CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Combined  Proxy
Statement and Prospectus  constituting  parts of this registration  statement on
Form N-14 (the "N-14 Registration  Statement") of (i) our reports dated December
6, 2002,  relating to the  financial  statements  and  financial  highlights  of
Provident  Investment Counsel Growth Fund I, Provident  Investment Counsel Small
Cap Growth Fund I,  Provident  Investment  Counsel Small Company  Growth Fund A,
Provident  Investment Counsel Twenty Fund I and Provident Investment Counsel Mid
Cap Fund B and  (ii)  our  reports  dated  December  6,  2002,  relating  to the
financial statements and selected ratio data of PIC Growth Portfolio,  PIC Small
Cap Portfolio and Mid Cap Portfolio, which appear in the October 31, 2002 Annual
Reports to Shareholders of Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund I, Provident
Investment  Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund I, Provident  Investment Counsel Small
Company Growth Fund A, Provident  Investment Counsel Twenty Fund I and Provident
Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund B, which are also incorporated by reference into
the N-14 Registration  Statement.  We also consent to the references to us under
the headings "Service Providers" and "Experts" in such Registration Statement.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York
September 15, 2003