | | | | (1.81 | ) | | | (1.75 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.19 | ) | | | 11.19 | | | | (13.10 | )% | | | 15,093 | | | | 2.95 | % | | | 2.81 | %(c) | | | 0.44 | % | | | 0.58 | % | | | 131.79 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 18.54 | | | | - | | | | (4.67 | ) | | | (4.67 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | 13.13 | | | | (26.09 | )% | | | 27,148 | | | | 2.31 | % | | | 2.31 | %(c) | | | (0.01 | )% | | | (0.01 | )% | | | 174.59 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 16.67 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 2.38 | | | | 2.30 | | | | - | | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | 18.54 | | | | 14.05 | % | | | 43,986 | | | | 2.33 | % | | | 2.32 | %(c) | | | (0.48 | )% | | | (0.47 | )% | | | 105.00 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.63 | | | | (0.13 | ) | | | 1.17 | | | | 1.04 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 16.67 | | | | 6.65 | % | | | 26,763 | | | | 2.30 | %(d) | | | 2.30 | %(c) | | | (0.78 | )%(d) | | | (0.78 | )% | | | 94.62 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.73 | | | | (0.19 | ) | | | 2.59 | | | | 2.40 | | | | - | | | | (0.50 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 15.63 | | | | 17.68 | % | | | 13,925 | | | | 2.37 | % | | | 2.32 | % | | | (1.35 | )% | | | (1.31 | )% | | | 112.06 | % |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.81 | | | | 0.17 | | | | (1.89 | ) | | | (1.72 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.29 | ) | | | 11.80 | | | | (12.10 | )% | | | 128 | | | | 4.40 | % | | | 1.73 | %(c) | | | (1.12 | )% | | | 1.55 | % | | | 131.79 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 19.30 | | | | 0.18 | | | | (4.93 | ) | | | (4.75 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | 13.81 | | | | (25.45 | )% | | | 540 | | | | 2.37 | % | | | 1.44 | %(c) | | | 0.16 | % | | | 1.09 | % | | | 174.59 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 17.29 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 2.41 | | | | 2.51 | | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 19.30 | | | | 14.81 | % | | | 447 | | | | 1.25 | % | | | 1.25 | %(c) | | | 0.55 | % | | | 0.55 | % | | | 105.00 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 16.05 | | | | 0.11 | | | | 1.13 | | | | 1.24 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 17.29 | | | | 7.73 | % | | | 3,306 | | | | 1.17 | %(d) | | | 1.17 | %(c) | | | 0.61 | %(d) | | | 0.61 | % | | | 94.62 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.94 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | 2.66 | | | | 2.61 | | | | - | | | | (0.50 | ) | | | (0.50 | ) | | | 16.05 | | | | 18.96 | % | | | 140 | | | | 3.07 | % | | | 1.33 | % | | | (2.07 | )% | | | (0.33 | )% | | | 112.06 | % |
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
65
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of expenses to
| | | Ratio of net investment
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | average
| | | income to average
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | net assets(a) | | | net assets(a) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Before
| | | | | | Before
| | | After
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | expense
| | | After
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | | |
| | | | | Income from
| | | Less dividends
| | | | | | | | | | | | limitation/
| | | expense
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | | |
| | | | | investment operations | | | and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | recoupment
| | | limitation/
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| | | | | | | | | | | | Net assets,
| | | and transfer
| | | recoupment
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | | |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| | | Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | end of
| | | agent
| | | and transfer
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | Portfolio
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| | | dividends and
| | | value, end
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | earnings
| | | agent earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | turnover
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | | | distributions | | | of period | | | return* | | | thousands) | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | rate(b) | |
|
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 13.69 | | | $ | 0.14 | | | $ | (1.88 | ) | | $ | (1.74 | ) | | $ | (0.28 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | (0.28 | ) | | $ | 11.67 | | | | (12.39 | )% | | $ | 2,390 | | | | 2.64 | % | | | 2.06 | %(c) | | | 0.76 | % | | | 1.34 | % | | | 131.79 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 19.20 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (4.85 | ) | | | (4.75 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (0.76 | ) | | | 13.69 | | | | (25.61 | )% | | | 4,859 | | | | 1.72 | % | | | 1.72 | %(c) | | | 0.63 | % | | | 0.63 | % | | | 174.59 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 17.18 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 2.46 | | | | 2.51 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.49 | ) | | | 19.20 | | | | 14.94 | % | | | 6,481 | | | | 1.68 | % | | | 1.67 | %(c) | | | 0.27 | % | | | 0.26 | % | | | 105.00 | % |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 17.52 | | | | 0.05 | | | | (0.39 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 17.18 | | | | (1.94 | )% | | | 821 | | | | 2.51 | % | | | 1.54 | %(c) | | | (0.01 | )% | | | 0.96 | % | | | 94.62 | % |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.28 | | | | 0.15 | | | | (0.85 | ) | | | (0.70 | ) | | | (0.15 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 10.43 | | | | (5.98 | )% | | | 37,475 | | | | 1.44 | % | | | 1.44 | %(c) | | | 1.62 | % | | | 1.62 | % | | | 194.31 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 13.18 | | | | 0.12 | | | | (1.39 | ) | | | (1.27 | ) | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.63 | ) | | | 11.28 | | | | (10.04 | )% | | | 82,599 | | | | 1.30 | % | | | 1.30 | %(c) | | | 0.93 | % | | | 0.93 | % | | | 184.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.80 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 1.64 | | | | 1.62 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (2.23 | ) | | | (2.24 | ) | | | 13.18 | | | | 12.51 | % | | | 77,195 | | | | 1.50 | % | | | 1.50 | %(c) | | | (0.11 | )% | | | (0.11 | )% | | | 150.42 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.88 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.04 | | | | - | | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | 13.80 | | | | 0.30 | % | | | 60,321 | | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.47 | %(c) | | | (0.04 | )% | | | (0.04 | )% | | | 159.55 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.25 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 1.26 | | | | 1.20 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 13.88 | | | | 9.21 | % | | | 54,347 | | | | 1.54 | % | | | 1.45 | % | | | (0.57 | )% | | | (0.48 | )% | | | 159.35 | % |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.72 | | | | 0.05 | | | | (0.79 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (0.10 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.10 | ) | | | 9.88 | | | | (6.69 | )% | | | 3,199 | | | | 2.72 | % | | | 2.24 | %(c) | | | 0.06 | % | | | 0.54 | % | | | 194.31 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 12.61 | | | | 0.01 | | | | (1.32 | ) | | | (1.31 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.58 | ) | | | 10.72 | | | | (10.85 | )% | | | 4,207 | | | | 2.52 | % | | | 2.21 | %(c) | | | (0.24 | )% | | | 0.07 | % | | | 184.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.39 | | | | (0.11 | ) | | | 1.56 | | | | 1.45 | | | | - | | | | (2.23 | ) | | | (2.23 | ) | | | 12.61 | | | | 11.53 | % | | | 2,291 | | | | 2.76 | % | | | 2.25 | %(c) | | | (1.34 | )% | | | (0.83 | )% | | | 150.42 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.56 | | | | (0.11 | ) | | | 0.06 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | 13.39 | | | | (0.36 | )% | | | 2,842 | | | | 2.61 | % | | | 2.23 | %(c) | | | (1.23 | )% | | | (0.85 | )% | | | 159.55 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.06 | | | | (0.16 | ) | | | 1.23 | | | | 1.07 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 13.56 | | | | 8.31 | % | | | 3,652 | | | | 2.80 | % | | | 2.20 | % | | | (1.80 | )% | | | (1.20 | )% | | | 159.35 | % |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.46 | | | | 0.22 | | | | (0.91 | ) | | | (0.69 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.16 | ) | | | 10.61 | | | | (5.79 | )% | | | 72 | | | | 3.55 | % | | | 1.24 | %(c) | | | (0.10 | )% | | | 2.21 | % | | | 194.31 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 13.37 | | | | 0.15 | | | | (1.43 | ) | | | (1.28 | ) | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.63 | ) | | | 11.46 | | | | (9.99 | )% | | | 422 | | | | 4.39 | % | | | 1.21 | %(c) | | | (1.98 | )% | | | 1.20 | % | | | 184.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.94 | | | | 0.01 | | | | 1.65 | | | | 1.66 | | | | - | | | | (2.23 | ) | | | (2.23 | ) | | | 13.37 | | | | 12.67 | % | | | 37 | | | | 17.99 | % | | | 1.25 | %(c) | | | (16.64 | )% | | | 0.10 | % | | | 150.42 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.94 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 0.12 | | | | - | | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | 13.94 | | | | 0.88 | % | | | 5 | | | | 3.52 | % | | | 1.22 | %(c) | | | (2.14 | )% | | | 0.15 | % | | | 159.55 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.29 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | 1.25 | | | | 1.22 | | | | - | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 13.94 | | | | 9.42 | % | | | 3 | | | | 53.94 | % | | | 1.20 | % | | | (52.97 | )% | | | (0.23 | )% | | | 159.35 | % |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 11.25 | | | | 0.09 | | | | (0.80 | ) | | | (0.71 | ) | | | (0.15 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | 10.39 | | | | (6.05 | )% | | | 1,501 | | | | 2.87 | % | | | 1.49 | %(c) | | | (0.43 | )% | | | 0.95 | % | | | 194.31 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 13.15 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (1.38 | ) | | | (1.28 | ) | | | (0.09 | ) | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.62 | ) | | | 11.25 | | | | (10.18 | )% | | | 863 | | | | 3.75 | % | | | 1.46 | %(c) | | | (1.44 | )% | | | 0.85 | % | | | 184.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.80 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | 1.65 | | | | 1.62 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (2.23 | ) | | | (2.27 | ) | | | 13.15 | | | | 12.51 | % | | | 294 | | | | 7.12 | % | | | 1.49 | %(c) | | | (5.85 | )% | | | (0.22 | )% | | | 150.42 | % |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 13.73 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.04 | | | | 0.07 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 13.80 | | | | 0.51 | % | | | 15 | | | | 42.18 | % | | | 1.47 | %(c) | | | (40.01 | )% | | | 0.69 | % | | | 159.55 | % |
| | |
(x) | | Calculated using the average shares method. |
* | | The total return calculation is for the period indicated and excludes any sales charges. |
(a) | | Annualized for periods less than a year. |
(b) | | Portfolio turnover is calculated at the Fund level and is not annualized. |
(c) | | The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the interest expense. |
(d) | | Prior disclosures were reclassified to be consistent with current presentation. |
(e) | | Amount less than $0.005. |
(f) | | The Fund’s operating expenses, not including dividends on short positions, are contractually limited to 1.55% for Class I, 2.30% for Class C, 1.25% for Class Z and 1.55% for Class A. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including the dividends on short positions. |
(g) | | The ratio of expenses to average net assets before expense limitation and transfer agent earnings credit including expenses that were paid on behalf of the Fund by a third party related to a tax matter were 1.43%, 2.54%, 11.38% and 5.60% for Class I, C, Z and A, respectively. |
(h) | | The ratio of expenses to average net assets before expense limitation and transfer agent earnings credit including a potential Internal Revenue Code section 860 deficiency dividend expense were 1.81%, 2.91%, 11.66% and 4.35% for Class I, C, Z and A, respectively. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
67
Notes To Financial Statements
September 30, 2009
1. Organization
The ICON Bond Fund (“Bond Fund”), ICON Core Equity Fund (“Core Equity Fund”), ICON Equity Income Fund (“Equity Income Fund”), ICON Long/Short Fund (“Long/Short Fund”) and ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund (“Risk-Managed Equity Fund”) (formerly ICON Income Opportunity Fund) are series funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end investment management company. Each Fund offers four classes of shares: Class I, Class C, Class Z and Class A with the exception of Bond Fund, which offers three classes of shares: Class I, Class C and Class Z. All classes have equal rights as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that each Class may bear different distribution fees, registration costs, legal costs, mailing and printing costs and shareholder servicing costs and each Class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. There are currently 12 other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.
Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The investment objective of the Bond Fund is maximum total return. The investment objective of the Core Equity Fund is long-term capital appreciation with a secondary objective of capital preservation. The investment objective of the Equity Income Fund is modest capital appreciation and income. The investment objective of the Long/Short Fund is capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Risk-Managed Equity Fund is modest capital appreciation and to maximize realized gains.
The Funds may have elements of risk, including the risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Investing in fixed income securities such as bonds involves interest rate risk. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities generally decreases. Additionally, the Bond Fund may invest in medium-and lower-quality debt securities. High-yield bonds involve a greater risk of default and price volatility than U.S. government and other high-quality bonds. The Long/Short Fund engages in short selling; there are risks associated with selling short, including the risk that the Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale, resulting in a loss. The Long/Short Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited as a loss
68 Notes to Financial Statements
occurs when the value of a security sold short increases. The Risk-Managed Equity Fund invests in call options; call options involve certain risks, such as limited gains and lack of liquidity of the underlying securities, and are not suitable for all investors. There are also risks associated with small- and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity and small market share. Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers.
The Risk-Managed Equity Fund overweighted the Financial sector which may cause the Fund’s performance to be susceptible to the economic, business or other developments that affect that sector.
In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be minimal.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Investment Valuation
The Funds’ securities and other assets are valued at the closing price at the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (the
Notes to Financial Statements 69
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
“NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open, except that securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day.
The Funds use pricing services to obtain the market value of securities in their portfolios; if a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation quote is considered inaccurate or does not reflect the market value of the security, prices may be obtained through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (“Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.
Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Options are valued at their closing mid-price on the market with the most volume. Mid-price is the average of the closing bid and closing ask prices. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued in accordance with the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.
The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.
Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value.
70 Notes to Financial Statements
Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 — significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs.
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in certain foreign markets generally are reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2009:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Liabilities in
| | | Level 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Securities Sold Short
| | | Investments
| |
Fund Name | | in Securities | | | and Written Options | | | in Securities | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund |
Corporate Bonds | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 163,954,897 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,142,191 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 2,877,101 | | | | - | | | | - | |
U.S. Government and U.S. Government Agency Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 875,325 | |
Foreign Government Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 547,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 2,877,101 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 170,519,913 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 96,115,151 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 27,814,062 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,248,126 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 123,929,213 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,248,126 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 32,709,955 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Exchange Traded Funds | | | 3,774,963 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Corporate Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 2,437,232 | |
U.S. Government Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4,173,321 | |
Preferred Stock | | | 536,272 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Call Options Purchased | | | 403,537 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 383,755 | |
Convertible Corporate Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 330,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 37,424,727 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 7,324,308 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Notes to Financial Statements 71
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Liabilities in
| | | Level 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Securities Sold Short
| | | Investments
| |
| | in Securities | | | and Written Options | | | in Securities | |
| |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 27,985,428 | | | $ | (4,728,960 | ) | | $ | - | |
Corporate Bonds | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6,674,328 | |
Preferred Stock | | | 478,365 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,856,228 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 4,590,112 | | | | (9,066,750 | ) | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 33,053,905 | | | $ | (13,795,710 | ) | | $ | 8,530,556 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 41,930,436 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7,938,217 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 4,073,701 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Put Options Purchased | | | 113,275 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Call Options Written | | | - | | | | (1,302,150 | ) | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 46,117,412 | | | $ | (1,302,150 | ) | | $ | 7,938,217 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2009.
Foreign Currency Translation
The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.
The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.
Derivatives
Each Fund may use derivatives for various purposes. The Funds’ use of derivatives for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 was limited to written and purchased options. Following is a summary of how these
72 Notes to Financial Statements
derivatives are treated in the financial statements and their impact on the Funds:
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
| | Statement of
| | | | | Statement of
| | | |
| | Assets and
| | | | | Assets and
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted
| | Liabilities
| | Fair
| | | Liabilities
| | Fair
| |
for as hedging instruments | | Location | | Value | | | Location | | Value | |
| |
|
Purchased option contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | Investments, | | $ | 69,273 | | | Investments, | | $ | - | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | at value | | | - | | | at value | | | 25,111 | |
Written option contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | Options written, at value | | $ | 56,775 | | | Options written, at value | | $ | - | |
Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Operations
| | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain/(loss) on
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted
| | Derivatives Recognized in
| | | |
for as hedging instruments | | Operations | | Amount | |
| |
|
Purchased option contracts | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | Net realized gain/(loss) from | | $ | (250,038 | ) |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | investment transactions | | | 3,832,020 | |
Written option contracts | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | Net realized gain/(loss) from | | $ | 14,367 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | written option transactions | | | 4,056,985 | |
Notes to Financial Statements 73
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Operations
| | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain/(loss) on
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted
| | Derivatives Recognized in
| | | |
for as hedging instruments | | Operations | | Amount | |
| |
|
Purchased option contracts | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | Change in unrealized net | | $ | 205,936 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity | | appreciation/(depreciation) on | | | (1,136 | ) |
Fund | | investments | | | | |
Written option contracts | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | Change in unrealized net | | $ | – | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity | | appreciation/(depreciation) on | | | 101,121 | |
Fund | | written options | | | | |
Information about derivative instruments reflected as of the date of this report is generally indicative of the type and volume of derivative activity for the year ended September 30, 2009.
The Funds value derivatives at fair value, as described below, and recognize changes in fair value currently in the results of operations. Accordingly, the Funds do not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges.
Options Transactions
The Risk-Managed Equity Fund’s primary investment strategy involves the use of options. Each of the other Funds may also purchase and/or write (sell) call and put options on any security in which it may invest. The Funds utilize options to hedge against changes in market conditions and to provide market exposure while trying to reduce transaction costs.
Option contracts involve market risk and can be highly volatile. Should prices of securities or securities indexes move in an unexpected manner, the Funds may not achieve the desired benefits and may realize losses and thus be in a worse position than if such strategies had not been utilized.
When a Fund writes a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium received is included on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option. If an option expires on its stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If a written call option on an individual security is
74 Notes to Financial Statements
exercised, a gain or loss is realized for the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from the sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written call option on a securities index is exercised, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally received, the exercise price and the market value of the index. If a written put option on an individual security is exercised, the cost of the security acquired is decreased by the premium originally received. As a writer of an option, a Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the individual security or securities index underlying the written option. Additionally, written call options may involve the risk of limited gains, lack of liquidity for the option and lack of liquidity for the security or securities index.
Each Fund may also purchase put and call options. When a Fund purchases a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium paid is included on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment, and is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If the Fund exercises a call option on an individual security, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If the Fund exercises a put option on an individual security, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such a sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. If the Fund exercises a put or a call option on a security index, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally paid or received, the exercise price and the market value of the index. Written and purchased options are non-income producing securities.
As of September 30, 2009, the Equity Income Fund engaged in purchased call options transactions and the Risk-Managed Equity Fund engaged in written call and purchased put options transactions. The Long/Short Fund engaged in written call options during the year. All open options contracts are included on each Fund’s Schedule of Investments.
The Long/Short Fund and the Risk-Managed Equity Fund’s written options are collateralized by cash and/or securities held in a segregated account at the Fund’s custodian. Such collateral is restricted from the Funds’ use. The cash collateral held for the prime broker and/or the borrowings from the prime broker are included on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The securities pledged as collateral are included on the Schedule of Investments.
Notes to Financial Statements 75
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The number of option contracts written and the premiums received by the Long/Short Fund and the Risk-Managed Equity Fund during the year ended September 30, 2009, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Long/Short Fund | | | Risk-Managed Equity Fund | |
| | Number of
| | | Premiums
| | | Number of
| | | Premiums
| |
| | Contracts | | | Received | | | Contracts | | | Received | |
| |
Options outstanding, beginning of year | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | 760 | | | $ | 4,557,454 | |
Options written during year | | | 3,160 | | | | 14,367 | | | | 50,112 | | | | 173,600,116 | |
Options expired during year | | | (3,160 | ) | | | (14,367 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Options closed during year | | | - | | | | - | | | | (50,462 | ) | | | (176,798,645 | ) |
Options exercised during year | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Options outstanding, end of year | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | 410 | | | $ | 1,358,925 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short Sales
The Long/Short Fund may engage in short sales (selling securities it does not own) as part of its normal investment activities. The Long/Short Fund enters into short positions in equity securities identified as being overvalued.
Short sales involve market risk. If a security sold short increases in price, the Long/Short Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale price, resulting in a loss. These short sales are collateralized by cash and/or securities held with the Fund’s prime broker and in a segregated account at the Fund’s custodian. The collateral required is determined daily by reference to the market value of the short positions. Such collateral for the Funds is restricted from use. The cash collateral that is restricted from use is included on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Deposits for short sales.” The securities pledged as collateral that are restricted from use are included on the Schedule of Investments. Dividends received on short sales are treated as an expense on the Statement of Operations. Liabilities for securities sold short are reported at market value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such liabilities are subject to off-balance sheet risk to the extent of any future increases in market value of the securities sold short. The ultimate liability for securities sold short may exceed the liabilities recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Liabilities for securities sold short are closed out by purchasing the applicable securities for delivery to the Fund’s prime broker. As of September 30, 2009, the Long/Short Fund engaged in short selling. The short positions are included in the Schedule of Securities Sold Short on the Schedule of Investments.
76 Notes to Financial Statements
Securities Lending
Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to non-affiliated qualified parties. The Funds seek to earn additional income through securities lending. There is the risk of delay in recovering a loaned security. The Funds do not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan; however, the Funds may attempt to call back the loan and vote the proxy.
All loans will be continuously secured by collateral which consists of cash. Brown Brothers Harriman (the “Lending Agent”) may invest the cash collateral in the Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, which complies with Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act relating to money market funds.
The cash collateral invested by the Lending Agent is disclosed on the Schedule of Investments. The lending fees received and the Funds’ portion of the interest income earned on cash collateral are included on the Statement of Operations, if applicable.
As of September 30, 2009, the following Funds had securities with the following values on loan:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Value of
| | | Value of
| |
Fund | | Loaned Securities | | | Collateral | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 2,769,200 | | | $ | 2,877,101 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 26,956,341 | | | | 27,814,062 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 4,459,359 | | | | 4,590,112 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 3,949,994 | | | | 4,073,701 | |
The value of the collateral above could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before September 30, 2009. It may also include collateral received from the pre-funding of loans.
Income Taxes
The Funds intend to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes, or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains.
Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.
Notes to Financial Statements 77
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Bond Fund distributes net investment income, if any, to shareholders monthly. The Equity Income Fund and the Risk-Managed Equity Fund intend to distribute net investment income, if any, to shareholders quarterly. Other Funds distribute income, if any, annually. The Funds distribute net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryovers. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.
The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past four years, no examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Investment Income
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the life of the respective securities.
Investment Transactions
Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.
78 Notes to Financial Statements
Allocation of Income and Expenses
Each class of a Fund’s shares bears expenses incurred specifically on its behalf and, in addition, each class bears a portion of general expenses, based upon relative net assets of each class. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned between all Funds in the Trust based upon relative net assets. In calculating the net asset value per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses other than class-specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets.
3. Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Investment Advisory Fees
ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. ICON Advisers receives a monthly management fee that is computed daily at an annual rate of 0.60% of average daily net assets of the Bond Fund, 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Core Equity, Equity Income and Risk-Managed Equity Funds, and 0.85% of average daily net assets of the Long/Short Fund.
ICON Advisers has contractually agreed to limit its investment advisory fee and/or reimburse certain of the Funds’ operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, dividends on short sales and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to ensure that the Funds’ operating expenses do not exceed the following amounts:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Class I | | | Class C | | | Class Z | | | Class A | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | | 1.00% | | | | 1.60% | | | | 0.75% | | | | N/A | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 1.45% | | | | 2.20% | | | | 1.20% | | | | 1.45% | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 1.55% | | | | 2.30% | | | | 1.25% | | | | 1.55% | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 1.45% | | | | 2.20% | | | | 1.20% | | | | 1.45% | |
The Funds’ expense limitation will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2020. To the extent ICON Advisers reimburses or absorbs fees and expenses, it may seek payment of such amounts for up to three years after the expenses were reimbursed or absorbed. A Fund will make no such payment, however, if the total Fund operating expenses exceed the expense limits in effect at the time the expenses were reimbursed or at the time these payments are proposed.
Notes to Financial Statements 79
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of September 30, 2009 the following amounts were still available for recoupment by ICON Advisers based upon their potential expiration dates:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund | | 2010 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 | |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 101,907 | | | $ | 110,767 | | | $ | 144,367 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 13,070 | | | | 24,557 | | | | 36,020 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | - | | | | 4,673 | | | | 62,226 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 20,262 | | | | 27,551 | | | | 34,273 | |
Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi”) is the fund accounting agent for the Funds. For its services, the Trust pays Citi 0.03% on the first $1.75 billion of net assets, 0.0175% on net assets over $1.75 billion and up to $5 billion, and 0.01% on net assets in excess of $5 billion.
Brown Brothers Harriman (“BBH”) is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. Effective July 1, 2009, for domestic custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.0050% on the first $250 million of assets, 0.0040% on the second $250 million of assets and 0.0025% on domestic assets above $500 million, plus certain transaction charges. Prior to July 1, 2009, the Trust paid BBH 0.0065% on the first $50 million of assets and 0.0050% on domestic assets above $50 million. For foreign custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.03% on foreign assets plus certain transaction charges.
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”) is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an account fee of $13.25 per open account, $7.00 per networked account, $1.80 per closed account, plus certain other transaction and cusip charges.
Transfer agent earnings credits are credits received for interest which results from overnight balances used by the transfer agent, BFDS, for clearing shareholder transactions. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds received transfer agent earnings credits which are included on the Statement of Operations.
Administrative Services
The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Funds’ first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over
80 Notes to Financial Statements
$5 billion. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds’ payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statement of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any damage, expense or loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.
ICON Advisers has entered into a sub-administration agreement with Citi pursuant to which Citi assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays Citi at an annual rate of 0.025% on the first $1.75 billion of Trust assets and 0.015% on assets above $1.75 billion.
Distribution Fees
The Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“12b-1 Plan”) under which the Funds are authorized to compensate the Funds’ distributor, ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”) (an affiliate of the adviser) for the sale and distribution of shares and for other shareholder services. Under the 12b-1 Plan, Bond Fund Class C shareholders pay an annual distribution and service fee of 0.85% of average daily net assets and Class I shareholders pay an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. The shareholders of the other Funds pay an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets for Class C shares and an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets for Class I shares and Class A shares. The total amount paid under the 12b-1 plans by the Funds is shown on the Statement of Operations.
Other Related Parties
Certain Officers and Directors of ICON are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The CCO’s salary is paid 100% by the Funds. For the year ended September 30, 2009, the total related amounts paid by the Trust under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.
Some of the distribution amounts received by IDI, discussed in the Distribution Fees section above, have been used to offset various shareholder servicing costs incurred by ICON. For the year ended September 30, 2009, this amount was $50,679.
Notes to Financial Statements 81
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4. Borrowings
The Funds have entered into Lines of Credit agreements with BBH to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. At BBH, the maximum borrowing is limited to the lesser of $50 million or 25% of the net asset value in the Fund subject to a maximum borrowing limit by the Trust of $150 million. Interest on domestic borrowings with BBH is charged at LIBOR plus 1.50%, which was 1.71% at September 30, 2009. The Funds may have borrowings with the prime broker as a result of brokerage requirements. Interest on domestic borrowings with the prime broker is charged at the Fed Funds rate plus 50 basis points, which was 0.60% at September 30, 2009. The average interest rate charged for the year ended September 30, 2009, was 1.57%.
| | | | |
| | Average Borrowing
| |
Fund | | (10/1/08-9/30/09) | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 641,052 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 964,768 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 1,149,620 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund** | | | 2,138,273 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund** | | | 4,068,464 | |
**Fund had outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2009.
Average borrowing is calculated using only the days there was a borrowing. It is not an annualized number.
5. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding securities sold short, short-term securities and written options contacts) was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Proceeds from
| |
| | | | | | | | Purchases of
| | | Sales of
| |
| | | | | Proceeds
| | | Long-Term
| | | Long-Term
| |
| | Purchases of
| | | from Sales
| | | U.S. Government
| | | U.S. Government
| |
| | Securities | | | of Securities | | | Obligations | | | Obligations | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 127,155,747 | | | $ | 66,944,260 | | | $ | 12,472,846 | | | $ | 21,671,329 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 183,257,841 | | | | 188,613,665 | | | | - | | | | - | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 84,571,663 | | | | 113,826,583 | | | | 3,130,288 | | | | 6,664,991 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 71,442,770 | | | | 130,462,803 | | | | - | | | | - | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 102,944,303 | | | | 129,492,685 | | | | - | | | | - | |
82 Notes to Financial Statements
6. Federal Income Tax
Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations that may differ from accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences are due to differing treatments for items such as net short-term gains, deferrals of wash sale losses, foreign currency transactions, net investment losses, and capital loss carryforwards.
The tax components of capital shown in the following tables represent losses or deductions the Funds may be able to offset against income and gains recognized in future years and post October loss deferrals. The accumulated losses noted represent net capital loss carryforwards as of September 30, 2009 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future taxable income distributions.
For the year ended September 30, 2009 the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:
| | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Amounts | | | Expires | |
| |
|
ICON Core Equity Fund | | $ | 1,364,078 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 32,616,367 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 77,639 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 14,946,877 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 44,159,483 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 260,291 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 7,975,360 | | | | 2017 | |
Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be limited if there are substantial shareholder redemptions or contributions. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Bond Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards in the amount of $442,729.
Notes to Financial Statements 83
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds will elect to defer post October losses of:
| | | | |
| | Post October
| |
Fund | | Losses | |
| |
|
ICON Core Equity Fund | | $ | 33,870,952 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 27,191,288 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 22,054,193 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 19,386,605 | |
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Distributions Paid
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | from Ordinary Income | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 5,192,023 | | | $ | 5,192,023 | | | $ | 5,192,023 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 3,171,360 | | | | 3,171,360 | | | | 3,171,360 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 1,649,817 | | | | 1,649,817 | | | | 1,649,817 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 1,081,889 | | | | 1,081,889 | | | | 1,081,889 | |
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distributions paid from | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Net Long-
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Term Gains | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 5,417,996 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 5,417,996 | | | $ | 5,417,996 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 8,394,127 | | | | 6,683,706 | | | | 15,077,833 | | | | 15,077,833 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 8,635,510 | | | | 6,462,123 | | | | 15,097,633 | | | | 15,097,633 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 5,569,851 | | | | 6,340,691 | | | | 11,910,542 | | | | 11,910,542 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 3,751,879 | | | | - | | | | 3,751,879 | | | | 3,751,879 | |
As of September 30, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Undistributed
| | | Undistributed
| | | | | | | | | Accumulated
| | | Unrealized
| | | Accumulated
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Net Long-
| | | Accumulated
| | | Distributions
| | | Capital and
| | | Appreciation/
| | | Earnings/
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Term-Gains | | | Earnings | | | Payable* | | | Other Losses | | | (Depreciation)** | | | (Deficit) | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 627,140 | | | $ | 136,317 | | | $ | 763,457 | | | $ | (597,765 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | 5,428,982 | | | $ | 5,594,674 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 1,543,338 | | | | - | | | | 1,543,338 | | | | - | | | | (67,851,397 | ) | | | 18,341,271 | | | | (47,966,788 | ) |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 389,456 | | | | - | | | | 389,456 | | | | (406,397 | ) | | | (42,215,804 | ) | | | 9,059,935 | | | | (33,172,810 | ) |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 170,533 | | | | - | | | | 170,533 | | | | - | | | | (66,213,676 | ) | | | 2,461,702 | | | | (63,581,441 | ) |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 4,343 | | | | - | | | | 4,343 | | | | - | | | | (27,622,256 | ) | | | 6,502,779 | | | | (21,115,134 | ) |
| | |
* | | Differences between the financial statement distribution payable and the tax basis distribution payable are a result of accrual based accounting and cash basis accounting used for federal tax reporting purposes. |
84 Notes to Financial Statements
| | |
** | | Differences between the book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
As of September 30, 2009, cost for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Unrealized
| | | Unrealized
| | | Net Appreciation/
| |
Fund | | Cost | | | Appreciation | | | (Depreciation) | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 167,968,032 | | | $ | 7,356,205 | | | $ | (1,927,223 | ) | | $ | 5,428,982 | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | 109,836,068 | | | | 18,871,222 | | | | (529,951 | ) | | | 18,341,271 | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 35,689,100 | | | | 9,380,687 | | | | (320,752 | ) | | | 9,059,935 | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 38,295,651 | | | | 4,925,938 | | | | (1,637,128 | ) | | | 3,288,810 | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 47,611,551 | | | | 7,148,094 | | | | (704,016 | ) | | | 6,444,078 | |
7. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through November 20, 2009, the date of this report.
Notes to Financial Statements 85
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of the ICON Funds:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, securities sold short and written call options, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ICON Bond Fund, ICON Core Equity Fund, ICON Equity Income Fund, ICON Risk Managed Equity Fund (formerly ICON Income Opportunity Fund) and ICON Long/Short Fund (five of the portfolios constituting ICON Funds, hereafter referred to as the “Funds”) at September 30, 2009, and the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2009 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Denver, Colorado
November 20, 2009
86 Report of Accounting Firm
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example
September 30, 2009 (unaudited)
Example
As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.
This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/1/09-9/30/09).
Actual Expenses
The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $10 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the table for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your
ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning
| | | | | | Expenses Paid
| | | Annualized
| |
| | Account Value
| | | Ending Account
| | | During Period
| | | Expense Ratio
| |
| | 4/1/09 | | | Value 9/30/09 | | | 4/1/09 - 9/30/09* | | | 4/1/09 - 9/30/09 | |
| |
|
ICON Bond Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,117.10 | | | $ | 5.31 | | | | 1.00% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,019.99 | | | | 5.06 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,114.80 | | | | 8.43 | | | | 1.59% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.03 | | | | 8.04 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,118.70 | | | | 3.98 | | | | 0.75% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,021.24 | | | | 3.80 | | | | | |
ICON Core Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,405.60 | | | | 8.14 | | | | 1.35% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.23 | | | | 6.83 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,397.30 | | | | 13.28 | | | | 2.21% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,013.92 | | | | 11.16 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,401.90 | | | | 8.91 | | | | 1.48% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.58 | | | | 7.49 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,396.80 | | | | 14.06 | | | | 2.34% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,013.27 | | | | 11.81 | | | | | |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,420.80 | | | | 8.68 | | | | 1.43% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.83 | | | | 7.23 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,416.10 | | | | 13.39 | | | | 2.21% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,013.92 | | | | 11.16 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,423.60 | | | | 7.35 | | | | 1.21% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.93 | | | | 6.12 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning
| | | | | | Expenses Paid
| | | Annualized
| |
| | Account Value
| | | Ending Account
| | | During Period
| | | Expense Ratio
| |
| | 4/1/09 | | | Value 9/30/09 | | | 4/1/09 - 9/30/09* | | | 4/1/09 - 9/30/09 | |
| |
|
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,419.80 | | | $ | 8.80 | | | | 1.45% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.73 | | | | 7.33 | | | | | |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,245.20 | | | | 12.66 | | | | 2.25% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,013.72 | | | | 11.36 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,239.20 | | | | 16.95 | | | | 3.02% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,009.86 | | | | 15.22 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,246.00 | | | | 9.74 | | | | 1.73% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,016.33 | | | | 8.74 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,244.10 | | | | 11.59 | | | | 2.06% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,014.67 | | | | 10.40 | | | | | |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,236.20 | | | | 8.41 | | | | 1.50% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.48 | | | | 7.59 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,231.90 | | | | 12.70 | | | | 2.27% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,013.62 | | | | 11.46 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,236.50 | | | | 7.12 | | | | 1.27% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.63 | | | | 6.43 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,234.80 | | | | 8.12 | | | | 1.45% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.73 | | | | 7.33 | | | | | |
| |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s six month expense ratio annualized, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period. |
Total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included (maximum 5.75%), returns would be lower.
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (unaudited)
The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (“Board”) consists of five Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.
Interested Trustee
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of IDI, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of ICON Management & Research Corporation (“IM&R”), the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Independent Trustees
Glen F. Bergert, 59. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present); General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to present); General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present); and General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present); General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present); and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Herre Bros, Inc., a contracting company (1998 to present) and Delta Dental of California, an insurance company (2006 to present). Mr. Bergert was a Director of Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, an insurance company (1998 to 2009) and Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2000 to 2009).
John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 62. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was
Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).
Gregory Kellam Scott, 60. Mr. Scott has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Scott currently is employed as a member of the Executive Staff of the President of Ivy Tech Community College, recently appointed as Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Relations (April 2008 to present). Prior to his current employment, he served as Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (2005 to 2008) and is a member of the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on the African Judiciary (2006 to present). Mr. Scott was Senior Vice President-Law, General Counsel and Secretary of GenCorp, Inc., a multinational technology-based manufacturing company (2002 to 2004); Vice President and General Counsel of Kaiser-Hill Company, LLC, a nuclear clean-up and environmental remediation company (2000 to 2002) and served as a Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court (1993 to 2000). From 1980 until 1993, he was a member of the faculty of the University Of Denver College Of Law.
R. Michael Sentel, 61. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present). Mr. Sentel also provides legal representation as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on corporate and transactional law. He served as general counsel to numerous public companies and served on the board of directors of one of these clients. Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).
The Officers of the Funds are:
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of IDI, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Erik L. Jonson, 60. Mr. Jonson has been a Vice President and Principal Financial Officer/Treasurer of the Funds since their inception in 1996. Mr. Jonson is also Chief Financial Officer (1996 to present) and Executive Vice President (2004 to present) and was previously Vice President (1998 to 2004) and Secretary (2005 and 1998 to 2002) of ICON Advisers; Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director (1998 to present) of IM&R; and Executive Vice and Treasurer/Financial Principal (1996 to present) of IDI; and Executive Vice President and Treasurer of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009).
Jessica Seidlitz, 31. Ms. Seidlitz serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2007 to present). She also serves as Mutual Fund Controller of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present). Previously, she was a Senior Associate/Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (2001 to 2004).
Donald Salcito, 56. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds since November 15, 2006. Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (September 2005 to present) of ICON Advisers; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel, for IDI (2005 to present); Chief Compliance Officer of IDI (2005 to 2007); Executive Vice President and Secretary of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2005 to 2009). Previously he was a Partner in the law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP. (2000 to 2005).
Brian Harding, 30. Mr. Harding serves as Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Mr. Harding also serves as Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Previously he was a Manager (2007 to 2008) and Senior Associate/Associate (2001 to 2007) at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Other Information (unaudited)
Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreements
In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Board requested, was provided with and reviewed data with respect to ICON, its personnel, and the services to be provided to each Fund by ICON under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector, International and Core Equity Funds) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds - Bond, Risk-Managed Equity, Equity Income and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; comparative data related to exchange traded funds versus the Sector Funds; and comparative data obtained from Lipper Analytical Services related to Fund performance and Fund expenses.
On August 10, 2009, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2009.
The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel throughout the process. Prior to acting on the matter, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss the foregoing information. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information and to discuss responses to questions raised during the process. In addition, the Independent Trustees received materials from their independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the agreement.
In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to
which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.
During the Board of Trustees’ discussion, management personnel noted that the markets overall had performed poorly in 2008 and the beginning of 2009 and that the ICON Funds performed poorly as well. In this regard it was noted that late 2008 Board meetings the Adviser advised that it was concerned with the poor performance and began an internal analysis to determine the cause. Management advised that, in light of the analysis, it believes that the Adviser’s valuation equation was over valuing riskier stocks due to several factors - including, but not limited to, the extreme events of 2008, the industry wide undervaluing of risk, and the increase in the number of stocks in the Adviser’s investable universe; and that, in light of such, the Adviser made modifications to the risk valuation metrics of the valuation equation - namely that the Adviser modified the equation so that the valuation equation now takes into account an additional item of information on each individual company. The Trustees recalled that during the entire process, Management kept the Trustees informed, updating the Trustees on the status of the internal analysis and the changes to the valuation equation as the changes were being implemented. In addition, in response to Trustee questions, the Adviser advised that it has monitored Fund performance after implementation of the modification and found significant improvement; and that it believes this adjustment has improved the valuation equation and will benefit the Funds going forward. In reaching their conclusions, the Trustees noted that they have taken into consideration the poor overall market performance, the Funds’ performance, and the Adviser’s response, analysis and changes to the valuation equation.
In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. It was noted:
A. That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund is satisfactory, as evidenced in part by efforts to address and improve the performance record of each Fund when compared with the performance records of a peer group of comparable funds and markets in general;
B. That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that it has the sophisticated systems and the highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide
quality service to the Funds’ shareholders, including the dedication of substantial resources to ICON’s investment and trading departments;
C. That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Funds, and is charging fair, reasonable, and competitive fees; and
D. The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.
In considering the reasonableness of the fee payable to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates of their relationship with each Fund over various time periods, which analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates.
The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the willingness of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. In this regard the Board discussed significantly reduced asset levels in each fund covered by the Advisory Agreements due to the tumultuous markets during the past year, to related poor Fund performance, and to redemptions. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing material benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.
