N-30D 1 dn30d.htm ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 12/31/2002 Annual Report for the Period Ended 12/31/2002

 

LOGO

 

 

 

SAFECO Mutual Funds  

Annual Report

 

LOGO

 

 

SAFECO Stock Funds

    

Growth Opportunities Fund

  

1

Equity Fund

  

6

Dividend Income Fund

  

11

Northwest Fund

  

16

International Stock Fund

  

21

Balanced Fund

  

27

Small Company Value Fund

  

34

U.S. Value Fund

  

39

Small Company Growth Fund

  

44

U.S. Growth Fund

  

49

SAFECO Taxable Bond Funds

    

High-Yield Bond Fund

  

54

Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

  

61

U.S. Government Fund

  

64

Managed Bond Fund

  

68

SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Funds

    

California Tax-Free Income Fund

  

73

Municipal Bond Fund

  

78

SAFECO Money Market Fund

    

Money Market Fund

  

85

 


Report From The Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

LOGO    Thomas M. Maguire

 

How did the funds perform?

The SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund posted negative returns and significantly underperformed its benchmark index, the Russell 2000, during the year ended December 31, 2002. Although the Fund performed very well in 2001, the performance this past year has contributed to the Fund lagging the benchmark for the trailing five-year period also.

 

The year just ended was the toughest year I have experienced in the 19 years that I have been managing portfolios. There may be room for optimism; however. The Fund’s performance relative to the benchmark has, since mid-August and through year-end, improved consistently.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The performance of the Fund in 2002 was a direct result of positioning it aggressively in late 2001 to benefit from an economic recovery that I thought would occur in 2002. The year did not see crystal-clear recovery signs and the market sold off. The market was hit not only by the economy but also by accounting scandals, major company bankruptcies and war fears.

 

My strategy has been to buy early-stage companies that have the potential to grow into big companies. Last year was not a good year for these companies, as investors worried more about capital preservation than capital appreciation.

 

Early-stage companies offer significant appreciation potential. They also present risks. In a bad market, as 2002 was, the risks draw the most focus. A number of our health care stocks have later-stage products in their research pipeline. I believe these products have the potential to be very successful once introduced to their markets. However, since the products are still in the research stage, investors in bad markets worry about their success when and if the products come to market. Conceptus, Atherogenix and La Jolla Pharmaceutical are examples of companies where investors focused on product risks versus the potential.

 

Some of our companies were hurt by profit shortfalls. Two examples of this: PLATO Learning, an educational software company, was hurt by tight budgets at school districts across the country, and Matria Healthcare, a disease management company, had to reduce profit guidance as contracts with potential customers were pushed out.

 

PolyMedica, the Fund’s largest holding, and Prime Medical Services bucked the down market trend and appreciated handsomely in 2002. Both of these companies had depressed stock prices at yearend 2001 and reported strong profits during 2002. Station Casinos was another solid performer as its Las Vegas area casinos, targeted to the local population, held up well and the company announced expansion plans outside of Nevada.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

1


Report From The Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What changes did you make and why?

There were a number of changes made to the Fund during the second half of 2002. First and foremost was the decrease in health care holdings. Health care had become a large part of the Fund’s assets and it is important to diversify holdings into some other areas of the market that would benefit as the economy entered the recovery stage. I also cut back or eliminated some of the Fund’s smaller, non-core holdings, so I could place greater focus on the remaining names.

 

What is your outlook for the fund?

As mentioned above, the year ended with stronger performance than it began. I continue to look for small companies with strong fundamentals. At the present time I am cautiously optimistic concerning 2003. I realize the uncertainties the market is dealing with, not the least of which is potential war and a slow economy. However I think many of those risks are priced into the stock market already.

 

While I have been rebalancing the holdings in the Fund to maximize performance and minimize overexposure to one industry, I have also tried very hard not to disturb what I consider to be the core holdings—those companies I believe can grow faster than the market when recovery takes hold. I believe these continuing efforts will help the Fund recover lost ground in 2003 and that the Fund will see improved performance.

 

Thomas M. Maguire, MBA

 

Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA Business Administration, University of Washington (1976); MBA, University of Washington (1980)

 

Thomas M. Maguire started his investment career as an equity analyst at SAFECO in 1981. In 1984, he became a co-portfolio manager of the SAFECO Equity Fund, and in 1989 assumed sole responsibility for the SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund.

 

Managerial change update:

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company’s growth opportunities investment team, which is comprised of equity managers and analysts, assumed management of the SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund in February 2003. Team management allows broader coverage of this highly complex market and increased input into the investment process.

 

2


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(40.66

)%

  

(5.91

)%

    

7.47

%

  

(37.05

)%

  

(4.79

)%

    

8.11

%

Class B

  

(40.66

)%

  

(5.90

)%

    

7.63

%

  

(37.53

)%

  

(5.54

)%

    

7.63

%

Class C

  

(38.11

)%

  

(5.54

)%

    

7.60

%

  

(37.49

)%

  

(5.54

)%

    

7.60

%

Russell 2000 Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(20.48

)%

  

(1.36

)%

    

7.16

%

Lipper, Inc. (Small-Cap Core Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(18.23

)%

  

3.19

 %

    

8.73

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES     

Percent of Net Assets

 

Diversified Commercial Services

    

15

%

Health Care Equipment

    

10

 

Application Software

    

9

 

Biotechnology

    

9

 

Health Care Supplies

    

8

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS     

Percent of Net Assets

 

PolyMedica Corp.
(Health Care Supplies)

    

7.2

%

Iron Mountain, Inc.
(Diversified Commercial Services)

    

6.1

 

NCO Group, Inc.
(Diversified Commercial Services)

    

5.6

 

MICROS Systems, Inc.
(Application Software)

    

5.4

 

Conceptus, Inc.
(Health Care Equipment)

    

5.2

 

TMP Worldwide, Inc.
(Advertising)

    

3.8

 

Serologicals Corp.
(Biotechnology)

    

3.1

 

iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund (Indexed Securities)

    

3.0

 

United Stationers, Inc.
(Office Services & Supplies)

    

2.9

 

RMH Teleservices, Inc.
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

2.3

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
  

Cost
(000’s)


TMP Worldwide, Inc.

  

$

19,500

iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund

  

 

12,617

Stellent, Inc.

  

 

11,787

THQ, Inc.

  

 

10,641

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.

  

 

8,961

TOP FIVE SALES
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
  

Proceeds (000’s)


iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund

  

$

40,422

Corinthian Colleges, Inc.

  

 

28,061

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

  

 

21,851

United Stationers, Inc.

  

 

17,626

iShares S&P 2000 SmallCap 600 Index Fund

  

 

16,687

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

3


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—92.3%

      

Advertising—3.8%

      

1,477,700 

*

  

TMP Worldwide, Inc.

  

$

16,713

Apparel Retail—0.1%

      

66,700 

 

  

Wet Seal, Inc. (Class A)

  

 

718

Application Software—8.8%

      

1,061,928 

*†

  

MICROS Systems, Inc.

  

 

23,808

1,239,766 

*†

  

PLATO Learning, Inc.

  

 

7,364

235,898 

*

  

Private Business, Inc.

  

 

349

544,300 

*

  

THQ, Inc.

  

 

7,212

Auto Parts & Equipment—1.5%

      

937,800 

*†

  

IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

  

 

4,398

937,800 

*†

  

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.

  

 

2,204

Banks—1.5%

      

230,302

 

  

Doral Financial Corp.

  

 

6,587

Biotechnology—8.5%

      

275,000 

*

  

Applied Molecular Evolution, Inc.

  

 

564

1,340,900 

*

  

AtheroGenics, Inc.

  

 

9,936

664,800 

*

  

Bio-Technology General Corp.

  

 

2,128

25,840 

*

  

Ista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  

 

81

930,100 

*†

  

North American Scientific, Inc.

  

 

8,362

587,500 

*

  

Novavax, Inc.

  

 

1,527

396,100 

*

  

Pain Therapeutics, Inc.

  

 

947

  1,254,973 

*†

  

Serologicals Corp.

  

 

13,805

Casinos & Gaming—1.6%

      

389,800 

*

  

Station Casinos, Inc.

  

 

6,899

Catalog Retail—0.1%

      

479,500 

*†

  

Concepts Direct, Inc.

  

 

278

Diversified Commercial Services—14.7%

      

267,700 

*

  

FirstService Corp.

  

 

4,305

812,680 

*

  

Iron Mountain, Inc.

  

 

26,827

130,300 

*

  

Kroll, Inc.

  

 

2,486

1,539,552 

*†

  

NCO Group, Inc.

  

 

24,556

86,100 

*

  

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

  

 

4,301

608,400 

*

  

ResortQuest International, Inc.

  

 

2,294

Diversified Financial Services—2.0%

      

2,465,700 

*†

  

Rent-Way, Inc.

  

 

8,630

Footwear—1.4%

334,900 

*

  

Steven Madden, Ltd.

  

 

6,214

Health Care Distributors & Services—2.6%

366,100 

*

  

American Healthways, Inc.

  

 

6,407

865,500 

*

  

MIM Corp.

  

 

5,020

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Health Care Equipment—10.0%

455,000 

*†

  

American Medical Alert Corp.

  

 $

1,119

176,300 

*

  

BioLase Technology, Inc.

  

 

968

  1,897,200 

*†

  

Conceptus, Inc.

  

 

22,728

1,187,200 

*

  

Endocare, Inc. (Illiquid) ††

  

 

2,374

1,300,000 

*

  

LifePoint, Inc.

  

 

2,028

1,172,500 

*†

  

Med-Design Corp.

  

 

9,448

1,800,000 

*†

  

PhotoMedex, Inc.

  

 

3,456

152,100 

*

  

Physiometrix, Inc.

  

 

84

49,000 

*

  

SonoSite, Inc.

  

 

640

861,000 

*†

  

SpectRx, Inc.

  

 

1,386

Health Care Facilities—4.0%

842,175 

*†

  

Matria Healthcare, Inc.

  

 

7,318

937,800 

*†

  

Prime Medical Services, Inc.

  

 

8,131

636,800 

*

  

Res-Care, Inc.

  

 

2,311

Health Care Supplies—7.7%

1,025,600 

*†

  

PolyMedica Corp.

  

 

31,630

300,800 

*

  

Thoratec Corp.

  

 

2,295

Integrated Telecommunications Services—2.3%

968,672 

*†

  

RMH Teleservices, Inc.

  

 

10,171

Internet Software & Services—3.5%

1,409,003 

*†

  

Stellent, Inc.

  

 

6,255

424,500 

*

  

Websense, Inc.

  

 

9,068

IT Consulting & Services—1.2%

1,069,508 

*

  

CIBER, Inc.

  

 

5,508

Office Services & Supplies—2.9%

443,600 

*

  

United Stationers, Inc.

  

 

12,776

Paper Packaging—0.5%

522,300 

 

  

Intertape Polymer Group, Inc.

  

 

2,152

Personal Products—2.9%

623,600 

*

  

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.

  

 

9,229

307,200 

*

  

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (Class A)

  

 

3,677

Pharmaceuticals—7.0%

268,300 

*

  

Connetics Corp.

  

 

3,225

  1,149,425 

*

  

Discovery Laboratories, Inc.

  

 

3,230

292,235 

*

  

Emisphere Technologies, Inc.

  

 

1,017

1,059,300 

*

  

First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corp.

  

 

7,921

146,400 

*

  

Impax Laboratories, Inc.

  

 

587

1,216,000 

*

  

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co.

  

 

7,904

835,000 

*†

  

Nastech Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

  

 

7,139

Soft Drinks—0.7%

48,500

 

  

Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

  

 

3,129

Specialty Chemicals—0.5%

530,000 

*

  

Omnova Solutions, Inc.

  

 

2,136

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

4


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Specialty Stores—0.1%

  542,213

 *†

  

Harold’s Stores, Inc.

  

 $

553

Systems Software—0.8%

275,000

 *

  

BEA Systems, Inc.

  

 

3,154

831,700

 *†

  

Sphinx International, Inc. (Illiquid)

  

 

333

Telecommunications Equipment—0.2%

397,400

 *

  

Innotrac Corp.

  

 

890

Trucking—1.4%

219,800

 *

  

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

  

 

6,231

           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $488,447)

  

 

407,121

           

INDEXED SECURITIES—4.9%

Indexed Securities—4.9%

330,000

 

  

iShares Russell 2000

Growth Index Fund

  

 

13,151

132,000

 

  

iShares S&P SmallCap

600/BARRA Growth Index Fund

  

 

8,593

           

TOTAL INDEXED SECURITIES (cost $20,831)

  

 

21,744

           

WARRANTS—0.9%

Health Care Equipment—0.3%

113,750

 *

  

American Medical Alert Corp. (Exp. 4/19/07)††

  

 

113

92,625

 *

  

Endocare, Inc. (Illiquid)

(Exp. 11/23/05)††

  

 

123

260,000

 *

  

LifePoint, Inc. (Exp. 3/27/07)††

  

 

214

156,000

 *

  

LifePoint, Inc. (Exp. 7/21/07)††

  

 

135

450,000

 *

  

PhotoMedex, Inc.

(Exp. 6/12/07)††

  

 

529

172,200

 *

  

SpectRx, Inc. (Exp. 6/04/06)††

  

 

200

Integrated Telecommunications Services—0.4%

345,724

 *

  

RMH Teleservices, Inc.

(Exp. 9/28/06)††

  

 

1,603

Pharmaceuticals—0.2%

229,885

 *

  

Discovery Laboratories, Inc.

(Exp. 10/01/06)††

  

 

153

217,500

 *

  

Nastech Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

(Exp. 3/19/06)††

  

 

1,012

           

TOTAL WARRANTS (cost $43)

  

 

4,082

           

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


CASH EQUIVALENTS—1.2%

Investment Companies

  5,063,031

  

AIM Short-Term Investments

Co. Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

$

5,063

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $5,063)

  

 

5,063

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $514,384)—99.3%

  

 

438,010

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

3,056

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

441,066

         

 

  *   Non-income producing security.
  †   Affiliated issuer as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Fund controls 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the company). Total cost of such securities is $253,665,000 and the total value is $203,072,000 or 46.04% of net assets.
††   Securities are valued at fair value as determined under the supervision of the Board of Trustees.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

5


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO

  

Richard Meagley

   

 

How did the fund perform?

For the year ending December 31, 2002, the SAFECO Equity Fund was down, lagging its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index.

 

During the second half of the year, performance began to improve and we ended 2002 with a strong fourth quarter. On a longer-term basis, performance of the Equity Fund versus the S&P 500 has been improving. The strong fourth quarter helped and the lingering negative effects of owning less technology than the benchmark in late 1999 and early 2000 are diminishing.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The year ended with improved performance during the fourth quarter, helped by various telephone, technology, industrial and financial holdings. This improvement, however, was not enough to salvage the full year.

 

During 2002 the Fund was hurt mainly by company-specific problems in the first half of the year. Each company, Tyco International, AOL Time Warner, El Paso Corp., and Qwest Communications, grew quickly during the last part of the 1990s. All of these stocks dropped significantly in the first half of the year. AOL Time Warner remains in the Fund. The others have been eliminated, but not before they adversely affected performance.

 

What changes did you make and why?

The changes made recently to the Fund focus on improving the consistency of the Fund’s performance versus the benchmark. This past year, I have focused on deciding more quickly when a company’s fundamentals have changed dramatically—versus when they have just hit a bump in the road—and on lessening the impact to the Fund of the inevitable bumps in the road that companies do hit.

 

These changes have resulted in exiting certain positions more quickly than in the past, and in increasing the number of holdings in the Fund. The increase in names will allow the Fund to participate in long-term trends, but in a more consistent manner. For example, healthcare should be a good place to invest long term, but the past few years have shown that individual companies are not as predictable or consistent as we once thought. By adding to the number of holdings while keeping the overall exposure to healthcare the same, I believe we can participate long term with increased consistency.

 

What is your outlook for the fund?

The Equity Fund is predominately positioned as a buy-and-hold fund. I believe the larger holdings should provide competitive returns over longer time periods. We have a slowly recovering economy, and quarter-to-quarter returns that vary dramatically by economic sector.

 

My outlook, then, is to adhere to the buy-and-hold strategy while looking for companies that are poised to benefit from a slowly improving economy. In my opinion, retaining the vast majority of assets in

 

6


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

longer-term holdings, and also investing in some companies with lower long-term growth but with potential for cyclical earnings recovery, will benefit performance.

 

Richard Meagley, MBA, CFA

 

Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA Economics, Wake Forest University (1977); MBA Finance, University of Washington (1982); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) (1986)

 

Richard Meagley joined SAFECO Asset Management Company as an equity analyst in 1983, and was a portfolio manager from 1988 to 1992.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

7


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(30.80

)%

  

(5.56

)%

    

7.66

%

  

(26.59

)%

  

(4.43

)%

    

8.30

%

Class B

  

(30.79

)%

  

(5.58

)%

    

7.78

%

  

(27.14

)%

  

(5.24

)%

    

7.78

%

Class C

  

(27.84

)%

  

(5.21

)%

    

7.77

%

  

(27.11

)%

  

(5.21

)%

    

7.77

%

S&P 500 Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(22.12

)%

  

(0.59

)%

    

9.33

%

Lipper, Inc. (Large-Cap Value Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(23.48

)%

  

(1.71

)%

    

7.72

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of
Net Assets

 

Pharmaceuticals

    

13 

%

Diversified Financial Services

    

8

 

Banks

    

8

 

Integrated Oil & Gas

    

6

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

5

 

          

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Pfizer, Inc.

(Pharmaceuticals)

    

4.0 

%

Microsoft Corp.

(Systems Software)

    

3.5

 

Citigroup, Inc.

(Diversified Financial Services)

    

3.3

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.

(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

3.1

 

American International Group, Inc.

(Multi-Line Insurance)

    

3.0

 

Bank of America Corp.

(Banks)

    

2.5

 

Procter & Gamble Co.

(Household Products)

    

2.5

 

General Electric Co.

(Industrial Conglomerates)

    

2.5

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

(General Merchandise Stores)

    

2.2

 

PepsiCo, Inc.

    

2.1

 

(Soft Drinks)

        

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost

(000’s)


Pharmacia Corp.

  

$

19,020

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

19,004

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

14,635

General Motors Corp.

  

 

13,748

Target Corp.

  

 

13,696

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds

(000’s)


Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

$

43,637

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  

 

26,180

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR)

  

 

20,107

General Electric Co.

  

 

19,338

Johnson & Johnson

  

 

19,225

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

8


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—96.6%

      

Aerospace & Defense—2.4%

      

  175,000

 

  

Boeing Co.

  

$

5,773

170,000

 

  

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

10,530

Aluminum—0.8%

      

250,000

 

  

Alcoa, Inc.

  

 

5,695

Application Software—0.3%

      

300,000

 *

  

Siebel Systems, Inc.

  

 

2,244

Automobile Manufacturers—1.0%

      

180,000

 

  

General Motors Corp.

  

 

6,635

Banks—8.2%

      

250,000

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

  

 

17,392

500,000

 

  

U.S. Bancorp

  

 

10,610

400,000

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

13,812

300,000

 

  

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

14,061

Brewers—1.4%

      

200,000

 

  

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  

 

9,680

Computer Hardware—3.9%

      

300,000

 *

  

Dell Computer Corp.

  

 

8,022

250,000

 

  

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  

 

4,340

149,000

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

  

 

11,547

800,000

 *

  

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

  

 

2,488

Computer Storage & Peripherals—0.4%

      

490,000

 *

  

EMC Corp.

  

 

3,009

Construction & Farm Machinery &
Heavy Trucks—1.4%

      

120,000

 

  

Caterpillar, Inc.

  

 

5,486

85,000

 

  

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

3,921

Consumer Finance—0.7%

      

270,000

 

  

MBNA Corp.

  

 

5,135

Data Processing Services—0.9%

      

150,000

 

  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

  

 

5,887

Department Stores—0.7%

      

200,000

 

  

May Department Stores Co.

  

 

4,596

Diversified Commercial Services—0.6%

      

250,000

 

  

IMS Health, Inc.

  

 

4,000

Diversified Financial Services—8.2%

      

250,000

 

  

American Express Co.

  

 

8,838

650,000

 

  

Citigroup, Inc.

  

 

22,874

225,000

 

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

  

 

14,474

410,000

 

  

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  

 

9,840

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Electric Utilities—1.0%

      

  350,000

 

  

Duke Energy Corp.

  

$

6,839

Electrical Components & Equipment—1.0%

      

140,000

 

  

Emerson Electric Co.

  

 

7,119

Food Retail—0.8%

      

350,000

 *

  

Kroger Co.

  

 

5,408

Forest Products—0.6%

      

90,000

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  

 

4,429

General Merchandise Stores—3.6%

      

325,000

 

  

Target Corp.

  

 

9,750

300,000

 

  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  

 

15,153

Health Care Equipment—1.0%

      

240,000

 

  

Baxter International, Inc.

  

 

6,720

Home Furnishings—0.7%

      

215,000

 

  

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

  

 

4,825

Home Improvement Retail—1.7%

      

490,000

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

  

 

11,740

Household Products—3.8%

      

190,000

 

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

9,019

200,000

 

  

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

 

17,188

Housewares & Specialities—0.8%

      

110,000

 

  

Fortune Brands, Inc.

  

 

5,116

Industrial Conglomerates—2.5%

      

700,000

 

  

General Electric Co.

  

 

17,045

Industrial Gases—0.8%

      

100,000

 

  

Praxair, Inc.

  

 

5,777

Industrial Machinery—2.0%

      

70,000

 

  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

  

 

4,540

135,000

 

  

Ingersoll-Rand Co.

  

 

5,813

70,000

 

  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

  

 

3,229

Integrated Oil & Gas—6.2%

      

200,000

 

  

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  

 

13,296

163,695

 

  

ConocoPhillips

  

 

7,921

600,000

 

  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  

 

20,964

Integrated Telecommunications Services—4.6%

      

150,000

 

  

CenturyTel, Inc.

  

 

4,407

500,000

 

  

SBC Communications, Inc.

  

 

13,555

340,000

 

  

Verizon Communications

  

 

13,175

Motorcycle Manufacturers—0.5%

      

75,000

 

  

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

  

 

3,465

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

9


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value (000’s)


Movies & Entertainment—2.5%

      

  700,000

 *

  

AOL Time Warner, Inc.

  

$

9,170

500,000

 

  

Walt Disney Co.

  

 

8,155

Multi-Line Insurance—4.0%

      

360,000

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

  

 

20,826

150,000

 

  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

  

 

6,815

Networking Equipment—1.6%

      

850,000

 *

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

  

 

11,135

Pharmaceuticals—12.5%

      

285,000

 

  

Abbott Laboratories

  

 

11,400

125,000

 

  

Eli Lilly & Co.

  

 

7,938

225,000

 

  

Johnson & Johnson

  

 

12,085

245,000

 

  

Merck & Co., Inc.

  

 

13,869

900,000

 

  

Pfizer, Inc.

  

 

27,513

330,000

 

  

Wyeth

  

 

12,342

Property & Casualty Insurance—0.9%

      

408,483

 *

  

Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Class A)

  

 

5,984

Publishing & Printing—1.2%

      

115,000

 

  

Gannett Co., Inc.

  

 

8,257

Semiconductor Equipment—2.2%

      

260,000

 *

  

Applied Materials, Inc.

  

 

3,388

750,000

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

11,678

Semiconductors—0.7%

      

305,000

 

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

  

 

4,578

Soft Drinks—2.1%

      

345,000

 

  

PepsiCo, Inc.

  

 

14,566

Systems Software—4.3%

      

465,000

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

 

24,041

500,000

 *

  

Oracle Corp.

  

 

5,400

Telecommunications Equipment—0.3%

      

150,000

 

  

Nokia Oyj (ADR)

  

 

2,325

Tobacco—1.8%

      

295,000

 

  

Philip Morris Cos., Inc.

  

 

11,956

           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $605,575)

  

 

660,803

           

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value (000’s)

 

CASH EQUIVALENTS—3.6%

        

Investment Companies

        

  24,579,011

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

$

24,579

 

         


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $24,579)

  

 

24,579

 

         


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $630,154)—100.2%

  

 

685,382

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(2,251

)

         


NET ASSETS

  

$

683,131

 

         


 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

10


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

How did the fund perform?

For the year ending December 31, 2002, the SAFECO Dividend Income Fund underperformed the Russell 1000 Value Index.

 

We have been working towards improving the consistency of results by focusing on portfolio construction, stock valuation and company quality.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Value stocks outperformed growth stocks for the year. Unlike the previous two years when small stocks were the stars, this year there was very little difference between large and small cap indices. Our focus on high quality, large cap, dividend paying stocks allowed us to be relatively defensive in a poor market.

 

Our best performing stocks in the quarter included industrial, telephone and technology stocks that had done poorly earlier in the year. Verizon, Bell South and SBC Communications each gained over 34% in the quarter off historic lows in valuation.

 

The common theme among our worst performing stocks was lowered earnings expectations. These include General Motors (autos), First Industrial Realty Trust (real estate), Interpublic (advertising), and Kimberly-Clark (personal care products). Northrop Grumman declined on sector rotation out of defense names early in the fourth quarter.

 

What changes did you make and why?

This year we have increased the number of holdings in the Fund to gain exposure to additional areas of the economy. A number of these new holdings, including Leggett & Platt (home furnishings), PACCAR (heavy-duty trucks), General Motors (autos) and Dell (computers) have been in cyclical areas. We sold Sun Microsystems due to increasing concerns about the commoditization of the server market. We have also diversified our holdings in healthcare, financials and technology.

 

We continue to have less than 5% cash and maintain a broadly diversified portfolio.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

We believe the economy will continue to improve slowly, avoiding both a double-dip recession and an unsustainable boom. The consumer will continue to spend, but at a slower rate as the mortgage refinancing cycle comes to an end. The government plans to add fiscal stimulus to the monetary stimulus already in place. The remaining piece of the puzzle is for corporations to increase inventories and capital spending as they become more confident of their earnings outlook.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

11


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

The Bush Administration’s plan to reduce or eliminate the double taxation of dividends tops a year when dividends were of increasing interest to investors. Historically dividends have provided around 40% of the stock market’s total return. Last year stocks in the S&P 500 that pay dividends outperformed the index, declining by 18.4% vs. 22.1%, while those that did not pay dividends declined an average of 30.3%. We have already seen more signs that corporations are thinking more favorably about instituting or increasing their dividends than we have seen in years. We believe our philosophy of focusing on companies with growing dividends fits well into this trend.

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company’s dividend income investment team, which is comprised of equity managers and analysts, assumed management of SAFECO Dividend Income Fund in April 2001. Team management allows broader coverage of this highly complex market and increased input into the investment process.

 

12


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(22.30

)%

  

(6.47

)%

    

4.97

%

  

(17.57

)%

  

(5.36

)%

    

5.59

%

Class B

  

(22.34

)%

  

(6.34

)%

    

5.17

%

  

(18.28

)%

  

(6.01

)%

    

5.17

%

Class C

  

(18.93

)%

  

(5.94

)%

    

5.18

%

  

(18.12

)%

  

(5.94

)%

    

5.18

%

Russell 1000 Value Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(15.52

)%

  

1.16

%

    

10.80

%

Lipper, Inc. (Equity-Income Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(16.33

)%

  

0.03

%

    

8.38

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

Integrated Oil & Gas

    

10

%

Banks

    

9

 

Real Estate Investment Trust

    

9

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

9

 

Diversified Financial Services

    

7

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

ChevronTexaco Corp.
(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

3.5

%

Liberty Property Trust
(Real Estate Investment Trust)

    

3.5

 

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
(Real Estate Investment Trust)

    

2.9

 

Verizon Communications
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

2.7

 

U.S. Bancorp
(Banks)

    

2.5

 

SBC Communications, Inc.
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

2.5

 

Equity Residential
(Real Estate Investment Trust)

    

2.5

 

Bank of America Corp.
(Banks)

    

2.4

 

Ingersoll-Rand Co.
(Industrial Machinery)

    

2.4

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.
(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

2.3

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost
(000’s)


FirstEnergy Corp.

  

$

2,694

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

2,658

IMS Health, Inc.

  

 

1,636

SBC Communications, Inc.

  

 

1,455

Pharmacia Corp.

  

 

1,438

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds
(000’s)


Johnson & Johnson

  

$

2,259

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  

 

1,904

Emerson Electric Co.

  

 

1,772

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

1,768

Boeing Co.

  

 

1,730

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


LOGO

 

 

13


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—96.6%

      

Advertising—0.5%

      

50,000

 

  

Interpublic Group Cos., Inc.

  

$

704

Aerospace & Defense—3.5%

      

20,000

 

  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

  

 

1,940

45,000

 

  

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

2,787

Air Freight & Couriers—2.1%

      

45,000

 

  

United Parcel Service, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

2,839

Apparel Retail—0.5%

      

25,000

 

  

The Talbots, Inc.

  

 

688

Automobile Manufacturers—0.7%

      

25,000

 

  

General Motors Corp.

  

 

921

Banks—9.1%

      

47,000

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

  

 

3,270

  160,000

 

  

U.S. Bancorp

  

 

3,395

85,000

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

2,935

55,000

 

  

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

2,578

Brewers—1.4%

      

40,000

 

  

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  

 

1,936

Computer Hardware—1.6%

      

25,000

 *

  

Dell Computer Corp.

  

 

668

19,200

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

  

 

1,488

Construction & Farm Machinery &
Heavy Trucks—1.0%

      

30,000

 

  

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

1,384

Data Processing Services—1.0%

      

35,000

 

  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

  

 

1,374

Department Stores—1.2%

      

70,500

 

  

May Department Stores Co.

  

 

1,620

Diversified Chemicals—1.6%

      

50,000

 

  

Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co.

  

 

2,120

Diversified Commercial Services—1.0%

      

80,000

 

  

IMS Health, Inc.

  

 

1,280

Diversified Financial Services—7.3%

      

70,000

 

  

American Express Co.

  

 

2,474

75,000

 

  

Citigroup, Inc.

  

 

2,639

45,000

 

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

  

 

2,895

75,000

 

  

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  

 

1,800

Electric Utilities—2.8%

      

68,000

 

  

Duke Energy Corp.

  

 

1,329

75,000

 

  

FirstEnergy Corp.

  

 

2,473

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Electronic Equipment & Instruments—3.0%

      

55,000

 *

  

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

  

$

988

40,000

 

  

Diebold, Inc.

  

 

1,649

40,000

 

  

Hubbell, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

1,406

Forest Products—0.9%

      

25,000

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  

 

1,230

Health Care Equipment—1.0%

      

45,000

 

  

Baxter International, Inc.

  

 

1,260

Home Furnishings—1.1%

      

65,000

 

  

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

  

 

1,459

Household Products—1.6%

      

45,000

 

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

2,136

Housewares & Specialities—1.8%

      

50,500

 

  

Fortune Brands, Inc.

  

 

2,349

Industrial Conglomerates—1.6%

      

90,000

 

  

General Electric Co.

  

 

2,191

Industrial Gases—1.6%

      

50,000

 

  

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

  

 

2,137

Industrial Machinery—2.4%

      

73,300

 

  

Ingersoll-Rand Co.

  

 

3,156

Integrated Oil & Gas—9.9%

      

70,000

 

  

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  

 

4,654

53,785

 

  

ConocoPhillips

  

 

2,603

88,812

 

  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  

 

3,103

65,000

 

  

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR)

  

 

2,861

Integrated Telecommunications Services—8.6%

      

45,000

 

  

ALLTEL Corp.

  

 

2,295

30,000

 

  

BellSouth Corp.

  

 

776

50,000

 

  

CenturyTel, Inc.

  

 

1,469

  125,000

 

  

SBC Communications, Inc.

  

 

3,389

91,740

 

  

Verizon Communications

  

 

3,555

IT Consulting & Services—0.6%

      

45,000

 

  

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

  

 

829

Movies & Entertainment—1.3%

      

105,000

 

  

Walt Disney Co.

  

 

1,713

Multi-Line Insurance—3.7%

      

35,000

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

  

 

2,025

65,700

 

  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

  

 

2,985

Multi-Utilities—1.1%

      

75,000

 

  

NiSource, Inc.

  

 

1,500

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

14


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Pharmaceuticals—6.3%

      

50,000

 

  

Abbott Laboratories

  

$

2,000

20,000

 

  

Johnson & Johnson

  

 

1,074

35,000

 

  

Pharmacia Corp.

  

 

1,463

60,000

 

  

Schering-Plough Corp.

  

 

1,332

70,000

 

  

Wyeth

  

 

2,618

Publishing & Printing—1.9%

      

35,000

 

  

Gannett Co., Inc.

  

 

2,513

Real Estate Investment Trust—8.8%

      

134,000

 

  

Equity Residential

  

 

3,294

137,000

 

  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

  

 

3,836

145,000

 

  

Liberty Property Trust

  

 

4,631

Semiconductor Equipment—0.7%

      

62,800

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

978

Semiconductors—0.3%

      

25,000

 

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

  

 

375

Systems Software—1.0%

      

25,000

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

 

1,293

Telecommunications Equipment—1.0%

      

90,000

 

  

Nokia Oyj (ADR)

  

 

1,395

Tobacco—1.1%

      

35,000

 

  

Philip Morris Cos., Inc.

  

 

1,419

           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $123,516)

  

 

129,476

           

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


CASH EQUIVALENTS—3.1%

      

Investment Companies

      

  4,081,381

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

$

4,081

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $4,081)

  

 

4,081

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $127,597)—99.7%

  

 

133,557

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

458

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

134,015

         

 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

15


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

LOGO

  

Bill Whitlow

   

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO Northwest Fund underperformed the S&P 500 Index for the year ended December 31, 2002. The Fund returns were below the benchmark for five and ten years as well.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The performance was the result of the pro-growth nature of the portfolio in a period of declining markets.

 

The U.S. stock market just completed its first three-year losing streak since 1939 to 1941. This severe “bear” market has been prolonged by an unusually weak recovery, disclosures of corporate malfeasance and threats of war with Iraq.

 

In this difficult environment, growth stocks fared much worse than the market in general. For example, the NASDAQ Composite, which contains more technology than the S&P 500, declined 74% since its peak in March of 2000 while the S&P 500 was down 41%. Because our Fund reflects the Northwest economy’s bias toward growth industries like technology and biotechnology, we have underperformed the S&P 500 since the peak. This negative impact has been cushioned to some degree by the portfolio’s broad diversification and our attention to valuation and risk control.

 

Consistent with the continued decline in growth stocks, the portfolio’s full-year performance was hurt most by telecom and tech stocks and was helped by our financial holdings as well as cyclical companies in the industrial and materials sectors. Our second-half winners were biotech companies and three of our new positions, F-5 Networks, PACCAR and Airborne.

 

What changes did you make and why?

The few changes made to the portfolio as the year unfolded were to further diversify and increase the quality of the holdings. For the most part, stocks eliminated were lower quality and had performed poorly in the risk-adverse environment. To increase the portfolio’s cyclical exposure, we added PACCAR, the maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt heavy trucks; Monaco Coach, a manufacturer of luxury RVs; and Airborne. Positions sold during the year included Agilent, InfoSpace, Onyx Software, Eden Biosciences, Touch America, Western Wireless, Qwest, and PMC-Sierra.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

I believe we are in the early stages of a slow economic recovery which will eventually lead to improving corporate profits. Further, new legislation from Congress, industry changes separating investment banking from research and the passage of time are putting the spate of corporate malfeasance issues behind us. Only the potential for a war with Iraq remains a major unknown. As we move through 2003, I believe the risks will decrease and the market will improve.

 

16


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

Because I anticipate a better environment and because the objective of the SAFECO Northwest Fund is to reflect the long-term growth of the Northwest economy, I have maintained a pro-growth, pro-cyclical bias in the portfolio. I believe this strategy will lead to superior results when a better environment returns.

 

Bill Whitlow, MBA, CFA

 

Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA Chemistry, University of Colorado (1967); MBA Finance, U.C. Berkeley (1974); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) (1980)

 

Bill Whitlow, a nationally quoted authority on Northwest stocks, began his investment career at SAFECO in 1976, staying four years and then returning April 1997. He has over 26 years of investment experience. Before his return to SAFECO, Whitlow was a principal with Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, OR. He is currently on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors for the state of Washington.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

17


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(28.67

)%

  

(3.49

)%

    

4.17 

%

  

(24.33

)%

  

(2.35

)%

    

4.79 

%

Class B

  

(28.67

)%

  

(3.37

)%

    

4.37

%

  

(24.92

)%

  

(3.01

)%

    

4.37

%

Class C

  

(25.65

)%

  

(2.99

)%

    

4.35

%

  

(24.90

)%

  

(2.99

)%

    

4.35

%

S&P 500 Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(22.12

)%

  

(0.59

)%

    

9.33

%

WM Group NW 50 Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(19.78

)%

  

4.51

%

    

10.14

%

Lipper, Inc. (Multi-Cap Core Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(21.75

)%

  

(0.25

)%

    

8.52

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Banks

    

18

%

Pharmaceuticals

    

8

 

Food Retail

    

6

 

Air Freight & Couriers

    

5

 

Biotechnology

    

4

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (Air Freight & Couriers)

    

3.8

%

Bank of America Corp.
(Banks)

    

3.7

 

U.S. Bancorp
(Banks)

    

3.7

 

Microsoft Corp.
(Systems Software)

    

3.6

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.
(Banks)

    

3.6

 

Pfizer, Inc.
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

3.4

 

Tektronix, Inc.
(Electric Equipment & Instruments)

    

3.2

 

Starbucks Corp.
(Restaurants)

    

3.2

 

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.
(Steel)

    

3.1

 

Wyeth
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

3.1

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost
(000’s)


S&P Depository Receipts Trust, Series 1

  

$

1,584

Icos Corp.

  

 

1,463

F5 Networks, Inc.

  

 

1,129

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

1,011

Airborne, Inc.

  

 

833

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds (000’s)


Starbucks Corp.

  

$

2,236

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

  

 

1,706

S&P Depository Receipts Trust, Series 1

  

 

1,586

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

  

 

1,523

Boeing Co.

  

 

1,208

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


LOGO

 

 

18


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—99.3%

      

Aerospace & Defense—1.4%

      

28,500

 

  

Boeing Co.

  

$

940

Air Freight & Couriers—5.2%

      

65,000

 

  

Airborne, Inc.

  

 

964

75,000

 

  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

  

 

2,449

Airlines—2.5%

      

74,000

 *

  

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

  

 

1,602

Application Software—2.3%

      

381,200

 *

  

Captaris, Inc.

  

 

915

33,260

 *

  

NetIQ Corp.

  

 

411

470,000

 *

  

Primus Knowledge Solutions, Inc.

  

 

197

Automobile Manufacturers—1.3%

      

51,500

 *

  

Monaco Coach Corp.

  

 

852

Banks—17.8%

      

35,000

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

  

 

2,435

59,600

 

  

Pacific Northwest Bancorp

  

 

1,490

  113,000

 

  

U.S. Bancorp

  

 

2,398

94,600

 

  

Washington Banking Co.

  

 

1,126

67,500

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

2,331

116,300

 

  

West Coast Bancorp, Inc.

  

 

1,762

Biotechnology—4.3%

      

17,160

 *

  

Amgen, Inc.

  

 

829

98,000

 *

  

Corixa Corp.

  

 

626

106,000

 *

  

Dendreon Corp.

  

 

563

33,500

 *

  

Icos Corp.

  

 

784

Catalog Retail—2.4%

      

80,000

 *

  

Coldwater Creek, Inc.

  

 

1,536

Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks—2.1%

      

29,500

 

  

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

1,361

Diversified Chemicals—2.6%

      

123,000

 

  

Penford Corp.

  

 

1,719

Diversified Commercial Services—3.1%

      

82,000

 *

  

Ambassadors Group, Inc.

  

 

1,061

60,500

 

  

IMS Health, Inc.

  

 

968

Electric Utilities—1.9%

      

82,500

 

  

Avista Corp.

  

 

954

81,000

 *

  

Calpine Corp.

  

 

264

Electronic Equipment & Instruments—3.2%

      

115,000

 *

  

Tektronix, Inc.

  

 

2,092

Food Retail—5.5%

      

117,000

 *

  

Kroger Co.

  

 

1,808

76,500

 *

  

Safeway, Inc.

  

 

1,787

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


General Merchandise Stores—3.0%

      

69,000

 *

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

  

$

1,936

Health Care Equipment—2.0%

      

97,500

 *

  

SonoSite, Inc.

  

 

1,274

Health Care Supplies—0.8%

      

105,000

 *

  

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

  

 

525

Integrated Oil & Gas—1.9%

      

30,000

 

  

BP, plc (ADR)

  

 

1,219

Integrated Telecommunications Services—1.0%

      

22,000

 

  

CenturyTel, Inc.

  

 

646

Internet Software & Services—1.1%

      

68,500

 *

  

F5 Networks, Inc.

  

 

736

Leisure Products—1.1%

      

80,000

 *

  

Ambassadors International, Inc.

  

 

719

Life & Health Insurance—3.1%

      

41,000

 

  

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

  

 

2,003

Movies & Entertainment—0.8%

      

  138,000

 *

  

RealNetworks, Inc.

  

 

526

Networking Equipment—1.5%

      

43,050

 *

  

Avocent Corp.

  

 

957

Oil & Gas Drilling—1.9%

      

53,000

 

  

Transocean Sedco Forex, Inc.

  

 

1,230

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production—2.0%

      

26,500

 

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

  

 

1,269

Personal Products—1.2%

      

56,500

 *

  

Nautilus Group, Inc.

  

 

755

Pharmaceuticals—8.2%

      

102,000

 *

  

Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co.

  

 

1,081

72,500

 

  

Pfizer, Inc.

  

 

2,216

54,200

 

  

Wyeth

  

 

2,027

Restaurants—3.2%

      

101,500

 *

  

Starbucks Corp.

  

 

2,069

Semiconductor Equipment—1.6%

      

68,000

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

1,059

Semiconductors—1.3%

      

44,000

 *

  

Micron Technology, Inc.

  

 

428

101,000

 *

  

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.

  

 

428

Steel—3.1%

      

97,500

 

  

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

  

 

2,038

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

19


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)

 

Systems Software—3.6%

        

45,100

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

$

2,332

 

Wireless Telecommunications Services—1.3%

  144,000

 *

  

AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.

  

 

814

 

           


TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $64,751)

  

 

64,511

 

           


CASH EQUIVALENTS—0.9%

        

Investment Companies

        

604,982

 

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

605

 

           


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $605)

  

 

605

 

           


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $65,356)—100.2%

  

 

65,116

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(164

)

           


NET ASSETS

  

$

64,952

 

           


 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

20


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO International Stock Fund lagged its benchmark, the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe Australasia Far East (MSCI EAFE) Index for the year ending December 31, 2002. Over the five-year time period, the Fund has performed substantially the same as the index.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Most global equity markets recorded negative returns in 2002 for the third successive year—the first time this has happened since the early years of the Second World War—despite a modest recovery in the fourth quarter. European markets were among the worst performers during the year, and the S&P 500 Index of America’s largest corporations shed over 22% its value during 2002. However, the final quarter of the year produced healthy local currency returns of 5-10% for many markets except Japan.

 

Early in the year, the decline in equity markets was mainly led by telecom, media and technology (TMT) companies, although financial stocks also weakened amid fears regarding their exposure to bankrupt and debt-laden companies in the TMT sectors. By year-end, however, stocks in the technology, telecom and financial sectors dominated the list of top gainers in the fourth quarter. These sectors rebounded from their low levels in early October amid some hope the worst of the three-year bear market may be coming to an end.

 

Those sectors that had performed relatively well for the year overall weakened to a degree in the fourth quarter. This included the Household & Personal Products and Food Beverage & Tobacco indices. At a MSCI country level, the top performing nations were Portugal, Spain and Finland, while Japan and Greece were the largest losers in the quarter.

 

European equity markets recovered to a degree in the fourth quarter, helping to alleviate the losses for the year overall. The Euro registered gains against the U.S. Dollar amid concern America may not attract as much international investment flows as previously and as Eurozone interest rates remained at a relatively higher level.

 

Given our preference for stocks with dependable earnings growth, the Fund tends to be underweight in technology and overweight in defensive consumer-oriented sectors, yielding virtually the same performance as the index over the period under review.

