FIRM BACKGROUND

Van Strum & Towne was originally founded in 1927 by Kenneth S. Van Strum and Herbert S. Towne. Kenneth Van Strum was one of the first members of the investment community to recognize that ownership of common stocks could be a valuable means of preserving purchasing power. He published the book “Investing in Purchasing Power” in 1925 and was the originator of “The Trader” column in Barron’s Weekly. The firm’s over eighty years of investment management experience has spanned both adverse and prosperous times. We have weathered extremes in financial market conditions

Van Strum & Towne is an independent investment management firm; it has no brokerage, banking or underwriting affiliations. Ownership is vested with the firm’s officers and directors, and income is derived solely from fees for investment management services.