In connection with assessing data bearing the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board used data from Lipper Analytical Services concerning funds of
similar size and funds of larger size, as well as data concerning ICON’s other clients and noted:
A. the advisory fee structures of the Funds were considered in comparison with advisory fees and expense ratios of other similarly managed funds as set forth in the comparative data;
B. that contractual advisory fees of the Sector Funds were higher than fees for similar funds; but that the Sector Funds’ expense ratios were competitive and consistent with those of similarly managed Funds;
C. that contractual advisory fees for the International Funds were above the average fees for similar funds; and that the Funds’ expense ratios were competitive in light of their size;
D. that ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on certain Funds at a cost to ICON;
E. that the advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining, and may well be lower than fees arrived at solely from such arm’s-length negotiation;
F. that, the fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as pension plans) are not lower than the fees paid by similarly-managed funds; and to the extent such fees of those accounts are lower, the reasons why such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage; and
G. that ICON has contractually commited to breakpointas in it fees so that economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets, for the benefit of Fund shareholders.
In connection with the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed and noted:
A. that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds; that services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are satisfactory, and that profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable; and
B. that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions; that such research assists ICON in providing quality to which it provides advisory services; and that the Board concluded that the arrangements are consistent with Fund brokerage practices and benefit the Funds and their shareholders.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, the services to be performed under the agreement were services required for the operation of the Funds, ICON had provided satisfactory advisory services to the Funds in the past, and the fees for the advisory services which ICON would perform and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust and consistent with fees paid by similar funds, are reasonable in light of the comparative data, and would be within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of the circumstances.
Supplemental Tax Information
For corporate shareholders, the following percentage of the total ordinary income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction for the following Funds:
| | | | |
| | Dividends
| |
| | Received
| |
Fund | | Deduction | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | | 0.64 | % |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 94.97 | % |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 78.57 | % |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 83.61 | % |
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the following Funds paid qualified dividend income:
| | | | |
Fund | | Amount | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | | 0.64 | % |
ICON Equity Income Fund | | | 78.85 | % |
ICON Long/Short Fund | | | 61.64 | % |
ICON Risk-Managed Equity Fund | | | 75.32 | % |
The Funds designate the following amounts as long-term capital gain distributions qualifying for the maximum 15% income tax rate for individuals:
| | | | |
Fund | | Amount | |
| |
ICON Bond Fund | | $ | 27,084 | |
Portfolio Holdings
A list of each ICON Fund’s Top 10 holdings is available at www.iconfunds.com on or about 15 days following each month-end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.
Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
For More Information
This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
ICON Funds Privacy Policy
In the course of doing business with the ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON Companies”) you provide personal and financial information. The ICON Companies respect your privacy. We collect non-public personal information about you on your applications or other forms and through your transactions with us. You may provide this information in writing, electronically, or by phone. The information may contain your name, address, phone number, social security number, account information, investment activity, and other information that you provide to us directly or through our service providers. This information permits us to service your accounts and to provide information to you upon request.
We may share some or all of this information with our affiliates, as well as third parties that assist us in maintaining your accounts, processing transactions on your accounts, or mailing information to you as may be permitted by law. Further, we may permit third party vendors to download this information as needed, in order to assist us or your Registered Representative/Financial Adviser in maintaining your account. Otherwise, our policies prohibit employees of the ICON Companies from sharing your personal and financial information except as permitted or required by law. Under no circumstances do we sell information about you to anyone.
We restrict access to your non-public personal information to those employees who have a need to know that information to service your accounts. We also maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your privacy. Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.
If you would like more information about our Privacy Policies, please call 1-800-764-0442.
ICON Funds Privacy Policy 101
| | |
|
For more information about the ICON Funds, contact us: |
| | |
By Telephone | | 1-800-764-0442 |
| | |
By Mail | | ICON Funds P.O. Box 55452 Boston, MA 02205-8165 |
| | |
In Person | | ICON Funds 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor Greenwood Village, CO 80111 |
| | |
On the Internet | | www.iconfunds.com |
| | |
By E-Mail | | info@iconadvisers.com |
2009 Annual Report
ICON International Funds
Investment Update
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
ICON Europe Fund
ICON International Equity Fund
1-800-764-0442 ï www.iconfunds.com
AR-INTL-09 K04080
You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.
When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.
Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.
You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.
1-800-764-0442 • www.iconfunds.com
Table of Contents
| | | | |
| | | | |
About This Report (Unaudited) | | | 2 | |
| | | | |
Message from ICON Funds (Unaudited) | | | 6 | |
| | | | |
Management Overview (Unaudited) and Schedules of Investments | | | | |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | 10 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 20 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 29 | |
| | | | |
Financial Statements | | | 40 | |
| | | | |
Financial Highlights | | | 48 | |
| | | | |
Notes to Financial Statements | | | 52 | |
| | | | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | | 67 | |
| | | | |
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example (Unaudited) | | | 68 | |
| | | | |
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited) | | | 71 | |
| | | | |
Other Information (Unaudited) | | | 74 | |
About This Report (unaudited)
Historical Returns
All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions, and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser may have reimbursed certain fees or expenses of some of the Funds. If not for these reimbursements, performance would have been lower. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, results would have been lower.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.
Portfolio Data
This Report reflects ICON’s views, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2009, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.
Opinions and forecasts regarding industries, companies and/or themes, and portfolio composition and holdings are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions, and should not be construed as a recommendation of any specific security, industry or sector. Each Fund’s holdings as of September 30, 2009 are included in each Fund’s Schedule of Investments.
While ICON’s quantitative investment methodology primarily considers company-specific factors beyond financial data, various company factors may impact a stock’s performance, and therefore, Fund performance. Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in some foreign
countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. The ICON system relies on the integrity of financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.
There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.
An investment in a region fund may involve greater risk and volatility than a diversified fund. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment.
According to ICON, value investing is an analytical, quantitative approach to investing that employs various factors, including projecting earnings growth estimates, in an effort to determine whether securities are over- or underpriced relative to ICON’s estimates of their intrinsic value. Value investing involves risks and uncertainties and does not guarantee better performance or lower costs than other investment methodologies. ICON’s value-to-price ratio is a ratio of intrinsic value, as calculated using ICON’s proprietary valuation methodology, of a broad range of domestic and international securities within ICON’s system as compared to the current market price of those securities.
This Report contains statements regarding industry or sector themes, new market themes, investment outlook, relative strength, value-to-price ratios, and investment team expectations, beliefs, goals and the like that are based on current expectations, recent individual stock performance relative to current market prices, estimates of company values and other information supplied to the market by the companies we follow. Words such as “expects,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “value,” “intrinsic value,” “indicates,” “believes,” “considers,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements, which are not statements of historical fact. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to assess. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of important factors, including, among others: stock price fluctuations; the integrity and accuracy of historical and projected financial and other information supplied by companies to the public; interest rates; future earnings growth rates; the risks noted in this report and other factors beyond the control of our investment team. Therefore, actual outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements.
The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.
Comparative Indexes
The comparative indexes discussed in this Report are meant to provide a basis for judging a Fund’s performance against specific securities indexes. Each index shown accounts for both change in the security price and reinvestment of dividends and distributions (except as noted), but does not reflect the costs of managing a mutual fund. The total return figures for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) indexes assume change in security prices and the deduction of local taxes. The Funds’ portfolios may significantly differ in holdings and composition from the indexes. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.
| |
• | The unmanaged MSCI All Country Pacific Index comprises stocks traded in the developed and emerging markets of the Pacific Basin (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand). The capitalization-weighted index attempts to capture at least 60% of investable capitalization in those markets subject to constraints governed by industry representation, maximum liquidity, maximum float, and minimum cross-ownership. |
|
• | The unmanaged MSCI Europe Index comprises approximately 600 stocks traded in developed markets from 15 European countries. The capitalization-weighted index attempts to capture at least 60% of investable capitalization in those markets subject to constraints governed by industry representation, maximum liquidity, maximum float, and minimum cross-ownership. |
|
• | The MSCI All Country World Index ex-United States (“ACWI ex-U.S.”) is a leading unmanaged benchmark of international stock performance. The capitalization-weighted index is representative of the performance of securities of companies located in developed and emerging markets outside of the United States. |
Index returns and statistical data included in this Report are provided by Bloomberg and FactSet Research Systems.
Financial Intermediary
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.
Message From ICON Funds
Road to Recovery
At ICON we believe the bear market from late 2007 through March 2009 can be divided into three phases. The three distinct phases can be seen in the chart below, which reflects the S & P 1500 Index, a broad measure of the U.S. stock market, over the course of a roughly two year period.
Looking at this graph, one can see how the first phase lasted almost a year, beginning with a generally slow, steady decline following the Index’s peak in October 2007. The second phase was a sharp week-long crash following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008. And the third phase was driven by economic uncertainty as economists (professional and amateur) revised their forecasts for the recession outward and downward, unable to clearly see an end or bottom. As an example, Bloomberg surveys of over 80 economists in January and February 2009 show 3rd quarter GDP forecasts being rapidly revised downward. By mid-March 2009, economists predicted 3rd quarter GDP growth would be 0% on an annual basis. These downward revisions coincided with the stock market’s continued gradual decline that was the final leg of phase 3.
Source: Factset
6 Message From ICON Funds
By mid-September 2009, a survey of those same economists revealed a 3rd quarter GDP forecast of 2.9% growth. That is a huge upward revision since March. If the upward revision proves accurate, it suggests economists and investors alike let their fear and anxiety get the better of them in late 2008 and early 2009. In other words, it seems (and we believe) the bleak initial outlook of 0% growth for 3rd quarter 2009 was both unduly negative and likely way off the mark.
As seen in the graph, the stock market quickly recovered its losses from phase 3 in roughly six months between March and August 2009. The S & P 1500 Index gained 59.9% from March 9 through September 30. Annualized, it equates to a pace of 130.7%, putting this rally among the best by historical standards.
As the market rallied and recovered from phase 3 of the bear market, stock prices moved higher - but so has underlying value as measured by ICON. Over time we bring new earnings into our equation for each company we analyze. In so doing, we drop off old, stale earnings. Our normal process of bringing in 2009 earnings and 2010 estimates has generally added modestly to our calculation of the intrinsic value of most companies. A much bigger boost in intrinsic value has come from the rally in corporate bonds and the accompanying drop in yields. Lower yields equate to higher valuation readings under the ICON system. As corporate bond yields drop and earnings increase, value becomes a target that continually moves higher with prices struggling to play catch-up.
Now, what about recovering from phases 2 and 1 of the bear market? Based on ICON’s valuation readings we feel we can make a few encouraging observations. We believe stocks are currently priced about 10% below our estimate of intrinsic value. If corporate bond yields continue to drop to historical normal levels, and assuming normal earnings growth, we believe conditions are in place for fair market values to eventually exceed even those seen at their peak levels toward the end of 2007. To cut to the chase, we feel we could see a recovery from phases 1 and 2 over the next couple of years.
As for the earnings portion, consensus forecasts from I/B/E/S for S & P 500 index companies anticipate earnings recovery in 2010 and 2011. Although there is often a rapid rebound in earnings coming out of a recession, the I/B/E/S analysts surveyed appear cautious in their forecasts for this recovery. The analysts expect operating EPS for the S & P 500 companies to rise to $71.17 in 2010 (a 27.7% increase over the 2009 estimate of $55.72) and another 13.8% to $81 in 2011. This forecasted earnings growth will increase value (as calculated using ICON’s proprietary methodology) when
Message From ICON Funds 7
earnings are introduced into our valuation equation over the next year or two.
Our belief that corporate bond yields can keep dropping is based on a continuation of the unwinding from the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy last fall. When Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September 2008, corporate bond yields and their spread above Treasury Bonds rose dramatically. Bond investors evidently feared and anticipated many defaults. With the economic and financial setting proving to be better than was initially expected last year, corporate bond yields have been dropping. Yields are far from being back to normal levels, however. Our expectation that corporate bond yields will continue to drop is based on more than just “hoping yields return to normal levels.” Rather, corporate bonds of various qualities and maturities have the valuation and relative strength readings under our system to suggest their moves can continue. In other words, the ICON bond model suggests the rally in corporate bonds is sustainable.
Thus, our case for valuation readings approaching levels not seen since late 2007 is threefold. First, stocks are still priced below our estimate of fair value. Second, we believe new earnings over the next two years will push values higher. Third, and finally, declining yields on corporate bonds should likewise raise value.
The path to recovery is nonetheless unpredictable. During phase 2, from September 30 through October 10, 2008, the S & P 1500 Index dropped 22.9% in eight trading days. Could the phase 2 recovery be a mirror image of the phase 2 collapse, with an equally dramatic upside? It’s possible, but unlikely in our opinion. Instead, a path of two steps forward and one step back is more likely. There remain a lot of jittery, skeptical investors who use advances as an opportunity to exit. To move higher, the market has to absorb or “take out” their shares. While valuations may justify price levels back to those seen at the peak in 2007, the path for stock prices may be a grind.
In conclusion, we see the path to recovery occurring over three distinct phases. As investors came to believe the depression they feared last winter would not materialize, we experienced a phase 3 recovery. We expect the phase 2 recovery will occur as investors realize that the bond default potential is greatly reduced with the start of an economic recovery: in other words, phase 2 might be seen as an unwinding of the Lehman Brothers fallout. We believe phase 1 recovery will occur as investors acknowledge the fact that corporate earnings are advancing - typical of an economic recovery.
So far, off the low last March, the leading industries have come from the Financials sector. Next in line are the cyclical economically sensitive
8 Message From ICON Funds
industries from the following sectors: Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology. Lagging, but still participating, are the so called “recession proof” industries from sectors like Health Care, Utilities and Consumer Staples.
On the road to recovery, ICON will stick to its system of industry rotation as we work to capture industry themes and leadership. While our research team has adjusted to and learned from these unprecedented times, there is always room for improvement. We have emerged from the bear market as a better, more effective money manager and we look forward to serving you in the years ahead.
Yours truly,
Craig T. Callahan, DBA
Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Adviser
Message From ICON Funds 9
Class S ICARX
Class I ICPIX
Class C ICPCX
Class Z ICPZX
Class A IPCAX
Management Overview
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund returned 14.18% for Class S shares, 14.24% for Class I shares, 13.10% for Class C shares, and 14.78% for Class Z shares for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 outperforming its benchmark, the MSCI All Country Pacific Index which returned 12.49%. Class A shares of the Fund returned 14.11% (and 7.57% with maximum sales charge) during the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | In the 12 months ended September 30, 2009, the Asia-Pacific region outperformed the broad U.S. market. Though the first half of the period was marked by severe volatility following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Fund performed well, both in absolute and relative terms, between the March 2009 global market low and the fiscal year end. |
Guided by ICON’s value and relative strength readings, the Fund reduced exposure to the Information Technology, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors, while increasing Industrials, Financials, and Health Care weightings. The primary drivers of positive relative performance were our holdings in the Financials, Industrials, and Telecommunication/Utilities sectors.
In terms of country-level weightings, the most notable increases were to Hong Kong, China, India, and South Korea. Weights were reduced in Japan, Australia, and Taiwan. The primary drivers of positive relative performance came from our underweighting in Japan and overweights in China, Hong Kong, and India.
As a multi-cap manager, we do not consider investments based on market capitalization. However, our valuations resulted in a shift over the period away from large-cap companies into mid-cap companies. These allocations were overweight the predominantly large-cap benchmark, and the overweighting of mid-cap stocks in particular added the most in terms of relative performance.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully
accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | From an industry perspective, the Fund’s holdings in areas expected to benefit more from an economic recovery added the most in terms of relative performance. Within the Financials space, for example, diversified banks and real estate development drove relative performance, while highways & railtracks, along with electrical components & equipment, added the most to Industrials’ outperformance. Apparel accessories & luxury goods was a highlight in the Fund’s performance relative to Consumer Discretionary. |
Conversely, the Information Technology sector was the largest detractor to performance during the period. The primary contributors to this sector’s underperformance were holdings in electronic components and IT consulting.
From a country perspective, overweights in China and Hong Kong along with a significant underweight in Japan contributed positively to performance. The Fund’s underweight in lower-value Australia hindered relative performance.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Asia-Pacific equity market? |
| |
A. | Although the first half of the fiscal year was volatile, the sustained positive performance off the March 2009 lows in the Asia-Pacific region is encouraging. In this environment of loose monetary policy, low interest rates, and improving company outlooks, the region’s relative value continues to increase. So long as the global economy continues to improve, so too, we believe, will global equities in general and the Asia-Pacific region in particular. |
At fiscal year-end, the sectors that look the most promising include Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Financials, and Healthcare. We ended the fiscal year underweight the more defensive Telecommunications & Utilities and Leisure & Consumer Staples sectors.
From a country perspective, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and China are the most attractive and warranted increased weightings under our methodology. As of fiscal year-end, we believe benchmark-heavy Australia is overvalued and we reduced our holdings in that region. While
Japan is our largest absolute weight by country, we remain significantly underweight relative to the benchmark as we watch for signs of improved relative performance.
We continue to do what we have always done by seeking out industries we believe are trading at a discount to fair value and showing relative strength in the markets. Using value as a guide in our systematic and non-emotional discipline, we see numerous opportunities in the Asia-Pacific market as fiscal year 2009 comes to a close. We have long said it is nearly impossible to accurately time bottoms and, further, that rallies do not offer invitations. Given this philosophy, and the valuations we see in the market at fiscal year-end, we remain heavily invested, ready to reallocate and adapt as market conditions dictate.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Country Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Hong Kong | | | 21.3% | |
Japan | | | 20.8% | |
South Korea | | | 15.9% | |
China | | | 10.6% | |
Taiwan | | | 8.4% | |
Singapore | | | 5.5% | |
Thailand | | | 4.1% | |
India | | | 3.6% | |
Cayman Islands | | | 2.0% | |
Australia | | | 1.0% | |
Malaysia | | | 0.8% | |
United States | | | 0.5% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.5% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 18.0% | |
Information Technology | | | 15.0% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 14.7% | |
Industrials | | | 12.6% | |
Materials | | | 8.8% | |
Energy | | | 8.1% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 6.4% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 5.6% | |
Health Care | | | 5.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.5% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Diversified Banks | | | 13.5% | |
Semiconductors | | | 4.3% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 3.6% | |
Apparel Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 3.4% | |
Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks | | | 3.3% | |
Electronic Manufacturing Services | | | 3.2% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 3.1% | |
Apparel Retail | | | 3.0% | |
Electronic Components | | | 3.0% | |
Steel | | | 2.9% | |
Education Services | | | 2.5% | |
Household Appliances | | | 2.3% | |
Highways & Railtracks | | | 2.2% | |
Packaged Foods & Meats | | | 2.2% | |
IT Consulting & Other Services | | | 2.1% | |
Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals | | | 2.0% | |
Trading Companies & Distributors | | | 1.9% | |
Construction & Engineering | | | 1.8% | |
Consumer Finance | | | 1.7% | |
Computer Hardware | | | 1.6% | |
Internet Software & Services | | | 1.6% | |
Property & Casualty Insurance | | | 1.5% | |
Gas Utilities | | | 1.5% | |
Air Freight & Logistics | | | 1.4% | |
Leisure Products | | | 1.4% | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 1.4% | |
Health Care Equipment | | | 1.2% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 1.2% | |
Computer & Electronics Retail | | | 1.1% | |
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | | | 1.1% | |
Footwear | | | 1.0% | |
Diversified Chemicals | | | 1.0% | |
Health Care Services | | | 1.0% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 14.5% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.5% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class S | | | | 2/25/97 | | | | | | 14.18 | % | | | | | 9.23 | % | | | | | 1.63 | % | | | | | 1.97 | % | | | | | 1.42 | % | | | | | 1.42 | % | |
|
|
MSCI All Country Pacific Index | | | | | | | | | | 12.49 | % | | | | | 7.84 | % | | | | | 2.54 | % | | | | | 2.44 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class I | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | 14.24 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -13.32 | % | | | | | 51.45 | % | | | | | 1.91 | % | |
|
|
MSCI All Country Pacific Index | | | | | | | | | | 12.49 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -8.82 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class C | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | 13.10 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -14.05 | % | | | | | 23.58 | % | | | | | 2.64 | % | |
|
|
MSCI All Country Pacific Index | | | | | | | | | | 12.49 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -8.82 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class Z | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | 14.78 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -12.91 | % | | | | | 77.18 | % | | | | | 1.37 | % | |
|
|
MSCI All Country Pacific Index | | | | | | | | | | 12.49 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -8.82 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | 14.11 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -2.32 | % | | | | | 2.94 | % | | | | | 1.88 | % | |
|
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund - Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | 7.57 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -4.05 | % | | | | | 2.94 | % | | | | | 1.88 | % | |
|
|
MSCI All Country Pacific Index | | | | | | | | | | 12.49 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -0.38 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain expenses on Class I, Class C, Class Z and Class A shares; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/25/97 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and tax return of capital, but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (94.5%) |
| 1,110,000 | | | Bangkok Expressway Public Co., Ltd. | | $ | 614,571 | |
| 618,000 | | | Bank of Ayudhya Public Co., Ltd. | | | 353,959 | |
| 1,647,000 | | | Bank of China, Ltd. - Class H | | | 864,038 | |
| 88,800 | | | Bank of India | | | 762,231 | |
| 74,100 | | | Banpu Public Co., Ltd. | | | 949,286 | |
| 100,000 | | | Cafe De Coral Holdings, Ltd. | | | 218,844 | |
| 20,950 | | | Cheil Industries, Inc. | | | 906,802 | |
| 73,000 | | | Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd. | | | 922,922 | |
| 627,000 | | | China Agri-Industries Holdings, Ltd. | | | 584,158 | |
| 1,964,000 | | | China Bluechemical, Ltd. - Class H | | | 1,061,525 | |
| 961,000 | | | China Communications Construction Co., Ltd. - Class H(a) | | | 1,034,168 | |
| 1,701,000 | | | China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H | | | 1,353,095 | |
| 1,624,000 | | | China Dongxiang Group Co. | | | 1,080,182 | |
| 1,104,000 | | | China Oilfield Services, Ltd. | | | 1,022,659 | |
| 2,276,000 | | | China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. | | | 1,932,346 | |
| 1,101,000 | | | China Railway Group, Ltd.†(a) | | | 942,230 | |
| 202,000 | | | China Resources Power Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 467,798 | |
| 611,000 | | | China Steel Corp. | | | 566,609 | |
| 468,000 | | | China Yurun Food Group, Ltd. | | | 1,007,536 | |
| 318,122 | | | Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. | | | 574,349 | |
| 891,000 | | | CNOOC, Ltd. | | | 1,201,273 | |
| 374,800 | | | Dah Sing Financial Group† | | | 2,150,323 | |
| 141,000 | | | DBS Group Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,323,988 | |
| 58,500 | | | Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd. | | | 1,350,461 | |
| 8,400 | | | Educomp Solutions, Ltd. | | | 815,719 | |
| 195,000 | | | Esprit Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,306,654 | |
| 46,000 | | | Flextronics International, Ltd.†* | | | 343,160 | |
| 1,081,000 | | | Fosun International | | | 750,985 | |
| 143,000 | | | FUJITSU, Ltd. | | | 932,870 | |
| 1,326,000 | | | Guangdong Investment, Ltd. | | | 651,402 | |
| 20,000 | | | Hana Financial Group, Inc. | | | 686,137 | |
| 17,800 | | | Hanwha Corp. | | | 647,616 | |
| 40,000 | | | Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. | | | 1,621,609 | |
| 329,150 | | | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | | | 1,315,132 | |
| 264,000 | | | Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd. | | | 409,917 | |
| 356,000 | | | Hopson Development Holdings, Ltd. | | | 616,515 | |
| 36,000 | | | Hoya Corp. | | | 848,308 | |
16 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 176,000 | | | Hutchison Whampoa, Ltd. | | $ | 1,265,770 | |
| 5,450 | | | Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. | | | 829,358 | |
| 492,000 | | | Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd. - Class H | | | 1,109,986 | |
| 224,000 | | | ITOCHU Corp. | | | 1,477,246 | |
| 802 | | | Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. | | | 775,665 | |
| 309,000 | | | Kingboard Chemical Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,169,213 | |
| 17,100 | | | Korea Gas Corp. | | | 772,363 | |
| 49,000 | | | Korean Reinsurance Co. | | | 491,805 | |
| 37,740 | | | Largan Precision Co., Ltd. | | | 493,502 | |
| 78,000 | | | LG Fashion Corp. | | | 1,759,340 | |
| 142,000 | | | Li & Fung, Ltd. | | | 568,945 | |
| 339,000 | | | Li Ning Co., Ltd.(a) | | | 1,039,794 | |
| 283,000 | | | Marico, Ltd. | | | 524,887 | |
| 52,104 | | | MediaTek, Inc. | | | 866,560 | |
| 9,360 | | | Megastudy Co., Ltd. | | | 1,917,722 | |
| 248,200 | | | Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.† | | | 1,677,511 | |
| 41,600 | | | Mitsui & Co., Ltd. | | | 541,294 | |
| 555,000 | | | Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. | | | 1,435,824 | |
| 375,000 | | | MobileOne, Ltd. | | | 470,853 | |
| 213,000 | | | Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corp. | | | 736,568 | |
| 11,000 | | | Nitori Co., Ltd. | | | 936,081 | |
| 41,400 | | | Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. | | | 983,566 | |
| 309,000 | | | Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Ltd. | | | 727,849 | |
| 4,755 | | | OCI Co., Ltd. | | | 1,062,317 | |
| 17,550 | | | ORIX Corp. | | | 1,066,118 | |
| 21,100 | | | Otsuka Corp. | | | 1,260,126 | |
| 104,000 | | | Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd. | | | 577,051 | |
| 1,714,000 | | | Petrochina Co., Ltd. | | | 1,945,481 | |
| 21,430 | | | Point, Inc. | | | 1,414,809 | |
| 242,000 | | | Ports Design, Ltd.(a) | | | 603,436 | |
| 191,000 | | | Primary Health Care, Ltd. | | | 1,044,773 | |
| 1,650 | | | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | | 1,139,481 | |
| 28,500 | | | Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. | | | 616,886 | |
| 8,200 | | | SANKYO Co., Ltd. | | | 511,930 | |
| 13,700 | | | Secom Co., Ltd. | | | 688,325 | |
| 2,280,000 | | | Shenzhen Expressway Co., Ltd. | | | 1,115,775 | |
| 24,600 | | | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. | | | 1,509,419 | |
| 45,200 | | | Shinhan Financial Group, Ltd.† | | | 1,801,946 | |
| 74,000 | | | Shionogi & Co., Ltd. | | | 1,750,791 | |
| 1,804,000 | | | Sichuan Expressway Co., Ltd.(a) | | | 715,120 | |
| 101,200 | | | Simplo Technology Co., Ltd. | | | 573,283 | |
| 30,100 | | | SINA Corp. - ADR†*(a) | | | 1,142,596 | |
| 1,034,000 | | | Singapore Post, Ltd. | | | 677,948 | |
| 421,000 | | | Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd. | | | 819,619 | |
| 8,200 | | | Sohu.com, Inc.†*(a) | | | 563,996 | |
| 258,361 | | | Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd. | | | 477,814 | |
Schedule of Investments 17
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 686,704 | | | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | | $ | 1,359,834 | |
| 104,500 | | | Tanjong PLC | | | 452,036 | |
| 1,698,000 | | | Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd. | | | 1,390,841 | |
| 23,200 | | | Terumo Corp. | | | 1,272,606 | |
| 1,194,000 | | | Thai Union Frozen Products Public Co., Ltd. | | | 920,420 | |
| 1,515,000 | | | Thanachart Capital Public Co., Ltd. | | | 786,523 | |
| 134,000 | | | The Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd. | | | 888,700 | |
| 96,000 | | | The Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. | | | 507,330 | |
| 173,159 | | | Transcend Information, Inc. | | | 617,518 | |
| 141,000 | | | Union Bank of India | | | 700,164 | |
| 340,000 | | | United Phosphorus, Ltd. | | | 1,166,925 | |
| 9,000 | | | USS Co., Ltd. | | | 535,409 | |
| 283,000 | | | Venture Manufacturing, Ltd. | | | 1,800,402 | |
| 719,000 | | | Want Want China Holdings, Ltd.(a) | | | 422,169 | |
| 140,000 | | | Weichai Power Co., Ltd. | | | 734,589 | |
| 162,000 | | | Wing Hang Bank, Ltd. | | | 1,588,427 | |
| 455,786 | | | Wistron Corp. | | | 846,181 | |
| 34,400 | | | Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd. | | | 1,103,105 | |
| 43,000 | | | Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd.†* | | | 582,265 | |
| 442,000 | | | Xinao Gas Holdings, Ltd.(a) | | | 876,984 | |
| 18,500 | | | Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. | | $ | 1,248,350 | |
| 54,000 | | | Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 886,236 | |
| 18,000 | | | Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd. | | | 504,324 | |
| 86,983 | | | Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co., Ltd. | | | 631,490 | |
| 411,000 | | | Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,136,366 | |
| 214,000 | | | Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co., Ltd. - Class H(a) | | | 371,347 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $87,448,043) | | | 103,172,660 | |
Short-Term Investments (5.2%) |
| 211,320 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - Hong Kong Dollar, 0.01%, 10/01/09*# | | | 27,268 | |
$ | 5,693,724 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09*# | | | 5,693,724 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $5,720,992) | | | 5,720,992 | |
|
Mutual Funds (3.7%) |
| 3,960,107 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%*^ | | | 3,960,107 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $3,960,107) | | | 3,960,107 | |
Total Investments 103.4% (Cost $97,129,142) | | | 112,853,759 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (3.4)% | | | (3,703,907 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 109,149,852 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
18 Schedule of Investments
| | |
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
* | | All securities were fair valued (Note 1) as of September 30, 2009 unless noted with a *. Total value of securities fair valued was $100,540,643. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
As of September 30, 2009, the Fund had the following forward currency contracts outstanding:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Original
| | | | | | Unrealized
| |
| | | | | Delivery
| | | Contract
| | | Market
| | | Appreciation/
| |
| | Currency | �� | | Date | | | Value | | | Value | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
|
Contracts to Sell: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(240,000,000) | | | Taiwan Dollar | | | | 02/26/10 | | | $ | (7,382,344 | ) | | $ | (7,627,674 | ) | | $ | (245,330 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contracts to Buy: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
240,000,000 | | | Taiwan Dollar | | | | 02/26/10 | | | $ | 7,640,879 | | | $ | 7,627,674 | | | $ | (13,205 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Schedule of Investments 19
Class S ICSEX
Class I ICUIX
Class C ICUCX
Class Z ICUZX
Class A IERAX
Management Overview
ICON Europe Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The ICON Europe Fund, Class S returned -4.13% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, underperforming the 2.33% return for the MSCI Europe Index. Class I shares returned -4.34%, Class C shares returned -5.04% and Class Z shares returned -3.89% for the fiscal year. Class A shares of the Fund returned -4.32% (and -9.81% with maximum sales charge) over the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | Europe’s economic situation deteriorated relative to other major global regions during the fiscal year. Economic growth slowed, unemployment rates increased, and inflationary pressures peaked higher. |
The period opened with the European region priced at 33% below our calculation of intrinsic value. This value was not recognized in the markets, however, as early movements in the underlying regional markets continued their prior trends sharply to the downside. The subprime loan problems and resulting credit crisis escalated to a state of global contagion with the European region squarely in the fray. Large losses were seen across all sectors during the first two quarters of the fiscal year with Financials and Materials faring worse than the broad market as risk aversion and fears of a worldwide depression swept across the globe. Corporate bond credit spreads widened dramatically and volatility increased to near record levels as investors sold anything they perceived as risky.
March 9, 2009 brought an interim bottom to the European equity markets as investors changed sentiment and bought those industries and stocks that were most beaten-down in the prior selloff. Large gains were seen in Financials and in economically sensitive sectors including Materials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary, as investors looked forward to a potential economic recovery. Central banks enacted quantitative easing within monetary policies in an effort to lower interest rates and spur lending. As equities recovered, so did corporate credit spreads. The narrowing of these spreads ultimately had a positive impact on our intrinsic valuations for the region’s underlying stocks. As the rally continued toward the end of the fiscal year, value moved in an upward
trend with stock prices, allowing for gains to continue without a corresponding overvaluation of equities under the ICON methodology. As such, we ended this period with stocks still trading at an 11% discount to our estimate of intrinsic value, representing the best bargains of all regions across the globe.
Foreign currency exchange rates oscillated in a fairly dramatic fashion over the period as well. The U.S. dollar strengthened relative to most of the major European currencies during the early part of the year as investors flocked to the perceived safety of dollar-denominated assets. The subsequent rally in equities led to a reversal of this trend, however, as risk aversion abated and money flowed back toward arguably riskier assets. This action ultimately bolstered strength for the underlying European currencies.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | Given the bifurcated tone of this year, the Fund’s composition and resulting performance differed from one half of the year to the next. Underweighting the benchmark-heavy Financials sector (specifically, the diversified banks industry) contributed to positive relative performance for the first part of the year as this sector suffered the worst of the losses between September 30, 2008 and March 9, 2009. Additionally, overweighting the packaged foods & meats industry proved beneficial to relative performance as these and similar defensive industries did not experience as dramatic losses as those seen in cyclical sectors. |
Underweighting other defensive areas over this period detracted from performance. For example, the Fund’s positions in the pharmaceuticals and integrated telecommunication services industries were sources of underperformance as the benchmark held a larger weight than the Fund. Furthermore, the Fund’s overweighting in the Industrials sector hindered performance as this economically sensitive sector experienced large losses.
Conversely, as the rally ensued in March 2009, the Fund’s underweights in diversified banks, diversified capital markets, and other industries
within the Financials sector detracted from relative performance as those groups experienced the largest returns over the last months of the fiscal year. Underweights in defensive-related industries such as those in the Telecommunications & Utilities sector proved beneficial to the Fund’s performance, but this benefit could not offset larger detractors and the Fund’s performance lagged the benchmark during the ensuing rally.
Regarding country composition, an underweight in the United Kingdom helped performance, but the Fund’s underweight holdings in France and overweight holdings in Switzerland detracted from relative performance.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the European equity market? |
| |
A. | Our analysis suggests there is considerable upside to the European region in spite of the dramatic rally in equity prices that began on March 9, 2009. We estimate that, on average, fair value for European equities is 13% higher than where prices are currently trading. According to our calculations, Europe has the best values when compared to all other regions we track globally. We believe the recovery-based market theme that emerged in 2009 remains in place, with sectors like Financials and Materials continuing to show relative strength throughout these dramatic market movements. |
With value as our core investment tenet, we also look to those areas of the market that are trading at deep discounts to our estimation of intrinsic value for potential leaders. While not showing much relative strength, the defensive Health Care and Telecommunications & Utilities sectors show the best value under our calculations. Moreover, as of fiscal year-end, industries within the Financials sector show the best combination of value and relative strength.
We believe it is nearly impossible to accurately time market bottoms and we have long preached that rallies do not issue invitations. Using value as a guide in our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we see opportunities amidst the turbulence and volatility. We continue to work methodically to identify the industries we believe are trading at a discount to fair value and show relative strength in the markets. Our valuations at the end of the fiscal year dictate that we remain nearly fully invested, but we will adjust accordingly as market conditions require.