 

Earlier in 2002, telecom stocks contributed to most of the decline in the portfolio as these companies were knocked by a global loss of investor confidence. In the second half of 2002, consistent with the broader market, the poorest performing holdings in the Fund were found in the insurance and banking industries. While no sector was able to escape the dramatic downturn in the markets, stocks held in the consumer sectors were somewhat of a safe haven.

 

By year end, on an absolute level, financial services stocks were among the top performers in the Fund in the fourth quarter. Shares in ABN AMRO Holding NV rose sharply, ING Groep NV advanced, and Britain’s Prudential Plc also gained.

 

A strong improvement in Vodafone Group Plc’s shares also augmented the portfolio’s return. Vodafone’s mobile phone markets and margins have continued to grow enabling the company to generate considerable cashflow.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

21


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

The Fund’s positive gains were offset to a degree by declines in certain of the pharmaceutical stocks as investors fretted about the strength of the companies’ drugs pipelines. Novartis AG declined on worries about its ability to replace products near patent expiry. GlaxoSmithKline Plc dropped slightly as it has struggled to develop new drugs while facing erosion of its existing drug sales.

 

The consumer staples sector was relatively weaker amid concerns about the robustness of consumer expenditure. Diageo Plc fell as it reduced the sale price of its Burger King restaurant chain to $1.5 billion, ensuring its purchase by a consortium of investors.

 

What changes did you make to the fund and why?

No changes were made to our investment strategy during the second half of 2002. We do not expect the fourth quarter rally to be sustained as much of the gains were made by ‘high beta’ stocks (stocks that rise and fall more than the overall market on average) at the expense of more defensive areas of the market. We remain disposed to quality ‘defensive’ stocks, which tend to produce solid earnings growth over time. Overall, equity markets are likely to continue to trend sideways amid occasional bouts of volatility.

 

In the second half of the year, we took advantage of share price weakness to add to existing holdings such as Nokia, Aventis and Novartis, as well as ING and Nestle. New purchases included Kingfisher, Deutsche Bank and Hong Kong Electric Holdings.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

The final quarter of 2002 provided a snapshot of the difficulties facing investors. October and November registered strong gains amid rising optimism that markets were entering a bullish phase, pushing some stocks strongly ahead. By the end of December, much of those gains had evaporated as geopolitical tensions began to rise again.

 

The low interest rate environment should provide a beneficial backdrop for equity markets. Interest rates in the U.S. are at a level last recorded in 1961 and we do not expect any significant movement in 2003. There may be more scope for the European Central Bank to ease rates further if inflation does moderate. As economic recovery takes hold, we believe corporate profits should improve although the level of improvement may be quite modest. However, we do not expect economic growth to be so strong as to prompt an aggressive rise in interest rates.

 

The possibility of a war with Iraq represents a significant risk to the global economy. Another potential obstacle to a global economic recovery could be foreign exchange turmoil if the U.S. Dollar weakens too much. While we have believed for some time that the U.S. Dollar has been overvalued, the extent of its decline could hurt economies, such as the Eurozone and Japan, that are heavily dependent on the American export market.

 

Bank of Ireland

Asset Management (U.S.) Limited

 

The Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited (BIAM) investment committee is comprised of senior analysts, economists and headed by the company’s chief financial officer. BIAM began managing the Fund in 1996.

 

22


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

 

   

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

 

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

                                            

Class A

 

(23.93

)%

  

(5.71

)%

    

(1.72

)%

  

(19.27

)%

  

(4.60

)%

    

(0.88

)%

Class B

 

(23.90

)%

  

(5.69

)%

    

(1.56

)%

  

(19.89

)%

  

(5.34

)%

    

(1.56

)%

Class C

 

(20.70

)%

  

(5.35

)%

    

(1.59

)%

  

(19.90

)%

  

(5.35

)%

    

(1.59

)%

MSCI EAFE Index

 

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(17.52

)%

  

(4.33

)%

    

(2.55

)%

Lipper, Inc. (International Funds)

 

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(16.67

)%

  

(2.34

)%

    

N/A

 

* Graph and average annual return comparison begins January 31, 1996, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

Nestle SA

(Food Retail)

    

3.8

%

Total Fina Elf SA

(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

3.7

 

Canon, Inc.

(Office Services & Supplies)

    

3.4

 

GlaxoSmithKline, plc

(Pharmaceuticals)

    

2.9

 

Aventis SA

(Pharmaceuticals)

    

2.8

 

UBS AG

(Banks)

    

2.8

 

Barclays, plc

(Banks)

    

2.6

 

Diageo, plc

(Brewers)

    

2.6

 

Shell Transport & Trading Co., plc

(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

2.6

 

ING Groep NV

(Banks)

    

2.6

 

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost

(000’s)

 

BP, plc

  

$

399

 

British American Tobacco, plc

  

 

268

 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

  

 

251

 

Allianz AG

  

 

247

 

Tesco, plc

  

 

219

 

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds

(000’s)

 

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.

  

$

232

 

Hitachi, Ltd.

  

 

211

 

AstraZeneca Group, plc

  

 

187

 

NEC Corp.

  

 

173

 

Vivendi Universal SA

  

 

172

 

TOP FIVE COUNTRIES

  

Percent of Net Assets

 

United Kingdom

  

 

30

%

Japan

  

 

13

 

Switzerland

  

 

13

 

Netherlands

  

 

10

 

France

  

 

9

 

 

23


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—99.1%

      

Australia—3.2%

      

44,484

  

Foster’s Group, Ltd.

Brewers

  

$

113

10,800

  

National Australia Bank, Ltd.

Banks

  

 

193

22,027

  

News Corp., Ltd.

Publishing & Printing

  

 

143

24,911

  

Westpac Banking Corp., Ltd.

Banks

  

 

193

Finland—1.1%

      

14,178

  

Nokia Oyj

Wireless Telecommunications Services

  

 

225

France—8.7%

      

10,056

  

Aventis SA

Pharmaceuticals

  

 

547

18,312

  

Axa

Multi-Line Insurance

  

 

246

2,500

  

Lafarge SA

Construction Materials

  

 

188

5,178

  

Total Fina Elf SA

Integrated Oil & Gas

  

 

739

Germany—5.9%

      

1,086

  

Allianz AG

Multi-Line Insurance

  

 

103

9,675

  

Bayer AG

Diversified Chemicals

  

 

203

10,291

  

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

Automobile Manufacturers

  

 

313

2,657

  

Deutsche Bank AG

Banks

  

 

122

10,601

  

E.On AG

Electric Utilities

  

 

427

Hong Kong—2.8%

      

28,000

  

Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

Real Estate Investment Trust

  

 

182

21,000

  

Hongkong Electric Holdings, Ltd.

Electric Utilities

  

 

79

  871,000

  

PetroChina Co., Ltd.

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

  

 

173

21,000

  

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.

Real Estate Investment Trust

  

 

124

Ireland—0.5%

      

8,066

  

CRH, plc

Construction Materials

  

 

99

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Italy—4.3%

      

  32,027

 

  

ENI SpA

Integrated Oil & Gas

  

$

509

44,625

 

  

Telecom Italia SpA

Integrated Telecommunications Services

  

 

339

Japan—13.4%

      

2,580

 

  

Acom Co., Ltd.

Consumer Finance

  

 

85

18,000

 

  

Canon, Inc.

Office Services & Supplies

  

 

678

9,000

 

  

Fuji Photo Film Co.

Office Services & Supplies

  

 

294

7,700

 

  

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Automobile Manufacturers

  

 

285

3,600

 

  

Hoya Corp.

Health Care Supplies

  

 

252

2,200

 

  

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Consumer Electronics

  

 

206

76

 

  

NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

Integrated Telecommunications Services

  

 

140

1,300

 

  

Rohm Co., Ltd.

Electrical Components & Equipment

  

 

166

800

 

  

SMC Corp.

Industrial Machinery

  

 

75

3,000

 

  

Sony Corp.

Electrical Components & Equipment

  

 

125

8,600

 

  

Takeda Chemical Industries

Pharmaceuticals

  

 

359

Netherlands—10.4%

      

24,220

 

  

ABN AMRO Holding NV

Banks

  

 

396

3,756

 

  

Heineken NV

Brewers

  

 

147

30,174

 

  

ING Groep NV

Banks

  

 

511

18,582

 

  

Koninklijke (Royal) Philips Electronics NV

Semiconductors

  

 

326

19,435

 

  

Koninklijke Ahold NV

Food Retail

  

 

247

18,979

 

  

Reed Elsevier NV

Publishing & Printing

  

 

232

6,860

 

  

TPG NV

Distributors

  

 

111

3,855

 

  

VNU NV

Publishing & Printing

  

 

101

Portugal—0.1%

      

15,547

 

  

Electricidade de Portugal SA

Electric Utilities

  

 

26

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

24


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


South Korea—2.3%

      

3,200

 

  

Kookmin Bank (ADR)*

Banks

  

$

113

3,500

 

  

POSCO (ADR)*

Steel

  

 

87

1,881

 

  

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Electronic Equipment & Instruments

  

 

249

Spain—3.4%

      

  51,345

 

  

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA

Banks

  

 

352

36,745

 

  

Telefonica SA

Integrated Telecommunications Services

  

 

329

Switzerland—12.8%

      

3,580

 

  

Nestle SA

Food Retail

  

 

758

11,242

 

  

Novartis AG

Pharmaceuticals

  

 

410

5,288

 

  

Roche Holding AG

Pharmaceuticals

  

 

368

6,817

 

  

Swiss Re

Multi-Line Insurance

  

 

447

11,386

 

  

UBS AG

Banks

  

 

553

United Kingdom—30.2%

      

9,870

 

  

3i Group, plc

Diversified Financial Services

  

 

87

84,219

 

  

Barclays, plc

Banks

  

 

520

9,697

 

  

Boots Co., plc

Drug Retail

  

 

91

48,588

 

  

BP, plc

Integrated Oil & Gas

  

 

334

24,383

 

  

British American Tobacco, plc

Tobacco

  

 

244

35,066

 

  

Cadbury Schweppes, plc

Soft Drinks

  

 

219

38,234

 

  

Compass Group, plc

Food Retail

  

 

203

47,769

 

  

Diageo, plc

Brewers

  

 

520

29,790

 

  

GlaxoSmithKline, plc

Pharmaceuticals

  

 

572

37,700

 

  

Hilton Group, plc

Hotels

  

 

100

29,310

 

  

HSBC Holdings, plc

Banks

  

 

324

25,083

 

  

Kingfisher, plc

Home Improvement Retail

  

 

89

63,843

 

  

Lloyds TSB Group, plc

Banks

  

 

458

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)

 

United Kingdom—(continued)

        

32,369

  

Prudential, plc

Multi-Line Insurance

  

$

228

 

79,590

  

Shell Transport & Trading Co., plc

Integrated Oil & Gas

  

 

524

 

6,306

  

Smiths Group, plc

Industrial Conglomerates

  

 

71

 

62,879

  

Tesco, plc

Food Retail

  

 

196

 

19,100

  

TI Automotives, Ltd. (Illiquid)†

Industrial Conglomerates

  

 

0

 

52,633

  

Unilever, plc

Household Products

  

 

501

 

  263,625

  

Vodafone Group, plc

Integrated Telecommunications Services

  

 

482

 

11,777

  

Wolseley, plc

Distributors

  

 

99

 

16,320

  

WPP Group, plc

Advertising

  

 

124

 

         


TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $19,254)

  

 

19,674

 

         


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $19,254)—99.1%

  

 

19,674

 

Domestic Cash

  

 

280

 

Foreign Cash

  

 

44

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(148

)

         


         

 

176

 

         


NET ASSETS

  

$

19,850

 

         


 

*   American Depository Receipt.
  Securities are valued at fair value as determined under the supervision of the Board of Trustees.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

25


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

Industry Diversification

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

Banks

    

18.8

%

Pharmaceuticals

    

11.4

 

Integrated Oil & Gas

    

10.6

 

Food Retail

    

7.1

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

6.5

 

Multi-Line Insurance

    

5.2

 

Office Services & Supplies

    

4.9

 

Brewers

    

3.9

 

Automobile Manufacturers

    

3.0

 

Electric Utilities

    

2.7

 

Other

    

25.9

 

      

      

100.0

%

      

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

26


Report from the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

LOGO     Rex Bentley         LOGO     Michael Hughes         LOGO     Lynette D. Sagvold

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO Balanced Fund had a negative return for the year ending December 31, 2002. For the year the results of the Fund lagged those of a 60/40 composite of the Russell 1000 Value Index and the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Two factors have had a major impact on Fund performance over the past few years. One is the sharp decline in equity values, the other is the decline in interest rates and resulting positive bond returns. Over this period the Fund has benefited from having value-oriented equities, which have provided some downside protection, and from buying investment grade bonds.

 

Since adopting a policy of keeping equity sectors closer to the Index, relative stock returns have improved. More recently, we are also experiencing better results in stock selection. We have had fewer disappointments, and they have caused less damage.

 

Fixed income performance was impacted by weakness in corporate bonds in general, and by a few rating downgrades, which materially impacted performance. Most of those bonds have been sold.

 

What changes did you make and why?

As the year progressed, we began marginally shifting the portfolio toward more cyclical stocks. We purchased stocks such as Caterpillar, Emerson Electric, Hewlett Packard, PACCAR and Weyerhaeuser. These stocks are economically and market sensitive, and had attractive valuations. They all performed well as the market rallied. We sold stocks that were experiencing deteriorating business prospects, including Bristol Meyers Squibb and Electronic Data Systems.

 

As far as equity sector weightings, we remain fairly close to the Index in all sectors. We are overweighted in some sectors that we think will participate in a stronger economy, such as producer durables, consumer discretionary and technology. We are underweight in financials due to concern over the impact of potentially higher interest rates.

 

In the fixed income portion of the portfolio, we increased the diversification of corporate issues and improved credit quality. We added to corporate bonds, concentrating on single-A-rated issuers. Exposure to mortgages was also increased. Bond duration for the Fund is slightly less than the Index.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

There are still a number of issues on investor’s minds. These include geopolitical tensions, the outlook for U.S. GDP, accounting practices and governance issues. These aren’t new concerns, and we expect that financial markets have largely discounted them. We expect the U.S. economy to gradually improve, which should help earnings, stocks and corporate bond spreads.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

27


Report from the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

We believe the Balanced Fund—with holdings in quality, attractively-valued companies—is positioned to offer downside protection should the markets fall further, while offering enough prospects to participate in a market rally.

 

Rex Bentley, MBA, CFA

 

Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA and MBA, Brigham Young University (1975); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)(1981)

 

Rex joined SAFECO Asset Management Company in 1995 and has amassed more than 20 years investment experience.

 

Michael Hughes, MBA, CFA

 

Michael Hughes is vice president of SAFECO Asset Management Company. He began his investment career in 1987 and joined SAFECO as a portfolio manager in January 1997. A Chartered Financial Analyst, Hughes holds an MBA degree from the University of Southern California.

 

Lynette D. Sagvold, CFA

 

Assistant Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA Business Administration, University of Washington (1982); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)(1988)

 

Lynette began her investment career in 1981 at Kidder Peabody and was a portfolio manager for Key Trust and First Interstate before joining SAFECO Asset Management Company as a portfolio manager in 1995.

 

28


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

                                               

Class A

  

(14.21

)%

    

0.20

%

    

3.96

%

  

(8.95

)%

  

1.40

%

    

4.85

%

Class B

  

(14.13

)%

    

0.30

%

    

4.17

%

  

(9.70

)%

  

0.65

%

    

4.17

%

60% Russell 1000 Value/40% Lehman Brothers Gov’t/Corp. Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(4.90

)%

  

3.74

%

    

7.62

%

60% Russell 1000 Value/40% Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(5.21

)%

  

3.71

%

    

7.62

%

S&P 500 Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(22.12

)%

  

(0.59

)%

    

6.43

%

Lipper, Inc. (Balanced Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(11.71

)%

  

1.50

%

    

N/A

 

* Graph and average annual return comparison begins January 31, 1996, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

(Common Stocks)

    

Percent of
Net Assets

 

Banks

    

8

%

Integrated Oil & Gas

    

6

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

5

 

Diversified Financial Services

    

4

 

Multi-Line Insurance

    

3

 

TOP TEN STOCK HOLDINGS

    

Percent of
Net Assets

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.
(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

2.1

%

Citigroup, Inc.
(Diversified Financial Services)

    

1.9

 

ChevronTexaco Corp.
(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

1.9

 

Verizon Communications
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

1.7

 

American International Group, Inc.
(Multi-Line Insurance)

    

1.7

 

U.S. Bancorp
(Banks)

    

1.6

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.
(Banks)

    

1.6

 

Wells Fargo & Co.
(Banks)

    

1.6

 

SBC Communications, Inc.
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

1.5

 

Praxair, Inc.
(Industrial Gases)

    

1.3

 

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

(Common Stocks)

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost
(000’s)


FirstEnergy Corp.

  

$269

Target Corp.

  

226

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  

196

Bank of New York Co., Inc.

  

195

Home Depot, Inc.

  

187

TOP FIVE SALES

(Common Stocks)

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds
(000’s)


Gillette Co.

  

$265

CVS Corp.

  

201

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  

197

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

183

Northrop Grumman Corp.

  

145

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


LOGO

 

29


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—58.8%

      

Aerospace & Defense—1.3%

      

1,900

 

  

Raytheon Co.

  

$

58

2,700

 

  

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

167

Air Freight & Couriers—0.9%

      

2,400

 

  

United Parcel Service, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

151

Aluminum—0.4%

      

3,400

 

  

Alcoa, Inc.

  

 

77

Automobile Manufacturers—0.5%

      

2,200

 

  

General Motors Corp.

  

 

81

Banks—7.9%

      

2,600

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

  

 

181

5,900

 

  

Bank of New York Co., Inc.

  

 

141

4,700

 

  

KeyCorp

  

 

118

2,400

 

  

State Street Corp.

  

 

94

  12,820

 

  

U.S. Bancorp

  

 

272

7,750

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

268

5,600

 

  

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

263

Computer Hardware—1.2%

      

3,600

 

  

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  

 

63

1,700

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

  

 

132

Computer Storage & Peripherals—0.2%

      

4,600

 *

  

EMC Corp.

  

 

28

Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks—0.8%

      

1,300

 

  

Caterpillar, Inc.

  

 

59

1,600

 

  

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

74

Data Processing Services—0.6%

      

2,600

 

  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

  

 

102

Department Stores—0.6%

      

4,350

 

  

May Department Stores Co.

  

 

100

Diversified Chemicals—1.5%

      

2,800

 

  

Dow Chemical Co.

  

 

83

4,100

 

  

Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co.

  

 

174

Diversified Financial Services—4.3%

      

3,800

 

  

American Express Co.

  

 

134

9,000

 

  

Citigroup, Inc.

  

 

317

1,400

 

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

  

 

90

7,500

 

  

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  

 

180

Electric Utilities—2.3%

      

9,400

 

  

Duke Energy Corp.

  

 

184

6,000

 

  

FirstEnergy Corp.

  

 

198

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.5%

      

1,600

 

  

Emerson Electric Co.

  

 

81

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Electronic Equipment & Instruments—1.1%

      

1,400

 

  

Diebold, Inc.

  

$

58

3,500

 

  

Hubbell, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

123

Food Distributors—0.6%

      

3,300

 

  

SYSCO Corp.

  

 

98

Food Retail—0.9%

      

  10,300

 *

  

Kroger Co.

  

 

159

Forest Products—0.3%

      

1,000

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  

 

49

General Merchandise Stores—1.8%

      

4,000

 *

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

  

 

112

6,100

 

  

Target Corp.

  

 

183

Health Care Equipment—0.5%

      

3,100

 

  

Baxter International, Inc.

  

 

87

Home Furnishings—0.8%

      

6,000

 

  

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

  

 

135

Home Improvement Retail—0.8%

      

5,500

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

  

 

132

Household Products—1.4%

      

3,000

 

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

142

1,000

 

  

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

 

86

Industrial Conglomerates—1.1%

      

7,800

 

  

General Electric Co.

  

 

190

Industrial Gases—1.3%

      

3,800

 

  

Praxair, Inc.

  

 

220

Industrial Machinery—0.9%

      

3,600

 

  

Ingersoll-Rand Co.

  

 

155

Integrated Oil & Gas—5.5%

      

4,700

 

  

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  

 

312

3,601

 

  

ConocoPhillips

  

 

174

9,876

 

  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  

 

345

2,200

 

  

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR)

  

 

97

Integrated Telecommunications Services—5.2%

      

4,100

 

  

ALLTEL Corp.

  

 

209

4,100

 

  

CenturyTel, Inc.

  

 

121

9,600

 

  

SBC Communications, Inc.

  

 

260

7,214

 

  

Verizon Communications

  

 

280

Movies & Entertainment—1.1%

      

10,900

 

  

Walt Disney Co.

  

 

178

Multi-Line Insurance—2.9%

      

4,800

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

  

 

278

4,600

 

  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

  

 

209

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

30


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Multi-Utilities—1.1%

      

 

9,300

 

  

NiSource, Inc.

  

$

186

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—0.4%

      

 

1,500

 

  

Schlumberger, Ltd.

  

 

63

Pharmaceuticals—2.5%

      

 

3,600

 

  

Abbott Laboratories

  

 

144

 

3,400

 

  

Pfizer, Inc.

  

 

104

 

2,400

 

  

Pharmacia Corp.

  

 

100

 

3,100

 

  

Schering-Plough Corp.

  

 

69

Property & Casualty Insurance—0.6%

      

 

7,300

 *

  

Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Class B)

  

 

107

Publishing & Printing—0.9%

      

 

2,200

 

  

Gannett Co., Inc.

  

 

158

Real Estate Investment Trust—1.7%

      

 

4,000

 

  

Equity Residential

  

 

98

 

3,300

 

  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

  

 

92

 

3,100

 

  

Liberty Property Trust

  

 

99

Semiconductor Equipment—0.5%

      

 

5,400

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

84

Semiconductors—0.3%

      

 

3,600

 

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

  

 

54

Soft Drinks—0.8%

      

 

3,100

 

  

PepsiCo, Inc.

  

 

131

Systems Software—0.5%

      

 

1,800

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

 

93

Telecommunications Equipment—0.3%

      

 

3,200

 

  

Nokia Oyj (ADR)

  

 

50

             

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $10,567)

  

 

9,894

             

CORPORATE BONDS—13.8%

      

Airlines—1.5%

      

$

75,000

 

  

American Airlines, Inc.

2.02%, due 9/23/07

  

 

75

 

65,000

 

  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

7.11%, due 9/18/11

  

 

64

 

25,000

 

  

Northwest Airlines, Inc.

7.041%, due 4/01/22

  

 

24

 

  110,021

 

  

United Air Lines

7.783%, due 1/01/14

  

 

86

Banks—0.1%

      

 

25,000

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

4.375%, due 1/15/08

  

 

25

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Computer Hardware—0.4%

      

$

65,000

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

1.545%, due 9/10/04

  

$

65

Consumer Finance—0.6%

      

 

70,000

 

  

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

3.50%, due 12/19/05

  

 

71

 

25,000

 

  

Household Finance Corp.

7.875%, due 3/01/07

  

 

28

Diversified Chemicals—0.5%

      

 

80,000

 

  

Dow Chemical Co.

5.75%, due 12/15/08

  

 

83

Diversified Financial Services—2.8%

      

 

90,000

  #

  

Erac USA Finance Co. (144A)

8.00%, due 1/15/11

(acquired 1/09/01)

  

 

103

 

40,000

 

  

Ford Motor Credit Co.

7.25%, due 10/25/11

  

 

39

 

80,000

 

  

General Electric Capital Corp.

6.75%, due 3/15/32

  

 

88

 

  100,000

 

  

General Motors Acceptance Corp.

6.125%, due 9/15/06

  

 

102

 

70,000

 

  

John Deere Capital Corp.

2.01%, due 9/17/04

  

 

70

 

55,000

 

  

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Co.

6.60%, due 4/01/12

  

 

61

Electric Utilities—1.5%

      

 

75,000

 

  

Avista Corp.

7.75%, due 1/01/07

  

 

77

 

65,000

 

  

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

7.25%, due 3/01/12

  

 

75

 

40,000

 

  

PSEG Power

6.95%, due 6/01/12

  

 

41

 

65,000

 

  

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.

6.25%, due 1/16/04

  

 

67

Food Retail—0.7%

      

 

100,000

 

  

Safeway, Inc.

7.50%, due 9/15/09

  

 

115

Forest Products—0.2%

      

 

40,000

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

5.50%, due 3/15/05

  

 

42

General Merchandise Stores—0.5%

      

 

75,000

 

  

Target Corp.

6.35%, due 11/01/32

  

 

78

Home Furnishings—0.5%

      

 

70,000

 

  

Mohawk Industries, Inc.

6.50%, due 4/15/07

  

 

76

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

31


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Household Products—0.2%

      

$

35,000

 

  

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

4.625%, due 12/15/09

  

$

36

Integrated Oil & Gas—0.8%

      

 

65,000

 

  

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust

9.125%, due 10/13/10

  

 

74

 

55,000

 

  

USX Corp.

6.85%, due 3/01/08

  

 

62

Integrated Telecommunications Services—0.5%

      

 

85,000

 

  

Verizon Wireless, Inc.

5.375%, due 12/15/06

  

 

89

Life & Health Insurance—0.8%

      

 

65,000

 #

  

Jackson National Life Global Funding, LLC (144A)

1.58125%, due 3/11/05

(acquired 9/05/02)

  

 

65

 

70,000

 

  

Lincoln National Corp.

5.25%, due 6/15/07

  

 

72

Movies & Entertainment—0.2%

      

 

30,000

 

  

AOL Time Warner, Inc.

6.75%, due 4/15/11

  

 

31

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing—0.2%

      

 

40,000

  #

  

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (144A)

6.50%, due 9/01/12

(acquired 12/03/02)

  

 

42

Telecommunications Equipment—0.2%

      

 

25,000

 

  

Verizon Global Funding Corp.

7.375%, due 9/01/12

  

 

29

Trucking—0.9%

      

 

145,000

 

  

Hertz Corp.

7.00%, due 7/01/04

  

 

146

Wireless Telecommunications Services—0.7%

      

 

  105,000

 

  

TCI Communications, Inc.

8.65%, due 9/15/04

  

 

113

             

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $2,236)

  

 

2,314

             

ASSET BACKED SECURITIES—2.8%

      

Consumer Finance—0.8%

      

 

65,000

 

  

Americredit Automobile Receivables Trust

1.68%, due 12/12/07

  

 

65

 

70,000

 

  

MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust

1.88%, due 12/15/08

  

 

70

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Diversified Financial Services—2.0%

      

$

102,249

  

CNH Equipment Trust

7.34%, due 2/15/07

  

$

106

 

195,000

  

General Motors Acceptance Corp.

6.42%, due 5/15/35

  

 

220

           

TOTAL ASSET BACKED SECURITIES
(cost $441)

  

 

461

           

MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES—16.7%

      

Collateral Mortgage Obligation (CMO)—0.5%

      

 

89,966

  

6.50%, due 2/14/41

  

 

92

Diversified Financial Services—1.1%

      

 

170,000

  

First Union Commercial Mortgage Trust

6.07%, due 10/15/35

  

 

188

Federal National Mortgage Association
(FNMA)—13.5%

      

 

85,000

  

4.375%, due 9/15/12

  

 

85

 

329,968

  

5.00%, due 12/01/17

  

 

339

 

200,426

  

5.50%, due 9/01/17

  

 

208

 

155,000

  

5.75%, due 2/15/08

  

 

174

 

181,993

  

6.00%, due 1/01/29

  

 

189

 

223,690

  

6.00%, due 8/01/32

  

 

231

 

85,991

  

6.00%, due 9/01/29

  

 

89

 

77,209

  

6.50%, due 1/01/15

  

 

82

 

215,608

  

6.50%, due 7/01/29

  

 

225

 

77,643

  

7.00%, due 3/01/12

  

 

83

 

27,645

  

8.00%, due 1/01/31

  

 

30

 

48,346

  

8.00%, due 10/01/30

  

 

52

 

60,750

  

8.00%, due 2/01/29

  

 

66

 

37,052

  

8.00%, due 2/01/30

  

 

40

 

253,901

  

8.00%, due 3/01/31

  

 

274

 

35,856

  

8.00%, due 4/01/20

  

 

39

 

18,905

  

8.00%, due 4/01/30

  

 

20

 

17,500

  

8.00%, due 5/01/31

  

 

19

 

19,027

  

8.00%, due 7/01/30

  

 

20

Government National Mortgage Association
(GNMA)—1.6%

      

 

14,275

  

6.00%, due 4/15/14

  

 

15

 

75,266

  

6.00%, due 8/15/13

  

 

80

 

100,831

  

7.00%, due 4/15/28

  

 

107

 

23,187

  

7.00%, due 8/15/28

  

 

25

 

31,926

  

7.75%, due 11/15/29

  

 

34

           

TOTAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES
(cost $2,677)

  

 

2,806

           

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

32


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)

 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—7.2%

        

U.S. Treasury Notes—7.2%

        

$

80,000

  

4.875%, due 2/15/12

  

$

87

 

 

  250,000

  

6.00%, due 8/15/09

  

 

291

 

 

425,000

  

6.50%, due 11/15/26

  

 

517

 

 

110,000

  

9.25%, due 2/15/16

  

 

163

 

 

135,000

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Note

3.50%, due 1/15/11

  

 

155

 

           


TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
(cost $1,141)

  

 

1,213

 

           


MUNICIPAL BONDS—0.4%

        

Electric Utilities—0.4%

        

 

70,000

  

California State Department of Water Resources Supply Revenue 4.33%, due 5/01/06

  

 

71

 

           


TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (cost $70)

  

 

71

 

           


CASH EQUIVALENTS—1.3%

        

Investment Companies

        

 

220,463

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

220

 

           


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $220)

  

 

220

 

           


TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(cost $17,352)—101.0%

  

 

16,979

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(164

)

           


NET ASSETS

  

$

16,815

 

           


 

*   Non-income producing security.
#   Securities are exempt from registration and restricted as to resale only to dealers, or through a dealer to a “qualified institutional buyer”. The total cost of such securities is $196,000 and the total value is $210,000 or 1.25% of net assets.

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

33


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO    Greg Eisen

 

How did the fund perform?

Though it posted a negative return for the year, the SAFECO Small Company Value Fund performed substantially better than the benchmark Russell 2000 Value Index for the year ending December 31, 2002. The SAFECO Fund lagged the benchmark for the trailing five years (these numbers reflect a change in benchmark in 2001 from the Russell 2000 Index to the Russell 2000 Value Index and the violent shift from a growth to a value market).

 

What factors impacted performance?

Winning sector and stock selection account for the performance advantage achieved during the year. I correctly perceived that technology industries were not going to bounce back quickly and was conservative in allocating money there. Another correct sector decision was in financials. Small banks continued to perform well in a declining interest rate environment. Also, the Fund held more positions of smaller size than in prior years, and this helped soften the blow of the inevitable earnings torpedoes when we did suffer them.

 

What changes did you make and why?

We attempted to lock in profits on stocks that had accomplished targeted goals. Positions were either sold entirely (e.g. Riggs Bank, Websense, Patterson UTI), or cut back substantially (e.g. ITT Educational, Macatawa Bank). Other positions were exited for less auspicious reasons—losing positions were acknowledged and the money redeployed (e.g. Mikohn Gaming, DeVry).

 

Some new positions such as Black Box Corp. have been added with an eye towards participating in the economic recovery and renewal of growth in corporate spending. Successful stocks this year included Schnitzer Steel, Owens Illinois, Black Box, and CPB, Inc. Some unsuccessful names that remain in the portfolio include Optimal Robotics, Insight Enterprises and SonoSite. I think the first two have an opportunity to recover when spending picks up. SonoSite continues to ramp up sales at a high rate and I’m pleased with their operational performance.

 

The Fund is broadly diversified over all the economic sectors, exposed to a significant selection of industries. I try to emphasize companies with sustainable business models, healthy balance sheets and free cash flow, yet purchase these at cheap valuations.

 

34


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

Looking ahead, I believe the overall economy will show better growth in 2003 than we witnessed in 2002. Yet the road to recovery will be bumpy, with its share of potholes along the way. I am trying to position the Fund with companies that will participate in the upturn as it happens, while still being strong enough not to be crushed if the positive scenario is delayed.

 

Greg Eisen, CFA

 

Assistant Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA Business Administration, Rutgers University (1978); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)(1995)

 

In 1986, Greg Eisen joined SAFECO as a financial analyst. In 1992, he became a securities analyst. He was named portfolio manager in 1996 and is currently manager of the SAFECO Small Company Value Fund, which he has managed since its inception.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

35


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge

    

Without Sales Charge

 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since

Inception*

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(9.54

)%

  

(2.75

)%

    

4.32

%

  

(4.01

)%

  

(1.59

)%

    

5.22

%

Class B

  

(9.50

)%

  

(2.76

)%

    

4.49

%

  

(4.73

)%

  

(2.36

)%

    

4.49

%

Russell 2000 Value Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(11.42

)%

  

2.71

%

    

9.01

%

Lipper, Inc. (Small-Cap Value Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(10.32

)%

  

3.81

%

    

N/A

 

*Graph and average annual return comparison begins January 31, 1996, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of
Net Assets

 

Banks

    

13

%

Trucking

    

6

 

Real Estate Investment Trust

    

5

 

Networking Equipment

    

4

 

Steel

    

4

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of
Net Assets

 

Nordic American Tanker Shipping, Ltd. (Marine)

    

3.1

%

Alliance Gaming Corp.

(Casinos & Gaming)

    

2.6

 

Key Energy Services, Inc.

(Oil & Gas Drilling)

    

2.6

 

CPB, Inc.

(Banks)

    

2.5

 

Anixter International, Inc.

(Networking Equipment)

    

2.3

 

Universal Corp.

(Tobacco)

    

2.3

 

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

(Life & Health Insurance)

    

2.3

 

Cash America International, Inc.

(Consumer Finance)

    

2.3

 

United Defense Industries, Inc.

(Aerospace & Defense)

    

2.2

 

Precision Castparts Corp.

(Diversified Metals & Mining)

    

2.2

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost (000’s)


URS Corp.

  

$

1,073

Optimal Robotics Corp. (Class A)

  

 

1,003

Shaw Group, Inc.

  

 

1,000

Key Energy Services, Inc.

  

 

923

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

  

 

912

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds

(000’s)


Florida Rock Industries, Inc.

  

$

994

Elcor Corp.

  

 

914

Federal Signal Corp.

  

 

780

Websense, Inc.

  

 

775

FBR Asset Investment Corp.

  

 

773

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


LOGO

 

 

36


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—94.0%

Aerospace & Defense—2.2%

      

38,500

 *

  

United Defense Industries, Inc.

  

$

897

Apparel Retail—2.1%

      

80,200

 

  

Wet Seal, Inc. (Class A)

  

 

863

Banks—12.5%

      

11,400

 

  

Alabama National BanCorp

  

 

496

50,000

 *

  

BankUnited Financial Corp. (Class A)

  

 

809

13,800

 

  

BostonFed Bancorp, Inc.

  

 

368

26,385

 

  

Camco Financial Corp.

  

 

375

37,500

 

  

CPB, Inc.

  

 

1,029

49,229

 *

  

Hanmi Financial Corp.

  

 

826

18,232

 

  

Macatawa Bank Corp.

  

 

362

41,200

 

  

Pacific Crest Capital, Inc.

  

 

651

5,830

 

  

Southern Financial Bancorp, Inc.

  

 

176

Building Products—1.0%

      

22,900

 

  

Elcor Corp.

  

 

396

Casinos & Gaming—2.6%

      

62,100

 *

  

Alliance Gaming Corp.

  

 

1,058

Catalog Retail—1.5%

      

74,800

 *

  

Insight Enterprises, Inc.

  

 

622

Construction & Engineering—1.7%

      

48,000

 

  

URS Corp.

  

 

683

Construction Materials—2.4%

      

9,250

 

  

Florida Rock Industries, Inc.

  

 

352

20,700

 

  

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

  

 

635

Consumer Finance—3.3%

      

55,500

 *

  

AmeriCredit Corp.

  

 

430

96,900

 

  

Cash America International, Inc.

  

 

923

Distributors—1.6%

      

46,300

 *

  

Building Materials Holding Corp.

  

 

662

Diversified Commercial Services—2.6%

      

16,500

 *

  

ITT Educational Services, Inc.

  

 

389

19,000

 

  

Landauer, Inc.

  

 

660

Diversified Financial Services—2.7%

      

110,700

 *

  

Rent-Way, Inc.

  

 

387

44,200

 

  

SWS Group, Inc.

  

 

599

7,850

 

  

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

  

 

105

Diversified Metals & Mining—2.2%

      

36,100

 

  

Precision Castparts Corp.

  

 

875

Electronic Equipment & Instruments—0.8%

57,000

 *

  

Optimal Robotics Corp. (Class A)

  

 

342

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Gas Utilities—1.7%

40,700

 

  

NUI Corp.

  

$

  702

Health Care Distributors & Services—1.5%

96,400

 

  

Hooper Holmes, Inc.

  

 

592

Health Care Equipment—2.2%

13,200

 *

  

INAMED Corp.

  

 

407

37,400

 *

  

SonoSite, Inc.

  

 

489

Health Care Supplies—1.1%

59,800

 *

  

Thoratec Corp.

  

 

456

Homebuilding—2.1%

      

13,800

 *

  

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

  

 

836

Housewares & Specialities—2.1%

21,500

 

  

Lancaster Colony Corp.

  

 

840

Industrial Machinery—1.0%

10,800

 

  

Roper Industries, Inc.

  

 

395

Integrated Oil & Gas—2.0%

39,300

 

  

World Fuel Services Corp.

  

 

806

Life & Health Insurance—2.3%

18,900

 

  

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

  

 

923

Managed Health Care—1.1%

22,200

 *

  

National Dentex Corp.

  

 

434

Marine—3.1%

92,800

 

  

Nordic American Tanker Shipping, Ltd.

  

 

1,257

Metal & Glass Containers—1.4%

38,100

 *

  

Owens-Illinois, Inc.

  

 

556

Networking Equipment—4.1%

39,800

 *

  

Anixter International, Inc.

  

 

925

16,100

 *

  

Black Box Corp.

  

 

721

Oil & Gas Drilling—2.6%

117,200

 *

  

Key Energy Services, Inc.

  

 

1,051

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—1.6%

44,000

 *

  

Lone Star Technologies, Inc.

  

 

655

Paper Packaging—1.8%

60,900

 *

  

Constar International, Inc.

  

 

716

Property & Casualty Insurance—2.7%

37,300

 

  

First American Corp.

  

 

828

9,000

 

  

RLI Corp.

  

 

251

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

37


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Real Estate Investment Trust—4.6%

  16,800

 

  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

  

$

716

16,800

 

  

Camden Property Trust

  

 

554

22,000

 

  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

  

 

616

Restaurants—1.3%

      

30,100

 *

  

Jack in the Box, Inc.

  

 

520

Specialty Stores—2.0%

      

31,900

 

  

Regis Corp.

  

 

829

Steel—3.6%

      

39,700

 

  

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

  

 

830

38,800

 *

  

Shaw Group, Inc.

  

 

638

Telecommunications Equipment—1.0%

26,800

 *

  

Plantronics, Inc.

  

 

406

Tobacco—2.3%

 

           

25,000

 

  

Universal Corp.

  

 

924

Trucking—5.6%

 

           

29,400

 *

  

Arkansas Best Corp.

  

 

764

14,000

 *

  

Landstar System, Inc.

  

 

817

27,700

 *

  

P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc.

  

 

698

           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $36,130)

  

 

38,122

           

PREFERRED STOCKS—3.0%

Electric Utilities—3.0%

2,400

 

  

Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $108.00

  

 

221

2,100

 

  

Connecticut Light & Power Co.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $51.00

  

 

63

2,700

 

  

Connecticut Light & Power Co.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $54.00

  

 

84

2,400

 

  

Great Plains Energy, Inc.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $101.00

  

 

151

3,300

 

  

Jersey Central Power & Light Co.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $106.50

  

 

192

4,000

 

  

Massachusetts Electric Co.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $103.73

  

 

281

4,800

 

  

PSI Energy, Inc.

Callable 1/27/03 @ $25.00

  

 

83

2,000

 

  

Virginia Electric & Power Co.

Callable 11/04/02 @ $101.00

  

 

136

           

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (cost $1,229)

  

 

1,211

           

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)

 

COMMERCIAL PAPER—2.4%

        

Diversified Financial Services—2.4%

  1,000,000

  

UBS Finance, Inc.

1.20%, due 1/02/03

  

$

1,000

 

         


TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (cost $1,000)

  

 

1,000

 

         


CASH EQUIVALENTS—9.0%

        

Investment Companies

        

2,093,426

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

2,093

 

1,560,842

  

Nations Money Market Reserves

  

 

1,561

 

         


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $3,654)

  

 

3,654

 

         


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $42,013)—108.4%

  

 

43,987

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(3,414

)

         


NET ASSETS

  

$

40,573

 

         


 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

38


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO

  

Rex Bentley

 

LOGO

  

Lynette D. Sagvold

   

 

How did the fund perform?

Over the past three months the equity market rallied, ending a very negative year on a positive note. The SAFECO U.S. Value Fund participated in both the positive fourth quarter and the negative year, with an overall decline that lagged its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index for the year ending December 31, 2002.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The biggest factor impacting the Fund over the past year and the past three years was the sharp decline in equity prices. This decline occurred among all major equity indices regardless of style, size or domicile. Value investing was more defensive than other styles, but returns were decidedly negative. Stocks were driven down over concerns regarding a number of issues, including the direction of U.S. economy, weakness in earnings, corporate accounting practices and governance issues, as well as world geopolitical events.

 

Over the course of the year we responded to these issues by investing in what we believe are higher quality companies in terms of financial strength and future earnings prospects. As we did this, we also continued to pay close attention to valuation.

 

What changes did you make and why?

As the year progressed, we gradually began shifting the portfolio marginally toward stocks that are more cyclical in nature. This was done with an eye toward the eventual economic and stock market recovery that we believe will occur at some point. To accomplish this we added stocks such as Caterpillar, Emerson Electric, Hewlett Packard, PACCAR and Weyerhaeuser. Those stocks performed well last quarter as the market rallied.

 

We also moved to an overweighted position in the utility sector. This was done because many of these stocks reached valuation levels we found compelling. The Bell regional companies for example were selling at relative price-to-earnings ratios substantially below historic norms. At those levels we found the stocks very attractive. We were pleased last quarter that both Verizon Communications and SBC Communications were among our best performing stocks during the market advance.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

While the concerns cited earlier still exist, none of them are new. We believe that three straight years of negative stock market returns have adequately discounted these negatives. If this is so, we believe the equity market could have a reasonably good year in 2003. We also believe the U.S. economy will continue to improve, which should help earnings and stock prices.

 

Our sector weightings remain fairly close to those of the Russell 1000 Value Index. We are overweighted in some sectors that we think will participate in a stronger economy, such as producer durables, consumer discretionary and technology. We are also over-weighted in health care, which we think is

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

39


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

generally inexpensive relative to growth prospects. We are underweighted in financials due to the impact of potentially higher interest rates.

 

We believe the U.S. Value Fund—with holdings in quality, attractively valued companies—is positioned to offer downside protection should equities fall further, while offering enough prospects to participate in a market rally.

 

Rex Bentley, MBA, CFA

 

Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company; BA and MBA, Brigham Young University (1975); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)(1981)

 

Rex joined SAFECO Asset Management Company in 1995 and has amassed more than 20 years investment experience.

 

Lynette D. Sagvold, CFA

 

Assistant Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management; BA Business Administration, University of Washington (1982); Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) (1988)

 

Lynette began her investment career in 1981 at Kidder Peabody and was a portfolio manager for Key Trust and First Interstate before joining SAFECO Asset Management Company as a portfolio manager in 1995.

