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 811-4946
THOMPSON PLUMB FUNDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
1200 John Q. Hammons Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53717
(Address of principal executive offices)--(Zip code)
John W. Thompson, Chairman
Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc.
1200 John Q. Hammons Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53717
(Name and address of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Fredrick G. Lautz, Esq.
Quarles & Brady LLP
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (608) 827-5700
Date of fiscal year end: November 30, 2008
Date of reporting period: November 30, 2008
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Report to Stockholders.
 | 
Annual Report
Thompson Plumb Growth Fund Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund Thompson Plumb Bond Fund
Telephone: 1-800-999-0887
___________________________________________ |
THOMPSON PLUMB FUNDS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The matters discussed in this report may constitute forward-looking statements. These include any advisor or portfolio manager predictions, assessments, analyses or outlooks for individual securities, industries, investment styles, market sectors, interest rates, economic trends and/or markets. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. In addition to the general risks described for each Fund in its current Prospectus, other factors bearing on these reports include the accuracy of the advisor’s or portfolio manager’s forecasts and predictions, the appropriateness of the investment strategies designed by the advisor or portfolio manager and the ability of the advisor or portfolio manager to implement its strategies efficiently and successfully. Any one or more of these factors, as well as other risks affecting the securities markets generally, could cause the actual results of any Fund to differ materially as compared to its benchmarks.
2
THOMPSON PLUMB FUNDS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
November 30, 2008
CONTENTS
| Page(s) | ||
| LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS | 4-5 | |
| GROWTH FUND | ||
| Investment review | 6-8 | |
| Schedule of investments | 9-12 | |
| MIDCAP FUND | ||
| Investment review | 13-15 | |
| Schedule of investments | 16-19 | |
| BOND FUND | ||
| Investment review | 20-22 | |
| Schedule of investments | 23-27 | |
| FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES | 28 | |
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||
| Statements of assets and liabilities | 29 | |
| Statements of operations | 30 | |
| Statements of changes in net assets | 31 | |
| Statement of cash flows | 32 | |
| Notes to financial statements | 33-38 | |
| Financial highlights | 39-41 | |
| REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 42 | |
| DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 43-44 | |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 45-47 | |
This report contains information for existing shareholders of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. It
does not constitute an offer to sell. This annual report is authorized for distribution to prospective investors
only when preceded or accompanied by a Fund Prospectus, which contains information about
the Funds’ objectives and policies, risks, management, expenses and other information.
A Prospectus can be obtained by calling 1-800-999-0887.
Please read your Prospectus carefully.
3
| LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited) |
| December 2008 |
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
By many accounts, we have just experienced the worst annual performance in equity markets in recorded history and, if it continues, the worst calendar decade of stock market performance. This is surely not news to you. Homeowners have been defaulting in record numbers, many large financial institutions have failed or would have without government assistance, a large number of industrial companies are failing or are near failure, retailers (except for Wal-Mart) are struggling and a significant slice of that industry is expected to close its doors, and many smaller companies are struggling to arrange financing to keep their operations running. Why is the economy in this dire situation and what will make it heal?
We believe that the root cause of the problem in the economy is too much debt: consumer, corporate (especially leveraged buyouts), state and local government, and federal debt all spiraled higher over the last 20+ years but really accelerated since 9/11. Debt levels increased in each sector listed above in relation to the size of the economy. In fact, we see this problem as having been brewing since 1980, and that once the total debt load reached a tipping point, which is only known with hindsight as to the timing or level, the repercussions became severe. The economy can only support so much debt, just as an individual can only support a certain amount before interest bills exceed their ability to repay it. Unfortunately, the U.S. and the developed world reached that point.
Once the world economy, saddled with too much debt, began to experience a recession, a chain of events unfolded that were last seen in the 1930’s. House prices began to fall as banks who repossessed them needed to sell them at auction, auto demand fell as confidence slipped, unemployment rose as there was less consumer spending, and prices for goods and services began to fall. The result of this can be deflation, which we may be experiencing today. Deflation, combined with too much debt, is historically a toxic mixture for economic activity and financial markets. We could be witnessing the fallout of just such a scenario today.
Most importantly, what will cause the market to bottom and begin to improve? At the darkest hour, which we believe is here, it is difficult to see any hope, especially when the economy looks terrible, bad news abounds, and confidence is shaken, if not broken. The key to making this decision is to look at history. What happened in the Great Depression, what is different today, and what will get us out of this mess we find ourselves in?
The Great Depression is the last time that the world economy experienced a debt-induced deflationary spiral. A famous economist named Irving Fisher from Yale became known for uttering the regrettable words in September of 1929 that “stock prices had reached a permanently high plateau”. The next month began the great stock market crash. In this period, Mr. Fisher lost a fortune estimated at $6-10 million. He remained a professor at Yale and in 1933 wrote a paper entitled “The Debt-Deflation Theory of Great Depressions” to explain what had happened. Many of his observations between that period and today are similar, i.e. falling prices, falling corporate earnings, rising unemployment, failing financial institutions, etc.
There are many important differences with the structure and makeup of the modern economy that differ from that of the Great Depression era. Today, we have the consistent payout of social security, which roughly 27% of U.S. households are receiving monthly. We have FDIC insurance on banks, compared to the total loss of deposits in failing banks in the Depression. The government is a much larger share of the economy at 20% vs. less than 5% in the Depression. The health care sector is 16% of the economy today vs. 3% in the 1930’s. Further, we have federal pension guarantees for those receiving them and we have unemployment compensation, which did not exist in the early 1930’s.
In Irving Fisher’s 1933 paper, he concluded that there are two possible outcomes to a debt-deflationary spiral: mass bankruptcies, which leads to 20+% unemployment, or reflation. He argued that the Federal Reserve “might just as well apply reflation in the first place” as they will need to use this tool to end the ensuing Depression anyhow.
4
| LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited) (Continued) |
| December 2008 |
What gives us confidence to remain in the stock and bond markets today? On November 25, 2008, the Federal Reserve began a policy of “quantitative easing” or, using the old description, it has begun printing money. This is the beginning of the “reflation” that Mr. Fisher was referring to. The Federal Reserve has decided to purchase $600 billion of mortgage-related securities and $200 billion of asset-backed securities with money created out of thin air. This is a huge quantity of money creation. In fact, if there are approximately 3 million homes that are “excess inventory”, this would be enough money to buy them all ($200,000 median home value times 3 million). The U.S. Federal Reserve is embarking on a major policy shift that hopes to combat and defeat deflation, which is the enemy of our current predicament.
We were confident that once the Federal Reserve realized the risk of a deflationary spiral, they would begin printing money. It took longer and produced significantly more pain than we expected but it has finally arrived. We believe that this is a sea change for the markets and, eventually, the economy. From this level, it is our opinion that the “winners” may be those who own equities and, to some degree, depressed corporate debt instruments. We are hopeful that the actions taken by the Federal Reserve on November 25, 2008 will begin healing the economic wounds.
John W. Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Opinions expressed are subject to change, are not guaranteed and should not be considered investment advice.
Fund holdings are subject to change and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. For a complete list of Fund holdings, please see the Schedules of Investments in this report.
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.
The Thompson Plumb Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC (1/09).
5
| GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT REVIEW (Unaudited) |
| November 30, 2008 |
Portfolio Managers
John C. Thompson, CFA
John W. Thompson, CFA
Performance
The Thompson Plumb Growth Fund produced a total return of -49.29% for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, as compared to its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, which returned - -38.09%.
Comparison of Change in Value of a Hypothetical $10,000 Investment
| Average Annual Total Returns | ||||||||||||
| Through 11/30/08 | ||||||||||||
| 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | |||||||||
| Thompson Plumb Growth Fund | -49.29 | % | -18.38 | % | -9.65 | % | -0.20 | % | ||||
| S&P 500 Index | -38.09 | % | -8.68 | % | -1.39 | % | -0.93 | % | ||||
Expense Ratio as of 3/31/08 was 1.13%.
Performance data quoted represents past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained by calling 1-800-999-0887 or visiting www.thompsonplumb.com.
Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distributions. Investment performance reflects all fee waivers that may be in effect. In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced. The performance information reflected in the graph and the table above does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares, nor does it imply future performance. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index commonly used to measure the performance of U.S. stocks. You cannot directly invest in an index.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
6
| GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT REVIEW (Unaudited) (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
Management Commentary
Over the course of the 2008 fiscal year, the Fund’s overweighted position in financial services detracted from its performance. We did not foresee many of the events that unfolded throughout the year, especially the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. The Lehman failure appears to have caused a panic that led to a virtual shutdown of the credit markets, and this shutdown contributed to significant losses for nearly all financial firms. As of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year, the Fund is weighted basically in line with the market with respect to financial services companies.
Historically, financial services companies have tended to lead the market in both directions, and these companies could prove to be a leading group in any recovery. However, we believe that the financial markets are still sorting out many issues, including issues related to commercial real estate, leveraged buyout loans that are defaulting at an alarming pace, and the potential failure of many weak corporations as a result of the economic recession. We are awaiting the emergence of what we perceive to be a bottom before overweighting in financials again.
At September 30, 2008 our main overweight positions included consumer staples such as Coca-Cola and Walgreens, media stocks like Viacom and Time Warner, and technology firms, including Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco Systems. Our rationale for overweighting in all three of these sectors is that they are selling at their lowest P/E multiples in 20 or more years, yet still, we believe, have the potential to perform better, fundamentally, than will much of the S&P 500 Index.
The Fund is underweight in the sectors that have been the “hottest” over the last five years: energy, materials, and industrials. Our thinking has been that the slowing or reduction in spending by the average U.S. consumer could have a negative impact on the Chinese economy, which has been a main driver of these sectors. China reported a 2% drop in exports during November 2008, the first drop experienced by China in many, many years. This theme appears to us to be playing out as we anticipated, and we predict that these sectors are beginning a period of dramatic underperformance. In our experience, sectors that performed best during one bull market rarely lead the next one. Indeed, many of the stocks in these once-hot sectors have already fallen dramatically, and we believe technology spending, not spending in any of these sectors, will lead the next capital equipment cycle. As a result, we prefer to overweight in the technology sector instead, as it has been a decade since the last boom in technology spending.
Also, we are underweight telecommunications companies, as we see the companies battling cable providers and wireless companies in their base land-line business. Despite AT&T and Verizon owning what are reputed to be the best wireless networks in the industry, their legacy business appears to be offsetting the benefits of any growth in wireless. Once this legacy land-line business becomes a smaller part of their business, we will reconsider our position.
Again, the markets have been extraordinarily difficult, but we believe that the recent Federal Reserve actions will begin the recovery. We appreciate your continued investment with our firm and look forward to better days ahead.
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.
Small-capitalization companies tend to have limited liquidity and greater price volatility than large-capitalization companies.
P/E Ratio: A valuation ratio of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings. Divide market value of a share by the earnings per share.