ICON Europe Fund
Country Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
United Kingdom | | | 19.4% | |
Switzerland | | | 16.8% | |
Germany | | | 14.0% | |
France | | | 11.0% | |
Spain | | | 5.7% | |
Norway | | | 3.8% | |
Netherlands | | | 3.8% | |
Denmark | | | 2.9% | |
Italy | | | 2.3% | |
Belgium | | | 2.2% | |
Sweden | | | 2.2% | |
Turkey | | | 1.8% | |
Bermuda | | | 1.6% | |
Greece | | | 1.5% | |
Austria | | | 1.3% | |
Ireland | | | 1.2% | |
Russia | | | 1.1% | |
Finland | | | 1.0% | |
Portugal | | | 0.6% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Europe Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 26.6% | |
Energy | | | 14.1% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 11.8% | |
Health Care | | | 9.9% | |
Industrials | | | 8.9% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 8.2% | |
Materials | | | 6.5% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 4.5% | |
Information Technology | | | 3.7% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Europe Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Diversified Banks | | | 11.1% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 10.1% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 7.4% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 6.4% | |
Integrated Telecommunication Services | | | 5.1% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 4.3% | |
Apparel Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 3.7% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 3.6% | |
Diversified Capital Markets | | | 3.2% | |
Packaged Foods & Meats | | | 2.9% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 2.5% | |
Diversified Metals & Mining | | | 2.2% | |
Brewers | | | 2.1% | |
Food Retail | | | 1.9% | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 1.7% | |
Application Software | | | 1.7% | |
Agricultural Products | | | 1.5% | |
Asset Management & Custody Banks | | | 1.5% | |
Tires & Rubber | | | 1.4% | |
Distillers & Vintners | | | 1.2% | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 1.1% | |
Home Improvement Retail | | | 1.1% | |
Automobile Manufacturers | | | 1.1% | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 1.1% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 14.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 94.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON Europe Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Europe Fund - Class S | | | | 2/20/97 | | | | | | -4.13 | % | | | | | 5.40 | % | | | | | 4.48 | % | | | | | 5.99 | % | | | | | 1.35 | % | | | | | 1.35 | % | |
|
|
MSCI Europe Index | | | | | | | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | 6.95 | % | | | | | 3.77 | % | | | | | 6.65 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Europe Fund - Class I | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | -4.34 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -18.81 | % | | | | | 26.07 | % | | | | | 1.83 | % | |
|
|
MSCI Europe Index | | | | | | | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -12.27 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Europe Fund - Class C | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | -5.04 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -19.41 | % | | | | | 51.24 | % | | | | | 2.58 | % | |
|
|
MSCI Europe Index | | | | | | | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -12.27 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Europe Fund - Class Z | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | -3.89 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -18.39 | % | | | | | 92.86 | % | | | | | 1.32 | % | |
|
|
MSCI Europe Index | | | | | | | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -12.27 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON Europe Fund - Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -4.32 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -6.73 | % | | | | | 4.36 | % | | | | | 1.83 | % | |
|
|
ICON Europe Fund - Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -9.81 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -8.37 | % | | | | | 4.36 | % | | | | | 1.83 | % | |
|
|
MSCI Europe Index | | | | | | | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -1.02 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective January 29, 2004. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain expenses on Class I, Class C, Class Z and Class A shares; without these limitations, returns would be lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON Europe Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class S shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/20/97 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and tax return of capital, but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Europe Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (94.1%) |
| 25 | | | A P Moller - Maersk A/S - Class B | | $ | 173,121 | |
| 6,100 | | | Adidas AG | | | 323,740 | |
| 8,055 | | | Allianz AG | | | 1,013,388 | |
| 18,400 | | | Anheuser-Busch Inbev NV | | | 843,888 | |
| 158,300 | | | Asya Katilim Bankasi AS† | | | 333,152 | |
| 85,000 | | | Aviva PLC | | | 610,964 | |
| 32,300 | | | AXA S.A. | | | 876,696 | |
| 28,500 | | | BAE Systems PLC | | | 159,413 | |
| 48,800 | | | Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl (BPM) | | | 372,392 | |
| 32,400 | | | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. | | | 577,132 | |
| 61,400 | | | Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. | | | 991,784 | |
| 5,930 | | | Bayer AG | | | 412,414 | |
| 12,800 | | | Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG | | | 615,375 | |
| 7,800 | | | BIM Birlesik Magazalar A.S. | | | 319,173 | |
| 15,828 | | | BNP Paribas | | | 1,270,107 | |
| 36,000 | | | Boliden AB | | | 388,531 | |
| 203,000 | | | BP PLC | | | 1,798,038 | |
| 4,700 | | | Carlsberg A/S - Class B | | | 341,972 | |
| 7,200 | | | Carrefour S.A. | | | 327,749 | |
| 4,300 | | | CNP Assurances | | | 438,878 | |
| 20,800 | | | Compagnie Financiere Richemont S.A. | | | 588,998 | |
| 20,800 | | | Credit Suisse Group | | | 1,157,603 | |
| 8,300 | | | Deutsche Bank AG | | | 640,305 | |
| 12,500 | | | Deutsche Postbank AG† | | | 441,658 | |
| 44,600 | | | Diageo PLC | | | 686,068 | |
| 51,100 | | | DnB NOR ASA† | | | 595,217 | |
| 15,800 | | | EFG International AG | | | 285,959 | |
| 27,500 | | | Experian PLC | | | 232,182 | |
| 22,400 | | | France Telecom S.A. | | | 597,281 | |
| 17,972 | | | Gerry Weber International AG | | | 598,806 | |
| 14,900 | | | Getinge AB - Class B | | | 250,501 | |
| 41,400 | | | GlaxoSmithKline PLC | | | 816,153 | |
| 26,200 | | | Grifols S.A. | | | 500,176 | |
| 21,100 | | | ING Groep N.V.† | | | 378,874 | |
| 121,000 | | | Intesa Sanpaolo† | | | 536,812 | |
| 7,100 | | | Julius Baer Holding AG | | | 356,205 | |
| 15,800 | | | Kerry Group PLC | | | 452,360 | |
| 136,000 | | | Koc Holding AS† | | | 358,821 | |
| 17,700 | | | Koninklijke (Royal) Philips Electronics N.V. | | | 431,730 | |
| 37,540 | | | Koninklijke Ahold N.V. | | | 453,068 | |
| 18,000 | | | Kontron AG | | | 221,657 | |
| 3,400 | | | Kuehne + Nagel International AG | | | 296,234 | |
| 374,600 | | | Legal & General Group PLC | | | 528,234 | |
| 104,000 | | | Logica PLC | | | 216,954 | |
| 11,200 | | | LUKOIL - ADR* | | | 614,320 | |
| 41,800 | | | Man Group PLC | | | 221,954 | |
| 3,600 | | | Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG | | | 365,381 | |
| 120,100 | | | Meggitt PLC | | | 447,849 | |
| 5,900 | | | Merck KGaA | | | 585,557 | |
| 1,150 | | | Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG | | | 183,726 | |
| 9,300 | | | National Bank of Greece S.A.† | | | 335,611 | |
26 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 30,900 | | | National Express Group PLC | | $ | 236,769 | |
| 28,390 | | | Nestle S.A. | | | 1,212,339 | |
| 8,600 | | | Nobel Biocare Holding AG | | | 284,851 | |
| 16,000 | | | Nokian Renkaat Oyj | | | 373,684 | |
| 20,170 | | | Novartis AG | | | 1,013,448 | |
| 12,800 | | | Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B | | | 805,146 | |
| 17,900 | | | Nutreco Holding N.V. | | | 872,316 | |
| 437,000 | | | Old Mutual PLC | | | 700,260 | |
| 9,700 | | | Omega Pharma S.A. | | | 429,286 | |
| 773,800 | | | Pirelli & C. S.p.A† | | | 415,427 | |
| 45,600 | | | Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermaerkte Holding AG | | | 626,280 | |
| 62,000 | | | Prosafe SE | | | 320,482 | |
| 41,267 | | | Prudential PLC | | | 397,663 | |
| 23,900 | | | Public Power Corp. S.A.† | | | 533,166 | |
| 6,100 | | | Roche Holding AG | | | 986,587 | |
| 53,800 | | | Royal Dutch Shell PLC - Class B | | | 1,494,277 | |
| 19,700 | | | SAP AG | | | 962,916 | |
| 41,900 | | | Seadrill, Ltd.† | | | 877,543 | |
| 9,500 | | | SEB S.A. | | | 505,772 | |
| 24,000 | | | Serco Group PLC | | | 194,071 | |
| 14,600 | | | Siemens AG | | | 1,354,014 | |
| 480 | | | Sika AG | | | 649,000 | |
| 7,600 | | | Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona S.A. | | | 196,131 | |
| 10,294 | | | Societe Generale | | | 832,568 | |
| 230,000 | | | Sonae SGPS S.A. | | | 318,344 | |
| 28,000 | | | StatoilHydro ASA | | | 632,407 | |
| 34,500 | | | Telefonica S.A. | | | 954,419 | |
| 20,500 | | | Telekom Austria AG | | | 370,593 | |
| 31,800 | | | Telenor ASA† | | | 369,135 | |
| 95,700 | | | TeliaSonera AB | | | 629,820 | |
| 18,600 | | | Temenos Group AG†(a) | | | 437,382 | |
| 48,000 | | | Tesco PLC | | | 307,232 | |
| 63,900 | | | The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC | | | 196,133 | |
| 30,000 | | | The Davis Service Group PLC | | | 192,576 | |
| 2,600 | | | The Swatch Group AG | | | 614,165 | |
| 11,000 | | | Tieto Oyj | | | 219,402 | |
| 55,200 | | | Tomra Systems ASA | | | 258,287 | |
| 19,800 | | | Total S.A. | | | 1,176,791 | |
| 6,300 | | | Transocean, Ltd.†* | | | 538,839 | |
| 1,080 | | | Vallourec S.A. | | | 183,808 | |
| 27,400 | | | Vedanta Resources PLC | | | 833,791 | |
| 4,800 | | | Vestas Wind Systems A/S† | | | 349,931 | |
| 432,900 | | | Vodafone Group PLC | | | 972,335 | |
| 4,750 | | | Zurich Financial Services AG | | | 1,132,946 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $45,812,982) | | | 53,526,493 | |
|
Rights (0.1%) |
| 15,828 | | | BNP Paribas 40 EUR, 10/14/09* | | | 34,276 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Rights (Cost $0) | | | 34,276 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (8.5%) |
$ | 4,858,164 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09*# | | | 4,858,164 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $4,858,164) | | | 4,858,164 | |
Mutual Funds (4.5%) |
| 2,518,833 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%*^ | | | 2,518,833 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $2,518,833) | | | 2,518,833 | |
Total Investments 107.2% (Cost $53,189,979) | | | 60,937,766 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (7.2)% | | | (4,068,881 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 56,868,885 | |
| | | | |
Schedule of Investments 27
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
* | | All securities were fair valued (Note 1) as of September 30, 2009 unless noted with a *. Total value of securities fair valued was $52,373,334. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
As of September 30, 2009, the Fund had the following forward currency contracts outstanding:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Original
| | | | | | Unrealized
| |
| | | | | Delivery
| | | Contract
| | | Market
| | | Appreciation/
| |
| | Currency | | | Date | | | Value | | | Value | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
|
Contracts to Sell: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(6,100,000) | | | British Pound | | | | 3/01/10 | | | $ | (9,877,852 | ) | | $ | (9,743,707 | ) | | $ | 134,145 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
28 Schedule of Investments
Class S ICESX
Class I IIQIX
Class C IIQCX
Class Z ICNEX
Class A IIQAX
Class Q ICEQX
Management Overview
ICON International Equity Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the ICON International Equity Fund returned 3.97% for Class S shares, 4.60% for Class I shares, 3.79% for Class C shares and 5.16% for Class Z shares underperforming the 6.45% return of the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) ex-U.S., the Fund’s benchmark. Class A shares of the Fund returned 4.65% (and -1.39% with maximum sales charge) and 4.97% for Class Q shares during the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | International markets outperformed U.S. equities during fiscal year 2009. The period was bifurcated in nature, and was marked by the Fund’s broad declines among the major regions through March 9, 2009 (continuing 2008’s downward trend) followed by a strong reversal into a global recovery-based rally to the fiscal year end. The Asia-Pacific region, highlighted by China and India, performed relatively better than the European and Western Hemisphere regions. The last 12 months were characterized by dramatic shifts in sector leadership and market sentiment. The period’s volatility and rapid changes in leadership presented a challenge to our investment strategy, which focuses on identifying one to two year trends of industry leadership. |
The most significant reallocation in the Fund during the period was a decreased weighting in Financials during the downturn through mid-year, followed by a reversal and reallocation to that same sector along with Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary as those areas showed the best opportunities for the ensuing recovery. In a similar manner, allocations to Europe were gradually reduced in favor of industries in the Asia-Pacific region, where we were guided by better combinations of value and relative strength according to our metrics. Furthermore, the economic situation in the Asia-Pacific region was healthier than that of Europe, which fostered a stronger environment and foundation to warrant the ensuing recovery.
As a multi-cap manager, we do not consider investments based on market capitalization. However, our valuations resulted in a concentration in mid- to small-cap companies during the period. These allocations were
overweight the predominantly large-cap benchmark, and the overweighting of small-cap stocks in particular benefited performance as large-cap stocks underperformed during this period.
Currency movements worldwide throughout the fiscal year had a slightly positive effect on returns. The U.S. dollar did experience a rebound in the first five months of this period, as worldwide risk aversion led to selling foreign currencies with a coincidental rise in demand for U.S. dollars. As fear abated, however, this trend reversed and ultimately benefited the Fund as foreign currencies recovered versus the U.S. dollar, thus benefitting shareholders.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | The Fund’s underweighting of the Financials sector proved to be beneficial as returns in this sector lagged behind the broad market in the wake of the global market downturn. Country selection within the diversified banks industry in particular was a positive note within this sector as Japan and the United Kingdom lagged their peers. Additionally, larger relative exposures in the Consumer Discretionary sector benefited returns as home improvement retailers and homebuilders, specifically those in Latin America, outpaced the benchmark. |
Conversely, the European multi-line insurance industry was a major detractor, as this group suffered losses during the last 12 months. Further, the fertilizer & agricultural chemicals industry within the Materials sector and the IT consulting & other services industry within the Information Technology sector also hindered returns as stocks within these industries lagged the benchmark over this period.
Emerging markets outperformed over the entire period after strong participation in the recovery-based rally in the second half of the year. As such, the Fund’s positions in countries like China, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa contributed positively to performance. Meanwhile, Germany, France, and Switzerland were the main detractors over this period.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the international equity market? |
| |
A. | In spite the dramatic rally in equity prices since March 9, 2009, we still see opportunity worldwide, albeit less than in years past. The worldwide stock markets and representative companies are still feeling aftershocks from the financial crisis of 2008. Interest rates remain low, however, monetary policy is loose and accommodative, and corporate earnings are showing signs of improvement. We believe these are all positive signs for stocks going forward. As we close out fiscal year 2009, we estimate that, on average, fair value for international equities is 7% higher than where prices are currently trading. Europe, where equities are trading at a 13% upside to fair value, is showing the best bargains globally. |
We believe the recovery-based market theme that emerged in 2009 remains in place, with the Financials, Consumer Discretionary, and Information Technology sectors showing the best combinations of value and relative strength amidst the current market environment. Our value-based calculations suggest that leadership could be imminent in the Health Care and Telecommunications & Utilities sectors, but our relative strength metrics have not yet confirmed that expectation.
While we do not target countries as a primary investment decision, it is a secondary factor we monitor. Switzerland and Germany remain the most attractive countries in the European region, according to our analysis. Within the Western Hemisphere, Brazil and Canada look attractive and Hong Kong currently leads in the Asia-Pacific region.
At ICON we are doing what we have always done by continuing to seek out industries trading at a discount to fair value and showing relative strength in the markets. By using value as a guide in our disciplined, systematic and non-emotional approach to investing, we see numerous opportunities amidst the recent turbulence and volatility. We believe it is nearly impossible to accurately time market bottoms and we believe rallies do not offer invitations. Therefore, given our current valuations, we remain almost fully invested. As market conditions dictate, we will adjust accordingly.
ICON International Equity Fund
Country Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Hong Kong | | | 12.5% | |
Switzerland | | | 9.9% | |
United Kingdom | | | 9.8% | |
Germany | | | 7.3% | |
France | | | 6.3% | |
South Korea | | | 6.3% | |
Canada | | | 6.3% | |
Japan | | | 4.8% | |
China | | | 4.7% | |
Taiwan | | | 4.2% | |
Spain | | | 3.3% | |
Brazil | | | 3.0% | |
Thailand | | | 2.6% | |
India | | | 2.5% | |
Norway | | | 2.0% | |
Belgium | | | 1.6% | |
Bermuda | | | 1.5% | |
Singapore | | | 1.4% | |
Denmark | | | 1.0% | |
Mexico | | | 0.9% | |
Italy | | | 0.9% | |
Sweden | | | 0.9% | |
Turkey | | | 0.9% | |
Russia | | | 0.9% | |
South Africa | | | 0.5% | |
Finland | | | 0.5% | |
Israel | | | 0.4% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.9% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON International Equity Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Financial | | | 25.6% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 12.5% | |
Energy | | | 12.0% | |
Information Technology | | | 9.5% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 9.2% | |
Materials | | | 8.3% | |
Health Care | | | 8.2% | |
Industrials | | | 7.6% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 4.0% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.9% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON International Equity Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Diversified Banks | | | 13.9% | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 8.4% | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 6.4% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 4.5% | |
Packaged Foods & Meats | | | 4.2% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 4.0% | �� |
Semiconductors | | | 3.6% | |
Apparel Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 3.1% | |
Electronic Manufacturing Services | | | 2.9% | |
Apparel Retail | | | 2.6% | |
Steel | | | 2.4% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 2.4% | |
Diversified Capital Markets | | | 2.4% | |
Water Utilities | | | 2.2% | |
Household Appliances | | | 2.1% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 1.9% | |
Homebuilding | | | 1.8% | |
Diversified Chemicals | | | 1.7% | |
Highways & Railtracks | | | 1.7% | |
Diversified Metals & Mining | | | 1.6% | |
Application Software | | | 1.5% | |
Computer Hardware | | | 1.4% | |
Integrated Telecommunication Services | | | 1.4% | |
Communications Equipment | | | 1.0% | |
Tires & Rubber | | | 1.0% | |
Real Estate Development | | | 1.0% | |
Restaurants | | | 1.0% | |
Brewers | | | 1.0% | |
Home Improvement Retail | | | 1.0% | |
Other Industries (each less than 1%) | | | 12.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.9% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon net assets excluding short-term investments and mutual funds.
ICON International Equity Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | Inception
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | Date | | | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | Inception | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON International Equity Fund – Class S | | | | 1/25/08 | | | | | | 3.97 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -16.46 | % | | | | | 1.62 | % | | | | | 1.62 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -10.50 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class I | | | | 2/6/04 | | | | | | 4.60 | % | | | | | 7.25 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | 5.74 | % | | | | | 1.55 | % | | | | | 1.55 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | 8.58 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | 7.96 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class C | | | | 2/19/04 | | | | | | 3.79 | % | | | | | 5.96 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | 4.03 | % | | | | | 2.44 | % | | | | | 2.44 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | 8.58 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | 7.45 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class Z | | | | 2/18/97 | | | | | | 5.16 | % | | | | | 7.68 | % | | | | | 5.29 | % | | | | | 6.58 | % | | | | | 1.27 | % | | | | | 1.27 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | 8.58 | % | | | | | 4.46 | % | | | | | 5.70 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class A | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | 4.65 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -3.99 | % | | | | | 1.73 | % | | | | | 1.73 | % | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class A (including maximum sales charge of 5.75%) | | | | 5/31/06 | | | | | | -1.39 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -5.68 | % | | | | | 1.73 | % | | | | | 1.73 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | 0.42 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
ICON International Equity Fund – Class Q | | | | 1/28/08 | | | | | | 4.97 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -16.58 | % | | | | | 1.31 | % | | | | | 1.31 | % | |
|
|
MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. | | | | | | | | | | 6.45 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | -9.90 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section. The Fund’s name and investment strategy changed effective January 29, 2004. The Fund’s past performance would have been different if the current strategy had been in effect. The Adviser has agreed to limit certain Fund expenses; without these limitations, returns would have been lower. The limitation provisions may be terminated in the future. Class Z shares are available only to grandfathered and institutional investors.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
Class C total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included, returns would be lower.
ICON International Equity Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund’s Class Z shares on the Class’ inception date of 2/18/97 to a $10,000 investment made in an unmanaged securities index on that date. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to differences in charges and expenses. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends, capital gain distributions and tax return of capital, but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON International Equity Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (96.9%) |
| 12,000 | | | Allianz AG | | $ | 1,509,703 | |
| 28,700 | | | Anheuser-Busch Inbev NV | | | 1,316,282 | |
| 275,000 | | | Asya Katilim Bankasi AS† | | | 578,754 | |
| 162,300 | | | Aviva PLC | | | 1,166,582 | |
| 62,200 | | | AXA S.A. | | | 1,688,251 | |
| 67,600 | | | Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl (BPM) | | | 515,854 | |
| 59,800 | | | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. | | | 1,065,200 | |
| 77,500 | | | Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. | | | 1,251,844 | |
| 2,060,000 | | | Bangkok Expressway Public Co., Ltd. | | | 1,140,555 | |
| 1,788,000 | | | Bank of China, Ltd. - Class H | | | 938,008 | |
| 116,700 | | | Bank of India | | | 1,001,716 | |
| 21,700 | | | Bank of Nova Scotia* | | | 990,732 | |
| 7,900 | | | Bayer AG | | | 549,422 | |
| 42,218 | | | Bidvest Group, Ltd. | | | 669,294 | |
| 30,319 | | | BNP Paribas | | | 2,432,928 | |
| 272,500 | | | BP PLC | | | 2,413,622 | |
| 602,000 | | | Cafe De Coral Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,317,442 | |
| 1,610,000 | | | Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co., Ltd. | | | 382,679 | |
| 49,000 | | | Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd. | | | 619,496 | |
| 401,000 | | | China Agri-Industries Holdings, Ltd. | | | 373,601 | |
| 702,000 | | | China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H | | | 558,420 | |
| 916,000 | | | China Dongxiang Group Co. | | | 609,265 | |
| 2,470,000 | | | China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. | | | 2,097,054 | |
| 1,354,000 | | | China Railway Group, Ltd.†(a) | | | 1,158,746 | |
| 674,000 | | | China Yurun Food Group, Ltd. | | | 1,451,024 | |
| 4,800 | | | CNP Assurances | | | 489,911 | |
| 1,225,095 | | | Compal Electronics, Inc. | | | 1,421,172 | |
| 450,000 | | | Corporacion GEO S.A.B. de C.V. - Class B†* | | | 1,223,787 | |
| 10,400 | | | Credicorp, Ltd.* | | | 808,704 | |
| 38,700 | | | Credit Suisse Group | | | 2,153,809 | |
| 320,800 | | | Dah Sing Financial Group† | | | 1,840,511 | |
| 13,100 | | | Deutsche Bank AG | | | 1,010,602 | |
| 11,900 | | | Deutsche Postbank AG† | | | 420,459 | |
| 79,100 | | | Diageo PLC | | | 1,216,771 | |
| 87,000 | | | DnB NOR ASA† | | | 1,013,383 | |
| 45,300 | | | Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd. | | | 1,045,742 | |
| 30,000 | | | EFG International AG | | | 542,959 | |
| 112,000 | | | Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.†* | | | 644,950 | |
| 236,000 | | | Esprit Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,581,387 | |
| 12,500 | | | First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.* | | | 817,451 | |
36 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 1,234,000 | | | Fosun International | | $ | 857,277 | |
| 76,000 | | | FUJITSU, Ltd. | | | 495,791 | |
| 20,860 | | | Gerry Weber International AG | | | 695,031 | |
| 30,000 | | | Getinge AB - Class B | | | 504,363 | |
| 61,800 | | | GlaxoSmithKline PLC | | | 1,218,316 | |
| 47,400 | | | Grifols S.A. | | | 904,899 | |
| 5,822,000 | | | Guangdong Investment, Ltd. | | | 2,860,079 | |
| 500,500 | | | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | | | 1,999,768 | |
| 159,000 | | | Itausa-Investimentos Itau S.A.* | | | 962,276 | |
| 77,000 | | | JSW Steel, Ltd. | | | 1,326,053 | |
| 11,400 | | | Julius Baer Holding AG | | | 571,935 | |
| 935 | | | Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. | | | 904,298 | |
| 231,200 | | | Koc Holding AS† | | | 609,996 | |
| 1,098,000 | | | KWG Property Holding, Ltd. | | | 706,685 | |
| 419,000 | | | Legal & General Group PLC | | | 590,843 | |
| 86,000 | | | LG Fashion Corp. | | | 1,939,785 | |
| 188,000 | | | Li & Fung, Ltd. | | | 753,251 | |
| 21,000 | | | LUKOIL - ADR* | | | 1,151,850 | |
| 58,000 | | | Manulife Financial Corp.* | | | 1,219,170 | |
| 286,000 | | | Marico, Ltd. | | | 530,451 | |
| 4,300 | | | Megastudy Co., Ltd. | | | 881,005 | |
| 157,100 | | | Meggitt PLC | | | 585,821 | |
| 10,400 | | | Merck KGaA | | | 1,032,168 | |
| 54,000 | | | Mitsui & Co., Ltd. | | | 702,641 | |
| 57,300 | | | MRV Engenharia E Participacoes S.A.* | | | 1,111,192 | |
| 36,870 | | | Nestle S.A. | | | 1,574,460 | |
| 26,800 | | | Nokian Renkaat Oyj(a) | | | 625,920 | |
| 34,440 | | | Novartis AG | | | 1,730,449 | |
| 20,200 | | | Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B | | | 1,270,621 | |
| 3,100 | | | OBIC Co., Ltd. | | | 523,244 | |
| 7,880 | | | OCI Co., Ltd. | | | 1,760,474 | |
| 800,000 | | | Old Mutual PLC | | | 1,281,941 | |
| 18,100 | | | Omega Pharma S.A. | | | 801,039 | |
| 64,000 | | | Petroleo Brasiliero S.A.* | | | 1,260,633 | |
| 1,318,400 | | | Pirelli & C. S.p.A.† | | | 707,804 | |
| 27,800 | | | Point, Inc. | | | 1,835,356 | |
| 28,700 | | | Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermaerkte Holding AG | | | 394,172 | |
| 69,180 | | | Prudential PLC | | | 666,642 | |
| 20,400 | | | Research In Motion, Ltd.† * | | | 1,379,440 | |
| 10,700 | | | Roche Holding AG | | | 1,730,570 | |
| 64,700 | | | Rona, Inc.† * | | | 906,670 | |
| 65,500 | | | Royal Dutch Shell PLC - Class B | | | 1,819,241 | |
| 1,522,000 | | | Sa Sa International Holdings, Ltd. | | | 661,558 | |
| 3,900 | | | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | | 2,693,320 | |
| 41,800 | | | SAP AG | | | 2,043,142 | |
| 58,000 | | | Seadrill, Ltd.† | | | 1,214,737 | |
| 20,800 | | | SEB S.A. | | | 1,107,375 | |
| 42,000 | | | Shionogi & Co., Ltd. | | | 993,692 | |
| 2,634,000 | | | Sichuan Expressway Co., Ltd. | | | 1,044,138 | |
| 21,000 | | | Siemens AG | | | 1,947,555 | |
| 850 | | | Sika AG | | | 1,149,271 | |
| 17,183 | | | Societe Generale | | | 1,389,743 | |
| 48,013 | | | StatoilHydro ASA | | | 1,084,419 | |
| 31,600 | | | Sun Life Financial, Inc.* | | | 990,452 | |
Schedule of Investments 37
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 679,839 | | | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | | $ | 1,346,239 | |
| 1,996,000 | | | Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd. | | | 1,634,935 | |
| 40,200 | | | Telefonica S.A. | | | 1,112,105 | |
| 104,300 | | | TeliaSonera AB | | | 686,418 | |
| 9,600 | | | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. - ADR* | | | 485,376 | |
| 1,100,000 | | | Thai Union Frozen Products Public Co., Ltd. | | | 847,958 | |
| 151,000 | | | The Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd. | | | 1,001,445 | |
| 3,320 | | | The Swatch Group AG | | | 784,242 | |
| 31,100 | | | The Toronto-Dominion Bank* | | | 2,012,028 | |
| 109,000 | | | Tomra Systems ASA | | | 510,023 | |
| 21,055 | | | Total S.A. | | | 1,251,380 | |
| 194,148 | | | Transcend Information, Inc. | | | 692,368 | |
| 15,200 | | | Transocean, Ltd.†* | | | 1,300,056 | |
| 94,000 | | | Union Bank of India | | | 466,776 | |
| 42,800 | | | Vedanta Resources PLC | | | 1,302,418 | |
| 278,000 | | | Venture Manufacturing, Ltd. | | | 1,768,593 | |
| 293,000 | | | Vodafone Group PLC | | | 658,106 | |
| 2,135,000 | | | Want Want China Holdings, Ltd. | | | 1,253,588 | |
| 12,800 | | | Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. | | | 863,724 | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 226,000 | | | Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co., Ltd. - Class H(a) | | $ | 392,171 | |
| 6,510 | | | Zurich Financial Services AG | | | 1,552,732 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $106,181,701) | | | 127,653,775 | |
|
Rights (0.0%) |
| 30,319 | | | BNP Paribas 40 EUR, 10/14/09* | | | 65,657 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Rights (Cost $0) | | | 65,657 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (5.1%) |
| 11,558 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - Canadian Dollar, 0.06%, 10/01/09*# | | | 10,798 | |
| 59,880 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - Hong Kong Dollar, 0.01%, 10/01/09*# | | | 7,727 | |
$ | 6,641,324 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09*# | | | 6,641,324 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $6,659,849) | | | 6,659,849 | |
|
Mutual Funds (2.9%) |
| 3,760,805 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%*^ | | | 3,760,805 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $3,760,805) | | | 3,760,805 | |
Total Investments 104.9% (Cost $116,602,355) | | | 138,140,086 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (4.9)% | | | (6,417,156 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 131,722,930 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
38 Schedule of Investments
| | |
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rates listed are as of September 30, 2009. |
|
* | | All securities were fair valued (Note 1) as of September 30, 2009 unless noted with a *. Total value of securities fair valued was $110,389,008. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
As of September 30, 2009, the Fund had the following forward currency contracts outstanding:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Original
| | | | | | Unrealized
| |
| | | | | Delivery
| | | Contract
| | | Market
| | | Appreciation/
| |
| | Currency | | | Date | | | Value | | | Value | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
|
Contracts to Sell: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(153,000,000) | | | Taiwan Dollar | | | | 02/26/10 | | | $ | (4,706,244 | ) | | $ | (4,862,642 | ) | | $ | (156,398 | ) |
(6,900,000) | | | British Pound | | | | 03/01/10 | | | | (11,173,308 | ) | | | (11,021,570 | ) | | | 151,738 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | $ | (15,879,552 | ) | | $ | (15,884,212 | ) | | $ | (4,660 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contracts to Buy: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
153,000,000 | | | Taiwan Dollar | | | | 02/26/10 | | | $ | 4,871,060 | | | $ | 4,862,642 | | | $ | (8,418 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Schedule of Investments 39
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | | |
| | Asia-Pacific
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Region
| | | Europe
| | | International
| |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at cost | | $ | 97,129,142 | | | $ | 53,189,979 | | | $ | 116,602,355 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at value † | | | 112,853,759 | | | | 60,937,766 | | | | 138,140,086 | |
Foreign currency, at value (a) | | | 267,854 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | - | | | | 134,145 | | | | 151,738 | |
Receivables: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund shares sold | | | 600,461 | | | | 253,794 | | | | 340,785 | |
Investments sold | | | 789,346 | | | | 123,072 | | | | 353,082 | |
Dividends | | | 268,261 | | | | 49,862 | | | | 195,277 | |
Expense reimbursements by Adviser | | | 15,433 | | | | 15,046 | | | | 51,502 | |
Foreign tax reclaims | | | 361 | | | | 47,008 | | | | 22,375 | |
Other assets | | | 71,844 | | | | 50,334 | | | | 69,039 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | | 114,867,319 | | | | 61,611,027 | | | | 139,323,884 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | | | 258,535 | | | | - | | | | 164,816 | |
Payables: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments purchased | | | 1,228,375 | | | | 2,132,350 | | | | 3,074,402 | |
Payable for collateral received on securities loaned | | | 3,960,107 | | | | 2,518,833 | | | | 3,760,805 | |
Fund shares redeemed | | | 44,274 | | | | 28,258 | | | | 305,660 | |
Advisory fees | | | 89,856 | | | | 43,559 | | | | 106,810 | |
Accrued distribution fees | | | 254 | | | | 52 | | | | 21,433 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 625 | | | | 327 | | | | 757 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 5,545 | | | | 8,221 | | | | 14,618 | |
Administration fees | | | 4,405 | | | | 1,923 | | | | 5,318 | |
Trustee fees | | | 1,487 | | | | 726 | | | | 1,771 | |
Capital gains tax payable | | | 110,000 | | | | - | | | | 118,000 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 14,004 | | | | 7,893 | | | | 26,564 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 5,717,467 | | | | 4,742,142 | | | | 7,600,954 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - all share classes | | $ | 109,149,852 | | | $ | 56,868,885 | | | $ | 131,722,930 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class S | | $ | 108,325,292 | | | $ | 56,680,625 | | | $ | 35,748,334 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class I | | $ | 16,361 | | | $ | 3,522 | | | $ | 36,860,303 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class C | | $ | 259,661 | | | $ | 22,255 | | | $ | 15,773,726 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class Z | | $ | 5,659 | | | $ | 3,554 | | | $ | 29,437,141 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class A | | $ | 542,879 | | | $ | 158,929 | | | $ | 5,213,607 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets - Class Q | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 8,689,819 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | | |
| | Asia-Pacific
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Region
| | | Europe
| | | International
| |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Net Assets Consist of | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 128,765,371 | | | $ | 110,483,616 | | | $ | 222,174,044 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss) | | | 1,484,422 | | | | 314,871 | | | | 1,725,539 | |
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss) from investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (36,579,396 | ) | | | (61,806,660 | ) | | | (113,685,976 | ) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency | | | 15,479,455 | | | | 7,877,058 | | | | 21,509,323 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 109,149,852 | | | $ | 56,868,885 | | | $ | 131,722,930 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, no par value) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 10,176,425 | | | | 4,614,330 | | | | 3,172,449 | |
Class I | | | 1,534 | | | | 287 | | | | 3,359,663 | |
Class C | | | 24,638 | | | | 1,831 | | | | 1,516,125 | |
Class Z | | | 530 | | | | 289 | | | | 2,644,386 | |
Class A | | | 51,073 | | | | 12,919 | | | | 471,180 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | 781,843 | |
Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | $ | 10.64 | | | $ | 12.28 | | | $ | 11.27 | |
Class I | | $ | 10.67 | | | $ | 12.27 | | | $ | 10.97 | |
Class C | | $ | 10.54 | | | $ | 12.15 | | | $ | 10.40 | |
Class Z | | $ | 10.68 | | | $ | 12.30 | | | $ | 11.13 | |
Class A | | $ | 10.63 | | | $ | 12.30 | | | $ | 11.07 | |
Class Q | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 11.11 | |
Class A maximum offering price (100%/(100%-maximum sales charge)) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent per share | | $ | 11.28 | | | $ | 13.05 | | | $ | 11.75 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
† Includes securities on loan of | | $ | 3,733,690 | | | $ | 432,679 | | | $ | 1,220,660 | |
(a) Foreign currency, at cost | | $ | 262,774 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statements of Operations
For the Year Ended September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | | |
| | Asia-Pacific
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Region
| | | Europe
| | | International
| |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Equity Fund | |
Investment Income | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 1,323 | | | $ | 2,227 | | | $ | 7,627 | |
Dividends | | | 1,559,079 | | | | 1,541,370 | | | | 2,855,795 | |
Income from securities lending, net | | | 108,791 | | | | 73,995 | | | | 191,373 | |
Foreign taxes withheld | | | (110,364 | ) | | | (111,706 | ) | | | (239,136 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Income | | | 1,558,829 | | | | 1,505,886 | | | | 2,815,659 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advisory fees | | | 612,025 | | | | 486,496 | | | | 1,126,145 | |
Distribution fees: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I | | | 22 | | | | 15 | | | | 110,613 | |
Class C | | | 652 | | | | 150 | | | | 143,751 | |
Class A | | | 1,007 | | | | 419 | | | | 10,960 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 45,493 | | | | 35,711 | | | | 62,992 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 99,509 | | | | 94,153 | | | | 163,765 | |
Custody fees | | | 61,017 | | | | 54,060 | | | | 91,647 | |
Administration fees | | | 30,399 | | | | 24,121 | | | | 55,898 | |
Registration fees: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 20,415 | | | | 21,560 | | | | 3,750 | |
Class I | | | 7,123 | | | | 7,175 | | | | 18,527 | |
Class C | | | 7,123 | | | | 7,177 | | | | 18,666 | |
Class Z | | | 788 | | | | 788 | | | | - | |
Class A | | | 11,333 | | | | 10,450 | | | | 11,100 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,120 | |
Insurance expense | | | 11,531 | | | | 11,346 | | | | 23,177 | |
Trustee fees and expenses | | | 9,614 | | | | 6,467 | | | | 14,564 | |
Interest expense | | | 11,249 | | | | 8,777 | | | | 835 | |
Other expenses | | | 63,085 | | | | 36,102 | | | | 79,111 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total expenses before expense reimbursement and transfer agent earnings credit | | | 992,385 | | | | 804,967 | | | | 1,936,621 | |
Transfer agent earnings credit | | | (79 | ) | | | (92 | ) | | | (178 | ) |
Expense reimbursement by Adviser due to expense limitation agreement | | | (43,152 | ) | | | (41,919 | ) | | | (58,925 | ) |
Expenses voluntarily waived by Adviser | | | - | | | | - | | | | (33,354 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Expenses | | | 949,154 | | | | 762,956 | | | | 1,844,164 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income/(Loss) | | | 609,675 | | | | 742,930 | | | | 971,495 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Foreign Currency and Capital Gains Tax | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (24,654,650 | ) | | | (39,112,789 | ) | | | (68,731,244 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from foreign currency transactions | | | 1,812,560 | | | | (222,611 | ) | | | 853,204 | |
Net realized capital gains tax | | | (152,123 | ) | | | - | | | | (136,679 | ) |
Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 32,307,243 | | | | 26,253,592 | | | | 59,678,543 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Foreign Currency and Capital Gains Tax | | | 9,313,030 | | | | (13,081,808 | ) | | | (8,336,176 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | 9,922,705 | | | $ | (12,338,878 | ) | | $ | (7,364,681 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
(This page intentionally left blank)
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | ICON Europe Fund | | | ICON International Equity Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | $ | 609,675 | | | $ | 1,016,624 | | | $ | 742,930 | | | $ | 2,588,293 | | | $ | 971,495 | | | $ | 3,320,212 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (24,654,650 | ) | | | (5,390,874 | ) | | | (39,112,789 | ) | | | (19,985,274 | ) | | | (68,731,244 | ) | | | (42,436,248 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from foreign currency transactions | | | 1,812,560 | | | | (468,780 | ) | | | (222,611 | ) | | | (315,187 | ) | | | 853,204 | | | | (927,844 | ) |
Net realized capital gains tax | | | (152,123 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (136,679 | ) | | | - | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments, foreign currency translations | | | 32,307,243 | | | | (61,368,762 | ) | | | 26,253,592 | | | | (39,200,115 | ) | | | 59,678,543 | | | | (77,067,637 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | 9,922,705 | | | | (66,211,792 | ) | | | (12,338,878 | ) | | | (56,912,283 | ) | | | (7,364,681 | ) | | | (117,111,517 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | (766,237 | ) | | | (1,159,659 | ) | | | (1,818,492 | ) | | | (1,423,883 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | (87 | ) | | | - | | | | (317 | ) | | | - | | | | (1,476,602 | ) | | | (1,286,755 | ) |
Class C | | | (282 | ) | | | - | | | | (313 | ) | | | - | | | | (116,245 | ) | | | (4,422 | ) |
Class Z | | | (69 | ) | | | - | | | | (91 | ) | | | - | | | | (426,650 | ) | | | (312,185 | ) |
Class A | | | (2,949 | ) | | | (7,875 | ) | | | (4,370 | ) | | | (2,786 | ) | | | (82,280 | ) | | | (62,758 | ) |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (204,736 | ) | | | - | |
Net realized gains | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | - | | | | (21,792,618 | ) | | | - | | | | (18,793,180 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (19,127,601 | ) |
Class C | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (3,423,110 | ) |
Class Z | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (3,637,063 | ) |
Class A | | | - | | | | (177,023 | ) | | | - | | | | (67,852 | ) | | | - | | | | (931,990 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease from dividends and distributions | | | (769,624 | ) | | | (23,137,175 | ) | | | (1,823,583 | ) | | | (20,287,701 | ) | | | (2,306,513 | ) | | | (28,785,884 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund Share Transactions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 68,526,114 | | | | 53,849,697 | | | | 14,191,781 | | | | 73,628,287 | | | | 37,481,231 | | | | 2,400,225 | |
Class I | | | 8,014 | | | | 14,400 | | | | 5 | | | | 22,500 | | | | 10,161,189 | | | | 97,739,179 | |
Class C | | | 328,363 | | | | 65,721 | | | | 5,500 | | | | 20,157 | | | | 1,225,128 | | | | 14,385,146 | |
Class Z | | | 15 | | | | 7,100 | | | | - | | | | 5,000 | | | | 28,152,025 | | | | 23,922,897 | |
Class A | | | 1,049,447 | | | | 2,156,577 | | | | 16,163 | | | | 189,257 | | | | 853,358 | | | | 11,423,858 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 707,343 | | | | 25,433,899 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 742,224 | | | | 22,106,280 | | | | 1,796,515 | | | | 19,745,712 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | 87 | | | | - | | | | 317 | | | | - | | | | 1,423,394 | | | | 19,925,371 | |
Class C | | | 282 | | | | - | | | | 313 | | | | - | | | | 102,403 | | | | 3,142,931 | |
Class Z | | | 69 | | | | - | | | | 91 | | | | - | | | | 423,014 | | | | 3,880,524 | |
Class A | | | 2,549 | | | | 156,269 | | | | 3,787 | | | | 58,430 | | | | 71,623 | | | | 919,493 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 204,396 | | | | - | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
45
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | ICON Europe Fund | | | ICON International Equity Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Shares repurchased | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | (39,519,959 | ) | | | (123,177,916 | ) | | | (29,533,643 | ) | | | (71,225,916 | ) | | | (14,393,575 | ) | | | (241,380 | ) |
Class I | | | (3,089 | ) | | | - | | | | (8,753 | ) | | | - | | | | (63,795,984 | ) | | | (77,547,995 | ) |
Class C | | | (124,771 | ) | | | (18,434 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (6,471,332 | ) | | | (6,372,588 | ) |
Class Z | | | (6 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (15,356,217 | ) | | | (36,410,408 | ) |
Class A | | | (992,203 | ) | | | (2,136,060 | ) | | | (165,717 | ) | | | (252,653 | ) | | | (2,271,884 | ) | | | (6,748,398 | ) |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (3,513,989 | ) | | | (7,583,868 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions | | | 30,017,136 | | | | (46,976,366 | ) | | | (13,693,641 | ) | | | 22,190,774 | | | | (24,997,877 | ) | | | 68,268,886 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets | | | 39,170,217 | | | | (136,325,333 | ) | | | (27,856,102 | ) | | | (55,009,210 | ) | | | (34,669,071 | ) | | | (77,628,515 | ) |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 69,979,635 | | | | 206,304,968 | | | | 84,724,987 | | | | 139,734,197 | | | | 166,392,001 | | | | 244,020,516 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 109,149,852 | | | $ | 69,979,635 | | | $ | 56,868,885 | | | $ | 84,724,987 | | | $ | 131,722,930 | | | $ | 166,392,001 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions in Fund Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 7,474,792 | | | | 3,584,171 | | | | 1,315,107 | | | | 3,521,445 | | | | 4,818,426 | | | | 156,261 | |
Class I | | | 761 | | | | 1,054 | | | | - | | | | 1,224 | | | | 1,211,533 | | | | 5,932,009 | |
Class C | | | 34,743 | | | | 5,015 | | | | 596 | | | | 1,202 | | | | 152,037 | | | | 910,029 | |
Class Z | | | - | | | | 520 | | | | - | | | | 279 | | | | 3,459,568 | | | | 1,499,033 | |
Class A | | | 135,002 | | | | 138,278 | | | | 1,625 | | | | 9,019 | | | | 98,082 | | | | 673,802 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 92,571 | | | | 1,645,599 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | 105,388 | | | | 1,502,859 | | | | 191,242 | | | | 984,824 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | 12 | | | | - | | | | 34 | | | | - | | | | 191,841 | | | | 1,204,832 | |
Class C | | | 40 | | | | - | | | | 33 | | | | - | | | | 14,484 | | | | 200,187 | |
Class Z | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | 10 | | | | - | | | | 56,477 | | | | 231,812 | |
Class A | | | 362 | | | | 10,689 | | | | 402 | | | | 2,920 | | | | 9,552 | | | | 55,159 | |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 27,289 | | | | - | |
Shares repurchased | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | (4,742,328 | ) | | | (8,661,436 | ) | | | (3,265,926 | ) | | | (3,918,107 | ) | | | (1,785,702 | ) | | | (16,536 | ) |
Class I | | | (293 | ) | | | - | | | | (970 | ) | | | - | | | | (8,313,274 | ) | | | (5,346,734 | ) |
Class C | | | (13,650 | ) | | | (1,510 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (847,038 | ) | | | (446,685 | ) |
Class Z | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,120,422 | ) | | | (2,332,032 | ) |
Class A | | | (128,235 | ) | | | (156,998 | ) | | | (17,256 | ) | | | (11,624 | ) | | | (285,661 | ) | | | (412,986 | ) |
Class Q | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (449,303 | ) | | | (534,313 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) | | | 2,866,604 | | | | (3,577,358 | ) | | | (1,775,103 | ) | | | 591,182 | | | | (3,669,540 | ) | | | 3,419,437 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 7,387,596 | | | | 10,964,954 | | | | 6,404,760 | | | | 5,813,578 | | | | 15,615,186 | | | | 12,195,749 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 10,254,200 | | | | 7,387,596 | | | | 4,629,657 | | | | 6,404,760 | | | | 11,945,646 | | | | 15,615,186 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 1,484,422 | | | $ | (188,570 | ) | | $ | 314,871 | | | $ | 1,776,910 | | | $ | 1,725,539 | | | $ | 2,145,865 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
47
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Income from investment
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | operations | | | Less dividends and | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 9.47 | | | $ | 0.08 | | | $ | 1.20 | | | $ | 1.28 | | | $ | (0.11 | ) | | $ | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 18.82 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (6.99 | ) | | | (6.89 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (2.34 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.19 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 5.51 | | | | 5.66 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 11.25 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 1.93 | | | | 1.95 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 8.17 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 3.08 | | | | 3.11 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | - | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.45 | | | | 0.06 | | | | 1.24 | | | | 1.30 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 13.73 | | | | 0.10 | | | | (4.38 | ) | | | (4.28 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.41 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 1.18 | | | | 1.20 | | | | (0.07 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 13.73 | | | | 0.05 | | | | (4.37 | ) | | | (4.32 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.48 | | | | 0.11 | | | | 1.22 | | | | 1.33 | | | | (0.13 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 13.73 | | | | 0.15 | | | | (4.40 | ) | | | (4.25 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.38 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 1.25 | | | | 1.30 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 18.72 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (6.93 | ) | | | (6.90 | ) | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (2.34 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.18 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 5.30 | | | | 5.57 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | - | |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 13.54 | | | | 0.04 | | | | (0.40 | ) | | | (0.36 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.23 | | | | 0.15 | | | | (0.79 | ) | | | (0.64 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 24.04 | | | | 0.36 | | | | (8.21 | ) | | | (7.85 | ) | | | (0.21 | ) | | | (2.75 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 18.82 | | | | 0.21 | | | | 5.33 | | | | 5.54 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 15.68 | | | | 0.20 | | | | 3.80 | | | | 4.00 | | | | - | | | | (0.86 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 12.03 | | | | 0.07 | | | | 3.58 | | | | 3.65 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.18 | | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.71 | ) | | | (0.64 | ) | | | (0.26 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 17.91 | | | | 0.33 | | | | (5.06 | ) | | | (4.73 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.12 | | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.80 | ) | | | (0.73 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 17.91 | | | | 0.07 | | | | (4.86 | ) | | | (4.79 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.24 | | | | 0.19 | | | | (0.81 | ) | | | (0.62 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 17.91 | | | | 0.36 | | | | (5.03 | ) | | | (4.67 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.14 | | | | 0.12 | | | | (0.75 | ) | | | (0.63 | ) | | | (0.21 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 23.91 | | | | 0.26 | | | | (8.17 | ) | | | (7.91 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (2.75 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 18.79 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 5.28 | | | | 5.43 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 18.40 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 0.41 | | | | 0.39 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of net investment