 

40


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

 

 

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since Inception*

    

1 Year

    

5 Year

      

Since Inception*

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

                                             

Class A

  

(23.35

)%

  

(2.93

)%

    

0.18

%

  

(18.65

)%

  

(1.78

)%

    

1.23

%

Class B

  

(23.39

)%

  

(2.86

)%

    

0.33

%

  

(19.37

)%

  

(2.50

)%

    

0.48

%

Russell 1000 Value Index

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(15.52)%

 

  

1.16%

 

    

5.30%

 

Lipper, Inc. (Large-Cap Value Funds)

  

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(19.95)%

 

  

(0.90)%

 

    

N/A

 

*Graph and average annual return comparison begins April 30, 1997, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Banks

    

13

%

Integrated Oil & Gas

    

9

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

9

 

Diversified Financial Services

    

7

 

Multi-Line Insurance

    

5

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.

(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

3.5

%

Citigroup, Inc.

(Diversified Financial Services)

    

3.1

 

U.S. Bancorp

(Banks)

    

2.9

 

Verizon Communications

(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

2.8

 

American International Group, Inc.

(Multi-Line Insurance)

    

2.7

 

ChevronTexaco Corp.

(Integrated Oil & Gas)

    

2.6

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

(Banks)

    

2.6

 

SBC Communications, Inc.

(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

2.5

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.

(Banks)

    

2.4

 

FirstEnergy Corp.

(Electric Utilities)

    

2.1

 

          

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost

(000’s)


FirstEnergy Corp.

  

$

217

Target Corp.

  

 

169

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

135

Home Depot, Inc.

  

 

126

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

121

TOP FIVE SALES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Proceeds

(000’s)


Gillette Co.

  

$

207

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  

 

160

CVS Corp.

  

 

157

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

 

141

United Parcel Service, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

126

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

41


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—96.9%

      

Aerospace & Defense—2.0%

      

1,100

 

  

Raytheon Co.

  

$

34

1,900

 

  

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

118

Air Freight & Couriers—1.6%

      

1,900

 

  

United Parcel Service, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

120

Aluminum—0.8%

      

2,500

 

  

Alcoa, Inc.

  

 

57

Automobile Manufacturers—0.7%

      

1,500

 

  

General Motors Corp.

  

 

55

Banks—12.9%

      

1,900

 

  

Bank of America Corp.

  

 

132

3,200

 

  

Bank of New York Co., Inc.

  

 

77

3,600

 

  

KeyCorp

  

 

91

2,000

 

  

State Street Corp.

  

 

78

10,090

 

  

U.S. Bancorp

  

 

214

5,300

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

  

 

183

4,100

 

  

Wells Fargo & Co.

  

 

192

Computer Hardware—1.9%

      

2,500

 

  

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  

 

43

1,300

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

  

 

101

Computer Storage & Peripherals—0.3%

      

4,300

 *

  

EMC Corp.

  

 

26

Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks—1.3%

      

900

 

  

Caterpillar, Inc.

  

 

41

1,200

 

  

PACCAR, Inc.

  

 

55

Data Processing Services—1.0%

      

2,000

 

  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

  

 

79

Department Stores—1.0%

      

3,250

 

  

May Department Stores Co.

  

 

75

Diversified Chemicals—2.6%

      

1,800

 

  

Dow Chemical Co.

  

 

53

3,300

 

  

Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co.

  

 

140

Diversified Financial Services—7.3%

      

2,900

 

  

American Express Co.

  

 

103

6,700

 

  

Citigroup, Inc.

  

 

236

1,100

 

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

  

 

71

5,800

 

  

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  

 

139

Electric Utilities—3.6%

      

5,700

 

  

Duke Energy Corp.

  

 

111

4,800

 

  

FirstEnergy Corp.

  

 

158

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Electrical Components & Equipment—0.9%

      

  1,300

 

  

Emerson Electric Co.

  

$

66

Electronic Equipment & Instruments—1.8%

      

1,000

 

  

Diebold, Inc.

  

 

41

2,600

 

  

Hubbell, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

91

Food Distributors—1.0%

      

2,400

 

  

SYSCO Corp.

  

 

72

Food Retail—1.6%

      

7,500

 *

  

Kroger Co.

  

 

116

Forest Products—0.5%

      

800

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  

 

39

General Merchandise Stores—2.9%

      

2,900

 *

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

  

 

81

4,500

 

  

Target Corp.

  

 

135

Health Care Equipment—0.7%

      

2,000

 

  

Baxter International, Inc.

  

 

56

Home Furnishings—1.2%

      

4,000

 

  

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

  

 

90

Home Improvement Retail—1.2%

      

3,600

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

  

 

86

Household Products—2.3%

      

2,200

 

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

104

800

 

  

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

 

69

Industrial Conglomerates—1.7%

      

5,100

 

  

General Electric Co.

  

 

124

Industrial Gases—2.1%

      

2,700

 

  

Praxair, Inc.

  

 

156

Industrial Machinery—1.6%

      

2,800

 

  

Ingersoll-Rand Co.

  

 

121

Integrated Oil & Gas—8.9%

      

2,900

 

  

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  

 

193

2,665

 

  

ConocoPhillips

  

 

129

7,528

 

  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  

 

263

1,800

 

  

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR)

  

 

79

Integrated Telecommunications Services—8.6%

      

3,100

 

  

ALLTEL Corp.

  

 

158

3,300

 

  

CenturyTel, Inc.

  

 

97

6,800

 

  

SBC Communications, Inc.

  

 

184

5,348

 

  

Verizon Communications

  

 

207

Movies & Entertainment—1.6%

      

7,400

 

  

Walt Disney Co.

  

 

121

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

42


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Multi-Line Insurance—4.8%

      

  3,500

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

  

$

203

3,400

 

  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

  

 

154

Multi-Utilities—2.0%

      

7,300

 

  

NiSource, Inc.

  

 

146

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—0.7%

      

1,200

 

  

Schlumberger, Ltd.

  

 

51

Pharmaceuticals—4.2%

      

2,800

 

  

Abbott Laboratories

  

 

112

2,500

 

  

Pfizer, Inc.

  

 

76

1,800

 

  

Pharmacia Corp.

  

 

75

2,400

 

  

Schering-Plough Corp.

  

 

53

Property & Casualty Insurance—1.0%

      

5,001

 *

  

Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Class B)

  

 

73

Publishing & Printing—1.5%

      

1,600

 

  

Gannett Co., Inc.

  

 

115

Real Estate Investment Trust—3.1%

      

3,200

 

  

Equity Residential

  

 

79

2,700

 

  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

  

 

76

2,500

 

  

Liberty Property Trust

  

 

80

Semiconductor Equipment—0.9%

      

4,400

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

69

Semiconductors—0.5%

      

2,600

 

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

  

 

39

Soft Drinks—1.3%

      

2,300

 

  

PepsiCo, Inc.

  

 

97

Systems Software—0.8%

      

1,200

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

 

62

Telecommunications Equipment—0.5%

      

2,300

 

  

Nokia Oyj (ADR)

  

 

36

           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $7,795)

  

 

7,256

           

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)

 

CASH EQUIVALENTS—3.5%

        

Investment Companies

        

  258,510

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

$

258

 

         


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $258)

  

 

258

 

         


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $8,053)—100.4%

  

 

7,514

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(28

)

         


NET ASSETS

  

$

7,486

 

         


 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

43


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO

  

Thomas J. Ross

   

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund, though posting negative returns, outperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index for the year ending December 31, 2002.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Earlier in 2002, performance of the Fund was helped most by strong performance in retail stocks, favorable stock selection in healthcare providers, and by underweighting software stocks. The major detractors from returns in the first half of the year came from semiconductor holdings and the underweight position in banks. Later in 2002, performance was held back by holdings in auto component stocks and again by underweighting banks.

 

Technology was among the most punished groups in the Russell 2000 Growth Index for much of the year, rebounding in the fourth quarter to become the best performing sector in the Index. The Fund was able to participate in the rebound, although stock selection within tech and underweight allocations to tech muted returns. Many of the stocks we considered as having the weakest fundamental business outlooks climbed the most over the quarter, in a rally that exhibited traits of a speculative recoil.

 

Much of the relative underperformance in the fourth quarter resulted from the defensive positioning during a general rotation to more cyclical areas of the market, such as technology. For example, the portfolio retained an overweight position in health care providers and services, given this segment’s relatively stable earnings and revenue streams. After strong relative performance through the third quarter, this was one of the poorer performing industries over the fourth quarter.

 

Health care providers across market caps generally lost ground after it was reported that medical doctors at a large cap health care provider were being investigated for allegedly operating on patients without legitimate medical justification. The provider also came under scrutiny for its unusually large use of Medicare outlier payments to generate growth. Our internal research indicated that this was not a widespread practice, although many stocks in this industry fell nevertheless.

 

Capital goods stocks also detracted from active returns. Holdings in this group include several defense-related companies, which were adding significantly to performance through September, but later fell as questions arose regarding billing practices in government projects while several defense companies’ records were subpoenaed. Regardless of whether the U.S. goes to war, this group should benefit from a multi-year period of rising U.S. defense spending in an otherwise weak economy.

 

Energy stocks benefited from rising oil and gas prices, along with favorable supply and demand trends and a colder winter. Commercial Service stocks include top ten holdings Waste Connections, Inc. and Alliance Data Systems Corp. Dallas based ADS is one of the largest private label credit card service providers in the U.S.

 

44


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What changes did you make and why?

Earlier in 2002, we reduced allocations to technology, we exited telecommunications, added to consumer discretionary, commercial goods and services, and added exposure to financials with new bank and insurance holdings. We also reduced our biotechnology holdings. By the end of the third quarter, the Fund held eight to nine bank holdings to provide diversification. The second and third largest portfolio holdings by quarter-end were from the commercial goods and services sector.

 

On balance, we retained our emphasis on companies with relatively predictable earnings outlooks. For most of the fourth quarter, the environment did not favor a portfolio with these characteristics. The Fund outperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index during December’s falling market and over the last six months of the year. Before positioning the portfolio more aggressively, we wish to see more substantive indications that the economy and business outlooks are improving. We believe that investor interests are best served in the current uncertain environment by a visible earnings bias.

 

We added selectively to technology but remained underweight, given our concerns about the sector’s aggressive earnings expectations, high valuations, and in many cases, high cash burn rates by companies that are not yet generating positive cash flow from operations.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

Despite our generally cautious outlook, we remain alert to signs that the increasing fiscal policy response to the slowdown may be leading to an improvement in business conditions in various sectors of the economy. Some strategists are suggesting that President Bush’s stimulus package will boost equity markets, despite concerns that some segments remain highly valued.

 

In the absence of a major new terrorist attack or adverse developments in a U.S. military conflict, we believe small cap stocks can continue to outperform and complement large cap stocks, supported by their strong fundamentals including better valuations, faster sales and earnings growth, and their historical tendency to outperform larger cap securities in the early stages of an economic recovery.

 

Thomas J. Ross

 

Dresdner RCM Global Investors LLC (the “sub-advisor”) acts as the investment sub-advisor to the SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund. Thomas J. Ross is a Director of the sub-advisor, with which he has been associated since 2001. Prior to 2001, he was a senior analyst and portfolio manager for Dresdner Bank’s Dresdner Investment Trust subsidiary for ten years. He is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Ross manages or co-manages other accounts of the sub-advisor or its clients.

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

45


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return

for the periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

Since Inception*

    

1 Year

      

Since Inception*

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

                               

Class A

  

(30.62

)%

    

(18.76

)%

  

(26.39

)%

    

(14.53

)%

Class B

  

(30.58

)%

    

(18.05

)%

  

(26.94

)%

    

(15.15

)%

Class C

  

(27.67

)%

    

(15.15

)%

  

(26.94

)%

    

(15.15

)%

Russell 2000 Growth Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(30.26

)%

    

(17.17

)%

Lipper, Inc. (Small-Cap Growth Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(29.72

)%

    

N/A

 

* Total return comparison begins October 31, 2001, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Application Software

    

6

%

Banks

    

6

 

Health Care Facilities

    

6

 

Pharmaceuticals

    

5

 

Specialty Stores

    

4

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Renal Care Group, Inc.

(Health Care Facilities)

    

2.0

%

Performance Food Group Co.

(Food Distributors)

    

1.8

 

Waste Connections, Inc.

(Environmental Services)

    

1.7

 

Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.

(Specialty Stores)

    

1.5

 

Career Education Corp.

(Diversified Commercial Services)

    

1.5

 

Alliance Data Systems Corp.

(Data Processing Services)

    

1.5

 

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

(Hotels)

    

1.5

 

United Natural Foods, Inc.

(Food Distributors)

    

1.4

 

Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Co.

(Insurance Brokers)

    

1.3

 

Unit Corp.

(Oil & Gas Exploration & Production)

    

1.2

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost

(000’s)


Microsemi Corp.

  

$

153

Grey Wolf, Inc.

  

 

120

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.

  

 

119

Concurrent Computer Corp.

  

 

112

Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.

  

 

111

TOP FIVE SALES

  

Proceeds

(000’s)


Triad Hospitals, Inc.

  

$

210

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

  

 

156

National-Oilwell, Inc.

  

 

150

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.

  

 

147

Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc.

  

 

132

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

46


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—95.6%

      

Aerospace & Defense—2.5%

      

1,000

 *

  

DRS Technologies, Inc.

  

$

31

3,500

 *

  

The Titan Corp.

  

 

36

2,250

 *

  

Veridian Corp.

  

 

48

Air Freight & Couriers—0.7%

      

1,300

 

  

UTI Worldwide, Inc.

  

 

34

Airlines—1.4%

      

1,310

 *

  

JetBlue Airways Corp.

  

 

35

2,150

 

  

SkyWest, Inc.

  

 

28

Apparel & Accessories—0.9%

      

2,500

 *

  

Gymboree Corp.

  

 

40

Apparel Retail—0.9%

      

1,840

 *

  

Too, Inc.

  

 

43

Application Software—5.9%

      

3,500

 

  

Autodesk, Inc.

  

 

50

2,300

 *

  

Business Objects SA (ADR)

  

 

34

1,000

 *

  

Cerner Corp.

  

 

31

1,000

 *

  

Imation Corp.

  

 

35

2,250

 *

  

J.D. Edwards & Co.

  

 

25

5,600

 *

  

Lawson Software, Inc.

  

 

32

3,000

 *

  

Macromedia, Inc.

  

 

32

1,350

 *

  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

  

 

32

Banks—5.8%

      

1,030

 

  

East West Bancorp, Inc.

  

 

37

1,440

 

  

Mid-State Bancshares

  

 

24

1,866

 

  

Pacific Capital Bancorp

  

 

47

1,000

 

  

PFF Bancorp, Inc.

  

 

31

4,100

 

  

Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

  

 

50

900

 

  

UCBH Holdings, Inc.

  

 

38

1,300

 

  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

  

 

41

Biotechnology—1.3%

      

750

 *

  

Cell Genesys, Inc.

  

 

8

580

 *

  

Icos Corp.

  

 

14

720

 *

  

InterMune, Inc.

  

 

18

2,500

 *

  

Protein Design Labs, Inc.

  

 

21

Broadcasting & Cable TV—1.9%

      

3,000

 *

  

Cumulus Media, Inc. (Class A)

  

 

45

950

 *

  

Entercom Communications Corp.

  

 

45

Casinos & Gaming—1.1%

      

3,000

 *

  

Alliance Gaming Corp.

  

 

51

Computer Storage & Peripherals—1.3%

      

  5,500

 *

  

Adaptec, Inc.

  

 

31

6,100

 *

  

Maxtor Corp.

  

 

31

Construction & Engineering—0.5%

      

450

 *

  

EMCOR Group, Inc.

  

 

24

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Construction & Farm Machinery—1.8%

      

2,140

 *

  

AGCO Corp.

  

$

47

590

 

  

Oshkosh Truck Corp.

  

 

36

Data Processing Services—2.0%

      

3,850

 *

  

Alliance Data Systems Corp.

  

 

68

1,600

 *

  

Documentum, Inc.

  

 

25

Diversified Commercial Services—3.4%

      

1,750

 *

  

Career Education Corp.

  

 

70

900

 *

  

Education Management Corp.

  

 

34

1,500

 *

  

Kroll, Inc.

  

 

29

470

 *

  

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

  

 

23

Diversified Financial Services—0.8%

      

700

 *

  

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.

  

 

35

Electric Utilities—1.0%

      

1,800

 

  

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

  

 

46

Electronic Equipment & Instruments—2.4%

      

700

 *

  

Cymer, Inc.

  

 

23

2,500

 

  

EDO Corp.

  

 

52

1,400

 *

  

InVision Technologies, Inc.

  

 

37

Environmental Services—1.7%

      

1,980

 *

  

Waste Connections, Inc.

  

 

76

Food Distributors—3.2%

      

2,500

 

  

Performance Food Group Co.

  

 

85

2,600

 *

  

United Natural Foods, Inc.

  

 

66

General Merchandise Stores—0.7%

      

1,300

 

  

Fred’s, Inc.

  

 

33

Health Care Facilities—5.7%

      

700

 *

  

AmSurg Corp.

  

 

14

1,800

 *

  

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.

  

 

54

1,340

 *

  

Odyssey Healthcare, Inc.

  

 

46

3,000

 *

  

Renal Care Group, Inc.

  

 

95

3,500

 *

  

VCA Antech, Inc.

  

 

52

Health Care Supplies—1.5%

      

1,660

 

  

The Cooper Companies, Inc.

  

 

42

1,650

 *

  

Wright Medical Group, Inc.

  

 

29

Home Furnishings—0.7%

      

1,180

 *

  

Cost Plus, Inc.

  

 

34

Hotels—2.3%

      

  3,000

 *

  

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

  

 

68

1,600

 

  

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

  

 

38

Household Products—0.7%

      

1,500

 

  

The Dial Corp.

  

 

31

Insurance Brokers—1.3%

      

1,500

 

  

Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Co.

  

 

61

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

47


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)


Internet Software & Services—1.3%

      

1,750

 *

  

Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc.

  

$

30

1,740

 *

  

Internet Security Systems, Inc.

  

 

32

IT Consulting & Services—0.5%

      

1,500

 *

  

Altiris, Inc.

  

 

24

Leisure Products—0.7%

      

2,500

 *

  

West Marine, Inc.

  

 

34

Networking Equipment—1.1%

      

2,950

 *

  

NetScreen Technologies, Inc.

  

 

50

Oil & Gas Drilling—2.1%

      

  12,600

 *

  

Grey Wolf, Inc.

  

 

50

1,620

 *

  

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

  

 

49

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—3.8%

      

1,980

 *

  

Cal Dive International, Inc.

  

 

47

1,500

 *

  

FMC Technologies, Inc.

  

 

31

2,500

 *

  

National-Oilwell, Inc.

  

 

55

2,500

 *

  

Varco International, Inc.

  

 

44

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production—2.8%

      

500

 *

  

Evergreen Resources, Inc.

  

 

22

5,000

 *

  

Ultra Petroleum Corp.

  

 

50

3,000

 *

  

Unit Corp.

  

 

56

Packaged Foods—0.8%

      

1,000

 *

  

American Italian Pasta Co.

  

 

36

Paper Products—1.3%

      

1,270

 

  

Boise Cascade Corp.

  

 

32

2,000

 

  

Glatfelter

  

 

26

Personal Products—1.1%

      

3,000

 *

  

NBTY, Inc.

  

 

53

Pharmaceuticals—5.4%

      

4,000

 *

  

Axcan Pharma, Inc.

  

 

47

2,080

 *

  

Enzon, Inc.

  

 

35

1,810

 *

  

K-V Pharmaceutical Co. (Class A)

  

 

42

1,450

 *

  

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  

 

24

1,000

 *

  

Scios, Inc.

  

 

33

1,290

 *

  

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

  

 

49

550

*

  

Trimeris, Inc.

  

 

24

Property & Casualty Insurance—1.0%

      

1,100

 *

  

Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.

  

 

29

600

 

  

RLI Corp.

  

 

17

Real Estate Investment Trust—3.5%

      

825

 

  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

  

 

35

800

 

  

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

  

 

32

700

 

  

Chelsea Property Group, Inc.

  

 

23

1,250

 

  

Redwood Trust, Inc.

  

 

35

1,100

 

  

SL Green Realty Corp.

  

 

35

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value
(000’s)

 

Restaurants—1.3%

        

1,425

 

  

Applebee’s International, Inc.

  

$

33

 

800

 *

  

The Cheesecake Factory, Inc.

  

 

29

 

Semiconductor Equipment—2.0%

        

  5,700

 *

  

GlobespanVirata, Inc.

  

 

25

 

2,000

 *

  

Integrated Circuit Systems, Inc.

  

 

37

 

4,000

 

  

Lattice Semiconductor Corp.

  

 

35

 

Semiconductors—1.5%

        

3,300

 *

  

Fairchild Semiconductor Corp.

  

 

35

 

4,000

 *

  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

  

 

34

 

Specialty Chemicals—0.8%

        

4,000

 *

  

Omnova Solutions, Inc.

  

 

16

 

1,500

 

  

RPM International, Inc.

  

 

23

 

Specialty Stores—4.3%

        

2,500

 

  

Aaron Rents, Inc.

  

 

55

 

2,950

 *

  

Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.

  

 

71

 

1,800

 *

  

PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.

  

 

42

 

2,000

 *

  

Sonic Automotive, Inc.

  

 

30

 

Systems Software—2.0%

        

3,500

 *

  

Ascential Software Corp.

  

 

8

 

6,000

 *

  

Micromuse, Inc.

  

 

23

 

7,000

 *

  

Novell, Inc.

  

 

23

 

2,850

 *

  

Sybase, Inc.

  

 

38

 

Telecommunications Equipment—0.8%

        

1,860

 *

  

UTStarcom, Inc.

  

 

37

 

Trucking—3.4%

        

2,600

 *

  

Knight Transportation, Inc.

  

 

55

 

1,250

 

  

Roadway Corp.

  

 

46

 

1,800

 *

  

Swift Transportation Co., Inc.

  

 

36

 

700

 

  

USFreightways Corp.

  

 

20

 

Wireless Telecommunications Services—0.7%

        

5,200

 

  

Nextel Partners, Inc.

  

 

32

 

           


TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $4,346)

  

 

4,435

 

           


CASH EQUIVALENTS—4.6%

        

Investment Companies

        

  214,932

 

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

215

 

           


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $215)

  

 

215

 

           


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $4,561)—100.2%

  

 

4,650

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(13

)

           


NET ASSETS

  

$

4,637

 

           


*   Non-income producing security.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

48


Report from the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO    Seth A. Reicher         LOGO    Mary Bersot         LOGO    Peter Goetz

 

How did the fund perform?

Though the SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund posted negative returns for the year, it outperformed the Russell 1000 Growth benchmark for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

What factors impacted performance?

The most fundamental characteristic of our portfolio positioning has been, and continues to be, the defensive nature of our selections and our emphasis on quality growth. Our emphasis on less leveraged, higher quality names held back relative performance as more speculative stocks outperformed during the fourth quarter rally. Using low-priced stocks as a proxy for lower-quality, from the market low in October through November, stocks priced under $5 (companies historically more likely to go under) appreciated over 100% while stocks over $60 were nearly flat.

 

Throughout the year, we have been underweight in more cyclical sectors, including technology and consumer discretionary, and overweight in traditionally stable growth sectors, including consumer staples companies and pharmaceuticals. While this positioning was an aid to performance through much of the year, it detracted from performance for the fourth quarter. During the first three quarters, technology and telecommunication services had been under great pressure because of weak demand and previous overbuilding and were, in fact, the worst performing sectors. The strong rebound in both during the recent rally made them the top performing sectors for the fourth quarter. Our underweight in technology, especially in semiconductors & instruments, detracted from benchmark relative performance while our small overweight in telecom supported performance.

 

While technology and telecommunication services posted double-digit returns for the fourth quarter, consumer staples lagged behind, with the group overall registering low single-digit returns. Our large exposure to this sector was a drag on relative performance. On the other hand, our underweight in health care providers & services was an aid to performance as this industry suffered further pressure amid government investigations.

 

What changes did you make and why?

We continue to be defensively positioned with an underweight in more cyclical sectors and an overweight in more stable growth sectors. Furthermore, we believe that the kinds of companies in which we invest, those able to grow earnings consistently and with high quality financials and management, are well positioned to outperform in what should continue to be a volatile market.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

49


Report from the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

While there has been some good news to embrace, we view the news, in aggregate, as mixed. To us, the U.S. consumer appears to be overextended with regard to credit, “saturated” with regard to consumption, and losing confidence. If correct, this would explain why the record level of mortgage refinancing activity has not apparently resulted in increased consumption.

 

Businesses don’t appear to be filling in the gap either. Capital expenditures have remained flat as profitability has waned. Businesses have little pricing power and are generally trying to keep margins up by cutting labor costs and capital expenditures. We don’t expect capital expenditures to improve materially anytime soon and struggling foreign economies are also not poised to bail us out.

 

Our own federal government is doing what it can to avoid further deterioration through stimulative monetary and fiscal policies. There is, of course, a delay before they impact the economy and, to date, the results are unclear. Add to this the uncertainty of potential war in the Middle East, the impact on oil prices of the Venezuelan strike and it is difficult to find a catalyst for a near-term recovery.

 

Seth A. Reicher, CFA Mary Bersot, CFA

 

Dresdner RCM Global Investors LLC (the “sub-advisor”) acts as an investment sub-advisor to the SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund. Seth A. Reicher, CFA and Mary Bersot, CFA, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Reicher is a Managing Director of the sub-advisor, which he has been associated with since 1993. Ms. Bersot is a Managing Director of the sub-advisor, which she has been associated with since 1999. From 1990 to 1999, she worked for McMorgan & Co. as a Senior Vice President managing the Taft Hartley Funds as well as a balanced mutual fund. Mr. Reicher and Ms. Bersot manage or co-manage other accounts of the sub-advisor or its clients.

 

Managerial change update:

 

Effective January, 2003, Peter Goetz has assumed the day-to-day management responsibilities of the SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund that were formerly handled by Mary Bersot. Mr. Goetz is a Director of the sub-advisor, which he has been associated with since 1999.

 

Peter Geotz, MBA, CFA

 

Peter Geotz is a member of the Large Cap Equity Team. His investment experience began in 1985. Prior to joining Dresdner RCM in 1999, Peter worked at Jurika & Voyles, where he was Vice President and Portfolio Manager for three years. There, he managed equity and balanced institutional accounts, and co-managed the firm’s core equity Value + Growth and Balanced no-load mutual funds. He received a BA in Economics from the University of California, Irvine and an MBA from the University of Southern California. Peter is a member of the Security Analysts of San Francisco.

 

50


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

Since Inception*

    

1 Year

      

Since Inception*

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

                               

Class A

  

(31.32

)%

    

(23.62

)%

  

(27.12

)%

    

(19.64

)%

Class B

  

(31.32

)%

    

(23.00

)%

  

(27.71

)%

    

(20.27

)%

Class C

  

(28.43

)%

    

(20.27

)%

  

(27.71

)%

    

(20.27

)%

Russell 1000 Growth Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(27.88

)%

    

(18.38

)%

Lipper, Inc. (Large-Cap Growth Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(28.63

)%

    

N/A

 

* Total return comparison begins October 31, 2001, inception date of the Fund.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Pharmaceuticals

    

20

%

Systems Software

    

8

 

Diversified Financial Services

    

7

 

Industrial Conglomerates

    

5

 

General Merchandise Stores

    

5

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

Microsoft Corp.
(Systems Software)

    

6.7

%

Pfizer, Inc.
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

6.2

 

General Electric Co.
(Industrial Conglomerates)

    

4.6

 

Johnson & Johnson
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

3.7

 

Wyeth
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

3.5

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(General Merchandise Stores)

    

3.4

 

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
(Brewers)

    

3.4

 

Pharmacia Corp.
(Pharmaceuticals)

    

3.3

 

Federal National Mortgage Association
(Diversified Financial Services)

    

2.9

 

PepsiCo, Inc.
(Soft Drinks)

    

2.8

 

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

Cost (000’s)


Cardinal Health, Inc.

  

$94

Dell Computer Corp.

  

91

Medtronic, Inc.

  

79

Wyeth

  

71

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

68

TOP FIVE SALES

  

Proceeds (000’s)


Tyco International, Ltd.

  

$123

Merck & Co., Inc.

  

106

American International Group, Inc.

  

99

Eli Lilly & Co.

  

74

AOL Time Warner, Inc.

  

72

 

WEIGHTINGS AS A PERCENT

OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

51


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


COMMON STOCKS—95.4%

      

Aerospace & Defense—2.5%

      

600

 

  

General Dynamics Corp.

  

$

48

1,000

 

  

United Technologies Corp.

  

 

62

Air Freight & Couriers—1.3%

      

900

 

  

United Parcel Service, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

57

Application Software—0.9%

      

800

 *

  

Electronic Arts, Inc.

  

 

40

Biotechnology—3.4%

      

  2,200

 *

  

Amgen, Inc.

  

 

106

675

 *

  

Genentech, Inc.

  

 

22

900

 *

  

MedImmune, Inc.

  

 

24

Brewers—3.4%

      

3,100

 

  

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

  

 

150

Broadcasting & Cable TV—1.1%

      

1,200

 *

  

Viacom, Inc. (Class B)

  

 

49

Computer Hardware—3.1%

      

3,500

 *

  

Dell Computer Corp.

  

 

94

600

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

  

 

46

Data Processing Services—1.2%

      

1,400

 

  

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

  

 

55

Diversified Financial Services—6.5%

      

1,500

 

  

Citigroup, Inc.

  

 

53

2,000

 

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

  

 

129

1,000

 

  

Franklin Resources, Inc.

  

 

34

1,000

 

  

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

  

 

46

700

 

  

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

  

 

27

Drug Retail—1.5%

      

2,300

 

  

Walgreen Co.

  

 

67

Food Distributors—0.8%

      

1,200

 

  

SYSCO Corp.

  

 

36

General Merchandise Stores—4.6%

      

1,150

 *

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

  

 

32

700

 

  

Target Corp.

  

 

21

3,000

 

  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  

 

152

Health Care Distributors & Services—2.5%

      

500

 

  

AmerisourceBergen Corp.

  

 

27

1,450

 

  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

  

 

86

Health Care Equipment—2.3%

      

1,450

 

  

Baxter International, Inc.

  

 

41

1,400

 

  

Medtronic, Inc.

  

 

64

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)


Home Improvement Retail—1.4%

      

  2,500

 

  

Home Depot, Inc.

  

$

60

Household Products—1.9%

      

400

 

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  

 

19

775

 

  

Procter & Gamble Co.

  

 

67

Industrial Conglomerates—5.4%

      

8,400

 

  

General Electric Co.

  

 

205

300

 

  

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.

  

 

37

Integrated Oil & Gas—0.5%

      

600

 

  

BP, plc (ADR)

  

 

24

IT Consulting & Services—1.0%

      

2,500

 *

  

Accenture, Ltd. (Class A)

  

 

45

Managed Health Care—0.6%

      

400

 *

  

WellPoint Health Networks, Inc.

  

 

28

Multi-Line Insurance—1.3%

      

975

 

  

American International Group, Inc.

  

 

56

Networking Equipment—2.4%

      

8,000

 *

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

  

 

105

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—1.6%

      

1,575

 

  

Baker Hughes, Inc.

  

 

51

500

 *

  

Weatherford International, Inc.

  

 

20

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production—0.7%

      

700

 

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

  

 

33

Packaged Foods—1.7%

      

1,900

 

  

Kraft Foods, Inc. (Class A)

  

 

74

Personal Products—3.1%

      

2,100

 

  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

  

 

110

900

 

  

Gillette Co.

  

 

27

Pharmaceuticals—20.1%

      

250

 

  

Eli Lilly & Co.

  

 

16

700

 *

  

IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp.

  

 

23

3,100

 

  

Johnson & Johnson

  

 

166

9,000

 

  

Pfizer, Inc.

  

 

275

3,500

 

  

Pharmacia Corp.

  

 

146

3,325

 

  

Schering-Plough Corp.

  

 

74

1,000

 

  

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (ADR)

  

 

39

4,150

 

  

Wyeth

  

 

155

Restaurants—0.5%

      

1,000

 *

  

Starbucks Corp.

  

 

20

Semiconductor Equipment—2.1%

      

6,000

 

  

Intel Corp.

  

 

93

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

52


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

  

Value

(000’s)

 

Semiconductors—0.8%

        

1,100

 *

  

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

  

$

36

 

Soft Drinks—4.4%

        

1,600

 

  

Coca-Cola Co.

  

 

70

 

3,000

 

  

PepsiCo, Inc.

  

 

127

 

Specialty Stores—0.6%

        

1,300

 

  

Mattel, Inc.

  

 

25

 

Systems Software—8.0%

        

5,775

 *

  

Microsoft Corp.

  

 

299

 

3,500

 *

  

Oracle Corp.

  

 

38

 

1,275

 *

  

VERITAS Software Corp.

  

 

20

 

Telecommunications Equipment—1.1%

        

1,350

 

  

Nokia Oyj (ADR)

  

 

21

 

800

 *

  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

  

 

29

 

Wireless Telecommunications Services—1.1%

        

2,650

 

  

Vodafone Group, plc (ADR)

  

 

48

 

           


TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $4,965)

  

 

4,249

 

           


CASH EQUIVALENTS—4.9%

        

Investment Companies

        

  216,919

 

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

217

 

           


TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $217)

  

 

217

 

           


TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $5,182)—100.3%

  

 

4,466

 

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

(13

)

           


NET ASSETS

  

$

4,453

 

           


 

*   Non-income producing security.

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

53


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund posted negative returns for the year ending December 31, 2002, significantly lagging its benchmark.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Much of the Fund’s negative results in 2002 occurred during the June-July period, when the Fund’s performance was hurt by accounting misstatements in several holdings as well as the illiquidity of certain holdings.

 

Positions in the telecommunications sector including Adelphia, Worldcom, Charter and Qwest Communications, had a dramatic negative impact early in the year. Later in the year, telecom—Qwest and Sprint namely—rallied and our willingness to hold onto some oversold positions benefited the Fund.

 

Toward the end of 2002, our overweight to an economic recovery aided our performance. Cyclical sectors improved as concern about a double-dip recession receded amid more signs of a gradual recovery. A touchstone for the investment community seemed to be the final Federal Reserve discount cut of half a percent. Both equities and corporate bonds rallied from mid-October as the market realized that both monetary and federal policies would support the recovery.

 

The recent quarter may mark the end of a five-year bear market in credit, including negative returns in two of the past three years, where high yield has posted returns below the historical long run average high-yield return. During the fourth quarter the Fund outperformed its benchmark and most competitors as measured by Morningstar, Inc. We believe this may signal a strong and welcome rebound in the high-yield market.

 

What changes did you make to the fund and why?

We reduced positions in some less liquid issues. Our continuing strategy has been to diversify the number and reduce the size of investment positions. The objective has been to reduce single company risk in the portfolio, especially the risk from earnings misstatements, which had previously hurt the fund. We are approaching our objective of holding 100 issuers versus 40-60 previously.

 

Our move up in quality into selected formerly investment grade (fallen angels) and potential fallen angels began to pay off in the fourth quarter. Our positions in Sprint Corp., Tyco and Qwest rallied into year-end. These investments fit our belief that some fallen angels will outperform the market coming out of a recession.

 

Finally, we saw a market mispricing near year end. The Fund experienced a good cash inflow, but attractive high-yield investment opportunities were scarce. We purchased a very large, liquid issue of General Motors to carry us over yearend, and benefited from the issue’s mispricing.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

We continue to be positive on the economy and high-yield. Early in an economic recovery, high-yield is often one of the best asset classes available for a portion of a diversified portfolio. Credit quality stabilizes or improves; defaults decline and market demand for high yielding corporate bonds drive prices up and spreads down. Corporate bonds, especially high-yield, do well.

 

The past year witnessed the discovery of corporate misstatements and self-dealing leading to the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history, the demise of one of the largest accounting firms and many fines levied

 

54


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

against much of the Wall Street establishment. This caused a crisis of confidence in corporate accountability and perhaps delayed the recovery in financial assets. As a result of the fall-out, we expect corporate management to be more conservative and held more accountable in preparing their financial results over the coming years.

 

We won’t pretend to know how geopolitical uncertainty will turn out. We can and will adjust the portfolio as the risk and uncertainty of events unfold.

 

With the economy slowly recovering, the risk of default declining, and investors more confident of the financial numbers presented, we believe investors will be drawn to the high interest rates in high yield and result in increasing prices and excellent returns to long term investors in high yield.

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company’s (SAM’s) high-yield investment team, which is comprised of senior bond managers and credit analysts, assumed management of the SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund in November 2000. Team management allows broader coverage of this highly complex market and increased input into the investment process.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

55


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

                                                 

Class A

  

(21.42

)%

    

(4.80

)%

    

2.53

%

  

(17.68

)%

    

(3.92

)%

    

3.00

%

Class B

  

(22.04

)%

    

(4.92

)%

    

2.54

%

  

(18.29

)%

    

(4.66

)%

    

2.54

%

Class C

  

(19.01

)%

    

(4.64

)%

    

2.55

%

  

(18.26

)%

    

(4.64

)%

    

2.55

%

Merrill Lynch High-Yield Master II Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(1.89

)%

    

0.52

%

    

6.05

%

Lipper, Inc. (High Current Yield Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

(1.74

)%

    

(1.17

)%

    

4.72

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

8.95%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

8.64%

Current Yield (30-day) Class C

 

8.63%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

5.26 years

 

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES     

Percent of Net Assets

 

Broadcasting & Cable TV

    

9

%

Diversified Financial Services

    

6

 

Integrated Telecommunications Services

    

5

 

Diversified Commercial Services

    

5

 

Electric Utilities

    

5

 

 

TOP FIVE HOLDINGS     

Percent of Net Assets

 

General Motors Acceptance Corp.
(Diversified Financial Services)

    

4.2

%

LCI International, Inc.
(Integrated Telecommunications Services)

    

3.1

 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
(Broadcasting & Cable TV)

    

2.3

 

Friendly Ice Cream Corp.
(Restaurants)

    

2.3

 

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.

(Personal Products)

    

2.2

 

 

 

TOP FIVE PURCHASES
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
  

Cost (000’s)


Adelphia Communications Corp.

  

$

2,944

Xerox Corp.

  

 

2,379

LCI International, Inc.

  

 

2,030

Avaya, Inc.

  

 

1,976

Tyco International Group SA

  

 

1,575

 

TOP FIVE SALES
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
  

Proceeds (000’s)


Adelphia Communications Corp.

  

$

2,613

Xerox Corp.

  

 

2,361

Oregon Steel Mills, Inc.

  

 

1,998

Sun World International, Inc.

  

 

1,970

Dobson Communications Corp.

  

 

1,905

 

CREDIT RATING DISTRIBUTION
AS A PERCENT OF NET ASSETS
    

 

LOGO

 

 

56


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


CORPORATE BONDS—80.1%

     

Advertising—2.7%

     

$500

 

  

Penton Media, Inc.

11.875%, due 10/01/07

 

$

416

250

 #

  

RH Donnelley Financial Corp. (144A)

10.875%, due 12/15/12
(acquired 11/26/02)

 

 

272

250

 #

  

RH Donnelley Financial Corp. (144A)

8.875%, due 12/15/10
(acquired 11/26/02)

 

 

267

Airlines—0.6%

     

250

 

  

Continental Airlines, Inc.
7.568%, due 12/01/06

 

 

115

100

 

  

Northwest Airlines, Inc.
8.52%, due 4/07/04

 

 

84

Alternative Carriers—0.9%

     

350

 

  

Sprint Capital Corp.
7.625%, due 1/30/11

 

 

332

Aluminum—1.4%

     

500

 

  

Commonwealth Aluminum Corp.
10.75%, due 10/01/06

 

 

501

Apparel Retail—0.7%

     

250

 #

  

Levi Strauss & Co. (144A)
12.25%, due 12/15/12
(acquired 11/26/02)

 

 

245

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.9%

     

500

 

  

Park-Ohio Industries, Inc.
9.25%, due 12/01/07

 

 

325

Broadcasting & Cable TV—3.3%

     

400

 *

  

Adelphia Communications Corp.

10.875%, due 10/01/10

 

 

152

250

 *

  

Adelphia Communications Corp.
3.25%, due 5/01/21

 

 

21

200

 

  

Charter Communications Holdings, Inc.

11.125%, due 1/15/11

 

 

90

250

 

  

Echostar DBS Corp.
9.375%, due 2/01/09

 

 

264

250

 

  

Gray Television, Inc.
9.25%, due 12/15/11

 

 

269

250

 *

  

NBC Aquisition Corp.
10.75% beg. 2/15/03
Step Bond due 2/15/09

 

 

225

250

 *

  

NTL Communications Corp.
11.50%, due 10/01/08

 

 

24

250

 

  

Pegasus Communications Corp.
12.50%, due 8/01/07

 

 

132

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


Building Products—0.7%

     

$   246

 

  

NS Group, Inc.
13.50%, due 7/15/03

 

$

   246

Casinos & Gaming—4.1%

     

450

 

  

Mandalay Resort Group
10.25%, due 8/01/07

 

 

494

250

 

  

Park Place Entertainment Corp.
9.375%, due 2/15/07

 

 

267

250

 

  

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
9.25%, due 2/15/07

 

 

221

200

 

  

Station Casinos, Inc.
9.875%, due 7/01/10

 

 

217

250

 

  

Venetian Casino Resort
11.00%, due 6/15/10

 

 

261

Construction & Engineering—0.6%

     

250

 #

  

URS Corp. (144A)
11.50%, due 9/15/09
(acquired 8/14/02)

 

 

222

Construction Materials—0.2%

     

200

 

  

National Equipment Services, Inc.

10.00%, due 11/30/04

 

 

70

Consumer Electronics—0.5%

     

200

 

  

Remington Product Co., LLC
11.00%, due 5/15/06

 

 

164

Consumer Finance—0.3%

     

100

 #

  

Cummins, Inc. (144A)
9.50%, due 12/01/10
(acquired 11/15/02)

 

 

106

Diversified Chemicals—0.7%

     

250

 

  

Lyondell Chemical Co.
11.125%, due 7/15/12

 

 

246

Diversified Commercial Services—4.6%

     

500

 

  

Renters Choice, Inc.
11.00%, due 8/15/08

 

 

538

200

 #

  

United Rentals, Inc. (144A)
10.75%, due 4/15/08
(acquired 12/17/02)

 

 

197

200

 

  

United Rentals, Inc.
10.75%, due 4/15/08

 

 

199

750

 

  

Williams Scotsman, Inc.
9.875%, due 6/01/07

 

 

694

Diversified Financial Services—5.5%

     

500

 

  

CIT Capital Trust
7.70%, due 2/15/27

 

 

462

1,500

 

  

General Motors Acceptance Corp.