Please refer to the Schedule of Investments on page 9 of this report for holdings information. The management commentary above as well as Fund holdings and asset/sector allocations should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. In addition, please note that Fund holdings and asset/sector allocations are subject to change.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
7
| GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT REVIEW (Unaudited) (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
 | Top 10 Equity Holdings at 11/30/08 | |||
| % of Fund’s | ||||
| Company | Industry | Net Assets | ||
| The Coca-Cola Co. | Beverages | 5.09% | ||
| Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | Food & Staples Retailing | 4.41% | ||
| Microsoft Corp. | Software | 4.25% | ||
| Sysco Corp. | Food & Staples Retailing | 4.16% | ||
| Intel Corp. | Semiconductors & | 4.07% | ||
| Semiconductor | ||||
| Equipment | ||||
| Walgreen Co. | Food & Staples Retailing | 3.81% | ||
| Time Warner Inc. | Media | 3.76% | ||
| Viacom Inc. Class B | Media | 3.73% | ||
| State Street Corp. | Capital Markets | 2.95% | ||
| BP plc ADR | Oil, Gas & Consumable | 2.86% | ||
| Fuels | ||||
| As of November 30, 2008, 100.1% of the Fund’s net assets were in equity, cash and short-term instruments. | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
8
| GROWTH FUND SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| COMMON STOCKS - 99.8% | ||||
| Consumer Discretionary - 16.5% | ||||
| Media - 12.6% | ||||
| CBS Corp. Class B | 131,400 | $ | 875,124 | |
| Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Class A (a) | 212,200 | 1,553,304 | ||
| The McGraw-Hill Cos. | 118,250 | 2,956,250 | ||
| The Walt Disney Co. | 64,450 | 1,451,414 | ||
| Time Warner Inc. | 555,650 | 5,028,632 | ||
| Viacom Inc. Class B (a) | 313,775 | 4,995,298 | ||
| 16,860,022 | ||||
| Multiline Retail - 2.1% | ||||
| Kohl’s Corp. (a) | 84,500 | 2,759,770 | ||
| Specialty Retail - 1.8% | ||||
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 22,300 | 431,059 | ||
| Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (a) | 65,600 | 1,331,024 | ||
| Office Depot, Inc. (a) | 302,650 | 596,220 | ||
| 2,358,303 | ||||
| Consumer Staples - 22.7% | ||||
| Beverages - 7.9% | ||||
| PepsiCo, Inc. | 67,250 | 3,813,075 | ||
| The Coca-Cola Co. | 145,350 | 6,812,554 | ||
| 10,625,629 | ||||
| Food & Staples Retailing - 12.4% | ||||
| Sysco Corp. | 237,250 | 5,563,512 | ||
| Walgreen Co. | 206,300 | 5,103,862 | ||
| Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 105,600 | 5,900,928 | ||
| 16,568,302 | ||||
| Household Products - 1.8% | ||||
| The Procter & Gamble Co. | 38,550 | 2,480,692 | ||
| Personal Products - 0.6% | ||||
| Bare Escentuals, Inc. (a) | 170,800 | 806,176 | ||
| Energy - 4.9% | ||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 4.9% | ||||
| BP plc ADR | 78,700 | 3,831,903 | ||
| ConocoPhillips | 40,900 | 2,148,068 | ||
| Swift Energy Co. (a) | 25,500 | 544,935 | ||
| 6,524,906 | ||||
| Financials - 13.6% | ||||
| Capital Markets - 6.4% | ||||
| Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 60,600 | 1,830,726 | ||
| Morgan Stanley | 191,100 | 2,818,725 | ||
| State Street Corp. | 93,625 | 3,942,549 | ||
| 8,592,000 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
9
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| Commercial Banks - 2.5% | ||||
| Fifth Third Bancorp | 236,417 | $ | 2,260,147 | |
| Marshall & Ilsley Corp. | 8,900 | 137,505 | ||
| National City Corp. | 465,500 | 935,655 | ||
| 3,333,307 | ||||
| Consumer Finance - 0.6% | ||||
| American Express Co. | 9,900 | 230,769 | ||
| SLM Corp. (a) | 68,700 | 632,727 | ||
| 863,496 | ||||
| Diversified Financial Services - 2.7% | ||||
| CIT Group, Inc. | 612,800 | 2,046,752 | ||
| Citigroup, Inc. | 191,900 | 1,590,851 | ||
| 3,637,603 | ||||
| Insurance - 1.4% | ||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B (a) | 450 | 1,574,550 | ||
| The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | 33,500 | 283,075 | ||
| 1,857,625 | ||||
| Health Care - 12.3% | ||||
| Biotechnology - 2.6% | ||||
| Amgen Inc. (a) | 62,600 | 3,476,804 | ||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 4.0% | ||||
| Boston Scientific Corp. (a) | 56,550 | 348,913 | ||
| Medtronic, Inc. | 114,950 | 3,508,274 | ||
| ResMed Inc. (a) | 13,100 | 476,054 | ||
| TomoTherapy Inc. (a) | 429,850 | 992,954 | ||
| 5,326,195 | ||||
| Health Care Providers & Services - 3.2% | ||||
| Cardinal Health, Inc. | 108,950 | 3,543,054 | ||
| Patterson Cos., Inc. (a) | 43,200 | 813,024 | ||
| 4,356,078 | ||||
| Health Care Technology - 2.5% | ||||
| IMS Health Inc. | 258,100 | 3,394,015 | ||
| Industrials - 5.0% | ||||
| Aerospace & Defense - 1.2% | ||||
| The Boeing Co. | 36,300 | 1,547,469 | ||
| Commercial Services & Supplies - 2.0% | ||||
| Cintas Corp. | 110,300 | 2,649,406 | ||
| Industrial Conglomerates - 1.8% | ||||
| General Electric Co. | 112,850 | 1,937,635 | ||
| Tyco International Ltd. | 20,350 | 425,315 | ||
| 2,362,950 | ||||
| Information Technology - 24.8% | ||||
| Communications Equipment - 3.5% | ||||
| Cisco Systems, Inc. (a) | 214,115 | 3,541,462 | ||
| QUALCOMM Inc. | 34,400 | 1,154,808 | ||
| 4,696,270 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
10
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| Computers & Peripherals - 1.3% | ||||
| EMC Corp. (a) | 170,200 | $ | 1,799,014 | |
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components - 0.5% | ||||
| Flextronics International Ltd. (a) | 274,170 | 641,558 | ||
| Internet Software & Services - 2.5% | ||||
| eBay Inc. (a) | 257,155 | 3,376,445 | ||
| IT Services - 2.3% | ||||
| Fiserv, Inc. (a) | 65,610 | 2,239,925 | ||
| Western Union Co. | 59,400 | 788,238 | ||
| 3,028,163 | ||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 10.1% | ||||
| Altera Corp. | 72,350 | 1,064,269 | ||
| Intel Corp. | 395,040 | 5,451,552 | ||
| Linear Technology Corp. | 113,470 | 2,263,727 | ||
| Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | 281,180 | 3,478,197 | ||
| Xilinx, Inc. | 75,525 | 1,235,589 | ||
| 13,493,334 | ||||
| Software - 4.6% | ||||
| Microsoft Corp. | 281,076 | 5,683,357 | ||
| Oracle Corp. (a) | 28,890 | 464,840 | ||
| 6,148,197 | ||||
| TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST $195,096,664) | 133,563,729 | |||
| CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS - 0.3% | ||||
| Financials - 0.3% | ||||
| Commercial Banks - 0.3% | ||||
| Fifth Third Bancorp Cvt. 8.500% Series G | 5,000 | 434,950 | ||
| TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (COST $500,000) | 434,950 | |||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
11
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | ||||||
| Amount | Value | |||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 0.0% | ||||||
| Variable-Rate Demand Notes - 0.0% | ||||||
| Wisconsin Central Credit Union, 1.106% | $ | 713 | $ | 713 | ||
| Total Variable-Rate Demand Notes | 713 | |||||
| TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (COST $713) | 713 | |||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 100.1% (COST $195,597,377) | 133,999,392 | |||||
| NET OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - (0.1%) | (127,175 | ) | ||||
| NET ASSETS - 100.0% | $ | 133,872,217 | ||||
| (a) Non-income producing security. | ||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12
| November 30, 2008 |
Portfolio Managers
James T. Evans, CFA
Jason L. Stephens, CFA
John W. Thompson, CFA
Performance
The Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund declined 38.20% from its inception date of March 31, 2008 through the November 30 fiscal year-end. This compares to the 37.64% decline in the return of its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Index, over the same period.
Comparison of Change in Value of a Hypothetical $10,000 Investment
| Total Returns | |
| Through 11/30/08 | |
| Since | |
| Inception | |
| (03/31/08) | |
| Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund | -38.20% |
| Russell Midcap Index | -37.64% |
Gross Expense Ratio as of 3/31/08 was 2.10% .*
Net Expense Ratio after reimbursement was 1.30% .*
* Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2008. Actual expenses may vary from those indicated. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses incurred by the MidCap Fund from March 31, 2008 through March 31, 2009.
Performance data quoted represents past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained by calling 1-800-999-0887 or visiting www.thompsonplumb.com.
Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distributions. Investment performance reflects all fee waivers that may be in effect. In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced. The performance information reflected in the graph and the table above does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares, nor does it imply future performance. The Russell Midcap Index measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index based on total market capitalization. You cannot directly invest in an index.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
13
| November 30, 2008 |
Management Commentary
Though the MidCap Fund’s performance from its inception to November 30 was very similar to that of its benchmark over that 8-month period, it has diverged more significantly from the benchmark at different times within this period. Our performance analysis suggests that we added the most value relative to the benchmark in our selection of securities in the materials, financial and energy sectors. However, this was offset by unfavorable selection of consumer discretionary stocks and by our underweighting of utilities – the best performing sector since the inception of the Fund.
In the first three months of the Fund’s existence, it underperformed the Russell Midcap Index by 4.17%. This was due in part to unfavorable security selection in the materials sector, but was mostly the result of the Fund’s underweighting of the energy sector relative to its benchmark. We believed at that time that oil and many other commodities were substantially overpriced, and attempted to provide some insulation for the Fund from their subsequent decline. Unfortunately, energy prices continued to increase during that period to even higher levels. As a result the sector performed better than we had anticipated during the first quarter of the Fund’s existence.
Since then, however, this phenomenon has largely reversed, and the Fund’s underweighting in this sector has aided its performance. We are pleased that the lower average P/E ratio and faster average earnings growth rate for securities held by the MidCap Fund compared to its index helped produce positive relative performance since the quarter ended June 30, and that the Fund has largely erased the relative performance deficit created in its first three months. This above-average relative performance was broad-based, with 6 of the 10 sectors contributing. Overall sector selection accounted for roughly one-third of the Fund’s relative over-performance, while individual security selection accounted for the other two-thirds of the relative gain. We are encouraged by the breadth of sectors and securities that contributed to this positive relative performance because we believe that such performance tends to be more sustainable over time than is performance generated by a single outstanding “home run.”
However, as pleased as we have been by our recent relative performance, the goal of the Fund remains to generate positive performance both in relative and absolute terms. To that end, we see the current market environment and potentially severe economic recession as difficult obstacles to overcome. At the worst point in a market decline, it becomes much easier to articulate the problems in the economy because they have been largely exposed. At the same time, the reasons for an economic recovery or improvement in the markets can often be difficult to see. We all have our suspicions, but no one really knows what specifically will cause the economy to regain its health. Despite this uncertainty, we do anticipate that the credit markets will eventually heal and that the economy will indeed grow again. The challenge comes in predicting the timing, and determining an effective strategy in the interim.
Most significant to long-term investors may be the fact that the overall Midcap benchmark is trading at its lowest valuation level in many years, and that markets have historically tended to provide attractive returns to investors after extended periods of poor performance. According to market researcher The Leuthold Group, since 1926, at times when 10-year annual total returns in U.S. equities have fallen to 1% or less – as they have today– the next ten years have produced an average cumulative return of 183%. The lowest subsequent ten-year return on record is 101%. This analysis includes market returns during the Great Depression. While these figures are historical and do not indicate how the markets will perform in the future, and while the exact market bottom is unknown, we are optimistic that these two significant factors could create an attractive absolute return for Fund shareholders in the long run.
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.
Midcap companies tend to have limited liquidity and greater volatility than large capitalization companies.
P/E Ratio: A valuation ratio of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings. Divide market value of a share by the earnings per share.