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of expenses
| | | income/(loss) to average
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | to average net assets(d) | | | net assets(d) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | After
| | | | | | After
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Before
| | | contractual
| | | Before
| | | contractual
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | | |
distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | | |
Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | Net assets,
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | | |
dividends
| | | value,
| | | | | | end of
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | Portfolio
| |
and
| | | end of
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | turnover
| |
distributions | | | period | | | return* | | | thousands) | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | rate(a) | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | (0.11 | ) | | $ | 10.64 | | | | 14.18 | % | | $ | 108,325 | | | | 1.54 | % | | | 1.54 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 171.05 | % |
| (2.46 | ) | | | 9.47 | | | | (41.26 | )% | | | 69,519 | | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.42 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 168.42 | % |
| (0.03 | ) | | | 18.82 | | | | 43.03 | % | | | 205,332 | | | | 1.38 | % | | | 1.38 | % | | | 0.96 | % | | | 0.97 | % | | | 130.84 | % |
| (0.01 | ) | | | 13.19 | | | | 17.36 | % | | | 147,444 | | | | 1.44 | % | | | 1.44 | % | | | 0.12 | % | | | 0.12 | % | | | 159.51 | % |
| (0.03 | ) | | | 11.25 | | | | 38.12 | % | | | 48,721 | | | | 1.93 | % | | | N/A | | | | 0.30 | % | | | N/A | | | | 185.84 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.08 | ) | | | 10.67 | | | | 14.24 | % | | | 16 | | | | 127.83 | % | | | 1.83 | %(b) | | | (125.26 | )% | | | 0.74 | % | | | 171.05 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 9.45 | | | | (31.17 | )% | | | 10 | | | | 51.45 | % | | | 1.91 | %(b) | | | (48.29 | )% | | | 1.25 | % | | | 168.42 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.07 | ) | | | 10.54 | | | | 13.10 | % | | | 260 | | | | 19.80 | % | | | 2.55 | %(b) | | | (17.06 | )% | | | 0.19 | % | | | 171.05 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 9.41 | | | | (31.46 | )% | | | 33 | | | | 23.58 | % | | | 2.64 | %(b) | | | (20.28 | )% | | | 0.66 | % | | | 168.42 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.13 | ) | | | 10.68 | | | | 14.78 | % | | | 6 | | | | 106.17 | % | | | 1.27 | %(b) | | | (103.60 | )% | | | 1.30 | % | | | 171.05 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 9.48 | | | | (30.95 | )% | | | 5 | | | | 77.18 | % | | | 1.37 | %(b) | | | (74.04 | )% | | | 1.77 | % | | | 168.42 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.05 | ) | | | 10.63 | | | | 14.11 | % | | | 543 | | | | 5.89 | % | | | 1.82 | %(b) | | | (3.41 | )% | | | 0.66 | % | | | 171.05 | % |
| (2.44 | ) | | | 9.38 | | | | (41.53 | )% | | | 412 | | | | 2.94 | % | | | 1.88 | %(b) | | | (0.82 | )% | | | 0.24 | % | | | 168.42 | % |
| (0.03 | ) | | | 18.72 | | | | 42.38 | % | | | 973 | | | | 3.26 | % | | | 1.85 | %(b) | | | 0.24 | % | | | 1.65 | % | | | 130.84 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 13.18 | | | | (2.66 | )% | | | 24 | | | | 25.78 | % | | | 1.81 | %(b) | | | (23.09 | )% | | | 0.88 | % | | | 159.51 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.31 | ) | | | 12.28 | | | | (4.13 | )% | | | 56,681 | | | | 1.57 | % | | | 1.57 | % | | | 1.52 | % | | | 1.52 | % | | | 129.97 | % |
| (2.96 | ) | | | 13.23 | | | | (36.83 | )% | | | 84,320 | | | | 1.35 | % | | | 1.35 | % | | | 1.89 | % | | | 1.89 | % | | | 181.83 | % |
| (0.32 | ) | | | 24.04 | | | | 29.69 | % | | | 139,069 | | | | 1.35 | % | | | 1.35 | % | | | 0.97 | % | | | 0.97 | % | | | 133.36 | % |
| (0.86 | ) | | | 18.82 | | | | 27.09 | % | | | 105,409 | | | | 1.51 | % | | | 1.51 | % | | | 1.13 | % | | | 1.13 | % | | | 100.62 | % |
| - | | | | 15.68 | | | | 30.34 | % | | | 23,243 | | | | 1.85 | % | | | N/A | | | | 0.51 | % | | | N/A | | | | 153.55 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.26 | ) | | | 12.27 | | | | (4.34 | )% | | | 4 | | | | 182.13 | % | | | 1.82 | %(b) | | | (179.63 | )% | | | 0.68 | % | | | 129.97 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 13.18 | | | | (26.41 | )% | | | 16 | | | | 26.07 | % | | | 1.83 | %(b) | | | (21.42 | )% | | | 2.82 | % | | | 181.83 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.24 | ) | | | 12.15 | | | | (5.04 | )% | | | 22 | | | | 75.12 | % | | | 2.57 | %(b) | | | (71.83 | )% | | | 0.72 | % | | | 129.97 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 13.12 | | | | (26.74 | )% | | | 16 | | | | 51.24 | % | | | 2.58 | %(b) | | | (48.03 | )% | | | 0.63 | % | | | 181.83 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.32 | ) | | | 12.30 | | | | (3.89 | )% | | | 4 | | | | 160.63 | % | | | 1.29 | %(b) | | | (157.36 | )% | | | 1.98 | % | | | 129.97 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 13.24 | | | | (26.07 | )% | | | 4 | | | | 92.86 | % | | | 1.32 | %(b) | | | (88.52 | )% | | | 3.02 | % | | | 181.83 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.21 | ) | | | 12.30 | | | | (4.32 | )% | | | 159 | | | | 11.15 | % | | | 1.82 | %(b) | | | (8.08 | )% | | | 1.25 | % | | | 129.97 | % |
| (2.86 | ) | | | 13.14 | | | | (37.17 | )% | | | 370 | | | | 4.36 | % | | | 1.83 | %(b) | | | (1.18 | )% | | | 1.35 | % | | | 181.83 | % |
| (0.31 | ) | | | 23.91 | | | | 29.14 | % | | | 666 | | | | 2.43 | % | | | 1.84 | %(b) | | | 0.09 | % | | | 0.69 | % | | | 133.36 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 18.79 | | | | 2.12 | % | | | 30 | | | | 33.40 | % | | | 1.84 | %(b) | | | (31.86 | )% | | | (0.30 | )% | | | 100.62 | % |
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Income from investment
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | operations | | | Less dividends and | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | |
|
ICON International Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 10.84 | | | $ | 0.13 | | | $ | 0.30 | | | $ | 0.43 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | |
January 25, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 15.25 | | | | 0.20 | | | | (4.61 | ) | | | (4.41 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.71 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.16 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 20.09 | | | | 0.22 | | | | (7.48 | ) | | | (7.26 | ) | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (1.99 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.94 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 5.63 | | | | 5.81 | | | | -(c | ) | | | (0.66 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 12.91 | | | | 0.09 | | | | 2.57 | | | | 2.66 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.62 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.59 | | | | 0.04 | | | | 3.25 | | | | 3.29 | | | | - | | | | (0.97 | ) |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.10 | | | | -(c | ) | | | 0.36 | | | | 0.36 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 19.09 | | | | 0.07 | | | | (7.07 | ) | | | (7.00 | ) | | | -(c | ) | | | (1.99 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.36 | | | | -(c | ) | | | 5.39 | | | | 5.39 | | | | - | | | | (0.66 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 12.53 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | 2.48 | | | | 2.45 | | | | - | | | | (0.62 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.55 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | 3.09 | | | | 2.95 | | | | - | | | | (0.97 | ) |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.87 | | | | 0.11 | | | | 0.35 | | | | 0.46 | | | | (0.20 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 20.34 | | | | 0.22 | | | | (7.53 | ) | | | (7.31 | ) | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (1.99 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 15.07 | | | | 0.20 | | | | 5.73 | | | | 5.93 | | | | - | | | | (0.66 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.00 | | | | 0.09 | | | | 2.63 | | | | 2.72 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.62 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.60 | | | | 0.06 | | | | 3.31 | | | | 3.37 | | | | - | | | | (0.97 | ) |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.78 | | | | 0.06 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.43 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | - | |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 20.24 | | | | 0.18 | | | | (7.52 | ) | | | (7.34 | ) | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (1.99 | ) |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 15.06 | | | | 0.17 | | | | 5.67 | | | | 5.84 | | | | - | | | | (0.66 | ) |
May 31, 2006 (inception) to September 30, 2006 | | | 15.17 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Class Q | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 10.86 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 0.35 | | | | 0.45 | | | | (0.20 | ) | | | - | |
January 28, 2008 (inception) to September 30, 2008 | | | 15.44 | | | | 0.23 | | | | (4.81 | ) | | | (4.58 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| |
(x) | Calculated using the average share method. |
* | The total return calculation is for the period indicated and excludes any sales charges. |
(a) | Not annualized. |
(b) | The Fund’s operating expenses, not including interest expense, are contractually limited to the amounts discussed in Note 3. The ratios in these financial highlights reflect the limitation, including interest expense. |
(c) | Amount less than $0.005. |
(d) | Annualized for periods less than a year. |
(e) | The ratio of expenses to average net assets after the contractual expense limitation and voluntary expense waiver and transfer agent earnings credit is 1.29%, 1.73%, 2.52%, 1.25%, 1.76% and 1.37% for Class S, Class I, Class C, Class Z, Class A and Class Q, respectively. |
(f) | The ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets after the contractual expense limitation and voluntary expense waiver and transfer agent earnings credit is 1.47%, 0.62%, (0.01%), 1.25%, 0.74% and 1.15% for Class S, Class I, Class C, Class Z, Class A and Class Q, respectively. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of expenses
| | | Ratio of net investment
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | to average net
| | | income/(loss) to average
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | assets(d) | | | net assets(d) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Before
| | | After
| | | Before
| | | After
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | contractual
| | | contractual
| | | contractual
| | | contractual
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | expense
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | limitation/
| | | | |
distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | recoupment
| | | | |
Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | Net assets,
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | and transfer
| | | | |
dividends
| | | value,
| | | | | | end of
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | agent
| | | Portfolio
| |
and
| | | end of
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | earnings
| | | turnover
| |
distributions | | | period | | | return* | | | thousands) | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | credit | | | rate(a) | |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | - | | | $ | 11.27 | | | | 3.97 | % | | $ | 35,748 | | | | 1.34 | % | | | 1.34 | %(b)(e) | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.42 | %(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 10.84 | | | | (28.92 | )% | | | 1,515 | | | | 1.62 | % | | | 1.62 | %(b) | | | 2.08 | % | | | 2.08 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.16 | ) | | | 10.97 | | | | 4.60 | % | | | 36,860 | | | | 1.76 | % | | | 1.76 | %(b)(e) | | | 0.59 | % | | | 0.59 | %(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| (2.12 | ) | | | 10.71 | | | | (39.85 | )% | | | 110,029 | | | | 1.55 | % | | | 1.55 | %(b) | | | 1.39 | % | | | 1.39 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
| (0.66 | ) | | | 20.09 | | | | 40.11 | % | | | 170,383 | | | | 1.54 | % | | | 1.54 | %(b) | | | 1.02 | % | | | 1.03 | % | | | 132.30 | % |
| (0.63 | ) | | | 14.94 | | | | 21.20 | % | | | 76,454 | | | | 1.71 | % | | | 1.71 | %(b) | | | 0.59 | % | | | 0.59 | % | | | 129.31 | % |
| (0.97 | ) | | | 12.91 | | | | 32.90 | % | | | 15,376 | | | | 2.02 | % | | | 1.97 | % | | | 0.27 | % | | | 0.32 | % | | | 139.23 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.06 | ) | | | 10.40 | | | | 3.79 | % | | | 15,774 | | | | 2.64 | % | | | 2.55 | %(b)(e) | | | (0.13 | )% | | | (0.04 | )%(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| (1.99 | ) | | | 10.10 | | | | (40.38 | )% | | | 22,194 | | | | 2.44 | % | | | 2.44 | %(b) | | | 0.47 | % | | | 0.47 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
| (0.66 | ) | | | 19.09 | | | | 38.74 | % | | | 29,274 | | | | 2.57 | % | | | 2.56 | %(b) | | | (0.04 | )% | | | (0.03 | )% | | | 132.30 | % |
| (0.62 | ) | | | 14.36 | | | | 20.09 | % | | | 13,899 | | | | 2.76 | % | | | 2.54 | %(b) | | | (0.39 | )% | | | (0.18 | )% | | | 129.31 | % |
| (0.97 | ) | | | 12.53 | | | | 29.56 | % | | | 1,622 | | | | 4.52 | % | | | 3.51 | % | | | (2.23 | )% | | | (1.22 | )% | | | 139.23 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.20 | ) | | | 11.13 | | | | 5.16 | % | | | 29,437 | | | | 1.43 | % | | | 1.25 | %(b)(e) | | | 1.07 | % | | | 1.25 | %(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| (2.16 | ) | | | 10.87 | | | | (39.66 | )% | | | 13,580 | | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.27 | %(b) | | | 1.31 | % | | | 1.31 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
| (0.66 | ) | | | 20.34 | | | | 40.56 | % | | | 37,619 | | | | 1.26 | % | | | 1.26 | %(b) | | | 1.16 | % | | | 1.16 | % | | | 132.30 | % |
| (0.65 | ) | | | 15.07 | | | | 21.54 | % | | | 28,295 | | | | 1.41 | % | | | 1.40 | %(b) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.61 | % | | | 129.31 | % |
| (0.97 | ) | | | 13.00 | | | | 33.57 | % | | | 15,466 | | | | 1.68 | % | | | 1.68 | % | | | 0.51 | % | | | 0.51 | % | | | 139.23 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.14 | ) | | | 11.07 | | | | 4.65 | % | | | 5,214 | | | | 2.08 | % | | | 1.80 | %(b)(e) | | | 0.42 | % | | | 0.70 | %(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| (2.12 | ) | | | 10.78 | | | | (39.95 | )% | | | 7,001 | | | | 1.73 | % | | | 1.73 | %(b) | | | 1.17 | % | | | 1.17 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
| (0.66 | ) | | | 20.24 | | | | 39.97 | % | | | 6,744 | | | | 1.70 | % | | | 1.69 | %(b) | | | 0.98 | % | | | 0.99 | % | | | 132.30 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 15.06 | | | | (0.73 | )% | | | 88 | | | | 19.13 | % | | | 1.79 | %(b) | | | (16.62 | )% | | | 0.72 | % | | | 129.31 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (0.20 | ) | | | 11.11 | | | | 4.97 | % | | | 8,690 | | | | 1.41 | % | | | 1.40 | %(b)(e) | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.12 | %(f) | | | 182.73 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | 10.86 | | | | (29.66 | )% | | | 12,072 | | | | 1.31 | % | | | 1.31 | %(b) | | | 2.36 | % | | | 2.36 | % | | | 188.73 | % |
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2009
1. Organization
The ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund (“Asia-Pacific Region Fund”), ICON Europe Fund (“Europe Fund”) and ICON International Equity Fund (“International Equity Fund”) are series funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end investment management company. The Asia-Pacific Region Fund and the Europe Fund offer five classes of shares: Class S, Class I, Class C, Class Z and Class A. The International Equity Fund offers six classes of shares: Class S, Class I, Class C, Class Z, Class A, and Class Q. All classes have equal rights as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that each Class may bear different distribution fees, registration costs, legal costs, mailing and printing costs and shareholder servicing costs and each Class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. There are currently 14 other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.
Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The Funds primarily invest in foreign securities; the Asia-Pacific Region Fund and the Europe Fund primarily invest in companies whose principal business activities fall within specific regions. The investment objective of each Fund is long-term capital appreciation.
The Funds may have elements of risk, including the risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment. Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers
52 Notes to Financial Statements
and issuers. There are also risks associated with small-and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity, and small market share.
In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be minimal.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Investment Valuation
The Funds’ securities and other assets are valued at the closing price at the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open, except that (a) securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day; and (b) foreign securities in the Funds traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily based on procedures established by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (“Board”) to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of a foreign market in those regions.
The Funds use pricing services to obtain the market value of securities in their portfolios; if a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation quote is considered inaccurate or does not reflect the market value of the security, prices may be obtained through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets
Notes to Financial Statements 53
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (“Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.
Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Options are valued at their closing mid-price on the market with the most volume. Mid-price is the average of the closing bid and closing ask prices. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued in accordance with the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.
The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.
Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value.
Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 — significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs.
54 Notes to Financial Statements
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in certain foreign markets generally are reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2009:
| | | | | | | | |
| | LEVEL 1 | | | LEVEL 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Investments
| |
| | in Securities | | | in Securities | |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | | | | | | | |
Hong Kong | | $ | - | | | $ | 23,257,918 | |
Japan | | | - | | | | 22,708,236 | |
Korea | | | 582,265 | | | | 16,762,852 | |
China | | | - | | | | 11,556,674 | |
Taiwan | | | - | | | | 9,155,199 | |
Singapore | | | 343,160 | | | | 5,669,861 | |
Other Countries | | | 1,706,592 | | | | 11,429,903 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 5,720,992 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 3,960,107 | | | | - | |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | | | - | | | | (258,535 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 6,592,124 | | | $ | 106,003,100 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | | | | | | | |
United Kingdom | | $ | - | | | $ | 12,413,604 | |
Switzerland | | | - | | | | 9,515,888 | |
Germany | | | - | | | | 6,700,374 | |
France | | | - | | | | 3,123,773 | |
Other Countries | | | 1,153,159 | | | | 20,619,695 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | — | | | | 4,858,164 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 2,518,833 | | | | - | |
Rights | | | 34,276 | | | | - | |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | | | - | | | | 134,145 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 3,706,268 | | | $ | 57,365,643 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Notes to Financial Statements 55
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | LEVEL 1 | | | LEVEL 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Investments
| |
| | in Securities | | | in Securities | |
|
ICON International Equity Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | | | | | | | |
Hong Kong | | $ | - | | | $ | 16,489,866 | |
Switzerland | | | 1,300,056 | | | | 11,790,427 | |
United Kingdom | | | - | | | | 12,920,303 | |
Germany | | | - | | | | 9,602,254 | |
France | | | - | | | | 8,359,588 | |
Korea | | | - | | | | 8,320,326 | |
Canada | | | 8,315,943 | | | | - | |
Japan | | | - | | | | 6,318,746 | |
China | | | - | | | | 6,218,770 | |
Taiwan | | | - | | | | 5,459,547 | |
Other Countries | | | 7,648,768 | | | | 24,909,181 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 6,659,849 | |
Mutual Funds | | | 3,760,805 | | | | - | |
Rights | | | 65,657 | | | | - | |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | | | - | | | | (13,078 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 21,091,229 | | | $ | 117,035,779 | |
| | | | | | | | |
There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2009.
Foreign Currency Translation
The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.
The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.
56 Notes to Financial Statements
Derivatives
Each Fund may use derivatives for various purposes. The Funds’ use of derivatives for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 was limited to forward foreign currency contracts. Following is a summary of how these derivatives are treated in the financial statements and their impact on the Funds:
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
| | Statement of
| | | | | Statement of
| | | |
| | Assets and
| | | | | Assets and
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as
| | Liabilities
| | Fair
| | | Liabilities
| | Fair
| |
hedging instruments | | Location | | Value | | | Location | | Value | |
|
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign exchange risk | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign | | $ | - | | | Unrealized depreciation | | $ | 258,535 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 134,145 | | | on forward foreign | | | - | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | currency contracts | | | 151,738 | | | currency contracts | | | 164,816 | |
Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Operations
| | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain/(loss) on
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as
| | Derivatives Recognized in
| | | |
hedging instruments | | Operations | | Amount | |
|
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | | |
Foreign exchange risk | | | | | | |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund ICON Europe Fund | | Net realized gain/(loss) from foreign currency transactions | | $ | 1,893,074 - | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | | | 1,463,881 | |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Operations
| | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain/(loss) on
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as
| | Derivatives Recognized in
| | | |
hedging instruments | | Operations | | Amount | |
|
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | | |
Foreign exchange risk | | Change in unrealized net | | | | |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | appreciation/(depreciation) on | | $ | (1,029,017) | |
ICON Europe Fund | | investments and foreign | | | 134,145 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | currency translations | | | (691,216) | |
Information about derivative instruments reflected as of the date of this report is generally indicative of the type and volume of derivative activity for the year ended September 30, 2009.
Notes to Financial Statements 57
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Funds value derivatives at fair value, as described below, and recognize changes in fair value currently in the results of operations. Accordingly, the Funds do not follow hedge accounting even for derivatives employed as economic hedges.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts
The Funds may enter into short-term forward foreign currency contracts. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between contracting parties to exchange an amount of currency at some future time at an agreed upon rate. The Funds use forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure with respect to transactional hedging, positional hedging, cross hedging and proxy hedging.
These contracts involve market risk and do not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses if the prices of those securities decline. The Funds could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably. Additionally, the Funds could be exposed to counterparty risk if the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of the contracts.
These contracts are marked-to-market daily. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent disposition of foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount recorded at the time of the transaction and the U.S. dollar amount actually received. Any realized gain or loss incurred by the Funds due to foreign currency translation is included on the Statement of Operations. At September 30, 2009, the Funds had outstanding forward foreign currency contracts that are listed on the Schedule of Investments.
Securities Lending
Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to non-affiliated qualified parties. The Funds seek to earn additional income through securities lending. There is the risk of delay in recovering a loaned security. The Funds do not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan; however, the Funds may attempt to call back the loan and vote the proxy.
All loans will be continuously secured by collateral which consists of cash. Brown Brothers Harriman (the “Lending Agent”) may invest the cash collateral in the Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, which complies with Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act relating to money market funds.
The cash collateral invested by the Lending Agent is disclosed on the Schedule of Investments. The lending fees received and the Funds’ portion
58 Notes to Financial Statements
of the interest income earned on cash collateral are included on the Statement of Operations, if applicable.
As of September 30, 2009, the following Funds had securities with the following values on loan:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Value of
| | | Value of
| |
Fund | | Loaned Securities | | | Collateral | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 3,733,690 | | | $ | 3,960,107 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 432,679 | | | | 2,518,833 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 1,220,660 | | | | 3,760,805 | |
The value of the collateral above could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before September 30, 2009. It may also include collateral received from the pre-funding of loans.
Income Taxes
The Funds intend to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes, or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains.
Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.
Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Funds distribute net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryovers. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.
The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past four years, no
Notes to Financial Statements 59
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
In addition to the requirements of the United States of America’s Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Funds may be subject to short-term capital gains tax in India on gains realized upon disposition of Indian securities held less than one year. The tax is computed on net realized gains; any realized losses in excess of gains may be carried forward for a period of up to eight years to offset future gains. Any net taxes payable must be remitted to the Indian government prior to repatriation of sales proceeds. The Funds that invest in Indian securities may accrue a deferred tax liability for net unrealized short-term gains in excess of available carryforwards on Indian securities. Any accrual will reduce a Fund’s NAV. As of September 30, 2009, the Asia-Pacific Region Fund and the International Equity Fund have recorded a payable of $110,000 and $118,000, respectively, as an estimate for potential future India capital gains taxes.
Investment Income
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the life of the respective securities.
Investment Transactions
Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.
Allocation of Income and Expenses
Each class of a Fund’s shares bears expenses incurred specifically on its behalf and, in addition, each class bears a portion of general expenses, based upon relative net assets of each class. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned between all Funds based upon relative net assets. In calculating the net asset value
60 Notes to Financial Statements
per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses other than class-specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets.
3. Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Investment Advisory Fees
ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. ICON Advisers receives a monthly management fee that is computed daily at an annual rate of 1.00% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.
ICON Advisers has contractually agreed to limit its investment advisory fee and/or reimburse certain of the Funds’ operating expenses (exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to ensure that the Funds’ operating expenses do not exceed the following amounts:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Class S | | | Class I | | | Class C | | | Class Z | | | Class A | | | Class Q | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | - | | | | 1.80% | | | | 2.55% | | | | 1.25% | | | | 1.80% | | | | N/A | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | - | | | | 1.80% | | | | 2.55% | | | | 1.25% | | | | 1.80% | | | | N/A | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 1.80% | | | | 1.80% | | | | 2.55% | | | | 1.25% | | | | 1.80% | | | | 1.55% | |
The expense limitations will continue in effect until at least January 31, 2020. To the extent ICON Advisers reimburses or absorbs fees and expenses, it may seek payment of such amounts for up to three years after the expenses were reimbursed or absorbed. A Fund will make no such payment, however, if the total Fund operating expenses exceed the expense limits in effect at the time the expenses were reimbursed or at the time these payments are proposed.
As of September 30, 2009 the following amounts were still available for recoupment by ICON Advisers based upon their potential expiration dates:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund | | 2010 | | | 2011 | | | 2012 | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 3,131 | | | $ | 21,793 | | | $ | 43,152 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 2,624 | | | | 22,551 | | | | 41,919 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | — | | | | — | | | | 92,279 | |
Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi”) is the fund accounting agent for the Funds. For its services, the Trust pays Citi 0.03% on the first $1.75 billion of
Notes to Financial Statements 61
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
net assets, 0.0175% on net assets over $1.75 billion and up to $5 billion, and 0.01% on net assets in excess of $5 billion.
Brown Brothers Harriman (“BBH”) is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. Effective July 1, 2009, for domestic custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.0050% on the first $250 million of assets, 0.0040% on the second $250 million of assets and 0.0025% on domestic assets above $500 million, plus certain transaction charges. Prior to July 1, 2009, the Trust paid BBH 0.0065% on the first $50 million of assets and 0.0050% on domestic assets above $50 million. For foreign custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.03% on foreign assets plus certain transaction charges.
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”) is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an account fee of $13.25 per open account, $7.00 per networked account, $1.80 per closed account, plus certain other transaction and cusip charges.
Transfer agent earnings credits are credits received for interest which results from overnight balances used by the transfer agent, BFDS, for clearing shareholder transactions. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds received transfer agent earnings credits which are included on the Statement of Operations.
Administrative Services
The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Funds’ first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds’ payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statement of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any damage, expense or loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.
ICON Advisers has entered into a sub-administration agreement with Citi pursuant to which Citi assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays Citi at an
62 Notes to Financial Statements
annual rate of 0.025% on the first $1.75 billion of Trust assets and 0.015% on assets above $1.75 billion.
Distribution Fees
The Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“12b-1 Plan”) under which the Funds are authorized to compensate the Funds’ distributor, ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”) (an affiliate of the adviser) for the sale and distribution of shares. Under the 12b-1 Plan, Class I and Class A shareholders pay an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25% of average daily net assets. The Class C shareholders pay an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00% of average daily net assets. The total amount paid under the 12b-1 plans by the Funds is shown on the Statement of Operations.
Other Related Parties
Certain Officers and Directors of ICON are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The CCO’s salary is paid 100% by the Funds. For the year ended September 30, 2009, the total related amounts paid by the Trust under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.
Some of the distribution amounts received by IDI, discussed in the Distribution Fees section above, have been used to offset various shareholder servicing costs incurred by ICON. For the year ended September 30, 2009, this amount was $10,099.
4. Borrowings
The Funds have entered into Lines of Credit agreements with BBH to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. The maximum borrowing is limited to the lesser of $50 million or 25% of the net asset value in each Fund subject to a maximum borrowing limit by the Trust of $150 million. Interest on domestic borrowings is charged at LIBOR plus 1.50%, which was 1.71% at September 30, 2009. The average interest rate charged for the year ended September 30, 2009, was 5.28% on a U.S. dollar basis.
| | | | |
| | Average Borrowing
| |
Fund | | (10/1/08-9/30/09) | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 520,441 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 141,800 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 7,910 | |
Notes to Financial Statements 63
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Average borrowing is calculated using only the days there was a borrowing. It is not an annualized number.
5. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) was as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases of
| | | Proceeds from Sales
| |
| | Securities | | | of Securities | |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 129,628,228 | | | $ | 102,957,118 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 64,374,745 | | | | 82,936,058 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 195,815,481 | | | | 219,639,564 | |
6. Federal Income Tax
Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations that may differ from accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences are due to differing treatments for items such as net short-term gains, deferrals of wash sale losses, foreign currency transactions, net investment losses, and capital loss carryforwards.
The tax components of capital shown in the following tables represent losses or deductions the Funds may be able to offset against income and gains recognized in future years and post October loss deferrals. The accumulated losses noted represent net capital loss carryforwards as of September 30, 2009 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future taxable income distributions.
For the year ended September 30, 2009 the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:
| | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Amounts | | | Expires | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 24,705,829 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 28,735,751 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 65,091,860 | | | | 2017 | |
Future capital loss carryforward utilization in any given year may be limited if there are substantial shareholder redemptions or contributions. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds did not utilize any available capital loss carryforwards.
64 Notes to Financial Statements
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds will elect to defer post October losses of:
| | | | |
| | Post October
| |
Fund | | Losses | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 11,502,533 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 32,662,480 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 47,822,977 | |
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Distributions Paid
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | From Ordinary Income | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 769,624 | | | $ | 769,624 | | | $ | 769,624 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 1,823,583 | | | | 1,823,583 | | | | 1,823,583 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 2,306,513 | | | | 2,306,513 | | | | 2,306,513 | |
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distributions paid from | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Net Long-
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Term Gains | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 10,546,038 | | | $ | 12,591,137 | | | $ | 23,137,175 | | | $ | 23,137,175 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 16,140,539 | | | | 4,147,162 | | | | 20,287,701 | | | | 20,287,701 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 17,249,628 | | | | 11,536,256 | | | | 28,785,884 | | | | 28,785,884 | |
As of September 30, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Undistributed
| | | | | | Accumulated
| | | Unrealized
| | | Accumulated
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Accumulated
| | | Capital and
| | | Appreciation/
| | | Earnings/
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Earnings | | | Other Losses | | | (Depreciation)** | | | (Deficit) | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 1,504,221 | | | $ | 1,504,221 | | | $ | (36,208,362 | ) | | $ | 15,088,622 | | | $ | (19,615,519 | ) |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 492,926 | | | | 492,926 | | | | (61,398,231 | ) | | | 7,290,574 | | | | (53,614,731 | ) |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 1,796,643 | | | | 1,796,643 | | | | (112,914,837 | ) | | | 20,667,080 | | | | (90,451,114 | ) |
| |
* | Differences between the book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
Notes to Financial Statements 65
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of September 30, 2009, cost for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Unrealized
| | | Unrealized
| | | Net Appreciation/
| |
Fund | | Cost | | | Appreciation | | | (Depreciation) | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | $ | 97,519,975 | | | $ | 17,973,976 | | | $ | (2,640,192 | ) | | $ | 15,333,784 | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | 53,642,318 | | | | 9,405,011 | | | | (2,109,563 | ) | | | 7,295,448 | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 117,292,860 | | | | 24,498,794 | | | | (3,651,568 | ) | | | 20,847,226 | |
7. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through November 20, 2009, the date of this report.
Effective January 25, 2010, the expense limitation for the Class Z shares of the Funds will increase from 1.25% to 1.55%.
66 Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of the ICON Funds:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund, ICON Europe Fund, and ICON International Equity Fund (three of the portfolios constituting ICON Funds, hereafter referred to as the “Funds”) at September 30, 2009, and the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2009 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Denver, Colorado
November 20, 2009
Report of Accounting Firm 67
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example
September 30, 2009 (unaudited)
Example
As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.
This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/1/09-9/30/09).
Actual Expenses
The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $10 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the table for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your
ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning
| | | | | | Expenses Paid
| | | Annualized
| |
| | Account Value
| | | Ending Account
| | | During Period
| | | Expense Ratio
| |
| | 4/1/09 | | | Value 9/30/09 | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09* | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09 | |
| |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,589.60 | | | $ | 9.10 | | | | 1.41 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.97 | | | | 7.09 | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,587.80 | | | | 11.68 | | | | 1.81 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,015.97 | | | | 9.10 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,580.20 | | | | 16.28 | | | | 2.53 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,012.38 | | | | 12.69 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,591.70 | | | | 8.08 | | | | 1.25 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.77 | | | | 6.29 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,586.60 | | | | 11.54 | | | | 1.79 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,016.07 | | | | 9.00 | | | | | |
ICON Europe Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,503.10 | | | | 9.54 | | | | 1.52 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.38 | | | | 7.69 | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,501.20 | | | | 11.29 | | | | 1.80 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,015.98 | | | | 9.10 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,494.50 | | | | 15.88 | | | | 2.54 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,012.27 | | | | 12.81 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,503.70 | | | | 7.85 | | | | 1.25 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.73 | | | | 6.33 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,500.00 | | | | 11.28 | | | | 1.80 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,015.98 | | | | 9.10 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning
| | | | | | Expenses Paid
| | | Annualized
| |
| | Account Value
| | | Ending Account
| | | During Period
| | | Expense Ratio
| |
| | 4/1/09 | | | Value 9/30/09 | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09* | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09 | |
| |
|
ICON International Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,571.80 | | | $ | 8.06 | | | | 1.25 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.73 | | | | 6.33 | | | | | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,567.10 | | | | 11.00 | | | | 1.71 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,016.43 | | | | 8.64 | | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,561.60 | | | | 15.86 | | | | 2.47 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,012.62 | | | | 12.46 | | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,569.80 | | | | 7.99 | | | | 1.24 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.78 | | | | 6.28 | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,568.00 | | | | 11.07 | | | | 1.72 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,016.38 | | | | 8.69 | | | | | |
Class Q | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,569.20 | | | | 8.37 | | | | 1.30 | % |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.48 | | | | 6.58 | | | | | |
| |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s six month expense ratio annualized, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period. |
Total returns exclude applicable sales charges. If sales charges were included (maximum 5.75%), returns would be lower.
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (unaudited)
The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (“Board”) consists of five Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.
Interested Trustee
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of IDI, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of ICON Management & Research Corporation (“IM&R”), the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Independent Trustees
Glen F. Bergert, 59. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present); General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to present); General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present); and General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present); General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present); and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Herre Bros, Inc., a contracting company (1998 to present) and Delta Dental of California, an insurance company (2006 to present). Mr. Bergert was a Director of Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, an insurance company (1998 to 2009) and Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2000 to 2009).
John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 62. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was
Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).
Gregory Kellam Scott, 60. Mr. Scott has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Scott currently is employed as a member of the Executive Staff of the President of Ivy Tech Community College, recently appointed as Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Relations (April 2008 to present). Prior to his current employment, he served as Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (2005 to 2008) and is a member of the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on the African Judiciary (2006 to present). Mr. Scott was Senior Vice President -Law, General Counsel and Secretary of GenCorp, Inc., a multinational technology-based manufacturing company (2002 to 2004); Vice President and General Counsel of Kaiser-Hill Company, LLC, a nuclear clean-up and environmental remediation company (2000 to 2002) and served as a Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court (1993 to 2000). From 1980 until 1993, he was a member of the faculty of the University Of Denver College Of Law.
R. Michael Sentel, 61. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present). Mr. Sentel also provides legal representation as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on corporate and transactional law. He served as general counsel to numerous public companies and served on the board of directors of one of these clients. Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).
The Officers of the Funds are:
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of IDI, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Erik L. Jonson, 60. Mr. Jonson has been a Vice President and Principal Financial Officer/Treasurer of the Funds since their inception in 1996. Mr. Jonson is also Chief Financial Officer (1996 to present) and Executive
Vice President (2004 to present) and was previously Vice President (1998 to 2004) and Secretary (2005 and 1998 to 2002) of ICON Advisers; Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director (1998 to present) of IM&R; and Executive Vice and Treasurer/Financial Principal (1996 to present) of IDI; and Executive Vice President and Treasurer of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009).
Jessica Seidlitz, 31. Ms. Seidlitz serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2007 to present). She also serves as Mutual Fund Controller of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present). Previously, she was a Senior Associate/Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (2001 to 2004).
Donald Salcito, 56. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds since November 15, 2006. Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (September 2005 to present) of ICON Advisers; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel, for IDI (2005 to present); Chief Compliance Officer of IDI (2005 to 2007); Executive Vice President and Secretary of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2005 to 2009). Previously he was a Partner in the law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP. (2000 to 2005).
Brian Harding, 30. Mr. Harding serves as Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Mr. Harding also serves as Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Previously he was a Manager (2007 to 2008) and Senior Associate/Associate (2001 to 2007) at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Other Information (unaudited)
Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreements
In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Board requested, was provided with and reviewed data with respect to ICON, its personnel, and the services to be provided to each Fund by ICON under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector, International and Core Equity Funds) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds - Bond, Risk-Managed Equity, Equity Income and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; comparative data related to exchange traded funds versus the Sector Funds; and comparative data obtained from Lipper Analytical Services related to Fund performance and Fund expenses.
On August 10, 2009, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2009.
The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel throughout the process. Prior to acting on the matter, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss the foregoing information. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information and to discuss responses to questions raised during the process. In addition, the Independent Trustees received materials from their independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the agreement.
In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to
which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.
During the Board of Trustees’ discussion, management personnel noted that the markets overall had performed poorly in 2008 and the beginning of 2009 and that the ICON Funds performed poorly as well. In this regard it was noted that late 2008 Board meetings the Adviser advised that it was concerned with the poor performance and began an internal analysis to determine the cause. Management advised that, in light of the analysis, it believes that the Adviser’s valuation equation was over valuing riskier stocks due to several factors - including, but not limited to, the extreme events of 2008, the industry wide undervaluing of risk, and the increase in the number of stocks in the Adviser’s investable universe; and that, in light of such, the Adviser made modifications to the risk valuation metrics of the valuation equation – namely that the Adviser modified the equation so that the valuation equation now takes into account an additional item of information on each individual company. The Trustees recalled that during the entire process, Management kept the Trustees informed, updating the Trustees on the status of the internal analysis and the changes to the valuation equation as the changes were being implemented. In addition, in response to Trustee questions, the Adviser advised that it has monitored Fund performance after implementation of the modification and found significant improvement; and that it believes this adjustment has improved the valuation equation and will benefit the Funds going forward. In reaching their conclusions, the Trustees noted that they have taken into consideration the poor overall market performance, the Funds’ performance, and the Adviser’s response, analysis and changes to the valuation equation.