6.875%, due 8/28/12

 

 

1,479

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

57


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


Drug Retail—0.6%

     

$250

 

  

Rite Aid Corp.
7.125%, due 1/15/07

 

$

206

Electric Utilities—4.5%

     

250

 

  

Avista Corp.
9.75%, due 6/01/08

 

 

247

150

 

  

Calpine Canada Energy Finance Corp.
8.50%, due 5/01/08

 

 

65

250

 #

  

Illinois Power Corp. (144A)
11.50%, due 12/15/10
(acquired 12/17/02)

 

 

241

400

 

  

Mirant Corp.
5.75%, due 7/15/07

 

 

167

250

 

  

Mission Energy Holding Co.
13.50%, due 7/15/08

 

 

57

100

 

  

Nevada Power Co.
8.25%, due 6/01/11

 

 

93

550

 

  

Northwestern Corp.
7.875%, due 3/15/07

 

 

396

250

 #

  

Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp. (144A)

8.875%, due 7/15/12

(acquired 7/01/02)

 

 

250

100

 

  

XCEL Energy, Inc.
7.00%, due 12/01/10

 

 

86

Electronic Equipment & Instruments—2.0%

     

150

 

  

Flextronics International, Ltd.
9.875%, due 7/01/10

 

 

162

250

 #

  

Sanmina-SCI Corp. (144A)
10.375%, due 1/15/10
(acquired 12/15/02)

 

 

252

100

 

  

Solectron Corp.
9.625%, due 2/15/09

 

 

97

250

 

  

Wesco Distribution, Inc.
9.125%, due 6/01/08

 

 

200

Environmental Services—1.3%

     

200

 

  

Allied Waste North America, Inc.
10.00%, due 8/01/09

 

 

198

250

 

  

Allied Waste North America, Inc.
8.875%, due 4/01/08

 

 

254

Food Retail—1.8%

     

125

 

  

Carrols Corp.
9.50%, due 12/01/08

 

 

109

500

 

  

Luigino’s, Inc.
10.00%, due 2/01/06

 

 

511

Gas Utilities—1.2%

     

200

 

  

Coastal Corp.
9.625%, due 5/15/12

 

 

162

250

 #

  

El Paso Energy (144A)
10.625%, due 12/01/12
(acquired 11/22/02)

 

 

256

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


Health Care Facilities—1.3%

     

$   250

 

  

HCA, Inc.
6.91%, due 6/15/05

 

$

   263

250

 

  

HEALTHSOUTH Corp.
10.75%, due 10/01/08

 

 

211

Heavy Electrical Equipment—0.7%

     

250

 

  

NMHG Holding Co.
10.00%, due 5/15/09

 

 

250

Home Furnishings—0.7%

     

250

 

  

Interface, Inc.
10.375%, due 2/01/10

 

 

243

Homebuilding—2.8%

     

1,100

 

  

Champion Enterprises, Inc.
7.625%, due 5/15/09

 

 

484

500

 

  

Schuler Homes, Inc.
10.50%, due 7/15/11

 

 

513

Hotels—2.0%

     

200

 

  

HMH Properties, Inc.
7.875%, due 8/01/08

 

 

194

450

 

  

MGM Mirage, Inc.
9.75%, due 6/01/07

 

 

497

Industrial Conglomerates—1.4%

     

500

 

  

Tyco International Group SA
6.375%, due 2/15/06

 

 

485

Industrial Machinery—2.3%

     

400

 

  

Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.
8.375%, due 3/15/04

 

 

310

250

 #

  

National Waterworks, Inc. (144A)
10.50%, due 12/01/12
(acquired 11/14/02)

 

 

261

250

 #

  

Rexnord Corp. (144A)
10.125%, due 12/15/12
(acquired 11/20/02)

 

 

256

Integrated Telecommunications Services—3.5%

     

2,250

 

  

LCI International, Inc.
7.25%, due 6/15/07

 

 

1,103

500

 *

  

Worldcom, Inc.
8.25%, due 5/15/31

 

 

118

Leisure Facilities—1.4%

     

250

 

  

Penn National Gaming, Inc.
8.875%, due 3/15/10

 

 

256

250

 

  

Six Flags, Inc.
9.50%, due 2/01/09

 

 

241

Leisure Products—0.5%

     

200

 

  

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
8.75%, due 2/02/11

 

 

186

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

58


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


Managed Health Care—0.7%

     

$250

 #

  

Rotech Healthcare, Inc. (144A)
9.50%, due 4/01/12
(acquired 3/15/02)

 

$

250

Metal & Glass Containers—1.8%

     

100

 #

  

Ball Corp. (144A)
6.875%, due 12/15/12
(acquired 12/05/02)

 

 

101

100

 #

  

BWAY Corp. (144A)
10.00%, due 10/15/10
(acquired 11/21/02)

 

 

104

200

 

  

Owens-Illinois, Inc.
7.15%, due 5/15/05

 

 

192

250

 

  

Owens-Illinois, Inc.
7.85%, due 5/15/04

 

 

247

Networking Equipment—0.6%

     

250

 

  

Avaya, Inc.
11.125%, due 4/01/09

 

 

226

Oil & Gas Drilling—0.8%

     

250

 #

  

Grant Prideco, Inc. (144A)
9.00%, due 12/15/09
(acquired 11/25/02)

 

 

260

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services—0.1%

     

100

 

  

Petroleum Geo-Services ASA
7.50%, due 3/31/07

 

 

30

Packaged Foods—0.9%

     

326

 

  

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

10.56%, due 3/15/09

 

 

334

Paper Packaging—1.0%

     

350

 *

  

Graham Packaging Co., Inc.
10.75% beg. 1/15/03
Step Bond due 1/15/09

 

 

347

Paper Products—1.3%

     

250

 

  

Georgia-Pacific Corp.
7.50%, due 5/15/06

 

 

238

250

 

  

Pope & Talbot, Inc.
8.375%, due 6/01/13

 

 

217

Personal Products—2.9%

     

750

 

  

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
11.75%, due 2/01/11

 

 

773

250

 #

  

Herbalife International, Inc. (144A)

11.75%, due 7/15/10
(acquired 6/21/02)

 

 

250

 

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


Publishing & Printing—2.9%

     

$250

 #

  

Dex Media East, LLC (144A)
12.125%, due 11/15/12
(acquired 10/30/02)

 

$

277

500

 #

  

Dex Media East, LLC (144A)
9.875%, due 11/15/09
(acquired 10/30/02)

 

 

535

250

 

  

Mail-Well Corp.
9.625%, due 3/15/12

 

 

223

Restaurants—4.3%

     

250

 #

  

Buffets, Inc. (144A)
11.25%, due 7/15/10
(acquired 6/21/02)

 

 

236

500

 

  

CKE Restaurants, Inc.
4.25%, due 3/15/04

 

 

473

805

 

  

Friendly Ice Cream Corp.
10.50%, due 12/01/07

 

 

795

Specialty Stores—2.0%

     

200

 

  

American Achievement Corp.
11.625%, due 1/01/17

 

 

212

250

 

  

Big 5 Corp.
10.875%, due 11/15/07

 

 

260

250

 #

  

United Auto Group, Inc. (144A)
9.625%, due 3/15/12
(acquired 3/12/02)

 

 

243

Steel—1.4%

     

150

 #

  

Oregon Steel Mills, Inc. (144A)
10.00%, due 7/15/09
(acquired 7/10/02)

 

 

152

400

 

  

Samsonite Corp.
10.75%, due 6/15/08

 

 

324

Telecommunications Equipment—1.7%

     

350

 

  

AT&T Corp.
7.30%, due 11/15/11

 

 

383

500

 *

  

Intermedia Communications, Inc.
11.25%, beg. 7/15/02
Step Bond due 7/15/07

 

 

200

Wireless Telecommunications Services—2.0%

     

100

 

  

American Cellular Corp.
9.50%, due 10/15/09

 

 

19

350

 

  

AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
7.875%, due 3/01/11

 

 

352

250

 

  

Nextel Communications, Inc.
9.375%, due 11/15/09

 

 

226

125

 

  

Triton PCS, Inc.
9.375%, due 2/01/11

 

 

104

          

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $30,728)

 

 

28,280

          

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

59


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

SHARES OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

 

Value

(000’s)


PREFERRED STOCKS—7.4%

     

Broadcasting & Cable TV—5.5%

     

$       7

 

  

CSC Holdings, Inc.
11.75%, due 10/01/07

 

$

665

0.1

 

  

Paxson Communications Corp.
13.25%, due 11/15/06

 

 

484

8

 

  

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
11.625%, due 3/15/09

 

 

795

Integrated Telecommunications Services—1.9%

     

1

 

  

Dobson Communications Corp.
12.25%, due 1/15/08

 

 

675

          

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (cost $3,385)

 

 

2,619

          

COMMON STOCKS—1.6%

     

Packaged Foods—1.1%

     

30

 *

  

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

 

 

397

Telecommunications Equipment—0.5%

     

10

 *

  

WilTel Communications, Inc.

 

 

165

          

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $582)

 

 

562

          

CASH EQUIVALENTS—9.9%

     

Investment Companies

     

1,805

 

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market Portfolio

(Institutional Shares)

 

 

1,805

1,690

 

  

Nations Money Market Reserves

 

 

1,690

          

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $3,495)

 

 

3,495

          

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $38,190)—99.0%

 

 

34,956

Other Assets, less Liabilities

 

 

348

          

NET ASSETS

 

$

35,304

          

 

*   Non-income producing security. Security in default.
#   Securities are exempt from registration and restricted as to resale only to dealers, or through a dealer to a “qualified institutional buyer”. The total cost of such securities is $5,106,000 and the total value is $5,233,000 or 14.8% of net assets.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

60


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

How did the fund perform?

The year ending December 31, 2002 turned out to be a great year for U.S. Treasuries and a poor year for riskier assets. As a result, on an absolute basis, the SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund posted the best results of all of the SAFECO mutual funds, as well as outperforming its prospectus benchmark for the year.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The year began in the ashes of terrorism, under the cloud of the Enron scandal and a global recession. It ended with concerns about imminent military conflict with Iraq, nuclear tensions in North Korea, and the threat of another recession with deflationary implications. Investor concern over Enron, other corporate accounting scandals, bankruptcies, defaults, ratings downgrades and a weak economy decimated riskier assets and sent money scurrying into the shelter of U.S. Treasury securities. This pushed the Treasury yield to its lowest level since 1958. Shortly thereafter, investors realized that the risk-aversion pendulum had swung too far. Stocks and corporate bonds regained their footing and the Treasury market sold off.

 

What changes did you make and why?

During the year, we increased our exposure to U.S. Treasuries and decreased our holdings in Agency securities. In response to investor reaction to equity markets and corporate America, we also increased our portfolio’s duration. Further, we positioned the fund to benefit from a steep yield curve.

 

In the fourth quarter, we made only minor changes to the Fund. Because we believe the next major move in interest rates will be towards higher yields and a flatter yield curve, we cut duration. Additionally, we increased our exposure to U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), a unique Treasury investment alternative which should outperform conventional Treasuries in a rising rate environment.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

The economy is currently at a crossroads. Our best guess is that the economy will improve marginally in 2003, leading to a much better economic environment in 2004. The Fed may ease interest rates one more time by the end of the first quarter, but by late 2003 we are likely to witness the beginning of the next Fed tightening cycle. As a tightening cycle approaches, yields will rise and the yield curve will flatten. We look forward to a generally constructive year for investment-grade corporate bonds, and to a lesser extent, U.S. Agency debentures and mortgage-backed securities.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

61


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

Given the generally low starting yields it is unlikely that intermediate-term U.S. Treasury funds will match the performance of the past three years. However given the likelihood of war with Iraq, the potential for a nuclear showdown with North Korea and the current anemic global economy, we believe the SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund will continue to make sense as a safe haven investment vehicle.

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company’s (SAM’s) fixed-income team, which is comprised of senior bond managers and credit analysts, assumed management of the SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund in July 2001. Team management allows broader coverage of this market and increased input into the investment process.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

2.15%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

1.50%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

7.37 years

 

.

 

62


Performance Overview

 

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

 

 

 

   

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

 

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

                                                

Class A

 

5.32

%

    

5.58

%

    

5.90

%

  

10.28

%

    

6.56

%

    

6.39

%

Class B

 

4.55

%

    

5.50

%

    

5.95

%

  

9.55

%

    

5.82

%

    

5.95

%

Merrill Lynch Intermediate-Term Treasury Index

 

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

9.05

%

    

7.25

%

    

6.83

%

Lipper, Inc. (Intermediate U.S. Treasury Funds)

 

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

14.83

%

    

8.04

%

    

6.94

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

Portfolio of Investments

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES—17.0%

      

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
(FHLMC)—1.0%

      

$

271

  

5.50%, due 8/01/17

  

$

282

Federal National Mortgage Association
(FNMA)—11.3%

      

 

933

  

6.00%, due 4/01/32

  

 

966

 

863

  

6.00%, due 8/01/32

  

 

893

 

1,125

  

6.625%, due 11/15/30

  

 

1,320

Government National Mortgage Association
(GNMA)—4.7%

      

 

1,216

  

8.00%, due 12/15/29

  

 

1,316

           

TOTAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES
(cost $4,601)

  

 

4,777

           

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—81.5%

      

U.S. Treasury Notes—81.5%

      

 

3,100

  

10.00%, due 5/15/10

  

 

3,671

 

3,500

  

3.50%, due 11/15/06

  

 

3,642

 

2,850

  

5.50%, due 1/31/03

  

 

2,860

 

2,250

  

5.50%, due 2/15/08

  

 

2,539

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


U.S. Treasury Notes—(continued)

      

$2,195

  

6.00%, due 8/15/09

  

$

2,552

1,100

  

6.125%, due 8/15/29

  

 

1,291

250

  

6.50%, due 11/15/26

  

 

304

2,150

  

9.25%, due 2/15/16

  

 

3,190

2,445

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Note

3.50%, due 1/15/11

  

 

2,796

         

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (cost $21,762)

  

 

22,845

         

CASH EQUIVALENTS—1.1%

      

Investment Companies

      

299

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market Portfolio

(Institutional Shares)

  

 

299

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $299)

  

 

299

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $26,662)—99.6%

  

 

27,921

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

104

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

28,025

         

 

 

 

63


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

How did the fund perform?

In May of 2002, the SAFECO U.S. Government Fund changed from a fund that held all Ginnie Mae (GNMA) mortgage-backed securities (MBS), to one with the ability to invest in a broader arena of government securities.

 

In its first two full quarters of reporting as the U.S. Government Fund, performance lagged a 50/50 blend of the Merrill Lynch (ML) Government and Mortgage Indices—beating the ML Mortgage Index and lagging the ML Government Index.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The Fund remained more weighted to GNMA securities in its first four months than its benchmark after the change in mandate in May to government securities, providing excess yield over Treasuries and making up for the loss by GNMA securities later in the second quarter when rates lowered slightly.

 

In the latter half of the second quarter and in the third quarter, a flight-to-quality was spurred by scandals in corporate America, and Treasuries were top performers. In the third quarter, interest rates dropped dramatically, hurting mortgage securities because high home loan prepayments caused the average life of the securities to shorten and limited price appreciation. The Fund was temporarily underweight in Treasuries as it rebalanced, hurting performance.

 

During the fourth quarter, the Fed aggressively lowered its Fed Funds target from 1.75% to 1.25%. This resulted in longer term interest rates rising while rates on two-year Treasuries and shorter declined. Asset-backed securities performed well for the quarter in spite of record high prepayments. The Fund benefited from its asset-backed securities (ABS) holdings. These assets’ shorter duration (less sensitive to rate changes) and higher yields helped their returns.

 

What changes did you make and why?

Fourth quarter trading activity was aimed at yield enhancement and maintaining duration by purchasing some short-maturity AAA-rated ABS and longer-maturity Agency securities. We remain committed to the strategy of enhancing the yield when opportunities present themselves and believe this will provide higher returns over the long term.

 

What is your outlook for the future?

Over the short-term we expect interest rates to remain volatile as investors respond to numerous domestic and external uncertainties. We believe that we will see rising rates later on this year, once the U.S. economy starts to turn around. We will also be watching for investor reaction to the fiscal stimulus program, inflation expectations, and whether the Federal Reserve will continue its very accommodative policy.

 

We continue to maintain a fairly neutral policy of targeting the Fund’s duration to be consistent with a portfolio composed of a blend of callable, but higher-yielding mortgage-backed securities and non-callable, yet lower-yielding Government-related securities. We will continue to rotate in and out of the various mortgage-related and Government/Agency sectors as we deem them over or undervalued. We make these buy/sell decisions based on our macro-economic, interest rate and market outlook, and the construct of the portfolio.

 

64


Report From the Fund Managers

 

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

We believe this Fund is well suited to capture attractive returns for investors in U.S. Government/Agency and mortgage-backed securities and feel our team approach builds upon the strength of our expertise.

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company’s (SAM’s) U.S. Government investment team, which is comprised of senior bond managers and credit analysts, assumed management of the SAFECO U.S. Government Fund in November 2000. Team management allows broader coverage of this market and increased input into the investment process.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

3.27%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

2.69%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

5.43 years

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

65


Performance Overview

 

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

                                                 

Class A

  

4.56

%

    

5.53

%

    

5.79

%

  

9.53

%

    

6.51

%

    

6.28

%

Class B

  

3.83

%

    

5.78

%

    

6.08

%

  

8.83

%

    

6.10

%

    

6.08

%

Merrill Lynch GNMA Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

9.32

%

    

7.52

%

    

7.49

%

Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury/Agency Master Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

11.30

%

    

7.73

%

    

7.54

%

Lipper, Inc. (General U.S. Gov’t Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

9.88

%

    

6.56

%

    

6.57

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

 

Portfolio of Investments

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


ASSET BACKED SECURITIES—71.0%

      

Consumer Finance—6.5%

      

$2,000

  

Americredit Automobile

Receivables Trust

4.41%, due 11/12/08

  

$

2,093

1,500

  

Chemical Master Credit Card Trust

5.98%, due 9/15/08

  

 

1,615

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)—17.7%

      

2,500

  

4.125%, due 1/14/05

  

 

2,614

5,400

  

4.625%, due 4/15/05

  

 

5,728

1,500

  

5.75%, due 5/15/12

  

 

1,677

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)—5.4%

      

829

  

6.00%, due 4/01/14

  

 

872

1,394

  

6.50%, due 4/01/29

  

 

1,453

700

  

8.00%, due 9/01/25

  

 

758

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)—5.4%

      

714

  

7.00%, due 10/01/29

  

 

752

944

  

7.00%, due 4/01/29

  

 

994

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


$   251

  

7.00%, due 5/01/29

  

$

264

690

  

8.00%, due 7/01/27

  

 

754

262

  

9.00%, due 11/01/22

  

 

293

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA)—36.0%

      

1,281

  

6.00%, due 10/15/28

  

 

1,339

3,958

  

6.00%, due 11/20/31

  

 

4,111

1,069

  

6.00%, due 12/15/28

  

 

1,118

767

  

6.50%, due 1/20/24

  

 

806

2,271

  

6.50%, due 2/15/32

  

 

2,385

3,191

  

6.50%, due 7/15/28

  

 

3,354

163

  

6.50%, due 8/15/29

  

 

171

856

  

7.00%, due 1/15/30

  

 

908

1,421

  

7.00%, due 4/15/28

  

 

1,509

1,115

  

7.00%, due 7/20/31

  

 

1,175

1,562

  

7.50%, due 10/15/27

  

 

1,670

518

  

8.00%, due 3/20/30

  

 

557

1,196

  

8.25%, due 5/15/20

  

 

1,313

         

TOTAL ASSET BACKED SECURITIES (cost $38,850)

  

 

40,283

         

 

 

66


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—26.9%

      

U.S. Treasury Notes—26.9%

      

$2,350

  

4.875%, due 2/15/12

  

$

2,552

2,000

  

5.50%, due 8/15/28

  

 

2,161

2,700

  

5.625%, due 5/15/08

  

 

3,063

1,300

  

6.50%, due 2/15/10

  

 

1,554

2,900

  

7.25%, due 5/15/16

  

 

3,713

1,500

  

8.75%, due 5/15/20

  

 

2,212

         

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (cost $14,224)

  

 

15,255

         

CASH EQUIVALENTS—1.0%

      

Investment Companies

      

559

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market Portfolio

(Institutional Shares)

  

 

559

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $559)

  

 

559

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $53,633)—98.9%

  

 

56,097

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

624

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

56,721

         

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

67


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO    Michael Hughes

 

How did the fund perform?

The year ending December 31, 2002 turned out to be a great year for U.S. Government bonds and a poor year for investment-grade corporate bonds with the performance of the SAFECO Managed Bond Fund coming in somewhere in between. The Managed Bond Fund posted solidly positive results, somewhat dulling the pain from its negative relative returns lagging the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index and the Lehman Government/Corp. Index.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

The year began in the ashes of terrorism, under the cloud of the Enron scandal and a global recession. It ended with concerns about imminent military conflict with Iraq, nuclear tensions in North Korea, and the threat of another recession with deflationary implications.

 

The stigma of Enron coupled with a blitz of corporate accounting scandals, bankruptcies, defaults, ratings downgrades and a weak economy decimated corporate bonds. In truth, only a very small minority of corporations were actually found to have problems with their accounting practices and/or management teams over the past year, but the markets often acted as if this less than 0.5% of issuers were more like 50%.

 

At SAFECO Asset Management we have always prided ourselves on the quality of our credit research team. This year’s unprecedented circumstances and extraordinary market volatility tested our credit analysts. But out of over 60 corporate names I held during 2002, only six positions posted negative total returns. These names—WorldCom, Qwest, El Paso, Sprint, United Airlines and AOL—accounted for nearly all of the Fund’s underperformance this year, lowering fund performance by 2%.

 

What changes did you make and why?

I completely liquidated holdings in Worldcom, Qwest, Sprint and El Paso. I cut my holdings in AOL in half, and I continue to hold onto investment grade, senior, secured United Airlines notes.

 

In response to the corporate market’s volatility I have taken further steps to increase the portfolio’s defensiveness without giving away all of its potential upside. During the fourth quarter, I increased the diversification within my corporate holdings. I added six new names: Washington Mutual, Kinder Morgan, Newell Rubbermaid, Countrywide Financial, Target and California State Department of Water Resources. I also reduced holdings in Ford, Household, PEG Power, General Motors, and Safeway; and liquidated two others—Sprint and Hewlett Packard.

 

Because I believe the next major move in interest rates will be towards higher yields and a flatter yield curve, I am maintaining my duration slightly below benchmark (3.79 vs. 3.86 years). Additionally, I initiated a position in U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), which should outperform conventional Treasuries in a rising rate environment. Finally, I have allocated roughly 6% of the portfolio to high-quality floating-rate-notes, which are relatively immune to interest rate increases.

 

68


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

The economy is currently at a crossroads. My best guess is that the economy will improve marginally in 2003, leading to a much better economic environment in 2004. The Fed may ease interest rates one more time, but by late 2003 we are likely to witness the beginning of the next Fed tightening cycle. As a tightening cycle approaches, yields will rise and the yield curve will flatten. Corporate bonds should perform well on a relative basis due to their high initial yield spread, some measure of economic recovery, heightened demand from investors looking for yield and reduced issuance.

 

Given the generally low starting yields it is unlikely that bonds will match the performance of the last three years. Given the current environment, I look for the Managed Bond Fund to produce lower absolute but substantially better relative returns.

 

Michael Hughes, MBA, CFA

 

Michael Hughes is vice president of SAFECO Asset Management Company. He began his investment career in 1987 and joined SAFECO as a portfolio manager in January 1997. A Chartered Financial Analyst, Hughes holds an MBA degree from the University of Southern California.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

69


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

 

 

 

    

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

  

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

Since Inception*

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

Since Inception*

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

                                                 

Class A

  

2.31

%

    

4.63

%

    

5.00

%

  

7.18

%

    

5.61

%

    

5.55

%

Class B

  

1.26

%

    

4.41

%

    

4.97

%

  

6.26

%

    

4.74

%

    

4.97

%

Lehman Brothers Gov’t/Corp. Bond Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

11.04

%

    

7.62

%

    

7.46

%

Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

10.25

%

    

7.55

%

    

7.46

%

Lipper, Inc. (Intermediate Investment-Grade Bond Funds)

  

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

8.14

%

    

6.38

%

    

N/A

 

* The Fund’s inception was June 25, 1992. Graph and average annual return comparison begins February 28, 1994.

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LOGO

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

3.86%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

3.30%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

6.37 years

 

BONDS BY TYPE

    

Percent of Net Assets

 

U.S. Government Obligations

    

21

%

Asset Backed Securities

    

5

 

Mortgage Backed Securities

    

40

 

Corporate Bonds

    

31

 

Municipal Bonds

    

1

 

Cash & Other

    

2

 

      

      

100

%

      

 

CREDIT RATING DISTRIBUTION

AS A PERCENT OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

70


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


ASSET BACKED SECURITIES—4.9%

      

Airlines—0.7%

      

$  90

 

  

United Air Lines

7.73%, due 7/01/10

  

$

69

Consumer Finance—1.7%

      

85

 

  

Americredit Automobile

Receivables Trust

1.68%, due 12/12/07

  

 

85

90

 

  

MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust

1.88%, due 12/15/08

  

 

90

Diversified Financial Services—2.5%

      

106

 

  

CNH Equipment Trust

7.34%, due 2/15/07

  

 

110

140

 

  

General Motors Acceptance Corp.

6.42%, due 5/15/35

  

 

158

           

TOTAL ASSET BACKED SECURITIES (cost $522)

  

 

512

           

CORPORATE BONDS—31.5%

      

Airlines—3.0%

      

105

 

  

American Airlines, Inc.

2.02%, due 9/23/07

  

 

105

80

 

  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

7.11%, due 9/18/11

  

 

79

35

 

  

Northwest Airlines, Inc.

7.041%, due 4/01/22

  

 

33

123

 

  

United Air Lines

7.783%, due 1/01/14

  

 

96

Banks—1.1%

      

65

 

  

Washington Mutual Bank Corp.

5.50%, due 1/15/13

  

 

66

45

 

  

Washington Mutual, Inc.

4.375%, due 1/15/08

  

 

46

Computer Hardware—0.8%

      

85

 

  

International Business Machines Corp.

1.545%, due 9/10/04

  

 

85

Consumer Finance—1.4%

      

105

 

  

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

3.50%, due 12/19/05

  

 

106

40

 

  

Household Finance Corp.

7.875%, due 3/01/07

  

 

45

Diversified Chemicals—1.1%

      

110

 

  

Dow Chemical Co.

5.75%, due 12/15/08

  

 

115

Diversified Financial Services—6.9%

      

130

 #

  

Erac USA Finance Co. (144A)

8.00%, due 1/15/11 (acquired 1/09/01)

  

 

149

65

 

  

Ford Motor Credit Co.

7.25%, due 10/25/11

  

 

63

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


Diversified Financial Services—(continued)

      

$100

 

  

General Electric Capital Corp.

6.75%, due 3/15/32

  

$

111

150

 

  

General Motors Acceptance Corp.

6.125%, due 9/15/06

  

 

152

165

 

  

John Deere Capital Corp.

2.01%, due 9/17/04

  

 

165

75

 

  

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Co.

6.60%, due 4/01/12

  

 

83

Electric Utilities—3.5%

      

100

 

  

Avista Corp.

7.75%, due 1/01/07

  

 

103

90

 

  

National Rural Utilities Cooperative
Finance Corp.

7.25%, due 3/01/12

  

 

103

65

 

  

PSEG Power

6.95%, due 6/01/12

  

 

66

90

 

  

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.

6.25%, due 1/16/04

  

 

93

Food Retail—1.6%

      

150

 

  

Safeway, Inc.

7.50%, due 9/15/09

  

 

172

Forest Products—0.6%

      

55

 

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

5.50%, due 3/15/05

  

 

58

General Merchandise Stores—1.2%

      

120

 

  

Target Corp.

6.35%, due 11/01/32

  

 

125

Home Furnishings—0.9%

      

90

 

  

Mohawk Industries, Inc.

6.50%, due 4/15/07

  

 

98

Household Products—0.5%

      

55

 

  

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

4.625%, due 12/15/09

  

 

56

Integrated Oil & Gas—1.4%

      

75

 

  

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust

9.125%, due 10/13/10

  

 

86

55

 

  

USX Corp.

6.85%, due 3/01/08

  

 

62

Integrated Telecommunications Services—1.1%

      

110

 

  

Verizon Wireless, Inc.

5.375%, due 12/15/06

  

 

115

Life & Health Insurance—1.7%

      

85

 #

  

Jackson National Life Global

Funding, LLC (144A)

1.58125%, due 3/11/05

(acquired 9/05/02)

  

 

85

90

 

  

Lincoln National Corp.

5.25%, due 6/15/07

  

 

93

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

71


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


Movies & Entertainment—0.4%

      

$  45

 

  

AOL Time Warner, Inc.

6.75%, due 4/15/11

  

$

47

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing—0.7%

      

65

 #

  

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (144A)

6.50%, due 9/01/12

(acquired 12/03/02)

  

 

68

Telecommunications Equipment—0.4%

      

40

 

  

Verizon Global Funding Corp.

7.375%, due 9/01/12

  

 

46

Trucking—1.9%

      

195

 

  

Hertz Corp.

7.00%, due 7/01/04

  

 

196

Wireless Telecommunications Services—1.3%

      

130

 

  

TCI Communications, Inc.

8.65%, due 9/15/04

  

 

140

           

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $3,198)

  

 

3,311

           

MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES—39.7%

      

Collateral Mortgage Obligation (CMO)—1.0%

      

101

 

  

ASC Nomura

6.50%, due 2/14/41

  

 

103

Diversified Financial Services—2.4%

      

230

 

  

First Union Commercial Mortgage Trust

6.07%, due 10/15/35

  

 

255

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)—4.0%

      

403

 

  

6.50%, due 1/01/29

  

 

420

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)—29.5%

25

 

  

4.375%, due 9/15/12

  

 

25

500

 

  

5.00%, due 12/01/17

  

 

513

733

 

  

5.50%, due 9/01/17

  

 

761

45

 

  

5.75%, due 2/15/08

  

 

50

36

 

  

6.00%, due 1/01/29

  

 

37

299

 

  

6.00%, due 8/01/32

  

 

309

79

 

  

6.00%, due 9/01/29

  

 

82

70

 

  

6.50%, due 1/01/15

  

 

74

337

 

  

6.50%, due 7/01/29

  

 

351

75

 

  

7.00%, due 3/01/12

  

 

80

28

 

  

8.00%, due 1/01/31

  

 

30

27

 

  

8.00%, due 10/01/30

  

 

30

58

 

  

8.00%, due 2/01/29

  

 

64

51

 

  

8.00%, due 2/01/30

  

 

55

36

 

  

8.00%, due 2/01/30

  

 

39

417

 

  

8.00%, due 3/01/31

  

 

450

30

 

  

8.00%, due 4/01/08

  

 

32

47

 

  

8.00%, due 4/01/20

  

 

50

28

 

  

8.00%, due 4/01/30

  

 

31

16

 

  

8.00%, due 5/01/31

  

 

17

19

 

  

8.00%, due 7/01/30

  

 

21

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA)—2.8%

      

$  14

  

6.00%, due 4/15/14

  

$

15

68

  

6.00%, due 8/15/13

  

 

72

97

  

7.00%, due 4/15/28

  

 

103

71

  

7.00%, due 8/15/28

  

 

76

30

  

7.75%, due 11/15/29

  

 

32

         

TOTAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES (cost $4,028)

  

 

4,177

         

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—21.3%

      

U.S. Treasury Notes—21.3%

      

65

  

4.875%, due 2/15/12

  

 

71

820

  

6.00%, due 8/15/09

  

 

953

650

  

6.50%, due 11/15/26

  

 

791

130

  

9.25%, due 2/15/16

  

 

193

200

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Note

3.50%, due 1/15/11

  

 

229

         

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (cost $2,134)

  

 

2,237

         

MUNICIPAL BONDS—1.0%

      

Electric Utilities—1.0%

      

105

  

California State Department of Water Resources Supply Revenue

4.33%, due 5/01/06

  

 

107

         

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (cost $105)

  

 

107

         

CASH EQUIVALENTS—0.9%

      

Investment Companies

      

100

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co. Liquid

Assets Money Market Portfolio

(Institutional Shares)

  

 

100

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $100)

  

 

100

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $10,087)—99.3%

  

 

10,444

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

80

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

10,524

         

 

#   Securities are exempt from registration and restricted as to resale only to dealers, or through a dealer to a “qualified institutional buyer”. The total cost of such securities is $281,000 and the total value is $302,000 or 2.9% of net assets.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

72


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

LOGO

  

Stephen C. Bauer

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund beat the average California tax-exempt fund as compiled by Lipper, Inc. by nearly 1% for the year ended December 31, 2002. The Fund also outperformed against the Lipper averages for the five and ten year time periods.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Continued weakness in the equity market added strength to the municipal bond market, where 5% yields looked better than the negative yields posted by the major stock market indices for much of the year.

 

The good results for the California Tax-Free Income Fund were a result of staying fully invested, even during the tough patches like October. Fourth quarter the Fund posted a negative return, based on a very sharp increase in yields which occurred in October.

 

By the fourth quarter, rising rates had the biggest impact on all long-term bond funds, causing negative returns in most cases. California bonds were particularly hard hit as a mammoth supply of new issues came to market. The long-awaited financing to fund the deficit resulting from the power crisis of 2001 finally arrived. With the issuance of $7 billion in early November, the entire California market was forced to readjust, and the result was much poorer performance for California municipal bond funds. For the quarter the average California fund declined 0.93% compared to a decline of 0.38% for general market municipal funds. For the year the comparison was similar: a gain of 7.81% for California vs. a gain of 8.36% for general market municipal funds.

 

What changes did you make to the fund and why?

Early in the year, I increased the yield of the Fund by selling insured hospital bonds and investing in a high-yielding new issue for the California State University Fresno Association. Later in 2002, the Fund purchased for cash Livermore school bonds and Sacramento Municipal Utility District electric revenue bonds at yields of 5.04%.

 

There were few transactions for the fourth quarter, but I continued to sell slight discount bonds with minimal chance for further appreciation. The main new purchase was the California Power bond.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

73


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

Once again the pundits are predicting rising interest rates during 2003. While it is certainly possible, the magnitude and timing are impossible to predict. I intend to stick with the fully invested philosophy which has worked well for the Fund for many years. I will stay focused on values and relationships in the market and only do those trades which can enhance total return.

 

Stephen C. Bauer, MBA

 

Stephen C. Bauer is president of SAFECO Asset Management Company, as well as vice president and treasurer of SAFECO’s property and casualty insurance companies. Bauer began his career with SAFECO Insurance Cos. as a securities analyst in 1971. In 1975, he became a portfolio manager, and was named a vice president of SAFECO Insurance Cos. in 1979. He was promoted to assistant treasurer of SAFECO Corp. in 1984, and was named to his present position in 1995.

 

 

74


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

 

 

 

 

      

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

                                                   

Class A

    

3.47

%

    

4.02

%

    

6.07

%

  

8.31

%

    

4.99

%

    

6.56

%

Class B

    

2.47

%

    

3.89

%

    

6.13

%

  

7.47

%

    

4.22

%

    

6.13

%

Lehman Brothers Long Municipal Bond Index

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

10.43

%

    

6.10

%

    

7.24

%

Lipper, Inc. (California Municipal Bond Funds)

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

7.81

%

    

4.90

%

    

6.17

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

        

 

LOGO

 

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

3.87%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

3.45%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

25.78 years

 

TOP FIVE TYPE OF BONDS     

Percent of Net Assets

 

Utilities (Water)

    

17

%

Hospital

    

14

 

Local General Obligation (Unlimited Tax)

    

11

 

Lease Rental

    

10

 

University Revenue

    

10

 

TOP FIVE HOLDINGS     

Percent of Net Assets

 

State of California General Obligation Bonds

    

5.5

%

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority

    

5.3

 

Revenue

        

Sacramento City Unified School District General

    

5.2

 

Obligation

        

California Health Facilities Financing Authority Health Facility

    

5.1

 

Revenue (Cedars Sinai Medical Center)

        

Duarte California Certificates of Participation

    

4.9

 

(City of Hope Medical Center)

        

 

CREDIT RATING DISTRIBUTION

AS A PERCENT OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

75


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


MUNICIPAL BONDS*—99.4%

      

$5,000

  

Alameda Corridor Transportation

Authority Revenue

4.75%, due 10/01/25 [MBIA]

  

$

5,000

4,500

  

California Educational Facilities

Authority Revenue (Institute of

Technology)

4.50%, due 10/01/27

  

 

4,357

4,500

  

California Health Facilities Financing

Authority Health Facility Revenue

(Cedars Sinai Medical Center)

6.25%, due 12/01/34

  

 

4,818

2,990

  

California State Department of Water

Resources Power Supply Revenue

5.25%, due 5/01/20

  

 

3,087

3,000

  

California State University

Fresno Association Revenue

6.00%, due 7/01/26

  

 

3,032

2,000

  

California State University

Fresno Association Revenue

6.00%, due 7/01/31

  

 

2,026

2,645

  

Capistrano Beach Water District

Wastewater Enterprise Capital

4.75%, due 12/01/28 [MBIA]

  

 

2,642

1,475

  

Capistrano Beach Water District

Wastewater Enterprise Capital

4.75%, due 12/01/28 [MBIA]

  

 

1,473

4,000

  

Central California Joint Powers Health

Finance Authority

6.00%, due 2/01/30

  

 

4,077

3,000

  

Chino Valley Unified School District

(Series A)

5.00%, due 8/01/26 [FSA]

  

 

3,063

20

  

Concord Redevelopment Agency Tax

Allocation Central Concord

Redevelopment Project

8.00%, due 7/01/18 [BIG]

  

 

21

4,000

  

Contra Costa CA Water District Water

Revenue

4.50%, due 10/01/27 [FSA]

  

 

3,844

1,000

  

Cucamonga California County Water

District

5.128%, due 9/01/31 [FGIC]

  

 

1,025

5,000

  

Duarte California

Certificates of Participation

City of Hope Medical Center

5.25%, due 4/01/31

  

 

4,680

1,000

  

East Bay Municipal Utility District

Water System Revenue

4.75%, due 6/01/34 [MBIA]

  

 

986

2,100

  

Fresno Joint Powers Financing

Authority Lease Revenue Exhibition

Hall Expansion Project

4.75%, due 9/01/28 [AMBAC]

  

 

2,097

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


$1,105

 

  

Livermore Valley California Joint

Unified School District

5.00%, due 8/01/27 [MBIA]

  

$

1,125

1,200

 †

  

Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition

Center Authority Certificates of

Participation

9.00%, due 12/01/20

(Prerefunded 12/01/05 @ 100)

  

 

1,455

3,000

 

  

Los Angeles County California

Certificates of Participation (Disney

Parking Refund Project)

4.75%, due 3/01/23 [AMBAC]

  

 

3,011

2,450

 

  

Los Angeles Department of Water and

Power Waterworks Revenue

4.25%, due 10/15/34 [MBIA]

  

 

2,210

3,585

 

  

Metropolitan Water District of

Southern California Waterworks

Revenue

5.00%, due 7/01/37

  

 

3,605

4,570

 

  

Redding Joint Powers Financing

Authority Solid Waste and Corporation

Yard Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/23

  

 

4,496

330

 †

  

Redding Joint Powers Financing

Authority Solid Waste and Corporation

Yard Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/23

(Prerefunded 1/01/04 @ 102)

  

 

349

2,000

 

  

Sacramento City Financing Authority

Revenue

5.00%, due 12/01/32 [AMBAC]

  

 

2,028

5,000

 

  

Sacramento City Unified School District

General Obligation

4.75%, due 7/01/29 [FGIC]

  

 

4,986

2,000

 

  

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Electric Revenue Series Q

5.00%, due 8/15/28 [FSA]

  

 

2,036

2,500

 

  

San Bernardino County Certificates of

Participation (Medical Center

Financing Project)

5.50%, due 8/01/24

  

 

2,520

1,000

 

  

San Francisco City and County Public

Utilities Commission Water Revenue

5.00%, due 11/01/31 [FSA]

  

 

1,014

5,000

 

  

San Joaquin Hills Transportation

Corridor Agency Senior Lien Toll Road

Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/33

  

 

4,501

2,600

 

  

San Jose Airport Revenue

5.00%, due 3/01/31 [FGIC]

  

 

2,635

1,000

 

  

San Jose Libraries and Parks Project

General Obligation

5.125%, due 9/01/31

  

 

1,024

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

76


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


$3,000

  

San Jose Redevelopment Agency

(Merged Area Redevelopment Project

Tax Allocation)

4.75%, due 8/01/22

  

$

2,951

1,335

  

Southern California Public Power

Authority Power Project Revenue

(Multiple Projects)

5.50%, due 7/01/20

  

 

1,340

5,500

  

State of California

General Obligation Bonds

4.75%, due 4/01/29

  

 

5,186

1,750

  

West Kern County Water District

Certificates of Participation

5.625%, due 6/01/31

  

 

1,794

         

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (cost $87,702)

  

 

94,494

         

CASH EQUIVALENTS—0.00%

      

15

  

SEI Tax Exempt Institutional Tax-Free

Portfolio

  

 

15

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $15)

  

 

15

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS ($87,717)—99.4%

  

 

94,509

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

531

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

95,040

         

 

  Prerefunded bonds are collateralized by securities (generally U.S. Treasury securities) held in an irrevocable trust in an amount sufficient to pay interest and principal.
*   The provider of the guarantee of timely payment of both principal and interest is identified in the brackets at the end of each bond description. The guarantors applicable to this portfolio and the percentage of the portfolio they guarantee at the period end are as follows:

 

Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corp. [MBIA]

  

14.2

%

Financial Guaranty Insurance Corp. [FGIC]

  

9.1

 

AMBAC Indemnity Corp. [AMBAC]

  

7.6

 

Financial Security Assurance, Inc. [FSA]

  

10.5

 

    

    

41.4

%

    

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

77


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO    Stephen C. Bauer

 

How did the fund perform?

The SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund’s one year return for the year ending December 31, 2002 was one of the best in recent years, thought it underperformed its benchmark, the Lehman Brothers Long Municipal Bond Index. In spite of a negative return in the fourth quarter, the Fund outperformed its index and the peer group average of 287 comparable municipal bond funds as compiled by Lipper, Inc.

 

What factors impacted the fund’s performance?

Mid-year 2002, a municipal bond (muni) market rally started with muni yields at the high end of the range at 5.45%. As equity markets swooned, the U.S. Treasury market took off and by the fall, the long bond and tax-exempt bond market were significantly lower in yield. Part of the reason for the underperformance of the muni market was the high volume of new issues this year—a new record.

 

Near yearend, the biggest impact was the sharp rise in yields during October. Although the market strengthened during December, it was too little too late and the result was negative returns for the fourth quarter. Over the longer term, yields have continued to fall, resulting in high total return figures for most long-term bond funds, and especially for the Muni Bond Fund, which stays fully invested in long bonds at all times. Not changing direction during periods like October is particularly important. Trying to sell bonds into a vacuum and replace them in a rally would have dire consequences for overall performance.

 

What changes did you make to the fund and why?

More recently in 2002, the primary theme was to sell bonds with 4.75% coupons as they approached par and replace them with attractively priced new issues. The 4.75% bonds had been purchased in previous years at substantial discounts because of the value of their additional call protection. As these bonds appreciated to prices in the high 90s, their value diminished in my opinion. Because of strong retail demand for this type of bond, I was able to sell them at attractive prices.

 

During this fairly active trading year, I also took advantage of attractively priced new issues and continued to swap out of high-priced bonds. Moves earlier in the year to sell helped increase call protection and increase yield.

 

78


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

Once again the pundits are predicting rising interest rates during 2003. While it is certainly possible, the magnitude and timing are impossible to predict. I intend to stick with the fully invested philosophy which has worked well for the Fund for many years. I will stay focused on values and relationships in the market and only do those trades which can enhance total return.

 

Steve C. Bauer, MBA

 

Stephen C. Bauer is president of SAFECO Asset Management Company, as well as vice president and treasurer of SAFECO’s property and casualty insurance companies. Bauer began his career with SAFECO Insurance Cos. as a securities analyst in 1971. In 1975, he became a portfolio manager, and was named a vice president of SAFECO Insurance Cos. in 1979. He was promoted to assistant treasurer of SAFECO Corp. in 1984, and was named to his present position in 1995.

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

79


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

 

      

With Sales Charge


    

Without Sales Charge


 

Average Annual Total Return for the

periods ended December 31, 2002

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

                                                   

Class A

    

5.03

%

    

4.40

%

    

5.88

%

  

9.99

%

    

5.36

%

    

6.36

%

Class B

    

4.07

%

    

4.27

%

    

5.91

%

  

9.07

%

    

4.61

%

    

5.91

%

Lehman Brothers Long Municipal Bond Index

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

10.43

%

    

6.10

%

    

7.24

%

Lipper, Inc. (General Municipal Bond Funds)

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

    

N/A

 

  

8.36

%

    

4.63

%

    

5.81

%

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

\ LOGO

 

 

Current Yield (30-day) Class A

 

3.87%

Current Yield (30-day) Class B

 

3.24%

Weighted Average Maturity

 

24.05 years

 

TOP FIVE HOLDINGS

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Senior Lien Toll Road Revenue

    

3.9

%

Massachusetts State Housing Finance Agency (Series B)

    

3.5

 

Port of Seattle Revenue (Series A)

    

3.5

 

Indiana State Development Finance Authority Environmental Revenue

    

3.5

 

Illinois Educational Facilities Authority Adjustable Demand Revenue (University of Chicago)

    

3.2

 

 

 

TOP FIVE STATES

    

Percent of

Net Assets

 

Texas

    

11

%

Illinois

    

10

 

Washington

    

9

 

California

    

9

 

New York

    

8

 

 

CREDIT RATING DISTRIBUTION

AS A PERCENT OF NET ASSETS


 

LOGO

 

 

80


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


MUNICIPAL BONDS*—96.2%

      

Alabama—0.6%

      

$  3,855

 

  

Jefferson County Sewer Revenue

4.75%, due 2/01/38 [FGIC]

  

$

3,716

Alaska—0.8%

      

5,000

 

  

Alaska Housing Finance Corp.

