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At a Glance
Harris Associates L.P., Adviser to The Oakmark Funds


Firm information
• Harris Associates L. P. was founded in 1976
• First Oakmark mutual fund was started in 1991
• Over $59 billion total assets under management (as of 3/31/08)
 
  The Oakmark Funds represent $31.5 billion of that total
• 183 employees
• Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois
• Harris Associates is an indirect subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P. and operates autonomously.

Investment products
• Value equity and balanced portfolios for institutions and high net worth individuals have been managed since inception in 1976 -- U.S. Domestic, International, and Balanced separate account products
• The Oakmark Funds -- 3 domestic, 2 global, 2 international
First mutual fund: Oakmark Fund (OAKMX), inception 8/5/91
Latest mutual fund: Oakmark Global Select Fund (OAKWX), inception 10/2/06
• Website addresses: www.harrisassoc.com, www.oakmark.com, www.harrisinst.com

About Us

Harris Associates L.P. was founded in 1976 by experienced investment professionals to provide investment advice to wealthy individuals and institutions. These professionals, who had formerly worked in the private investment office of a prominent Chicago entrepreneur, created and refined the distinct value investment philosophy that has guided the firm since its inception.

Investment Philosophy
All portfolio managers at Harris Associates and The Oakmark Funds adhere to the same value investment philosophy: we utilize an intensive, in-house research process to identify companies that we believe are trading at a substantial discount to underlying business value--the price a rational businessperson would pay, in cash, to own the entire business. We view every stock purchase as if we were buying a piece of the business, not just a stock certificate.

Investment Process
From the universe of thousands of equity securities, our team generates investment ideas in a variety of ways, including the screening of database and industry resources. If a security appears attractive, our analysts perform detailed quantitative and qualitative research on the company and its management team.

Analysts then present their recommendations to our Stock Selection Group, a weekly meeting of the firm's investment professionals. Our most experienced portfolio managers approve stocks for inclusion on the firm's Approved List of 125 to 150 securities.

For each stock added to the Approved List, the analyst sets a specific buy and sell target. Targets are carefully reviewed by the analyst and updated regularly to ensure that the target price reflects fundamental changes in the company's business and, therefore, its underlying value. Portfolio managers then construct focused portfolios from the firm's Approved List.

Research Process
• Focus on company fundamentals--find the best companies at the best prices rather than investing in companies that make up a particular market index. Thus, industry allocation is a fallout of the stock selection process.
• All of the analysts are generalists and search for value in the stock market wherever it may be regardless of industry. This structure provides the analysts with a much broader perspective and allows them to assess relative values among companies in different industry sectors.
• Analysts focus on free cash flow and company management, in addition to more traditional measures of valuing stocks such as P/E or P/B.
• Portfolios are composed of securities the team believes have the following qualities:
• Significant appreciation potential
• High degree of management ownership
• Limited downside risk
• Attractive valuation


Investment Team
(in alphabetical order)

James P. Benson , CFA
Partner and Investment Analyst

  • BA, Westminster College, 1979
  • MBA, Northwestern University, 1981
  • Formerly an EVP and Director of Equity Research for Ryan Beck & Co., 1993-1997; VP and Special Assistant to the Chairman of The Dime Savings Bank of New York, 1990-1992; and VP and Senior Equity Analyst for Drexel Burnham Lambert, 1987-1990
  • 26 years of investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1997
Henry R. Berghoef , CFA
Partner and Director of Research

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Select Fund
  • BA, Calvin College, 1971
  • MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1974
  • MBA, George Washington University, 1985
  • Formerly an Investment Analyst with Kirr, Marbach & Co., 1990-1993; Investment Analyst with Geico Corporation, 1985-1990; Manager of Investment Insurance with Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 1979-1984; International Economist with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1977-1979; and Legislative Aide of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1977
  • 21 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1994
Eric J. Bokota , CFA
International Investment Analyst

  • BS, Miami University of Ohio, 2000
  • Formerly a Research Associate at Brandes Investment Partners, 2001-2003
  • 6 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2004
Judson H. Brooks , CFA
Investment Analyst

  • BA, Indiana University, 1993
  • MBA, University of Chicago, 1998
  • Formerly a Research Analyst for Ariel Capital Management, 1998-2001
  • 9 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2001
Chad M. Clark , CFA
Partner, Portfolio Manager and International Investment Analyst

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark International Small Cap Fund
  • BS, Carnegie Mellon University, 1994
  • Formerly a Financial Analyst with William Blair & Company in the Corporate Finance Department, 1994-1995
  • 13 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1995
Anthony P. Coniaris , CFA
Investment Analyst

  • BA, Wheaton College, 1999
  • MBA, Northwestern University, 2005
  • Formerly Research Associate with Harris Associates 1999-2003
  • 8 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1999
Kurt C. Funderburg
Investment Analyst

  • BS, West Virginia University, 1987
  • MBA, Pennsylvania State University, 1992
  • Formerly Senior Vice President-Equity Analyst at Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc., 1993-2000; Investment Officer at Mercantile Safe Deposit & Trust Co., 1992-1993
  • 15 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2000
Kevin G. Grant , CFA
Partner, Portfolio Manager and Investment Analyst

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Fund
  • BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1987
  • MBA, Loyola University, 1991
  • 16 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1988
David G. Herro , CFA
Partner and Chief Investment Officer, International Equity