In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. It was noted:
A. That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund is satisfactory, as evidenced in part by efforts to address and improve the performance record of each Fund when compared with the performance records of a peer group of comparable funds and markets in general;
B. That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that it has the sophisticated systems and the highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide
quality service to the Funds’ shareholders, including the dedication of substantial resources to ICON’s investment and trading departments;
C. That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Funds, and is charging fair, reasonable, and competitive fees; and
D. The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.
In considering the reasonableness of the fee payable to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates of their relationship with each Fund over various time periods, which analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates.
The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the willingness of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. In this regard the Board discussed significantly reduced asset levels in each fund covered by the Advisory Agreements due to the tumultuous markets during the past year, to related poor Fund performance, and to redemptions. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing material benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.
In connection with assessing data bearing the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board used data from Lipper Analytical Services concerning funds of
similar size and funds of larger size, as well as data concerning ICON’s other clients and noted:
A. the advisory fee structures of the Funds were considered in comparison with advisory fees and expense ratios of other similarly managed funds as set forth in the comparative data;
B. that contractual advisory fees of the Sector Funds were higher than fees for similar funds; but that the Sector Funds’ expense ratios were competitive and consistent with those of similarly managed Funds;
C. that contractual advisory fees for the International Funds were above the average fees for similar funds; and that the Funds’ expense ratios were competitive in light of their size;
D. that ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on certain Funds at a cost to ICON;
E. that the advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining, and may well be lower than fees arrived at solely from such arm’s-length negotiation;
F. that, the fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as pension plans) are not lower than the fees paid by similarly-managed funds; and to the extent such fees of those accounts are lower, the reasons why such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage; and
G. that ICON has contractually committed to breakpoint as in it fees so that economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets, for the benefit of Fund shareholders.
In connection with the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed and noted:
A. that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds; that services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are satisfactory, and that profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable; and
B. that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions; that such research assists ICON in providing quality to which it provides advisory services; and that the Board concluded that the arrangements are consistent with Fund brokerage practices and benefit the Funds and their shareholders
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, the services to be performed under the agreement were services required for the operation of the Funds, ICON had provided satisfactory advisory services to the Funds in the past, and the fees for the advisory services which ICON would perform and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust and consistent with fees paid by similar funds, are reasonable in light of the comparative data, and would be within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of the circumstances.
Supplemental Tax Information
For corporate shareholders, the following percentage of the total ordinary income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction for the following Funds:
| | | | |
| | Dividends
|
| | Received
|
Fund | | Deduction |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | 0.03 | % |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 0.21 | % |
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the following Funds paid qualified dividend income:
| | | | |
Fund | | Amount |
|
ICON Asia-Pacific Region Fund | | | 23.31% | |
Icon Europe Fund | | | 28.55% | |
ICON International Equity Fund | | | 75.29% | |
The Funds had no long-term capital gain distributions qualifying for the maximum 15% income tax rate for individuals.
Portfolio Holdings
A list of each ICON Fund’s Top 10 holdings is available at www.iconfunds.com on or about 15 days following each month-end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.
Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
For More Information
This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
ICON Funds Privacy Policy
In the course of doing business with the ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON Companies”) you provide personal and financial information. The ICON Companies respect your privacy. We collect non-public personal information about you on your applications or other forms and through your transactions with us. You may provide this information in writing, electronically, or by phone. The information may contain your name, address, phone number, social security number, account information, investment activity, and other information that you provide to us directly or through our service providers. This information permits us to service your accounts and to provide information to you upon request.
We may share some or all of this information with our affiliates, as well as third parties that assist us in maintaining your accounts, processing transactions on your accounts, or mailing information to you as may be permitted by law. Further, we may permit third party vendors to download this information as needed, in order to assist us or your Registered Representative/Financial Adviser in maintaining your account. Otherwise, our policies prohibit employees of the ICON Companies from sharing your personal and financial information except as permitted or required by law. Under no circumstances do we sell information about you to anyone.
We restrict access to your non-public personal information to those employees who have a need to know that information to service your accounts. We also maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your privacy. Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.
If you would like more information about our Privacy Policies, please call 1-800-764-0442.
ICON Funds Privacy Policy 85
| | |
|
For more information about the ICON Funds, contact us: |
| | |
By Telephone | | 1-800-764-0442 |
| | |
By Mail | | ICON Funds P.O. Box 55452 Boston, MA 02205-8165 |
| | |
In Person | | ICON Funds 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor Greenwood Village, CO 80111 |
| | |
On the Internet | | www.iconfunds.com |
| | |
By E-Mail | | info@iconadvisers.com |
2009 Annual Report
ICON Sector Funds
Investment Update
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
ICON Energy Fund
ICON Financial Fund
ICON Healthcare Fund
ICON Industrials Fund
ICON Information Technology Fund
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund
ICON Materials Fund
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund
1-800-764-0442 ïwww.iconfunds.com
AR-SECT-09 K04079
You can now sign up for electronic delivery of ICON Fund shareholder reports, including prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxy statements.
When these materials are available, you will receive an email from ICON with instructions on how to view the documents. Statements, transaction confirmations and other documents that are not available online will continue to be sent to you by U.S. mail.
Visit ICON’s website at www.iconfunds.com to learn more and sign up.
You may change or cancel your participation in eDelivery by visiting www.iconfunds.com, or you can request a hard copy of any of the materials free of charge by calling ICON Funds at 1-800-764-0442.
1-800-764-0442 • www.iconfunds.com
Table of Contents
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | 2 | |
| | | | |
| | | 5 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | 9 | |
| | | 16 | |
| | | 21 | |
| | | 27 | |
| | | 33 | |
| | | 39 | |
| | | 45 | |
| | | 50 | |
| | | 56 | |
| | | | |
| | | 62 | |
| | | | |
| | | 72 | |
| | | | |
| | | 76 | |
| | | | |
| | | 91 | |
| | | | |
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example (Unaudited) | | | 92 | |
| | | | |
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (Unaudited) | | | 94 | |
| | | | |
Other Information (Unaudited) | | | 97 | |
About This Report (unaudited)
Historical Returns
All total returns mentioned in this Report account for the change in a Fund’s per-share price and the reinvestment of any dividends, capital gain distributions and adjustments for financial statement purposes. If your account is set up to receive Fund distributions in cash rather than to reinvest them, your actual return may differ from these figures. The Funds’ performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Fund results shown, unless otherwise indicated, are at net asset value.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance results represent past performance, and current performance may be higher or lower. Please call 1-800-764-0442 or visit www.iconfunds.com for performance results current to the most recent month-end.
Portfolio Data
This Report reflects ICON’s views, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2009, the end of the reporting period. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any sector, industry, security or the Funds.
Opinions and forecasts regarding industries, companies and/or themes, and portfolio composition and holdings are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions, and should not be construed as a recommendation of any specific security, industry or sector. Each Fund’s holdings as of September 30, 2009 are included in each Fund’s Schedule of Investments.
According to ICON, value investing is an analytical, quantitative approach to investing that employs various factors, including projecting earnings growth estimates, in an effort to determine whether securities are over- or underpriced relative to ICON’s estimates of their intrinsic value. Value investing involves risks and uncertainties and does not guarantee better performance or lower costs than other investment methodologies. ICON’s value-to-price ratio is a ratio of intrinsic value, as calculated using ICON’s proprietary valuation methodology, of a broad range of domestic and international securities within ICON’s system as compared to the current market price of those securities. The ICON system relies on the integrity of financial statements released to the market as part of our analysis.
This Report contains statements regarding industry or sector themes, new market themes, investment outlook, relative strength, value-to-price ratios, and investment team expectations, beliefs, goals and the like that are based on current expectations, recent individual stock performance relative to current market prices, estimates of company values and other information supplied to the market by the companies we follow. Words such as “expects,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “value,” “intrinsic value,” “indicates,” “believes,” “considers,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements, which are not statements of historical fact. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to assess. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of important factors, including, among others: stock price fluctuations; the integrity and accuracy of historical and projected financial and other information supplied by companies to the public; interest rates; future earnings growth rates; the risks noted in this Report and other factors beyond the control of our investment team. Therefore, actual outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward looking statements.
There are risks associated with mutual fund investing, including the loss of principal. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results.
An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment, and the Technology sector has been among the most volatile in the market. Investments in foreign securities may entail unique risks, including political, market, and currency risks. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, do not exist in foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers.
The prospectus and statement of additional information contain this and other information about the Funds and are available by visiting www.iconfunds.com or calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus and statement of additional information carefully.
Comparative Indexes
The comparative indexes discussed in this Report are meant to provide a basis for judging the Funds’ performance against specific securities indexes. Each index shown accounts for both change in security price and reinvestment of dividends and distributions (except as noted), but does not reflect the costs of managing a mutual fund. The Funds’ portfolios may significantly differ in holdings and composition from the indexes. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.
| |
• | The unmanaged Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Composite 1500 Index (“S&P Composite 1500 Index”) is a broad-based capitalization-weighted index comprising 1,500 stocks of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap U.S. companies. |
|
• | The capitalization-weighted S&P 1500 Sector and Industry Indexes are based on specific classifications determined by S&P. |
|
• | The unmanaged NASDAQ Composite (“NASDAQ”) Index is a broad-based capitalization-weighted index of all NASDAQ National Market and Small-Cap stocks. |
Index returns and statistical data included in this Report are provided by Bloomberg and FactSet Research Systems.
Financial Intermediary
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may influence the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.
Message From ICON Funds
Road to Recovery
At ICON we believe the bear market from late 2007 through March 2009 can be divided into three phases. The three distinct phases can be seen in the chart below, which reflects the S&P 1500 Index, a broad measure of the U.S. stock market, over the course of a roughly two year period.
Looking at this graph, one can see how the first phase lasted almost a year, beginning with a generally slow, steady decline following the Index’s peak in October 2007. The second phase was a sharp week-long crash following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008. And the third phase was driven by economic uncertainty as economists (professional and amateur) revised their forecasts for the recession outward and downward, unable to clearly see an end or bottom. As an example, Bloomberg surveys of over 80 economists in January and February 2009 show 3rd quarter GDP forecasts being rapidly revised downward. By mid-March 2009, economists predicted 3rd quarter GDP growth would be 0% on an annual basis. These downward revisions coincided with the stock market’s continued gradual decline that was the final leg of phase 3.
S & P 1500 Index
Source: Factset
By mid-September 2009, a survey of those same economists revealed a 3rd quarter GDP forecast of 2.9% growth. That is a huge upward revision since March. If the upward revision proves accurate, it suggests economists and
Message From ICON Funds 5
investors alike let their fear and anxiety get the better of them in late 2008 and early 2009. In other words, it seems (and we believe) the bleak initial outlook of 0% growth for 3rd quarter 2009 was both unduly negative and likely way off the mark.
As seen in the graph, the stock market quickly recovered its losses from phase 3 in roughly six months between March and August 2009. The S & P 1500 Index gained 59.9% from March 9 through September 30. Annualized, it equates to a pace of 130.7%, putting this rally among the best by historical standards.
As the market rallied and recovered from phase 3 of the bear market, stock prices moved higher - but so has underlying value as measured by ICON. Over time we bring new earnings into our equation for each company we analyze. In so doing, we drop off old, stale earnings. Our normal process of bringing in 2009 earnings and 2010 estimates has generally added modestly to our calculation of the intrinsic value of most companies. A much bigger boost in intrinsic value has come from the rally in corporate bonds and the accompanying drop in yields. Lower yields equate to higher valuation readings under the ICON system. As corporate bond yields drop and earnings increase, value becomes a target that continually moves higher with prices struggling to play catch-up.
Now, what about recovering from phases 2 and 1 of the bear market? Based on ICON’s valuation readings we feel we can make a few encouraging observations. We believe stocks are currently priced about 10% below our estimate of intrinsic value. If corporate bond yields continue to drop to historical normal levels, and assuming normal earnings growth, we believe conditions are in place for fair market values to eventually exceed even those seen at their peak levels toward the end of 2007. To cut to the chase, we feel we could see a recovery from phases 1 and 2 over the next couple of years.
As for the earnings portion, consensus forecasts from I/B/E/S for S & P 500 index companies anticipate earnings recovery in 2010 and 2011. Although there is often a rapid rebound in earnings coming out of a recession, the I/B/E/S analysts surveyed appear cautious in their forecasts for this recovery. The analysts expect operating EPS for the S & P 500 companies to rise to $71.17 in 2010 (a 27.7% increase over the 2009 estimate of $55.72) and another 13.8% to $81 in 2011. This forecasted earnings growth will increase value (as calculated using ICON’s proprietary methodology) when earnings are introduced into our valuation equation over the next year or two.
Our belief that corporate bond yields can keep dropping is based on a continuation of the unwinding from the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy last
6 Message From ICON Funds
fall. When Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September 2008, corporate bond yields and their spread above Treasury Bonds rose dramatically. Bond investors evidently feared and anticipated many defaults. With the economic and financial setting proving to be better than was initially expected last year, corporate bond yields have been dropping. Yields are far from being back to normal levels, however. Our expectation that corporate bond yields will continue to drop is based on more than just “hoping yields return to normal levels.” Rather, corporate bonds of various qualities and maturities have the valuation and relative strength readings under our system to suggest their moves can continue. In other words, the ICON bond model suggests the rally in corporate bonds is sustainable.
Thus, our case for valuation readings approaching levels not seen since late 2007 is threefold. First, stocks are still priced below our estimate of fair value. Second, we believe new earnings over the next two years will push values higher. Third, and finally, declining yields on corporate bonds should likewise raise value.
The path to recovery is nonetheless unpredictable. During phase 2, from September 30 through October 10, 2008, the S & P 1500 Index dropped 22.9% in eight trading days. Could the phase 2 recovery be a mirror image of the phase 2 collapse, with an equally dramatic upside? It’s possible, but unlikely in our opinion. Instead, a path of two steps forward and one step back is more likely. There remain a lot of jittery, skeptical investors who use advances as an opportunity to exit. To move higher, the market has to absorb or “take out” their shares. While valuations may justify price levels back to those seen at the peak in 2007, the path for stock prices may be a grind.
In conclusion, we see the path to recovery occurring over three distinct phases. As investors came to believe the depression they feared last winter would not materialize, we experienced a phase 3 recovery. We expect the phase 2 recovery will occur as investors realize that the bond default potential is greatly reduced with the start of an economic recovery: in other words, phase 2 might be seen as an unwinding of the Lehman Brothers fallout. We believe phase 1 recovery will occur as investors acknowledge the fact that corporate earnings are advancing - typical of an economic recovery.
So far, off the low last March, the leading industries have come from the Financials sector. Next in line are the cyclical economically sensitive industries from the following sectors: Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology. Lagging, but still participating, are the so called “recession proof” industries from sectors like Health Care, Utilities and Consumer Staples.
Message From ICON Funds 7
On the road to recovery, ICON will stick to its system of industry rotation as we work to capture industry themes and leadership. While our research team has adjusted to and learned from these unprecedented times, there is always room for improvement. We have emerged from the bear market as a better, more effective money manager and we look forward to serving you in the years ahead.
Yours truly,
Craig T. Callahan, DBA
Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Adviser
8 Message From ICON Funds
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund Perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The Fund underperformed its benchmark for the period. The Fund declined 5.01%, while the benchmark S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index rose 0.83% and the S&P Composite 1500 Index declined 6.77%. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors influenced the Fund’s relative performance during the period? |
| |
A. | Fiscal year 2009 was marked by the veritable meltdown of the U.S. financial system, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression. This meltdown was spurred primarily by the collapse in the housing market. The fiscal year had the misfortune of beginning approximately two weeks after Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. The credit markets immediately froze and between October 3 and October 10, 2008, the S&P 500 Index fell 18.14%. |
As the economy began its downward spiral, no sector was left unscathed and the Consumer Discretionary sector was especially hard hit. Each of the ten economic sectors tracked by Standard & Poor’s fell sharply during the initial market freefall between September 30 and November 20, 2008. The Consumer Discretionary sector was one of the worst performing sectors during this period. Its -42.72% return underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which fell 35.21% over the same time frame.
The economic downturn took a heavy toll on consumers. Housing foreclosures spiked, unemployment rose, access to credit fell dramatically and consumer sentiment plunged. To put this dramatic fall in consumer sentiment into tangible terms, one can look to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which, since 1968, has surveyed individuals about their optimism over the economy six months forward. This Index plummeted during the first five months of the fiscal period. At the beginning of the fiscal period the Index value was 61.4. By the end of February 2009, the survey value hit an all-time low of 25.3.
As we have seen at times in the past, just as consumer confidence looked like it was headed into the abyss, the market turned suddenly and sharply upward. Shortly after the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index sank to its lowest level on record in February 2009, the market began a dramatic rally. Between the March 9, 2009 low and the end of the fiscal year, the S&P 500 Index rose 58.25%. Consumer Discretionary industries fared even better than the overall market, with the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index rising 75.66%. This sector was the fourth best
performer of the ten sectors tracked by Standard & Poor’s during this time period.
Consumer confidence rose during this half-year rally, as many came to believe that “The Great Recession” (as some pundits refer to it) appeared to be coming to an end. Historically, the market tends to bottom before a recession is technically over. As the market sank toward its March low, many analysts predicted U.S. Gross Domestic Product would rise in the third quarter of 2009. Equities suddenly rallied sharply in anticipation of a recovery.
Two factors in particular led to the underperformance of the Fund over this fiscal period. First, growth stocks outperformed value stocks. Standard & Poor’s has an index for both growth and value equities. Its S&P 500 Value Index fell 11.43% during fiscal year 2009, while its S&P 500 Growth Index declined only 2.62%. Since ICON follows a value-based investment methodology, the performance disparity between these investing styles dragged on the Fund.
Second, low quality stocks outperformed high quality stocks. At ICON we favor stocks we determine to be of high quality. We generally define high quality issues as those whose management teams have displayed the ability to run their companies in an efficient manner over a long period of time - for ten years when available. It is a quantitative process that assesses consistency in profitability and cost containment, as well as the strength of a company’s balance sheet. During fiscal year 2009, low quality stocks significantly outperformed high quality ones, producing a second performance hurdle for the Fund to overcome.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s Composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | At ICON we focus on industry selection based on value and relative strength. When we identify industries that have value and which seem to be leading the market higher, we naturally tilt our sector fund toward those industries. We track twenty-four separate and distinct industries within the Consumer Discretionary Fund. Over the past year, over- and |
| |
| underweight industry positions had a significant impact on the Fund’s performance relative to its benchmark. |
On the positive side, three industries in particular had a positive impact on Fund performance: automotive retail, department stores and home improvement retail. Combined, these three industries accounted for approximately 10.4% of positive relative performance versus the Fund’s sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index.
On the flipside, there were a number of industries that detracted from the Fund’s performance relative to the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index. The detracting industries included homebuilding, internet retail, apparel retail, computer & electronics retail, housewares & specialties, home furnishings and automobile manufacturing. Combined, these seven industries accounted for approximately 12.9% of negative relative performance versus the Fund’s benchmark.
Investment Outlook
Following the dramatic rally that transpired between March 9 and September 30, 2009, Consumer Discretionary issues closed the fiscal year trading on average at about fair value. Nevertheless, at fiscal year-end we saw upside potential within select Consumer Discretionary stocks. Therefore, while we believe the sector’s upside potential is somewhat limited given the data estimates that go into our model, opportunities for gains do exist, albeit on a selective basis. In our view, the key to garnering profits within the sector lies within discrete stock and industry selection.
Still, several factors could affect the sector’s potential. If earnings forecasts are ratcheted upward and corporate credit spreads continue to narrow (as they have been since they peaked just after Lehman Brothers’ collapse), then value within the Consumer Discretionary sector could grow. This scenario is a possibility in light of the economic turnaround evidently underway as fiscal year 2009 came to a close.
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Apparel Retail | | | 18.1% | |
Footwear | | | 11.6% | |
General Merchandise Stores | | | 10.0% | |
Household Appliances | | | 9.8% | |
Apparel Accessories & Luxury Goods | | | 5.9% | |
Home Improvement Retail | | | 4.2% | |
Automotive Retail | | | 4.1% | |
Specialty Stores | | | 3.8% | |
Department Stores | | | 3.5% | |
Movies & Entertainment | | | 3.2% | |
Homebuilding | | | 2.8% | |
Advertising | | | 2.3% | |
Personal Products | | | 2.3% | |
Diversified Support Services | | | 1.8% | |
Drug Retail | | | 1.8% | |
Leisure Products | | | 1.3% | |
Hotels Resorts & Cruise Lines | | | 1.0% | |
Specialized Consumer Services | | | 1.0% | |
| | | | |
| | | 88.5% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 77.1% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 9.6% | |
Industrials | | | 1.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 88.5% | |
| | | | |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 7/9/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | | | -5.01 | % | | | | | -2.85 | % | | | | | 1.29 | % | | | | | 0.97 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index | | | | 0.83 | % | | | | | -1.19 | % | | | | | -0.52 | % | | | | | 3.26 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 3.52 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The performance of the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions beginning on January 1, 2002. Additional information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 7/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (88.5%) |
| 13,900 | | | America’s Car-Mart, Inc.† | | $ | 332,905 | |
| 13,000 | | | ATC Technology Corp.† | | | 256,880 | |
| 4,300 | | | Carnival Corp. | | | 143,104 | |
| 4,400 | | | Coach, Inc. | | | 144,848 | |
| 4,200 | | | Deckers Outdoor Corp.† | | | 356,370 | |
| 8,200 | | | Desarrolladora Homex S.A. de C.V. - ADR†(a) | | | 309,796 | |
| 4,200 | | | Dollar Tree, Inc.† | | | 204,456 | |
| 5,500 | | | Fossil, Inc.† | | | 156,475 | |
| 7,100 | | | Gildan Activewear, Inc. - Class A†(a) | | | 140,012 | |
| 11,200 | | | Guess?, Inc. | | | 414,848 | |
| 7,800 | | | H&R Block, Inc. | | | 143,364 | |
| 10,700 | | | Helen of Troy, Ltd.† | | | 207,901 | |
| 7,400 | | | Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc.† | | | 331,298 | |
| 5,800 | | | Kohl’s Corp.† | | | 330,890 | |
| 14,600 | | | Lowe’s Cos., Inc. | | | 305,724 | |
| 9,300 | | | Macy’s, Inc. | | | 170,097 | |
| 7,900 | | | Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. | | | 251,141 | |
| 13,620 | | | Nike, Inc. - Class B(a) | | | 881,214 | |
| 17,300 | | | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. - Class A | | | 320,569 | |
| 8,800 | | | Omnicom Group, Inc. | | | 325,072 | |
| 4,500 | | | Polaris Industries, Inc. | | | 183,510 | |
| 2,900 | | | Ross Stores, Inc. | | | 138,533 | |
| 15,100 | | | Snap-on, Inc. | | | 524,876 | |
| 7,650 | | | Staples, Inc.(a) | | | 177,633 | |
| 26,000 | | | Target Corp.(a) | | | 1,213,680 | |
| 16,200 | | | The Dress Barn, Inc.†(a) | | | 290,466 | |
| 10,900 | | | The Home Depot, Inc.(a) | | | 290,376 | |
| 4,400 | | | The Ryland Group, Inc.(a) | | | 92,708 | |
| 15,600 | | | The Stanley Works | | | 665,964 | |
| 9,400 | | | The Walt Disney Co. | | | 258,124 | |
| 6,700 | | | Time Warner, Inc. | | | 192,826 | |
| 32,200 | | | TJX Cos., Inc. | | | 1,196,230 | |
| 7,500 | | | Tractor Supply Co.† | | | 363,150 | |
| 6,500 | | | Urban Outfitters, Inc.† | | | 196,105 | |
| 5,400 | | | V.F. Corp. | | | 391,122 | |
| 6,900 | | | Walgreen Co.(a) | | | 258,543 | |
| 16,600 | | | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | | | 412,344 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $10,388,662) | | | 12,573,154 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (16.5%) |
$ | 2,343,220 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 2,343,220 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $2,343,220) | | | 2,343,220 | |
|
Mutual Funds (24.2%) |
| 3,439,929 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 3,439,929 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $3,439,929) | | | 3,439,929 | |
Total Investments 129.2% (Cost $16,171,811) | | | 18,356,303 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (29.2)% | | | (4,151,210 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 14,205,093 | |
| | | | |
14 Schedule of Investments
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investments made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
Schedule of Investments 15
ICENX
Management Overview
ICON Energy Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the ICON Energy Fund returned -1.73%, outperforming its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Energy Index, which lost 14.43%, and its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which lost 6.77%. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The Fund’s movements were greatly affected by widespread fear of an economic downturn. This fear dominated the broader markets for the first half of the fiscal year. The S&P 1500 Index, for example, reached new lows for the decade on March 9, 2009. As signs emerged that the economic downturn would not materialize into a worst-case scenario (and as signs emerged concurrently that the economy may have bottomed in March), the equity market staged an impressive rally. From March 9 to the end of the fiscal year, the S&P 1500 Index returned 59.91%. |
The volatility we experienced in the equity market as a whole likewise played out with the price of crude oil (as it did last year). The spot price of WTI crude was $100.64 at the start of the fiscal year. By December 22, 2008, WTI crude had sold off almost 69% to reach a low of $31.41. The volatility in crude prices continued throughout fiscal year 2009, with prices rising 124.8% to end at $70.61 on September 30, 2009. Over the entire time period the price of oil declined 29.84%. We believe a weak dollar and OPEC production quotas (among several other factors) contributed to the market’s ability to maintain the high price of oil.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | Three industries in particular contributed positively to the Fund’s performance: oil & gas drilling, oil & gas equipment and services, and |
| |
| coal & consumable fuels. Oil & gas drilling alone added approximately 7% to the Fund’s return, and the Fund’s position in this industry did much to help the Fund outperform its benchmark. Furthermore, while oil & gas drilling actually had a negative return on the benchmark, we were able to generate positive returns within the Fund’s industry holdings. Following our disciplined methodology, we were underweight the industry early in the fiscal year (before the industry lost over 50% of its value) and held a large overweight position in the second half of the fiscal year as the industry rallied. |
The Fund’s holdings in integrated oil & gas and oil & gas storage & transportation industries detracted from Fund performance. Nonetheless, in spite of these two industries the Fund was able to perform well relative to both its sector-specific benchmark and the broader market as measured by the S&P 1500.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Energy sector? |
| |
A. | In spite of the strong rally in the last half of fiscal year 2009, we still see value within the Energy sector. According to our calculations, as of fiscal year-end the sector has an overall value-to-price ratio of 1.10, suggesting that fair value for Energy stocks as a whole is roughly 10% higher than where prices are currently trading. If corporate bond spreads continue to narrow, and analysts increase their forward-earning estimates, we believe there could be additional opportunities within the Energy sector. |
ICON Energy Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Integrated Oil & Gas | | | 29.0% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 19.7% | |
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services | | | 14.2% | |
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | | | 12.5% | |
Coal & Consumable Fuels | | | 4.9% | |
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation | | | 4.5% | |
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders | | | 3.9% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 3.4% | |
Railroads | | | 3.1% | |
Gas Utilities | | | 1.4% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.6% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Energy Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Energy | | | 84.8% | |
Industrials | | | 6.5% | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 5.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.6% | |
| | | | |
ICON Energy Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 11/5/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | | -1.73 | % | | | | | 12.64 | % | | | | | 18.41 | % | | | | | 13.21 | % | | | | | 1.16 | % | | | | | 1.16 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Energy Index | | | | -14.43 | % | | | | | 10.18 | % | | | | | 9.50 | % | | | | | 8.43 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 3.16 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Energy Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 11/5/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Energy Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (96.6%) |
| 86,700 | | | Alliance Resource Partners LP(a) | | $ | 3,143,742 | |
| 63,100 | | | Apache Corp. | | | 5,794,473 | |
| 604,900 | | | Atwood Oceanics, Inc.†(a) | | | 21,334,823 | |
| 201,600 | | | BP PLC - ADR | | | 10,731,168 | |
| 31,800 | | | BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust(a) | | | 2,373,870 | |
| 76,300 | | | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. | | | 6,091,029 | |
| 440,300 | | | Cameco Corp.(a) | | | 12,240,340 | |
| 156,400 | | | Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.(a) | | | 10,508,516 | |
| 343,500 | | | Chesapeake Energy Corp.(a) | | | 9,755,400 | |
| 208,300 | | | China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. - ADR(a) | | | 17,736,745 | |
| 357,400 | | | Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 11,569,038 | |
| 145,900 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 6,107,374 | |
| 156,400 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.(a) | | | 14,939,328 | |
| 304,500 | | | ENSCO International, Inc. | | | 12,953,430 | |
| 445,800 | | | Gazprom - ADR | | | 10,538,712 | |
| 850,900 | | | Global Industries, Ltd.† | | | 8,083,550 | |
| 171,500 | | | Golar LNG, Ltd. | | | 1,896,790 | |
| 426,800 | | | Halliburton Co. | | | 11,574,816 | |
| 1,050,900 | | | Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.† | | | 15,742,482 | |
| 322,700 | | | Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.†(a) | | | 8,893,612 | |
| 189,200 | | | LUKOIL - ADR | | | 10,377,620 | |
| 205,700 | | | Marathon Oil Corp. | | | 6,561,830 | |
| 657,200 | | | Mariner Energy, Inc.† | | | 9,319,096 | |
| 425,200 | | | Massey Energy Co. | | | 11,858,828 | |
| 213,500 | | | Matrix Service Co.† | | | 2,320,745 | |
| 165,500 | | | McDermott International, Inc.† | | | 4,182,185 | |
| 268,200 | | | Murphy Oil Corp. | | | 15,440,274 | |
| 786,500 | | | Nabors Industries, Ltd.† | | | 16,437,850 | |
| 323,000 | | | National Oilwell Varco, Inc.† | | | 13,930,990 | |
| 235,900 | | | Newfield Exploration Co.† | | | 10,039,904 | |
| 320,300 | | | Noble Corp. | | | 12,158,588 | |
| 360,600 | | | NRG Energy, Inc.†(a) | | | 10,165,314 | |
| 479,700 | | | Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | 37,608,480 | |
| 197,300 | | | Oceaneering International, Inc.† | | | 11,196,775 | |
Schedule of Investments 19
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 221,700 | | | ONEOK, Inc. | | $ | 8,118,654 | |
| 265,400 | | | Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.(a) | | | 9,917,998 | |
| 151,800 | | | PetroChina Co., Ltd. - ADR | | | 17,267,250 | |
| 123,200 | | | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - ADR | | | 5,654,880 | |
| 538,900 | | | Pride International, Inc. †(a) | | | 16,404,116 | |
| 352,800 | | | Repsol YPF S.A. - ADR(a) | | | 9,582,048 | |
| 442,700 | | | Rowan Cos., Inc.(a) | | | 10,213,089 | |
| 375,600 | | | San Juan Basin Royalty Trust(a) | | | 6,783,336 | |
| 300,000 | | | Sasol - ADR(a) | | | 11,436,000 | |
| 1,071,200 | | | Ship Finance International, Ltd.(a) | | | 13,165,048 | |
| 161,300 | | | Siemens AG - ADR(a) | | | 14,994,448 | |
| 424,600 | | | StatoilHydro ASA - ADR | | | 9,570,484 | |
| 323,800 | | | Tenaris S.A. - ADR(a) | | | 11,533,756 | |
| 1,270,100 | | | TETRA Technologies, Inc. †(a) | | | 12,307,269 | |
| 69,700 | | | Transocean, Ltd.† | | | 5,961,441 | |
| 88,000 | | | Union Pacific Corp. | | | 5,134,800 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $435,533,813) | | | 541,652,334 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (3.2%) |
$ | 18,163,502 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 18,163,502 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $18,163,502) | | | 18,163,502 | |
| | | | |
Mutual Funds (22.7%) | | | | |
| 127,500,610 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 127,500,610 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $127,500,610) | | | 127,500,610 | |
Total Investments 122.5% (Cost $581,197,925) | | | 687,316,446 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (22.5)% | | | (126,761,219 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 560,555,227 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
20 Schedule of Investments
ICFSX
Management Overview
ICON Financial Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | The ICON Financial Fund lost 26.80% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, lagging its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Financials Index, which lost 23.30%, in addition to its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which declined 6.77%. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The Financials sector lagged the equity market as a whole as the financial crisis that began last year culminated in a widespread, broad market sell-off in March 2009. Asset write-downs eroded the capital structure of numerous commercial and investment banks, culminating with the collapse of 107 financial institutions - with 11 of these closures reported by the FDIC during September 2009. |
The Federal Reserve continued its extraordinary steps to infuse liquidity and stimulate lending during fiscal year 2009. The target for the Federal Funds Rate was lowered from 2.00% to between 0% and 0.25% and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”), begun in 2008 under the Bush administration, was handed off to Timothy Geithner under the Obama administration. As the year progressed and the markets improved, several banks began to repay TARP funds they had received earlier.
We believe the volatility experienced by the Fund was a reflection in part of the fear that dominated the broader markets for the first half of the fiscal year. As investors worried about the prospects of a crushing economic downturn, the broad S&P 1500 index reached new lows for the decade on March 9, 2009. Shortly thereafter, however, signs emerged that the economy may have bottomed without the U.S. experiencing the depression many feared and anticipated, and the equity markets rallied. From March 9 to the end of the fiscal year, the S&P 1500 index returned 59.91%. During the same period the ICON Financial Fund gained over 100%.
As is often the case, however, the companies and industries that led the rally off the March 9 low were the laggards prior to March 9, 2009. The Fund was underweight these industries (based on relative strength readings) and we were unable to reallocate quickly enough to capitalize fully on so sudden a rally. To be sure, within the first seven trading days of the rally off the March 9 low, the index was up 46.54% while the Fund
was up 28.52%. This seven-day period accounts almost entirely for the Fund’s underperformance relative to the S&P 1500 Financials Index for the fiscal year.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | The ICON Financial Fund was overweight the investment banking & brokerage industries. The Fund benefited from a 12% position in investment banking & brokerage industries versus the 9.5% stake in the S&P 1500 Financials Index. Companies like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley both had notable, positive contributions to Fund performance. |
Unfortunately, this favorable performance relative to the benchmark was offset by the Fund’s position in life & health insurance and other diversified financial services. Through the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 we continually looked for a market bottom based on our average market valuation. In accordance with our disciplined system, we rotated into the industries that performed well over those bottoms. Life & health insurance and other diversified financial services both performed well off new lows, but as the short-lived rallies at the end of 2008 faded, industry leadership faded as well. The results weighed on the performance of the fund.
In response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. Thus, after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in the first quarter of 2009 in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward with these new calculations, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Financials sector? |
| |
A. | At fiscal year end we estimated the Financials sector’s value-to-price ratio to be 1.03, meaning prices within the sector are approximately 3% below our estimate of their intrinsic value. We nonetheless believe there are some great opportunities in specific industries within the sector. The life & health insurance industry, for example, has an overall value-to-price ratio of 1.35 and has been a strong leader off the March 9 low. Given the value we see within this industry, the Fund holds an approximately 17.5% position in life & health insurance, compared to the benchmark’s 6.5% weighting. |
The Fund will continue to focus on the industries we believe have favorable value-to-price and relative strength ratios. In accordance with
our sell discipline, we will pare our positions in these industries if they do not meet our value and relative strength requirements. Having modified our valuation model in an effort to better account for company-specific risk, we hope to be able to navigate the waters of the Financials sector more effectively going forward.
ICON Financial Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Other Diversified Financial Services | | | 21.1% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 17.7% | |
Diversified Banks | | | 13.2% | |
Multi-Line Insurance | | | 9.6% | |
Investment Banking & Brokerage | | | 7.7% | |
Consumer Finance | | | 6.4% | |
Diversified Capital Markets | | | 6.4% | |
Asset Management & Custody Banks | | | 5.2% | |
Property & Casualty Insurance | | | 4.6% | |
Regional Banks | | | 3.3% | |
Insurance Brokers | | | 2.0% | |
Mortgage REITs | | | 1.7% | |
Reinsurance | | | 0.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.7% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Financial Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
ICON Financial Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 7/1/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | | -26.80 | % | | | | | -8.33 | % | | | | | 2.78 | % | | | | | 2.56 | % | | | | | 1.22 | % | | | | | 1.22 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Financials Index | | | | -23.30 | % | | | | | -8.80 | % | | | | | -0.72 | % | | | | | 1.33 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 3.67 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Financial Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 7/1/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Financial Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (99.7%) |
| 54,500 | | | Aflac, Inc. | | $ | 2,329,330 | |
| 103,400 | | | Allianz SE - ADR | | | 1,290,432 | |
| 179,694 | | | American Capital, Ltd. | | | 580,412 | |
| 39,000 | | | American Financial Group, Inc. | | | 994,500 | |
| 24,500 | | | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | | | 890,085 | |
| 78,200 | | | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. - REIT | | | 1,418,548 | |
| 126,300 | | | Apollo Investment Corp. | | | 1,206,165 | |
| 60,600 | | | Assured Guaranty, Ltd. | | | 1,176,852 | |
| 36,600 | | | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. - ADR | | | 652,944 | |
| 96,400 | | | Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. - ADR | | | 1,556,860 | |
| 490,500 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 8,299,260 | |
| 36,700 | | | BB&T Corp. | | | 999,708 | |
| 115,500 | | | BGC Partners, Inc. - Class A | | | 494,340 | |
| 55,000 | | | Cash America International, Inc. | | | 1,658,800 | |
| 19,700 | | | Credicorp, Ltd. | | | 1,531,872 | |
| 35,000 | | | Credit Suisse Group - ADR | | | 1,947,750 | |
| 65,200 | | | Delphi Financial Group, Inc. - Class A | | | 1,475,476 | |
| 21,500 | | | Deutsche Bank AG - ADR | | | 1,650,555 | |
| 73,800 | | | Dollar Financial Corp.† | | | 1,182,276 | |
| 69,600 | | | Fifth Third Bancorp | | | 705,048 | |
| 122,100 | | | Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A | | | 1,459,095 | |
| 66,800 | | | Horace Mann Educators Corp. | | | 933,196 | |
| 232,500 | | | ING Groep N.V. - ADR† | | | 4,145,475 | |
| 111,300 | | | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 4,877,166 | |
| 43,200 | | | Lincoln National Corp. | | | 1,119,312 | |
| 34,300 | | | Loews Corp. | | | 1,174,775 | |
| 15,900 | | | M&T Bank Corp. | | | 990,888 | |
| 46,400 | | | MetLife, Inc. | | | 1,766,448 | |
| 190,400 | | | National Financial Partners Corp.† | | | 1,660,288 | |
| 92,800 | | | Protective Life Corp. | | | 1,987,776 | |
| 45,000 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 2,245,950 | |
| 13,300 | | | Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. | | | 593,180 | |
| 138,600 | | | SLM Corp.† | | | 1,208,592 | |
| 29,200 | | | StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. | | | 1,178,804 | |
| 29,900 | | | State Street Corp. | | | 1,572,740 | |
| 41,400 | | | Sun Life Financial, Inc. | | | 1,293,336 | |
| 23,600 | | | The Allstate Corp. | | | 722,632 | |
| 31,400 | | | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | 5,788,590 | |
| 76,300 | | | The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | | | 2,021,950 | |
| 33,000 | | | U.S. Bancorp | | | 721,380 | |
| 88,600 | | | UBS AG - ADR† | | | 1,622,266 | |
| 53,400 | | | Unum Group | | | 1,144,896 | |
| 226,500 | | | Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 6,382,770 | |
| 49,600 | | | World Acceptance Corp.† | | | 1,250,416 | |
| 109,000 | | | XL Capital, Ltd. - Class A | | | 1,903,140 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $59,705,948) | | | 81,806,274 | |
Schedule of Investments 25
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Short-Term Investments (0.5%) |
$ | 390,725 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | $ | 390,725 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $390,725) | | | 390,725 | |
Total Investments 100.2% (Cost $60,096,673) | | | 82,196,999 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (0.2)% | | | (129,712 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 82,067,287 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
|
REIT | | Real Estate Investment Trust |
26 Schedule of Investments
ICHCX
Management Overview
ICON Healthcare Fund
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the Fund’s sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Health Care Index, dropped 3.97%, and its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, lost 6.77%. The ICON Healthcare Fund trailed both benchmarks, depreciating 8.90% during the same period. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | This fiscal year began where last fiscal year ended - with a market freefall brought on by factors that included a weakening global economy, credit fears, and the failure of several large financial institutions. The initial decline, however, was soon followed by one of the most rapid recoveries in recent decades. |
As a traditionally defensive sector, Health Care was slightly less volatile than the broad market. The sector weathered the sharp declines of the first two quarters better than the broad market. Coming off the rally that followed the March 9 low, however, Health Care failed to keep pace with the surge of Financial, Technology, and Commodity-based securities. Consequently, from March 9, 2009 through the end of the fiscal year, the broad market outperformed the Health Care sector by 24.5%.