5.00%, due 12/01/39

  

 

4,864

Arizona—2.2%

      

7,800

 

  

Phoenix Civic Improvement Corp.

Wastewater System Lease Revenue

4.75%, due 7/01/23

  

 

7,815

5,000

 

  

Scottsdale Industrial Development

Authority Hospital Revenue

5.80%, due 12/01/31

  

 

5,055

California—9.0%

      

3,550

 †

  

Northern California Power Agency

Geothermal Project Revenue

5.00%, due 7/01/09

(Prerefunded 7/01/08 @ 100)

  

 

3,969

11,995

 

  

Pittsburg Redevelopment Agency

Los Medanos Community

Development Project Tax Allocation

5.80%, due 8/01/34 [FSA]

  

 

13,290

1,865

 

  

Redding Joint Powers Financing

Authority Solid Waste and

Corporation Yard Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/23

  

 

1,835

135

 †

  

Redding Joint Powers Financing

Authority Solid Waste and

Corporation Yard Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/23

(Prerefunded 1/01/04 @ 102)

  

 

143

7,010

 

  

San Joaquin County Public

Facilities

Financing Corp.

Certificates of Participation

Capital Facilities Project

4.75%, due 11/15/19 [MBIA]

  

 

7,071

25,000

 

  

San Joaquin Hills

Transportation Corridor Agency

Senior Lien Toll Road Revenue

5.00%, due 1/01/33

  

 

22,502

3,165

 

  

Southern California Public

Power Authority Power

Project Revenue (Multiple Projects)

5.50%, due 7/01/20

  

 

3,177

Colorado—3.1%

      

13,000

 

  

Colorado Springs Hospital Revenue

6.375%, due 12/15/30

  

 

13,659

4,000

 

  

University of Colorado Hospital

Authority Revenue

5.60%, due 11/15/31

  

 

4,029

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


Florida—3.2%

      

$  8,000

 

  

Escambia County Health Facilities

Authority Revenue (Ascension

Health Credit Group)

5.25%, due 11/15/32

  

$

7,896

2,750

 

  

Mid-Bay Bridge Authority Revenue

6.05%, due 10/01/22

  

 

2,912

7,500

 

  

Tallahassee Florida Health Facilities

Revenue (Tallahassee Memorial

Healthcare, Inc.)

6.375%, due 12/01/30

  

 

7,609

Georgia—1.2%

      

6,750

 †

  

Atlanta Water and Sewage Revenue

4.50%, due 1/01/18

(Prerefunded 1/01/04 @ 100)

  

 

6,971

Illinois—9.9%

      

9,000

 

  

Chicago General Obligation

5.50%, due 1/01/35 [FGIC]

  

 

9,451

2,000

 

  

Chicago Illinois Sales Tax Revenue

5.375%, due 1/01/27 [FGIC]

  

 

2,075

17,500

 †

  

Illinois Educational Facilities

Authority Adjustable Demand

Revenue (University of Chicago)

5.70%, due 12/01/25

(Prerefunded 12/01/03 @ 102)

  

 

18,567

10,000

 

  

Illinois Educational Facilities

Authority Student Housing Revenue

6.25%, due 5/01/30

  

 

10,025

10,000

 

  

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition

Authority Dedicated State Tax

McCormick Place Expansion Project

5.25%, due 6/15/42 [MBIA]

  

 

10,337

5,000

 †

  

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition

Authority McCormick Place

Convention Complex Hospitality

Facilities Revenue

7.00%, due 7/01/26

(Escrowed to Maturity)

  

 

6,643

Indiana—5.2%

      

185

 

  

Beech Grove Economic Development

Revenue (Westvaco Corp.)

8.75%, due 7/01/10

  

 

186

20,550

 

  

Indiana State Development Finance

Authority Environmental Revenue

5.60%, due 12/01/32

  

 

19,888

350

 

  

Indianapolis Gas Utility Revenue

5.375%, due 6/01/21 [FGIC]

  

 

358

6,450 

  

Indianapolis Gas Utility System Revenue

4.00%, due 6/01/11 [FGIC]

(Escrowed to Maturity)

  

 

6,755

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

81


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


Indiana—(continued)

      

$  2,500

 

  

St. Joseph County Hospital Health

System Revenue

4.50%, due 8/15/18 [MBIA]

  

$

2,503

Iowa—0.0%

      

250

 

  

Marshalltown Pollution Control

Revenue (Iowa Electric Light and

Power Co. Project)

5.50%, due 11/01/23 [MBIA]

  

 

259

Kansas—0.5%

      

3,000

 

  

Kansas Turnpike Authority Revenue

4.75%, due 9/01/27 [FSA]

  

 

2,970

Kentucky—0.4%

      

2,000

 

  

Kentucky Economic Development

Finance Authority Health System

Revenue (Norton Healthcare, Inc.)

Series A

6.625%, due 10/01/28

  

 

2,066

Maryland—2.6%

      

3,400

 †

  

Baltimore Project and Revenue

Prerefunded (Water Projects)

5.00%, due 7/01/24 [FGIC]

(Escrow to Maturity)

  

 

3,523

1,725

 

  

Baltimore Project and Revenue

Unrefunded (Water Projects)

5.00%, due 7/01/24 [FGIC]

  

 

1,814

5,000

 

  

Maryland Health and Higher

Educational Facilities Authority

Revenue (University of Maryland

Medical System)

4.75%, due 7/01/23 [FGIC]

  

 

5,000

4,000

 

  

Maryland Health and Higher

Educational Facilities Authority

Revenue (University of Maryland

Medical System)

6.75%, due 7/01/30

  

 

4,413

Massachusetts—5.6%

      

6,250

 

  

Massachusetts Bay Transportation

Authority System Revenue

4.50%, due 3/01/26 [MBIA]

  

 

5,931

5,740

 

  

Massachusetts Housing Finance

Agency Housing Revenue

6.20%, due 7/01/38 [AMBAC]

  

 

6,002

20,000

 

  

Massachusetts State Housing Finance

Agency (Series B)

5.40%, due 12/01/28 [MBIA]

  

 

20,337

Michigan—1.6%

      

4,250

 

  

Detroit Water Supply System

Revenue

4.75%, due 7/01/19 [FGIC]

  

 

4,295

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


Michigan—(continued)

      

$5,000

 

  

Michigan Hospital Finance Authority

Revenue (Ascension Health Credit

Group)

5.25%, due 11/15/26

  

$

4,947

Minnesota—0.9%

      

5,000

 

  

Minneapolis Health Care System

Revenue (Allina Health)

5.75%, due 11/15/32

  

 

5,058

Mississippi—1.4%

      

8,000

 

  

Harrison County Wastewater

Management and Solid Waste Revenue

4.75%, due 2/01/27 [FGIC]

  

 

7,956

Missouri—0.9%

      

4,000

 

  

Missouri Health and Education

Facilities Authority Educational

Facilities Revenue

4.75%, due 11/15/37

  

 

3,895

1,000

 

  

Missouri State Health and Education

Facilities Authority Revenue (SSM

Healthcare)

5.25%, due 6/01/28 [AMBAC]

  

 

1,032

New Jersey—0.0%

      

305

 †

  

New Jersey Turnpike Authority

Revenue

10.375%, due 1/01/03

(Escrowed to Maturity)

  

 

305

New Mexico—0.4%

      

2,195

 

  

Farmington Collateralized Pollution

Control Revenue (Tucson Gas and

Electric Co.)

6.10%, due 1/01/08

  

 

2,237

New York—7.6%

      

900

 

  

Long Island Power Authority Electric

System Revenue

5.125%, due 12/01/22 [FSA]

  

 

935

3,820

 

  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New York Dedicated Tax Fund

4.75%, due 4/01/28 [FGIC]

  

 

4,184

5,500

 

  

New York Dormitory Authority State

University Educational Facilities

Revenue

5.25%, due 5/15/15

  

 

6,118

2,975

 

  

New York Dormitory Authority State

University Educational Facilities

Revenue

7.50%, due 5/15/11

  

 

3,686

1,425

 †

  

New York Dormitory Authority

State University Educational

Facilities Revenue

7.50%, due 5/15/11

(Prerefunded Various Dates/Prices)

  

 

1,801

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

82


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


New York—(continued)

      

$  5,250

  

New York Dormitory Authority State

University Educational Facilities

Revenue

7.50%, due 5/15/13

  

$

6,836

11,800

  

Port Authority New York &

New Jersey Consolidated Revenue

4.375%, due 10/01/33 [FGIC]

  

 

11,109

6,000

  

Triborough Bridge and Tunnel

Authority Revenue

5.00%, due 11/15/32

  

 

6,043

2,825

  

Triborough Bridge and Tunnel

Authority Revenue

5.125%, due 11/15/29

  

 

2,873

North Carolina—2.2%

      

12,000

  

North Carolina Eastern Municipal

Power Agency Power System

Revenue

6.00%, due 1/01/22

  

 

12,863

North Dakota—0.6%

      

3,000

  

Grand Forks North Dakota Health

Care System Revenue (Altru Health

System)

7.125%, due 8/15/24

  

 

3,261

Oklahoma—1.2%

      

5,590

  

McGee Creek Authority Water

Revenue

6.00%, due 1/01/23 [MBIA]

  

 

6,672

Pennsylvania—1.8%

      

5,000

  

Pennsylvania State Higher

Educational Facilities Authority

Revenue (UPMC Health System)

6.00%, due 1/15/31

  

 

5,160

5,000

  

Southeastern Pennsylvania

Transportation Authority (Series A)

4.75%, due 3/01/29 [FGIC]

  

 

4,964

South Carolina—4.9%

      

190

  

Charleston County Pollution Control

Facilities Revenue

5.90%, due 8/01/03

  

 

190

5,500

  

Pickens and Richland Counties

Hospital Facilities Revenue

5.75%, due 8/01/21 [AMBAC]

  

 

5,511

15,000

  

Piedmont Municipal Power Agency

South Carolina Electric Revenue

5.25%, due 1/01/21

  

 

14,606

7,500

  

South Carolina Jobs—Economic

Development Authority Hospital

Facilities Revenue (Palmetto Health

Alliance)

7.375%, due 12/15/21

  

 

8,179

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


Tennessee—1.3%

      

$  7,000

 

  

Greenville County Building Equity

General Obligation

5.50%, due 12/01/28

  

$

7,283

Texas—11.4%

      

5,750

 

  

Austin Combined Utility Revenue

4.25%, due 5/15/28 [MBIA]

  

 

5,227

10,000

 

  

Austin Combined Utility System

Revenue

12.50%, due 11/15/07 [MBIA]

  

 

14,308

3,000

 

  

Houston Independent School District

General Obligation

4.75%, due 2/15/22 [PSF]

  

 

2,985

14,300

 

  

Hurst-Euless-Bedford Texas

Independent School District General

Obligation Unlimited Tax Refund

4.50%, due 8/15/25 [PSF]

  

 

13,449

10 

  

Lower Colorado River Authority

Junior Lien Revenue

5.625%, due 1/01/17 [FSA]

(Prerefunded 1/01/15 @ 100)

  

 

12

5,350

 

  

North East Texas School District

General Obligation

4.50%, due 10/01/28 [PSF]

  

 

4,980

5,000

 

  

Northside Texas Independent School

District

5.00%, due 8/01/27 [PSF]

  

 

5,028

4,500

 

  

San Antonio Electric & Gas Revenue

4.50%, due 2/01/21

  

 

4,369

15,000

 

  

Texas Turnpike Authority Central

Texas System Revenue

5.00%, due 8/15/42 [AMBAC]

  

 

15,049

Utah—1.0%

      

5,635

 

  

Weber County Utah Hospital

Revenue (IHC Health Services)

5.00%, due 8/15/30 [AMBAC]

  

 

5,655

Virginia—2.2%

      

2,500

 

  

Loudoun County Sanitation

Authority Water and Sewer Revenue

4.75%, due 1/01/30 [MBIA]

  

 

2,478

7,000

 

  

Virginia Housing Development

Authority

4.95%, due 1/01/43

  

 

6,729

3,500

 

  

Virginia Public School Authority

5.00%, due 8/01/20

  

 

3,617

Washington—9.4%

      

700

 

  

CDP-King County III Lease Revenue

(King Street Center Project)

5.25%, due 6/01/26 [MBIA]

  

 

719

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

83


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


Washington—(continued)

      

$  5,055

 

  

Douglas County Public Utility

District #1 Wells Hydroelectric

Revenue

8.75%, due 9/01/18

  

$

6,354

2,200 

  

Douglas County Public Utility

District #1 Wells Hydroelectric

Revenue

8.75%, due 9/01/18

(Prerefunded 9/01/06 @ 106)

  

 

2,858

2,500

 

  

King County Housing Authority

Pooled Housing Revenue

6.80%, due 3/01/26

  

 

2,611

2,255

 

  

King County Public Hospital District #1 Hospital Facilities Revenue (Valley Medical Center)

5.50%, due 9/01/17 [AMBAC]

  

 

2,262

2,800

 

  

Lewis County Public Utility

District #1 Cowlitz Falls

Hydroelectric Project Revenue

6.00%, due 10/01/24

  

 

2,809

20,000

 

  

Port of Seattle Revenue

(Series A)

5.00%, due 4/01/31 [FGIC]

  

 

20,128

3,122

 

  

Seattle Housing Authority Low

Income Housing Revenue

(Mt. Zion Project)

6.60%, due 8/20/38

  

 

3,422

530

 

  

Snohomish County Public Utility

District #1 Electric Revenue

5.50%, due 1/01/20 [FGIC]

  

 

530

6,290

 

  

Vancouver Washington Housing

Authority Revenue

(Springbrook Square)

5.65%, due 3/01/31

  

 

5,595

7,000

 

  

Washington State General Obligation

4.50%, due 7/01/23 [FSA]

  

 

6,649

250

 

  

Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District

Revenue

6.20%, due 6/01/19 [FSA]

  

 

260

West Virginia—3.1%

      

2,945

 

  

West Virginia State Hospital Finance Authority (Charleston Area Medical Center)

6.75%, due 9/01/30

  

 

3,161

12,055 

  

West Virginia State Hospital Finance Authority (Charleston Area Medical Center)

6.75%, due 9/01/30

(Prerefunded 9/01/10 @ 101)

  

 

14,812

           

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (cost $494,385)

  

 

553,671

           

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value

(000’s)


CASH EQUIVALENTS—3.3%

      

 $19,087

  

Federated Tax-Exempt Money

Market Fund, Inc.

  

 

19,087

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $19,087)

  

 

19,087

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $513,472)—99.5%

  

 

572,758

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

3,007

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

575,765

         

 

  Prerefunded bonds are collateralized by securities (generally U.S. Treasury securities) held in an irrevocable trust in an amount sufficient to pay interest and principal.
*   The provider of the guarantee of timely payment of both principal and interest is identified in the brackets at the end of each bond description. The guarantors applicable to this portfolio and the percentage of the portfolio they guarantee at the period end are as follows:

 

AMBAC Indemnity Corp. [AMBAC]

  

5.2

%

Financial Guaranty Insurance Corp. [FGIC]

  

15.0

 

Financial Security Assurance, Inc. [FSA]

  

4.2

 

Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corp. [MBIA]

  

13.2

 

Texas Permanent School Fund [PSF]

  

4.6

 

    

    

42.2

%

    

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

84


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

LOGO    

 

    Lesley Fox

    

 

How did the fund perform?

According to Lipper, Inc., the returns of the SAFECO Money Market Fund were above the average of other taxable money market funds for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

The 12-month return on the Fund was lower than the 2.4% year-over-year increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of the end of December, 2002.

 

The Fund has also performed well over the long term. Cumulatively, the Fund’s five-year returns have outperformed its peer group.

 

What factors impacted performance?

The Fed surprised the market with a larger-than-expected 0.50% ease on November 6 to 1.25% but indicated the likelihood that they are finished easing for now. At the end of 2002, the money market yield curve, a graphical depiction of rates ranging from one day to 12 months, was nearly flat. A flat yield curve generally indicates little expectation of change in interest rates. The main reason the Fund performed well is that the Fund holds securities purchased many months ago at much higher rates than currently available. Some of these holdings yield over 3.00%.

 

Another reason the Fund performed well was the large allocation of floating rate notes, 32% of the Fund. In the flat yield curve environment, floating rate notes pay higher rates than Commercial Paper, which, because of reduced supply, continue to be the lowest-yielding asset class available in the prime money markets. Because of liquidity concerns, many corporations have “termed-out” their debt, issuing long-term notes to pay down Commercial Paper.

 

What changes did you make and why?

I didn’t make any major strategy changes to the Fund in the fourth quarter. I continued to keep a low allocation of Commercial Paper and a high allocation of floating rate notes in the Fund. At yearend, the average maturity of the Fund was 54 days, slightly longer than its peer group, although the Fund was as long as 66 days during the fourth quarter.

 

My long-term strategy is to purchase one-year paper when the yields are attractive or when I need to lengthen the maturity of the Fund, although I found little opportunity to execute that strategy in the fourth quarter. With the remaining available cash, I search for the best short-term yield opportunities in floating or fixed rate securities. As always, credit risk in the Fund is managed very conservatively.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

85


Report From the Fund Manager

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

What is your outlook for the future?

I think the economy will be sluggish in 2003 but predict little chance of a double-dip recession. Fed Funds futures show a chance of a small rise in the Fed Funds rate by the end of 2003, but I would not be surprised to see the rate stay at 1.25% all year. The flat yield curve is a difficult environment in which to try to add value in money markets, but the Fund is well-positioned in higher yielding money market products that should continue to perform well relative to other money market funds.

 

Lesley Fox, MBA

 

Lesley Fox is an Assistant Vice President of SAFECO Asset Management Company. Ms. Fox joined SAFECO Asset Management Company in April 2000 as a portfolio manager. She spent the previous five years managing $3.5 billion in short-term funds for King County, WA. Ms. Fox earned her MBA in Finance at George Washington University and began her investment career at the Student Loan Marketing Association (SALLIE MAE) in 1989.

 

86


Performance Overview & Highlights

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

 

Average Annual Total Return for the
periods ended December 31, 2002

    

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

        

SAFECO Money Market Fund

                                 

Class A

    

1.28

%

    

4.09

%

    

4.15

%

      

Class B

    

1.28

%

    

4.06

%

    

4.13

%

      

Class C

    

1.28

%

    

4.05

%

    

4.13

%

      

Lipper, Inc. (Money Market Funds)

    

1.00

%

    

3.91

%

    

4.18

%

      

Performance does not reflect the deduction for taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

Weighted Average Maturity

 

54 Days

 

7 Day Yield Class A

 

0.89%

       

7 Day Yield Class B

 

0.90%

       

7 Day Yield Class C

 

0.90%

 

 

Portfolio of Investments

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


COMMERCIAL PAPER—23.7%

      

Asset Backed—15.6%

      

$18,300

  

Ciesco, LP

1.34%, due 2/03/03

  

$

18,278

11,000

  

Corporate Asset Funding Co.

1.33%, due 1/22/03

  

 

10,992

7,000

  

Corporate Asset Funding Co.

1.34%, due 1/03/03

  

 

7,000

7,000

  

Corporate Receivables Corp.

1.35%, due 1/16/03

  

 

6,996

10,000

  

Moat Fundings LLC

1.37%, due 1/14/03

  

 

9,996

2,767

  

Receivables Capital Corp.

1.36%, due 1/13/03

  

 

2,766

Consumer Finance—8.1%

      

13,100

  

Cooperative Association of

Tractor Dealers

1.40%, due 1/13/03

  

 

13,094

3,700

  

Cooperative Association of

Tractor Dealers

1.40%, due 1/23/03

  

 

3,697

1,400

  

Cooperative Association of

Tractor Dealers

1.42%, due 1/17/03

  

 

1,399

11,000

  

General Electric Capital Corp.

1.77%, due 1/07/03

  

 

10,997

         

TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (cost $85,215)

  

 

85,215

         

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


CORPORATE BONDS—54.8%

      

Asset Backed—6.9%

      

$10,000

 #

  

CC USA, Inc. (144A)

2.955%, due 4/16/03

(acquired 3/15/02)

  

$

10,000

15,000

 #

  

Dorada Finance, Inc. (144A)

1.337%, due 5/21/03

(acquired 5/16/02)

  

 

15,000

Banks—9.5%

      

  4,550

 

  

Associates Corp. of North America

5.75%, due 11/01/03

  

 

4,702

3,700

 

  

Banc One Corp.

8.74%, due 9/15/03

  

 

3,884

2,000

 

  

Continental Bank

7.875%, due 2/01/03

  

 

2,009

2,775

 

  

First Bank National Association

6.00%, due 10/15/03

  

 

2,866

1,000

 

  

First Chicago Corp.

7.625%, due 1/15/03

  

 

1,002

4,055

 

  

First USA Bank

7.65%, due 8/01/03

  

 

4,188

260

 

  

Mellon Bank

6.75%, due 6/01/03

  

 

265

1,150

 

  

Mellon Funding Corp.

6.875%, due 3/01/03

  

 

1,159

9,500

 

  

Nationsbank Corp.

6.50%, due 8/15/03

  

 

9,777

4,125

 

  

Wells Fargo Financial, Inc.

7.25%, due 7/14/03

  

 

4,251

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

87


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


Brewers—1.0%

      

$3,510

 

  

New Belgium Brewery Co.

1.55%, due 7/01/15

Put Date 1/02/03

  

$

3,510

Consumer Finance—6.2%

      

4,430

 

  

Countrywide Funding Corp.

6.69%, due 7/14/03

  

 

4,525

350

 

  

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

2.17%, due 5/22/03

  

 

350

2,000

 

  

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

4.56%, due 12/10/03

  

 

2,000

11,300

 

  

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

5.25%, due 5/22/03

  

 

11,429

1,200

 

  

General Electric Capital Corp.

6.81%, due 5/30/03

  

 

1,226

2,750 

#

  

Prudential Funding, LLC (144A)

5.97%, due 3/17/03

(acquired 10/23/02)

  

 

2,771

Diversified Financial Services—20.9%

      

8,000 

#

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (144A)

1.00%, due 1/13/04

Put Date 1/15/03

  

 

8,000

7,500

 #

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (144A)

7.875%, due 1/15/03

(acquired 8/14/02)

  

 

7,516

2,600

 

  

Heller Financial, Inc.

6.40%, due 1/15/03

  

 

2,604

2,400

 

  

Heller Financial, Inc.

7.875%, due 5/15/03

  

 

2,457

6,305

 

  

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.

6.25%, due 4/01/03

  

 

6,355

5,000

 

  

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.

7.00%, due 5/15/03

  

 

5,077

3,075

 

  

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.

7.25%, due 4/15/03

  

 

3,114

1,000

 

  

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.

7.36%, due 12/15/03

  

 

1,050

10,000

 

  

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

1.41375%, due 1/08/03

  

 

10,000

6,000

 

  

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

1.41875%, due 4/03/03

  

 

6,000

1,144

 

  

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

6.00%, due 2/12/03

  

 

1,150

14,209

 

  

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Co.

7.125%, due 1/15/03

  

 

14,234

2,035

 

  

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Co.

7.375%, due 4/15/03

  

 

2,067

5,490

 

  

Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc.

6.25%, due 5/15/03

  

 

5,577

Electric Utilities—5.1%

      

17,910

 

  

Philadelphia Electric Co.

6.50%, due 5/01/03

  

 

18,196

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


General Merchandise Stores—2.2%

      

$8,000

  

Racetrac Capital, LLC

1.42%, due 4/01/18

Put Date 1/02/03

  

$

8,000

Hotels—0.7%

      

2,710

  

Smuggler’s Notch Management Co.

1.55%, due 9/01/15

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

2,710

Real Estate Management & Development—2.3%

      

8,200

  

Loft Quest, LLC

1.52%, due 6/01/27

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

8,200

         

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $197,221)

  

 

197,221

         

MUNICIPAL BONDS—13.5%

      

Diversified Commercial Services—0.6%

      

2,000

  

Wake Forest University

1.42%, due 7/01/17

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

2,000

Health Care Distributors & Services—2.2%

      

8,100

  

New Hampshire Business Finance

Authority Revenue

1.50%, due 6/01/28

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

8,100

Homebuilding—2.6%

      

1,000

  

Breckenridge Terrace, LLC

Tax Revenue

1.47%, due 5/01/39

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

1,000

2,000

  

Eagle County Colorado Housing

Facilities Revenue

1.47%, due 5/01/39

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

2,000

6,433

  

Summer Station Apartments, LLC

1.47%, due 6/01/19

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

6,433

Hotels—1.1%

      

3,885

  

Tenderfoot Seasonal Housing

Facilities Revenue

1.47%, due 7/01/35

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

3,885

Managed Health Care—7.0%

      

6,875

  

Maryland Health and Higher

Education Facilities Authority

Revenue (University of Maryland

Medical System)

1.50%, due 7/01/29

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

6,875

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

88


Portfolio of Investments

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000’s)

  

Value
(000’s)


Managed Health Care—(continued)

      

$6,490

  

Maryland Health and Higher

Education Facilities Authority

Revenue

1.50%, due 1/01/28

Put Date 1/02/03

  

$

6,490

5,000

  

Presbyterian Homes & Services

1.81%, due 12/01/28

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

5,000

6,900

  

Village Green Finance Co.

1.42%, due 11/01/22

Put Date 1/02/03

  

 

6,900

         

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (cost $48,683)

  

 

48,683

         

CASH EQUIVALENTS—7.3%

      

Investment Companies

      

18,023

  

AIM Short-Term Investments Co.

Liquid Assets Money Market

Portfolio (Institutional Shares)

  

 

18,023

8,084

  

Nations Money Market Reserves

  

 

8,084

         

TOTAL CASH EQUIVALENTS (cost $26,107)

  

 

26,107

         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $357,226)—99.3%

  

 

357,226

Other Assets, less Liabilities

  

 

2,643

         

NET ASSETS

  

$

359,869

         

 

If a Put date is indicated, the Fund has a right to sell a specified underlying security at an exercise price equal to the amortized cost of the underlying security plus interest, if any, as of that date.

 

Securities with a maturity of more than thirteen months have variable rates and/or demand features which qualify them as short-term securities. Rates shown are those in effect on 12/31/02. These rates change periodically based on specified market rates or indices.

 

#   Securities are exempt from registration and restricted as to resale only to dealers, or through a dealer to a “qualified institutional buyer”. The total cost and value of such securities is $43,287,369 or 12.0% of net assets.

 

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

89


Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

 

–(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Amounts)–

  

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

      

SAFECO Equity
Fund

    

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund


Assets

                          

Investments, at Cost

  

$

514,384

 

    

$

630,154

    

$

127,597

    


    

    

Investments, at Value:

                          

Unaffiliated Issuers

  

$

234,938

 

    

$

685,382

    

$

133,557

Affiliated Issuers

  

 

203,072

 

    

 

    

 

    


    

    

Total Investments at Value

  

 

438,010

 

    

 

685,382

    

 

133,557

Cash

  

 

 

    

 

    

 

Collateral for Securities Loaned, at Fair Value

  

 

114,201

 

    

 

3,460

    

 

6,274

Receivables:

                          

Investment Securities Sold

  

 

3,841

 

    

 

    

 

Trust Shares Sold

  

 

706

 

    

 

362

    

 

608

Dividends and Interest

  

 

2

 

    

 

1,484

    

 

469

From Advisor

  

 

2

 

    

 

14

    

 

Other

  

 

 

    

 

33

    

 

    


    

    

Total Assets

  

 

556,762

 

    

 

690,735

    

 

140,908

Liabilities

                          

Payables:

                          

Investment Securities Purchased

  

 

 

    

 

    

 

Trust Shares Redeemed

  

 

995

 

    

 

3,290

    

 

370

Payable Upon Return of Securities Loaned

  

 

114,201

 

    

 

3,460

    

 

6,274

Forward Currency Contracts Open, Net

  

 

 

    

 

    

 

Dividends

  

 

 

    

 

143

    

 

96

Investment Advisory Fees

  

 

260

 

    

 

401

    

 

81

Other Accrued Expenses

  

 

240

 

    

 

310

    

 

72

    


    

    

Total Liabilities

  

 

115,696

 

    

 

7,604

    

 

6,893

    


    

    

Net Assets

  

$

441,066

 

    

$

683,131

    

$

134,015

    


    

    

Investor Class:

                          

Net Assets

  

$

413,147

 

    

$

658,585

    

$

132,467

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

24,036

 

    

 

48,654

    

 

8,664

Net Asset Value, Offering Price, and Redemption Price Per Share

  

$

17.19

 

    

$

13.54

    

$

15.29

    


    

    

Class A:

                          

Net Assets

  

$

19,024

 

    

$

13,897

    

$

712

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

1,121

 

    

 

1,025

    

 

46

Net Asset Value and Redemption Price Per Share

  

$

16.97

 

    

$

13.55

    

$

15.37

    


    

    

Maximum Offering Price Per Share (Including Sales Charge of 5.75%)

  

$

18.01

 

    

$

14.38

    

$

16.31

    


    

    

Class B:

                          

Net Assets

  

$

8,734

 

    

$

10,520

    

$

747

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

540

 

    

 

793

    

 

48

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

  

$

16.16

 

    

$

13.26

    

$

15.39

    


    

    

Class C:

                          

Net Assets

  

$

161

 

    

$

129

    

$

89

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

10

 

    

 

10

    

 

6

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

  

$

16.16

 

    

$

13.28

    

$

15.44

    


    

    


Analysis of Net Assets:

                          

Paid in Capital (Par Value $.001, Unlimited Shares Authorized)

  

$

647,121

 

    

$

675,558

    

$

133,691

Distributable Earnings

  

 

(206,055

)

    

 

7,573

    

 

324

    


    

    

Net Assets

  

$

441,066

 

    

$

683,131

    

$

134,015

    


    

    


 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

90


 

–(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Amounts)–

  

SAFECO Northwest Fund

      

SAFECO International Stock Fund

      

SAFECO Balanced Fund

      

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

      

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

      

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

      

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

 

Assets

                                                                          

Investments, at Cost

  

$

65,356

 

    

$

19,254

 

    

$

17,352

 

    

$

42,013

 

    

$

8,053

 

    

$

4,561

 

    

$

5,182

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Investments, at Value:

                                                                          

Unaffiliated Issuers

  

$

65,116

 

    

$

19,674

 

    

$

16,979

 

    

$

43,987

 

    

$

7,514

 

    

$

4,650

 

    

$

4,466

 

Affiliated Issuers

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Investments at Value

  

 

65,116

 

    

 

19,674

 

    

 

16,979

 

    

 

43,987

 

    

 

7,514

 

    

 

4,650

 

    

 

4,466

 

Cash

  

 

 

    

 

324

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Collateral for Securities Loaned, at Fair Value

  

 

4,131

 

    

 

 

    

 

461

 

    

 

2,102

 

    

 

661

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Receivables:

                                                                          

Investment Securities Sold

  

 

77

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

76

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Trust Shares Sold

  

 

54

 

    

 

30

 

    

 

10

 

    

 

191

 

    

 

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

 

Dividends and Interest

  

 

31

 

    

 

42

 

    

 

100

 

    

 

68

 

    

 

18

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

5

 

From Advisor

  

 

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

8

 

    

 

8

 

Other

  

 

 

    

 

14

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Assets

  

 

69,409

 

    

 

20,085

 

    

 

17,553

 

    

 

46,430

 

    

 

8,197

 

    

 

4,665

 

    

 

4,479

 

Liabilities

                                                                          

Payables:

                                                                          

Investment Securities Purchased

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

2,611

 

    

 

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

 

Trust Shares Redeemed

  

 

233

 

    

 

102

 

    

 

202

 

    

 

1,077

 

    

 

9

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

 

Payable Upon Return of Securities Loaned

  

 

4,131

 

    

 

 

    

 

461

 

    

 

2,102

 

    

 

661

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Forward Currency Contracts Open, Net

  

 

 

    

 

11

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Dividends

  

 

 

    

 

69

 

    

 

43

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

19

 

    

 

 

    

 

3

 

Investment Advisory Fees

  

 

40

 

    

 

17

 

    

 

10

 

    

 

26

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

3

 

Other Accrued Expenses

  

 

53

 

    

 

36

 

    

 

22

 

    

 

37

 

    

 

17

 

    

 

18

 

    

 

20

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Liabilities

  

 

4,457

 

    

 

235

 

    

 

738

 

    

 

5,857

 

    

 

711

 

    

 

28

 

    

 

26

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Assets

  

$

64,952

 

    

$

19,850

 

    

$

16,815

 

    

$

40,573

 

    

$

7,486

 

    

$

4,637

 

    

$

4,453

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Investor Class:

                                                                          

Net Assets

  

$

57,624

 

    

$

18,241

 

    

$

13,588

 

    

$

37,733

 

    

$

6,661

 

    

$

2,113

 

    

$

2,083

 

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

4,028

 

    

 

2,163

 

    

 

1,311

 

    

 

2,856

 

    

 

736

 

    

 

254

 

    

 

269

 

Net Asset Value, Offering Price, and Redemption Price Per Share

  

$

14.31

 

    

$

8.43

 

    

$

10.36

 

    

$

13.21

 

    

$

9.05

 

    

$

8.33

 

    

$

7.74

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Class A:

                                                                          

Net Assets

  

$

3,527

 

    

$

795

 

    

$

1,586

 

    

$

1,507

 

    

$

298

 

    

$

862

 

    

$

811

 

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

251

 

    

 

95

 

    

 

153

 

    

 

116

 

    

 

33

 

    

 

104

 

    

 

105

 

Net Asset Value and Redemption Price Per Share

  

$

14.03

 

    

$

8.36

 

    

$

10.40

 

    

$

13.01

 

    

$

9.05

 

    

$

8.30

 

    

$

7.73

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Maximum Offering Price Per Share (Including Sales Charge of 5.75%)

  

$

14.89

 

    

$

8.87

 

    

$

11.03

 

    

$

13.80

 

    

$

9.60

 

    

$

8.81

 

    

$

8.20

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Class B:

                                                                          

Net Assets

  

$

3,726

 

    

$

736

 

    

$

1,641

 

    

$

1,333

 

    

$

527

 

    

$

839

 

    

$

784

 

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

278

 

    

 

90

 

    

 

158

 

    

 

107

 

    

 

59

 

    

 

102

 

    

 

103

 

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

  

$

13.41

 

    

$

8.21

 

    

$

10.37

 

    

$

12.48

 

    

$

9.00

 

    

$

8.23

 

    

$

7.66

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Class C:

                                                                          

Net Assets

  

$

75

 

    

$

78

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

$

823

 

    

$

775

 

Trust Shares Outstanding

  

 

6

 

    

 

10

 

                                     

 

100

 

    

 

101

 

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

  

$

13.42

 

    

$

8.21

 

                                     

$

8.23

 

    

$

7.66

 

    


    


                                     


    



 

Analysis of Net Assets:

                                                                          

Paid in Capital (Par Value $.001, Unlimited Shares Authorized)

  

$

77,468

 

    

$

26,463

 

    

$

18,081

 

    

$

46,584

 

    

$

8,784

 

    

$

5,653

 

    

$

5,697

 

Distributable Earnings

  

 

(12,516

)

    

 

(6,613

)

    

 

(1,266

)

    

 

(6,011

)

    

 

(1,298

)

    

 

(1,016

)

    

 

(1,244

)

    


    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Assets

  

$

64,952

 

    

$

19,850

 

    

$

16,815

 

    

$

40,573

 

    

$

7,486

 

    

$

4,637

 

    

$

4,453

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


    



 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

91


Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

As of December 31, 2002

 

–(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Amounts)–  

    

SAFECO

High-Yield

Bond

Fund

      

SAFECO

Intermediate-Term

U.S. Treasury

Fund

    

SAFECO

U.S.

Government

Fund


Assets

                            

Investments, at Cost

    

$

38,190

 

    

$

26,662

    

$

53,633

      


    

    

Investments, at Value

    

$

34,956

 

    

$

27,921

    

$

56,097

Collateral for Securities Loaned, at Fair Value

    

 

6,281

 

    

 

    

 

Receivables:

                            

Trust Shares Sold

    

 

149

 

    

 

195

    

 

690

Dividends and Interest

    

 

718

 

    

 

394

    

 

453

Other

    

 

3

 

    

 

    

 

Receivable From Advisor

    

 

2

 

    

 

3

    

 

      


    

    

Total Assets

    

 

42,109

 

    

 

28,513

    

 

57,240

Liabilities

                            

Payables:

                            

Trust Shares Redeemed

    

 

391

 

    

 

418

    

 

423

Payable Upon Return of Securities Loaned

    

 

6,281

 

    

 

    

 

Notes Payable

    

 

 

    

 

    

 

Dividends

    

 

86

 

    

 

32

    

 

40

Investment Advisory Fees

    

 

20

 

    

 

13

    

 

26

Other Accrued Expenses

    

 

27

 

    

 

25

    

 

30

      


    

    

Total Liabilities

    

 

6,805

 

    

 

488

    

 

519

      


    

    

Net Assets

    

$

35,304

 

    

$

28,025

    

$

56,721

      


    

    

Investor Class:

                            

Net Assets

    

$

32,647

 

    

$

23,087

    

$

55,644

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

6,678

 

    

 

2,108

    

 

5,632

Net Asset Value, Offering Price, and Redemption Price Per Share

    

$

4.89

 

    

$

10.95

    

$

9.88

      


    

    

Class A:

                            

Net Assets

    

$

1,934

 

    

$

2,799

    

$

740

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

396

 

    

 

255

    

 

75

Net Asset Value and Redemption Price Per Share

    

$

4.89

 

    

$

10.96

    

$

9.88

      


    

    

Maximum Offering Price Per Share (Including Sales Charge of 4.5%)

    

$

5.12

 

    

$

11.48

    

$

10.35

      


    

    

Class B:

                            

Net Assets

    

$

630

 

    

$

2,139

    

$

337

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

129

 

    

 

195

    

 

34

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

    

$

4.89

 

    

$

10.97

    

$

9.89

      


    

    

Class C:

                            

Net Assets

    

$

93

 

    

 

    

 

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

19

 

                 

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

    

$

4.90

 

                 
      


                 

Analysis of Net Assets:

                            

Paid in Capital (Par Value $.001, Unlimited Shares Authorized)

    

$

66,160

 

    

$

26,904

    

$

56,522

Distributable Earnings

    

 

(30,856

)

    

 

1,121

    

 

199

      


    

    

Net Assets

    

$

35,304

 

    

$

28,025

    

$

56,721

      


    

    


 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

92


 

–(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Amounts)–  

    

SAFECO

Managed

Bond

Fund

      

SAFECO

California

Tax-Free Income

Fund

    

SAFECO

Municipal

Bond

Fund

    

SAFECO

Money

Market

Fund


Assets

                                   

Investments, at Cost

    

$

10,087

    

$

87,717

    

$

513,472

    

$

357,226

      

    

    

    

Investments, at Value

    

$

10,444

    

$

94,509

    

$

572,758

    

$

357,226

Collateral for Securities Loaned, at Fair Value

    

 

214

    

 

    

 

    

 

Receivables:

                                   

Trust Shares Sold

    

 

1

    

 

90

    

 

3,231

    

 

900

Dividends and Interest

    

 

114

    

 

1,580

    

 

8,492

    

 

2,845

Other

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

Receivable From Advisor

    

 

4

    

 

    

 

    

 

16

      

    

    

    

Total Assets

    

 

10,777

    

 

96,179

    

 

584,481

    

 

360,987

Liabilities

                                   

Payables:

                                   

Trust Shares Redeemed

    

 

2

    

 

32

    

 

7,639

    

 

857

Payable Upon Return of Securities Loaned

    

 

214

    

 

    

 

    

 

Notes Payable

    

 

    

 

950

    

 

    

 

Dividends

    

 

15

    

 

85

    

 

762

    

 

11

Investment Advisory Fees

    

 

4

    

 

40

    

 

227

    

 

150

Other Accrued Expenses

    

 

18

    

 

32

    

 

88

    

 

100

      

    

    

    

Total Liabilities

    

 

253

    

 

1,139

    

 

8,716

    

 

1,118

      

    

    

    

Net Assets

    

$

10,524

    

$

95,040

    

$

575,765

    

$

359,869

      

    

    

    

Investor Class:

                                   

Net Assets

    

$

8,218

    

$

93,293

    

$

569,484

    

$

353,236

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

958

    

 

7,365

    

 

39,418

    

 

353,236

Net Asset Value, Offering Price, and Redemption Price Per Share

    

$

8.58

    

$

12.67

    

$

14.45

    

$

1.00

      

    

    

    

Class A:

                                   

Net Assets

    

$

1,282

    

$

636

    

$

3,787

    

$

5,429

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

149

    

 

50

    

 

262

    

 

5,429

Net Asset Value and Redemption Price Per Share

    

$

8.57

    

$

12.67

    

$

14.46

    

$

1.00

      

    

    

    

Maximum Offering Price Per Share (Including Sales Charge of 4.5%)

    

$

8.97

    

$

13.27

    

$

15.14

    

 

      

    

    

        

Class B:

                                   

Net Assets

    

$

1,024

    

$

1,111

    

$

2,494

    

$

1,081

Trust Shares Outstanding

    

 

120

    

 

88

    

 

173

    

 

1,081

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

    

$

8.56

    

$

12.65

    

$

14.42

    

$

1.00

      

    

    

    

Class C:

                                   

Net Assets

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

$

123

Trust Shares Outstanding

                               

 

123

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

                               

$

1.00

                                 


Analysis of Net Assets:

                                   

Paid in Capital (Par Value $.001, Unlimited Shares Authorized)

    

$

10,498

    

$

87,839

    

$

512,069

    

$

359,869

Distributable Earnings

    

 

26

    

 

7,201

    

 

63,696

    

 

      

    

    

    

Net Assets

    

$

10,524

    

$

95,040

    

$

575,765

    

$

359,869

      

    

    

    


 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

93


Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

 

 

–(In Thousands)–  

    

SAFECO

Growth

Opportunities

Fund

    

SAFECO

Equity

Fund

   

SAFECO

Dividend

Income

Fund

 

Investment Income

                           

Dividends (Net of Foreign Taxes Withheld of $49 in the International Stock Fund)

    

$

345

 

  

$

14,809

 

 

$

3,998

 

Interest

    

 

62

 

  

 

533

 

 

 

89

 

Income from Securities Loaned, net

    

 

579

 

  

 

27

 

 

 

10

 

      


  


 


Total Investment Income

    

 

986

 

  

 

15,369

 

 

 

4,097

 

Expenses

                           

Investment Advisory

    

 

4,046

 

  

 

5,686

 

 

 

1,085

 

Fund Accounting and Administration

    

 

261

 

  

 

313

 

 

 

140

 

Transfer Agent—Investor Class

    

 

1,689

 

  

 

2,178

 

 

 

366

 

—Class A

    

 

129

 

  

 

147

 

 

 

3

 

—Class B

    

 

42

 

  

 

48

 

 

 

4

 

—Class C

    

 

1

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder Service—Class A

    

 

58

 

  

 

43

 

 

 

2

 

—Class B

    

 

28

 

  

 

33

 

 

 

2

 

—Class C

    

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution              —Class B

    

 

83

 

  

 

98

 

 

 

7

 

—Class C

    

 

1

 

  

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Legal and Auditing

    

 

49

 

  

 

60

 

 

 

26

 

Custodian

    

 

57

 

  

 

69

 

 

 

16

 

Registration

    

 

39

 

  

 

42

 

 

 

35

 

Reports to Shareholders

    

 

222

 

  

 

273

 

 

 

36

 

Trustees

    

 

11

 

  

 

13

 

 

 

8

 

Loan Interest

    

 

31

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of Offering Costs

    

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Other

    

 

56

 

  

 

88

 

 

 

13

 

      


  


 


Total Expenses Before Expense Reimbursement

    

 

6,803

 

  

 

9,092

 

 

 

1,744

 

Expense Reimbursement From Advisor—Investor Class

    

 

(47

)

  

 

 

 

 

(23

)

—Class A

    

 

(79

)

  

 

(147

)

 

 

(2

)

—Class B

    

 

(15

)

  

 

(13

)

 

 

(2

)

—Class C

    

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

      


  


 


Total Expenses After Expense Reimbursement

    

 

6,662

 

  

 

8,932

 

 

 

1,717

 

      


  


 


Investment Income (Loss)

    

 

(5,676

)

  

 

6,437

 

 

 

2,380

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

                           

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                           

Investments in Unaffiliated Issuers

    

 

(81,175

)

  

 

(17,633

)

 

 

(5,448

)

Investments in Affiliated Issuers

    

 

(35,475

)

  

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase from Payment by Affiliates

    

 

2,581

 

  

 

 

 

 

573

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

    

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

      


  


 


Total Net Realized Gain (Loss)

    

 

(114,069

)

  

 

(17,633

)

 

 

(4,875

)

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

    

 

(176,160

)

  

 

(264,417

)

 

 

(27,526

)

      


  


 


Net Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

    

 

(290,229

)

  

 

(282,050

)

 

 

(32,401

)

      


  


 


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    

$

(295,905

)

  

$

(275,613

)

 

$

(30,021

)

      


  


 



 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

94


 

–(In Thousands)–  

    

SAFECO Northwest Fund

      

SAFECO International Stock Fund

      

SAFECO Balanced Fund

      

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

      

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

      

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

      

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

 

Investment Income

                                                                            

Dividends (Net of Foreign Taxes Withheld of $49 in the International Stock Fund)

    

$

678

 

    

$

507

 

    

$

249

 

    

$

505

 

    

$

195

 

    

$

17

 

    

$

48

 

Interest

    

 

28

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

409

 

    

 

48

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

4

 

Income from Securities Loaned, net

    

 

42

 

    

 

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

24

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Investment Income

    

 

748

 

    

 

508

 

    

 

663

 

    

 

577

 

    

 

205

 

    

 

23

 

    

 

52

 

Expenses

                                                                            

Investment Advisory

    

 

552

 

    

 

224

 

    

 

123

 

    

 

271

 

    

 

59

 

    

 

54

 

    

 

38

 

Fund Accounting and Administration

    

 

71

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

16

 

    

 

33

 

    

 

8

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

4

 

Transfer Agent—Investor Class

    

 

219

 

    

 

78

 

    

 

40

 

    

 

111

 

    

 

15

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

—Class A

    

 

17

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

—Class B

    

 

17

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

—Class C

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Shareholder Service—Class A

    

 

11

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

—Class B

    

 

12

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

—Class C

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

2

 

Distribution              —Class B

    

 

34

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

13

 

    

 

10

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

—Class C

    

 

1

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

8

 

    

 

7

 

Legal and Auditing

    

 

23

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

19

 

    

 

22

 

    

 

21

 

Custodian

    

 

12

 

    

 

51

 

    

 

8

 

    

 

13

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

13

 

    

 

9

 

Registration

    

 

36

 

    

 

37

 

    

 

28

 

    

 

32

 

    

 

27

 

    

 

33

 

    

 

33

 

Reports to Shareholders

    

 

27

 

    

 

11

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

15

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

Trustees

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

Loan Interest

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Amortization of Offering Costs

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

50

 

    

 

50

 

Other

    

 

8

 

    

 

17

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Expenses Before Expense Reimbursement

    

 

1,047

 

    

 

484

 

    

 

284

 

    

 

534

 

    

 

157

 

    

 

211

 

    

 

186

 

Expense Reimbursement From Advisor—Investor Class

    

 

(99

)

    

 

(143

)

    

 

(52

)

    

 

(92

)

    

 

(50

)

    

 

(47

)

    

 

(45

)

—Class A

    

 

(12

)

    

 

(7

)

    

 

(7

)

    

 

(4

)

    

 

(3

)

    

 

(19

)

    

 

(18

)

—Class B

    

 

(11

)

    

 

(8

)

    

 

(9

)

    

 

(5

)

    

 

(5

)

    

 

(18

)

    

 

(18

)

—Class C

    

 

(1

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(18

)

    

 

(18

)

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Expenses After Expense Reimbursement

    

 

924

 

    

 

326

 

    

 

216

 

    

 

433

 

    

 

99

 

    

 

109

 

    

 

87

 

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Investment Income (Loss)

    

 

(176

)

    

 

182

 

    

 

447

 

    

 

144

 

    

 

106

 

    

 

(86

)

    

 

(35

)

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

                                                                            

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from:

                                                                            

Investments in Unaffiliated Issuers

    

 

(7,585

)

    

 

(1,171

)

    

 

(765

)

    

 

1,175

 

    

 

(542

)

    

 

(1,061

)

    

 

(491

)

Investments in Affiliated Issuers

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(1,528

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Net Increase from Payment by Affiliates

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

    

 

 

    

 

(20

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Net Realized Gain (Loss)

    

 

(7,585

)

    

 

(1,191

)

    

 

(765

)

    

 

(353

)

    

 

(542

)

    

 

(1,061

)

    

 

(491

)

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

    

 

(14,516

)

    

 

(3,726

)

    

 

(1,330

)

    

 

(1,769

)

    

 

(1,324

)

    

 

(569

)

    

 

(1,025

)

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

    

 

(22,101

)

    

 

(4,917

)

    

 

(2,095

)

    

 

(2,122

)

    

 

(1,866

)

    

 

(1,630

)

    

 

(1,516

)

      


    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    

$

(22,277

)

    

$

(4,735

)

    

$

(1,648

)

    

$

(1,978

)

    

$

(1,760

)

    

$

(1,716

)

    

$

(1,551

)

      


    


    


    


    


    


    



 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

95


Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

 

–(In Thousands)–

    

SAFECO

High-Yield

Bond

Fund

      

SAFECO

Intermediate-Term

U.S. Treasury

Fund

      

SAFECO

U.S.