Please refer to the Schedule of Investments on page 16 of this report for holdings information. The management commentary above as well as Fund holdings and asset/sector allocations should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. In addition, please note that Fund holdings and asset/sector allocations are subject to change.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
| November 30, 2008 |
 | Top 10 Equity Holdings at 11/30/08 | |||
| % of Fund’s | ||||
| Company | Industry | Net Assets | ||
| Eaton Vance Corp. | Capital Markets | 2.37% | ||
| Discover Financial Services | Consumer Finance | 2.36% | ||
| Bare Escentuals, Inc. | Personal Products | 2.36% | ||
| EnergySolutions, Inc. | Commercial Services & | 2.30% | ||
| Supplies | ||||
| The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. | Chemicals | 2.28% | ||
| Class A | ||||
| Coach, Inc. | Textiles, Apparel & Luxury | 2.24% | ||
| Goods | ||||
| Associated Banc-Corp | Commercial Banks | 2.15% | ||
| IMS Health Inc. | Health Care Technology | 2.13% | ||
| ResMed Inc. | Health Care Equipment & | 2.10% | ||
| Supplies | ||||
| Torchmark Corp. | Insurance | 2.06% | ||
| As of November 30, 2008, 99.9% of the Fund’s net assets were in equity, cash and short-term instruments. | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
15
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| COMMON STOCKS - 99.9% | ||||
| Consumer Discretionary - 16.1% | ||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 1.6% | ||||
| Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 2,046 | $ | 37,421 | |
| Media - 3.3% | ||||
| CBS Corp. Class B | 2,705 | 18,015 | ||
| Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (a) | 6,306 | 40,800 | ||
| Viacom Inc. Class B (a) | 1,065 | 16,955 | ||
| 75,770 | ||||
| Multiline Retail - 1.8% | ||||
| Nordstrom, Inc. | 3,578 | 40,682 | ||
| Specialty Retail - 5.2% | ||||
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 2,308 | 44,614 | ||
| Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (a) | 1,680 | 34,087 | ||
| Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. (a) | 1,102 | 21,544 | ||
| Office Depot, Inc. (a) | 9,879 | 19,462 | ||
| 119,707 | ||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods - 4.2% | ||||
| Coach, Inc. (a) | 2,883 | 51,606 | ||
| Hanesbrands, Inc. (a) | 3,443 | 44,484 | ||
| 96,090 | ||||
| Consumer Staples - 5.6% | ||||
| Food & Staples Retailing - 0.6% | ||||
| Sysco Corp. | 634 | 14,867 | ||
| Food Products - 2.6% | ||||
| McCormick & Co., Inc. | 948 | 28,222 | ||
| The J. M. Smucker Co. | 673 | 30,534 | ||
| 58,756 | ||||
| Personal Products - 2.4% | ||||
| Bare Escentuals, Inc. (a) | 11,515 | 54,351 | ||
| Energy - 5.7% | ||||
| Energy Equipment & Services - 1.7% | ||||
| Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. | 3,190 | 39,843 | ||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 4.0% | ||||
| Murphy Oil Corp. | 981 | 43,213 | ||
| Noble Energy | 613 | 32,048 | ||
| Swift Energy Co. (a) | 845 | 18,058 | ||
| 93,319 | ||||
| Financials - 22.1% | ||||
| Capital Markets - 5.0% | ||||
| Eaton Vance Corp. | 2,860 | 54,683 | ||
| Investment Technology Group, Inc. (a) | 2,680 | 44,836 | ||
| Northern Trust Corp. | 360 | 16,520 | ||
| 116,039 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| Commercial Banks - 6.9% | ||||
| Associated Banc-Corp | 2,284 | $ | 49,631 | |
| Fifth Third Bancorp | 2,660 | 25,430 | ||
| First Horizon National Corp. (a) | 1,745 | 18,654 | ||
| Marshall & Ilsley Corp. | 3,046 | 47,061 | ||
| National City Corp. | 9,135 | 18,361 | ||
| 159,137 | ||||
| Consumer Finance - 2.4% | ||||
| Discover Financial Services | 5,319 | 54,413 | ||
| Diversified Financial Services - 0.9% | ||||
| CIT Group, Inc. | 6,122 | 20,447 | ||
| Insurance - 6.9% | ||||
| Cincinnati Financial Corp. | 1,090 | 31,872 | ||
| Genworth Financial Inc. Class A (a) | 2,110 | 3,060 | ||
| StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. | 1,133 | 37,740 | ||
| Torchmark Corp. | 1,316 | 47,573 | ||
| Unum Group | 2,550 | 37,995 | ||
| 158,240 | ||||
| Health Care - 13.1% | ||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 3.3% | ||||
| ResMed Inc. (a) | 1,333 | 48,441 | ||
| TomoTherapy Inc. (a) | 12,268 | 28,339 | ||
| 76,780 | ||||
| Health Care Providers & Services - 6.2% | ||||
| Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | 664 | 23,725 | ||
| Lincare Holdings Inc. (a) | 676 | 16,177 | ||
| McKesson Corp. | 655 | 22,886 | ||
| MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (a) | 403 | 10,055 | ||
| Patterson Cos., Inc. (a) | 1,765 | 33,217 | ||
| Quest Diagnostics Inc. | 462 | 21,515 | ||
| Virtual Radiologic Corp. (a) | 2,085 | 15,116 | ||
| 142,691 | ||||
| Health Care Technology - 2.1% | ||||
| IMS Health Inc. | 3,734 | 49,102 | ||
| Life Sciences Tools & Services - 1.5% | ||||
| Waters Corp. (a) | 854 | 35,210 | ||
| Industrials - 9.9% | ||||
| Aerospace & Defense - 1.3% | ||||
| Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (a) | 365 | 30,003 | ||
| Commercial Services & Supplies - 6.6% | ||||
| Cintas Corp. | 1,955 | 46,959 | ||
| EnergySolutions, Inc. | 11,645 | 53,101 | ||
| Manpower Inc. | 1,154 | 36,328 | ||
| Pitney Bowes Inc. | 636 | 15,716 | ||
| 152,104 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
17
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares | Value | |||
| Trading Companies & Distributors - 2.0% | ||||
| W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 644 | $ | 45,447 | |
| Information Technology - 17.6% | ||||
| Communications Equipment - 1.8% | ||||
| JDS Uniphase Corp. (a) | 15,491 | 42,136 | ||
| Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components - 3.7% | ||||
| Celestica Inc. (a) | 2,700 | 13,473 | ||
| Flextronics International Ltd. (a) | 14,747 | 34,508 | ||
| Molex Inc. Class A | 3,020 | 36,421 | ||
| 84,402 | ||||
| Internet Software & Services - 1.0% | ||||
| Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | 1,855 | 22,761 | ||
| IT Services - 2.8% | ||||
| Fiserv, Inc. (a) | 642 | 21,918 | ||
| Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. | 1,839 | 31,594 | ||
| Paychex, Inc. | 422 | 11,926 | ||
| 65,438 | ||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 7.4% | ||||
| Altera Corp. | 1,685 | 24,786 | ||
| Broadcom Corp. Class A (a) | 2,825 | 43,251 | ||
| Linear Technology Corp. | 1,537 | 30,663 | ||
| Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | 3,481 | 43,060 | ||
| Xilinx, Inc. | 1,796 | 29,383 | ||
| 171,143 | ||||
| Software - 0.9% | ||||
| Intuit Inc. (a) | 426 | 9,440 | ||
| Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (a) | 1,000 | 12,150 | ||
| 21,590 | ||||
| Materials - 7.2% | ||||
| Chemicals - 7.2% | ||||
| Airgas, Inc. | 1,157 | 41,363 | ||
| International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. | 1,518 | 46,360 | ||
| Nalco Holding Co. | 2,163 | 24,680 | ||
| The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. Class A | 1,626 | 52,617 | ||
| 165,020 | ||||
| Utilities - 2.6% | ||||
| Electric Utilities - 0.7% | ||||
| Pepco Holdings, Inc. | 883 | 15,885 | ||
| Multi-Utilities - 1.9% | ||||
| MDU Resources Group, Inc. | 1,252 | 25,453 | ||
| SCANA Corp. | 512 | 17,792 | ||
| 43,245 | ||||
| TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST $3,611,400) | 2,302,039 | |||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | |||||
| Amount | Value | ||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 0.0% | |||||
| Variable-Rate Demand Notes - 0.0% | |||||
| Wisconsin Central Credit Union, 1.106% | $ | 781 | $ | 781 | |
| Total Variable-Rate Demand Notes | 781 | ||||
| TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (COST $781) | 781 | ||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 99.9% (COST $3,612,181) | 2,302,820 | ||||
| NET OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - 0.1% | 3,273 | ||||
| NET ASSETS - 100.0% | $ | 2,306,093 | |||
(a) Non-income producing security.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
19
| November 30, 2008 |
Portfolio Managers
John C. Thompson, CFA
John W. Thompson, CFA
Performance
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, the Thompson Plumb Bond Fund’s total return net of expenses was -5.63%, as compared to its benchmark, the Barclays Capital Intermediate Government/Credit 1-10 Year Index, which returned 2.34% and as compared to the Barclays Capital Government/Credit 1-5 Year Index, which returned 3.65%
Comparison of Change in Value of a Hypothetical $10,000 Investment
| Average Annual Total Returns | |||||||||
| Through 11/30/08 | |||||||||
| 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | ||||||
| Thompson Plumb Bond Fund | -5.63% | 1.74% | 1.88% | 3.85% | |||||
| Barclays Capital Intermediate Gov’t/Credit 1-10 Year Index | 2.34% | 4.71% | 3.79% | 5.16% | |||||
| Barclays Capital Gov’t/Credit 1-5 Year Index | 3.65% | 5.09% | 3.76% | 4.96% | |||||
Gross Expense Ratio as of 3/31/08 was 1.24%*
Net Expense Ratio after reimbursement was 0.59%.*
* The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses incured by the Bond Fund until March 31, 2009.
Performance data quoted represents past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained by calling 1-800-999-0887 or visiting www.thompsonplumb.com.
Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distributions. Investment performance reflects all fee waivers that may be in effect. In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced. The performance information reflected in the graph and the table above does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares, nor does it imply future performance. The Barclays Capital Intermediate Government/Credit 1-10 Year Index (formerly known as the Lehman Brothers Intermediate Government/Credit 1-10 Year Index) is an index of all investment grade bonds with maturities of more than one year and less than 10 years. The Barclays Capital Intermediate Government/Credit 1-10 Year Index is a market-value-weighted performance benchmark. The Barclays Capital Government/Credit 1-5 Year Index (formerly known as the Lehman Brothers Government/Credit 1-5 Year Index) is an index of all investment-grade bonds with maturities of more than one year and less than 5 years. The Barclays Capital Government/Credit 1-5 Year Index is a market-value-weighted performance benchmark. You cannot directly invest in an index.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20
| November 30, 2008 |
Management Commentary
By many accounts, we have just experienced one of the worst credit markets in recorded history. BBB credit spreads, one indicator commonly used to assess the health of the credit market, have increased to levels last seen in the Great Depression. Today, these BBB credit spreads are on average yielding 7% more than Treasuries, which is significantly higher than the post-Great Depression peak yield spread of 4%.
Why are credit markets so fearful? Homeowners have been defaulting on their mortgages in record numbers. Some large financial institutions have failed, while others likely would have failed in the absence of government assistance. A large number of industrial companies are failing or are near failure. Many retailers (with Wal-Mart a notable exception) are struggling and a significant slice of the retail industry is expected to close its doors. Many smaller companies are struggling to arrange financing to keep their operations running.
