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Citizens Value Fund Caps Expenses Below Averages New Institutional Share Class Launches

Citizens Value Fund Caps Expenses Below Averages New Institutional Share Class Launches

Published 04-03-06

Submitted by Citizens Value Fund

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2006--Citizens Advisers announced that it has lowered the total expense ratio of the Citizens Value Fund to 1.29%, putting the fund's expenses below the Morningstar Large Blend and Lipper Large-Cap Core category averages.

The company is also announcing the launch of an Institutional share class of the Citizens Value Fund. The I-shares will have a total expense ratio of 0.90% with a $1 million minimum investment and are available now.

"The Citizens Value Fund has been a solid performer for several years and is becoming better known among both individual and institutional investors," said Sean Driscoll, executive vice president. "A reduced expense ratio and Institutional share class should add to that momentum."

Over three years ago, Sophia Collier, president and founder of Citizens Advisers, began managing the fund with a rigorous "relative value" investment process. The combination of a well defined and repeatable investment process, as well as manager skill, has delivered strong results. Consider the following about the Citizens Value Fund.

  • Received a 4-Star Morningstar Rating(TM) for the three-year
    period ending 2/28/06

  • Ranked in the 4th percentile by Lipper Analytical Services for
    the 3 year annualized period ending 2/28/06

  • Outperformed the Morningstar Large Blend average for the
    3-year annualized period ending 2/28/06

  • Outperformed its benchmark (S&P 500 Index) for the 1- and
    3-year annualized periods ending 2/28/06




    Citizens Value Fund: Average Annual Returns and Rankings as of
    2/28/06:
    Category1 YEAR3 YEAR (ANNUALIZED)5 YEAR (ANNUALIZED)SINCE INCEPTION
    Citizens Value Fund10.88%20.41%0.78%8.27%
    td>
    S&P 500 Index8.40%17.10%2.36%8.63%
    td>
    Morningstar Large Blend category average9.06%16.80%2.18%--
    Lipper rankings - Large -Cap Core category17%4%56%--





    Citizens Value Fund: Average Annual Return and Rankings as of
    12/31/05:
    Category1 YEAR3 YEAR (ANNUALIZED)5 YEAR (ANNUALIZED)SINCE INCEPTION
    Citizens Value Fund7.93%17.09%1.61%7.94%
    td>
    S&P 500 Index4.91%14.38%0.54%8.45%
    Morningstar Large Blend category average5.77%14.00%0.50%--
    Lipper rankings - Large -Cap Core category17%5%14%--

    Data presented reflects past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance, including the most recent month-end performance, which may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, may be obtained at www.citizensfunds.com. 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. Fee waivers are currently in place and were instituted in the past to maintain expense limit without which returns would have been lower. Performance data includes that of the Meyers Pride Value Fund, established on June 13, 1996 (fund's inception date), which contributed its portfolio securities in exchange for Standard shares of Citizens Value Fund on September 24, 2001.

    The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged broad-based index that includes 500 of the most widely held U.S. companies. Direct investment cannot be made in this index.

    The Morningstar Large Blend category

    Large-blend portfolios are fairly representative of the overall U.S. stock market in size, growth rates, and price. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large-cap. The blend style is assigned to portfolios where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. These portfolios tend to invest across the spectrum of U.S. industries, and owing to their broad exposure, the portfolios' returns are often similar to those of the S&P 500 Index.

    Morningstar Rating(TM)

    For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating based on risk-adjusted return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including the effects certain fees) placing more emphasis on downward variation and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4-stars, the next 35% receive 3-stars, the next 22.5% receive 2-stars and the bottom 120% receive 1-star. (Each share class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the distribution percentages) The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar rating metrics. The Citizens Value Fund was rated against the following number of U.S. -- domiciled large blend funds over the following time periods ending 2/28/06: HHHH 4-stars among 1,477 funds for the 3-year period, H 1-star among 1,147 funds for the 5-year period, and HH 2-stars among 1,477 funds for the overall rating. Morningstar rating is for the Standard share class only; other classes may have different performance characteristics.

    (C) 2006 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and /or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

    Lipper rankings are for Standard shares when rated by Lipper, Inc. among large-cap core funds based on the total return for the one-, three- and five-years periods ended 12/31/05 and ended 2/28/06. The Citizens Value Fund was ranked against the following number of U.S. large cap core equity funds over the following time periods ending 12/31/05: ranked 141 out of 877 funds for the 1 year period, 34 out of 745 funds for the 3 year period and 80 out of 606 funds for the 5 year period; and for time periods ending 2/28/06: ranked 145 out of 894 funds for the 1 year period, 29 out of 765 funds for the 3 year period and 346 out of 623 funds for the 5 year period.

    Stock values fluctuate in response to individual company actions, as well as general economic, political and market conditions. Value stocks may fall or remain flat if certain conditions or investor perceptions do not change as expected, or if the companies prove not to be under priced.

    Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of Citizens Funds carefully before investing. For this and other information, please call or visit www.citizensfunds.com for a free prospectus and read it carefully before investing.

    Distributed by Citizens Securities, Inc.

    About Citizens Advisers

    Founded in 1982, and with $850M in assets under management, Citizens Advisers has been a thought leader in its approach to investment management and socially responsible. With a core focus on strong, long-term performance, Citizens' mission is to generate the best possible returns for shareholders by investing in companies that are fundamentally strong and socially responsible. Citizens' unique investment management approach revolves around its proprietary integrated research that takes into account financials, in combination with all the variables that affect prospects for success and growth over time. For more information, please visit www.citizensfunds.com.

    Copyright Business Wire 2006

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