Government

Fund

 

Investment Income

                                

Dividends

    

$

187

 

    

$

 

    

$

 

Interest

    

 

3,813

 

    

 

1,264

 

    

 

2,909

 

Income from Securities Loaned, net

    

 

34

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      


    


    


Total Investment Income

    

 

4,034

 

    

 

1,264

 

    

 

2,909

 

Expenses

                                

Investment Advisory

    

 

254

 

    

 

140

 

    

 

286

 

Fund Accounting and Administration

    

 

35

 

    

 

23

 

    

 

47

 

Transfer Agent—Investor Class

    

 

109

 

    

 

35

 

    

 

71

 

—Class A

    

 

3

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

 

—Class B

    

 

3

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

1

 

Shareholder Service—Class A

    

 

2

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

1

 

—Class B

    

 

2

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

1

 

Distribution—Class B

    

 

6

 

    

 

11

 

    

 

2

 

—Class C

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Legal and Auditing

    

 

21

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

21

 

Custodian

    

 

12

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

8

 

Registration

    

 

33

 

    

 

29

 

    

 

29

 

Reports to Shareholders

    

 

13

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

9

 

Trustees

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

 

Loan Interest

    

 

2

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Other

    

 

8

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

6

 

      


    


    


Total Expenses Before Expense Reimbursement/Waiver

    

 

511

 

    

 

295

 

    

 

489

 

Expense Reimbursement/Waiver From Advisor—Investor Class

    

 

(82

)

    

 

(27

)

    

 

(1

)

—Class A

    

 

(3

)

    

 

(5

)

    

 

(1

)

—Class B

    

 

(4

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

 

      


    


    


Total Expenses After Expense Reimbursement/Waiver

    

 

422

 

    

 

261

 

    

 

487

 

      


    


    


Investment Income

    

 

3,612

 

    

 

1,003

 

    

 

2,422

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

                                

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

    

 

(9,713

)

    

 

716

 

    

 

866

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

    

 

(1,541

)

    

 

812

 

    

 

1,532

 

      


    


    


Net Gain (Loss) on Investments

    

 

(11,254

)

    

 

1,528

 

    

 

2,398

 

      


    


    


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    

$

(7,642

)

    

$

2,531

 

    

$

4,820

 

      


    


    



 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

96


 

 

–(In Thousands)–

    

SAFECO

Managed

Bond

Fund

      

SAFECO

California

Tax-Free

Income

Fund

    

SAFECO

Municipal

Bond

Fund

    

SAFECO

Money

Market

Fund

 

Investment Income

                                       

Dividends

    

$

 

    

$

    

$

    

$

 

Interest

    

 

546

 

    

 

5,038

    

 

30,795

    

 

6,349

 

Income from Securities Loaned, net

    

 

2

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

      


    

    

    


Total Investment Income

    

 

548

 

    

 

5,038

    

 

30,795

    

 

6,349

 

Expenses

                                       

Investment Advisory

    

 

48

 

    

 

475

    

 

2,637

    

 

1,533

 

Fund Accounting and Administration

    

 

9

 

    

 

85

    

 

252

    

 

203

 

Transfer Agent—Investor Class

    

 

14

 

    

 

67

    

 

300

    

 

445

 

—Class A

    

 

4

 

    

 

1

    

 

1

    

 

18

 

—Class B

    

 

3

 

    

 

1

    

 

2

    

 

4

 

Shareholder Service—Class A

    

 

3

 

    

 

2

    

 

4

    

 

 

—Class B

    

 

2

 

    

 

3

    

 

4

    

 

 

Distribution—Class B

    

 

7

 

    

 

9

    

 

12

    

 

 

—Class C

    

 

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

Legal and Auditing

    

 

20

 

    

 

23

    

 

44

    

 

34

 

Custodian

    

 

6

 

    

 

13

    

 

44

    

 

34

 

Registration

    

 

33

 

    

 

10

    

 

36

    

 

62

 

Reports to Shareholders

    

 

3

 

    

 

8

    

 

30

    

 

41

 

Trustees

    

 

7

 

    

 

7

    

 

10

    

 

9

 

Loan Interest

    

 

 

    

 

1

    

 

4

    

 

 

Other

    

 

3

 

    

 

7

    

 

23

    

 

17

 

      


    

    

    


Total Expenses Before Expense Reimbursement/Waiver

    

 

162

 

    

 

712

    

 

3,403

    

 

2,400

 

Expense Reimbursement/Waiver From Advisor—Investor Class

    

 

(46

)

    

 

    

 

    

 

(68

)

—Class A

    

 

(9

)

    

 

    

 

    

 

(10

)

—Class B

    

 

(7

)

    

 

    

 

    

 

(3

)

      


    

    

    


Total Expenses After Expense Reimbursement/Waiver

    

 

100

 

    

 

712

    

 

3,403

    

 

2,319

 

      


    

    

    


Investment Income

    

 

448

 

    

 

4,326

    

 

27,392

    

 

4,030

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

                                       

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

    

 

(72

)

    

 

574

    

 

10,574

    

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

    

 

304

 

    

 

3,193

    

 

17,241

    

 

 

      


    

    

    


Net Gain (Loss) on Investments

    

 

232

 

    

 

3,767

    

 

27,815

    

 

 

      


    

    

    


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    

$

680

 

    

$

8,093

    

$

55,207

    

$

4,030

 

      


    

    

    



 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

97


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   

SAFECO

Growth

Opportunities

Fund

   

SAFECO

Equity
Fund

   

SAFECO

Dividend

Income

Fund

   

SAFECO

Northwest

Fund

 
 

–(In Thousands)–  

 

2002*

   

2001*

   

2002*

   

2001*

   

2002*

   

2001*

   

2002*

   

2001*

 

Operations

                                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

 

$

(5,676

)

 

$

(5,308

)

 

$

6,437

 

 

$

6,294

 

 

$

2,380

 

 

$

3,016

 

 

$

(176

)

 

$

(236

)

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

 

 

(114,069

)

 

 

(15,562

)

 

 

(17,633

)

 

 

(30,021

)

 

 

(4,875

)

 

 

(298

)

 

 

(7,585

)

 

 

(4,512

)

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

 

(176,160

)

 

 

151,466

 

 

 

(264,417

)

 

 

(112,939

)

 

 

(27,526

)

 

 

(17,959

)

 

 

(14,516

)

 

 

(9,041

)

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

 

(295,905

)

 

 

130,596

 

 

 

(275,613

)

 

 

(136,666

)

 

 

(30,021

)

 

 

(15,241

)

 

 

(22,277

)

 

 

(13,789

)

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                                                               

Net Investment Income

                                                               

—Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,358

)

 

 

(6,251

)

 

 

(2,373

)

 

 

(2,987

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(81

)

 

 

(58

)

 

 

(11

)

 

 

(12

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Realized Gain on Investments

                                                               

—Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Class C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,439

)

 

 

(6,309

)

 

 

(2,390

)

 

 

(3,007

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Trust Share Transactions

 

 

(140,945

)

 

 

70,785

 

 

 

(155,949

)

 

 

(229,360

)

 

 

(13,633

)

 

 

(21,469

)

 

 

(9,059

)

 

 

(11,213

)

Redemption Fees

 

 

447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Change in Net Assets

 

 

(436,403

)

 

 

201,381

 

 

 

(438,001

)

 

 

(372,335

)

 

 

(46,044

)

 

 

(39,717

)

 

 

(31,332

)

 

 

(25,002

)

Net Assets at Beginning of Period

 

 

877,469

 

 

 

676,088

 

 

 

1,121,132

 

 

 

1,493,467

 

 

 

180,059

 

 

 

219,776

 

 

 

96,284

 

 

 

121,286

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets at End of Period

 

$

441,066

 

 

$

877,469

 

 

$

683,131

 

 

$

1,121,132

 

 

$

134,015

 

 

$

180,059

 

 

$

64,952

 

 

$

96,284

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


                                                                 

Tax Character of Distributions Paid:

                                                               

Ordinary Income

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,439

 

 

$

6,309

 

 

$

2,390

 

 

$

3,007

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Long-term Capital Gains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,439

 

 

$

6,309

 

 

$

2,390

 

 

$

3,007

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


                                                                 

 

 *   For the year ended December 31.
**   For the period from October 31, 2001 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2001.

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

98


 

 

 

SAFECO
International
Stock Fund

  

SAFECO
Balanced Fund

  

SAFECO
Small Company
Value Fund

  

SAFECO
U.S. Value
Fund

  

SAFECO
Small Company
Growth Fund

  

SAFECO
U.S. Growth
Fund

 

–(In Thousands)–  

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**

 

Operations

                                                                                                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

$

182

 

  

$

129

 

  

$

447

 

  

$

497

 

  

$

144

 

  

$

289

 

  

$

106

 

  

$

104

 

  

$

(86

)

  

$

(15

)

  

 

$(35

)

  

$

(7

)

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency

 

(1,191

)

  

 

(5,502

)

  

 

(765

)

  

 

312

 

  

 

(353

)

  

 

(1,065

)

  

 

(542

)

  

 

39

 

  

 

(1,061

)

  

 

18

 

  

 

(491

)

  

 

11

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

(3,726

)

  

 

(2,351

)

  

 

(1,330

)

  

 

(867

)

  

 

(1,769

)

  

 

5,404

 

  

 

(1,324

)

  

 

(609

)

  

 

(569

)

  

 

658

 

  

 

(1,025

)

  

 

309

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

(4,735

)

  

 

(7,724

)

  

 

(1,648

)

  

 

(58

)

  

 

(1,978

)

  

 

4,628

 

  

 

(1,760

)

  

 

(466

)

  

 

(1,716

)

  

 

661

 

  

 

(1,551

)

  

 

313

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                                                                                                        

Net Investment Income

                                                                                                        

—Investor Class

 

(205

)

  

 

(541

)

  

 

(407

)

  

 

(414

)

  

 

(149

)

  

 

(282

)

  

 

(101

)

  

 

(99

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(4

)

  

 

 

—Class A

 

(7

)

  

 

(21

)

  

 

(44

)

  

 

(47

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

(7

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

—Class B

 

 

  

 

(11

)

  

 

(33

)

  

 

(36

)

  

 

 

  

 

(1

)

  

 

(2

)

  

 

(1

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

—Class C

 

 

  

 

(1

)  

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Net Realized Gain on Investments

                                                                                                        

—Investor Class

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(8

)

  

 

 

  

 

(5

)

  

 

 

—Class A

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

(2

)

  

 

 

—Class B

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

(2

)

  

 

 

—Class C

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

(2

)

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total

 

(212

)

  

 

(574

)

  

 

(484

)

  

 

(497

)

  

 

(152

)

  

 

(290

)

  

 

(106

)

  

 

(103

)

  

 

(17

)

  

 

 

  

 

(15

)

  

 

 

Net Trust Share Transactions

 

(739

)

  

 

(2,610

)

  

 

499

 

  

 

494

 

  

 

10,709

 

  

 

3,180

 

  

 

82

 

  

 

432

 

  

 

606

 

  

 

5,102

 

  

 

449

 

  

 

5,257

 

Redemption Fees

 

62

 

  

 

351

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

8

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total Change in Net Assets

 

(5,624

)

  

 

(10,557

)

  

 

(1,633

)

  

 

(61

)

  

 

8,587

 

  

 

7,518

 

  

 

(1,784

)

  

 

(137

)

  

 

(1,126

)

  

 

5,763

 

  

 

(1,117

)

  

 

5,570

 

Net Assets at Beginning of Period

 

25,474

 

  

 

36,031

 

  

 

18,448

 

  

 

18,509

 

  

 

31,986

 

  

 

24,468

 

  

 

9,270

 

  

 

9,407

 

  

 

5,763

 

  

 

 

  

 

5,570

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Net Assets at End of Period

$

19,850

 

  

$

25,474

 

  

$

16,815

 

  

$

18,448

 

  

$

40,573

 

  

$

31,986

 

  

 

$7,486

 

  

$

9,270

 

  

 

$4,637

 

  

$

5,763

 

  

$

4,453

 

  

$

5,570

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


                                                                                                          

Tax Character of Distributions Paid:

                                                                                                        

Ordinary Income

$

212

 

  

$

574

 

  

$

484

 

  

$

497

 

  

$

152

 

  

$

290

 

  

$

106

 

  

$

103

 

  

$

17

 

  

$

 

  

$

15

 

  

$

 

Long-term Capital Gains

 

  –

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total

$

212

 

  

$

574

 

  

$

484

 

  

$

497

 

  

$

152

 

  

$

290

 

  

$

106

 

  

$

103

 

  

$

17

 

  

$

 

  

$

15

 

  

$

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


                                                                                                          

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

99


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

    


SAFECO
High-Yield
Bond Fund

    

SAFECO
Intermediate-Term
U.S. Treasury Fund

 
 

–(In Thousands)–

  

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

 

Operations

                                   

Net Investment Income

  

$

3,612

 

  

$

5,316

 

  

$

1,003

 

  

$

1,008

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(9,713

)

  

 

(11,851

)

  

 

716

 

  

 

550

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

  

 

(1,541

)

  

 

5,995

 

  

 

812

 

  

 

(274

)

    


  


  


  


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

  

 

(7,642

)

  

 

(540

)

  

 

2,531

 

  

 

1,284

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                                   

Net Investment Income

                                   

Investor Class

  

 

(3,389

)

  

 

(5,032

)

  

 

(1,059

)

  

 

(952

)

Class A

  

 

(81

)

  

 

(132

)

  

 

(91

)

  

 

(55

)

Class B

  

 

(62

)

  

 

(76

)

  

 

(55

)

  

 

(30

)

Class C

  

 

(7

)

  

 

(8

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income**

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Net Realized Gain on Investments

                                   

Investor Class

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(472

)

  

 

 

Class A

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(55

)

  

 

 

Class B

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(43

)

  

 

 

Class C

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


Total

  

 

(3,539

)

  

 

(5,248

)

  

 

(1,775

)

  

 

(1,037

)

Net Trust Share Transactions

  

 

(7,119

)

  

 

2,564

 

  

 

3,714

 

  

 

2,600

 

Redemption Fees

  

 

57

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


Total Change in Net Assets

  

 

(18,243

)

  

 

(3,224

)

  

 

4,470

 

  

 

2,847

 

Net Assets at Beginning of Period

  

 

53,547

 

  

 

56,771

 

  

 

23,555

 

  

 

20,708

 

    


  


  


  


Net Assets at End of Period

  

$

35,304

 

  

$

53,547

 

  

$

28,025

 

  

$

23,555

 

    


  


  


  



Tax Character of Distributions Paid:

                                   

Ordinary Income

  

$

3,539

 

  

$

5,248

 

  

$

1,205

 

  

$

1,037

 

Tax-Exempt Income

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Long-term Capital Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

570

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


Total

  

$

3,539

 

  

$

5,248

 

  

$

1,775

 

  

$

1,037

 

    


  


  


  



 

 *   For the year ended December 31.
**   Investor Class—$272; Class A—$2; Class B—$3.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

100


 

 

SAFECO U.S.

Government Fund

    

SAFECO
Managed
Bond Fund

    

SAFECO
California
Tax-Free
Income Fund

    

SAFECO
Municipal
Bond Fund

    

SAFECO
Money
Market Fund

 
 

–(In Thousands)–

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

 

Operations

                                                                                      

Net Investment Income

$

2,422

 

  

$

2,454

 

  

$

448

 

  

$

447

 

  

$

4,326

 

  

$

4,693

 

  

$

27,392

 

  

$

26,426

 

  

$

4,030

 

  

$

8,967

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

866

 

  

 

178

 

  

 

(72

)

  

 

138

 

  

 

574

 

  

 

3,515

 

  

 

10,574

 

  

 

6,209

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

1,532

 

  

 

246

 

  

 

304

 

  

 

(48

)

  

 

3,193

 

  

 

(4,194

)

  

 

17,241

 

  

 

(4,258

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Net Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

4,820

 

  

 

2,878

 

  

 

680

 

  

 

537

 

  

 

8,093

 

  

 

4,014

 

  

 

55,207

 

  

 

28,377

 

  

 

4,030

 

  

 

8,967

 

Distributions to Shareholders From:

                                                                                      

Net Investment Income

                                                                                      

Investor Class

 

(2,628

)

  

 

(2,451

)

  

 

(394

)

  

 

(368

)

  

 

(4,126

)

  

 

(4,507

)

  

 

(26,637

)

  

 

(25,670

)

  

 

(3,943

)

  

 

(8,735

)

Class A

 

(20

)

  

 

(9

)

  

 

(56

)

  

 

(41

)

  

 

(26

)

  

 

(30

)

  

 

(76

)

  

 

(53

)

  

 

(71

)

  

 

(186

)

Class B

 

(10

)

  

 

(7

)

  

 

(40

)

  

 

(38

)

  

 

(42

)

  

 

(50

)

  

 

(58

)

  

 

(38

)

  

 

(14

)

  

 

(42

)

Class C

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(2

)

  

 

(4

)

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income**

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(277

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Net Realized Gain on Investments

                                                                                      

Investor Class

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(1,292

)

  

 

 

  

 

(9,095

)

  

 

(1,183

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Class A

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(9

)

  

 

 

  

 

(61

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Class B

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(15

)

  

 

 

  

 

(40

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Class C

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total

 

(2,658

)

  

 

(2,467

)

  

 

(490

)

  

 

(447

)

  

 

(5,787

)

  

 

(4,587

)

  

 

(35,967

)

  

 

(26,950

)

  

 

(4,030

)

  

 

(8,967

)

Net Trust Share Transactions

 

8,861

 

  

 

7,454

 

  

 

1,032

 

  

 

1,971

 

  

 

311

 

  

 

(13,843

)

  

 

20,213

 

  

 

33,316

 

  

 

126,230

 

  

 

(13,930

)

Redemption Fees

 

25

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total Change in Net Assets

 

11,048

 

  

 

7,865

 

  

 

1,222

 

  

 

2,061

 

  

 

2,617

 

  

 

(14,416

)

  

 

39,453

 

  

 

34,743

 

  

 

126,230

 

  

 

(13,930

)

Net Assets at Beginning of Period

 

45,673

 

  

 

37,808

 

  

 

9,302

 

  

 

7,241

 

  

 

92,423

 

  

 

106,839

 

  

 

536,312

 

  

 

501,569

 

  

 

233,639

 

  

 

247,569

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Net Assets at End of Period

$

56,721

 

  

$

45,673

 

  

$

10,524

 

  

$

9,302

 

  

$

95,040

 

  

$

92,423

 

  

$

575,765

 

  

$

536,312

 

  

$

359,869

 

  

$

233,639

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  



Tax Character of Distributions Paid:

                                                                                      

Ordinary Income

$

2,658

 

  

$

2,467

 

  

$

490

 

  

$

447

 

  

$

297

 

  

$

 

  

$

153

 

  

$

 

  

$

4,030

 

  

$

8,967

 

Tax-Exempt Income

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

4,174

 

  

 

4,587

 

  

 

26,618

 

  

 

25,761

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Long-term Capital Gains

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

1,316

 

  

 

 

  

 

9,196

 

  

 

1,189

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


Total

$

2,658

 

  

$

2,467

 

  

$

490

 

  

$

447

 

  

$

5,787

 

  

$

4,587

 

  

$

35,967

 

  

$

26,950

 

  

$

4,030

 

  

$

8,967

 

 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


  



                                                                             

 

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

101


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

26.96

 

  

$

22.16

 

  

$

23.21

 

  

$

22.66

 

  

$

22.39

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.24

)

  

 

(0.20

)

  

 

(0.25

)

  

 

(0.19

)

  

 

(0.05

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(9.77

)*

  

 

5.00

 

  

 

(0.80

)

  

 

0.74

 

  

 

1.05

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(10.01

)

  

 

4.80

 

  

 

(1.05

)

  

 

0.55

 

  

 

1.00

 

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.73

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

16.97

 

  

$

26.96

 

  

$

22.16

 

  

$

23.21

 

  

$

22.66

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(37.05%

)

  

 

21.66%

 

  

 

(4.52%

)

  

 

2.43%

 

  

 

4.47%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

19,024

 

  

$

33,877

 

  

$

26,020

 

  

$

27,597

 

  

$

33,712

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.67%

 

  

 

1.36%

 

  

 

1.49%

 

  

 

1.34%

 

  

 

1.00%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.33%

 

  

 

1.31%

 

  

 

1.31%

 

  

 

1.23%

 

  

 

1.00%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.17%

)

  

 

(1.00%

)

  

 

(1.00%

)

  

 

(0.80%

)

  

 

(0.40%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

37%

 

  

 

65%

 

  

 

63%

 

  

 

38%

 

  

 

55%

 


SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

25.87

 

  

$

21.42

 

  

$

22.57

 

  

$

22.21

 

  

$

22.19

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.39

)

  

 

(0.40

)

  

 

(0.41

)

  

 

(0.35

)

  

 

(0.15

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(9.34

)*

  

 

4.85

 

  

 

(0.74

)

  

 

0.71

 

  

 

0.90

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(9.73

)

  

 

4.45

 

  

 

(1.15

)

  

 

0.36

 

  

 

0.75

 

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.73

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

16.16

 

  

$

25.87

 

  

$

21.42

 

  

$

22.57

 

  

$

22.21

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(37.53%

)

  

 

20.77%

 

  

 

(5.10%

)

  

 

1.62%

 

  

 

3.38%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

8,734

 

  

$

14,346

 

  

$

12,391

 

  

$

14,637

 

  

$

15,569

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.21%

 

  

 

2.09%

 

  

 

2.16%

 

  

 

2.24%

 

  

 

1.91%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.08%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

  

 

1.91%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.92%

)

  

 

(1.75%

)

  

 

(1.71%

)

  

 

(1.59%

)

  

 

(1.28%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

37%

 

  

 

65%

 

  

 

63%

 

  

 

38%

 

  

 

55%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
 *   Includes $0.10 related to payment by affiliate. See note 10.

 

 

102


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

  

For the Year Ended
December 31

      

Eight-Month
Period Ended
December 31††

 
    

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

25.85

 

  

$

21.40

 

    

$

23.34

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.33

)

  

 

(0.35

)

    

 

(0.23

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(9.38

)^

  

 

4.80

 

    

 

(1.71

)

    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(9.71

)

  

 

4.45

 

    

 

(1.94

)

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

16.16

 

  

$

25.85

 

    

$

21.40

 

    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(37.49%

)

  

 

20.74%

 

    

 

(8.27%

)*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

161

 

  

$

194

 

    

$

120

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.33%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

    

 

2.02%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

2.08%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

    

 

2.02%

**

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.93%

)

  

 

(1.75%

)

    

 

(1.71%

)**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

37%

 

  

 

65%

 

    

 

63%

**


SAFECO Equity Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.56

 

  

$

20.68

 

  

$

24.06

 

  

$

23.27

 

  

$

19.55

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.08

 

  

 

0.04

 

  

 

0.04

 

  

 

0.11

 

  

 

0.18

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(5.01

)

  

 

(2.12

)

  

 

(2.77

)

  

 

2.02

 

  

 

4.65

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.93

)

  

 

(2.08

)

  

 

(2.73

)

  

 

2.13

 

  

 

4.83

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.08

)

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.18

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.61

)

  

 

(1.23

)

  

 

(0.93

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.08

)

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.65

)

  

 

(1.34

)

  

 

(1.11

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.55

 

  

$

18.56

 

  

$

20.68

 

  

$

24.06

 

  

$

23.27

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(26.59%

)

  

 

(10.06%

)

  

 

(11.34%

)

  

 

9.13%

 

  

 

24.77%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

13,897

 

  

$

21,519

 

  

$

53,410

 

  

$

61,625

 

  

$

50,354

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.17%

 

  

 

1.42%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.12%

 

  

 

0.88%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.31%

 

  

 

1.28%

 

  

 

1.26%

 

  

 

1.12%

 

  

 

0.88%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.48%

 

  

 

0.18%

 

  

 

0.19%

 

  

 

0.44%

 

  

 

0.89%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

45%

 

  

 

31%

 

  

 

35%

 

  

 

34%

 

  

 

33%

 


 

   *   Not annualized.
 **   Annualized.   
  †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.
  ^   Includes $0.10 related to payment by affiliate. See note 10.

 

 

103


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Equity Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.20

 

  

$

20.38

 

  

$

23.83

 

  

$

23.15

 

  

$

19.55

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.05

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.13

)

  

 

(0.07

)

  

 

(0.03

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(4.89

)

  

 

(2.07

)

  

 

(2.71

)

  

 

1.98

 

  

 

4.56

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.94

)

  

 

(2.18

)

  

 

(2.84

)

  

 

1.91

 

  

 

4.53

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.61

)

  

 

(1.23

)

  

 

(0.93

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.26

 

  

$

18.20

 

  

$

20.38

 

  

$

23.83

 

  

$

23.15

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(27.14%

)

  

 

(10.70%

)

  

 

(11.91%

)

  

 

8.18%

 

  

 

23.16%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

10,520

 

  

$

16,423

 

  

$

20,349

 

  

$

28,260

 

  

$

17,232

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.16%

 

  

 

2.05%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.05%

 

  

 

1.94%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

  

 

2.01%

 

  

 

1.95%

 

  

 

1.94%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.28%

)

  

 

(0.58%

)

  

 

(0.54%

)

  

 

(0.41%

)

  

 

(0.21%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

45%

 

  

 

31%

 

  

 

35%

 

  

 

34%

 

  

 

33%

 


SAFECO Equity Fund

  

For the Year Ended

December 31

      

Eight-Month

Period Ended

December 31††

 
    

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.22

 

  

$

20.40

 

    

$

22.87

 

Loss From Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.03

)

  

 

(0.09

)

    

 

(0.06

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

  

 

(4.91

)

  

 

(2.09

)

    

 

(1.80

)

    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.94

)

  

 

(2.18

)

    

 

(1.86

)

Less Distributions

                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

(0.61

)

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.28

 

  

$

18.22

 

    

$

20.40

 

    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(27.11%

)

  

 

(10.73%

)

    

 

(8.08%

)*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

129

 

  

$

155

 

    

$

119

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.34%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

    

 

1.84%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

    

 

1.84%

**

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.24%

)

  

 

(0.58%

)

    

 

(0.44%

)**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

45%

 

  

 

31%

 

    

 

35%

**


 

   *   Not annualized.
  **   Annualized.
  †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

104


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.91

 

  

$

20.68

 

  

$

22.52

 

  

$

23.55

 

  

$

24.02

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.23

 

  

 

0.25

 

  

 

0.35

 

  

 

0.42

 

  

 

0.48

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(3.54

)^

  

 

(1.77

)

  

 

(1.84

)

  

 

(0.20

)

  

 

0.81

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(3.31

)

  

 

(1.52

)

  

 

(1.49

)

  

 

0.22

 

  

 

1.29

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.25

)

  

 

(0.35

)

  

 

(0.42

)

  

 

(0.48

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.83

)

  

 

(1.28

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.25

)

  

 

(0.35

)

  

 

(1.25

)

  

 

(1.76

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

15.37

 

  

$

18.91

 

  

$

20.68

 

  

$

22.52

 

  

$

23.55

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(17.57%

)

  

 

(7.33%

)

  

 

(6.59%

)

  

 

1.01%

 

  

 

5.38%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

712

 

  

$

882

 

  

$

1,092

 

  

$

2,046

 

  

$

2,073

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.62%

 

  

 

1.52%

 

  

 

1.62%

 

  

 

1.47%

 

  

 

1.34%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.31%

 

  

 

1.34%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.30%

 

  

 

1.30%

 

  

 

1.56%

 

  

 

1.84%

 

  

 

2.16%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

17%

 

  

 

58%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

42%

 

  

 

46%

 


SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.95

 

  

$

20.71

 

  

$

22.53

 

  

$

23.57

 

  

$

23.95

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.10

 

  

 

0.11

 

  

 

0.18

 

  

 

0.25

 

  

 

0.30

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(3.56

)^

  

 

(1.76

)

  

 

(1.82

)

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

0.90

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(3.46

)

  

 

(1.65

)

  

 

(1.64

)

  

 

0.04

 

  

 

1.20

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

(0.25

)

  

 

(0.30

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.83

)

  

 

(1.28

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

(1.08

)

  

 

(1.58

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

15.39

 

  

$

18.95

 

  

$

20.71

 

  

$

22.53

 

  

$

23.57

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(18.28%

)

  

 

(7.98%

)

  

 

(7.29%

)

  

 

0.18%

 

  

 

5.03%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

747

 

  

$

1,160

 

  

$

1,532

 

  

$

2,365

 

  

$

2,176

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.35%

 

  

 

2.24%

 

  

 

2.27%

 

  

 

2.22%

 

  

 

2.08%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.08%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.52%

 

  

 

0.55%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

1.09%

 

  

 

1.45%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

17%

 

  

 

58%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

42%

 

  

 

46%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
^   Includes $0.07 related to payment by affiliate. See note 10.

 

 

105


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

      

Eight-Month Period Ended December 31††

 
    

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.99

 

  

$

20.75

 

    

$

21.06

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.12

 

  

 

0.12

 

    

 

0.12

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

  

 

(3.55

)^

  

 

(1.76

)

    

 

(0.31

)

    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(3.43

)

  

 

(1.64

)

    

 

(0.19

)

Less Distributions

                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.12

)

  

 

(0.12

)

    

 

(0.12

)

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

15.44

 

  

$

18.99

 

    

$

20.75

 

    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(18.12%

)

  

 

(7.90%

)

    

 

(0.90%

)*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

89

 

  

$

97

 

    

$

99

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.36%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

    

 

1.95%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.03%

 

    

 

1.95%

**

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.68%

 

  

 

0.60%

 

    

 

0.85%

**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

17%

 

  

 

58%

 

    

 

45%

**


SAFECO Northwest Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

18.54

 

  

$

20.94

 

  

$

25.01

 

  

$

17.56

 

  

$

17.25

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.07

)

  

 

(0.08

)

  

 

(0.14

)

  

 

(0.12

)

  

 

(0.16

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(4.44

)

  

 

(2.32

)

  

 

(3.93

)

  

 

9.58

 

  

 

0.66

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.51

)

  

 

(2.40

)

  

 

(4.07

)

  

 

9.46

 

  

 

0.50

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(2.01

)

  

 

(0.19

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

14.03

 

  

$

18.54

 

  

$

20.94

 

  

$

25.01

 

  

$

17.56

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(24.33%

)

  

 

(11.46%

)

  

 

(16.27%

)

  

 

53.90%

 

  

 

2.87%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

3,527

 

  

$

5,141

 

  

$

6,621

 

  

$

4,774

 

  

$

2,208

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.62%

 

  

 

1.52%

 

  

 

1.49%

 

  

 

1.56%

 

  

 

1.70%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.36%

 

  

 

1.70%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.40%

)

  

 

(0.41%

)

  

 

(0.67%

)

  

 

(0.81%

)

  

 

(1.06%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

15%

 

  

 

50%

 

  

 

36%

 

  

 

49%

 

  

 

50%

 


 

  *   Not annualized.
 **   Annualized.
  †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.
  ^   Includes $0.07 related to payment by affiliate. See note 10.

 

 

106


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO Northwest Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

17.86

 

  

$

20.33

 

  

$

24.46

 

  

$

17.31

 

  

$

17.09

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.19

)

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

(0.30

)

  

 

(0.25

)

  

 

(0.23

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(4.26

)

  

 

(2.26

)

  

 

(3.83

)

  

 

9.41

 

  

 

0.64

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.45

)

  

 

(2.47

)

  

 

(4.13

)

  

 

9.16

 

  

 

0.41

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(2.01

)

  

 

(0.19

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.41

 

  

$

17.86

 

  

$

20.33

 

  

$

24.46

 

  

$

17.31

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(24.92%

)

  

 

(12.15%

)

  

 

(16.88%

)

  

 

52.57%

 

  

 

2.37%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

3,726

 

  

$

5,753

 

  

$

6,449

 

  

$

4,842

 

  

$

2,603

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.35%

 

  

 

2.26%

 

  

 

2.22%

 

  

 

2.32%

 

  

 

2.30%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.12%

 

  

 

2.30%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.15%

)

  

 

(1.16%

)

  

 

(1.42%

)

  

 

(1.56%

)

  

 

(1.66%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

15%

 

  

 

50%

 

  

 

36%

 

  

 

49%

 

  

 

50%

 


SAFECO Northwest Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

      

Eight-Month

Period Ended December 31††

 
    

    


Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

17.87

 

  

$

20.33

 

    

$

24.21

 

Loss From Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

(0.20

)

    

 

(0.21

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

  

 

(4.27

)

  

 

(2.26

)

    

 

(3.67

)

    


  


    


Total Loss from Investment Operations

  

 

(4.45

)

  

 

(2.46

)

    

 

(3.88

)

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.42

 

  

$

17.87

 

    

$

20.33

 

    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(24.90%

)

  

 

(12.10%

)

    

 

(16.03%

)*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

75

 

  

$

100

 

    

$

103

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.57%

 

  

 

2.25%

 

    

 

2.07%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

    

 

2.07%

**

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.15%

)

  

 

(1.15%

)

    

 

(1.34%

)**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

15%

 

  

 

50%

 

    

 

36%

**


 

   *   Not annualized.
  **   Annualized.
  †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

107


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.45

 

  

$

14.20

 

  

$

16.89

 

  

$

13.13

 

  

$

11.55

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.06

 

  

 

0.05

 

  

 

0.05

 

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.04

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and
Foreign Currency

  

 

(2.11

)

  

 

(3.71

)

  

 

(1.92

)

  

 

3.77

 

  

 

1.62

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.05

)

  

 

(3.66

)

  

 

(1.87

)

  

 

3.76

 

  

 

1.58

 

Redemption Fee

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.14

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.07

)

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.05

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.77

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.07

)

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.82

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.36

 

  

$

10.45

 

  

$

14.20

 

  

$

16.89

 

  

$

13.13

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(19.27%

)

  

 

(24.49%

)

  

 

(11.05%

)

  

 

28.64%

 

  

 

13.68%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

795

 

  

$

969

 

  

$

1,423

 

  

$

1,215

 

  

$

629

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.45%

 

  

 

2.40%

 

  

 

2.21%

 

  

 

2.11%

 

  

 

2.31%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.65%

 

  

 

1.71%

 

  

 

1.65%

 

  

 

1.73%

 

  

 

2.14%

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.68%

 

  

 

0.36%

 

  

 

0.04%

 

  

 

(0.06%

)

  

 

(0.47%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

16%

 

  

 

163%

 

  

 

33%

 

  

 

24%

 

  

 

26%

 


SAFECO International Stock Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.25

 

  

$

13.88

 

  

$

16.56

 

  

$

12.99

 

  

$

11.53

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.06

)

  

 

(0.09

)

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

(0.11

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and
Foreign Currency

  

 

(2.06

)

  

 

(3.60

)

  

 

(1.82

)

  

 

3.67

 

  

 

1.57

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.07

)

  

 

(3.66

)

  

 

(1.91

)

  

 

3.57

 

  

 

1.46

 

Redemption Fee

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.14

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

 

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.77

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

 

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.77

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.21

 

  

$

10.25

 

  

$

13.88

 

  

$

16.56

 

  

$

12.99

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(19.89%

)

  

 

(25.07%

)

  

 

(11.52%

)

  

 

27.48%

 

  

 

12.66%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

736

 

  

$

1,027

 

  

$

1,492

 

  

$

1,392

 

  

$

777

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

3.34%

 

  

 

3.20%

 

  

 

2.97%

 

  

 

3.02%

 

  

 

3.19%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.40%

 

  

 

2.46%

 

  

 

2.40%

 

  

 

2.51%

 

  

 

3.02%

 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.11%

)

  

 

(0.52%

)

  

 

(0.64%

)

  

 

(0.84%

)

  

 

(1.33%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

16%

 

  

 

163%

 

  

 

33%

 

  

 

24%

 

  

 

26%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

108


 

Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO International Stock Fund

  

For the

Year Ended

December 31

      

Eight-Month

Period Ended

December 31††

               
    

                 

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

               

       

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.25

 

  

$

13.85

 

    

$

15.82

 

                 

Loss From Investment Operations

                                              

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.07

)

    

 

(0.07

)

                 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments and Foreign Currency

  

 

(2.06

)

  

 

(3.57

)

    

 

(1.13

)

                 
    


  


    


                 

Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.07

)

  

 

(3.64

)

    

 

(1.20

)

                 

Redemption Fee

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.14

 

    

 

 

                 

Less Distributions

                                              

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

(0.10

)

    

 

(0.77

)

                 
    


  


    


                 

Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.21

 

  

$

10.25

 

    

$

13.85

 

                 
    


  


    


                 

Total Return†

  

 

(19.90%

)

  

 

(25.08%

)

    

 

(7.76%

)*

                 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

78

 

  

$

80

 

    

$

97

 

                 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                              

Gross Expenses

  

 

3.28%

 

  

 

3.03%

 

    

 

2.66%

**

                 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.40%

 

  

 

2.46%

 

    

 

2.40%

**

                 

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.19%

)

  

 

(0.68%

)

    

 

(0.75%

)**

                 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

16%

 

  

 

163%

 

    

 

33%

**

                 

       

SAFECO Balanced Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

11.73

 

  

$

12.09

 

    

$

11.87

 

  

$

12.23

 

  

$

11.60

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                              

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.26

 

  

 

0.30

 

    

 

0.32

 

  

 

0.22

 

  

 

0.25

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(1.30

)

  

 

(0.36

)

    

 

0.22

 

  

 

(0.13

)

  

 

1.14

 

    


  


    


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(1.04

)

  

 

(0.06

)

    

 

0.54

 

  

 

0.09

 

  

 

1.39.

 

Less Distributions

                                              

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.29

)

  

 

(0.30

)

    

 

(0.32

)

  

 

(0.22

)

  

 

(0.25

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.51

)

    


  


    


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.29

)

  

 

(0.30

)

    

 

(0.32

)

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.76

)

    


  


    


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

10.40

 

  

$

11.73

 

    

$

12.09

 

  

$

11.87

 

  

$

12.23

 

    


  


    


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(8.95%

)

  

 

(0.42%

)

    

 

4.71%

 

  

 

0.75%

 

  

 

12.06%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,586

 

  

$

1,733

 

    

$

1,789

 

  

$

2,573

 

  

$

893

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                              

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.81%

 

  

 

1.82%

 

    

 

1.88%

 

  

 

1.68%

 

  

 

1.67%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

    

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.36%

 

  

 

1.67%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

2.42%

 

  

 

2.57%

 

    

 

2.62%

 

  

 

2.16%

 

  

 

2.23%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

59%

 

  

 

75%

 

    

 

63%

 

  

 

95%

 

  

 

75%

 


 

   *   Not annualized.
  **   Annualized.
  †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

109


 

Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO Balanced Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

11.71

 

  

$

12.07

 

  

$

11.83

 

  

$

12.24

 

  

$

11.60

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.19

 

  

 

0.21

 

  

 

0.23

 

  

 

0.18

 

  

 

0.15

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(1.32

)

  

 

(0.36

)

  

 

0.24

 

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

1.15

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(1.13

)

  

 

(0.15

)

  

 

0.47

 

  

 

0.00

 

  

 

1.30

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

(0.15

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.51

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

(0.21

)

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.41

)

  

 

(0.66

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

10.37

 

  

$

11.71

 

  

$

12.07

 

  

$

11.83

 

  

$

12.24

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(9.70%

)

  

 

(1.19%

)

  

 

4.03%

 

  

 

(0.01%

)

  

 

11.30%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,641

 

  

$

1,979

 

  

$

1,904

 

  

$

2,553

 

  

$

2,056

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.59%

 

  

 

2.55%

 

  

 

2.56%

 

  

 

2.46%

 

  

 

2.34%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.14%

 

  

 

2.34%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.66%

 

  

 

1.82%

 

  

 

1.89%

 

  

 

1.43%

 

  

 

1.55%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

59%

 

  

 

75%

 

  

 

63%

 

  

 

95%

 

  

 

75%

 


SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

13.57

 

  

$

11.59

 

  

$

12.55

 

  

$

11.09

 

  

$

14.21

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

0.10

 

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.09

)

  

 

(0.08

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(0.56

)

  

 

1.98

 

  

 

(0.92

)

  

 

1.55

 

  

 

(3.04

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(0.54

)

  

 

2.08

 

  

 

(0.96

)

  

 

1.46

 

  

 

(3.12

)

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.02

)

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

13.01

 

  

$

13.57

 

  

$

11.59

 

  

$

12.55

 

  

$

11.09

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(4.01%

)

  

 

17.92%

 

  

 

(7.65%

)

  

 

13.17%

 

  

 

(21.96%

)

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,507

 

  

$

1,009

 

  

$

847

 

  

$

1,067

 

  

$

1,220

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.75%

 

  

 

1.82%

 

  

 

1.92%

 

  

 

1.97%

 

  

 

1.66%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.40%

 

  

 

1.44%

 

  

 

1.40%

 

  

 

1.47%

 

  

 

1.66%

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.23%

 

  

 

0.75%

 

  

 

(0.32%

)

  

 

(0.79%

)

  

 

(0.99%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

54%

 

  

 

141%

 

  

 

107%

 

  

 

117%

 

  

 

90%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

110


 

Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

 

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

13.10

 

  

$

11.19

 

  

$

12.22

 

  

$

10.88

 

  

$

14.07

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

(0.07

)

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

(0.12

)

  

 

(0.16

)

  

 

(0.15

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(0.55

)

  

 

1.91

 

  

 

(0.91

)

  

 

1.50

 

  

 

(3.04

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(0.62

)

  

 

1.92

 

  

 

(1.03

)

  

 

1.34

 

  

 

(3.19

)

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

 

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

12.48

 

  

$

13.10

 

  

$

11.19

 

  

$

12.22

 

  

$

10.88

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(4.73%

)

  

 

17.11%

 

  

 

(8.43%

)

  

 

12.32%

 

  

 

(22.67%

)

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,333

 

  

$

1,334

 

  

$

1,144

 

  

$

1,274

 

  

$

1,034

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.54%

 

  

 

2.56%

 

  

 

2.63%

 

  

 

2.75%

 

  

 

2.64%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.15%

 

  

 

2.19%

 

  

 

2.15%

 

  

 

2.21%

 

  

 

2.64%

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

(0.57%

)

  

 

0.04%

 

  

 

(1.01%

)

  

 

(1.55%

)

  

 

(1.91%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

54%

 

  

 

141%

 

  

 

107%

 

  

 

117%

 

  

 

90%

 


SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

11.25

 

  

$

11.95

 

  

$

11.94

 

  

$

11.93

 

  

$

11.18

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.11

 

  

 

0.11

 

  

 

0.10

 

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.05

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(2.20

)

  

 

(0.70

)

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.54

 

  

 

1.27

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.09

)

  

 

(0.59

)

  

 

0.11

 

  

 

0.57

 

  

 

1.32

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

(0.06

)

  

 

(0.05

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.50

)

  

 

(0.52

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

(0.10

)

  

 

(0.56

)

  

 

(0.57

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

9.05

 

  

$

11.25

 

  

$

11.95

 

  

$

11.94

 

  

$

11.93

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(18.65%

)

  

 

(4.96%

)

  

 

0.97%

 

  

 

4.74%

 

  

 

11.79%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

298

 

  

$

336

 

  

$

299

 

  

$

331

 

  

$

210

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.38%

 

  

 

2.30%

 

  

 

2.26%

 

  

 

2.02%

 

  

 

2.07%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.40%

 

  

 

2.07%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.08%

 

  

 

0.96%

 

  

 

0.89%

 

  

 

0.66%

 

  

 

0.18%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

39%

 

  

 

39%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

52%

 

  

 

55%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

111


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

 

2002

 

  

 

2001

 

  

 

2000

 

  

 

1999

 

  

 

1998

 


Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

11.20

 

  

$

11.89

 

  

$

11.88

 

  

$

11.91

 

  

$

11.18

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.03

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(2.20

)

  

 

(0.69

)

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.48

 

  

 

1.28

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.17

)

  

 

(0.67

)

  

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.47

 

  

 

1.25

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.03

)

  

 

(0.02

)

  

 

(0.02

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.50

)

  

 

(0.52

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.03

)

  

 

(0.02

)

  

 

(0.02

)

  

 

(0.50

)

  

 

(0.52

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

9.00

 

  

$

11.20

 

  

$

11.89

 

  

$

11.88

 

  

$

11.91

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(19.37%

)

  

 

(5.65%

)

  

 

0.24%

 

  

 

3.92%

 

  

 

11.18%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

527

 

  

$

551

 

  

$

567

 

  

$

747

 

  

$

628

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

3.05%

 

  

 

2.98%

 

  

 

2.86%

 

  

 

2.73%

 

  

 

2.59%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.10%

 

  

 

2.18%

 

  

 

2.59%

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

0.33%

 

  

 

0.21%

 

  

 

0.14%

 

  

 

(0.10%

)

  

 

(0.35%

)

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

39%

 

  

 

39%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

52%

 

  

 

55%

 


    

Class A

    

Class B

    

Class C

 
    

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

  

For the

Year Ended December 31

      

October 31, 2001

(Commencement of Operations) to December 31

    

For the Year Ended December 31

      

October 31, 2001 (Commencement of Operations) to December 31

    

For the

Year Ended December 31

      

October 31, 2001 (Commencement of Operations) to December 31

 
    

    

2002

      

2001

    

2002

      

2001

    

2002

      

2001

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

11.31

 

    

$

10.00

 

  

$

11.30

 

    

$

10.00

 

  

$

11.30

 

    

$

10.00

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                                           

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.14

)

    

 

(0.03

)

  

 

(0.21

)

    

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.22

)

    

 

(0.04

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(2.84

)

    

 

1.34

 

  

 

(2.83

)

    

 

1.34

 

  

 

(2.82

)

    

 

1.34

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.98

)

    

 

1.31

 

  

 

(3.04

)

    

 

1.30

 

  

 

(3.04

)

    

 

1.30

 

Less Distributions

                                                           

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.03

)

    

 

 

  

 

(0.03

)

    

 

 

  

 

(0.03

)

    

 

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.30

 

    

$

11.31

 

  

$

8.23

 

    

$

11.30

 

  

$

8.23

 

    

$

11.30

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(26.39%

)

    

 

13.10%

*

  

 

(26.94%

)

    

 

13.00%

*

  

 

(26.94%

)

    

 

13.00%

*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

862

 

    

$

1,137

 

  

$

839

 

    

$

1,129

 

  

$

823

 

    

$

1,130

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                                           

Gross Expenses

  

 

3.74%

 

    

 

4.79%

**

  

 

4.48%

 

    

 

5.54%

**

  

 

4.44%

 

    

 

5.54%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

1.85%

 

    

 

1.85%

**

  

 

2.60%

 

    

 

2.60%

**

  

 

2.60%

 

    

 

2.60%

**

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(1.43%

)

    

 

(1.45%

)**

  

 

(2.18%

)

    

 

(2.20%

)**

  

 

(2.19%

)

    

 

(2.20%

)**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

159%

 

    

 

43%

**

  

 

159%

 

    

 

43%

**

  

 

159%

 

    

 

43%

**


 

 *   Not annualized.
**   Annualized.
  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

112


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

    

Class A

    

Class B

    

Class C

 
    

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

  

For the
Year Ended
December 31

      

October 31, 2001
(Commencement
of Operations)
to December 31

    

For the
Year Ended
December 31

      

October 31, 2001
(Commencement
of Operations)
to December 31

    

For the
Year Ended
December 31

      

October 31, 2001
(Commencement
of Operations)
to December 31

 
    

    

2002

      

2001

    

2002

      

2001

    

2002

      

2001

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.63

 

    

$

10.00

 

  

$

10.62

 

    

$

10.00

 

  

$

10.62

 

    

$

10.00

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                                           

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.05

)

    

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.11

)

    

 

(0.02

)

  

 

(0.11

)

    

 

(0.02

)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(2.83

)

    

 

0.64

 

  

 

(2.83

)

    

 

0.64

 

  

 

(2.83

)

    

 

0.64

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(2.88

)

    

 

0.63

 

  

 

(2.94

)

    

 

0.62

 

  

 

(2.94

)

    

 

0.62

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Less Distributions

                                                           

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.02

)

    

 

 

  

 

(0.02

)

    

 

 

  

 

(0.02

)

    

 

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

7.73

 

    

$

10.63

 

  

$

7.66

 

    

$

10.62

 

  

$

7.66

 

    

$

10.62

 

    


    


  


    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(27.12%

)

    

 

6.30%

*

  

 

(27.71%

)

    

 

6.20%

*

  

 

(27.71%

)

    

 

6.20%

*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

811

 

    

$

1,074

 

  

$

784

 

    

$

1,062

 

  

$

775

 

    

$

1,062

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                                           

Gross Expenses

  

 

3.71%

 

    

 

4.54%

**

  

 

4.46%

 

    

 

5.29%

**

  

 

4.44%

 

    

 

5.29%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

1.65%

 

    

 

1.65%

**

  

 

2.40%

 

    

 

2.40%

**

  

 

2.40%

 

    

 

2.40%

**

Net Investment Loss

  

 

(0.55%

)

    

 

(0.50%

)**

  

 

(1.32%

)

    

 

(1.25%

)**

  

 

(1.32%

)

    

 

(1.25%

)**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

29%

 

    

 

2%

**

  

 

29%

 

    

 

2%

**

  

 

29%

 

    

 

2%

**


SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

6.51

 

  

$

7.26

 

  

$

8.38

 

  

$

8.78

 

  

$

9.12

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.51

 

  

 

0.60

 

  

 

0.66

 

  

 

0.69

 

  

 

0.72

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

  

 

(1.64

)

  

 

(0.75

)

  

 

(1.12

)

  

 

(0.40

)

  

 

(0.34

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(1.13

)

  

 

(0.15

)

  

 

(0.46

)

  

 

0.29

 

  

 

0.38

 

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.50

)

  

 

(0.60

)

  

 

(0.66

)

  

 

(0.69

)

  

 

(0.72

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

4.89

 

  

$

6.51

 

  

$

7.26

 

  

$

8.38

 

  

$

8.78

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(17.68%

)

  

 

(2.29%

)

  

 

(5.75%

)

  

 

3.52%

 

  

 

4.32%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,934

 

  

$

1,086

 

  

$

1,144

 

  

$

1,583

 

  

$

2,964

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.63%

 

  

 

1.45%

 

  

 

1.56%

 

  

 

1.35%

 

  

 

1.12%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.31%

 

  

 

1.32%

 

  

 

1.30%

 

  

 

1.18%

 

  

 

1.12%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

9.32%

 

  

 

8.39%

 

  

 

8.38%

 

  

 

8.01%

 

  

 

8.11%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

163%

 

  

 

185%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

71%

 

  

 

64%

 


 

 *   Not annualized.
**   Annualized.
 †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

113


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

6.51

 

  

$

7.25

 

  

$

8.38

 

  

$

8.78

 

  

$

9.12

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.46

 

  

 

0.55

 

  

 

0.60

 

  

 

0.63

 

  

 

0.64

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

  

 

(1.64

)

  

 

(0.74

)

  

 

(1.13

)

  

 

(0.40

)

  

 

(0.34

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(1.18

)

  

 

(0.19

)

  

 

(0.53

)

  

 

0.23

 

  

 

0.30

 

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.55

)

  

 

(0.60

)

  

 

(0.63

)

  

 

(0.64

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

4.89

 

  

$

6.51

 

  

$

7.25

 

  

$

8.38

 

  

$

8.78

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

(18.29%

)

  

 

(2.88%

)

  

 

(2.52%

)

  

 

2.73%

 

  

 

3.39%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

630

 

  

$

920

 

  

$

995

 

  

$

1,599

 

  

$

1,381

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.54%

 

  

 

2.31%

 

  

 

2.35%

 

  

 

2.19%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.05%

 

  

 

1.97%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

8.41%

 

  

 

7.86%

 

  

 

7.73%

 

  

 

7.34%

 

  

 

7.15%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

163%

 

  

 

185%

 

  

 

45%

 

  

 

71%

 

  

 

64%

 


SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended
December 31

      

Eight-Month
Period Ended
December 31††

 
    

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

6.52

 

  

$

7.26

 

    

$

7.90

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.46

 

  

 

0.55

 

    

 

0.39

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

(1.64

)

  

 

(0.74

)

    

 

(0.64

)

    


  


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

(1.18

)

  

 

(0.19

)

    

 

(0.25

)

Redemption Fees

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

Less Distributions

                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.55

)

    

 

(0.39

)

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

4.90

 

  

$

6.52

 

    

$

7.26

 

    


  


    


Total Return†

  

 

(18.26%

)

  

 

(2.86%

)

    

 

(3.25%

)*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

93

 

  

$

87

 

    

$

92

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.60%

 

  

 

2.15%

 

    

 

2.04%**

 

Net Expenses

  

 

2.06%

 

  

 

2.06%

 

    

 

2.04%**

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

8.56%

 

  

 

7.88%

 

    

 

7.61%**

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

163%

 

  

 

185%

 

    

 

45%**

 


 

   *   Not annualized.
**   Annualized.
 †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C Shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

114


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.62

 

  

$

10.50

 

  

$

10.00

 

  

$

10.75

 

  

$

10.35

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.45

 

  

 

0.46

 

  

 

0.52

 

  

 

0.51

 

  

 

0.52

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.61

 

  

 

0.13

 

  

 

0.50

 

  

 

(0.75

)

  

 

0.40

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

1.06

 

  

 

0.59

 

  

 

1.02

 

  

 

(0.24

)

  

 

0.92

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.49

)

  

 

(0.47

)

  

 

(0.52

)

  

 

(0.51

)

  

 

(0.52

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.72

)

  

 

(0.47

)

  

 

(0.52

)

  

 

(0.51

)

  

 

(0.52

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

10.96

 

  

$

10.62

 

  

$

10.50

 

  

$

10.00

 

  

$

10.75

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

10.28%

 

  

 

5.70%

 

  

 

10.56%

 

  

 

(2.26%

)

  

 

9.08%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

2,799

 

  

$

1,580

 

  

$

1,008

 

  

$

958

 

  

$

833

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.45%

 

  

 

1.48%

 

  

 

1.59%

 

  

 

1.49%

 

  

 

1.40%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.20%

 

  

 

1.20%

 

  

 

1.20%

 

  

 

1.21%

 

  

 

1.40%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.85%

 

  

 

4.26%

 

  

 

5.21%

 

  

 

4.97%

 

  

 

4.84%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

97%

 

  

 

74%

 

  

 

199%

 

  

 

14%

 

  

 

3%

 


SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

10.62

 

  

$

10.49

 

  

$

9.99

 

  

$

10.74

 

  

$

10.35

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.37

 

  

 

0.38

 

  

 

0.45

 

  

 

0.43

 

  

 

0.45

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.62

 

  

 

0.14

 

  

 

0.50

 

  

 

(0.75

)

  

 

0.39

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

0.99

 

  

 

0.52

 

  

 

0.95

 

  

 

(0.32

)

  

 

0.84

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.41

)

  

 

(0.39

)

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.43

)

  

 

(0.45

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.39

)

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.43

)

  

 

(0.45

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

10.97

 

  

$

10.62

 

  

$

10.49

 

  

$

9.99

 

  

$

10.74

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

9.55%

 

  

 

5.01%

 

  

 

9.78%

 

  

 

(2.97%

)

  

 

8.30%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

2,139

 

  

$

867

 

  

$

732

 

  

$

786

 

  

$

788

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.14%

 

  

 

2.27%

 

  

 

2.36%

 

  

 

2.27%

 

  

 

2.00%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.95%

 

  

 

1.95%

 

  

 

1.95%

 

  

 

1.96%

 

  

 

2.00%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.03%

 

  

 

3.54%

 

  

 

4.49%

 

  

 

4.20%

 

  

 

4.28%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

97%

 

  

 

74%

 

  

 

199%

 

  

 

14%

 

  

 

3%

 


 

†       Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

115


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

    

Class A

      

Class B

 
    

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

      

Eight-Month Period Ended December 31††

      

For the Year Ended December 31

      

Eight-Month Period Ended December 31††

 
    

    

2002

      

2001

      

2000

      

2002

      

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

9.47

 

    

$

9.35

 

    

$

  9.01

 

    

$

9.47

 

    

$

9.36

 

    

$

  9.01

 

Income From Investment Operations

                                                               

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.43

 

    

 

0.52

 

    

 

0.36

 

    

 

0.36

 

    

 

0.45

 

    

 

0.25

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments

  

 

0.45

 

    

 

0.12

 

    

 

0.34

 

    

 

0.46

 

    

 

0.11

 

    

 

0.35

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

0.88

 

    

 

0.64

 

    

 

0.70

 

    

 

0.82

 

    

 

0.56

 

    

 

0.60

 

Less Distributions

                                                               

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.47

)

    

 

(0.52

)

    

 

(0.36

)

    

 

(0.40

)

    

 

(0.45

)

    

 

(0.25

)

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

9.88

 

    

$

9.47

 

    

$

9.35

 

    

$

9.89

 

    

$

9.47

 

    

$

9.36

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Total Return†

  

 

9.53%

 

    

 

7.02%

 

    

 

8.03%

*

    

 

8.83%

 

    

 

6.10%

 

    

 

7.61%

*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

740

 

    

$

266

 

    

$

105

 

    

$

337

 

    

$

189

 

    

$

139

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                                               

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.41%

 

    

 

1.47%

 

    

 

1.27%

**

    

 

2.28%

 

    

 

2.14%

 

    

 

1.99%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

1.20%

 

    

 

1.20%

 

    

 

1.20%

**

    

 

1.95%

 

    

 

1.95%

 

    

 

1.95%

**

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.99%

 

    

 

5.44%

 

    

 

5.97%

**

    

 

3.49%

 

    

 

4.74%

 

    

 

5.22%

**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

63%

 

    

 

63%

 

    

 

160%

**

    

 

63%

 

    

 

63%

 

    

 

160%

**


SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

          
    

          

Class A

  

2002

      

2001

      

2000

      

1999

      

1998

          

   

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

8.40

 

    

$

8.29

 

    

$

7.90

 

    

$

8.65

 

    

$

8.60

 

          

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                                               

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.39

 

    

 

0.43

 

    

 

0.46

 

    

 

0.39

 

    

 

0.37

 

          

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.20

 

    

 

0.11

 

    

 

0.39

 

    

 

(0.75

)

    

 

0.30

 

          
    


    


    


    


    


          

Total from Investment Operations

  

 

0.59

 

    

 

0.54

 

    

 

0.85

 

    

 

(0.36

)

    

 

0.67

 

          

Less Distributions

                                                               

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.42

)

    

 

(0.43

)

    

 

(0.46

)

    

 

(0.39

)

    

 

(0.37

)

          

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(0.25

)

          
    


    


    


    


    


          

Total Distributions

  

 

(0.42

)

    

 

(0.43

)

    

 

(0.46

)

    

 

(0.39

)

    

 

(0.62

)

          
    


    


    


    


    


          

Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.57

 

    

$

8.40

 

    

$

8.29

 

    

$

7.90

 

    

$

8.65

 

          
    


    


    


    


    


          

Total Return†

  

 

7.18%

 

    

 

6.69%

 

    

 

11.19%

 

    

 

(4.24%

)

    

 

7.87%

 

          

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,282

 

    

$

1,092

 

    

$

539

 

    

$

573

 

    

$

295

 

          

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                                               

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.95%

 

    

 

1.97%

 

    

 

2.07%

 

    

 

1.87%

 

    

 

1.86%

 

          

Net Expenses

  

 

1.15%

 

    

 

1.15%

 

    

 

1.15%

 

    

 

1.21%

 

    

 

1.86%

 

          

Net Investment Income

  

 

4.48%

 

    

 

5.12%

 

    

 

5.80%

 

    

 

4.79%

 

    

 

4.09%

 

          

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

93%

 

    

 

126%

 

    

 

102%

 

    

 

147%

 

    

 

133%

 

          

   

 

   *   Not annualized.
**   Annualized.
 †   Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.
††   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class A and B shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

116


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

8.40

 

  

$

8.28

 

  

$

7.89

 

  

$

8.64

 

  

$

8.60

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.32

 

  

 

0.37

 

  

 

0.40

 

  

 

0.32

 

  

 

0.28

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.19

 

  

 

0.12

 

  

 

0.39

 

  

 

(0.75

)

  

 

0.29

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

0.51

 

  

 

0.49

 

  

 

0.79

 

  

 

(0.43

)

  

 

0.57

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.35

)

  

 

(0.37

)

  

 

(0.40

)

  

 

(0.32

)

  

 

(0.28

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.25

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.35

)

  

 

(0.37

)

  

 

(0.40

)

  

 

(0.32

)

  

 

(0.53

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

8.56

 

  

$

8.40

 

  

$

8.28

 

  

$

7.89

 

  

$

8.64

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

6.26%

 

  

 

6.03%

 

  

 

10.39%

 

  

 

(4.98%

)

  

 

6.67%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,024

 

  

$

915

 

  

$

746

 

  

$

924

 

  

$

523

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

2.67%

 

  

 

2.76%

 

  

 

2.79%

 

  

 

2.61%

 

  

 

2.89%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

1.90%

 

  

 

1.90%

 

  

 

1.90%

 

  

 

1.94%

 

  

 

2.89%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.76%

 

  

 

4.40%

 

  

 

5.08%

 

  

 

4.02%

 

  

 

3.07%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

93%

 

  

 

126%

 

  

 

102%

 

  

 

147%

 

  

 

133%

 


SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

12.40

 

  

$

12.50

 

  

$

11.05

 

  

$

12.74

 

  

$

12.94

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.57

 

  

 

0.58

 

  

 

0.53

 

  

 

0.52

 

  

 

0.55

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.43

 

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

1.45

 

  

 

(1.69

)

  

 

0.17

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

1.00

 

  

 

0.47

 

  

 

1.98

 

  

 

(1.17

)

  

 

0.72

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.51

)

  

 

(0.57

)

  

 

(0.53

)

  

 

(0.52

)

  

 

(0.55

)

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.37

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.73

)

  

 

(0.57

)

  

 

(0.53

)

  

 

(0.52

)

  

 

(0.92

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

12.67

 

  

$

12.40

 

  

$

12.50

 

  

$

11.05

 

  

$

12.74

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

8.31%

 

  

 

3.82%

 

  

 

18.41%

 

  

 

(9.41%

)

  

 

5.73%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

636

 

  

$

645

 

  

$

675

 

  

$

740

 

  

$

678

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Expenses

  

 

1.06%

 

  

 

1.06%

 

  

 

1.05%

 

  

 

1.07%

 

  

 

1.04%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

4.25%

 

  

 

4.66%

 

  

 

4.62%

 

  

 

4.36%

 

  

 

4.25%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

25%

 

  

 

32%

 

  

 

26%

 

  

 

25%

 

  

 

39%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

117


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

 

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

12.39

 

  

$

12.49

 

  

$

11.04

 

  

$

12.73

 

  

$

12.93

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.48

 

  

 

0.49

 

  

 

0.45

 

  

 

0.43

 

  

 

0.46

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.42

 

  

 

(0.11

)

  

 

1.45

 

  

 

(1.69

)

  

 

0.17

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

0.90

 

  

 

0.38

 

  

 

1.90

 

  

 

(1.26

)

  

 

0.63

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.42

)

  

 

(0.48

)

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.43

)

  

 

(0.46

)

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.18

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.37

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.48

)

  

 

(0.45

)

  

 

(0.43

)

  

 

(0.83

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

12.65

 

  

$

12.39

 

  

$

12.49

 

  

$

11.04

 

  

$

12.73

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

7.47%

 

  

 

3.02%

 

  

 

17.63%

 

  

 

(10.07%

)

  

 

4.98%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,111

 

  

$

1,613

 

  

$

1,176

 

  

$

799

 

  

$

927

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Expenses

  

 

1.77%

 

  

 

1.80%

 

  

 

1.72%

 

  

 

1.80%

 

  

 

1.76%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.54%

 

  

 

3.97%

 

  

 

3.88%

 

  

 

3.63%

 

  

 

3.45%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

25%

 

  

 

32%

 

  

 

26%

 

  

 

25%

 

  

 

39%

 


SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

13.98

 

  

$

13.97

 

  

$

12.90

 

  

$

14.45

 

  

$

14.53

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.66

 

  

 

0.66

 

  

 

0.65

 

  

 

0.64

 

  

 

0.66

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.69

 

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

1.07

 

  

 

(1.55

)

  

 

0.16

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

1.35

 

  

 

0.68

 

  

 

1.72

 

  

 

(0.91

)

  

 

0.82

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.65

)

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.66

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.03

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.24

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.87

)

  

 

(0.67

)

  

 

(0.65

)

  

 

(0.64

)

  

 

(0.90

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

14.46

 

  

$

13.98

 

  

$

13.97

 

  

$

12.90

 

  

$

14.45

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

9.99%

 

  

 

4.92%

 

  

 

13.76%

 

  

 

(6.47%

)

  

 

5.75%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

3,787

 

  

$

1,273

 

  

$

1,052

 

  

$

929

 

  

$

946

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Expenses

  

 

0.89%

 

  

 

0.98%

 

  

 

0.97%

 

  

 

0.98%

 

  

 

0.98%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

4.74%

 

  

 

4.63%

 

  

 

4.96%

 

  

 

4.66%

 

  

 

4.51%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

19%

 

  

 

9%

 

  

 

32%

 

  

 

17%

 

  

 

21%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

118


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

13.95

 

  

$

13.94

 

  

$

12.88

 

  

$

14.43

 

  

$

14.52

 

Income (Loss) From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.55

 

  

 

0.55

 

  

 

0.56

 

  

 

0.54

 

  

 

0.57

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

 

0.68

 

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

1.06

 

  

 

(1.55

)

  

 

0.15

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total from Investment Operations

  

 

1.23

 

  

 

0.57

 

  

 

1.62

 

  

 

(1.01

)

  

 

0.72

 

Less Distributions

                                            

Dividends from Net Investment Income

  

 

(0.53

)

  

 

(0.53

)

  

 

(0.56

)

  

 

(0.54

)

  

 

(0.57

)

Distributions from Realized Gains

  

 

(0.23

)

  

 

(0.03

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(0.24

)

    


  


  


  


  


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.76

)

  

 

(0.56

)

  

 

(0.56

)

  

 

(0.54

)

  

 

(0.81

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

14.42

 

  

$

13.95

 

  

$

13.94

 

  

$

12.88

 

  

$

14.43

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return†

  

 

9.07%

 

  

 

4.14%

 

  

 

12.87%

 

  

 

(7.14%

)

  

 

5.08%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

2,494

 

  

$

1,236

 

  

$

686

 

  

$

1,322

 

  

$

1,375

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Expenses

  

 

1.68%

 

  

 

1.73%

 

  

 

1.71%

 

  

 

1.70%

 

  

 

1.61%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

3.86%

 

  

 

3.87%

 

  

 

4.24%

 

  

 

3.94%

 

  

 

3.89%

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

  

 

19%

 

  

 

9%

 

  

 

32%

 

  

 

17%

 

  

 

21%

 


SAFECO Money Market Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class A

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

Income From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.04

 

  

 

0.06

 

  

 

0.05

 

  

 

0.05

 

Less Distributions

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.06

)

  

 

(0.05

)

  

 

(0.05

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return

  

 

1.28%

 

  

 

3.75%

 

  

 

5.91%

 

  

 

4.64%

 

  

 

4.92%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

5,429

 

  

$

5,193

 

  

$

4,532

 

  

$

3,554

 

  

$

2,186

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

0.96%

 

  

 

0.99%

 

  

 

1.04%

 

  

 

1.00%

 

  

 

0.92%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

0.79%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

0.92%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.26%

 

  

 

3.68%

 

  

 

5.88%

 

  

 

4.60%

 

  

 

4.87%

 


 

  Excludes the effects of sales charges. If sales charges were included, the total return would be lower.

 

 

119


Financial Highlights

 

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period)

 

SAFECO Money Market Fund

  

For the Year Ended December 31

 
    

Class B

  

2002

    

2001

    

2000

    

1999

    

1998

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

Income From Investment Operations

                                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.04

 

  

 

0.06

 

  

 

0.05

 

  

 

0.05

 

Less Distributions

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.04

)

  

 

(0.06

)

  

 

(0.05

)

  

 

(0.05

)

    


  


  


  


  


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

    


  


  


  


  


Total Return

  

 

1.28%

 

  

 

3.75%

 

  

 

5.93%

 

  

 

4.65%

 

  

 

4.76%

 

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

1,081

 

  

$

1,192

 

  

$

742

 

  

$

979

 

  

$

670

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.03%

 

  

 

1.00%

 

  

 

1.13%

 

  

 

1.08%

 

  

 

1.05%

 

Net Expenses

  

 

0.79%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

  

 

0.82%

 

  

 

1.05%

 

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.27%

 

  

 

3.61%

 

  

 

5.78%

 

  

 

4.56%

 

  

 

4.71%

 


SAFECO Money Market Fund

  

For the

Year Ended

December 31

      

Eight-Month

Period Ended

December 31†

 
    

Class C

  

2002

    

2001

      

2000

 

Net Asset Value at Beginning of Period

  

$

  1.00

 

  

$

  1.00

 

    

$

  1.00

 

Income From Investment Operations

                            

Net Investment Income

  

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.04

 

    

 

0.04

 

Less Distributions

  

 

(0.01

)

  

 

(0.04

)

    

 

(0.04

)

    


  


    


Net Asset Value at End of Period

  

$

1.00

 

  

$

1.00

 

    

$

1.00

 

    


  


    


Total Return

  

 

1.28%

 

  

 

3.75%

 

    

 

4.08%

*

Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)

  

$

123

 

  

$

112

 

    

$

100

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

                            

Gross Expenses

  

 

1.18%

 

  

 

0.88%

 

    

 

0.98%

**

Net Expenses

  

 

0.79%

 

  

 

0.80%

 

    

 

0.80%

**

Net Investment Income

  

 

1.27%

 

  

 

3.64%

 

    

 

5.93%

**


 

 *   Not annualized.
**   Annualized.
 †   For the period from April 30, 2000 (initial issue date of Class C shares) through December 31, 2000.

 

 

120


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1.    GENERAL

 

This financial report is on the 17 SAFECO Mutual Funds that issue Class A, B and C shares. Each Fund is a series of one of the following trusts (each a “Trust”) listed below. Each Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, open-end management investment company.

 

SAFECO Common Stock Trust

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

SAFECO Equity Fund

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

SAFECO Northwest Fund

SAFECO Balanced Fund

SAFECO International Stock Fund

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

SAFECO Taxable Bond Trust

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund (formerly the SAFECO GNMA Fund)

 

SAFECO Managed Bond Trust

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

SAFECO Money Market Trust

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

The Funds offer up to four classes of shares:

 

  *   Investor Class shares—sold directly to shareholders with no associated sales charges.

 

  *   Class A, Class B, and Class C shares—sold by financial advisors to shareholders with associated sales and distribution charges.

 

Each class of shares has equal rights as to earnings and assets except that each class bears different distribution, shareholder service, and transfer agent expenses. Each class of shares has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters that affect just that class. Income, expenses (other than expenses attributable to a specific class), and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares at the end of the month following the sixth anniversary of issuance.

 

In connection with issuing Class A, B and C shares, the Funds have adopted a Plan of Distribution (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, these classes pay a service fee to the distributor, SAFECO Securities, Inc., for selling its shares at the annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each class. Class B and Class C Shares also pay the distributor a distribution fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of each class. Under the Plan, the distributor uses the service fees primarily to compensate persons for selling shares in each class and for providing ongoing services to shareholders. The distributor uses the distribution fees primarily to offset commissions it pays to financial advisors for selling these shares.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

121


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

Security Valuation.    Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation; other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are stated at the last quoted bid price, except for short positions and call options written, for which the last quoted asked price is used. Investments in the Money Market Fund consist of short-term securities maturing within thirteen months from the date of purchase. Securities purchased for the Money Market Fund at par are valued at cost, all other securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Bonds are stated on the basis of valuations provided by a pricing service, which uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining value. When valuations are not readily available, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

Security Transactions.    Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. The cost of the portfolios is the same for financial statement and Federal income tax purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined using the identified cost basis.

 

Securities Lending.    The Common Stock Trust (excluding the International Stock, Small Company Growth and the U.S. Growth Funds), High-Yield Bond, Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury and the Managed Bond Funds may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers and to qualified banks. The loans are secured by cash collateral in an amount equal to at least the market value, as of the prior business day, of the loaned securities plus any accrued interest and dividends. During the time the securities are on loan, the Funds will continue to receive the interest and dividends on the loaned securities, while earning interest on the investment of the cash collateral. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. The Funds may pay reasonable administrative fees in connection with the loans of their securities and share the interest earned on the cash collateral with the borrower. Gain or loss in the fair value of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Fund.

 

Income Recognition.    Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld (if any) for the Common Stock Trust is recorded on the ex-dividend date or upon receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities. Bond premiums and original issue discounts are amortized to either call or maturity dates. Market discount on bonds purchased after April 30, 1993 is recorded as taxable income at disposition for the Tax-Exempt Bond Trust. Interest is recorded on an accrual basis.

 

Redemption Fees.    Effective October 1, 2001 for the International Stock Fund and effective July 1, 2002 for the Growth Opportunities, Northwest, Small Company Value, Small Company Growth, High-Yield Bond, and U.S. Government Funds, shares held for less than 90 days are subject to an early redemption fee equal to 2% of the proceeds of the redeemed shares. These fees, which are retained by the Funds, are accounted for as an addition to paid in capital for financial statement reporting purposes and as ordinary income for tax reporting purposes.

 

122


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders.    For the Growth Opportunities, Northwest, International Stock, Small Company Value, Small Company Growth, and U.S. Growth Funds, net investment income (if any) is declared as a dividend to shareholders as of the last business day (ex-dividend date) of December. For the Equity, Dividend Income, Balanced, and U.S. Value Funds, net investment income (if any) is distributed as of the last business day of March, June, September and December. Net investment income for Funds in the Taxable Bond Trust, Managed Bond Trust, Tax-Exempt Bond Trust and Money Market Trust is declared as a dividend to shareholders of record as of the close of each business day and payment is made as of the last business day of each month. Net realized gains on investments, if any, are normally distributed to shareholders in December and March. Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Federal Income and Excise Taxes.    Each Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies by distributing substantially all taxable income to their shareholders in a manner which results in no tax to the Funds. Therefore, no Federal income or excise tax provision is required. In addition, the Tax-Exempt Bond Trust intends to satisfy conditions which will enable it to pay dividends which, for shareholders, are exempt from Federal income taxes. Any portion of dividends representing net capital gains, however, is not exempt and is treated as taxable dividends for Federal income tax purposes.

 

Foreign Currency Translation.    The accounting records of the International Stock Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, and dividend and interest income, are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The International Stock Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.

 

Reported net realized gains or losses from foreign currency transactions arise from gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the International Stock Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.

 

Foreign Exchange Contracts.    The International Stock Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts as a way of managing foreign currency exchange rate risk. The International Stock Fund may enter into these contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a fixed price on a future date as a hedge or cross-hedge against either specific transactions or portfolio positions. The objective of the International Stock Fund’s foreign currency hedging transactions is to reduce the risk that the U.S. Dollar value of the International Stock Fund’s foreign currency denominated securities will decline in value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. All foreign currency exchange contracts are “marked-to-market” daily at the applicable translation rates resulting in unrealized gains or losses. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency contracts are recorded on settlement date of the foreign currency exchange contract and are included in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and the Statement of Operations. Risks may

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

123


Notes to Financial Statements

 

arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. Dollar. With respect to forward foreign currency exchange contracts, liquid securities, with a value at least equal to the market value of the commitment, are segregated on the accounting records of the Fund.

 

Forward Commitment.    The Funds may contract to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time consistent with a Fund’s ability to manage its investment portfolio and meet redemption requests. The price of the underlying securities and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. The Funds may dispose of a forward commitment transaction prior to settlement if it is appropriate to do so and realize short-term gains (or losses) upon such sale. The value of the securities purchased on a delayed delivery or when issued basis are identified as such in each respective Portfolio of Investments. With respect to such transactions, liquid securities, with a value at least equal to the market value of the commitment, are segregated on the accounting records of the respective Fund.

 

Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principals generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3.    INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

Following is a summary of investment transactions (excluding short-term securities) during the year ended December 31, 2002 (in thousands):

 

    

Purchases

  

Sales


Growth Opportunities Fund

  

$

229,550

  

$

383,302

Equity Fund

  

 

382,069

  

 

517,340

Dividend Income Fund

  

 

25,494

  

 

37,087

Northwest Fund

  

 

11,554

  

 

20,357

International Stock Fund

  

 

3,634

  

 

4,390

Balanced Fund

  

 

10,974

  

 

10,223

Small Company Value Fund

  

 

28,372

  

 

18,480

U.S. Value Fund

  

 

3,295

  

 

3,165

Small Company Growth Fund

  

 

8,704

  

 

8,088

U.S. Growth Fund

  

 

1,680

  

 

1,324

High-Yield Bond Fund

  

 

58,493

  

 

61,921

Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

  

 

25,980

  

 

22,635

U.S. Government Fund

  

 

40,472

  

 

31,771

Managed Bond Fund

  

 

9,996

  

 

8,795

California Tax-Free Income Fund

  

 

23,696

  

 

22,890

Municipal Bond Fund

  

 

110,186

  

 

105,661


 

Purchases include $1,599, $20,324, $15,805 and $3,135 of U.S. Government securities in the Balanced, Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government, and Managed Bond Funds, respectively. Sales include $456, $13,862, $1,605 and $1,016 of U.S. Government securities in the Balanced, Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government, and Managed Bond Funds, respectively.

 

124


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

4.   FUND MERGER

 

The SAFECO Insured Municipal Bond Fund ceased operation effective May 4, 2001. The assets of the Insured Municipal Bond Fund were merged into the assets of the Municipal Bond Fund. This was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 1,462,000 shares of the Municipal Bond Fund valued at $13.93 per share for the net assets of the Insured Municipal Bond Fund, which aggregated $20,372,000, including $1,139,000 of unrealized appreciation and $696,000 in accumulated net realized loss. The net assets of the Municipal Bond Fund before the merger were $508,620,000 and the combined net assets of the Municipal Bond Fund immediately after the merger were $528,992,000.

 

5.   SECURITIES LENDING

 

At December 31, 2002, the value of securities on loan and related collateral received for portfolio securities loaned were as follows (in thousands):

 

    

Value of Securities on Loan

  

Collateral Received


Growth Opportunities Fund

  

$

108,010

  

$

114,201

Equity Fund

  

 

3,322

  

 

3,460

Dividend Income Fund

  

 

6,050

  

 

6,274

Northwest Fund

  

 

3,863

  

 

4,131

Balanced Fund

  

 

447

  

 

461

Small Company Value Fund

  

 

1,954

  

 

2,102

U.S. Value Fund

  

 

641

  

 

661

High-Yield Bond Fund

  

 

6,158

  

 

6,281

Managed Bond Fund

  

 

209

  

 

214


 

As of December 31, 2002, the cash collateral received for the securities on loan is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio, a money market fund.

 

6.   COMMITMENTS

 

At December 31, 2002, the International Stock Fund had open forward foreign currency exchange contracts obligating it to receive or deliver the following foreign currencies (in thousands):

 

Currency

to be Delivered

    

In Exchange
For

    

Settlement

Date

    

U.S. Dollar

Value as of

Dec. 31, 2002

    

Unrealized

Depreciation

 

16,065 Japanese Yen

    

$

130

    

1/16/03

    

$

135

    

$

(5

)

17,218 Japanese Yen

    

 

139

    

1/28/03

    

 

145

    

 

(6

)

      

           

    


      

$

269

           

$

280

    

$

(11

)

      

           

    


 

7.   NET INVESTMENT LOSS

 

The Growth Opportunities, Northwest, Small Company Growth and U.S. Growth Funds had net investment losses for the year ended December 31, 2002. For all Funds, excluding U.S. Growth, these amounts were recorded as a reduction to paid in capital. For the U.S. Growth Fund a portion of the net investment loss was reclassified to paid in capital. The remaining net investment loss is related to temporary differences between the timing of determining net investment income for financial reporting purposes versus tax purposes.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

125


Notes to Financial Statements

 

8.   COMPONENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE EARNINGS

 

Components of distributable earnings for financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

 

      

Growth Opportunities Fund

    

Equity

Fund

      

Dividend Income Fund

      

Northwest

Fund

      

International Stock Fund

 

Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

    

$

97,874

 

  

$

155,088

 

    

$

23,446

 

    

$

16,690

 

    

$

2,856

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

    

 

(174,248

)

  

 

(99,860

)

    

 

(17,486

)

    

 

(16,930

)

    

 

(2,436

)

      


  


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

    

 

(76,374

)

  

 

55,228

 

    

 

5,960

 

    

 

(240

)

    

 

420

 

Accumulated Realized Loss

    

 

(129,681

)

  

 

(47,655

)

    

 

(5,636

)

    

 

(12,276

)

    

 

(7,033

)

      


  


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

    

$

(206,055

)

  

$

7,573

 

    

$

324

 

    

$

(12,516

)

    

$

(6,613

)

      


  


    


    


    


 

Components of distributable earnings on a tax basis at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

 

Federal Tax Cost on Investments

    

$

517,355

 

  

$

630,154

 

    

$

127,597

 

    

$

65,372

 

    

$

20,370

 

      


  


    


    


    


Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

    

$

97,838

 

  

$

155,088

 

    

$

23,446

 

    

$

16,678

 

    

$

2,690

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

    

 

(177,183

)

  

 

(99,860

)

    

 

(17,486

)

    

 

(16,934

)

    

 

(3,386

)

      


  


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

    

 

(79,345

)

  

 

55,228

 

    

 

5,960

 

    

 

(256

)

    

 

(696

)

Capital Loss Carryforward*

    

 

(92,426

)

  

 

(43,969

)

    

 

(5,636

)

    

 

(11,625

)

    

 

(5,685

)

Deferred Loss**

    

 

(34,284

)

  

 

(3,686

)

    

 

 

    

 

(635

)

    

 

(232

)

      


  


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

    

$

(206,055

)

  

$

7,573

 

    

$

324

 

    

$

(12,516

)

    

$

(6,613

)

      


  


    


    


    



 

Components of distributable earnings for financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

 

      

Balanced

Fund

    

Small Company Value Fund

      

U.S. Value Fund

      

Small Company Growth Fund

      

U.S. Growth Fund

 

Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

    

$

1,145

 

  

$

5,563

 

    

$

624

 

    

$

307

 

    

$

112

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

    

 

(1,518

)

  

 

(3,589

)

    

 

(1,163

)

    

 

(218

)

    

 

(828

)

      


  


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

    

 

(373

)

  

 

1,974

 

    

 

(539

)

    

 

89

 

    

 

(716

)

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Loss

    

 

(8

)

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(37

)

    

 

(37

)

Accumulated Realized Loss

    

 

(885

)

  

 

(7,985

)

    

 

(759

)

    

 

(1,068

)

    

 

(491

)

      


  


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

    

$

(1,266

)

  

$

(6,011

)

    

$

(1,298

)

    

$

(1,016

)

    

$

(1,244

)

      


  


    


    


    


 

Components of distributable earnings on a tax basis at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

 

Federal Tax Cost on Investments

    

$

17,382

 

  

$

42,119

 

    

$

8,064

 

    

$

4,604

 

    

$

5,188

 

      


  


    


    


    


Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

    

$

1,132

 

  

$

5,517

 

    

$

623

 

    

$

300

 

    

$

112

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

    

 

(1,535

)

  

 

(3,649

)

    

 

(1,173

)

    

 

(254

)

    

 

(834

)

      


  


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

    

 

(403

)

  

 

1,868

 

    

 

(550

)

    

 

46

 

    

 

(722

)

Unamortized Deferred Offering Costs

    

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(37

)

    

 

(37

)

Capital Loss Carryforward*

    

 

(786

)

  

 

(6,740

)

    

 

(673

)

    

 

(778

)

    

 

(451

)

Deferred Loss**

    

 

(77

)

  

 

(1,139

)

    

 

(75

)

    

 

(247

)

    

 

(34

)

      


  


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

    

$

(1,266

)

  

$

(6,011

)

    

$

(1,298

)

    

$

(1,016

)

    

$

(1,244

)

      


  


    


    


    



 

Differences between financial statement reporting basis and tax-basis reporting is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, premium and discount amortization methods, classification of paydown gains and losses, amortization methods of deferred offering costs and the realization of unrealized gains (losses) on certain forward foreign currency contracts.

