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<title><![CDATA[Merger]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/forumview?bn=36898</link>
<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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<copyright>Copyright(c) 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:20 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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<title>Yahoo! Message Boards</title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/forumview?bn=36898</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: a question (if anyones out there)]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=12&amp;mid=14&amp;tof=1&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[thnks. i have recieved a prospectus for merfx and arbfx. i decided to go with merf cuz the costs seem lower and return better. i love the concept i have often thought of doing this on my own if i didnt have a job or a life and could watch news all day. guess i'll just let the pros handle the details and take the returns.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:21 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[petrdeep]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: a question (if anyones out there)]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=12&amp;mid=13&amp;tof=2&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[If you look at 2008 they came through basically flat. Considering what happened that is a great return :)

Alsmost all of their trades are on a short term basis so they distribute all their gains every december 31st.   That's why the NAV does not seem to mesh with the total returns.   

They do a good job in the merger space and I have owned them for quite a few years. I sold off my positions earlier this year to buy the bounce, but after the dec 31 dividend will put 5% back into the fund.

If you are looking for solid returns that are not correlated to the stock market, this is the fund for you.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:20 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[sasm_com]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[a question (if anyones out there)]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=12&amp;mid=12&amp;tof=3&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[i have recently come across this fund and was thinking about adding it. i like the idea and i think i have a handle on how they make money, but i have questions:
1) the 5yr chart shows flat, but i keep hearing how good the yield is. i see it has a small divy but there must be more to it. do they pay out their profits annually?
2)i see they are holding sun micro, that deal fell through will this cause a loss? will they hold the shares?

i have never bought a mutual fund outside of my 401k (only stocks) so maybe i'm just uneducated.

thanks]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:20 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[petrdeep]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Wow....This Is A Thing Of Beauty...Choo...Choo...]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=11&amp;mid=11&amp;tof=4&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Wow....This Is A Thing Of Beauty...Choo...Choo...

<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=MERFX#chart1:symbol=merfx;range=2y;indicator=sma%2850,200%29+volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined">http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=MERFX#chart1:symbol=merfx;range=2y;indicator=sma%2850,200%29+volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined</a>


Found about about MERFX because of my research of WAVE......ALL ABOARD.....How how will this thing be in 5 years.....Thanks for the replies in advance.


GLTA

The STEEL MAN]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:06:22 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[sjs7475]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Will holding MERFX cause tax headaches?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=8&amp;mid=10&amp;tof=5&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Thanks for the help.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:43 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[kinkaidonerd]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Will holding MERFX cause tax headaches?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=8&amp;mid=9&amp;tof=6&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[In a word, 'no'.   
My accountant has never complained!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:42 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[scchu362]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Will holding MERFX cause tax headaches?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=8&amp;mid=8&amp;tof=7&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[I am considering buying MERFX as a safe haven as I think the markets are due for another big correction.   Can anyone that's held it for a long period of time tell me--do MERFX's holdings cause any difficulties come tax time?   I would be buying in a taxable account, and I've never had a fund with such extensive shorting before...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:42 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[kinkaidonerd]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[mergerfund.com]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=7&amp;mid=7&amp;tof=8&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Web site now available, <a href=http://www.mergerfund.com.>www.mergerfund.com.</a>]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:37:21 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[buckhill22222]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: CCU]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=5&amp;mid=6&amp;tof=9&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[WOW, a post!   Hey, are you sure they had this turkey on their "LONG" side?   It's having a bit of a problem in the after-hours market it seems.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:45:59 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[wallworry]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[CCU]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=5&amp;mid=5&amp;tof=10&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Ouch.   CCU listed as a 5% holding as of last portfolio update.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:45:59 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[socal_stew]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Have Spreads on Stock Deals Widened?]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=4&amp;mid=4&amp;tof=11&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Many of the spreads on the announced but not completed LBO deals are large right now. If these deals are completed, those long TXU, CCU, AT, FDC, ASN, SLM, CVC and HET will do very well.