The Bond Fund was not immune to the credit tsunami that began in early September with the failure of Lehman Brothers. We held small positions in Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual that had a negative impact on the Fund’s total return for the period that was disproportionate to the size of those positions. From September to early October, many of our corporate bonds lost approximately 50% of their value as credit markets froze. Many of these corporate bonds have recovered the vast majority of their value. A number of the issuers of those bonds, including JPMorgan Chase (and its Bear Stearns division), Fifth Third Bancorp, Zions Bancorp, and KeyCorp, are participating in the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and/or the FDIC’s various debt-guarantee programs. In essence, we believe this has made us “partners” with the Federal government with respect to many of the financial bonds that we hold today. While these bonds are not guaranteed by the Federal government, we believe that there is a reduced likelihood that the Treasury and Federal Reserve will let additional major financial institutions fail given the disastrous fallout from the Lehman failure.
We are finding what we believe are tremendous opportunities in the markets today in industrial bonds, including bonds issued by Johnson Controls, Simon Property Group, Nordstrom, and Exelon. These bonds, on average, have been yielding roughly 12%, yet have been rated as solidly investment grade, all carrying current ratings in the vicinity of A- to BBB+. The spread-widening that hit the financial sector first appears now to be moving into the industrial world. We intend to take advantage of this trend when we find quality corporate bonds. Some of these bonds are selling at prices sufficiently low that, in our minds, their prices can only make sense if the economy is headed for another Great Depression even more severe than the first. We do not believe anything like that will occur.
The Bond Fund has been moving, albeit slowly, into a higher weighting in corporate bonds and a smaller weighting in government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) mortgages. Although these GSE mortgages have performed well through this credit crisis, we believe that significantly better risk-adjusted returns are available by taking calculated credit risks with the types of corporate bonds discussed above, particularly as the yields on the mortgages fall toward 4.5-5%. Currently, the Fund is invested in a roughly 50% corporate/50% government mix, which makes the Fund more exposed to corporate credit than the benchmark Barclays Capital Intermediate Index is.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
21
| November 30, 2008 |
We believe that the Federal Reserve is attempting to prevent another deflationary spiral and that credit markets should eventually recover. The overall yield to maturity of many of the bonds in the Fund has been in the low double digits today, which we believe should give us plenty of cushion in the event that there is further spread-widening and defaults. We believe that the opportunities available in the credit markets today are the sort that tend to arrive only once in a generation, and that they should provide very attractive risk-adjusted returns. We appreciate your continued investment with our firm.
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.
Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities involve additional risks such as credit risk, prepayment risk, possible illiquidity and default, and increased susceptibility to adverse economic developments.
Please refer to the Schedule of Investments on page 23 of this report for holdings information. The management commentary above as well as Fund holdings should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. In addition, please note that Fund holdings are subject to change.
| Portfolio Concentration at 11/30/08 | ||||
 | (Includes cash and cash equivalents) | |||
| Quality | ||||
| U.S. Government and Agency Issues | 48.2% | |||
| AA | 6.9% | |||
| A | 24.0% | |||
| BBB | 18.2% | |||
| BB and Below | 1.2% | |||
| Short-Term Investments | 1.4% | |||
| Common Stocks | 0.1% | |||
| 100.0% | ||||
| Effective Maturity | ||||
| Under 1 year | 8.4% | |||
| 1 to 3 years | 14.7% | |||
| 3 to 5 years | 10.4% | |||
| 5 to 10 years | 59.5% | |||
| Over 10 years | 6.9% | |||
| Common Stocks | 0.1% | |||
| 100.0% | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22
| November 30, 2008 |
| Shares or | ||||
| Principal | ||||
| Amount | Value | |||
| COMMON STOCKS - 0.1% | ||||
| Consumer Discretionary - 0.1% | ||||
| Media - 0.1% | ||||
| Time Warner Cable, Inc. Class A (a) | 2,694 | $ | 54,688 | |
| TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST $110,792) | 54,688 | |||
| BONDS - 112.6% | ||||
| Corporate Bonds - 57.4% | ||||
| American Express Bank | ||||
| 1.839% due 6/12/2017 (b) | 1,000,000 | 555,343 | ||
| American General Finance | ||||
| 6.000% due 10/15/2014 | 1,000,000 | 262,358 | ||
| 6.000% due 12/15/2014 | 1,000,000 | 256,329 | ||
| 6.900% due 12/15/2017 | 1,000,000 | 413,094 | ||
| Bear Stearns Co., Inc. | ||||
| 6.390% due 3/10/2014 (b) | 270,000 | 199,319 | ||
| 6.340% due 4/10/2014 (b) | 100,000 | 73,300 | ||
| 7.250% due 2/1/2018 | 2,000,000 | 2,024,806 | ||
| 0.000% due 11/29/2019 (b)(g) | 205,000 | 164,000 | ||
| CIT Group, Inc. | ||||
| 4.350% due 5/15/2009 | 249,000 | 203,132 | ||
| 6.000% due 7/15/2009 | 90,000 | 70,285 | ||
| 4.400% due 8/15/2009 | 362,000 | 270,490 | ||
| 6.250% due 2/15/2010 | 200,000 | 141,863 | ||
| 6.500% due 2/15/2010 | 174,000 | 121,655 | ||
| 5.200% due 11/3/2010 | 500,000 | 360,361 | ||
| 4.750% due 12/15/2010 | 250,000 | 180,714 | ||
| 6.000% due 3/15/2013 | 79,000 | 30,185 | ||
| 6.150% due 4/15/2013 | 196,000 | 74,418 | ||
| 4.900% due 2/15/2015 | 50,000 | 19,428 | ||
| 7.140% due 12/14/2016 (b) | 868,000 | 325,144 | ||
| 5.950% due 2/15/2017 | 100,000 | 37,880 | ||
| 5.700% due 3/15/2017 | 400,000 | 146,902 | ||
| 6.000% due 6/15/2017 | 50,000 | 18,552 | ||
| Continental Corp. | ||||
| 8.375% due 8/15/2012 | 150,000 | 127,313 | ||
| Discover Financial Services | ||||
| 3.349% due 6/11/2010 (b) | 500,000 | 360,032 | ||
| Electronic Data Systems | ||||
| 7.125% due 10/15/2009 | 350,000 | 354,048 | ||
| EMC Corp., Convertible | ||||
| 1.750% due 12/1/2013 | 1,000,000 | 871,250 | ||
| Exelon Generation Co. | ||||
| 6.950% due 6/15/2011 | 462,000 | 436,957 | ||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
23
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | ||||
| Amount | Value | |||
| Fifth Third Bancorp | ||||
| 6.250% due 5/1/2013 | $ 500,000 | $ | 449,204 | |
| 8.250% due 3/1/2038 | 2,215,000 | 1,742,470 | ||
| First Tennessee Bank | ||||
| 4.500% due 5/15/2013 | 1,780,000 | 1,268,918 | ||
| 4.625% due 5/15/2013 | 500,000 | 364,585 | ||
| General Motors Acceptance Corp. | ||||
| 7.000% due 10/15/2011 | 200,000 | 42,866 | ||
| 7.250% due 8/15/2012 | 100,000 | 15,890 | ||
| 7.000% due 11/15/2012 | 50,000 | 7,090 | ||
| 7.100% due 1/15/2013 | 32,000 | 5,450 | ||
| 6.000% due 7/15/2013 | 60,000 | 10,165 | ||
| 0.000% due 6/15/2015 (g) | 1,250,000 | 129,163 | ||
| 6.350% due 2/15/2016 (c) | 75,000 | 9,817 | ||
| 6.500% due 2/15/2016 (c) | 100,000 | 13,338 | ||
| 6.500% due 9/15/2016 (c) | 87,000 | 11,257 | ||
| 7.250% due 9/15/2017 | 259,000 | 34,134 | ||
| Hartford Life Global | ||||
| 6.040% due 6/15/2010 (b) | 500,000 | 420,715 | ||
| HSBC Finance Corp. | ||||
| 6.580% due 7/10/2009 (b) | 203,000 | 191,125 | ||
| 5.700% due 7/15/2012 | 100,000 | 89,733 | ||
| 6.210% due 9/15/2013 (b) | 156,000 | 110,526 | ||
| 7.280% due 10/10/2013 (b) | 131,000 | 91,434 | ||
| 7.060% due 1/10/2014 (b) | 161,000 | 108,986 | ||
| International Lease Finance Corp. | ||||
| 5.000% due 6/15/2010 | 300,000 | 194,488 | ||
| KeyCorp | ||||
| 6.500% due 5/14/2013 | 2,072,000 | 1,892,969 | ||
| Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. | ||||
| 0.000% due 8/17/2015 (b) (e) (f) | 510,000 | 15,606 | ||
| 7.530% due 12/7/2016 (f) | 150,000 | 13,500 | ||
| Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc. | ||||
| 6.300% due 4/1/2009 | 1,745,000 | 1,682,180 | ||
| Merrill Lynch & Co. | ||||
| 6.532% due 3/2/2009 (b) | 500,000 | 463,975 | ||
| Morgan Stanley | ||||
| 7.370% due 6/1/2011 (b) | 500,000 | 377,340 | ||
| National City Corp. | ||||
| 2.989% due 6/16/2010 (b) | 1,000,000 | 891,472 | ||
| 4.900% due 1/15/2015 | 1,000,000 | 837,627 | ||
| 4.250% due 7/1/2018 | 200,000 | 137,753 | ||
| 6.875% due 5/15/2019 | 1,000,000 | 800,579 | ||
| 2.530% due 7/3/2037 (b) | 342,000 | 338,891 | ||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | |||
| Amount | Value | ||
| SLM Corp. | |||
| 0.652% due 12/15/2009 (b) | $ 125,000 | $ 115,957 | |
| 6.850% due 3/15/2012 (b) | 100,000 | 65,723 | |
| 6.870% due 6/15/2012 (b) | 106,000 | 68,216 | |
| 7.020% due 6/15/2012 (b) | 66,000 | 42,729 | |
| 7.020% due 9/15/2012 (b) | 65,000 | 41,007 | |
| 6.920% due 12/15/2012 (b) | 50,000 | 30,545 | |
| 7.820% due 9/15/2013 (b) | 42,000 | 23,953 | |
| 7.520% due 1/1/2014 (b) | 591,000 | 294,052 | |
| 7.490% due 1/31/2014 (b) | 25,000 | 12,297 | |
| 6.990% due 4/1/2014 (b) | 1,100,000 | 543,488 | |
| 7.170% due 4/1/2014 (b) | 155,000 | 77,495 | |
| 7.070% due 5/1/2014 (b) | 100,000 | 46,425 | |
| 7.750% due 6/2/2014 (b) | 70,000 | 35,406 | |
| 7.120% due 12/15/2014 (b) | 350,000 | 213,917 | |
| 7.320% due 9/15/2015 (b) | 85,000 | 42,856 | |
| 7.420% due 12/15/2015 (b) | 128,000 | 60,453 | |
| 7.620% due 5/3/2019 (b) | 217,000 | 75,683 | |
| 4.000% due 6/15/2021 (c) | 79,000 | 42,169 | |
| 5.400% due 4/25/2023 (c) | 50,000 | 21,976 | |
| Target Corp. | |||
| 5.375% due 5/1/2017 | 500,000 | 411,301 | |
| Textron Financial Corp. | |||
| 6.000% due 11/20/2009 | 165,000 | 160,282 | |
| Transamerica Financial Corp. | |||
| 0.000% due 9/1/2012 (g) | 100,000 | 68,521 | |
| Verizon New York | |||
| 6.875% due 4/1/2012 | 250,000 | 240,119 | |
| Xilinx, Inc., Convertible | |||
| 3.125% due 3/15/2037 | 500,000 | 304,375 | |
| Zions Bancorp | |||
| 6.000% due 9/15/2015 | 1,700,000 | 1,320,184 | |
| Total Corporate Bonds | 25,221,533 | ||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
25
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | ||||
| Amount | Value | |||
| Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities - 55.2% | ||||
| Fannie Mae | ||||
| 6.000% due 11/1/2036, Pool #83-1855 | $ 802,839 | $ | 821,270 | |
| 5.500% due 12/1/2036, Pool #90-2931 | 897,858 | 913,561 | ||
| 6.000% due 9/1/2037, Pool #25-6890 | 896,470 | 903,463 | ||
| 6.000% due 10/1/2037, Pool #88-8736 | 899,573 | 906,591 | ||
| 5.500% due 12/1/2037, Pool #96-6647 | 1,837,183 | 1,868,923 | ||
| 6.000% due 1/1/2038, Pool #96-0566 | 1,371,337 | 1,402,742 | ||
| 6.000% due 3/1/2038, Pool #25-7134 | 1,887,711 | 1,902,438 | ||
| 6.000% due 7/1/2038, Pool #98-4975 | 1,000,001 | 1,022,802 | ||
| Freddie Mac Gold | ||||
| 6.000% due 6/1/2027, Pool #C9-1034 (d) | 500,000 | 510,781 | ||
| 6.000% due 12/1/2036, Pool #G0-2422 (d) | 2,000,000 | 2,043,124 | ||
| 6.000% due 7/1/2037, Pool #G0-3104 | 195,179 | 199,507 | ||
| 6.000% due 7/1/2037, Pool #G0-8210 | 516,060 | 527,505 | ||
| 6.000% due 10/1/2037, Pool #A6-6449 | 1,629,750 | 1,665,892 | ||
| 6.000% due 10/1/2037, Pool #G0-3325 | 1,627,733 | 1,663,830 | ||
| 5.500% due 11/1/2037, Pool #G0-3432 | 909,946 | 923,870 | ||
| 6.000% due 11/1/2037, Pool #H0-5101 | 873,750 | 880,021 | ||
| 5.500% due 12/1/2037, Pool #A7-0622 | 1,976,381 | 2,006,622 | ||
| 5.500% due 4/1/2038, Pool #A7-5665 | 246,169 | 249,936 | ||
| 6.000% due 10/1/2038, Pool #G0-4877 (d) | 1,175,000 | 1,200,335 | ||
| 5.500% due 12/1/2038 (d) | 2,500,000 | 2,536,720 | ||