The sector was pulled into the spotlight this year as Congress moved forward on Health Care reform. Divisive issues, including the public insurance option, created a more volatile environment for industries like managed health care and health insurance providers. Most industries, however, fared much better and were relatively unaffected by the hype and fears coming out of Washington.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | The ICON investment strategy directs us to weight industries based on our estimation of their value and relative strength. Our funds are tilted towards industries (and, ultimately, securities) that have outperformed the broad market over the previous six months, and which we identify as being priced below fair value. |
The managed health care industry was the largest detractor to the Healthcare Fund and our position in this industry was a significant factor in the Fund’s underperforming its benchmark. Despite strong valuation numbers, the industry took a sharp plunge in the last weeks of the fiscal year as fear over Congressional reforms spooked investors. Our overweight position in the industry created a 3.39% decline in performance relative to the benchmark. Biotechnology and life sciences tools & services also produced returns lagging those of the benchmark. Together, these three industries accounted for an 8.08% lag off the S&P 1500 Health Care Composite Index.
On the positive side, pharmaceuticals, health care equipment, and health care facilities were the largest contributors to the Fund, together generating approximately 5.22% in positive returns relative to the sector benchmark. Industry mid-cap stocks in particular seemed to perform well during this turbulent market.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Healthcare sector? |
| |
A. | As fiscal year 2009 ends, ICON’s methodology suggests the Health Care sector leads all other sectors in terms of value. Our calculations indicate the Health Care sector continues to have significant upside, trading at a 21% discount to our measurement of intrinsic value. In addition, the sector continues to show leadership in the market, as reflected in its strong relative strength values. |
The pharmaceuticals industry continues to show strong value potential and remains the Fund’s most heavily weighted industry. We believe health care distributors and health care services are also priced well below intrinsic value. The combination of value and strong relative performance within health care distributors and health care services make these attractive industries as we head into fiscal year 2010.
ICON Healthcare Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 47.2% | |
Health Care Services | | | 15.4% | |
Health Care Distributors | | | 12.9% | |
Life & Health Insurance | | | 8.8% | |
Health Care Equipment | | | 4.8% | |
Managed Health Care | | | 4.7% | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | | | 3.6% | |
Industrial Gases | | | 0.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 98.2% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Healthcare Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Health Care | | | 86.6% | |
Financial | | | 10.8% | |
Materials | | | 0.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 98.2% | |
| | | | |
ICON Healthcare Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 2/24/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | | -8.90 | % | | | | | 1.71 | % | | | | | 8.12 | % | | | | | 7.63 | % | | | | | 1.25 | % | | | | | 1.25 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Health Care Index | | | | -3.97 | % | | | | | 2.17 | % | | | | | 2.77 | % | | | | | 5.64 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 4.39 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Healthcare Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 2/24/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Healthcare Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (98.2%) |
| 51,300 | | | Aetna, Inc. | | $ | 1,427,679 | |
| 45,700 | | | Aflac, Inc. | | | 1,953,218 | |
| 70,900 | | | Air Methods Corp.† | | | 2,309,213 | |
| 11,200 | | | Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | | 868,896 | |
| 67,300 | | | Allergan, Inc. | | | 3,819,948 | |
| 148,000 | | | Amerisource-Bergen Corp. | | | 3,312,240 | |
| 25,300 | | | Baxter International, Inc. | | | 1,442,353 | |
| 25,600 | | | Bayer AG - ADR(a) | | | 1,781,760 | |
| 103,600 | | | Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | | | 2,333,072 | |
| 60,400 | | | Cardinal Health, Inc. | | | 1,618,720 | |
| 77,000 | | | Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc.† | | | 2,244,550 | |
| 96,500 | | | CIGNA Corp. | | | 2,710,685 | |
| 15,400 | | | Covance, Inc.†(a) | | | 833,910 | |
| 49,000 | | | Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.† | | | 1,108,870 | |
| 45,000 | | | Express Scripts, Inc.† | | | 3,491,100 | |
| 33,800 | | | Henry Schein, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,855,958 | |
| 28,500 | | | Humana, Inc.† | | | 1,063,050 | |
| 64,600 | | | Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.†(a) | | | 2,206,090 | |
| 110,200 | | | Inventiv Health, Inc.† | | | 1,843,646 | |
| 186,500 | | | Johnson & Johnson, Inc. | | | 11,355,985 | |
| 36,200 | | | Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings†(a) | | | 2,378,340 | |
| 54,200 | | | Lincoln National Corp. | | | 1,404,322 | |
| 56,400 | | | McKesson Corp. | | | 3,358,620 | |
| 85,000 | | | Medco Health Solutions, Inc.† | | | 4,701,350 | |
| 135,200 | | | Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. - Class A | | | 2,886,520 | |
| 45,400 | | | Medtronic, Inc. | | | 1,670,720 | |
| 187,500 | | | Merck & Co., Inc.(a) | | | 5,930,625 | |
| 72,900 | | | MetLife, Inc.(a) | | | 2,775,303 | |
| 118,600 | | | Mylan Laboratories, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,898,786 | |
| 24,200 | | | Novartis AG - ADR | | | 1,219,196 | |
| 174,100 | | | Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.† | | | 3,744,891 | |
| 152,900 | | | PAREXEL International Corp.† | | | 2,077,911 | |
| 88,800 | | | Patterson Cos., Inc.† | | | 2,419,800 | |
| 51,700 | | | Perrigo Co. | | | 1,757,283 | |
| 494,700 | | | Pfizer, Inc.(a) | | | 8,187,285 | |
| 72,200 | | | Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 3,603,502 | |
| 77,900 | | | PSS World Medical, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,700,557 | |
| 35,100 | | | Sanofi-Aventis S.A. - ADR(a) | | | 1,296,945 | |
| 25,100 | | | Thermo Electron Corp.† | | | 1,096,117 | |
Schedule of Investments 31
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 133,000 | | | Watson Pharmaceutical, Inc.†(a) | | $ | 4,873,120 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $92,956,611) | | | 108,562,136 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (4.2%) |
$ | 4,599,839 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 4,599,839 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $4,599,839) | | | 4,599,839 | |
Mutual Funds (27.9%) | | | | |
| 30,909,293 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 30,909,293 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $30,909,293) | | | 30,909,293 | |
Total Investments 130.3% (Cost $128,465,743) | | | 144,071,268 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (30.3)% | | | (33,465,839 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 110,605,429 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
32 Schedule of Investments
ICTRX
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | The ICON Industrials Fund lost 21.25% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, while its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Industrials Index, lost 12.12%, and the S&P Composite 1500 Index lost 6.77%. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | We utilize a two-part investment process that relies on aggregated company-specific valuations and relative strength measurements to aid in our industry rotation methodology. In response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions. |
Going into calendar year 2009, we saw bargains in virtually every segment of the equity market, including the Industrials sector. The Fund was thus fully invested and heavily concentrated within a few industries that reflected strong combinations of value & relative strength according to our calculations. Unfortunately, fears about the economy and consumer demand disconnected equity prices from their fundamentals and the market continued its free-fall. The S&P 1500 Industrials Index lost more than 34% between December 31, 2008 and March 9, 2009. The Fund’s industry allocations, which initially looked so promising, underperformed the benchmark during this two month period.
The Industrials sector followed suit with the rest of the market and bottomed out on March 9, 2009. Between March 9 and September 30, however, the S&P 1500 Industrials Index rallied over 76% as the credit crisis began to abate & economic fears subsided. While the ICON Industrials Fund participated in this rally, producing a 70.6% return, the Fund lagged its benchmark by over 500 basis points.
At ICON we combine our value calculation with a relative strength component to help ensure we are investing in industries that are trading at a discount to fair value and performing well within the marketplace.
Over the long run, relative strength has been a critical part of our investment methodology. Nonetheless, accurately gauging relative strength is especially challenging during the market volatility we experienced in fiscal year 2009. The rally off the March 9 low was unusual in that stocks with very low relative strength readings proved to be market leaders during the upturn. The Industrials sector was a prime example of this, as the lowest quintile of relative strength readings returned over 134% while the highest quintile of relative strength readings produced only a 17% return from March 9 to September 30, 2009. This complete industry based theme reversal proved to be especially challenging for the ICON Industrials Fund.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | On an industry basis, only two industries within the S&P 1500 Industrials Index produced positive returns during fiscal year 2009: heavy electrical equipment and human resource & employment services. This created a challenge for the Fund as positive returns within the sector were scarce. Seven industries positively contributed to the Fund’s returns during fiscal year 2009: marine, aerospace & defense, commercial printing, industrial machinery, heavy electrical equipment, construction & engineering, and diversified support services. |
In contrast, 19 industries produced negative returns within the S&P 1500 Industrials Index during fiscal year 2009. The Fund’s industry-based negative returns ranged from -1.88% in industrial machinery to a -46.98% return in the building products industry. This statistic reflects the overall breadth of the sell-off within the Industrials sector. The five industries that detracted most from performance in fiscal year 2009 were: airlines, railroads, air freight & logistics, building products, and trucking.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Industrials sector? |
| |
A. | At the close of the fiscal year, the Industrials sector was the fifth most undervalued of the nine sectors we track, with a value-to-price ratio of 1.09. Additionally, this valuation was very broad, as 15 of the 22 industries that we track within the Industrials sector were trading at a discount to our calculation of intrinsic value. We will continue to closely monitor valuations at the company level as the Industrials sector is heavily tied to the economic cycle. We believe a strengthening economy will help industrial-based companies produce positive future earnings growth. This, in turn, should provide the ICON Industrials Fund with opportunities in the year ahead. |
ICON Industrials Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 25.9% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 23.2% | |
Railroads | | | 13.8% | |
Industrial Machinery | | | 10.9% | |
Airlines | | | 6.7% | |
Marine | | | 2.9% | |
Trading Companies & Distributors | | | 2.9% | |
Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks | | | 2.5% | |
Construction & Engineering | | | 2.0% | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 1.9% | |
Air Freight & Logistics | | | 1.7% | |
Office Services & Supplies | | | 1.7% | |
Diversified Commercial & Professional Services | | | 1.5% | |
Heavy Electrical Equipment | | | 0.8% | |
Diversified Support Services | | | 0.6% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.0% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Industrials Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
ICON Industrials Funds
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 5/9/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | | -21.25 | % | | | | | 0.59 | % | | | | | 1.36 | % | | | | | 2.10 | % | | | | | 1.25 | % | | | | | 1.25 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Industrials Index | | | | -12.12 | % | | | | | 0.72 | % | | | | | 1.80 | % | | | | | 3.83 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 4.30 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Industrials Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 5/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Industrials Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (99.0%) |
| 40,000 | | | 3M Co. | | $ | 2,952,000 | |
| 50,000 | | | A-Power Energy Generation Systems, Ltd.† | | | 538,500 | |
| 52,800 | | | Alaska Air Group, Inc.† | | | 1,414,512 | |
| 10,300 | | | AMETEK, Inc. | | | 359,573 | |
| 20,000 | | | ATC Technology Corp.† | | | 395,200 | |
| 70,000 | | | BE Aerospace, Inc.†(a) | | | 1,409,800 | |
| 30,000 | | | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. | | | 2,394,900 | |
| 25,000 | | | Caterpillar, Inc.(a) | | | 1,283,250 | |
| 20,000 | | | Cintas Corp.(a) | | | 606,200 | |
| 14,200 | | | Copart, Inc.† | | | 471,582 | |
| 30,000 | | | Crane Co.(a) | | | 774,300 | |
| 55,000 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 2,302,300 | |
| 10,000 | | | Cummins, Inc. | | | 448,100 | |
| 15,000 | | | Danaher Corp. | | | 1,009,800 | |
| 30,000 | | | Dover Corp. | | | 1,162,800 | |
| 12,000 | | | Eaton Corp. | | | 679,080 | |
| 20,000 | | | Foster Wheeler AG† | | | 638,200 | |
| 15,000 | | | GATX Corp.(a) | | | 419,250 | |
| 20,000 | | | General Dynamics Corp. | | | 1,292,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | General Electric Co.(a) | | | 9,852,000 | |
| 20,000 | | | Harsco Corp.(a) | | | 708,200 | |
| 55,000 | | | Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 2,043,250 | |
| 10,000 | | | Hubbell, Inc. - Class B | | | 420,000 | |
| 30,000 | | | Ingersoll-Rand PLC | | | 920,100 | |
| 8,000 | | | Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.† | | | 367,600 | |
| 35,000 | | | Kirby Corp.† | | | 1,288,700 | |
| 8,000 | | | L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. | | | 642,560 | |
| 19,000 | | | Lockheed Martin Corp. | | | 1,483,520 | |
| 30,000 | | | Middleby Corp.† | | | 1,650,300 | |
| 150,000 | | | Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. | | | 736,500 | |
| 50,000 | | | Norfolk Southern Corp. | | | 2,155,500 | |
| 10,000 | | | Northrop Grumman Corp.(a) | | | 517,500 | |
| 15,000 | | | Parker Hannifin Corp. | | | 777,600 | |
| 30,000 | | | Pitney Bowes, Inc.(a) | | | 745,500 | |
| 10,000 | | | Precision Castparts Corp. | | | 1,018,700 | |
| 25,000 | | | Raytheon Co. | | | 1,199,250 | |
| 110,000 | | | Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.† | | | 1,026,300 | |
| 25,000 | | | Rockwell Collins, Inc. | | | 1,270,000 | |
| 20,000 | | | Siemens AG - ADR(a) | | | 1,859,200 | |
| 80,000 | | | SkyWest, Inc. | | | 1,326,400 | |
| 100,000 | | | Southwest Airlines Co.(a) | | | 960,000 | |
| 21,800 | | | Sykes Enterprises, Inc.† | | | 453,876 | |
| 35,000 | | | The Boeing Co.(a) | | | 1,895,250 | |
| 20,000 | | | Tutor Perini Corp.† | | | 426,000 | |
| 50,000 | | | Tyco International, Ltd. | | | 1,724,000 | |
Schedule of Investments 37
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 50,000 | | | Union Pacific Corp. | | $ | 2,917,500 | |
| 15,000 | | | United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B(a) | | | 847,050 | |
| 90,000 | | | United Technologies Corp. | | | 5,483,700 | |
| 25,000 | | | UTi Worldwide, Inc. | | | 362,000 | |
| 18,000 | | | W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | | 1,608,480 | |
| 24,100 | | | Woodward Governor Co. | | | 584,666 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $67,899,430) | | | 69,822,549 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (0.4%) |
$ | 307,279 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | $ | 307,279 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $307,279) | | | 307,279 | |
| | | | |
Mutual Funds (29.3%) | | | | |
| 20,636,150 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 20,636,150 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $20,636,150) | | | 20,636,150 | |
Total Investments 128.7% (Cost $88,842,859) | | | 90,765,978 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (28.7)% | | | (20,230,734 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 70,535,244 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
38 Schedule of Investments
ICTEX
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmark? |
| |
A. | The Fund underperformed its benchmark for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. The Fund declined 0.89%, while its benchmarks, the S&P 1500 Information Technology Composite Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index, rose 8.56% and 2.55%, respectively. The Fund did, however, outperform the broad index, the S&P Composite 1500, which fell 6.77% for the fiscal year. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors influenced the Fund’s relative performance during the period? |
| |
A. | The past year in the U.S. equity market was marked by two phases: the continuation of the market crash due to the recession and the subprime housing crisis, and the rapid recovery off the March 9, 2009 low. During the first half of the fiscal year, recession fears, the failure of several large financial institutions, and a troubled housing market fueled a massive sell-off in equities. Between October 1, 2008 and March 9, 2009, the S&P Composite 1500 Index fell 41.69%. |
As the market rebounded in March, the Technology sector fully participated in the rally. The S&P 1500 Info Tech Index rose 70.53% off the market bottom through the end of the fiscal year, outperforming the broad market by over 10%. With the rapid, emotional sell-off of cyclical stocks in the early part of the year, the ICON valuation system was able to identify plenty of bargains. At the time of the market bottom, 15 out of the 16 industries we follow in the Information Technology sector showed value, and the sector as a whole was seen to be 38% undervalued. The Fund participated in the market recovery, slightly beating its sector benchmark during that period. By year end, however, the Fund fell just short of recovering the losses experienced in the first half of the year.
With the dramatic shift in the market, industry leadership had a higher turnover rate than usual. The internet software & services and semiconductors industries fared better than the rest of the technology index through the down-market of the first half of the year, while electronic manufacturing services & components as well as computer storage & peripherals led the sector through the rally. These sharp shifts in industry leadership contributed significantly to the Fund’s negative performance relative to its sector benchmark.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | Large-cap names led the Fund in performance this year. Large computer hardware manufacturers, such as Apple and IBM, as well as other technology giants like Google and Oracle, all contributed at least 1% in total portfolio returns. The Fund’s overweight positions in these large-cap stocks produced excess returns of approximately 3% above the S&P 1500 Information Technology Composite Index. |
On an Industry basis, three industries produced significant gains for the Fund relative to its sector-specific benchmark: computer hardware, electronic manufacturing services, and electronic components. Together they produced gains of approximately 11.20% over the benchmark.
The Fund’s performance relative to its benchmark was most negatively impacted by four industries: IT consulting & services, semiconductors, computer storage & peripherals, and communications equipment. The fund’s overweight position in these industries accounted for a 15.55% decrease in performance relative to the benchmark.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Information Technology Sector. |
| |
A. | As this volatile 12-month period in the U.S. equity market comes to a close, the fear and pessimism that dominated the earlier part of the year have receded and a strong rally is in effect. Even with the gains off the March 9 low to fiscal year-end reaching over 70% in the Info Tech sector, we continue to see value in the sector. Six out of the 16 industries we follow show value-to-price ratios of more than 1.10 with four of those having a six-month relative strength above that of the broad market. |
As stock prices have appreciated toward fair value, we continue to monitor valuations at the company level. Although long-term growth rates may decrease and this rally may slow, we continue to believe Information Technology is an attractive sector for our investors with its diversity of businesses and strong growth potential.
ICON Information Technology Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Computer Hardware | | | 27.3% | |
Systems Software | | | 18.3% | |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services | | | 12.3% | |
Internet Software & Services | | | 9.9% | |
Technology Distributors | | | 8.0% | |
Communications Equipment | | | 4.9% | |
Electronic Manufacturing Services | | | 3.7% | |
IT Consulting & Other Services | | | 3.3% | |
Computer Storage & Peripherals | | | 2.2% | |
Application Software | | | 1.7% | |
Electronic Components | | | 1.1% | |
Office Electronics | | | 1.1% | |
| | | | |
| | | 93.8% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Information Technology Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Information Technology | | | 93.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 93.8% | |
| | | | |
ICON Information Technology Fund
Average Annual Total Return
As of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 2/19/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | | -0.89 | % | | | | | -0.28 | % | | | | | 0.65 | % | | | | | 6.61 | % | | | | | 1.24 | % | | | | | 1.24 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Information Technology Index | | | | 8.56 | % | | | | | 3.94 | % | | | | | -4.03 | % | | | | | 4.11 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
NASDAQ Composite Index | | | | 2.55 | % | | | | | 3.13 | % | | | | | -1.96 | % | | | | | 4.13 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 4.36 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Information Technology Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 2/19/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Information Technology Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (93.8%) |
| 31,300 | | | Accenture PLC | | $ | 1,166,551 | |
| 47,600 | | | Amdocs, Ltd.† | | | 1,279,488 | |
| 33,900 | | | Apple, Inc.† | | | 6,284,043 | |
| 28,700 | | | Arrow Electronics, Inc.† | | | 807,905 | |
| 49,000 | | | Avnet, Inc.† | | | 1,272,530 | |
| 164,100 | | | Brightpoint, Inc.† | | | 1,435,875 | |
| 247,000 | | | Cisco Systems, Inc.† | | | 5,814,380 | |
| 39,400 | | | Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.† | | | 1,523,204 | |
| 34,200 | | | Computer Sciences Corp.†(a) | | | 1,802,682 | |
| 94,000 | | | Convergys Corp.† | | | 934,360 | |
| 128,100 | | | Dell, Inc.† | | | 1,954,806 | |
| 55,300 | | | Diebold, Inc. | | | 1,821,029 | |
| 25,400 | | | eBay, Inc.† | | | 599,694 | |
| 41,700 | | | Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.(a) | | | 1,063,767 | |
| 68,000 | | | Fiserv, Inc.† | | | 3,277,600 | |
| 170,700 | | | Flextronics International, Ltd.† | | | 1,273,422 | |
| 18,000 | | | Google, Inc. - Class A† | | | 8,925,300 | |
| 205,300 | | | Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. | | | 2,978,903 | |
| 188,400 | | | Hewlett-Packard Co. | | | 8,894,364 | |
| 174,700 | | | Insight Enterprises, Inc.† | | | 2,133,087 | |
| 104,500 | | | International Business Machines Corp. | | | 12,499,245 | |
| 149,000 | | | Jabil Circuit, Inc. | | | 1,998,090 | |
| 5,100 | | | Mastercard, Inc. - Class A(a) | | | 1,030,965 | |
| 704,300 | | | Microsoft Corp. | | | 18,234,327 | |
| 39,600 | | | Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.† | | | 1,136,916 | |
| 83,800 | | | NCR Corp.† | | | 1,158,116 | |
| 171,400 | | | Oracle Corp. | | | 3,571,976 | |
| 43,700 | | | Rogers Corp.†(a) | | | 1,309,689 | |
| 40,400 | | | SAP AG - ADR(a) | | | 1,974,348 | |
| 33,000 | | | Sohu.com, Inc.†(a) | | | 2,269,740 | |
| 80,000 | | | SYNNEX Corp.†(a) | | | 2,438,400 | |
| 35,500 | | | Tech Data Corp.†(a) | | | 1,477,155 | |
| 104,700 | | | TeleTech Holdings, Inc.† | | | 1,786,182 | |
| 25,300 | | | Visa, Inc. - Class A(a) | | | 1,748,483 | |
| 71,800 | | | Western Digital Corp.†(a) | | | 2,622,854 | |
| 169,000 | | | Xerox Corp. | | | 1,308,060 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $90,326,912) | | | 111,807,536 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (5.3%) |
$ | 6,369,347 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 6,369,347 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $6,369,347) | | | 6,369,347 | |
Schedule of Investments 43
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Mutual Funds (12.2%) | | | | |
| 14,595,757 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | $ | 14,595,757 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $14,595,757) | | | 14,595,757 | |
Total Investments 111.3% (Cost $111,292,016) | | | 132,772,640 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (11.3)% | | | (13,523,045 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 119,249,595 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
44 Schedule of Investments
ICLEX
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | The ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund lost 0.64% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. The Fund thus underperformed one of its sector-specific benchmarks, the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index, which returned 0.83%, but outperformed its other sector specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Consumer Staples Index, which lost 4.43%. Although neither index is an ideal comparison, together they provide a suitable reference for the Fund’s overall performance in its sectors. |
The Fund outperformed its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which lost 6.77% over the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The market in 2009 can be divided into two segments: (i) the continuation of the market crash due to the recession and housing crisis; and (ii) the sharp rebound and recovery period through the second half of the year. Unprecedented market volatility made it difficult for the Fund to capitalize on ICON’s ability to identify themes. The VIX, an index which measures volatility as it relates to option pricing, entered the fiscal year near an all time high and continued to reach unprecedented levels through the first half of the year. |
Throughout the market crash of the first half of the year, consumer staples industries, such as brewers, tobacco, and drug retail weathered the market better than those in the Consumer Discretionary sector. As soon as the market rebounded off the March low, however, leisure industries such as hotels resorts & cruise lines and casinos & gaming led the recovery. These sharp theme reversals had an adverse affect on Fund performance, as we had difficulty identifying clear and consistent leadership within this volatile environment.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving
forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | Five industries contributed significantly to the Fund: soft drinks, cable & satellite, publishing, hotels resorts & cruise lines, and movies & entertainment. Combined, they contributed approximately 13.22% to the Fund’s return. The ICON system was able to identify these industries as being significantly undervalued around the time of the market bottom, and overweight positions allowed the Fund to take advantage of their leadership through the rally. |
The Fund’s largest detractors included tobacco, specialty stores, and casinos & gaming. Tobacco companies including Altria and Reynolds American failed to keep up with the rally off the market bottom, detracting from the performance relative to the index. Also detracting from the relative performance were some casino & gaming stocks, which were sold out of the Fund just before the market rebound based on our relative strength sell discipline.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Leisure and Consumer Staples sector? |
| |
A. | At fiscal year end, we measure the Leisure and Consumer Staples sector to be trading with a value-to-price ratio of 1.14, indicating significant upside potential. We continue to be fully invested in the market, but remain cognizant of the appreciation of the sector towards its fair value and potentially becoming overpriced. |
The Fund will continue to focus on the industries we determine have favorable value-to-price and relative strength ratios. Heading into the new fiscal year the Fund has notable positions in personal products, movies & entertainment, and cable & satellite.
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Movies & Entertainment | | | 21.8% | |
Packaged Foods & Meats | | | 18.1% | |
Personal Products | | | 12.3% | |
Soft Drinks | | | 8.4% | |
Tobacco | | | 8.1% | |
Cable & Satellite | | | 7.7% | |
Drug Retail | | | 7.6% | |
Household Products | | | 5.9% | |
Publishing | | | 2.9% | |
Distillers & Vintners | | | 2.3% | |
Hotels Resorts & Cruise Lines | | | 2.3% | |
Brewers | | | 1.5% | |
Agricultural Products | | | 0.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.7% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 95.0% | |
Materials | | | 2.4% | |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 2.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.7% | |
| | | | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund
Average Annual Total Return
As of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 5/9/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | | -0.64 | % | | | | | -0.05 | % | | | | | 5.16 | % | | | | | 6.74 | % | | | | | 1.46 | % | | | | | 1.46 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index | | | | 0.83 | % | | | | | -1.19 | % | | | | | -0.52 | % | | | | | 3.85 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Consumer Staples Index | | | | -4.43 | % | | | | | 6.37 | % | | | | | 4.45 | % | | | | | 5.30 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 4.30 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The performance of the S&P 1500 Consumer Discretionary Index includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions beginning on January 1, 2002. Additional information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 5/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Leisure And Consumer Staples Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (99.7%) |
| 14,500 | | | Altria Group, Inc. | | $ | 258,245 | |
| 30,000 | | | Avon Products, Inc.(a) | | | 1,018,800 | |
| 7,900 | | | Campbell Soup Co. | | | 257,698 | |
| 18,100 | | | Carnival Corp. | | | 602,368 | |
| 18,100 | | | Central European Distribution Corp.† | | | 592,956 | |
| 57,600 | | | Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.(a) | | | 1,233,216 | |
| 4,700 | | | Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | | 358,516 | |
| 69,000 | | | Comcast Corp. - Class A | | | 1,165,410 | |
| 11,900 | | | ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | 257,992 | |
| 7,300 | | | Corn Products International, Inc.(a) | | | 208,196 | |
| 29,800 | | | CVS Caremark Corp. | | | 1,065,052 | |
| 13,600 | | | DISH Network Corp. - Class A† | | | 261,936 | |
| 6,400 | | | Energizer Holdings, Inc.† | | | 424,576 | |
| 19,400 | | | Herbalife, Ltd. | | | 635,156 | |
| 9,900 | | | Hormel Foods Corp.(a) | | | 351,648 | |
| 10,300 | | | Kellogg Co. | | | 507,069 | |
| 13,000 | | | Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | 766,740 | |
| 35,200 | | | Kraft Foods, Inc. - Class A | | | 924,704 | |
| 2,800 | | | Lorillard, Inc. | | | 208,040 | |
| 5,700 | | | Meredith Corp. | | | 170,658 | |
| 7,800 | | | Molson Coors Brewing Co. - Class B | | | 379,704 | |
| 48,300 | | | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. - Class A | | | 894,999 | |
| 16,500 | | | PepsiCo, Inc. | | | 967,890 | |
| 22,400 | | | Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | 1,091,776 | |
| 28,100 | | | Rentrak Corp.† | | | 501,866 | |
| 46,200 | | | Sara Lee Corp.(a) | | | 514,668 | |
| 20,200 | | | Smithfield Foods, Inc.† | | | 278,760 | |
| 21,100 | | | The DIRECTV Group, Inc.†(a) | | | 581,938 | |
| 7,500 | | | The Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. - Class A | | | 278,100 | |
| 20,900 | | | The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.† | | | 400,653 | |
| 9,900 | | | The J.M. Smucker Co. | | | 524,799 | |
| 67,470 | | | The Walt Disney Co. | | | 1,852,726 | |
| 17,500 | | | Thomson Reuters Corp.(a) | | | 587,475 | |
| 22,875 | | | Time Warner Cable, Inc.† | | | 985,684 | |
| 42,766 | | | Time Warner, Inc.(a) | | | 1,230,805 | |
| 24,000 | | | Unilever N.V. | | | 692,640 | |
| 13,200 | | | Universal Corp.(a) | | | 552,024 | |
| 11,400 | | | USANA Health Sciences, Inc.†(a) | | | 388,854 | |
| 30,000 | | | Viacom, Inc. - Class B† | | | 841,200 | |
| 24,200 | | | Walgreen Co.(a) | | | 906,774 | |
| 18,600 | | | World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. - Class A | | | 260,586 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $23,758,272) | | | 25,982,897 | |
Mutual Funds (24.3%) | | | | |
| 6,338,888 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 6,338,888 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $6,338,888) | | | 6,338,888 | |
Total Investments 124.0% (Cost $30,097,160) | | | 32,321,785 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (24.0)% | | | (6,248,044 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 26,073,741 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
Schedule of Investments 49
ICBMX
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | The ICON Materials Fund lost 7.87% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, while its sector-specific benchmark, the S&P 1500 Materials Index, lost 3.48%, and the S&P Composite 1500 Index lost 6.77%. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview. |
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | We utilize a two-part investment process that relies on aggregated company-specific valuations and relative strength measurements to aid in our industry rotation methodology. In response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions. |
Going into calendar year 2009, we saw bargains in virtually every segment of the equity market, including the Materials sector. Because we saw value in the sector, the Fund was fully invested and heavily concentrated within a few industries we believed reflected strong combinations of value and relative strength. Unfortunately, fears about the economy and consumer demand disconnected equity prices from their underlying fundamentals and the market continued its freefall, with the S&P 1500 Materials Index losing over 22% in little more than two months between December 31, 2008 and March 9, 2009. While the Fund’s holdings were distributed where we thought we saw the most value, the Fund nonetheless underperformed the benchmark during this time period.
The Materials sector, along with much of the rest of the market, bottomed out on March 9, 2009. Between March 9 and fiscal year-end, the S&P 1500 Materials Index rallied 79.1% as the credit crisis began to abate and economic fears subsided. While the ICON Materials Fund participated in this rally, producing a 75.8% return, the Fund lagged its sector-specific benchmark by over 300 basis points.
At ICON we combine our value calculation with a relative strength component in an effort to ensure we are investing in industries that are both trading at a discount to fair value and performing well within the
marketplace. Relative strength is a critical part of our investment methodology, but it can be problematic during times of extreme market volatility. The rally off the March 9 low has proven to be especially volatile and stocks that had low relative strength readings became market leaders during this rally. The Materials sector was a prime example of this inverse relative strength relationship, as the lowest quintile of relative strength readings returned over 245% while the highest quintile of relative strength readings produced only a 30.5% return from March 9 to September 30. This complete industry-based theme reversal proved to be especially challenging for the ICON Materials Fund.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | On an industry basis, only six of the 14 industries within the S&P 1500 Materials Index produced positive returns during fiscal year 2009. Additionally, returns were distributed across a wide range with the best performing industry, diversified metals & mining, producing a positive 20.1% return while the worst performing industry, aluminum, produced a negative 40.9% return. This created a very challenging environment for the ICON Materials Fund, as positive returns were hard to come by. Looking at the Materials Fund, the top five contributing industries during fiscal year 2009 were steel, diversified metals & mining, industrial gases, specialty chemicals, and paper products. |
Eight industries produced negative returns within the S&P 1500 Materials Index during fiscal year 2009. Within the ICON Materials Fund, industry-based negative returns ranged from -4.7% in metal & glass containers to a -56.5% return in the trucking industry. This statistic reflects the strong sell-off during fiscal year 2009 within certain industries. The five industries that detracted most from performance in fiscal year 2009 are diversified chemicals, railroads, building products, metal & glass containers, and trucking.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Materials sector? |
| |
A. | At the close of the fiscal year, the Materials sector had a value to price ratio of 1.03. Under the ICON methodology, this calculation indicates we see approximately 3% more upside before prices come into line with intrinsic value. As one of the more cyclical-themed sectors within our fund family, Materials valuations are significantly tied to expectations of future economic growth. Should we continue to see improvements in the economy, we anticipate value becoming an upwardly moving target, with stock prices chasing value as analysts’ earnings expectations continue to increase. Consistent with our disciplined investment methodology, future allocations within the Materials Fund will be based on our ability to find industries with strong combinations of both value and relative strength. |
ICON Materials Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Specialty Chemicals | | | 16.9% | |
Diversified Chemicals | | | 15.6% | |
Industrial Gases | | | 12.4% | |
Steel | | | 11.1% | |
Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals | | | 7.2% | |
Diversified Metals & Mining | | | 6.7% | |
Paper Packaging | | | 6.7% | |
Metal & Glass Containers | | | 5.5% | |
Gold | | | 4.8% | |
Railroads | | | 4.5% | |
Commodity Chemicals | | | 2.3% | |
Oil & Gas Drilling | | | 1.6% | |
Marine | | | 1.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.6% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Materials Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Materials | | | 87.0% | |
Industrials | | | 5.8% | |
Energy | | | 3.8% | |
| | | | |
| | | 96.6% | |
| | | | |
ICON Materials Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 5/5/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | | -7.87 | % | | | | | 7.72 | % | | | | | 6.27 | % | | | | | 2.74 | % | | | | | 1.26 | % | | | | | 1.26 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Materials Index | | | | -3.48 | % | | | | | 4.92 | % | | | | | 5.90 | % | | | | | 5.29 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 4.25 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Materials Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 5/5/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Materials Fund
Schedule of Investments
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (96.6%) |
| 15,000 | | | Agrium, Inc.(a) | | $ | 746,850 | |
| 65,000 | | | Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | | 5,042,700 | |
| 30,000 | | | Airgas, Inc.(a) | | | 1,451,100 | |
| 60,000 | | | Albemarle Corp.(a) | | | 2,076,000 | |
| 16,000 | | | Atwood Oceanics, Inc.† | | | 564,320 | |
| 30,000 | | | Ball Corp. | | | 1,476,000 | |
| 30,000 | | | Barrick Gold Corp. - ADR | | | 1,137,000 | |
| 85,000 | | | Bemis Co., Inc. | | | 2,202,350 | |
| 30,000 | | | Carpenter Technology Corp. | | | 701,700 | |
| 20,000 | | | CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | | | 1,724,600 | |
| 50,000 | | | Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc. | | | 1,618,000 | |
| 35,000 | | | Commercial Metals Co. | | | 626,500 | |
| 40,000 | | | CSX Corp. | | | 1,674,400 | |
| 5,000 | | | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.(a) | | | 477,600 | |
| 240,000 | | | E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. | | | 7,713,600 | |
| 65,000 | | | Ecolab, Inc. | | | 3,004,950 | |
| 35,000 | | | FMC Corp.(a) | | | 1,968,750 | |
| 75,000 | | | Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. - Class B | | | 5,145,750 | |
| 50,000 | | | Gerdau Ameristeel Corp.(a) | | | 396,000 | |
| 25,000 | | | International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | | 948,250 | |
| 15,000 | | | Koppers Holdings, Inc. | | | 444,750 | |
| 40,000 | | | Lihir Gold, Ltd. - ADR†(a) | | | 1,002,000 | |
| 60,000 | | | Lubrizol Corp.(a) | | | 4,287,600 | |
| 100,000 | | | Methanex Corp.(a) | | | 1,731,000 | |
| 50,000 | | | Monsanto Co. | | | 3,870,000 | |
| 25,000 | | | Nalco Holding Co. | | | 512,250 | |
| 250,000 | | | Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. | | | 1,227,500 | |
| 55,000 | | | Newmont Mining Corp. | | | 2,421,100 | |
| 20,000 | | | Norfolk Southern Corp. | | | 862,200 | |
| 90,000 | | | Nucor Corp.(a) | | | 4,230,900 | |
| 50,000 | | | Owens-Illinois, Inc.† | | | 1,845,000 | |
| 75,000 | | | Pactiv Corp.† | | | 1,953,750 | |
| 5,000 | | | Posco - ADR(a) | | | 519,700 | |
| 15,000 | | | PPG Industries, Inc.(a) | | | 873,150 | |
| 65,000 | | | Praxair, Inc. | | | 5,309,850 | |
| 40,000 | | | Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | | | 1,702,400 | |
| 50,000 | | | Rock-Tenn Co. - Class A | | | 2,355,500 | |
| 100,000 | | | RPM International, Inc. | | | 1,849,000 | |
| 50,000 | | | RTI International Metals, Inc.† | | | 1,245,500 | |
| 45,000 | | | Sigma-Aldrich Corp. | | | 2,429,100 | |
| 65,000 | | | Sonoco Products Co.(a) | | | 1,790,100 | |
| 50,000 | | | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | | 767,000 | |
| 10,000 | | | Syngenta AG - ADR | | | 459,500 | |
54 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
| 164,700 | | | The Dow Chemical Co.(a) | | $ | 4,293,729 | |
| 35,000 | | | The Valspar Corp. | | | 962,850 | |
| 5,200 | | | Transocean, Ltd.† | | | 444,756 | |
| 30,000 | | | Union Pacific Corp. | | | 1,750,500 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $78,476,576) | | | 91,837,105 | |
|
Short-Term Investments (2.3%) |
$ | 2,226,720 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | 2,226,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $2,226,720) | | | 2,226,720 | |
Mutual Funds (13.7%) | | | | |
| 12,916,067 | | | Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, 0.28%^ | | | 12,916,067 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Mutual Funds (Cost $12,916,067) | | | 12,916,067 | |
Total Investments 112.6% (Cost $93,619,363) | | | 106,979,892 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (12.6)% | | | (11,952,114 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | $ | 95,027,778 | |
| | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
^ | | Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
(a) | | All or a portion of the security was on loan as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
Schedule of Investments 55
ICTUX
| |
Q. | How did the Fund perform relative to its benchmarks? |
| |
A. | The ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund lost 4.39% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, outperforming the 5.99% loss of the S&P 1500 Utilities Index and underperforming the 0.48% loss of the S&P 1500 Telecommunication Services Index. Although neither sector-specific benchmark is an ideal comparison, together they provide a suitable reference for the Fund’s overall performance in its sectors. |
Additionally, the Fund outperformed its broad benchmark, the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which lost 6.77% over the same period. Total returns for other periods as of September 30, 2009 appear in the subsequent pages of this Fund’s Management Overview.
| |
Q. | What primary factors were behind the Fund’s relative performance? |
| |
A. | The Fund’s allocation to the integrated telecommunication services industry was the primary factor in the Fund’s relative performance and exemplifies both the difficulties and opportunities in using two sector benchmarks. The Fund allocated more to this industry than any other with a 29.5% average weighting. This proved to be a good allocation of resources as the integrated telecommunication services industry turned in small but positive returns in a difficult environment for equities. The Fund’s holdings within this industry also outperformed the S&P Telecommunication Services Index’s integrated telecommunication services holdings. However the S&P 1500 Telecommunication Services Index held a 90.51% weighting in integrated telecommunication services and this fueled the Index’s outperformance over the Fund. |
Conversely, the Fund’s allocation to integrated telecommunication services versus a 0% weighting in the S&P 1500 Utilities Index allowed the Fund to outperform the S&P 1500 Utilities Index in what proved to be a difficult year for utility stocks.
Although the Fund was unable to outperform both indices this fiscal year, its broad strategy has allowed it to perform well over longer periods of time and the Fund continues to outperform both indices on a since inception basis.
