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No-Load Funds

Some mutual funds want you to pay for the privilege of them (or your investment adviser) taking your money to invest. It's called a load, and it works like a cover charge to get into a nightclub. Luckily, there are such things as no-load funds. As the name implies, shares of these funds are sold without a fee paid to a broker or investment advisor.

The entire amount you invest in no-load funds goes to work for your returns. On the other hand, with load funds, right off the bat you're charged commission (not to mention other fees incurred over the life of the investment). Let's say, for example, you invest $25,000 into a load fund that charges a 5% commission. This costs you $1,250 off the top, bringing your actual investment down to only $23,750.

The often-cited horse race analogy argues against investing in load funds. Here's the logic behind it: Would you place a bet on a horse that had to start a race 200 yards behind the others? Well, maybe you would if you got a tip from a sketchy, trench coat-clad man in a dark alley. However, under most circumstances, it's not smart to put your money on that handicapped horse.

But some argue that at times that man in the trench coat (aka your broker) knows more about the horses than you do, and has a better shot at picking a winner. Also, sometimes these fees are unavoidable because some funds are available only through investment advisers.

Cost-benefit analysis can help determine when a load fund is worth it (in other words, when it will score you a load) and when it is better to "do it yourself" and avoid the fees. Load-fund fees range depending on share class and can cover a variety of costs, such as paper work and fund management.

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Insituform Says It's Time for Stockholders to Put an End to Water Asset Management's Campaign of Misstatements, Distortions and Misrepresentations

 
Comtex
 

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., May 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Insituform Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq Global Select Market: INSU) today urged stockholders to vote now on the Company's WHITE proxy card to protect the value of their investment in Insituform and not hand over control of the Company and the Board of Directors to dissident hedge fund Water Asset Management (WAM).

With the Company's May 19, 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders only days away, Insituform stockholders should not be fooled by WAM's serial misstatements, distortions and misrepresentations.

 What WAM Wants You To Believe: What WAM Doesn't Tell You ================================-=====================================
   WAM wants you to believe that it What WAM doesn't tell you is that has the support of the proxy RiskMetrics Group (formerly
   ISS), advisory firms. the nation's leading proxy advisory firm, has recommended that stockholders vote FOR all of Insituform's
   directors on the Company's WHITE proxy card. Additionally, all three of the proxy advisory firms that have evaluated this
   situation have concluded that handing control of Insituform's Board over to WAM and replacing a majority of Insituform's Board
   with WAM's director nominees is NOT in the best interests of all Insituform stockholders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   WAM wants you to believe it has What WAM doesn't tell you is that a well-thought out plan for WAM's stated objective from
   the Insituform. start was to undertake an ill- conceived fire-sale of the Company in the worst M&A market in recent years,
   and not hire a CEO. As RiskMetrics observed: "We note that the dissidents did not have any operating plan until very recently
   and had primarily focused on the sale of the company."* WAM's 11th hour "plan" - its third plan in five months - is based
   on bogus numbers and simply recycles business improvement programs already underway at Insituform. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   WAM wants you to believe it is a What WAM doesn't tell you is that long-term investor in WAM's principals have a history of
   Insituform. shorting Insituform's stock. A WAM affiliate, of which Messrs. Deane and Diserio are principals, engaged in short
   trading of Insituform's stock in the second and third quarters of 2006. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   WAM wants you to believe it has What WAM doesn't tell you is that WAM a long-standing investment has been in existence for
   less than track record. one year and that its principals have no previous known investment track record. Based on the limited
   publicly available information about WAM, WAM's only investments are in Insituform and one other $200,000 investment. No public
   information is available regarding the size of TRF Master Fund (Cayman) LP (a WAM affiliate), WAM's assets under management,
   the percentage of its assets tied up in Insituform, WAM's track record, the record of the prior management firms of one of
   WAM's principals, Mr. Diserio, or the identity of WAM's investors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   WAM wants you to believe that What WAM doesn't tell you is that Insituform's Board has not since well before the proxy contest
   actively worked to enhance began, Insituform's Board has stockholder value. actively led this Company and taken decisive steps
   to enhance stockholder value and position Insituform for the future. Insituform's Board has: -- Undertaken a comprehensive
   review of the Company's strategic alternatives, together with outside financial advisors -- Developed and implemented a strategic
   plan to transform Insituform from a company focused on sewer rehabilitation for U.S. municipalities to one that is positioned
   to participate in the global water industry through multiple products, geographies and customer segments -- Hired Joseph "Joe"
   Burgess, a 20+ year water industry veteran, as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer -- Managed the Company through a
   leadership transition. As RiskMetrics noted: "The incumbent board managed the company well during this transition period,
   as indicated by new contract wins and the accompanying positive market reaction to these announcements."* RiskMetrics concluded
   "...(W)e believe that the board deserves credit for removing (former CEO) Mr. Rooney, successfully navigating the company
   during the transition period, and hiring a new CEO - actions that have been accompanied by positive market reaction."* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   WAM wants you to believe that What WAM doesn't tell you is that: its director nominees are qualified to serve on -- Three
   of WAM's nominees have NO Insituform's Board. public company board experience and those same three nominees are all WAM insiders.
   -- Another WAM nominee, Senator Alfonse D'Amato, has been criticized by independent proxy advisors for his poor corporate
   governance as a director at scandal-plagued CA, Inc. (formerly Computer Associates). -- WAM's nominees have NO operating experience
   in the industries in which Insituform operates. Notably, Messrs. Deane and Diserio, the two leading principals of the WAM
   hedge fund, have NO relevant water experience. Mr. Deane's only experience in the water industry is purchasing water rights,
   a real estate activity. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Protect the future value of your investment in Insituform. Don't hand over control of your Board to a dissident hedge fund which is only looking to advance its own self-serving interests. Vote for Insituform's directors on the WHITE proxy card today.

Time is short, but stockholders can still vote the WHITE proxy card to support their Board. It is important to remember that only the latest dated proxy card counts. For this reason, stockholders are urged to vote only Insituform's WHITE proxy card and to discard WAM's blue proxy card. If stockholders have previously voted a blue card, even to withhold their vote from the dissident group's nominees, they are urged to please take the time today to vote the WHITE proxy card. Stockholders with questions or who need assistance voting their shares may call the Company's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at (888) 750-5834.

* Permission to use quotations was neither sought nor obtained.

About Insituform

Insituform Technologies, Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of proprietary technologies and services for rehabilitating sewer, water and other underground piping systems without digging and disruption. More information about the Company can be found on its Internet site at www.insituform.com.

Additional Information

Insituform has filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with its 2008 Annual Meeting. Insituform's stockholders are strongly advised to read the definitive proxy statement carefully, as it contains important information. Free copies of the definitive proxy statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and other materials filed by Insituform with the SEC will be available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, on Insituform's website at www.insituform.com under Investors/SEC or by directing requests to Insituform's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll free at (888) 750-5834.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. The Company makes forward-looking statements in this document that represent the Company's beliefs or expectations about future events or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and on management's beliefs, assumptions, estimates and projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "plan," "intend," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those referred to in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2008. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. In addition, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, suggested or projected. Except as required by law, we do not assume a duty to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors should, however, review additional disclosures made by the Company from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please use caution and do not place reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made by the Company in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements.

Insituform(R), the Insituform(R) logo, Insituform Blue(R), United Pipeline Systems(R) and Clean Water for the World(R) are the registered trademarks of Insituform Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates.

SOURCE: Insituform Technologies, Inc.

Insituform Technologies, Inc.
   David A. Martin, 636-530-8000 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher Matthew
   Sherman / Dan Katcher, 212-355-4449 
Copyright Business Wire 2008
 

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