| Ginnie Mae | ||||
| 7.000% due 5/15/2033, Pool #78-2071 | 115,188 | 118,682 | ||
| Total Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities | 24,268,615 | |||
| TOTAL BONDS (COST $55,439,412) | 49,490,148 | |||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26
| November 30, 2008 |
| Principal | |||||
| Amount | Value | ||||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 1.8% | |||||
| Certificates of Deposit - 0.2% | |||||
| Capital One Bank FSB | |||||
| 2.919% due 3/13/2009 (b) | $ 98,000 | $ | 97,846 | ||
| Total Certificates of Deposit | 97,846 | ||||
| Variable-Rate Demand Notes - 1.6% | |||||
| American Family Financial Services, 0.350% | 565,830 | 565,830 | |||
| Wisconsin Central Credit Union, 1.106% | 136,343 | 136,343 | |||
| Total Variable-Rate Demand Notes | 702,173 | ||||
| TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (COST $800,007) | 800,019 | ||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 114.5% (COST $56,350,211) | 50,344,855 | ||||
| NET OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - (14.5%) | (6,383,303 | ) | |||
| NET ASSETS - 100.0% | $ | 43,961,552 | |||
| (a) | Non-income producing security. | |
| (b) | Interest rate shown represents the current coupon rate at November 30, 2008. | |
| (c) | Security is a “step-up” bond where the coupon increases or steps up at a predetermined date. | |
| (d) | When-issued security. | |
| (e) | Security is fair valued. | |
| (f) | Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. securities are currently in default. When a bond is in default its scheduled interest payments are not currently being paid, and there may be interest in arrears for previous unpaid interest income. | |
| (g) | Zero coupon security. | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
27
| November 30, 2008 |
Example
A mutual fund shareholder may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs such as sales charges and redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2008 to November 30, 2008.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below under each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for such Fund. You may use the information in this line, 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 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 of the table below under each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on such 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 balances or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in each Fund and other funds. To do so, compare the 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 redemption fees or sales charges. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| Beginning | Ending | Expenses Paid During | |||||||||
| Account Value | Account Value | Period* | |||||||||
| 6/1/08 | 11/30/08 | 6/1/08-11/30/08 | |||||||||
| Thompson Plumb Growth Fund | |||||||||||
| Actual | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 553.55 | $ | 5.24 | |||||
| Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,018.25 | $ | 6.81 | |||||
| Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund | |||||||||||
| Actual | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 560.00 | $ | 5.07 | |||||
| Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,018.50 | $ | 6.56 | |||||
| Thompson Plumb Bond Fund | |||||||||||
| Actual | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 916.85 | $ | 2.83 | |||||
| Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,022.05 | $ | 2.98 | |||||
| * | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each Fund (Growth Fund: 1.35%; MidCap Fund 1.30%; and Bond Fund 0.59%), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). | |
| For more information, please refer to the Funds’ Prospectus. | ||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
28
| STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
| November 30, 2008 (In thousands, except per share amounts) |
| GROWTH | MIDCAP | BOND | |||||||||
| FUND | FUND | FUND | |||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Total investments in securities, at value (Cost $195,597, $3,612 and | |||||||||||
| $56,350, respectively) | $ | 133,999 | $ | 2,303 | $ | 50,345 | |||||
| Due from sale of securities | 310 | – | – | ||||||||
| Receivable from fund shares sold | 33 | – | 36 | ||||||||
| Dividends and interest receivable | 420 | 5 | 482 | ||||||||
| Due from investment advisor | – | – | 2 | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 52 | 13 | 10 | ||||||||
| Total Assets | 134,814 | 2,321 | 50,875 | ||||||||
| LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Due on purchase of securities | 167 | – | 6,826 | ||||||||
| Payable for fund shares redeemed | 529 | – | 70 | ||||||||
| Line of credit | 85 | 1 | – | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses payable | 43 | 14 | 17 | ||||||||
| Due to investment advisor | 118 | – | – | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities | 942 | 15 | 6,913 | ||||||||
| NET ASSETS | $ | 133,872 | $ | 2,306 | $ | 43,962 | |||||
| Net Assets consist of: | |||||||||||
| Capital stock ($.001 par value) | $ | 282,867 | $ | 3,878 | $ | 49,655 | |||||
| Undistributed net investment income | 1,649 | 15 | 882 | ||||||||
| Accumulated net realized loss on investments | (89,046 | ) | (278 | ) | (565 | ) | |||||
| Net unrealized depreciation on investments | (61,598 | ) | (1,309 | ) | (6,010 | ) | |||||
| Net Assets | $ | 133,872 | $ | 2,306 | $ | 43,962 | |||||
| Shares of capital stock outstanding (unlimited shares authorized) | 6,777 | 373 | 4,757 | ||||||||
| Offering and redemption price/Net asset value per share | $ | 19.75 | $ | 6.18 | $ | 9.24 | |||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
29
| STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
| (In thousands) |
| GROWTH | MIDCAP | BOND | ||||||||||||
| FUND | FUND | FUND | ||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Period Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2008* | 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Investment income | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends | $ | 5,455 | $ | 34 | – | |||||||||
| Interest | 6 | 1 | $ | 3,456 | ||||||||||
| Other income | 2 | – | – | |||||||||||
| 5,463 | 35 | 3,456 | ||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Investment advisory fees | 2,728 | 17 | 322 | |||||||||||
| Shareholder servicing costs | 418 | 17 | 43 | |||||||||||
| Administrative and accounting services fees | 164 | 20 | 65 | |||||||||||
| Custody fees | 98 | 10 | 13 | |||||||||||
| Professional fees | 88 | 38 | 56 | |||||||||||
| Directors fees | 62 | 5 | 19 | |||||||||||
| Federal & state registration | 40 | 7 | 32 | |||||||||||
| Amortization of offering costs | – | 21 | – | |||||||||||
| Organization expenses | – | 4 | – | |||||||||||
| Other expenses | 190 | 4 | 37 | |||||||||||
| Total expenses | 3,788 | 143 | 587 | |||||||||||
| Less expenses reimbursed by advisor | – | (121 | ) | (294 | ) | |||||||||
| Net expenses | 3,788 | 22 | 293 | |||||||||||
| Net investment income | 1,675 | 13 | 3,163 | |||||||||||
| Net realized loss on investments | (72,001 | ) | (278 | ) | (312 | ) | ||||||||
| Net unrealized depreciation on investments | (92,193 | ) | (1,309 | ) | (6,539 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss on investments | (164,194 | ) | (1,587 | ) | (6,851 | ) | ||||||||
| Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations | $ | (162,519 | ) | $ | (1,574 | ) | $ | (3,688 | ) | |||||
* For the period March 31, 2008 (inception) through November 30, 2008.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
30
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS |
| (In thousands) |
| GROWTH | MIDCAP | BOND | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| FUND | FUND | FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | Period Ended | Year Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008* | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income | $ | 1,675 | $ | 4,192 | $ | 13 | $ | 3,163 | $ | 1,825 | ||||||||||||||
| Net realized gain (loss) on investments | (72,001 | ) | 65,926 | (278 | ) | (312 | ) | (37 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| on investments | (92,193 | ) | (90,227 | ) | (1,309 | ) | (6,539 | ) | 281 | |||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| from operations | (162,519 | ) | (20,109 | ) | (1,574 | ) | (3,688 | ) | 2,069 | |||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions from net investment income | (4,172 | ) | (5,175 | ) | – | (2,813 | ) | (1,682 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Distributions from net realized gains on | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| securities transactions | (65,287 | ) | (24,550 | ) | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||||
| Total distributions to shareholders | (69,459 | ) | (29,725 | ) | – | (2,813 | ) | (1,682 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Fund Share Transactions (See Note 4) | (168,059 | ) | (175,215 | ) | 3,880 | 5,954 | 11,669 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | (400,037 | ) | (225,049 | ) | 2,306 | (547 | ) | 12,056 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | 533,909 | 758,958 | – | 44,509 | 32,453 | |||||||||||||||||||
| End of period | $ | 133,872 | $ | 533,909 | $ | 2,306 | $ | 43,962 | $ | 44,509 | ||||||||||||||
| Undistributed net investment income included | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| in net assets at end of period | $ | 1,649 | $ | 4,159 | $ | 15 | $ | 882 | $ | 520 | ||||||||||||||
* For the period March 31, 2008 (inception) through November 30, 2008.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
31
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS |
| Year Ended November 30, 2008 (In Thousands) |
| BOND | |||
| FUND | |||
| Decrease in Cash | |||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||
| Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations | $ | (3,688 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets from | |||
| operations to net cash used for operating activities: | |||
| Purchases of long-term securities | (74,644 | ) | |
| Proceeds on sales of long-term securities | 65,862 | ||
| Proceeds on sales of short-term securities, net | 10,339 | ||
| Proceeds on principal payments | 3,296 | ||
| Increase in dividends and interest receivable | (86 | ) | |
| Increase in investment advisor receivable, net | (5 | ) | |
| Increase in prepaid expenses | (3 | ) | |
| Decrease in payable for purchases of securities | (10,226 | ) | |
| Decrease in accrued expenses payable | (4 | ) | |
| Amortization on investments, net | (385 | ) | |
| Unrealized depreciation on investments | 6,539 | ||
| Net realized loss on principal payments | 7 | ||
| Net realized loss on investments | 312 | ||
| Total adjustments | 1,002 | ||
| Net cash used for operating activities | (2,686 | ) | |
| Cash flows received from financing activities: | |||
| Proceeds from fund shares sold | 32,675 | ||
| Payment on fund shares redeemed | (29,726 | ) | |
| Cash dividends paid* | (263 | ) | |
| Cash used from financing transactions | 2,686 | ||
| Net increase in cash | |||
| Cash, beginning of year | — | ||
| Cash, end of year | — | ||
| $ | — | ||
| * Reinvestment of dividends | $ | 2,550 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
32
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| November 30, 2008 |
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION
Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. (the “Company”) is a Wisconsin corporation registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, diversified management investment company.
The Company consists of separate mutual funds series (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”): Thompson Plumb Growth Fund (the “Growth Fund”), Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund (the “MidCap Fund”) and Thompson Plumb Bond Fund (the “Bond Fund”). The assets and liabilities of each Fund are segregated and a shareholder’s interest is limited to the Fund in which the shareholder owns shares.
NOTE 2 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements.
SECURITY VALUATION - Each Fund’s investments are valued at their market prices (generally the last reported sales price on the exchange where the securities are primarily traded or, for Nasdaq-listed securities, at their Nasdaq Official Closing Prices) or, where market quotations are not readily available or are unreliable, at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures established by the Funds’ Board of Directors (the “Funds’ Board”). Market quotations for the common stocks in which the Funds invest are nearly always readily available; however, market quotations for debt securities are often not readily available. Fair values of debt securities are typically based on valuations published by an independent pricing service, which uses various valuation methodologies such as matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost basis.
When a security is “fair valued,” consideration is given to the facts and circumstances relevant to the particular situation, including a review of various factors set forth in the Pricing Policies and Procedures adopted by the Funds’ Board, which includes factors such as fundamental analytical data relating to the investment, which may include consideration of yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon rate, maturity and type of issue, nature and duration of any restrictions on disposition of the security and an evaluation of forces that influence the market in which the securities are purchased or sold. Fair value pricing is an inherently subjective process, and no single standard exists for determining fair value. Different funds could reasonably arrive at different values for the same security.
As of November 30, 2008, a corporate bond held by the Bond Fund was fair valued and the value of the security represented approximately 0.035% of the net assets of the Fund.
The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”). In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. FAS 157 established a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs (including Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). |
Inputs may include price information, specific and broad credit data, liquidity statistics, and other factors. The Fund considers observable data to be that market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the Fund. The categorization of a financial instrument within
33
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the instrument and does not necessarily correspond to the Fund’s perceived risk of that instrument. Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and are therefore classified within level-1, include active listed equities and certain U.S. government obligations.
Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on quoted market prices, dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified within level-2. These include certain U.S. government obligations, most government agency securities, investment-grade corporate bonds, and less liquid listed equities. As level-2 investments include positions that are not traded in active markets valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity.
Investments classified within level-3 have significant unobservable inputs, as they trade infrequently or not at all. Level-3 instruments include private placement and less liquid corporate debt securities. When observable prices are not available for these securities, the Fund uses one or more valuation techniques (e.g., the market approach, the income approach or, the cost approach) for which sufficient and reliable data is available. Within level-3, the use of the market approach generally consists of using comparable market transactions, while the use of the income approach generally consists of the net present value of estimated future cash flows, adjusted as appropriate for liquidity, credit, market and/or other risk factors. The inputs used by the Fund in estimating the value of level-3 investments include the original transaction price and recent transactions in the same or similar instruments.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ net assets as of November 30, 2008:
| Investments in Securities | ||||||||
| Valuation Inputs | Growth Fund | MidCap Fund | Bond Fund | |||||
| Level 1 – Quoted prices | $ | 133,998,679 | $ | 2,302,039 | $ | 54,688 | ||
| Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs | 713 | 781 | 50,290,167 | |||||
| Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs | – | – | – | |||||
| Total | $ | 133,999,392 | $ | 2,302,820 | $ | 50,344,855 | ||
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME - Investment securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains or losses realized on sales of securities are determined by comparing the identified cost of the security lot sold with the net sales proceeds. Discounts/premiums on debt securities purchased are accreted/amortized over the life of the respective securities on the same basis for book and tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded as earned.
SECURITIES PURCHASED ON A WHEN-ISSUED OR DELAYED-DELIVERY BASIS - Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. When-issued securities are securities purchased with delivery to occur at a later date at a stated price and/or yield, thereby involving the risk that the price and/or yield obtained may be more or less than those available in the market when delivery takes place. At the time a Fund makes a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, the Fund records the transaction and reflects the value of the security in determining net asset value. Each Fund designates and maintains cash and marketable securities at least equal in value to commitments for when-issued securities.
MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS - The Bond Fund may enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions in which the fund sells a mortgage-backed security to a counterparty and simultaneously enters into an agreement with the same counterparty to buy back a similar security on a specific future date at a predetermined price. Each mortgage dollar roll is treated as a financing transaction; therefore, any gain or loss is considered unrealized until the roll reaches completion. Risks may arise due to the delayed payment date and the potential inability of counterparties to complete the transaction. Income is generated as consideration for entering into these transactions and is included in interest income on the accompanying financial statements.
VARIABLE-RATE DEMAND NOTES - The Funds invest in short-term, variable-rate demand notes, which are unsecured instruments. The Funds may be susceptible to credit risk with respect to these instruments to the extent the issuer defaults on its payment obligation.
PERMANENT BOOK AND TAX DIFFERENCES - Generally accepted accounting principles require that permanent financial reporting and tax differences relating to shareholder distributions be reclassified in the capital accounts.
34
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
EXPENSES - Each Fund is charged for those expenses that are directly attributed to it. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific Fund are generally allocated among the Funds in proportion to the relative sizes of the Funds.
USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS - Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains on securities for the Growth Fund and MidCap Fund normally are declared at least annually. Bond Fund distributions to shareholders from net investment income normally are declared on a quarterly basis, and distributions to shareholders from realized gains on securities normally are declared at least annually. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES - No provision has been made for federal income taxes since the Funds have elected to be taxed as regulated investment companies and intend to distribute substantially all income to shareholders and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies.
DIRECTED BROKERAGE ARRANGEMENTS - The Funds have directed brokerage arrangements with Fidelity Capital Markets, BNY Brokerage and Trade Manage Capital, Inc. Upon purchase and/or sale of the investment securities at best execution, the Funds pay brokerage commissions to Fidelity Capital Markets, BNY Brokerage and Trade Manage Capital, Inc. These commission payments generate non-refundable cumulative credits, which are available to pay certain expenses of the Funds. There were no directed brokerage credits during the year ended November 30, 2008.
LINE OF CREDIT - The Funds have established a line of credit (“LOC”) with U.S. Bank N.A. which expires November 15, 2009, used for temporary liquidity needs. The LOC is used primarily to finance redemption payments. Each of the individual Fund’s borrowing under the LOC is limited to either 5% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets or any explicit borrowing limits imposed by the Funds’ Board, whatever is less. As of November 30, 2008, the limits established by the Funds’ Board are: Growth Fund - $10,000,000, MidCap Fund - $200,000 and Bond Fund - $1,000,000. The following table shows the average balance, average interest rate and interest expense incurred by the Funds on borrowings under the LOC for the year ended November 30, 2008.
| Average | Average | Interest | ||||||||
| Fund | Balance | Interest Rate | Expense | |||||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 517,519 | 5.438% | $ | 30,000 | |||||
| MidCap Fund* | $ | 3,725 | 4.700% | $ | 115 | |||||
| Bond Fund | $ | 9,514 | 4.700% | $ | 476 | |||||
* For the period March 31, 2008 (inception) through November 30, 2008.
GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS - Under the Fund’s organizational documents, each Director, officer, employee or other agent of the Fund (including the Fund’s investment manager) is indemnified, to the extent permitted by the Act, against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and believe the risk of loss to be remote.
OFFERING COSTS - The MidCap Fund incurred $31,080 of offering costs which are being amortized over a period of 12 months. For the period from March 31, 2008 (commencement of operations) to November 30, 2008, the MidCap Fund expensed $20,777. As of November 30, 2008, the MidCap Fund has $10,303 of unamortized offering costs.
35
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES - Effective May 31, 2008, the Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken on previously filed tax returns or expected to be taken on future returns. These positions must meet a “more-likely-than-not” standard that, based on the technical merits, have more than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the recognition threshold, the Fund must presume that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Tax positions not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold are recorded as a tax expense in the current year.
FIN 48 requires the Fund to analyze all open tax years, as defined by the Statute of Limitations, for all major jurisdictions. Open tax years are those that are open for exam by taxing authorities. As of November 30, 2008, open Federal tax years include the tax years ended November 2005 through 2007. The Fund has no examinations in progress.
The Fund has reviewed all open tax years and major jurisdictions and concluded that the adoption of FIN 48 resulted in no effect to the Fund’s financial position or results of operations. There is no tax liability resulting from unrecorded tax benefits relating to uncertain income tax positions for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008. The Fund is also 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.
NOTE 3 - INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
The Investment Advisory Agreement pursuant to which Thompson Investment Management, Inc. (“TIM”) is retained by the Funds provides for compensation to TIM (computed daily and paid monthly) at the following annual rates: for the Growth Fund and MidCap Fund - 1.00% of the first $50 million of average daily net assets and 0.90% of average daily net assets in excess of $50 million; and for the Bond Fund - 0.65% of the first $50 million of average daily net assets and 0.60% of average daily net assets in excess of $50 million. |
The Advisor is contractually bound to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses incurred by the MidCap Fund from March 31, 2008 through March 31, 2009, so that the annual operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed 1.30% of its average daily net assets. The Advisor is contractually bound to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses incurred by the Bond Fund through March 31, 2009 so that the annual operating expenses of the Bond Fund do not exceed 0.59% of average daily net assets.
For the period from March 31, 2008 through November 30, 2008, the Advisor reimbursed expenses incurred by the MidCap Fund in the amount of $120,840 so that that annual operating expenses did not exceed 1.30% of its average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, the Advisor reimbursed expenses incurred by the Bond Fund in the amount of $294,210 so that that annual operating expenses did not exceed 0.59% of its average daily net assets.
Pursuant to an Administrative and Accounting Services Agreement, TIM maintains the Funds’ financial records in accordance with the 1940 Act, prepares all necessary financial statements of the Funds and calculates the net asset value per share of the Funds on a daily basis. As compensation for its services, each Fund pays TIM a fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.15% of average daily net assets up to $30 million, 0.10% of the next $70 million of average daily net assets and 0.025% of average daily net assets in excess of $100 million, with an annual minimum fee of $30,000 per Fund. The calculations of daily net asset value are subcontracted to U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, resulting in fees paid by TIM in the amounts of $56,052, $21,977 and $32,715 for the Growth Fund, MidCap Fund and Bond Fund, respectively, for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008.
As of November 30, 2008, retirement plan investments by certain employees of the Advisor represent 1.56%, 12.37% and 0.12% of the Growth Fund, MidCap Fund and Bond Fund, respectively.
36
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
NOTE 4 - FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS
Transactions in shares of the Funds were as follows:
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| November 30, 2008 | November 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||
| Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | ||||||||||
| Growth Fund | |||||||||||||
| Shares sold | 561 | $ | 18,264 | 1,576 | $ | 77,304 | |||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | 102 | 3,909 | 92 | 4,548 | |||||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of realized gains | 1,659 | 63,695 | 483 | 23,727 | |||||||||
| Shares redeemed | (7,186 | ) | (253,927 | ) | (5,705 | ) | (280,794 | ) | |||||
| Net decrease | (4,864 | ) | $ | (168,059 | ) | (3,554 | ) | $ | (175,215 | ) | |||
| Period Ended | |||||||||||||
| November 30, 2008* | |||||||||||||
| Shares | Dollars | ||||||||||||
| MidCap Fund | |||||||||||||
| Shares sold | 441 | $ | 4,442 | ||||||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | – | – | |||||||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of realized gains | – | – | |||||||||||
| Shares redeemed | (68 | ) | (562 | ) | |||||||||
| Net increase | 373 | $ | 3,880 | ||||||||||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| November 30, 2008 | November 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||
| Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | ||||||||||
| Bond Fund | |||||||||||||
| Shares sold | 3,174 | $ | 31,883 | 2,036 | $ | 20,809 | |||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends | 254 | 2,550 | 148 | 1,499 | |||||||||
| Shares issued in reinvestment of realized gains | – | – | - | - | |||||||||
| Shares redeemed | (2,976 | ) | (28,479 | ) | (1,041 | ) | (10,639 | ) | |||||
| Net increase | 452 | $ | 5,954 | 1,143 | $ | 11,669 | |||||||
* For the period March 31, 2008 (inception) through November 30, 2008.
NOTE 5 - PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES
Investment transactions for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008 were as follows:
| Securities other than U. S. | |||||||||||
| Government and Short-term | |||||||||||
| Investments | U. S. Government Securities | ||||||||||
| Purchases | Sales | Purchases | Sales | ||||||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 131,844,143 | $ | 367,448,149 | $ | – | $ | – | |||
| MidCap Fund* | $ | 5,232,225 | $ | 1,342,628 | $ | – | $ | – | |||
| Bond Fund | $ | 26,703,491 | $ | 3,544,737 | $ | 39,289,757 | $ | 54,308,739 | |||
* For the period March 31, 2008 (inception) through November 30, 2008.
37
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
| November 30, 2008 |
NOTE 6 – INCOME TAX INFORMATION
At November 30, 2008, the investment cost and aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| Net unrealized | Distributable | Distributable | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized | Unrealized | appreciation | ordinary | long-term | ||||||||||||||
| Federal tax cost | appreciation | depreciation | (depreciation) | income | capital gains | |||||||||||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 205,707,111 | $ | 2,786,507 | $ | (74,494,226 | ) | $ | (71,707,719 | ) | $ | 1,649,095 | $– | |||||
| MidCap Fund | $ | 3,818,714 | $ | 16,511 | $ | (1,532,405 | ) | $ | (1,515,894 | ) | $ | 15,270 | $– | |||||
| Bond Fund | $ | 56,763,081 | $ | 497,437 | $ | (6,915,663 | ) | $ | (6,418,226 | ) | $ | 882,363 | $– | |||||
The tax basis of investments for tax and financial reporting purposes differ principally due to wash sales and paydown gains and losses from mortgage securities.
The tax components of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, capital loss carryforward as of November 30, 2008 and tax basis post-October losses as of November 30, 2008, which are not being recognized for tax purposes until the first day of the following fiscal year are:
| Ordinary | Long-term | |||||||||||
| income | capital gains | Net capital loss | Post-October | |||||||||
| distributions | distributions | carryforward* | losses | |||||||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 4,172,247 | $ | 65,286,994 | $ | 78,936,169 | $ | – | ||||
| MidCap Fund | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 51,952 | $ | 19,711 | ||||
| Bond Fund | $ | 2,812,789 | $ | – | $ | 536,947 | $ | – | ||||
* The Growth Fund and MidCap Fund capital losses expire November 30, 2016. The Bond Fund has capital losses in the amount of $90,180, $137,352 and $309,415 which expire on November 30, 2014, November 30, 2015 and November 30, 2016, respectively.
The tax components of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2007 are:
| Ordinary | Long-term | |||||
| income | capital gains | |||||
| distributions | distributions | |||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 11,295,040 | $ | 18,429,147 | ||
| Bond Fund | $ | 1,682,368 | $ | – | ||
The following distributions were declared on December 16, 2008, payable to shareholders on December 17, 2008 (Unaudited):
| Ordinary Income | Long-term Capital Gains | ||||||||
| Distributions | Distributions | ||||||||
| Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | ||||||
| Growth Fund | $ | 1,952,982 | $0.29 | $– | $– | ||||
| MidCap Fund | $ | 18,875 | $0.05 | $– | $– | ||||
| Bond Fund | $ | 1,186,446 | $0.25 | $– | $– | ||||
38
| FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | |
The following table presents information relating to a share of capital stock outstanding for the entire period.
| Year Ended November 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||
| GROWTH FUND | ||||||||||||||
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $45.86 | $49.95 | $45.85 | $46.03 | $42.45 | |||||||||
| Income from Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||
| Net investment income | 0.29 | 0.36 | 0.35 | 0.27 | 0.46 | |||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||
| on investments | (19.59 | ) | (2.49 | ) | 5.14 | 0.54 | 3.26 | |||||||
| Total from Investment Operations | (19.30 | ) | (2.13 | ) | 5.49 | 0.81 | 3.72 | |||||||
| Less Distributions | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions from net investment income | (0.41 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.14 | ) | ||||
| Distributions from net realized gains | (6.40 | ) | (1.62 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (0.55 | ) | – | |||||
| Total Distributions | (6.81 | ) | (1.96 | ) | (1.39 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (0.14 | ) | ||||
| Net Asset Value, End of Period | $19.75 | $45.86 | $49.95 | $45.85 | $46.03 | |||||||||
| Total Return | (49.29% | ) | (4.52% | ) | 12.32% | 1.76% | 8.77% | |||||||
| Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period (millions) | $133.9 | $533.9 | $759.0 | $1,030.7 | $1,485.9 | |||||||||
| Ratios to average net assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses | 1.27% | 1.13% | 1.12% | 1.08% | 1.05% | |||||||||
| Ratio of expenses without reimbursement† | 1.27% | 1.13% | 1.12% | 1.09% | 1.06% | |||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income | 0.56% | 0.62% | 0.63% | 0.50% | 1.12% | |||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income | ||||||||||||||
| without reimbursement† | 0.56% | 0.62% | 0.63% | 0.49% | 1.11% | |||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate | 43% | 29% | 17% | 20% | 29% | |||||||||
† Before directed brokerage credits.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
39
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) | |
The following table presents information relating to a share of capital stock outstanding for the entire period.
| March 31, 2008 | |||
| (inception) | |||
| through | |||
| November 30, 2008 | |||
| MIDCAP FUND | |||
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $10.00 | ||
| Income from Investment Operations | |||
| Net investment income | 0.04 | ||
| Net realized and unrealized losses on investments | (3.86 | ) | |
| Total from Investment Operations | (3.82 | ) | |
| Less Distributions | |||
| Distributions from net investment income | – | ||
| Distributions from net realized gains | – | ||
| Total Distributions | – | ||
| Net Asset Value, End of Period | $6.18 | ||
| Total Return | (38.20%) | (a) | |
| Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||
| Net assets, end of period (millions) | $2.3 | ||
| Ratios to average net assets: | |||
| Ratio of expenses | 1.30% | (b) | |
| Ratio of expenses without reimbursement | 8.40% | (b) | |
| Ratio of net investment income | 0.79% | (b) | |
| Ratio of net investment loss | |||
| without reimbursement | (6.30%) | (b) | |
| Portfolio turnover rate | 50% | (a) | |
| (a) | Calculated on a non-annualized basis. | |
| (b) | Calculated on an annualized basis. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
40
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) | |
The following table presents information relating to a share of capital stock outstanding for the entire period.
| Year Ended November 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | �� | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||
| BOND FUND | |||||||||||||||
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $10.34 | $10.26 | $10.21 | $10.68 | $10.86 | ||||||||||
| Income from Investment Operations | |||||||||||||||
| Net investment income | 0.62 | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.39 | 0.57 | ||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | |||||||||||||||
| on investments | (1.17 | ) | 0.08 | 0.11 | (0.36 | ) | (0.16 | ) | |||||||
| Total from Investment Operations | (0.55 | ) | 0.56 | 0.55 | 0.03 | 0.41 | |||||||||
| Less Distributions | |||||||||||||||
| Distributions from net investment income | (0.55 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.59 | ) | |||||
| Distributions from net realized gains | – | – | (0.09 | ) | (0.08 | ) | – | ||||||||
| Total Distributions | (0.55 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.59 | ) | |||||
| Net Asset Value, End of Period | $9.24 | $10.34 | $10.26 | $10.21 | $10.68 | ||||||||||
| Total Return | (5.63% | ) | 5.64% | 5.64% | 0.29% | 3.90% | |||||||||
| Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period (millions) | $44.0 | $44.5 | $32.5 | $30.6 | $29.7 | ||||||||||
| Ratios to average net assets: | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses | 0.59% | 0.59% | 0.72% | 0.80% | 0.80% | ||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses without reimbursement | 1.18% | 1.24% | 1.30% | 1.28% | 1.20% | ||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income | 6.38% | 4.92% | 4.42% | 3.80% | 5.00% | ||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income | |||||||||||||||
| without reimbursement | 5.78% | 4.26% | 3.84% | 3.31% | 4.60% | ||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate | 110% | 86% | 51% | 26% | 24% | ||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements.
41
 | |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP One North Wacker Chicago IL 60606 www.pwc.com | |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of operations, and cash flows of the Thompson Plumb Bond Fund, and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Thompson Plumb Growth Fund, Thompson Plumb Midcap Fund, and Thompson Plumb Bond Fund, (constituting Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc., hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) at November 30, 2008, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended for Thompson Plumb Bond Fund and Thompson Plumb Growth Fund, and period from March 31, 2008 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 2008 for the Thompson Plumb MidCap Fund, the changes in each of their net assets 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 November 30, 2008 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Chicago, IL
January 27, 2009
42
| DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
| (Information as of 12/31/08) |
| Position(s) | Number of | |||||||||
| Held with | Thompson | Other | ||||||||
| Thompson Plumb | Plumb Funds | Directorships | ||||||||
| Name, | Funds, Inc. and | Principal Occupation(s) | Overseen | Held by | ||||||
| Address & Age | Length of Time Served(1) | During Past Five Years | by Director | Director | ||||||
| Independent Directors: | ||||||||||
John W. Feldt | Director since 1987 | Retired; Senior Vice President of Finance of the University of Wisconsin Foundation from 1984 to 2006; prior thereto, Vice President of Finance for the University of Wisconsin Foundation. | 3 | Baird Funds, Inc. (8 Funds) Nakoma Mutual Funds (1 Fund) | ||||||
| Patricia Lipton 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth date: 12/9/42 | Director since 2007 | Retired; Executive Director, State of Wisconsin Investment Board (“SWIB”) from 1989 to 2004; Assistant Executive Director, SWIB from 1982 to 1989; prior thereto, Director, State Tax Policy Bureau of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. | 3 | None | ||||||
Donald A. Nichols | Director since 1987 | Retired; Director of the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin from 2002 to 2006; prior thereto, Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin from 1966 to 2006; Chairman, Department of Economics from 1983 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1990; Economic Consultant. | 3 | None | ||||||
| Interested Director & Officers: | ||||||||||
| John W. Thompson(2)(3) 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth Date: 7/26/43 | Director and Chairman since 1987 and Chief Executive Officer since 2005 | President of Thompson Investment Management, Inc. (“TIM”) since January 2004; President of Thompson, Plumb & Associates, Inc. (“TPA”) from June 1984 to December 2003; Treasurer of TPA from October 1993 to December 2003; Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of Thompson Plumb Trust Company from 2001 to December 2003; a Chartered Financial Analyst. | 3 | None | ||||||
| John C. Thompson(3) 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth Date: 10/28/68 | President and Chief Operating Officer since 2005; prior thereto, Vice President 1996 to 2005 | Vice President of TIM since January 2004; Portfolio Manager of TIM since January 2004; Portfolio Manager of TPA from December 1996 to December 2003; a Chartered Financial Analyst. | N/A | N/A | ||||||
43
| DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (Continued) |
| (Information as of 12/31/08) |
| Position(s) | Number of | |||||||||
| Held with | Thompson | Other | ||||||||
| Thompson Plumb | Plumb Funds | Directorships | ||||||||
| Name, | Funds, Inc. and | Principal Occupation(s) | Overseen | Held by | ||||||
| Address & Age | Length of Time Served(1) | During Past Five Years | by Director | Director | ||||||
| Interested Director & Officers: | ||||||||||
| Penny M. Hubbard 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth Date: 6/2/61 | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2005 | Vice President - Administrative Services of TIM since January 2004; prior thereto, Assistant Vice President - Client Services of TPA and various other capacities since 1984. | N/A | N/A | ||||||
| Nedra S. Pierce 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth Date: 10/2/61 | Chief Compliance Officer since 2006 | Chief Compliance Officer of TIM since May 2006; Director of Business Development of TIM from January 2004 to May 2006; Director of Business Development of TPA from January 1998 to December 2003. | N/A | N/A | ||||||
| Jason L. Stephens 1200 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI 53717 Birth Date: 10/15/74 | Secretary since 2005; prior thereto, Chief Compliance Officer from 2004 to 2006 | Corporate Secretary of TIM since January 2004; Portfolio Manager of TIM since July 2007; Research Analyst of TIM from January 2004 to June 2007; Chief Compliance Officer of TIM from January 2004 to May 2006; Research Analyst of TPA from June 2003 to December 2003; a Chartered Financial Analyst. | N/A | N/A | ||||||
(1) Officers of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. serve one-year terms, subject to annual reappointment by the Board of Directors. Directors of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. serve a term of indefinite length until their resignation or removal, and stand for re-election by shareholders as and when required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(2) John W. Thompson is an “interested person” of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. by virtue of his position with Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. and Thompson Investment Management, Inc.
