March 1, 2012
Before you invest, you may want to review the Funds Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. The Funds Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated March 1, 2012, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. You can find the Funds Prospectus
and other information about the Fund online at www.firsteaglefunds.com/literature. You can also get this information at no additional cost by calling 800.334.2143 or by sending an e-mail request to prospectus@firsteaglefunds.com.
|
|
Class A | Ticker SGGDX Class C | Ticker FEGOX Class I | Ticker FEGIX |
|
|
Investment Objective |
|
First Eagle Gold Fund (Gold Fund) seeks to provide investors the opportunity to participate in the investment characteristics of gold (and to a limited extent other precious metals) for a portion of their overall investment portfolio.
|
Fees and Expenses |
|
The following information describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Gold Fund.
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you, together with certain related accounts, invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Gold Fund. Information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the How to Purchase Shares and Public Offering Price of Class A Shares sections on pages 52 and 57, of the Funds Prospectus respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
CLASS A |
CLASS C |
CLASS I |
|||||||||||||||||||
First Eagle Gold Funds Fees and Expenses (%) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases (as a percentage of public offering price) |
|
|
5.00 |
|
|
None |
|
|
None |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of your |
|
|
None |
|
|
1.00 |
|
|
None |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of the amount redeemed within 60 days of purchase) |
|
|
2.00 |
|
|
2.00 |
|
|
2.00 |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Management Fees |
|
|
0.75 |
|
|
0.75 |
|
|
0.75 |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
0.25 |
|
|
1.00 |
|
|
None |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Other Expenses |
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
0.20 |
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses (%) |
|
|
1.20 |
|
|
1.95 |
|
|
0.95 |
||||||||||||
|
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Gold Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This hypothetical example assumes you invest $10,000 in the Gold Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem all shares at the end of those periods.
The example also assumes the average annual return is 5% and operating expenses remain the same. Please keep in mind your actual costs may be higher or lower.
SHARE STATUS
1 YEAR
3 YEARS
5 YEARS
10 YEARS
Class A
Sold or Held
$616
$862
$1,127
$1,882
Class C (shares have a one year contingent deferred sales charge)
Sold
$298
$612
$1,052
$2,275
Held
198
612
1,052
2,275
Class I
Sold or Held
$97
$303
$525
$1,166
Portfolio Turnover Rate The Gold Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Gold Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual Gold Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Gold Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Gold Funds portfolio turnover rate was 13.26% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies To achieve its objective of providing investors the opportunity to participate in the investment characteristics of gold, the Gold Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in gold and/or securities (which may include both equity and, to a limited extent, debt instruments) directly related to gold or of issuers principally
engaged in the gold industry, including securities of gold mining finance companies as well as operating companies with long-, medium- or short-life mines. Up to 20% of the Gold Funds assets may be invested in equity and, to a limited extent, debt instruments unrelated to gold or the gold industry where such
securities are consistent with the Gold Funds investment objective. The Gold Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Investment decisions for the Gold Fund are made without regard to the capitalization (size) of the companies in which it invests. The Gold Fund may invest in any size company,
including large, medium and smaller companies. The Gold Fund may also invest in fixed-income instruments, short-term debt instruments, other precious metals, and futures contracts related to precious metals. Although no change is anticipated, the investment objective of the Gold Fund can be changed without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified a minimum of 60 days in advance of any change in investment objective or of any change in the 80% of assets investment policies. An investment in the Gold Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. However, many investors believe that, historically, a limited exposure to investments in gold or gold-related instruments may provide some offset against the market impact of political and economic disruptions, as well as relieve
inflationary or deflationary pressures.
Principal Investment Risks As with any mutual fund investment, you may lose money by investing in the Gold Fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Principal risks of investing in the Gold Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value and total return, are:
Market Risk The value of the Funds portfolio holdings may fluctuate in response to events specific to the companies or markets in which the Fund invests, as well as economic, political, or social events in the United States or abroad. Gold Risk The Fund may invest in both physical gold and the securities of companies in the gold mining sector. Prices of gold-related issues are susceptible to changes to U.S. and foreign taxes, currencies, mining laws, inflation, and various other market conditions. Derivatives Risk Futures contracts or other derivatives, including hedging strategies, present risks related to their significant price volatility and risk of default by the counterparty to the contract. To date, derivatives have been used mainly under a hedging program intended to reduce the impact of foreign exchange
rate changes on the Funds value. Foreign Investment Risk The Fund may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments are susceptible to less politically and economically stable environments, foreign currency and exchange rate changes, and adverse changes to government regulations. Because of the Gold FIRST EAGLE GOLD FUND | SUMMARY PROSPECTUS | MARCH 1, 2012
Funds policy of investing primarily in gold, securities directly related to gold and/or of companies engaged in the gold industry, a substantial part of the Gold Funds assets will generally be invested in securities of companies domiciled or operating in one or more foreign countries, including emerging markets. Diversification Risk The Fund is a non-diversified mutual fund, and as a result, an investment in the Fund may expose your money to greater risks than if you invest in a diversified fund. The Fund may invest in a limited number of companies and industries, therefore gains or losses in a particular security may have
a greater impact on their share price. Small and Medium-Size Company Risk The Fund may invest in small and medium-size companies, the securities of which can be more volatile in price than those of larger companies. Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a bond or other instrument will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuers credit rating or the markets perception of an issuers creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Funds investment in that issuer. The Fund
may invest in debt securities that are below investment grade, i.e., junk bonds, which are considered speculative, and carry a higher risk of default. The Gold Fund has the flexibility to respond promptly to changes in market and economic conditions. Under a defensive strategy, the Gold Fund may temporarily hold some or all of its assets in cash and/or high quality debt securities or money market instruments of U.S. or foreign issuers. For more information on the risks of investing in the Gold Fund, please see the More Information about the Funds Investments section of the Funds Prospectus.
Investment Results The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Funds performance from year to year, and by showing how the Funds average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. As with all mutual funds,
past performance is not an indication of future performance (before or after taxes). The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions and does not reflect any sales charges. If sales charges were included, the returns would be lower. Calendar Year Total Returns Class A Following is additional return information for Class A Shares of the Gold Fund for the periods presented in the bar chart.
Best Quarter
First Quarter 2002
50.40
%
Worst Quarter
Third Quarter 2008
-20.95
% Updated performance information is available at www.firsteaglefunds.com/funds/goldfund.php or by calling 800.334.2143. The table below discloses after-tax returns only for Class A shares. After-tax returns for Class C and Class I shares will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rate for each year. Returns do not reflect the effect of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on your
individual tax situation. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred accounts, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Average Annual Total Returns
1 YEAR
5 YEARS
10 YEARS
CLASS C
CLASS I
First Eagle Gold Fund
Class A Shares
Return Before Taxes
-15.58
%
10.86
%
21.52
%
Return After Taxes
-16.30
9.75
20.26
Return After Taxes
-9.60
9.02
19.14
Class C Shares
Return Before Taxes
-12.65
%
11.17
%
N/A
15.56
%
Class I Shares
Return Before Taxes
-10.94
%
12.28
%
N/A
16.71
%
MSCI World Index
-5.54
%
-2.37
%
3.62
%
6.04
%
6.04
%
FTSE Gold Mines Index
-15.88
%
6.42
%
14.80
%
12.37
%
12.37
% FIRST EAGLE GOLD FUND | SUMMARY PROSPECTUS | MARCH 1, 2012
as of December 31, 2011
INCEPTION
(5/15/03)
INCEPTION
(5/15/03)
on Distributions
on Distributions and
Sale of Fund Shares
Our Management Team First Eagle Investment Management, LLC serves as the Funds Adviser. Rachel Benepe has served as the Gold Funds Portfolio Manager since February 2009. How to Purchase and Redeem Shares The minimum initial investment amount generally required for each share class of the Fund is $2,500 for Classes A and C, and $1 million for Class I. See the About Your InvestmentHow to Purchase Shares section of the Funds Prospectus for more information. You may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares on any business day at their net asset value next computed after proper receipt of the order. Transaction orders may be submitted via telephone, through your authorized dealer or FEF Distributors, LLC. Shares held in the dealers street name must be redeemed or
exchanged through the dealer. See the Once You Become a Shareholder section of the Funds Prospectus for more information. Send all requests for information or transactions to:
Regular Mail:
Overnight Mail: Tax Information It is the Funds policy to make periodic distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. Unless you elect otherwise, your ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in additional shares of the same share class of the Fund at net asset value calculated as of the
payment date. The Funds distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. See the Information on Dividends, Distributions and Taxes section of the Funds Prospectus for more
information. Payments to Broker-Dealers and If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary
and your financial adviser to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial adviser or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information. See the About Your InvestmentDistribution and Shareholder Services Expenses section of the Funds Prospectus for more information.
First Eagle Funds
P.O. Box 219324
Kansas City, MO 64121-9324
First Eagle Funds
c/o DST Systems, Inc.
330 West 9th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105-1807
Financial Intermediaries