It is important to note that in response to the market conditions of 2008, we took an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the ICON methodology and determined our valuation process was not fully
accounting for company-specific risk factors. In the 1st quarter of 2009, and after considerable thought and research, we modified our proprietary formula in an effort to more accurately account for this risk. Moving forward, we feel we are now better equipped to handle all types of market conditions.
| |
Q. | How did the Fund’s composition affect performance? |
| |
A. | In general, the Fund’s Utilities Sector allocations detracted from performance while allocations toward the Telecommunication Sector aided performance. Specifically, the Fund’s significant weighting toward the multi-utility and electric utility industries hampered performance. The Fund allocated just over 45% of its assets on average to these industries and both lost ground when utility demand declined as economic activity slowed. The Fund did receive positive contributions from its allocations to the water utilities and independent power producers & energy traders industries, but overall Utilities detracted from performance. |
As described earlier, the Fund was aided by an average 29.5% weighting toward the integrated telecommunication services Industry. The industry was led by small gains from AT&T and Verizon, the Fund’s two largest holdings. The Fund’s allocation to the wireless telecommunication services industry also aided performance in a year in which the industry saw an overall -21.06% decline within the S&P 1500.
| |
Q. | What is your investment outlook for the Telecommunication & Utilities sectors? |
| |
A. | In terms of valuation, both the Telecommunication and Utilities sectors look strong according to our methodology. Both sectors were dragged down with the equity market in the credit crunch of 2008 and have not participated fully in the rally that began March 9, 2009. This has left the combined sectors with a compelling 1.19 overall value to price ratio, but a weak .98 relative strength metric. The integrated telecommunication services industry continues to be a bright spot, showing both value and strength, as does the independent power producers & energy traders industry. Although we see compelling value in the electric, gas, multi and water utility industries, their lack of relative strength makes them unattractive at this time. It is not unusual for the defensive Utilities sector to languish during such strong equity rallies, but we do expect the sector’s value to be recognized in the future and we will allocate the Fund’s holdings toward those industries as their relative strength metrics improve. |
ICON Telecommunication &
Utilities Fund
Industry Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Integrated Telecommunication Services | | | 26.5% | |
Electric Utilities | | | 24.0% | |
Multi-Utilities | | | 18.8% | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 12.0% | |
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders | | | 5.2% | |
Gas Utilities | | | 4.3% | |
Water Utilities | | | 3.1% | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 2.9% | |
Cable & Satellite | | | 1.5% | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 1.3% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.6% | |
| | | | |
Percentages are based upon common stocks and corporate bonds as a percentage of net assets.
ICON Telecommunication &
Utilities Fund
Sector Composition
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | |
Telecommunication & Utilities | | | 94.0% | |
Industrials | | | 4.1% | |
Leisure and Consumer Staples | | | 1.5% | |
| | | | |
| | | 99.6% | |
| | | | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund
Average Annual Total Return
as of September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Since
| | | | Gross
| | | | Net
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inception
| | | | Expense
| | | | Expense
| |
| | | 1 Year | | | | 5 Years | | | | 10 Years | | | | 7/9/97 | | | | Ratio* | | | | Ratio* | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | | -4.39 | % | | | | | 5.71 | % | | | | | 3.13 | % | | | | | 6.79 | % | | | | | 1.35 | % | | | | | 1.35 | % | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Telecommunications Services Index | | | | -0.48 | % | | | | | 1.81 | % | | | | | -6.60 | % | | | | | 0.50 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P 1500 Utilities Index | | | | -5.99 | % | | | | | 6.92 | % | | | | | 4.71 | % | | | | | 6.07 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
S&P Composite 1500 Index | | | | -6.77 | % | | | | | 1.38 | % | | | | | 0.63 | % | | | | | 3.52 | % | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | |
|
|
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Information about these performance results and the comparative indexes can be found in the About This Report section.
| |
* | Please see the January 26, 2009 prospectus for details. |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund
Value of a $10,000 Investment
through September 30, 2009
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The above graph compares a $10,000 investment made in the Fund on its inception date of 7/9/97 to a $10,000 investment made in unmanaged securities indexes on that date. The Fund’s performance in this chart and the performance table assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares.
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Value |
|
|
Common Stocks (97.5%) |
| 7,000 | | | AGL Resources, Inc. | | $ | 246,890 | |
| 8,400 | | | Allegheny Energy, Inc. | | | 222,768 | |
| 20,000 | | | Alliant Energy Corp. | | | 557,000 | |
| 15,000 | | | America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. - ADR | | | 657,450 | |
| 6,000 | | | Aqua America, Inc. | | | 105,840 | |
| 100,600 | | | AT&T, Inc. | | | 2,717,206 | |
| 8,000 | | | Atmos Energy Corp. | | | 225,440 | |
| 12,500 | | | Avista Corp. | | | 252,750 | |
| 7,500 | | | China Mobile, Ltd. - ADR | | | 368,325 | |
| 20,000 | | | Comcast Corp. - Class A | | | 337,800 | |
| 10,000 | | | Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo - ADR | | | 379,300 | |
| 20,000 | | | Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | | | 647,400 | |
| 28,100 | | | Dominion Resources, Inc. of Virginia | | | 969,450 | |
| 8,400 | | | DPL, Inc. | | | 219,240 | |
| 16,500 | | | Edison International | | | 554,070 | |
| 37,000 | | | El Paso Electric Co.† | | | 653,790 | |
| 8,400 | | | Entergy Corp. | | | 670,824 | |
| 500 | | | First Solar, Inc.† | | | 76,430 | |
| 11,000 | | | FPL Group, Inc. | | | 607,530 | |
| 20,000 | | | France Telecom S.A. - ADR | | | 538,400 | |
| 8,000 | | | IDACORP, Inc. | | | 230,320 | |
| 8,400 | | | Integrys Energy Group, Inc. | | | 301,476 | |
| 10,000 | | | Middlesex Water Co. | | | 150,800 | |
| 10,000 | | | NRG Energy, Inc.† | | | 281,900 | |
| 25,000 | | | NV Energy, Inc. | | | 289,750 | |
| 30,000 | | | Partner Communications Co., Ltd. - ADR | | | 564,600 | |
| 11,300 | | | Pepco Holdings, Inc. | | | 168,144 | |
| 30,000 | | | Portland General Electric Co. | | | 591,600 | |
| 12,700 | | | PPL Corp. | | | 385,318 | |
| 37,900 | | | Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | | | 1,191,576 | |
| 4,900 | | | Sempra Energy Corp. | | | 244,069 | |
| 7,000 | | | Siemens AG - ADR | | | 650,720 | |
| 5,600 | | | Southern Co. | | | 177,352 | |
| 20,000 | | | Southwest Gas Corp. | | | 511,600 | |
| 12,500 | | | Southwest Water Co. | | | 61,500 | |
| 25,000 | | | Syniverse Holdings, Inc.† | | | 437,500 | |
| 10,000 | | | Telefonica S.A. - ADR | | | 829,100 | |
| 10,000 | | | Telenor ASA - ADR† | | | 350,100 | |
| 20,000 | | | The Empire District Electric Co. | | | 361,800 | |
| 12,500 | | | TransAlta Corp. | | | 256,500 | |
| 51,000 | | | Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 1,543,770 | |
| 30,000 | | | Vodafone Group PLC - ADR | | | 675,000 | |
| 2,700 | | | Wisconsin Energy Corp. | | | 121,959 | |
| 30,900 | | | Xcel Energy, Inc. | | | 594,516 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $22,150,155) | | | 21,978,873 | |
60 Schedule of Investments
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Interest
| | Maturity
| | |
Shares or Principal Amount | | Rate | | Date | | Value |
|
|
Corporate Bonds (2.1%) |
$ | 200,000 | | | Exelon Generation Co., LLC | | | 5.35 | % | | | 1/15/14 | | | $ | 211,554 | |
| 250,000 | | | Exelon Generation Co., LLC | | | 6.20 | % | | | 10/1/17 | | | | 272,841 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $435,852) | | | 484,395 | |
Short-Term Investments (1.8%) |
| 404,929 | | | Brown Brothers Harriman Time Deposit - U.S. Dollar, 0.03%, 10/01/09# | | | | | | | | | | | 404,929 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $404,929) | | | | | | | | | | | 404,929 | |
Total Investments 101.4% (Cost $22,990,936) | | | | | | | | | | | 22,868,197 | |
Liabilities Less Other Assets (1.4)% | | | | | | | | | | | (321,548 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets 100.0% | | | | | | | | | | $ | 22,546,649 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | |
† | | Non-income producing security. |
|
# | | BBH Time Deposits are considered short-term obligations and are payable on demand. Interest rates change periodically on specified dates. The rate listed is as of September 30, 2009. |
|
ADR | | American Depositary Receipt |
Schedule of Investments 61
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Consumer
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Discretionary
| | | Energy
| | | Financial
| | | Healthcare
| |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at cost | | $ | 16,171,811 | | | $ | 581,197,925 | | | $ | 60,096,673 | | | $ | 128,465,743 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at value† | | | 18,356,303 | | | | 687,316,446 | | | | 82,196,999 | | | | 144,071,268 | |
Cash | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Receivables: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund shares sold | | | 15,007 | | | | 2,691,636 | | | | 62,520 | | | | 224,957 | |
Investments sold | | | - | | | | 18,136,662 | | | | 1,011,166 | | | | 4,026,206 | |
Interest | | | 2 | | | | 14 | | | | - | | | | 4 | |
Dividends | | | 7,540 | | | | 1,140,616 | | | | 100,142 | | | | 125,679 | |
Other assets | | | 22,610 | | | | 130,448 | | | | 36,780 | | | | 43,118 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | | 18,401,462 | | | | 709,415,822 | | | | 83,407,607 | | | | 148,491,232 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payables: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Due to custodian bank | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Investments purchased | | | 719,348 | | | | 20,075,612 | | | | 1,201,326 | | | | 6,719,687 | |
Payable for collateral received on securities loaned | | | 3,439,929 | | | | 127,500,610 | | | | - | | | | 30,909,293 | |
Fund shares redeemed | | | 6,125 | | | | 734,256 | | | | 58,213 | | | | 102,092 | |
Advisory fees | | | 11,656 | | | | 448,685 | | | | 64,563 | | | | 91,897 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 82 | | | | 3,207 | | | | 472 | | | | 643 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 4,381 | | | | 19,277 | | | | 6,332 | | | | 24,424 | |
Administration fees | | | 544 | | | | 22,253 | | | | 3,129 | | | | 4,826 | |
Trustee fees | | | 193 | | | | 7,480 | | | | 1,073 | | | | 1,521 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 14,111 | | | | 49,215 | | | | 5,212 | | | | 31,420 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 4,196,369 | | | | 148,860,595 | | | | 1,340,320 | | | | 37,885,803 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 14,205,093 | | | $ | 560,555,227 | | | $ | 82,067,287 | | | $ | 110,605,429 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets Consist of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 37,495,916 | | | $ | 587,897,551 | | | $ | 180,556,800 | | | $ | 126,392,319 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(loss) | | | 376,911 | | | | 7,639,241 | | | | 1,136,023 | | | | 1,948,713 | |
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain/(loss) from investments and foreign currency transactions | | | (25,852,226 | ) | | | (141,100,086 | ) | | | (121,725,862 | ) | | | (33,341,128 | ) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 2,184,492 | | | | 106,118,521 | | | | 22,100,326 | | | | 15,605,525 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 14,205,093 | | | $ | 560,555,227 | | | $ | 82,067,287 | | | $ | 110,605,429 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized no par value) | | | 2,080,303 | | | | 33,131,012 | | | | 13,755,353 | | | | 8,996,124 | |
Net asset value (offering and redemption price per share) | | $ | 6.83 | | | $ | 16.92 | | | $ | 5.97 | | | $ | 12.29 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
† Includes securities on loan of | | $ | 3,387,442 | | | $ | 123,606,970 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 29,918,548 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| | | | | | ICON
| |
ICON
| | | Information
| | | Leisure and
| | | ICON
| | | Telecommunication
| |
Industrials
| | | Technology
| | | Consumer
| | | Materials
| | | & Utilities
| |
Fund | | | Fund | | | Staples Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 88,842,859 | | | $ | 111,292,016 | | | $ | 30,097,160 | | | $ | 93,619,363 | | | $ | 22,990,936 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 90,765,978 | | | | 132,772,640 | | | | 32,321,785 | | | | 106,979,892 | | | | 22,868,197 | |
| - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 610,913 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 89,856 | | | | 296,046 | | | | 9,904 | | | | 391,269 | | | | 15,376 | |
| 301,033 | | | | 917,944 | | | | 166,784 | | | | 634,981 | | | | 180,415 | |
| - | | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | 2 | | | | 10,018 | |
| 105,027 | | | | 24,002 | | | | 43,158 | | | | 159,203 | | | | 64,272 | |
| 34,124 | | | | 42,442 | | | | 20,770 | | | | 36,007 | | | | 25,034 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 91,296,018 | | | | 134,053,079 | | | | 32,562,401 | | | | 108,812,267 | | | | 23,163,312 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | - | | | | 57,467 | | | | - | | | | - | |
| - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 690,950 | | | | 545,252 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20,636,150 | | | | 14,595,757 | | | | 6,338,888 | | | | 12,916,067 | | | | - | |
| 52,331 | | | | 82,979 | | | | 64,673 | | | | 78,691 | | | | 41,187 | |
| 57,861 | | | | 96,448 | | | | 21,184 | | | | 77,023 | | | | 18,800 | |
| 412 | | | | 692 | | | | 152 | | | | 545 | | | | 135 | |
| 8,202 | | | | 10,335 | | | | 3,030 | | | | 6,537 | | | | 6,888 | |
| 2,830 | | | | 4,737 | | | | 993 | | | | 3,690 | | | | 824 | |
| 960 | | | | 1,599 | | | | 351 | | | | 1,277 | | | | 311 | |
| 2,028 | | | | 10,937 | | | | 1,922 | | | | 9,709 | | | | 3,266 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20,760,774 | | | | 14,803,484 | | | | 6,488,660 | | | | 13,784,489 | | | | 616,663 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 70,535,244 | | | $ | 119,249,595 | | | $ | 26,073,741 | | | $ | 95,027,778 | | | $ | 22,546,649 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 117,756,020 | | | $ | 171,749,729 | | | $ | 34,602,932 | | | $ | 124,218,529 | | | $ | 34,608,834 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1,217,934 | | | | 630,936 | | | | 383,497 | | | | 1,039,703 | | | | 507,167 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (50,361,829 | ) | | | (74,611,694 | ) | | | (11,137,313 | ) | | | (43,590,983 | ) | | | (12,446,613 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1,923,119 | | | | 21,480,624 | | | | 2,224,625 | | | | 13,360,529 | | | | (122,739 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 70,535,244 | | | $ | 119,249,595 | | | $ | 26,073,741 | | | $ | 95,027,778 | | | $ | 22,546,649 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11,048,506 | | | | 15,302,047 | | | | 3,563,599 | | | | 10,640,210 | | | | 3,980,145 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 6.38 | | | $ | 7.79 | | | $ | 7.32 | | | $ | 8.93 | | | $ | 5.66 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 19,932,986 | | | $ | 14,212,270 | | | $ | 6,156,154 | | | $ | 12,232,808 | | | $ | - | |
Statements of Operations
For the year ended September 30, 2009
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | ICON
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Consumer
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| |
| | Discretionary
| | | Energy
| | | Financial
| | | Healthcare
| |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
Investment Income | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 2,862 | | | $ | 65,310 | | | $ | 1,907 | | | $ | 11,370 | |
Dividends | | | 501,906 | | | | 10,349,593 | | | | 2,021,005 | | | | 2,439,831 | |
Income from securities lending, net | | | 77,249 | | | | 755,008 | | | | - | | | | 157,075 | |
Foreign taxes withheld | | | - | | | | (12,807 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Income | | | 582,017 | | | | 11,157,104 | | | | 2,022,912 | | | | 2,608,276 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advisory fees | | | 330,093 | | | | 4,242,379 | | | | 650,060 | | | | 1,240,439 | |
Fund accounting fees | | | 12,244 | | | | 128,760 | | | | 21,894 | | | | 39,771 | |
Transfer agent fees | | | 90,803 | | | | 314,139 | | | | 104,022 | | | | 189,084 | |
Administration fees | | | 16,350 | | | | 210,969 | | | | 32,202 | | | | 61,547 | |
Registration fees | | | 28,299 | | | | 46,403 | | | | 35,333 | | | | 37,102 | |
Insurance expense | | | 7,225 | | | | 62,116 | | | | 13,136 | | | | 13,105 | |
Trustee fees and expenses | | | 5,275 | | | | 53,478 | | | | 8,906 | | | | 17,536 | |
Interest expense | | | 3,264 | | | | - | | | | 2,327 | | | | 433 | |
Other expenses | | | 43,624 | | | | 199,105 | | | | 51,172 | | | | 94,538 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Expenses | | | 537,177 | | | | 5,257,349 | | | | 919,052 | | | | 1,693,555 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income/(Loss) | | | 44,840 | | | | 5,899,755 | | | | 1,103,860 | | | | 914,721 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency Transactions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (18,491,723 | ) | | | (139,817,254 | ) | | | (54,834,145 | ) | | | (33,178,074 | ) |
Change in unrealized net appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 1,817,062 | | | | 136,321,628 | | | | 13,559,513 | | | | 11,440,541 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency Transactions | | | (16,674,661 | ) | | | (3,495,626 | ) | | | (41,274,632 | ) | | | (21,737,533 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | (16,629,821 | ) | | $ | 2,404,129 | | | $ | (40,170,772 | ) | | $ | (20,822,812 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | ICON
| | | ICON
| | | | | | ICON
| |
ICON
| | | Information
| | | Leisure and
| | | ICON
| | | Telecommunication
| |
Industrials
| | | Technology
| | | Consumer
| | | Materials
| | | & Utilities
| |
Fund | | | Fund | | | Staples Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 2,957 | | | $ | 5,872 | | | $ | 440 | | | $ | 8,461 | | | $ | 17,482 | |
| 1,818,562 | | | | 1,098,675 | | | | 521,305 | | | | 2,142,258 | | | | 1,044,995 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 165,712 | | | | 142,715 | | | | 61,566 | | | | 88,278 | | | | - | |
| (3,315 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,914 | ) | | | - | | | | (818 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1,983,916 | | | | 1,247,262 | | | | 580,397 | | | | 2,238,997 | | | | 1,061,659 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 717,978 | | | | 968,342 | | | | 252,837 | | | | 772,334 | | | | 241,156 | |
| 24,082 | | | | 31,585 | | | | 9,646 | | | | 25,682 | | | | 9,396 | |
| 104,925 | | | | 133,757 | | | | 68,095 | | | | 123,203 | | | | 72,696 | |
| 35,603 | | | | 48,047 | | | | 12,542 | | | | 38,332 | | | | 11,973 | |
| 31,850 | | | | 36,377 | | | | 21,082 | | | | 29,581 | | | | 28,787 | |
| 13,196 | | | | 16,326 | | | | 3,569 | | | | 16,218 | | | | 7,378 | |
| 9,497 | | | | 14,257 | | | | 3,818 | | | | 11,310 | | | | 4,237 | |
| 309 | | | | 17,854 | | | | 1,097 | | | | 1,093 | | | | - | |
| 47,939 | | | | 68,395 | | | | 26,544 | | | | 64,799 | | | | 34,010 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 985,379 | | | | 1,334,940 | | | | 399,230 | | | | 1,082,552 | | | | 409,633 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 998,537 | | | | (87,678 | ) | | | 181,167 | | | | 1,156,445 | | | | 652,026 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (46,466,509 | ) | | | (38,132,970 | ) | | | (8,327,546 | ) | | | (32,865,783 | ) | | | (4,189,899 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14,292,207 | | | | 26,383,720 | | | | 4,148,032 | | | | 20,299,376 | | | | 1,530,224 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (32,174,302 | ) | | | (11,749,250 | ) | | | (4,179,514 | ) | | | (12,566,407 | ) | | | (2,659,675 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | (31,175,765 | ) | | $ | (11,836,928 | ) | | $ | (3,998,347 | ) | | $ | (11,409,962 | ) | | $ | (2,007,649 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | $ | 44,840 | | | $ | (30,197 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (18,491,723 | ) | | | (5,264,324 | ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 1,817,062 | | | | (8,052,981 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (16,629,821 | ) | | | (13,347,502 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | - | | | | - | |
Net realized gains | | | - | | | | (5,715,433 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease from dividends and distributions | | | - | | | | (5,715,433 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Fund Share Transactions | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 13,580,754 | | | | 94,454,604 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | - | | | | 5,647,506 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (54,987,695 | ) | | | (103,274,555 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions | | | (41,406,941 | ) | | | (3,172,445 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets | | | (58,036,762 | ) | | | (22,235,380 | ) |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 72,241,855 | | | | 94,477,235 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 14,205,093 | | | $ | 72,241,855 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Transactions in Fund Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares Sold | | | 2,740,834 | | | | 11,901,384 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | - | | | | 657,451 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (10,713,665 | ) | | | (9,890,815 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) | | | (7,972,831 | ) | | | 2,668,020 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 10,053,134 | | | | 7,385,114 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 2,080,303 | | | | 10,053,134 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 376,911 | | | $ | 328,935 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | ICON Financial Fund | | | ICON Healthcare Fund | |
Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 5,899,755 | | | $ | 4,059,340 | | | $ | 1,103,860 | | | $ | 3,585,734 | | | $ | 914,721 | | | $ | (359,048 | ) |
| (139,817,254 | ) | | | 219,828,225 | | | | (54,834,145 | ) | | | (66,546,769 | ) | | | (33,178,074 | ) | | | 6,635,806 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 136,321,628 | | | | (313,719,016 | ) | | | 13,559,513 | | | | (10,271,581 | ) | | | 11,440,541 | | | | (75,394,705 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2,404,129 | | | | (89,831,451 | ) | | | (40,170,772 | ) | | | (73,232,616 | ) | | | (20,822,812 | ) | | | (69,117,947 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (1,993,032 | ) | | | (2,043,462 | ) | | | (3,381,427 | ) | | | (1,809,844 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| (134,183,715 | ) | | | (177,660,859 | ) | | | - | | | | (19,270,780 | ) | | | - | | | | (35,443,355 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (136,176,747 | ) | | | (179,704,321 | ) | | | (3,381,427 | ) | | | (21,080,624 | ) | | | - | | | | (35,443,355 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 258,382,655 | | | | 106,327,332 | | | | 39,972,857 | | | | 164,671,288 | | | | 53,163,928 | | | | 132,311,153 | |
| 131,269,217 | | | | 172,298,136 | | | | 3,316,850 | | | | 20,824,424 | | | | - | | | | 33,320,610 | |
| (187,961,116 | ) | | | (332,527,571 | ) | | | (45,844,802 | ) | | | (163,096,823 | ) | | | (81,818,503 | ) | | | (374,274,158 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 201,690,756 | | | | (53,902,103 | ) | | | (2,555,095 | ) | | | 22,398,889 | | | | (28,654,575 | ) | | | (208,642,395 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 67,918,138 | | | | (323,437,875 | ) | | | (46,107,294 | ) | | | (71,914,351 | ) | | | (49,477,387 | ) | | | (313,203,697 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 492,637,089 | | | | 816,074,964 | | | | 128,174,581 | | | | 200,088,932 | | | | 160,082,816 | | | | 473,286,513 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 560,555,227 | | | $ | 492,637,089 | | | $ | 82,067,287 | | | $ | 128,174,581 | | | $ | 110,605,429 | | | $ | 160,082,816 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17,627,648 | | | | 3,170,690 | | | | 8,206,569 | | | | 15,099,515 | | | | 4,715,316 | | | | 8,446,706 | |
| 9,452,879 | | | | 5,426,713 | | | | 665,988 | | | | 1,728,168 | | | | - | | | | 2,093,003 | |
| (12,157,086 | ) | | | (10,071,174 | ) | | | (10,111,073 | ) | | | (15,827,527 | ) | | | (7,587,615 | ) | | | (25,442,656 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14,923,441 | | | | (1,473,771 | ) | | | (1,238,516 | ) | | | 1,000,156 | | | | (2,872,299 | ) | | | (14,902,947 | ) |
| 18,207,571 | | | | 19,681,342 | | | | 14,993,869 | | | | 13,993,713 | | | | 11,868,423 | | | | 26,771,370 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 33,131,012 | | | | 18,207,571 | | | | 13,755,353 | | | | 14,993,869 | | | | 8,996,124 | | | | 11,868,423 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 7,639,241 | | | $ | 3,732,521 | | | $ | 1,136,023 | | | $ | 3,549,040 | | | $ | 1,948,713 | | | $ | 1,033,992 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Industrials Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | $ | 998,537 | | | $ | 774,383 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (46,466,509 | ) | | | (3,917,940 | ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 14,292,207 | | | | (37,141,255 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (31,175,765 | ) | | | (40,284,812 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (571,232 | ) | | | (125,130 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | - | | | | (5,678,288 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease from dividends and distributions | | | (571,232 | ) | | | (5,803,418 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Fund Share Transactions | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 12,347,790 | | | | 134,429,676 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | 567,022 | | | | 5,764,952 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (35,918,904 | ) | | | (124,558,586 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions | | | (23,004,092 | ) | | | 15,636,042 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets | | | (54,751,089 | ) | | | (30,452,188 | ) |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 125,286,333 | | | | 155,738,521 | �� |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 70,535,244 | | | $ | 125,286,333 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Transactions in Fund Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares Sold | | | 2,275,832 | | | | 13,326,003 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | 102,149 | | | | 571,353 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (6,690,467 | ) | | | (13,003,410 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) | | | (4,312,486 | ) | | | 893,946 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 15,360,992 | | | | 14,467,046 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 11,048,506 | | | | 15,360,992 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 1,217,934 | | | $ | 781,811 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | ICON Leisure and Consumer
| | | | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | Staples Fund | | | ICON Materials Fund | |
Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | (87,678 | ) | | $ | (794,082 | ) | | $ | 181,167 | | | $ | 130,261 | | | $ | 1,156,445 | | | $ | 857,993 | |
| (38,132,970 | ) | | | (7,056,250 | ) | | | (8,327,546 | ) | | | (2,758,715 | ) | | | (32,865,783 | ) | | | (9,284,326 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 26,383,720 | | | | (66,323,367 | ) | | | 4,148,032 | | | | (6,521,918 | ) | | | 20,299,376 | | | | (34,719,071 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (11,836,928 | ) | | | (74,173,699 | ) | | | (3,998,347 | ) | | | (9,150,372 | ) | | | (11,409,962 | ) | | | (43,145,404 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (530,094 | ) | | | (860,270 | ) | | | (495,395 | ) |
| - | | | | - | | | | (9,922 | ) | | | (6,370,211 | ) | | | - | | | | (20,315,377 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | | | | - | | | | (9,922 | ) | | | (6,900,305 | ) | | | (860,270 | ) | | | (20,810,772 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 38,997,763 | | | | 139,642,245 | | | | 3,515,872 | | | | 35,257,565 | | | | 27,207,600 | | | | 117,897,877 | |
| - | | | | - | | | | 9,724 | | | | 6,759,578 | | | | 799,139 | | | | 19,305,814 | |
| (86,361,728 | ) | | | (153,982,840 | ) | | | (15,582,817 | ) | | | (15,398,164 | ) | | | (39,231,148 | ) | | | (86,045,802 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (47,363,965 | ) | | | (14,340,595 | ) | | | (12,057,221 | ) | | | 26,618,979 | | | | (11,224,409 | ) | | | 51,157,889 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (59,200,893 | ) | | | (88,514,294 | ) | | | (16,065,490 | ) | | | 10,568,302 | | | | (23,494,641 | ) | | | (12,798,287 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 178,450,488 | | | | 266,964,782 | | | | 42,139,231 | | | | 31,570,929 | | | | 118,522,419 | | | | 131,320,706 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 119,249,595 | | | $ | 178,450,488 | | | $ | 26,073,741 | | | $ | 42,139,231 | | | $ | 95,027,778 | | | $ | 118,522,419 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6,873,275 | | | | 14,365,857 | | | | 590,330 | | | | 3,776,876 | | | | 3,904,527 | | | | 8,803,416 | |
| - | | | | - | | | | 1,818 | | | | 765,524 | | | | 119,632 | | | | 1,551,914 | |
| (14,283,008 | ) | | | (15,874,267 | ) | | | (2,747,313 | ) | | | (1,797,011 | ) | | | (5,464,404 | ) | | | (6,809,964 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (7,409,733 | ) | | | (1,508,410 | ) | | | (2,155,165 | ) | | | 2,745,389 | | | | (1,440,245 | ) | | | 3,545,366 | |
| 22,711,780 | | | | 24,220,190 | | | | 5,718,764 | | | | 2,973,375 | | | | 12,080,455 | | | | 8,535,089 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15,302,047 | | | | 22,711,780 | | | | 3,563,599 | | | | 5,718,764 | | | | 10,640,210 | | | | 12,080,455 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 630,936 | | | $ | 718,614 | | | $ | 383,497 | | | $ | 200,402 | | | $ | 1,039,703 | | | $ | 743,528 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | ICON Telecommunication &
| |
| | Utilities Fund | |
| | Year Ended
| | | Year Ended
| |
| | September 30,
| | | September 30,
| |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | $ | 652,026 | | | $ | 1,795,668 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investment transactions | | | (4,189,899 | ) | | | (7,495,950 | ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translations | | | 1,530,224 | | | | (18,700,947 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (2,007,649 | ) | | | (24,401,229 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (1,742,486 | ) | | | (1,083,543 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | - | | | | (15,519,409 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net decrease from dividends and distributions | | | (1,742,486 | ) | | | (16,602,952 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Fund Share Transactions | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 8,474,316 | | | | 105,784,266 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | 1,682,883 | | | | 15,458,710 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (14,195,858 | ) | | | (159,411,942 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) from fund share transactions | | | (4,038,659 | ) | | | (38,168,966 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total net increase/(decrease) in net assets | | | (7,788,794 | ) | | | (79,173,147 | ) |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 30,335,443 | | | | 109,508,590 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 22,546,649 | | | $ | 30,335,443 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Transactions in Fund Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares Sold | | | 1,578,252 | | | | 12,220,438 | |
Reinvested dividends and distributions | | | 315,147 | | | | 1,860,254 | |
Shares repurchased | | | (2,695,138 | ) | | | (21,208,177 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) | | | (801,739 | ) | | | (7,127,485 | ) |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 4,781,884 | | | | 11,909,369 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 3,980,145 | | | | 4,781,884 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 507,167 | | | $ | 1,597,627 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
This page is intentionally left blank
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Income from investment operations | | | Less dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of
| | | | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| | | | | | | | | | | | Net assets,
| | | Ratio of
| | | net investment
| | | | |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| | | Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | end of
| | | expenses to
| | | income/(loss)
| | | Portfolio
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/ (losses)
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| | | dividends and
| | | value, end
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | average
| | | to average
| | | turnover
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | on investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | | | distributions | | | of period | | | return | | | thousands) | | | net assets | | | net assets | | | rate | |
|
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 7.19 | | | $ | 0.01 | | | $ | (0.37 | ) | | $ | (0.36 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 6.83 | | | | (5.01 | )% | | $ | 14,205 | | | | 1.63 | % | | | 0.14 | % | | | 200.23 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 12.79 | | | | - | (b) | | | (2.61 | ) | | | (2.61 | ) | | | - | | | | (2.99 | ) | | | (2.99 | ) | | | 7.19 | | | | (24.21 | )% | | | 72,242 | | | | 1.38 | % | | | (0.04 | )% | | | 218.32 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 12.11 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 0.72 | | | | 0.68 | | | | - | | | �� | - | | | | - | | | | 12.79 | | | | 5.62 | % | | | 94,477 | | | | 1.30 | % | | | (0.31 | )% | | | 144.89 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.61 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 0.79 | | | | 0.73 | | | | - | | | | (2.23 | ) | | | (2.23 | ) | | | 12.11 | | | | 6.20 | % | | | 110,792 | | | | 1.32 | % | | | (0.46 | )% | | | 173.83 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 12.70 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 0.99 | | | | 0.91 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 13.61 | | | | 7.17 | % | | | 169,422 | | | | 1.25 | % | | | (0.57 | )% | | | 157.94 | % |
ICON Energy Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 27.06 | | | | 0.21 | | | | (2.41 | ) | | | (2.20 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (7.82 | ) | | | (7.94 | ) | | | 16.92 | | | | (1.73 | )% | | | 560,555 | | | | 1.24 | % | | | 1.39 | % | | | 186.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 41.46 | | | | 0.20 | | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.62 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (9.67 | ) | | | (9.78 | ) | | | 27.06 | | | | (14.62 | )% | | | 492,637 | | | | 1.16 | % | | | 0.59 | % | | | 119.87 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 31.88 | | | | 0.08 | | | | 12.86 | | | | 12.94 | | | | - | | | | (3.36 | ) | | | (3.36 | ) | | | 41.46 | | | | 43.64 | % | | | 816,075 | | | | 1.17 | %(a) | | | 0.24 | %(a) | | | 54.75 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 33.76 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.89 | ) | | | (0.95 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.85 | ) | | | (0.93 | ) | | | 31.88 | | | | (2.81 | )% | | | 788,366 | | | | 1.17 | % | | | (0.16 | )% | | | 22.86 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 21.81 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 11.85 | | | | 11.95 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 33.76 | | | | 54.79 | % | | | 1,008,958 | | | | 1.21 | % | | | 0.37 | % | | | 27.51 | % |
ICON Financial Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 8.55 | | | | 0.09 | | | | (2.43 | ) | | | (2.34 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.24 | ) | | | 5.97 | | | | (26.80 | )% | | | 82,067 | | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.70 | % | | | 194.00 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 14.30 | | | | 0.21 | | | | (4.29 | ) | | | (4.08 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (1.53 | ) | | | (1.67 | ) | | | 8.55 | | | | (31.93 | )% | | | 128,175 | | | | 1.22 | % | | | 1.94 | % | | | 220.83 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 14.47 | | | | 0.13 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.58 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.60 | ) | | | (0.75 | ) | | | 14.30 | | | | 3.84 | % | | | 200,089 | | | | 1.21 | % | | | 0.86 | % | | | 93.04 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 13.43 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 1.84 | | | | 1.99 | | | | (0.09 | ) | | | (0.86 | ) | | | (0.95 | ) | | | 14.47 | | | | 15.53 | % | | | 368,614 | | | | 1.20 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 153.47 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.36 | | | | 0.13 | | | | 0.99 | | | | 1.12 | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (1.02 | ) | | | (1.05 | ) | | | 13.43 | | | | 8.29 | % | | | 210,883 | | | | 1.26 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 170.75 | % |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 13.49 | | | | 0.08 | | | | (1.28 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 12.29 | | | | (8.90 | )% | | | 110,605 | | | | 1.37 | % | | | 0.74 | % | | | 105.75 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 17.68 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (2.65 | ) | | | (2.67 | ) | | | - | | | | (1.52 | ) | | | (1.52 | ) | | | 13.49 | | | | (16.43 | )% | | | 160,083 | | | | 1.25 | % | | | (0.12 | )% | | | 61.44 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 17.95 | | | | - | (b) | | | 1.19 | | | | 1.19 | | | | - | | | | (1.46 | ) | | | (1.46 | ) | | | 17.68 | | | | 7.17 | % | | | 473,287 | | | | 1.20 | %(a) | | | 0.01 | %(a) | | | 24.56 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 17.94 | | | | (0.10 | ) | | | 0.38 | | | | 0.28 | | | | - | | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | 17.95 | | | | 1.56 | % | | | 646,202 | | | | 1.19 | % | | | (0.55 | )% | | | 61.37 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 13.70 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | 4.42 | | | | 4.28 | | | | - | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 17.94 | | | | 31.39 | % | | | 682,759 | | | | 1.22 | % | | | (0.82 | )% | | | 47.88 | % |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 8.16 | | | | 0.08 | | | | (1.82 | ) | | | (1.74 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 6.38 | | | | (21.25 | )% | | | 70,535 | | | | 1.37 | % | | | 1.39 | % | | | 96.24 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 10.77 | | | | 0.05 | | | | (2.32 | ) | | | (2.27 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | 8.16 | | | | (21.72 | )% | | | 125,286 | | | | 1.25 | % | | | 0.55 | % | | | 143.40 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 13.22 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 2.63 | | | | 2.65 | | | | - | (b) | | | (5.10 | ) | | | (5.10 | ) | | | 10.77 | | | | 28.73 | % | | | 155,739 | | | | 1.27 | %(a) | | | 0.16 | %(a) | | | 125.44 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 12.70 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 0.97 | | | | 0.93 | | | | - | | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | 13.22 | | | | 7.49 | % | | | 106,015 | | | | 1.24 | % | | | (0.30 | )% | | | 89.38 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 10.52 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 2.22 | | | | 2.18 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 12.70 | | | | 20.72 | % | | | 216,636 | | | | 1.24 | % | | | (0.34 | )% | | | 67.25 | % |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 7.86 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7.79 | | | | (0.89 | )% | | | 119,250 | | | | 1.38 | % | | | (0.09 | )% | | | 89.87 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 11.02 | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (3.12 | ) | | | (3.16 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7.86 | | | | (28.68 | )% | | | 178,450 | | | | 1.24 | % | | | (0.41 | )% | | | 171.22 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 8.72 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | 2.35 | | | | 2.30 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 11.02 | | | | 26.38 | % | | | 266,965 | | | | 1.23 | % | | | (0.49 | )% | | | 78.66 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 8.70 | | | | (0.05 | ) | | | 0.07 | | | | 0.02 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 8.72 | | | | 0.23 | % | | | 241,988 | | | | 1.25 | % | | | (0.61 | )% | | | 155.39 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 7.90 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 0.88 | | | | 0.80 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 8.70 | | | | 10.13 | % | | | 220,073 | | | | 1.29 | % | | | (0.91 | )% | | | 152.16 | % |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
73
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Income from investment operations | | | Less dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ratio of
| | | | |
| | Net asset
| | | Net
| | | Net realized
| | | | | | Dividends
| | | Distributions
| | | | | | | | | | | | Net assets,
| | | Ratio of
| | | net investment
| | | | |
| | value,
| | | investment
| | | and unrealized
| | | Total from
| | | from net
| | | from net
| | | Total
| | | Net asset
| | | | | | end of
| | | expenses to
| | | income/(loss)
| | | Portfolio
| |
| | beginning
| | | income/
| | | gains/(losses) on
| | | investment
| | | investment
| | | realized
| | | dividends and
| | | value, end
| | | Total
| | | period (in
| | | average
| | | to average
| | | turnover
| |
| | of period | | | (loss)(x) | | | investments | | | operations | | | income | | | gains | | | distributions | | | of period | | | return | | | thousands) | | | net assets | | | net assets | | | rate | |
|
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | $ | 7.37 | | | $ | 0.04 | | | $ | (0.09 | ) | | $ | (0.05 | ) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | (b) | | $ | - | (b) | | $ | 7.32 | | | | (0.64 | )% | | $ | 26,074 | | | | 1.58 | % | | | 0.72 | % | | | 134.29 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 10.62 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (1.60 | ) | | | (1.57 | ) | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (1.55 | ) | | | (1.68 | ) | | | 7.37 | | | | (17.40 | )% | | | 42,139 | | | | 1.46 | % | | | 0.31 | % | | | 132.40 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 9.21 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 1.33 | | | | 1.43 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | (b) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 10.62 | | | | 15.61 | % | | | 31,571 | | | | 1.41 | % | | | 1.02 | % | | | 150.72 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 11.96 | | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | - | | | | (2.67 | ) | | | (2.67 | ) | | | 9.21 | | | | 0.11 | % | | | 68,136 | | | | 1.54 | % | | | (0.70 | )% | | | 215.75 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 14.51 | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 0.94 | | | | 0.88 | | | | - | | | | (3.43 | ) | | | (3.43 | ) | | | 11.96 | | | | 5.01 | % | | | 47,410 | | | | 1.30 | % | | | (0.45 | )% | | | 271.72 | % |
ICON Materials Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 9.81 | | | | 0.11 | | | | (0.91 | ) | | | (0.80 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 8.93 | | | | (7.87 | )% | | | 95,028 | | | | 1.40 | % | | | 1.50 | % | | | 134.88 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 15.39 | | | | 0.08 | | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.15 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (2.37 | ) | | | (2.43 | ) | | | 9.81 | | | | (23.79 | )% | | | 118,522 | | | | 1.26 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 111.26 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 11.67 | | | | 0.08 | | | | 5.10 | | | | 5.18 | | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (1.31 | ) | | | (1.46 | ) | | | 15.39 | | | | 48.63 | % | | | 131,321 | | | | 1.33 | % | | | 0.59 | % | | | 109.10 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 11.30 | | | | 0.09 | | | | 1.09 | | | | 1.18 | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.79 | ) | | | (0.81 | ) | | | 11.67 | | | | 11.17 | % | | | 135,097 | | | | 1.30 | % | | | 0.74 | % | | | 176.89 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 9.05 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 2.23 | | | | 2.26 | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | 11.30 | | | | 25.04 | % | | | 99,569 | | | | 1.31 | % | | | 0.33 | % | | | 128.01 | % |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year Ended September 30, 2009 | | | 6.34 | | | | 0.14 | | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.38 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.38 | ) | | | 5.66 | | | | (4.39 | )% | | | 22,547 | | | | 1.70 | % | | | 2.70 | % | | | 90.27 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2008 | | | 9.20 | | | | 0.14 | | | | (2.03 | ) | | | (1.89 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.91 | ) | | | (0.97 | ) | | | 6.34 | | | | (23.01 | )% | | | 30,335 | | | | 1.35 | % | | | 1.74 | % | | | 102.65 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2007 | | | 7.66 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 2.18 | | | | 2.28 | | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (0.63 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | 9.20 | | | | 31.60 | % | | | 109,509 | | | | 1.33 | % | | | 1.20 | % | | | 154.99 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2006 | | | 8.28 | | | | 0.13 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.50 | | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.94 | ) | | | (1.12 | ) | | | 7.66 | | | | 7.56 | % | | | 119,762 | | | | 1.38 | % | | | 1.71 | % | | | 209.50 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2005 | | | 6.61 | | | | 0.14 | | | | 1.61 | | | | 1.75 | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | - | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | 8.28 | | | | 26.70 | % | | | 120,651 | | | | 1.26 | % | | | 1.88 | % | | | 112.91 | % |
| |
(x) | Calculated using the average share method. |
(a) | Ratios include transfer agent earnings credits received. These earnings credits reduced the net expense ratio and increased the net income ratio by 0.01%. |
(b) | Amount less than $0.005. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Financial Highlights (continued)
This page intentionally left blank. The content of this page is part of a ‘Double Page Spread’ table and appears on the previous page.