(3) John C. Thompson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc., is the son of John W. Thompson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc.
44
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
THOMPSON PLUMB FUNDS
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Thompson Investment Management, Inc.
1200 John Q. Hammons Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53717
DISTRIBUTOR
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
TRANSFER AGENT
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Quarles & Brady LLP
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the directors and officers of Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-999-0887.
Proxy Voting Policy
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Funds actually voted proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-999-0887, through the Funds’ website at www.thompsonplumb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Information About Portfolio Securities
The Funds file complete schedules of their portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Funds’ first and third quarters of its fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are also available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-999-0887.
45
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued) |
Board Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Thompson Plumb Growth Fund and Bond Fund
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) requires that the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) for Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc. (the “Funds”) be approved annually by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Agreement or “interested persons” of the Funds as that term is defined in the Act (the “Independent Directors”). At its meeting on November 4, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Funds, including all of the Independent Directors, voted unanimously to renew the existing Agreement between the Funds and Thompson Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) for both the Growth Fund and the Bond Fund (each of these series of the Funds is sometimes referred to as a “Fund” in this section). The Board of Directors of the Funds did not consider renewal of the existing Agreement with respect to the MidCap Fund. The Agreement was initially approved with respect to the MidCap Fund by the Board at its meeting on January 24, 2008, and that approval was for a two-year period.
The Board’s approval was based on its consideration and evaluation of a variety of factors, including: (1) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Advisor; (2) the performance of each of the Funds in comparison to their benchmark index and to a peer group of mutual funds; (3) the management fees and total operating expenses of each Fund, including comparative information with respect to a peer group of mutual funds; (4) the extent to which economies of scale may be realized as a Fund grows; and (5) whether fee levels reflect any potential economies of scale for the benefit of shareholders.
In connection with the renewal process, both the Independent Directors as well as the full Board met separately on November 4, 2008 to consider information relevant to the renewal process. The Independent Directors and the full Board are referred to collectively as the “Board” in this section.
To facilitate evaluation of the Agreement, the Board received and reviewed information prepared or compiled by the Advisor as well as an independent analysis of the Funds’ performance and expenses prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”). Information reviewed included a memorandum from Fund counsel discussing the fiduciary duty of Directors under Section 15(c) of the Act; a memorandum from Fund management providing its recommendation for renewal of the Agreement; the Advisor’s analysis of profitability of the Agreement to the Advisor and the profitability of related service contracts with affiliates of the Advisor; a separate profitability comparison prepared by Lipper; a detailed statistical report from Lipper comparing the Funds’ performance and expenses with both a comparison “group” and a comparison “universe” of other funds; the Advisor’s Form ADV; the Agreement and other service agreements with affiliates of the Advisor; and background information on the Funds’ portfolio managers and reports from the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer. In addition, the Board had received and considered detailed information on the Funds’ investment performance and expenses at each of its quarterly meetings during the year as well as in-person reports from the Fund’s portfolio managers and reports from the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer. Throughout the review and approval process, the Independent Directors were represented by independent legal counsel.
The Board considered the nature, extent, and quality of services provided by the Advisor, including services required to be provided under the Agreement, services required to be provided under other agreements with affiliates of the Advisor, and additional services provided by the Advisor that were not required under any of those agreements. The Board considered the background and experience of the Funds’ portfolio managers, other advisory personnel, compliance personnel, and other support personnel. It noted that it had considered many of these factors during the course of its quarterly meetings over the past year. The Board also noted that, in addition to investment management and broker selection services, the Advisor prepares compliance and other materials for each of the Board’s meetings; provides office space, equipment, information technology and administrative services necessary for operation of the Funds; and performs regular compliance and risk analysis functions for the Funds. The Board believed that the nature, extent, and quality of services provided by the Advisor were comparable to those provided by advisers to comparable funds and that such services were adequate for the Funds’ needs.
In reviewing the Funds’ investment performance, the Board reviewed the one-, two-, three-, four-, five- and ten-year performance of each of the Funds. The Board noted that the long-term performance of the Bond Fund was satisfactory. However, the investment performance of the Growth Fund during each of these periods, and the Bond Fund performance during the most recent year, were below those of their peers. The Board discussed a proposal by the Advisor to implement non-binding investment guidelines for the Funds. These non-binding guidelines generally would, with respect to the portfolio holdings of the Growth Fund, reduce the potential variance of such holdings on both a security-specific and sector-specific level as compared with such weightings in the S&P 500 index. With respect to the portfolio holdings of the Bond Fund, these guidelines would generally restrict the position size held by the Bond Fund in any one issuer. The goal of this proposal was to modify the investment process for both the Bond Fund and the Growth Fund so as to reduce volatility, reduce the risk of substantial underperformance relative to market benchmarks, and improve total return. The Board considered the effect that this proposal likely would have had on the historical performance of the Funds if it had been implemented at
46
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued) |
an earlier date. The Board concluded that, had the Advisor managed the Funds consistent with these guidelines during past periods, the historic performance of the Funds likely would have been stronger both relative to their respective peers and benchmarks and on an absolute return basis. The Board therefore viewed the implementation of these guidelines as a significant positive factor.
In reviewing the cost of services provided to the Funds and profits realized by the Advisor or its affiliates from these relationships, the Board noted that the Bond Fund’s management fee, after waiver of a portion thereof by the Advisor, was the second lowest in its Lipper comparison group, which included 13 funds, and was the sixth lowest in its Lipper comparison universe, which included 51 funds. The Board also noted that the Fund’s total expenses, after a waiver of certain fees by the Advisor, were reasonable, ranking in the first quintile of its Lipper comparison group and second quintile of its Lipper comparison universe (meaning its expense ratios were among the lowest 20% and 40%, respectively). The advisory fees and total expenses of the Growth Fund were somewhat higher than the median of its Lipper comparison group, which was composed of 16 funds, and comparison universe, which was composed of 100 funds. After reviewing the materials, the Board concluded that the advisory fees and total expenses for the Growth Fund were within a reasonable range. With regard to profitability, the Board noted that the Advisor’s profitability (before accounting for tax or marketing fees borne by the Advisor) ranked near the median for comparable firms and that the operating margins of the Advisor were reasonable. After reviewing information provided by Lipper and the Advisor’s own analysis, the Board concluded that the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Funds and the profits realized with respect thereto were reasonable.
The Board also considered whether economies of scale might be realized as the Funds’ assets increase. It noted that the Agreement provides for a fee breakpoint at $50 million of assets. This breakpoint is equal to ten basis points for the Growth Fund and five basis points for the Bond Fund. While the Board considered that an increase in assets could provide economies of scale in the Funds’ operations, it noted that the assets of the Growth Fund had continued to decline significantly over the past few years and thus presented no opportunity for such economies. The Board noted that assets of the Bond Fund lacked scale in comparison to other funds with a similar investment objective. The Board concluded that economies of scale were unlikely to be realized with respect to the Bond Fund until its assets grew significantly.
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Item 2. Code of Ethics.
As of the end of the period covered by this report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics (as defined in Item 2(b) of Form N-CSR) that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The Registrant’s Code of Ethics (as defined in Item 2(b) of Form N-CSR) and any amendments or waivers thereto are available on the Registrant’s website at www.thompsonplumb.com.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that the Registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. John Feldt, a director of the Registrant since 1987, has been determined to be an audit committee financial expert and is “independent” within the meaning of Item 3(a)(2) of Form N-CSR. Mr. Feldt, currently retired, was the Senior Vice President-Finance for the University of Wisconsin Foundation from 1984 through 2006. In such capacity, he oversaw the investment and accounting functions for the Foundation. These duties required Mr. Feldt to supervise the Foundation’s controller and approve the Foundation’s accounting and audit information.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The following table sets forth information as to the fees billed to the Registrant for each of the last two fiscal years for audit-related, tax and other services and products provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, the Registrant’s principal accountant.
| Fiscal Year Ended November 30, | |||||||
| 2007 | 2008 | ||||||
| Audit Fees(1) | $ | 37,624.00 | $ | 52,510.00 | |||
| Audit-Related Fees(2) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |||
| Tax Fees(3) | $ | 14,700.00 | $ | 21,750.00 | |||
| All Other Fees(4) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |||
| TOTAL | $ | 52,324.00 | $ | 74,260.00 | |||
| (1) | This category relates to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. | |
| (2) | This category relates to assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant's financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees" above. | |
| (3) | This category relates to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. For 2007 and 2008, the tax services provided by the Registrant’s principal accountant specifically related to the preparation of the Registrant’s federal and state income and excise tax returns and a review of the Registrant’s distributions of capital gains and dividend and interest income. | |
| (4) | This category relates to products and services provided by the principal accountant other than those reported under "Audit Fees," "Audit-Related Fees," and "Tax Fees" above. | |
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill any amounts over the last two fiscal years for services or products provided to Thompson Investment Management, Inc., the Registrant's investment advisor, or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such advisor that provides ongoing services for the Registrant.
The audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors has not adopted any pre-approval policies and procedures (as described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X) regarding the provision of audit or non-audit services to the Registrant.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable to this Registrant because it is not a “listed issuer” within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
The required Schedules of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers is included as part of the Registrant’s Annual Report to shareholders dated as of November 30, 2008 provided under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to this Registrant because it is not a closed-end management investment company.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to this Registrant because it is not a closed-end management investment company.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable to this Registrant because it is not a closed-end management investment company.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders.
The Registrant has not made any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Directors.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Based on an evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive and financial officers, within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant’s principal executive and financial officers have concluded that the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the applicable time periods. |
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| (b) | Change in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this Form N-CSR that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits
The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
| 12(a)(1) | The Code of Ethics for the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer referred to in Item 2 was filed as Exhibit 12(a)(1) to the Registrant’s Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR filed on January 28, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference | |||
| 12(a)(2)-1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |||
| 12(a)(2)-2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |||
| 12(b) | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |||
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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, on this 27th day of January, 2009.
| THOMPSON PLUMB FUNDS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ John W. Thompson | |
| John W. Thompson, Chairman and | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
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 indicated on this 27th day of January, 2009.
| By: | /s/ John W. Thompson | |
| John W. Thompson, Chairman and | ||
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal | ||
| Executive Officer) | ||
| By: | /s/ Penny Hubbard | |
| Penny Hubbard, Chief Financial | ||
| Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
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