My question is have the stock deal spreads also become big? If so, this fund should benefit if the deals happen.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:44:51 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[gonenuts22003]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Yale's 25% Allocation to "Absolute Return"]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=3&amp;tof=12&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Thanks for the easy comparisons. Agree with your observations and conclusions, esp regarding appropriate mainly for tax sheltered retirement accounts.   Wondering if anyone besides myself is uncomfortable with 19 proposals by fund trustees that appear to fundamentally change the way the fund conducts its business? Among the worrisome proposals: fund will be allowed to concentrate up to 10% of assets in one security, fund's Truistees and officers can personally own 5% of the shares of a stock the fund is buying (Greed Gone Wild), Fund can get involved in proxy fights and take control of a company, use leverage.....the only thing they did not propose is changing the name to the Fund Formerly Known as Merger Fund!   I'm selling, thank you, and looking into your other fund ideas!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:07:08 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[garymiller60]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Re: Yale's 25% Allocation to "Absolute Return"]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=2&amp;tof=13&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Good review. I wasn't aware that Yahoo opened up a message board until today. 

There isn't a lot to talk about for Merfx, but you never know. I have had this one for a long time in my IRA and have no intention of selling. If it wasn't for the MCI bond debacle a few years back the returns would be off the chart, considering the risk.

Take care]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:17:39 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[Dr_Data_Too]]></author>
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<title><![CDATA[Yale's 25% Allocation to "Absolute Return"]]></title>
<link>http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Mutual_Funds_%28A_to_Z%29/Mutual_Funds_M/threadview?m=tm&amp;bn=36898&amp;tid=1&amp;mid=1&amp;tof=14&amp;off=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[I was astounded to find that, as of 12/05, Yale Endowment had a 25% target allocation to "Absolute Return" strategies (such as those used by MERFX & PAEDX) and only 5% to bonds. Source:

<a href=http://www.yale.edu/investments/Yale_Endowment_...>www.yale.edu/investments/Yale_Endowment_...</a>

That 2005 Annual Report says, "Over the 10-year period ending 6/30/05, the [whole] Endowment earned an annualized 17.4 percent return, net of fees, placing it in the top one percent of large institutional investors.

Here's another key quote from p. 20 of the Yale Endowment 2005 Annual Report:
"The [absolute return] portfolio has returned an annualized 12.7 percent in the fifteen years since its inception [in July 1990], outperforming its benchmark by 1.7 percent [the benchmark is the "One-Year Constant Maturity Treasury plus 6%"]. In addition, the portfolio has outperformed the Wilshire 5000 return of 10.8 percent over the relevant time period. The monthly standard deviation of the portfolio was a remarkably low 5.1 percent annualized, relative to the 14.6 percent volatility exhibited by the Wilshire 5000. The correlation of monthly returns with the Wilshire 5000 has been exactly zero, highlighting the significant diversification effect of the asset class." For reference, the standard deviation for Vanguard's Total Bond Market Index Fund for the 10 years ending 12/31/06 is 3.54%.

So how can individual investors access this asset class via mutual funds? There are a very limited number of funds available. Here are the three that I am presently using; the statistics are from finance.yahoo.com:

PAEDX, Pennsylvania Avenue Event-Driven Fund.
<a href=http://pennavefunds.com/event-driven-fun...>http://pennavefunds.com/event-driven-fun...</a>
3-Yr annualized return to 12/31/06: 16.6%
Expense Ratio: 1.50%
3-Yr standard deviation to 12/31/06: 7.7
R-squared for 3-years ending 12/31/06: 19
Morningstar Rating: *****
(Nearly all of my 10% absolute return allocation has been in PAEDX since several months after its inception on 11/21/03.)

ARBFX, The Arbitrage Fund.
3-Yr annualized return to 12/31/06: 2.0%
3-Yr standard deviation to 12/31/06: 5.0
R-squared for 3-years ending 12/31/06: 53
5-Yr annualized return to 12/31/06: 6.0%
Expense Ratio: 1.95%
Morningstar Rating: ***

MERFX, The Merger Fund.
3-Yr annualized return to 12/31/06: 4.7%
3-Yr standard deviation to 12/31/06: 3.4
R-squared for 3-years ending 12/31/06: 35
5-Yr annualized return to 12/31/06: 3.8%
Expense Ratio: 2.08% according to finance.yahoo.com, but a document from the fund company says 1.38%.
Morningstar Rating: **

I am only aware of two other arbitrage mutual funds: GABCX and EMAAX. But their 3-Yr annualized returns to 12/31/06 are about half of PAEDX's or less. Note that merger arbitrage necessarily involves high turnover and thus is not tax efficient; it's best to keep it in a tax-protected retirement or endowment account. The high turnover and attendant extra research time helps to explain the relatively high expense ratios of arbitrage funds. Best, Neil]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:07:08 GMT</pubDate>
<author><![CDATA[docneil88]]></author>
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