 

 *   At December 31, 2002, the following funds had accumulated net realized losses on investment transactions that represent capital loss carryforwards for Federal income tax purposes, which expire as follow:

 

    

Expiration Dates

              

Expiration Dates


   

Growth Opportunities Fund

  

2007—2010

         

Balanced Fund

  

2008—2010

Equity Fund

  

2009—2010

         

Small Company Value Fund

  

2006—2009

Dividend Income Fund

  

2008—2010

         

U.S. Value Fund

  

2008—2010

Northwest Fund

  

2008—2010

         

Small Company Growth Fund

  

2010

International Stock Fund

  

2009—2010

         

U.S. Growth Fund

  

2010


   

 

**   From November 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002, the funds incurred net realized capital losses. As permitted by tax regulations, these funds have elected to defer those losses and treat them as arising in the year ending December 31, 2003.

 

126


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

Components of distributable earnings for financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

 

    

High-Yield Bond Fund

      

Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

      

U.S.

Government
Fund

      

Managed Bond Fund

 

Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

$

1,069

 

    

$

1,259

 

    

$

2,464

 

    

$

418

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

  

 

(4,303

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(61

)

    


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

  

 

(3,234

)

    

 

1,259

 

    

 

2,464

 

    

 

357

 

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income (Loss)

  

 

198

 

    

 

(128

)

    

 

(110

)

    

 

 

Accumulated Realized Gain (Loss)

  

 

(27,820

)

    

 

(10

)

    

 

(2,155

)

    

 

(331

)

    


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

  

$

(30,856

)

    

$

1,121

 

    

$

199

 

    

$

26

 

    


    


    


    


 

Components of distributable earnings on a tax basis at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

Federal Tax Cost on Investments

  

$

37,994

 

    

$

26,791

 

    

$

53,743

 

    

$

10,088

 

    


    


    


    


Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

$

1,266

 

    

$

1,259

 

    

$

2,464

 

    

$

418

 

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

  

 

(4,304

)

    

 

(129

)

    

 

(110

)

    

 

(62

)

    


    


    


    


Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments

  

 

(3,038

)

    

 

1,130

 

    

 

2,354

 

    

 

356

 

Capital Loss Carryforward*

  

 

(25,663

)

    

 

 

    

 

(2,111

)

    

 

(330

)

Deferred Loss**

  

 

(2,155

)

    

 

(9

)

    

 

(44

)

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


Distributable Earnings

  

$

(30,856

)

    

$

1,121

 

    

$

199

 

    

$

26

 

    


    


    


    



 

Components of distributable earnings for financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

    

California

Tax-Free

Income Fund

      

Municipal

Bond Fund

                   

       

Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

$

7,091

 

    

$

60,974

 

                     

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

  

 

(299

)

    

 

(1,688

)

                     
    


    


                     

Net Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

 

6,792

 

    

 

59,286

 

                     

Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income

  

 

239

 

    

 

1,304

 

                     

Accumulated Realized Gain

  

 

170

 

    

 

3,106

 

                     
    


    


                     

Distributable Earnings

  

$

7,201

 

    

$

63,696

 

                     
    


    


                     

 

Components of distributable earnings on a tax basis at December 31, 2002, was as follows (in thousands):

Federal Tax Cost on Investments

  

$

87,478

 

    

$

512,168

 

                     
    


    


                     

Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

$

7,330

 

    

$

62,278

 

                     

Gross Unrealized Depreciation on Investments

  

 

(299

)

    

 

(1,688

)

                     
    


    


                     

Net Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

 

7,031

 

    

 

60,590

 

                     

Undistributed Long-term Gain

  

 

170

 

    

 

3,106

 

                     
    


    


                     

Distributable Earnings

  

$

7,201

 

    

$

63,696

 

                     
    


    


                     

 

Differences between financial statement reporting basis and tax-basis reporting is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, premium and discount amortization methods and the classification of paydown gains and losses.

 

 *   At December 31, 2002, the following funds had accumulated net realized losses on investment transactions that represent capital loss carryforwards for Federal income tax purposes, which expire as follow:

 

    

Expiration Dates


High-Yield Bond Fund

  

2004—2010

U.S. Government Fund

  

2003—2010

Managed Bond Fund

  

2007—2010


 

**   From November 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002, the funds incurred net realized capital losses. As permitted by tax regulations, these funds have elected to defer those losses and treat them as arising in the year ending December 31, 2003.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

127


Notes to Financial Statements

 

9.    TRUST SHARE TRANSACTIONS

 

Following is a summary of transactions in Trust shares and the related amounts (in thousands):

 

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      

Class C


 
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

      

2002*

      

2001*

 

    

SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

14,823

 

  

 

24,208

 

  

 

637

 

  

 

676

 

  

 

61

 

  

 

62

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(21,207

)

  

 

(22,338

)

  

 

(773

)

  

 

(593

)

  

 

(75

)

  

 

(86

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

(6,384

)

  

 

1,870

 

  

 

(136

)

  

 

83

 

  

 

(14

)

  

 

(24

)

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

354,421

 

  

$

604,350

 

  

$

13,504

 

  

$

16,516

 

  

$

1,247

 

  

$

1,433

 

    

$

51

 

    

$

49

 

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(491,344

)

  

 

(535,850

)

  

 

(17,351

)

  

 

(13,734

)

  

 

(1,471

)

  

 

(1,977

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

(2

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

(136,923

)

  

$

68,500

 

  

$

(3,847

)

  

$

2,782

 

  

$

(224

)

  

$

(544

)

    

$

49

 

    

$

47

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



    

SAFECO Equity Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

2,985

 

  

 

4,175

 

  

 

254

 

  

 

516

 

  

 

71

 

  

 

82

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

3

 

Reinvestments

  

 

416

 

  

 

321

 

  

 

6

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(13,153

)

  

 

(14,836

)

  

 

(394

)

  

 

(1,942

)

  

 

(180

)

  

 

(178

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

(1

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

(9,752

)

  

 

(10,340

)

  

 

(134

)

  

 

(1,423

)

  

 

(109

)

  

 

(96

)

    

 

1

 

    

 

2

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

47,599

 

  

$

79,730

 

  

$

3,899

 

  

$

9,977

 

  

$

1,071

 

  

$

1,543

 

    

$

43

 

    

$

76

 

Reinvestments

  

 

5,965

 

  

 

5,869

 

  

 

78

 

  

 

57

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(205,803

)

  

 

(284,521

)

  

 

(6,094

)

  

 

(38,726

)

  

 

(2,680

)

  

 

(3,344

)

    

 

(27

)

    

 

(21

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

(152,239

)

  

$

(198,922

)

  

$

(2,117

)

  

$

(28,692

)

  

$

(1,609

)

  

$

(1,801

)

    

$

16

 

    

$

55

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



    

SAFECO Dividend Income Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

986

 

  

 

412

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

6

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

4

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

1

 

Reinvestments

  

 

126

 

  

 

137

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

 

  

 

1

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(1,902

)

  

 

(1,644

)

  

 

(10

)

  

 

(13

)

  

 

(17

)

  

 

(18

)

    

 

—  

 

    

 

(1

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

(790

)

  

 

(1,095

)

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(6

)

  

 

(13

)

  

 

(13

)

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

16,294

 

  

$

7,994

 

  

$

162

 

  

$

119

 

  

$

67

 

  

$

85

 

    

$

11

 

    

$

17

 

Reinvestments

  

 

2,034

 

  

 

2,562

 

  

 

8

 

  

 

10

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

6

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(31,760

)

  

 

(31,676

)

  

 

(165

)

  

 

(249

)

  

 

(288

)

  

 

(328

)

    

 

 

    

 

(9

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

(13,432

)

  

$

(21,120

)

  

$

5

 

  

$

(120

)

  

$

(217

)

  

$

(237

)

    

$

11

 

    

$

8

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



 

*   For the year ended December 31.

 

128


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      

Class C


 
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

      

2002*

      

2001*

 

    

SAFECO Northwest Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

1,027

 

  

 

1,399

 

  

 

70

 

  

 

71

 

  

 

23

 

  

 

49

 

    

 

 

    

 

1

 

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(1,521

)

  

 

(1,964

)

  

 

(96

)

  

 

(110

)

  

 

(67

)

  

 

(44

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

(494

)

  

 

(565

)

  

 

(26

)

  

 

(39

)

  

 

(44

)

  

 

5

 

    

 

 

    

 

1

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

18,172

 

  

$

25,295

 

  

$

1,113

 

  

$

1,340

 

  

$

358

 

  

$

908

 

    

$

4

 

    

$

14

 

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(26,179

)

  

 

(35,931

)

  

 

(1,472

)

  

 

(2,051

)

  

 

(1,051

)

  

 

(783

)

    

 

(4

)

    

 

(5

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

(8,007

)

  

$

(10,636

)

  

$

(359

)

  

$

(711

)

  

$

(693

)

  

$

125

 

    

$

 

    

$

9

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



    

SAFECO International Stock Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

930

 

  

 

13,235

 

  

 

189

 

  

 

459

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

163

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

1

 

Reinvestments

  

 

16

 

  

 

35

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

 

  

 

1

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(1,002

)

  

 

(13,368

)

  

 

(188

)

  

 

(469

)

  

 

(19

)

  

 

(172

)

    

 

 

    

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

(56

)

  

 

(98

)

  

 

2

 

  

 

(8

)

  

 

(10

)

  

 

(8

)

    

 

2

 

    

 

1

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

8,824

 

  

$

158,423

 

  

$

1,865

 

  

$

5,294

 

  

$

81

 

  

$

1,954

 

    

$

14

 

    

$

12

 

Reinvestments

  

 

137

 

  

 

366

 

  

 

6

 

  

 

19

 

  

 

 

  

 

10

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(9,611

)

  

 

(161,176

)

  

 

(1,871

)

  

 

(5,450

)

  

 

(184

)

  

 

(2,059

)

    

 

 

    

 

(3

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

(650

)

  

$

(2,387

)

  

$

 

  

$

(137

)

  

$

(103

)

  

$

(95

)

    

$

14

 

    

$

9

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



    

SAFECO Balanced Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

273

 

  

 

228

 

  

 

31

 

  

 

28

 

  

 

21

 

  

 

25

 

                     

Reinvestments

  

 

22

 

  

 

20

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

3

 

                     

Redemptions

  

 

(244

)

  

 

(217

)

  

 

(30

)

  

 

(32

)

  

 

(35

)

  

 

(17

)

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Net Change

  

 

51

 

  

 

31

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

 

  

 

(11

)

  

 

11

 

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

3,037

 

  

$

2,669

 

  

$

342

 

  

$

334

 

  

$

228

 

  

$

296

 

                     

Reinvestments

  

 

237

 

  

 

235

 

  

 

41

 

  

 

43

 

  

 

31

 

  

 

33

 

                     

Redemptions

  

 

(2,714

)

  

 

(2,545

)

  

 

(321

)

  

 

(377

)

  

 

(382

)

  

 

(194

)

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Net Change

  

$

560

 

  

$

359

 

  

$

62

 

  

$

 

  

$

(123

)

  

$

135

 

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

 

*   For the year ended December 31.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

129


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

             

    

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund


Shares:

                                                                     

Sales

  

 

2,591

 

  

 

5,045

 

  

 

148

 

  

 

66

 

  

 

25

 

  

 

9

 

               

Reinvestments

  

 

11

 

  

 

20

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

               

Redemptions

  

 

(1,896

)

  

 

(4,824

)

  

 

(106

)

  

 

(65

)

  

 

(20

)

  

 

(9

)

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Net Change

  

 

706

 

  

 

241

 

  

 

42

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

 

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Amounts:

                                                                     

Sales

  

$

35,845

 

  

$

64,825

 

  

$

1,927

 

  

$

835

 

  

$

315

 

  

$

100

 

               

Reinvestments

  

 

147

 

  

 

273

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

6

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

               

Redemptions

  

 

(25,903

)

  

 

(61,938

)

  

 

(1,372

)

  

 

(815

)

  

 

(251

)

  

 

(106

)

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Net Change

  

$

10,089

 

  

$

3,160

 

  

$

556

 

  

$

26

 

  

$

64

 

  

$

(6

)

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

    

SAFECO U.S. Value Fund


Shares:

                                                                     

Sales

  

 

86

 

  

 

67

 

  

 

8

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

15

 

  

 

9

 

               

Reinvestments

  

 

4

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

               

Redemptions

  

 

(98

)

  

 

(39

)

  

 

(5

)

  

 

(4

)

  

 

(6

)

  

 

(8

)

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Net Change

  

 

(8

)

  

 

31

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

5

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

1

 

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Amounts:

                                                                     

Sales

  

$

872

 

  

$

756

 

  

$

87

 

  

$

97

 

  

$

145

 

  

$

97

 

               

Reinvestments

  

 

35

 

  

 

34

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

1

 

  

 

1

 

               

Redemptions

  

 

(946

)

  

 

(428

)

  

 

(56

)

  

 

(46

)

  

 

(58

)

  

 

(81

)

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

Net Change

  

$

(39

)

  

$

362

 

  

$

33

 

  

$

53

 

  

$

88

 

  

$

17

 

               
    


  


  


  


  


  


               

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


    

Class C


    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**


    

SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund


Shares:

                                                                     

Sales

  

 

88

 

  

 

209

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

103

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

100

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

100

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

Redemptions

  

 

(43

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(2

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(9

)

  

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


  


  

Net Change

  

 

45

 

  

 

209

 

  

 

3

 

  

 

101

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

100

 

  

 

 

  

 

100

    


  


  


  


  


  


  


  

Amounts:

                                                                     

Sales

  

$

941

 

  

$

2,096

 

  

$

35

 

  

$

1,030

 

  

$

17

 

  

$

1,000

 

  

$

100

 

  

$

1,000

Reinvestments

  

 

2

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

Redemptions

  

 

(402

)

  

 

 

  

 

(1

)

  

 

(24

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(86

)

  

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


  


  

Net Change

  

$

541

 

  

$

2,096

 

  

$

34

 

  

$

1,006

 

  

$

17

 

  

$

1,000

 

  

$

14

 

  

$

1,000

    


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


 

 *   For the year ended December 31.
**   For the period from October 31, 2001 (commencement of operations) through December 31.

 

130


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      

Class C


 
    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**

    

2002*

    

2001**

      

2002*

    

2001**

 

    

SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                         

Sales

  

 

110

 

  

 

226

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

101

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

100

 

    

 

1

 

  

 

100

 

Reinvestments

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(63

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Net Change

  

 

47

 

  

 

223

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

101

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

100

 

    

 

1

 

  

 

100

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Amounts:

                                                                         

Sales

  

$

922

 

  

$

2,277

 

  

$

36

 

  

$

1,011

 

  

$

23

 

  

$

1,000

 

    

$

9

 

  

$

1,000

 

Reinvestments

  

 

2

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(539

)

  

 

(31

)

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

(4

)

  

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Net Change

  

$

385

 

  

$

2,246

 

  

$

36

 

  

$

1,011

 

  

$

19

 

  

$

1,000

 

    

$

9

 

  

$

1,000

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  



    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      

Class C


 
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

      

2002*

    

2001*

 

    

SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                         

Sales

  

 

6,364

 

  

 

15,461

 

  

 

298

 

  

 

809

 

  

 

11

 

  

 

15

 

    

 

6

 

  

 

2

 

Reinvestments

  

 

413

 

  

 

503

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

10

 

  

 

10

 

    

 

1

 

  

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(7,999

)

  

 

(15,580

)

  

 

(78

)

  

 

(809

)

  

 

(34

)

  

 

(21

)

    

 

(1

)

  

 

(1

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Net Change

  

 

(1,222

)

  

 

384

 

  

 

229

 

  

 

9

 

  

 

(13

)

  

 

4

 

    

 

6

 

  

 

1

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Amounts:

                                                                         

Sales

  

$

35,787

 

  

$

107,668

 

  

$

1,414

 

  

$

5,312

 

  

$

66

 

  

$

108

 

    

$

32

 

  

$

15

 

Reinvestments

  

 

2,242

 

  

 

3,487

 

  

 

46

 

  

 

61

 

  

 

54

 

  

 

65

 

    

 

1

 

  

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(46,105

)

  

 

(108,672

)

  

 

(473

)

  

 

(5,327

)

  

 

(180

)

  

 

(143

)

    

 

(3

)

  

 

(10

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  


Net Change

  

$

(8,076

)

  

$

2,483

 

  

$

987

 

  

$

46

 

  

$

(60

)

  

$

30

 

    

$

30

 

  

$

5

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


  



    

SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                         

Sales

  

 

1,180

 

  

 

1,367

 

  

 

118

 

  

 

193

 

  

 

119

 

  

 

13

 

                   

Reinvestments

  

 

92

 

  

 

54

 

  

 

11

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

7

 

  

 

3

 

                   

Redemptions

  

 

(1,153

)

  

 

(1,242

)

  

 

(22

)

  

 

(144

)

  

 

(13

)

  

 

(4

)

                   
    


  


  


  


  


  


                   

Net Change

  

 

119

 

  

 

179

 

  

 

107

 

  

 

53

 

  

 

113

 

  

 

12

 

                   
    


  


  


  


  


  


                   

Amounts:

                                                                         

Sales

  

$

12,661

 

  

$

14,523

 

  

$

1,281

 

  

$

2,036

 

  

$

1,297

 

  

$

137

 

                   

Reinvestments

  

 

1,000

 

  

 

576

 

  

 

122

 

  

 

45

 

  

 

80

 

  

 

26

 

                   

Redemptions

  

 

(12,340

)

  

 

(13,187

)

  

 

(239

)

  

 

(1,518

)

  

 

(148

)

  

 

(38

)

                   
    


  


  


  


  


  


                   

Net Change

  

$

1,321

 

  

$

1,912

 

  

$

1,164

 

  

$

563

 

  

$

1,229

 

  

$

125

 

                   
    


  


  


  


  


  


                   

 

 *   For the year ended December 31.
**   For the period from October 31, 2001 (commencement of operations) through December 31.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

131


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

    

Investor Class


      

Class A


      

Class B


 
    

2002*

      

2001*

      

2002*

      

2001*

      

2002*

      

2001*

 

    

SAFECO U.S. Government Fund

 

Shares:

                                                               

Sales

  

 

1,945

 

    

 

4,933

 

    

 

61

 

    

 

17

 

    

 

14

 

    

 

5

 

Reinvestments

  

 

218

 

    

 

197

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

 

    

 

1

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(1,308

)

    

 

(4,371

)

    

 

(16

)

    

 

 

    

 

(1

)

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

 

855

 

    

 

759

 

    

 

47

 

    

 

17

 

    

 

14

 

    

 

5

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Amounts:

                                                               

Sales

  

$

18,802

 

    

$

46,891

 

    

$

594

 

    

$

159

 

    

$

139

 

    

$

50

 

Reinvestments

  

 

2,111

 

    

 

1,871

 

    

 

14

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

5

 

    

 

3

 

Redemptions

  

 

(12,643

)

    

 

(41,517

)

    

 

(155

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

(6

)

    

 

(4

)

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

$

8,270

 

    

$

7,245

 

    

$

453

 

    

$

160

 

    

$

138

 

    

$

49

 

    


    


    


    


    


    



    

SAFECO Managed Bond Fund

 

Shares:

                                                               

Sales

  

 

251

 

    

 

271

 

    

 

53

 

    

 

88

 

    

 

20

 

    

 

45

 

Reinvestments

  

 

23

 

    

 

19

 

    

 

6

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

4

 

    

 

4

 

Redemptions

  

 

(183

)

    

 

(141

)

    

 

(40

)

    

 

(27

)

    

 

(13

)

    

 

(30

)

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

 

91

 

    

 

149

 

    

 

19

 

    

 

65

 

    

 

11

 

    

 

19

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Amounts:

                                                               

Sales

  

$

2,116

 

    

$

2,287

 

    

$

452

 

    

$

739

 

    

$

169

 

    

$

378

 

Reinvestments

  

 

196

 

    

 

163

 

    

 

50

 

    

 

36

 

    

 

32

 

    

 

32

 

Redemptions

  

 

(1,537

)

    

 

(1,188

)

    

 

(335

)

    

 

(225

)

    

 

(111

)

    

 

(251

)

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

$

775

 

    

$

1,262

 

    

$

167

 

    

$

550

 

    

$

90

 

    

$

159

 

    


    


    


    


    


    



    

SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund

 

Shares:

                                                               

Sales

  

 

2,842

 

    

 

2,848

 

    

 

10

 

    

 

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

33

 

Reinvestments

  

 

353

 

    

 

268

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

2

 

    

 

3

 

    

 

3

 

Redemptions

  

 

(3,106

)

    

 

(4,246

)

    

 

(14

)

    

 

(4

)

    

 

(47

)

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

 

89

 

    

 

(1,130

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

(2

)

    

 

(42

)

    

 

36

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Amounts:

                                                               

Sales

  

$

35,465

 

    

$

36,260

 

    

$

127

 

    

$

5

 

    

$

20

 

    

$

425

 

Reinvestments

  

 

4,385

 

    

 

3,378

 

    

 

26

 

    

 

23

 

    

 

43

 

    

 

35

 

Redemptions

  

 

(38,991

)

    

 

(53,916

)

    

 

(173

)

    

 

(53

)

    

 

(591

)

    

 

 

    


    


    


    


    


    


Net Change

  

$

859

 

    

$

(14,278

)

    

$

(20

)

    

$

(25

)

    

$

(528

)

    

$

460

 

    


    


    


    


    


    



 

*   For the year ended December 31.

 

132


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


          
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

                   

    

SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

13,812

 

  

 

9,328

 

  

 

249

 

  

 

38

 

  

 

83

 

  

 

40

 

                     

Issued on Merger (Note 4)

  

 

 

  

 

1,462

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

                     

Reinvestments

  

 

1,740

 

  

 

1,245

 

  

 

7

 

  

 

2

 

  

 

4

 

  

 

2

 

                     

Redemptions

  

 

(14,345

)

  

 

(9,623

)

  

 

(85

)

  

 

(24

)

  

 

(3

)

  

 

(3

)

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Net Change

  

 

1,207

 

  

 

2,412

 

  

 

171

 

  

 

16

 

  

 

84

 

  

 

39

 

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

197,158

 

  

$

130,987

 

  

$

3,600

 

  

$

535

 

  

$

1,191

 

  

$

564

 

                     

Value of Shares Issued on Merger (Note 4)

  

 

 

  

 

20,372

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

                     

Reinvestments

  

 

24,805

 

  

 

17,616

 

  

 

95

 

  

 

26

 

  

 

67

 

  

 

29

 

                     

Redemptions

  

 

(205,449

)

  

 

(136,435

)

  

 

(1,207

)

  

 

(338

)

  

 

(47

)

  

 

(40

)

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

Net Change

  

$

16,514

 

  

$

32,540

 

  

$

2,488

 

  

$

223

 

  

$

1,211

 

  

$

553

 

                     
    


  


  


  


  


  


                     

    

Investor Class


    

Class A


    

Class B


      

Class C


 
    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

    

2002*

    

2001*

      

2002*

      

2001*

 

    

SAFECO Money Market Fund

 

Shares:

                                                                           

Sales

  

 

446,042

 

  

 

289,952

 

  

 

5,611

 

  

 

14,127

 

  

 

741

 

  

 

2,566

 

    

 

28

 

    

 

22

 

Reinvestments

  

 

3,767

 

  

 

8,319

 

  

 

68

 

  

 

158

 

  

 

13

 

  

 

35

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(323,715

)

  

 

(313,323

)

  

 

(5,444

)

  

 

(13,624

)

  

 

(864

)

  

 

(2,152

)

    

 

(17

)

    

 

(10

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

 

126,094

 

  

 

(15,052

)

  

 

235

 

  

 

661

 

  

 

(110

)

  

 

449

 

    

 

11

 

    

 

12

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Amounts:

                                                                           

Sales

  

$

446,042

 

  

$

289,952

 

  

$

5,611

 

  

$

14,127

 

  

$

741

 

  

$

2,566

 

    

$

28

 

    

$

22

 

Reinvestments

  

 

3,767

 

  

 

8,319

 

  

 

68

 

  

 

158

 

  

 

13

 

  

 

35

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

Redemptions

  

 

(323,715

)

  

 

(313,323

)

  

 

(5,444

)

  

 

(13,624

)

  

 

(864

)

  

 

(2,152

)

    

 

(17

)

    

 

(10

)

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    


Net Change

  

$

126,094

 

  

$

(15,052

)

  

$

235

 

  

$

661

 

  

$

(110

)

  

$

449

 

    

$

11

 

    

$

12

 

    


  


  


  


  


  


    


    



 

*   For the year ended December 31.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

133


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

10.    INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

Investment Advisory Fees.    The Funds receive investment management and advisory services pursuant to an agreement with SAFECO Asset Management Company. The investment advisory fees are based on each Fund’s net assets and the rates specified in the tables below.

 

Growth Opportunities, Equity,
Dividend Income, Northwest,
Balanced and U.S. Value Funds:


  

Small Company Value Fund:


  

International Stock Fund:


First $250 million

 

.70%

  

First $250 million

 

.75%

  

First $250 million

 

1.00%

Next $500 million

 

.65   

  

Next $500 million

 

.70   

  

Next $500 million

 

.90   

Next $500 million

 

.60   

  

Next $500 million

 

.65   

  

Over $750 million

 

.80   

Over $1.25 billion

 

.55   

  

Over $1.25 billion

 

.60   

        

  
  

U.S. Growth Fund:


  

Small Company Growth Fund:


    

First $250 million

 

.80%

  

First $250 million

 

1.00%

        

Next $500 million

 

.75   

  

Over $250 million

 

.80   

        

Next $500 million

 

.70   

                 

Over $1.25 billion

 

.65   

                 

  
    

Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury
and U.S. Government Fund:


  

High-Yield Bond Fund:


  

Managed Bond Fund:


First $250 million

 

.55%

  

First $250 million

 

.65%

  

First $750 million

 

.50%

Next $500 million

 

.50   

  

Next $500 million

 

.55   

  

Next $500 million

 

.45   

Next $500 million

 

.45   

  

Over $750 million

 

.50   

  

Over $1.25 billion

 

.40   

Over $1.25 billion

 

.40   

                 

  
  

Municipal and California

Bond Funds:


  

Money Market Fund:


    

First $250 million

 

.50%

  

First $250 million

 

.50%

        

Next $500 million

 

.45   

  

Next $500 million

 

.45   

        

Over $750 million

 

.40   

  

Next $500 million

 

.40   

        
        

Over $1.25 billion

 

.35   

        

  
    

 

SAFECO Asset Management Company pays sub-advisory fees for investment research and advice to the Bank of Ireland Asset Management Company (U.S.) Limited for the International Stock Fund and to Dresdner RCM Global Investors LLC for the Small Company Growth and U.S. Growth Funds.

 

Fund Accounting and Fund Administration Fees.    SAFECO Asset Management Company receives a fee for these services on a percentage of each day’s net assets, which, on an annual basis is as follows:

 

Fund Accounting:


  

Fund Administration:


First $200 million

 

.04%

  

First $200 million

 

.05%

Over $200 million

 

.01   

  

Over $200 million

 

.01   


  

 

Transfer Agent, Shareholder Service, and Distribution Fees.    SAFECO Services Corporation receives transfer agent fees. SAFECO Securities, Inc. receives shareholder service and distribution fees.

 

Low Balance Fees.    As described in the Prospectus, SAFECO Services Corporation assesses an annual $12 low balance fee charge on shareholder accounts containing balances less than $1,000. Low balance fee amounts received by SAFECO Services are then applied in their entirety to reduce the contractual billings that SAFECO Services charges the Funds for transfer agent services.

 

134


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

Notes Payable and Interest Expense.    The Funds may borrow money for temporary purposes from SAFECO Corporation or its affiliates at rates equivalent to commercial bank interest rates. At December 31,2002 the California Tax-Free Income Fund had a 1.76% note payable to SAFECO Insurance Company of America for $950,000. The note was repaid on January 8, 2003. Interest rates on affiliated loans during the year ended December 31, 2002 ranged from 1.26% to 1.80% for the Common Stock Trust and 1.31% to 1.79% for the Taxable and Tax-Exempt Bond Trusts.

 

Line of Credit.    The Trusts, together with all other management investment companies for which SAFECO Asset Management Company serves as investment advisor, have line of credit arrangements with certain financial institutions. Under these arrangements, $100 million is available to meet short-term financing needs. At December 31, 2002 no such borrowings were outstanding.

 

Affiliate Ownership.    At December 31, 2002, SAFECO Insurance Company of America owned 450,000 shares (10% of outstanding shares) of the Northwest Fund and 500,000 shares (20%) of the Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund. SAFECO Asset Management Company owned 694,490 shares (29%) of the International Stock Fund, 519,268 shares (32%) of the Balanced Fund, 500,000 shares (60%) of the U.S. Value Fund, 500,000 shares (89%) of the Small Company Growth Fund and 500,000 shares (87%) of the U.S. Growth Fund and 452,103 shares (37%) of the Managed Bond Fund.

 

Investment Reimbursement by Affiliate.    In February 2002, a final settlement was reached on an outstanding class-action lawsuit against Prison Realty Trust, Inc., a security formerly owned by the Growth Opportunities Fund and the Dividend Income Fund. Eligibility for the settlement was predicated on filing a claim prior to December 27, 2000. Due to a claim not being filed timely, the funds were precluded from participating in the settlement. To compensate these two Funds for the loss of settlement proceeds, SAFECO Asset Management Company voluntarily reimbursed the Growth Opportunities Fund and Dividend Income Fund $2,581,000 and $573,600, respectively, which approximated the market value of each Fund’s portion of the settlement had they participated in the original settlement agreement.

 

Expense Reimbursement.    Beginning May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2009, SAFECO Asset Management Company agreed to reimburse the Funds (excluding the Small Company Growth and the U.S. Growth Funds) for operating expenses (i.e., all expenses except investment advisory, distribution fees, service fees, and interest expense) that exceed on an annual basis 0.30% of the average daily net assets for the Money Market Fund and 0.40% for all other Funds. Beginning October 31, 2001 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2002, SAFECO Asset Management Company voluntarily reimbursed the Small Company Growth and the U.S. Growth Funds for operating expenses which exceeded on an annual basis 0.60% of the Funds average daily net assets. In addition, from March 7, 2002 through May 5, 2002 and from December 4, 2002 through December 31, 2002, SAFECO Asset Management Company voluntarily waived 0.10% and 0.05%, respectively, of the Investment Advisory fee for the Money Market Fund. The Total amount voluntarily waived for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $68,000.

 

Deferred Offering Costs.    Costs related to the initial offering of the Small Company Growth and U.S. Growth Funds were deferred as of October 31, 2001 and were amortized to operations on a straight-line basis over a twelve month period. These costs were advanced by an affiliate and were reimbursed by

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

www.safecofunds.com

 

135


Notes to Financial Statements

 

the Funds over a twelve-month period. As of December 31, 2002, there were no deferred offering costs that remained to be amortized.

 

Board of Trustees.    The Trust along with several other affiliated trusts not reported herein, paid each of the Trustees not affiliated with SAFECO a retainer of $23,000 per year plus out of pocket expenses. Members additionally received $2,500 per Board Meeting plus $500 per each additional committee meeting they attended.

 

Dealer Concessions.    SAFECO Securities, Inc. retained the following amounts in dealer commissions from sales of Class A shares during the year ended December 31, 2002 (in thousands):

 

Commissions

Retained


  

Commissions

Retained


Growth Opportunities Fund

  

$

10

  

Small Company Value Fund

  

$

1

Equity Fund

  

 

3

  

Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund

  

 

1

Northwest Fund

  

 

2

  

U.S. Government Fund

  

 

2

International Stock Fund

  

 

1

  

Managed Bond Fund

  

 

1

Balanced Fund

  

 

1

  

Municipal Bond Fund

  

 

2


  

 

136


Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

11.    INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

 

Each of the companies listed below is an affiliate of the Fund because the Fund owned at least 5% of the company’s voting securities during the year ended December 31, 2002.

(In Thousands)   

Shares at Beginning of Period

  

Additions

  

Reductions

    

Shares at End of Period

  

Dividends

  

Realized Gain (Loss)

    

Market Value of Affiliates at December 31, 2002


SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund

                                       

American Medical Alert Corp.

  

  

455

  

 

  

455

  

$

 –

  

$

 

  

$

1,119

Concepts Direct, Inc.

  

480

  

  

 

  

480

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

278

Conceptus, Inc.

  

1,418

  

479

  

 

  

1,897

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

22,728

Endocare, Inc.*

  

1,072

  

548

  

(433

)

  

1,187

  

 

  

 

(1,631

)

  

 

Harold’s Stores, Inc.

  

542

  

  

 

  

542

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

553

IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

  

  

938

  

 

  

938

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

4,398

Matria Healthcare, Inc.

  

657

  

185

  

 

  

842

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

7,318

Med-Design Corp.

  

  

1,173

  

 

  

1,173

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

9,448

MICROS Systems, Inc.

  

1,050

  

12

  

 

  

1,062

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

23,808

Nastech Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

  

835

  

  

 

  

835

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

7,139

NCO Group, Inc.

  

2,104

  

  

(564

)

  

1,540

  

 

  

 

(9,158

)

  

 

24,556

North American Scientific, Inc.

  

953

  

  

(23

)

  

930

  

 

  

 

(248

)

  

 

8,362

PhotoMedex, Inc.

  

  

1,800

  

 

  

1,800

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

3,456

Physiometrix, Inc.*

  

490

  

  

(338

)

  

152

  

 

  

 

(6,703

)

  

 

PLATO Learning, Inc.

  

1,094

  

146

  

 

  

1,240

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

7,364

PolyMedica Corp.

  

1,198

  

  

(172

)

  

1,026

  

 

  

 

58

 

  

 

31,630

Prime Medical Services, Inc.

  

1,226

  

  

(288

)

  

938

  

 

  

 

(982

)

  

 

8,131

Provell, Inc.*

  

662

  

  

(662

)

  

  

 

  

 

(6,187

)

  

 

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.

  

  

938

  

 

  

938

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

2,204

Rent-Way, Inc.

  

2,696

  

  

(230

)

  

2,466

  

 

  

 

(4,271

)

  

 

8,630

RMH Teleservices, Inc.

  

1,037

  

184

  

(252

)

  

969

  

 

  

 

2,479

 

  

 

10,171

Serologicals Corp.

  

1,173

  

424

  

(342

)

  

1,255

  

 

  

 

230

 

  

 

13,805

SpectRx, Inc.

  

861

  

  

 

  

861

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

1,386

Sphinx International, Inc.

  

832

  

  

 

  

832

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

333

Stellent, Inc.

  

591

  

1,013

  

(195

)

  

1,409

  

 

  

 

(2,829

)

  

 

6,255

TRM Copy Centers Corp.*

  

710

  

  

(710

)

  

  

 

  

 

(6,233

)

  

 

                          

  


  

                          

$

  

$

(35,475

)

  

$

203,072

                          

  


  

SAFECO Small Company Value Fund

                                       

International Aircraft Investors, Inc.*

  

187

  

  

(187

)

  

  

$

  

$

(1,528

)

  

$

                          

  


  

                                              

 

*   Company was not an affiliate at the end of the period.

 

 

SAFECO    MUTUAL    FUNDS

1-800-528-6501

 

137


Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

 

 

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of the SAFECO Common Stock Trust, the SAFECO Taxable Bond Trust, the SAFECO Managed Bond Trust, the SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust, and the SAFECO Money Market Trust

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the related portfolios of investments, of the SAFECO Common Stock Trust (comprising the SAFECO Growth Opportunities Fund, SAFECO Equity Fund, SAFECO Dividend Income Fund, SAFECO Northwest Fund, SAFECO International Stock Fund, SAFECO Balanced Fund, SAFECO Small Company Value Fund, SAFECO U.S. Value Fund, SAFECO Small Company Growth Fund, and SAFECO U.S. Growth Fund), the SAFECO Taxable Bond Trust (comprising the SAFECO High-Yield Bond Fund, SAFECO Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury Fund, and SAFECO U.S. Government Fund), the SAFECO Managed Bond Trust (comprising the SAFECO Managed Bond Fund), the SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust (comprising the SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund and SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund), and the SAFECO Money Market Trust (comprising the SAFECO Money Market Fund) as of December 31, 2002, and the related statements of operations, the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trusts’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2002, by correspondence with the custodians and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the respective funds constituting the SAFECO Common Stock Trust, the SAFECO Taxable Bond Trust, the SAFECO Managed Bond Trust, the SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust, and the SAFECO Money Market Trust at December 31, 2002, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets and financial highlights for each of the periods referred to above, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

LOGO

Seattle, Washington

January 24, 2003

 

138


Trustee and Officer Information

 

 

 

Name, Address, and Age

  

Position(s) Held with Trusts

 

Term of Office and Length of Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held by Trustee


INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Scott M. Boggs

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-47)

  

Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72 Served since August 8, 2002

  

Vice President, Corporate Controller for Microsoft Corporation, a software company, Redmond, Washington (1992—present).

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

Trustee for Financial Executives Research Foundation (Industry Group)

Barbara J. Dingfield

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-57)

  

Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72

Time Served:

12 years

  

Consultant. From 1994 to 1999 she was the Director of Community Affairs for Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington.

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

First SAFECO National Life Insurance Co. of New York

Richard E. Lundgren

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-65)

  

Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72

Time Served:

19 years

  

Retired in 2000 from position as Director of Marketing and Customer Relations, Building Materials Distribution, Weyerhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Washington.

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

First SAFECO National Life Insurance Co. of New York

Larry L. Pinnt

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-68)

  

Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72

Time Served:

16 years

  

Retired Vice president and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. WEST Communications, Seattle, Washington.

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

First SAFECO National Life Insurance Co. of New York; Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, Seattle, Washington.

John W. Schneider

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-61)

  

Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72

Time Served:

19 years

  

President and sole owner of Wallingford Group, Inc., Seattle, Washington, a company consulting on the acquisition/disposition and development of real estate.

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

First SAFECO National Life Insurance Co. of New York

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

Randall H. Talbot

5069 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-49)

  

Chairman and Trustee

 

Term: Up to age 72

Time Served: 2 year

  

President of SAFECO Life Insurance Company since 1998. Employed by Talbot Financial Corporation from 1975 to 1998, where he served as President and CEO.

 

25 SAFECO Mutual Funds

 

First SAFECO National Life Insurance Co. of

New York; Netstock Corporation, Bellevue, Washington

OFFICERS

Kevin A. Rowell

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-42)

  

President

 

Annual appointment Served since September 16, 2002

  

Appointed President of SAFECO Securities, Inc. and SAFECO Services Corp., effective September 16, 2002. Managing Director of Global Relationships for Alliance Capital Management in New York from 1998 to 2002. Prior to 1998, European Director for Corporate Development at Putnam Investments.

       

Roger F. Harbin

5069 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-51)

  

Sr. Vice

President

 

Annual appointment Served as interim President from November 8, 2001 to September 16, 2002. Sr. Vice President since November 7, 2002.

  

Senior Vice President and Director of SAFECO Services Corporation and SAFECO Securities, Inc. since November 2002. Named Director and interim President of SAFECO Services Corporation, Director of SAFECO Asset Management Company, Director and interim President of SAFECO Securities, Inc. in 2001. Executive Vice President and Actuary of SAFECO Life Insurance Company since 1998. Senior Vice President of SAFECO Life Insurance Company from 1992 to 1998.

       

Ronald L. Spaulding

Two Union Square

601 Union Street

25th Floor

Seattle, WA 98101

(Age-58)

  

Vice President

 

Annual appointment Time Served: 8 years

  

Chairman of SAFECO Asset Management Company; Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer of SAFECO Corporation; Vice President of SAFECO Insurance Companies; Director, Vice President and Treasurer of First SAFECO Life Insurance Company of New York; former Senior Portfolio Manager of SAFECO Insurance Companies and Portfolio Manager for SAFECO Mutual Funds.

       

David H. Longhurst

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-45)

  

Vice President, Treasurer, Controller, Secretary

 

Annual appointment Time Served: 2 years Served as Assistant Controller from 1996 to 2000.

  

Vice President, Treasurer, Controller and Secretary of SAFECO Asset Management Company; Vice President, Treasurer, Controller and Secretary of SAFECO Services Corporation; and Vice President, Treasurer, Controller and Secretary and Financial Principal of SAFECO Securities, Inc. since July 2000. Treasurer, Controller, Secretary and Financial Principal of SAFECO Investment Services, Inc. since March 2000; Assistant Controller of SAFECO Securities, Inc., SAFECO Services Corporation and SAFECO Asset Management Company from 1996 to June 2000.

       

David N. Evans

4854 154th Place NE

Redmond, WA 98052

(Age-30)

  

Assistant Controller

 

Annual appointment Served since November 7, 2002

  

Former Controller and Assistant Controller of Rosetta Inpharmatics from 2001-2002 and 2000-2001, respectively. From 1994 to 2000, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he focused on financial services.

       

Susan Tracey

SAFECO Plaza

4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE

Seattle, WA 98185

(Age-53)

  

Assistant Secretary

 

Annual appointment Time Served: 2 year

  

Tax Manager for SAFECO Corporation. Assistant Secretary of SAFECO Asset Management Company, SAFECO Securities, Inc. and SAFECO Services Corporation. She has been employed by SAFECO Corporation since 1987.

       

Stephen Collier

SAFECO Plaza

4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE

Seattle, WA 98185

(Age-50)

  

Assistant Secretary

 

Annual appointment Time Served: 4 year

  

Director of Taxation and Assistant Vice President of SAFECO Corporation; Assistant Secretary of SAFECO Asset Management Company, SAFECO Securities, Inc. and SAFECO Services Corporation. He has been an officer of SAFECO Corporation and subsidiaries since 1991.

       

 

The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about Fund trustees and is available upon request without charge by contacting the Fund at SAFECO Securities, Inc. 4854 154th Place NE, Redmond, WA 98052. Telephone 1-800-624-5711. Deaf and Hard of Hearing TTY/TDD Service 1-800-438-8718.


 

 

 

SAFECO MUTUAL FUNDS

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

SAFECO Asset Management Company

 

DISTRIBUTOR

SAFECO Securities, Inc.

 

TRANSFER AGENT

SAFECO Services Corporation

 

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company

JP Morgan Chase Bank

(International Stock Fund)

 

 

FOR CLIENT SERVICES

1-800-528-6501

 

TTY/TDD

1-800-438-8718

 

*All telephone calls are tape-recorded for your protection.

 

For 24-Hour Automated Performance Information and Transactions

Nationwide: 1-800-835-4391

 

Mailing Address

SAFECO Mutual Funds

c/o NFDS

P.O. Box 219241

Kansas City, MO

64121-9241

 

Internet

www.safecofunds.com

 

Email

invest@safeco.com

 

 

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GMF-4415 2/03