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark International Fund, The Oakmark International Small Cap Fund, and The Oakmark Global Select Fund
  • BS, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 1983
  • MA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1985
  • Formerly a Portfolio Manager with The State of Wisconsin Investment Board, 1989-1992, and The Principal Financial Group, 1986-1989
  • 22 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1992
M. Colin Hudson , CFA
Investment Analyst

  • BA, DePauw University, 1992
  • MS, Indiana University, 1995
  • MBA, Indiana University, 1999
  • Formerly a Vice President and Director of Research at Hilliard, Lyons Asset Management, 1999-2005; Investment Analyst at Wallington Asset Management, 1998-1999
  • 9 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2005
Robert M. Levy , CFA
Partner, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer

  • BA, Vanderbilt University, 1972
  • MBA, Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, 1974
  • Formerly a Portfolio Manager and Director, Gofen and Glossberg, Inc., 1977-1985
  • 31 years of investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1985
Michael L. Manelli , CFA
International Investment Analyst

  • BBA, University of Iowa, 2000
  • Formerly a Research Associate/Analyst at Morgan Stanley, 2001-2005
  • 7 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2005
Clyde S. McGregor , CFA
Partner and Portfolio Manager

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Equity and Income Fund and The Oakmark Global Fund
  • BA, Oberlin College, 1974
  • MBA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1977
  • Formerly an Investment Officer of the Northern Trust Company, 1977-1981
  • 30 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1981
Win Murray
Investment Analyst

  • BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1992
  • MBA, Georgia State University, 1996
  • Formerly Equity Analyst at Colonial Management/Fleet Bank, 1999-2003; Sector Portfolio Manager at ASB Capital Management, 1997-1999; Equity Analyst at Federated Investors, 1996-1997
  • 12 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2003
William C. Nygren , CFA
Partner and Portfolio Manager

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Fund, The Oakmark Select Fund, and The Oakmark Global Select Fund
  • BS, University of Minnesota, 1980
  • MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison Applied Security Analysis Program, 1981
  • Formerly Director of Research of Harris Associates, 1990-1998; Investment Analyst with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1981-1983
  • 26 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1983
Christine J. Pilat
Fixed Income Manager

  • BA, Western Illinois University, 1973
  • Formerly a Portfolio Manager and AVP of LaSalle National Bank, 1976-1989; and Administrative Assistant for Arlington Financial Services, 1973-1976
  • 34 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1989
Pierre O. Py
International Investment Analyst

  • Master in Science of Management, HEC "Grande Ecole" - Paris, France, 1999
  • LLM, University of Pantheon-Assas, Paris II - Paris, France, 1999
  • MBA, Harvard Business School, 2005
  • Formerly a Research Associate at Trust Company of the West (TCW), 2004; Investment Banking Associate at Salomon Smith Barney, 2000-03; and Principal Investment Analyst at Goldman Sachs, 1999-00
  • 7 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2005
John R. Raitt , CFA
Partner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Associates L.P., President of The Oakmark Funds

  • BA, Williams College, 1978
  • MBA, Northwestern University, 1980
  • Formerly Director of Research of Harris Associates, 1998-2002; Investment Officer with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1980-1986
  • 27 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1986
Edward A. Studzinski , CFA
Partner, Investment Analyst and Portfolio Manager

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Equity and Income Fund
  • AB, Boston College, 1971
  • JD, Duke University School of Law, 1974
  • MBA, Northwestern University, 1985
  • Formerly a VP and Investment Officer with Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, 1986-1995; private law practice, 1980-1985; Staff Accountant with Arthur Young & Co., 1978-1980; and Officer on active duty in the U.S. Navy, 1974-1978
  • 22 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1995
Robert A. Taylor , CFA
Partner, Director of International Research and Portfolio Manager

  • Portfolio Manager of The Oakmark Global Fund
  • BBA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994
  • 13 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 1994
Edward J. Wojciechowski , CFA
Investment Analyst and Director of Fixed Income

  • BS, Marquette University, 1995
  • Formerly Portfolio Manager, and Equity and Fixed Income Analyst at Strong Capital Management, 1993-2005
  • 12 years investment experience
  • Joined Harris Associates in 2005


Portfolio Manager Photos (for download)
    Download
Manager Name Fund(s) Managed .tif .jpg
Clyde McGregor Equity and Income Fund
Global Fund
csm.tif csm.jpg
Bill Nygren Oakmark Fund
Select Fund
Global Select Fund
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Kevin Grant Oakmark Fund
kg.tif kg.jpg
Henry Berghoef Select Fund
hrb.tif hrb.jpg
Edward Studzinski Equity and Income Fund
eas.tif eas.jpg
David Herro International Fund
Intl. Small Cap Fund
Global Select Fund
dgh.tif dgh.jpg
Chad Clark Intl. Small Cap Fund
cmc.tif cmc.jpg
Rob Taylor Global Fund
rat.tif rat.jpg



Media Contact

Name Contact Information
Mike Neary Phone: 312-621-3806
  Email: mneary@oakmark.com
   
Harris Associates L.P. Main Phone: 312-621-0600



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The Oakmark Equity and Income Fund is open to existing shareholders, retirement plans, and investors who purchase directly from Oakmark.

For more information on The Oakmark Funds, including a prospectus which explains management fees and expenses and the special risks of investing in the Funds, please call 1-800-OAKMARK. Click here to view the prospectus on-line. Please read it carefully before investing. An investor should consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. This and other information about the Funds are contained in the Funds' prospectus.

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Copyright 2008, Harris Associates Securities L.P., Distributor, Member FINRA.