75
1. Organization
The ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund, ICON Energy Fund, ICON Financial Fund, ICON Healthcare Fund, ICON Industrials Fund, ICON Information Technology Fund, ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund, ICON Materials Fund, and ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund are series funds (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are part of the ICON Funds (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end investment management company. There are eight other active Funds within the Trust. Those Funds are covered by separate prospectuses and shareholder reports.
The Funds invest primarily in securities of companies whose principal business activities fall within specific sectors and industries. Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par shares. The investment objective of each Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation.
The Funds may have elements of risk, including the risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results. An investment in a non-diversified sector fund may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified fund. Investments in foreign securities and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar-denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability. Financial statements of foreign companies are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than U.S. companies and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Many corporate governance standards, which help ensure the integrity of public information in the United States, may not exist in some foreign countries. In general, there may be less governmental supervision of foreign stock exchanges and securities brokers and issuers. There are also risks associated with small-and mid-cap investing, including limited product lines, less liquidity and small market share.
In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into various agreements that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as any potential exposure involving future claims that may be made against each Fund is unknown. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be minimal.
76 Notes to Financial Statements
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Investment Valuation
The Funds’ securities and other assets are valued at the closing price at the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open, except that securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) are normally valued by the Funds at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price provided by NASDAQ each business day.
The Funds use pricing services to obtain the market value of securities in their portfolios; if a pricing service is not able to provide a price, or the pricing service’s valuation quote is considered inaccurate or does not reflect the market value of the security, prices may be obtained through market quotations from independent broker/dealers. If market quotations from these sources are not readily available, the Funds’ securities or other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (“Board”) or pursuant to procedures approved by the Board.
Lacking any sales that day, a security is valued at the current closing bid price (or yield equivalent thereof) or based on quotes obtained from dealers making a market for the security. Options are valued at their closing mid-price on the market with the most volume. Mid-price is the average of the closing bid and closing ask prices. Debt securities with a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued in accordance with the evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service. The evaluated bid price supplied by the pricing service is based upon a matrix valuation system which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost or original cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. Currency rates as of the close of the NYSE are used to convert foreign security values into U.S. dollars.
Notes to Financial Statements 77
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Funds’ securities traded in countries outside of the Western Hemisphere are fair valued daily by utilizing the quotations of an independent pricing service, unless the Board determines that use of another valuation methodology is appropriate. The purposes of daily fair valuation are to avoid stale prices and to take into account, among other things, any significant events occurring after the close of foreign markets. The pricing service uses statistical analyses and quantitative models to adjust local market prices using factors such as subsequent movements and changes in the prices of indexes, securities and exchange rates in other markets to determine fair value as of the time a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”). The valuation assigned to fair-value securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV may differ from the security’s most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other mutual funds to calculate their NAVs.
Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value.
Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Funds’ investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 — significant observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk).
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs.
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds, and unobservable inputs reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in certain foreign markets generally are reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Funds evaluate and determine whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as
78 Notes to Financial Statements
described above. The following table summarizes the Funds’ investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on September 30, 2009:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Investments
| |
Fund Name | | in Securities | | | in Securities | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 12,573,154 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 3,439,929 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 2,343,220 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 16,013,083 | | | $ | 2,343,220 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 541,652,334 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 127,500,610 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 18,163,502 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 669,152,944 | | | $ | 18,163,502 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 81,806,274 | | | $ | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 390,725 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 81,806,274 | | | $ | 390,725 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 108,562,136 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 30,909,293 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 4,599,839 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 139,471,429 | | | $ | 4,599,839 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 69,822,549 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 20,636,150 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 307,279 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 90,458,699 | | | $ | 307,279 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 111,807,536 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 14,595,757 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 6,369,347 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 126,403,293 | | | $ | 6,369,347 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 25,982,897 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 6,338,888 | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 32,321,785 | | | $ | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Notes to Financial Statements 79
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | |
| | Investments
| | | Investments
| |
| | in Securities | | | in Securities | |
| |
ICON Materials Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 91,837,105 | | | $ | - | |
Mutual Funds | | | 12,916,067 | | | | - | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 2,226,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 104,753,172 | | | $ | 2,226,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock | | $ | 21,978,873 | | | $ | - | |
Corporate Bonds | | | - | | | | 484,395 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | - | | | | 404,929 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 21,978,873 | | | $ | 889,324 | |
| | | | | | | | |
There were no Level 3 securities held in any of the Funds at September 30, 2009.
Foreign Currency Translation
The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the respective dates of the transactions. Purchases and sales of securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the contractual currency exchange rates established at the time of each trade.
The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates and changes in market prices of securities held.
Derivatives
Each Fund may use derivatives for various purposes. The Funds’ use of derivatives for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 was limited to
80 Notes to Financial Statements
purchased options. Following is a summary of how these derivatives are treated in the financial statements and their impact on the Funds:
Amount of Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Operations
| | | | | | |
| | Location of Gain/(loss) on
| | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as
| | Derivatives Recognized In
| | | |
hedging instruments | | Operations | | Amount | |
|
Option contracts | | | | | | |
Equity risk | | | | | | |
ICON Energy Fund | | Net realized gain/(loss) from | | $ | 650,635 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | investment transactions | | | (104,479 | ) |
ICON Materials Fund | | | | | (162,668 | ) |
The Funds held no derivatives as of September 30, 2009, however the table above is indicative of the type and volume of derivative activity within the Funds during the year.
The Funds value derivatives at fair value, as described below, and recognize changes in fair value currently in the results of operations. Accordingly, the Funds do not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges.
Options Transactions
Each Fund may purchase and/or write (sell) call and put options on any security in which it may invest. The Funds utilize options to hedge against changes in market conditions and to provide market exposure while trying to reduce transaction costs.
Option contracts involve market risk and can be highly volatile. Should prices of securities or securities indexes move in an unexpected manner, the Funds may not achieve the desired benefits and may realize losses and thus be in a worse position than if such strategies had not been utilized.
When a Fund writes a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium received is included on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option. If an option expires on its stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If a written call option on an individual security is exercised, a gain or loss is realized for the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from the sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written call option on a securities index is exercised, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally received, the
Notes to Financial Statements 81
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
exercise price and the market value of the index. If a written put option on an individual security is exercised, the cost of the security acquired is decreased by the premium originally received. As a writer of an option, a Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the individual security or securities index underlying the written option. Additionally, written call options may involve the risk of limited gains, lack of liquidity for the option and lack of liquidity for the security or securities index.
Each Fund may also purchase put and call options. When a Fund purchases a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium paid is included on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment, and is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If the Fund exercises a call option on an individual security, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If the Fund exercises a put option on an individual security, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such a sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. If the Fund exercises a put option on a security index, a gain or loss is realized as determined by the premium originally paid, the exercise price and the market value of the index. Written and purchased options are non-income producing securities.
As of September 30, 2009, no Funds engaged in any written options transactions. As previously disclosed, the Energy Fund, Financial Fund and Materials Fund engaged in purchased put options during the year. No option contracts were open at September 30, 2009.
Securities Lending
Under procedures adopted by the Board, the Funds may lend securities to non-affiliated qualified parties. The Funds seek to earn additional income through securities lending. There is the risk of delay in recovering a loaned security. The Funds do not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan; however, the Funds may attempt to call back the loan and vote the proxy.
All loans will be continuously secured by collateral which consists of cash. Brown Brothers Harriman (the “Lending Agent”) may invest the cash collateral in the Invesco Aim Liquid Assets Portfolio, which complies with Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act relating to money market funds.
82 Notes to Financial Statements
The cash collateral invested by the Lending Agent is disclosed on the Schedule of Investments. The lending fees received and the Funds’ portion of the interest income earned on cash collateral are included on the Statement of Operations, if applicable.
As of September 30, 2009, the following Funds had securities with the following values on loan:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Value of
| | | Value of
| |
Fund | | Loaned Securities | | | Collateral | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 3,387,442 | | | $ | 3,439,929 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 123,606,970 | | | | 127,500,610 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 29,918,548 | | | | 30,909,293 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 19,932,986 | | | | 20,636,150 | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 14,212,270 | | | | 14,595,757 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 6,156,154 | | | | 6,338,888 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 12,232,808 | | | | 12,916,067 | |
The value of the collateral above could include collateral held for securities that were sold on or before September 30, 2009. It may also include collateral received from the prefunding of loans.
Income Taxes
The Funds intend to qualify as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and, accordingly, the Funds will generally not be subject to federal and state income taxes, or federal excise taxes to the extent that they intend to make sufficient distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains.
Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.
Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend/distribution date. The Funds distribute net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually, if not offset by capital loss carryovers. The Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes and designate earnings and profits, including net realized gains distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares, as part of the dividends paid deduction for income tax purposes. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Notes to Financial Statements 83
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements.
The Funds file U.S. tax returns. While the statute of limitations remains open to examine the Funds’ U.S. tax returns filed for the past four years, no examinations are in progress or anticipated at this time. The Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Investment Income
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the life of the respective securities.
Investment Transactions
Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after the trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.
Allocation of Expenses
Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a specific Fund in the Trust are apportioned among all Funds in the Trust based upon relative net assets.
3. Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Investment Advisory Fees
ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and is responsible for managing the Funds’ portfolios of securities. Each Fund is obligated to pay ICON Advisers management fees computed daily at an annual rate of 1.00% on the first $500 million of average daily net assets, 0.95% on the next $250 million, 0.925% on the next $750 million, 0.90% on the next $3.5 billion, and 0.875% on average daily net assets over $5 billion.
84 Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting, Custody and Transfer Agent Fees
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi”) is the fund accounting agent for the Funds. For its services, the Trust pays Citi 0.03% on the first $1.75 billion of net assets, 0.0175% on net assets over $1.75 billion and up to $5 billion, and 0.01% on net assets in excess of $5 billion.
Brown Brothers Harriman (“BBH”) is the custodian of the Trust’s investments. Effective July 1, 2009, for domestic custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.0050% on the first $250 million of assets, 0.0040% on the second $250 million of assets and 0.0025% on domestic assets above $500 million, plus certain transaction charges. Prior to July 1, 2009, the Trust paid BBH 0.0065% on the first $50 million of assets and 0.0050% on domestic assets above $50 million. For foreign custody services, the Trust pays BBH 0.03% on foreign assets plus certain transaction charges.
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”) is the Trust’s transfer agent. For these services, the Trust pays an account fee of $13.25 per open account, $7.00 per networked account, $1.80 per closed account, plus certain other transaction and cusip charges.
Administrative Services
The Trust has entered into an administrative services agreement with ICON Advisers pursuant to which ICON Advisers oversees the administration of the Trust’s business and affairs. This agreement provides for an annual fee of 0.05% on the Funds’ first $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.045% on the next $1.5 billion of average daily net assets, 0.040% on the next $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.030% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. During the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds’ payment for administrative services to ICON Advisers is included on the Statement of Operations. The administrative services agreement provides that ICON Advisers will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters to which the administrative services agreement relates, except for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by ICON Advisers in the performance of its duties.
ICON Advisers has entered into a sub-administration agreement with Citi pursuant to which Citi assists ICON Advisers with the administration and business affairs of the Trust. For its services, ICON Advisers pays Citi at an annual rate of 0.025% on the first $1.75 billion of Trust assets and 0.015% on assets above $1.75 billion.
Notes to Financial Statements 85
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Other Related Parties
Certain Officers and Directors of ICON are also Officers and Trustees of the Funds; however, such Officers and Trustees (with the exception of the Chief Compliance Officer, “CCO”) receive no compensation from the Funds. The CCO’s salary is paid 100% by the Funds. For the year ended September 30, 2009, the total related amounts paid by the Trust under this arrangement are included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.
4. Borrowings
The Funds have entered into Lines of Credit agreements with BBH to provide temporary funding for redemption requests. The maximum borrowing is limited to the lesser of $50 million or 25% of the net asset value in each Fund subject to a maximum borrowing limit by the Trust of $150 million. Interest on domestic borrowings is charged at LIBOR plus 1.50%, which was 1.71% at September 30, 2009. The average interest rate charged for the year ended September 30, 2009, was 2.62%.
| | | | |
| | Average Borrowing
| |
Fund | | (10/1/08-9/30/09) | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 2,601,876 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 1,465,875 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 1,971,498 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 568,457 | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 1,915,740 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund** | | | 283,180 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 404,563 | |
| |
** | Fund had outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2009. |
Average borrowing is calculated using only the days there was a borrowing. It is not an annualized number.
86 Notes to Financial Statements
5. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) was as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Purchases of
| | | Proceeds from Sales
| |
| | Securities | | | of Securities | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 61,881,354 | | | $ | 103,516,236 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 871,451,928 | | | | 771,733,822 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 132,427,097 | | | | 134,592,720 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 127,640,626 | | | | 148,796,789 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 70,301,116 | | | | 91,391,852 | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 89,847,050 | | | | 134,005,151 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 34,305,464 | | | | 45,518,745 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 104,140,312 | | | | 111,077,855 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 20,210,918 | | | | 23,681,280 | |
6. Federal Income Tax
Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations that may differ from accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences are due to differing treatments for items such as net short-term gains, deferrals of wash sale losses, foreign currency transactions, net investment losses, and capital loss carryforwards.
The tax components of capital shown in the following tables represent losses or deductions the Funds may be able to offset against income and gains recognized in future years and post October loss deferrals. The accumulated losses noted represent net capital loss carryforwards as of September 30, 2009 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future taxable income distributions.
For the year ended September 30, 2009 the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards:
| | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Amounts | | | Expires | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 15,163,406 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 63,688,945 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 1,846,560 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 61,494,166 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 2,434,522 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 694,762 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 15,694,559 | | | | 2017 | |
Notes to Financial Statements 87
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
Fund | | Amounts | | | Expires | |
| |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | $ | 29,035,041 | | | | 2011 | |
| | | 21,080 | | | | 2016 | |
| | | 22,796,772 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 7,763,830 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 26,752,256 | | | | 2017 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 8,194,590 | | | | 2017 | |
Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be limited if there are substantial shareholder redemptions or contributions. During the year ended September 30, 2009 the Funds did not utilize any available capital loss carryforwards.
For the year ended September 30, 2009, the Funds will elect to defer post October losses of:
| | | | |
| | Post October
| |
Fund | | Losses | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 10,544,975 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 75,821,265 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 57,808,105 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 30,750,270 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 33,600,455 | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 22,297,733 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 3,325,869 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 16,834,456 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 4,002,222 | |
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distributions Paid From | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Net Long-
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Term Gains | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
|
ICON Energy Fund | | $ | 9,294,719 | | | $ | 126,882,028 | | | $ | 136,176,747 | | | $ | 136,176,747 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 3,381,427 | | | | - | | | | 3,381,427 | | | | 3,381,427 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 571,232 | | | | - | | | | 571,232 | | | | 571,232 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | - | | | | 9,922 | | | | 9,922 | | | | 9,922 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 860,270 | | | | - | | | | 860,270 | | | | 860,270 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 1,742,486 | | | | - | | | | 1,742,486 | | | | 1,742,486 | |
88 Notes to Financial Statements
The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid to shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distributions Paid From | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Net Long-
| | | Total Taxable
| | | Distributions
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Term Gains | | | Distributions | | | Paid | |
| |
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | - | | | $ | 5,715,433 | | | $ | 5,715,433 | | | $ | 5,715,433 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 6,480,116 | | | | 173,224,205 | | | | 179,704,321 | | | | 179,704,321 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 6,509,842 | | | | 14,570,782 | | | | 21,080,624 | | | | 21,080,624 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | - | | | | 35,443,355 | | | | 35,443,355 | | | | 35,443,355 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 1,529,774 | | | | 4,273,644 | | | | 5,803,419 | | | | 5,803,418 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 6,697,320 | | | | 202,985 | | | | 6,900,305 | | | | 6,900,305 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 17,631,775 | | | | 3,178,997 | | | | 20,810,772 | | | | 20,810,772 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 16,542,405 | | | | 60,547 | | | | 16,602,952 | | | | 16,602,952 | |
As of September 30, 2009, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total
| |
| | Undistributed
| | | | | | Accumulated
| | | Unrealized
| | | Accumulated
| |
| | Ordinary
| | | Accumulated
| | | Capital and
| | | Appreciation/
| | | Earnings/
| |
Fund | | Income | | | Earnings | | | Other Losses | | | (Depreciation)* | | | (Deficit) | |
| |
|
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 376,911 | | | $ | 376,911 | | | $ | (25,708,381 | ) | | $ | 2,040,647 | | | $ | (23,290,823 | ) |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 7,190,242 | | | | 7,190,242 | | | | (139,510,210 | ) | | | 104,977,644 | | | | (27,342,324 | ) |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 1,136,023 | | | | 1,136,023 | | | | (121,148,831 | ) | | | 21,523,295 | | | | (98,489,513 | ) |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 1,948,712 | | | | 1,948,712 | | | | (33,184,792 | ) | | | 15,449,190 | | | | (15,786,890 | ) |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 1,217,934 | | | | 1,217,934 | | | | (49,989,776 | ) | | | 1,551,066 | | | | (47,220,776 | ) |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 630,936 | | | | 630,936 | | | | (74,150,626 | ) | | | 21,019,556 | | | | (52,500,134 | ) |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 383,497 | | | | 383,497 | | | | (11,089,699 | ) | | | 2,177,011 | | | | (8,529,191 | ) |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 1,039,703 | | | | 1,039,703 | | | | (43,586,712 | ) | | | 13,356,258 | | | | (29,190,751 | ) |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 507,167 | | | | 507,167 | | | | (12,196,812 | ) | | | (372,540 | ) | | | (12,062,185 | ) |
| |
* | Differences between the book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
Notes to Financial Statements 89
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of September 30, 2009, cost for federal income tax purposes and the amount of net unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Net
| |
| | | | | Unrealized
| | | Unrealized
| | | Appreciation/
| |
Fund | | Cost | | | Appreciation | | | (Depreciation) | | | (Depreciation) | |
| |
|
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | $ | 16,315,656 | | | $ | 2,236,599 | | | $ | (195,952 | ) | | $ | 2,040,647 | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 582,338,802 | | | | 107,914,197 | | | | (2,936,553 | ) | | | 104,977,644 | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 60,673,704 | | | | 21,690,307 | | | | (167,012 | ) | | | 21,523,295 | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | 128,622,078 | | | | 18,101,992 | | | | (2,652,802 | ) | | | 15,449,190 | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 89,214,912 | | | | 8,953,266 | | | | (7,402,200 | ) | | | 1,551,066 | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | 111,753,084 | | | | 21,973,119 | | | | (953,563 | ) | | | 21,019,556 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 30,144,774 | | | | 2,985,602 | | | | (808,591 | ) | | | 2,177,011 | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 93,623,634 | | | | 15,370,964 | | | | (2,014,706 | ) | | | 13,356,258 | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 23,240,737 | | | | 1,800,269 | | | | (2,172,809 | ) | | | (372,540 | ) |
7. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through November 20, 2009, the date of this report.
90 Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of the ICON Funds:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund, ICON Energy Fund, ICON Financial Fund, ICON Healthcare Fund, ICON Industrials Fund, ICON Information Technology Fund, ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund, ICON Materials Fund, and ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund (nine of the portfolios constituting ICON Funds, hereafter referred to as the “Funds”) at September 30, 2009, and the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at September 30, 2009 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Denver, Colorado
November 20, 2009
Report of Accounting Firm 91
Six Month Hypothetical Expense Example
September 30, 2009 (unaudited)
Example
As a shareholder of a Fund you may pay two types of fees: transaction fees and fund-related fees. Certain funds charge transaction fees, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees. Funds also incur various ongoing expenses, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses, which are indirectly paid by shareholders.
This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the various ICON Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. This Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the six-month period (4/1/09-9/30/09).
Actual Expenses
The first line in the table for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. The Example includes, but is not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the Example does not include client specific fees, such as the $10 fee charged to IRA accounts, or the $15 fee charged for wire redemptions. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line for each Fund under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the table for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales
charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees that may be charged by other funds. Therefore, this information is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning
| | | Ending
| | | Expenses Paid
| | | Annualized
| |
| | Account
| | | Account
| | | During Period
| | | Expense Ratio
| |
| | Value 4/1/09 | | | Value 9/30/09 | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09* | | | 4/1/09-9/30/09 | |
| |
|
ICON Consumer Discretionary Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,408.20 | | | $ | 12.13 | | | | 2.01% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,014.92 | | | | 10.15 | | | | | |
ICON Energy Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,360.10 | | | | 7.28 | | | | 1.23% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.83 | | | | 6.22 | | | | | |
ICON Financial Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,592.00 | | | | 8.90 | | | | 1.37% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.13 | | | | 6.93 | | | | | |
ICON Healthcare Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,226.50 | | | | 7.98 | | | | 1.43% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.83 | | | | 7.23 | | | | | |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,424.10 | | | | 8.33 | | | | 1.37% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.13 | | | | 6.93 | | | | | |
ICON Information Technology Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,458.80 | | | | 8.14 | | | | 1.32% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.38 | | | | 6.68 | | | | | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,443.80 | | | | 9.31 | | | | 1.52% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,017.38 | | | | 7.69 | | | | | |
ICON Materials Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,473.60 | | | | 8.50 | | | | 1.37% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.13 | | | | 6.93 | | | | | |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual Expenses | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,141.10 | | | | 9.07 | | | | 1.69% | |
Hypothetical Example (5% return before expenses) | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,016.53 | | | | 8.54 | | | | | |
| |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s six month expense ratio annualized, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 to reflect the one-half year period. |
��
Board of Trustees and Fund Officers (unaudited)
The ICON Funds Board of Trustees (“Board”) consists of five Trustees who oversee the 17 ICON Funds (the “Funds”). The Board is responsible for general oversight of the Funds’ business and for assuring that the Funds are managed in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trustees, and their ages, and principal occupations are set forth below. The address of the Trustees is 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Trustees have no official term of office and generally serve until they resign or are not re-elected.
Interested Trustee
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of ICON Distributors, Inc. (“IDI”), the Funds’ Distributor, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of ICON Management & Research Corporation (“IM&R”), the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Independent Trustees
Glen F. Bergert, 59. Mr. Bergert has been a Trustee of the Funds since 1999. Mr. Bergert is President of Venture Capital Management LLC (1997 to present); General Partner of SOGNO Partners LP, a venture capital company (2001 to present); General Partner of Bergert Properties, LLP, a real estate holding company (1997 to present); and General Partner of Pyramid Real Estate Partnership, a real estate development company (1998 to present); General Partner of Chamois Partners, LP, a venture capital company (2004 to present); and was previously a General Partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP (1979 to 1997). Mr. Bergert is also a Director of Herre Bros, Inc., a contracting company (1998 to present) and Delta Dental of California, an insurance company (2006 to present). Mr. Bergert was a Director of Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, an insurance company (1998 to 2009) and Delta Reinsurance Corporation (2000 to 2009).
John C. Pomeroy, Jr., 62. Mr. Pomeroy has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Pomeroy is Chief Investment Officer and Director of Investments, Pennsylvania State University (2001 to present) and was
Portfolio Manager and Product Manager, Trinity Investment Management Corporation (1989 to 2001).
Gregory Kellam Scott, 60. Mr. Scott has been a Trustee of the Funds since November 2002. Mr. Scott currently is employed as a member of the Executive Staff of the President of Ivy Tech Community College, recently appointed as Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Relations (April 2008 to present). Prior to his current employment, he served as Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (2005 to 2008) and is a member of the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on the African Judiciary (2006 to present). Mr. Scott was Senior Vice President -Law, General Counsel and Secretary of GenCorp, Inc., a multinational technology-based manufacturing company (2002 to 2004); Vice President and General Counsel of Kaiser-Hill Company, LLC, a nuclear clean-up and environmental remediation company (2000 to 2002) and served as a Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court (1993 to 2000). From 1980 until 1993, he was a member of the faculty of the University Of Denver College Of Law.
R. Michael Sentel, 61. Mr. Sentel has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Mr. Sentel is a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education (1996 to present). Mr. Sentel also provides legal representation as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on corporate and transactional law. He served as general counsel to numerous public companies and served on the board of directors of one of these clients. Mr. Sentel began his legal career with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and served as a Branch Chief (1980 to 1981). Later he served as the Section Chief for the Professional Liability Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. with responsibility for the Rocky Mountain Region (1991 to 1994).
The Officers of the Funds are:
Craig T. Callahan, 58, Chairman of the Board. Dr. Callahan has been a Trustee of the Funds since their inception. Dr. Callahan also serves as President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2005 to present) and served as the Chief Investment Officer (1991 to 2004) of ICON Advisers. Dr. Callahan is also Executive Vice President (2005 to present); Director (1991 to present); and was previously President (1998 to 2005) and Chief Compliance Officer (2005) of IDI, and is President of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009). Dr. Callahan also serves as the President (1998 to present) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1994 to present) of IM&R, the parent company of ICON Advisers and IDI.
Erik L. Jonson, 60. Mr. Jonson has been a Vice President and Principal Financial Officer/Treasurer of the Funds since their inception in 1996.
Mr. Jonson is also Chief Financial Officer (1996 to present) and Executive Vice President (2004 to present) and was previously Vice President (1998 to 2004) and Secretary (2005 and 1998 to 2002) of ICON Advisers; Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director (1998 to present) of IM&R; and Executive Vice and Treasurer/Financial Principal (1996 to present) of IDI; and Executive Vice President and Treasurer of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2004 to 2009).
Jessica Seidlitz, 31. Ms. Seidlitz serves as Assistant Treasurer of the Funds (2007 to present). She also serves as Mutual Fund Controller of ICON Advisers, Inc. (2005 to present). Previously, she was a Senior Associate/Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (2001 to 2004).
Donald Salcito, 56. Mr. Salcito serves as Vice President and Secretary of the Funds since November 15, 2006. Mr. Salcito is also Executive Vice President and General Counsel (September 2005 to present) of ICON Advisers; Director of IM&R (2005 to present); Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel, for IDI (2005 to present); Chief Compliance Officer of IDI (2005 to 2007); Executive Vice President and Secretary of ICON Insurance Agency, Inc. (2005 to 2009). Previously he was a Partner in the law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP. (2000 to 2005).
Brian Harding, 30. Mr. Harding serves as Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Mr. Harding also serves as Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Funds (2008 to present). Previously he was a Manager (2007 to 2008) and Senior Associate/Associate (2001 to 2007) at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Other Information (unaudited)
Renewal of Investment Advisory Agreements
In determining to renew the investment advisory agreements between ICON Funds (the “Trust”) and ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON” or the “Adviser”) the Board requested, was provided with and reviewed data with respect to ICON, its personnel, and the services to be provided to each Fund by ICON under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 9, 1996, as amended (related to the Sector, International and Core Equity Funds) and under the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2002 and effective October 1, 2002, as amended (related to the U.S. Diversified Funds - Bond, Risk-Managed Equity, Equity Income and Long/Short Funds) (collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”). The data included information concerning advisory, distribution and administrative services provided to the Funds by ICON and its related companies; information concerning other businesses of those companies; comparative data related to exchange traded funds versus the Sector Funds; and comparative data obtained from Lipper Analytical Services related to Fund performance and Fund expenses.
On August 10, 2009, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Trustees that are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), approved continuation of the Advisory Agreements with the Adviser for each Fund for an additional one-year term commencing October 1, 2009.
The Independent Trustees were represented by independent legal counsel throughout the process. Prior to acting on the matter, the Independent Trustees met separately as a group in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss the foregoing information. Based on these discussions, independent legal counsel and/or the Lead Independent Trustee also contacted management to request additional information and to discuss responses to questions raised during the process. In addition, the Independent Trustees received materials from their independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards applicable to their consideration of the agreement.
In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, the Board reviewed information relating to ICON’s operations and personnel. Among other things, the Adviser provided biographical information on its professional staff and descriptions of its organizational and management structure. In the course of their deliberations the Board evaluated, among other things, information relating to the investment philosophy, strategies and techniques used in managing each Fund, the qualifications and experience of ICON’s investment personnel, ICON’s compliance programs, ICON’s brokerage practices, including the extent to
which the Adviser obtains research through “soft dollar” arrangements with the Funds’ brokerage, and the financial and non-financial resources available to provide services required under the Advisory Agreement.
During the Board of Trustees’ discussion, management personnel noted that the markets overall had performed poorly in 2008 and the beginning of 2009 and that the ICON Funds performed poorly as well. In this regard it was noted that late 2008 Board meetings the Adviser advised that it was concerned with the poor performance and began an internal analysis to determine the cause. Management advised that, in light of the analysis, it believes that the Adviser’s valuation equation was over valuing riskier stocks due to several factors - including, but not limited to, the extreme events of 2008, the industry wide undervaluing of risk, and the increase in the number of stocks in the Adviser’s investable universe; and that, in light of such, the Adviser made modifications to the risk valuation metrics of the valuation equation - namely that the Adviser modified the equation so that the valuation equation now takes into account an additional item of information on each individual company. The Trustees recalled that during the entire process, Management kept the Trustees informed, updating the Trustees on the status of the internal analysis and the changes to the valuation equation as the changes were being implemented. In addition, in response to Trustee questions, the Adviser advised that it has monitored Fund performance after implementation of the modification and found significant improvement; and that it believes this adjustment has improved the valuation equation and will benefit the Funds going forward. In reaching their conclusions, the Trustees noted that they have taken into consideration the poor overall market performance, the Funds’ performance, and the Adviser’s response, analysis and changes to the valuation equation.
In connection with reviewing data bearing upon the nature, quality, and extent of services furnished by ICON to each Fund, the Board assessed data concerning ICON’s staffing, systems and facilities. The Board also assessed ICON’s non-Trust business to see if there are any initiatives that would dilute service to the Trust. It was noted:
A. That the breadth and the quality of investment advisory and other services being provided to each Fund is satisfactory, as evidenced in part by efforts to address and improve the performance record of each Fund when compared with the performance records of a peer group of comparable funds and markets in general;
B. That ICON has made significant expenditures in the past year and in prior years to ensure that it has the sophisticated systems and the highly trained personnel necessary for it to be able to continue to provide
quality service to the Funds’ shareholders, including the dedication of substantial resources to ICON’s investment and trading departments;
C. That the Board is satisfied with the research, portfolio management, and trading services, among others, being provided by ICON to the Funds, and is charging fair, reasonable, and competitive fees; and
D. The risks assumed by ICON in providing investment advisory services to each Fund including the capital commitments which have been made in the past and which continue to be made by ICON to ensure the continuation of the highest quality of service to the Trust is made with the recognition that the Trust’s advisory relationship with ICON be terminated at any time and must be renewed on an annual basis.
In considering the reasonableness of the fee payable to the Adviser for managing each Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, financial statements of the Adviser and an analysis of the profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates of their relationship with each Fund over various time periods, which analysis identified all revenues and other benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from managing each Fund, the costs associated with providing such services and the resulting profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates.
The Board considered the current and anticipated asset levels of each Fund and the willingness of the Adviser to waive fees and pay expenses of the Funds from time to time to limit the total expenses of the Funds. In this regard the Board discussed significantly reduced asset levels in each fund covered by the Advisory Agreements due to the tumultuous markets during the past year, to related poor Fund performance, and to redemptions. ICON’s ability to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements was assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. Fund expenses and expense ratios were also assessed in light of current and projected asset levels. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the resources necessary to provide the services called for under the Advisory Agreements; that profitability to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Funds is not excessive; and that the Adviser is not realizing material benefits from economies of scale that would warrant adjustments to the fees for any Fund at this time. The Board of Trustees concluded that, in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and the levels of profitability associated with providing these services, the fees charged by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements to each Fund are reasonable.
In connection with assessing data bearing the fairness of fee arrangements, the Board used data from Lipper Analytical Services concerning funds of
similar size and funds of larger size, as well as data concerning ICON’s other clients and noted:
A. the advisory fee structures of the Funds were considered in comparison with advisory fees and expense ratios of other similarly managed funds as set forth in the comparative data;
B. that contractual advisory fees of the Sector Funds were higher than fees for similar funds; but that the Sector Funds’ expense ratios were competitive and consistent with those of similarly managed Funds;
C. that contractual advisory fees for the International Funds were above the average fees for similar funds; and that the Funds’ expense ratios were competitive in light of their size;
D. that ICON has contractually agreed to impose expense limitations on certain Funds at a cost to ICON;
E. that the advisory and other fees payable by the Funds to ICON are essentially fees which would be similar to those which would have resulted solely from “arm’s-length” bargaining, and may well be lower than fees arrived at solely from such arm’s-length negotiation;
F. that, the fees paid to ICON for managing other institutional accounts (such as pension plans) are not lower than the fees paid by similarly-managed funds; and to the extent such fees of those accounts are lower, the reasons why such accounts are less costly for ICON to manage; and
G. that ICON has contractually commited to breakpointas in it fees so that economies of scale could be realized as a Fund grows in assets, for the benefit of Fund shareholders.
In connection with the direct and indirect benefits to ICON from serving as the Funds’ adviser, the Board discussed and noted:
A. that ICON benefits from serving directly or through affiliates as the principal underwriter and administrative agent for the Funds; that services provided by ICON and its affiliates to the Funds are satisfactory, and that profits derived from providing the services are competitive and reasonable; and
B. that ICON receives research assistance from the use of soft dollars generated from Fund portfolio transactions; that such research assists ICON in providing quality to which it provides advisory services; and that the Board concluded that the arrangements are consistent with Fund brokerage practices and benefit the Funds and their shareholders
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders, the services to be performed under the agreement were services required for the operation of the Funds, ICON had provided satisfactory advisory services to the Funds in the past, and the fees for the advisory services which ICON would perform and other benefits from the relationship with the Trust and consistent with fees paid by similar funds, are reasonable in light of the comparative data, and would be within the range of what would have been negotiated at arm’s length in light of the circumstances.
Supplemental Tax Information
For corporate shareholders, the following percentage of the total ordinary income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, qualifies for the corporate dividends received deduction for the following Funds:
| | | | |
| | Dividends
| |
| | Received
| |
Fund | | Deduction | |
| |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 55.68 | % |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 100.00 | % |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 87.64 | % |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 88.95 | % |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 100.00 | % |
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the following Funds paid qualified dividend income:
| | | | |
Fund | | Amount | |
| |
ICON Energy Fund | | | 53.04 | % |
ICON Financial Fund | | | 100.00 | % |
ICON Industrials Fund | | | 85.62 | % |
ICON Materials Fund | | | 89.90 | % |
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund | | | 100.00 | % |
The Funds designate the following amounts, or the maximum amount needed, as long-term capital gain distributions qualifying for the maximum 15% income tax rate for individuals:
| | | | |
Fund | | Amount | |
| |
ICON Energy Fund | | $ | 126,882,028 | |
ICON Leisure and Consumer Staples Fund | | | 9,922 | |
Portfolio Holdings
A list of each ICON Fund’s Top 10 holdings is available at www.iconfunds.com on or about 15 days following each month- end. Each ICON Fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The ICON Funds’ Forms N-Q are available at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
A summarized description of the policies and procedures the ICON Funds use to vote proxies is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442.
Information about how the ICON Funds voted proxies related to each Fund’s portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available free of charge at www.iconfunds.com or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
For More Information
This report is for the general information of the Funds’ shareholders and is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the prospectus, which contains information about the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and share classes of each ICON Fund, by visiting www.iconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-764-0442. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
ICON Distributors, Inc., Distributor.
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
(This page intentionally left blank)
ICON Funds Privacy Policy
In the course of doing business with the ICON Funds, ICON Advisers, Inc., and ICON Distributors, Inc. (collectively “ICON Companies”) you provide personal and financial information. The ICON Companies respect your privacy. We collect non-public personal information about you on your applications or other forms and through your transactions with us. You may provide this information in writing, electronically, or by phone. The information may contain your name, address, phone number, social security number, account information, investment activity, and other information that you provide to us directly or through our service providers. This information permits us to service your accounts and to provide information to you upon request.
We may share some or all of this information with our affiliates, as well as third parties that assist us in maintaining your accounts, processing transactions on your accounts, or mailing information to you as may be permitted by law. Further, we may permit third party vendors to download this information as needed, in order to assist us or your Registered Representative/Financial Adviser in maintaining your account. Otherwise, our policies prohibit employees of the ICON Companies from sharing your personal and financial information except as permitted or required by law. Under no circumstances do we sell information about you to anyone.
We restrict access to your non-public personal information to those employees who have a need to know that information to service your accounts. We also maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your privacy. Contracts with our service providers require them to restrict access to your non-public personal information, and to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards against unintended disclosure.
If you would like more information about our Privacy Policies, please call 1-800-764-0442.
109 ICON Funds Privacy Policy
| | |
|
For more information about the ICON Funds, contact us: |
| | |
By Telephone | | 1-800-764-0442 |
| | |
By Mail | | ICON Funds P.O. Box 55452 Boston, MA 02205-8165 |
| | |
In Person | | ICON Funds 5299 DTC Boulevard, 12th Floor Greenwood Village, CO 80111 |
| | |
On the Internet | | www.iconfunds.com |
| | |
By E-Mail | | info@iconadvisers.com |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics is included as an Exhibit.
(b) During the period covered by the report, with respect to the registrant’s code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions; there have been no amendments to, nor any waivers granted from, a provision that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item 2.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
3(a)(1) The registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
3(a)(2) The audit committee financial experts are Glen F. Bergert, Gregory Kellam Scott and R. Michael Sentel, who are “independent” for purposes of this Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Fiscal year ended 9/30/09
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Registrant | | Covered Entities 1 |
(a) | | Audit Fees 2 | | $ | 310,400 | | | | N/A | |
(b) | | Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 101,700 | | | $ | 12,500 | |
(c) | | Tax Fees 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | All Other Fees 4 | | | 10,700 | | | | N/A | |
(d) | | Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 112,400 | | | $ | 12,500 | |
Fiscal year ended 9/30/08
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Registrant | | Covered Entities 1 |
(a) | | Audit Fees 2 | | $ | 365,650 | | | | N/A | |
(b) | | Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 113,650 | | | $ | 45,000 | |
(c) | | Tax Fees 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | All Other Fees 4 | | | N/A | | | | N/A | |
(d) | | Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 113,650 | | | $ | 45,000 | |
| | |
1. | | Covered Entities include ICON Advisers, Inc. (“ICON Advisers”), investment adviser and administrator to the Registrant, as well as ICON Advisers’ affiliated entities. |
|
2. | | “Audit Fees” represents fees for performing an audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the independent accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. |
|
3. | | “Tax Fees” represent fees for tax return preparation, excise distribution calculations, quarterly tax compliance reviews, and tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Registrant’s tax returns. ICON Advisers pays $1,000 under its Administration Agreement with the Registrant. |
|
4. | | “All Other Fees” paid by the Registrant in fiscal year 2009 were related to multi-class issues. |
(e) (1) Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(2) Disclose the percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) If greater than 50 percent, disclose the percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
(g) Disclose the aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant.
(h) Disclose whether the registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of nonaudit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
| (a) | | If the registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.10A-3), state whether or not the registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)). If the registrant has such a committee, however designated, identify each committee member. If the entire board of directors is acting as the registrant’s audit committee as specified in Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(B)), so state. |
|
| (b) | | If applicable, provide the disclosure required by Rule 10A-3(d) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.10A-3(d)) regarding an exemption from the listing standards for all audit committees. |
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures are adequately designed and are operating effectively to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
(b)There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Not applicable — Only effective for annual reports.
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) are attached hereto.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) are furnished herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | |
(Registrant)ICON Funds | |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Craig T. Callahan | |
| Craig T. Callahan, | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Date December 2, 2009
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Craig T. Callahan | |
| Craig T. Callahan, | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Date December 2, 2009
| | | | |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Erik L. Jonson | |
| Erik L. Jonson, | |
| Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |
Date December 2, 2009
| | |
* | | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |