Burnham Investors Trust Launches 'Burnham Financial Industries Fund', Managed by Mendon Capital's Anton Schutz NEW YORK, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Burnham Investors Trust announced today that its new Financial Industries Fund, Classes A and C, became effective with the new prospectus dated May 1, 2004, and is available for purchase through Burnham Securities Inc., its principal distributor, and other broker dealers. The Financial Industries Fund, a sector fund, seeks capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of its assets in the common stocks of companies that are in the financial services sector. Unlike the existing Burnham Financial Services Fund which invests primarily in small-capitalization financial service companies, this fund will invest primarily in medium to large-capitalization financial service companies. The Burnham Financial Industries Fund is managed by Burnham Asset Management and Mendon Capital serves as its investment subadviser. Mendon Capital's founder and CEO, Anton V. Schutz, is the fund's Portfolio Manager. Mendon Capital is presently the investment subadviser of our Burnham Financial Services Fund, which is rated "Five Stars" by Morningstar, and was a recipient of the Lipper Leader Award for 2003 and 2004. The Burnham Financial Services Fund closed to most new investors February 13, 2004. "We are pleased to offer another vehicle for investors who believe, as we do, that the diverse financial sector can provide opportunities for investors to outperform the equity markets in general," stated Jon Burnham, Chairman of Burnham Investors Trust and Burnham Financial Group. Added Mr. Schutz, "I look forward to managing a second financial services mutual fund as I believe that there continues to be much opportunity to make money in these sectors. Over forty thousand financial services companies remain in the United States, making it one of the most fragmented industries and markets in the world and subject to continued consolidation. The size of the industry alone creates investing and trading opportunities; these companies have different approaches to taking or managing risk, for better or for worse, to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack." The fund's Class A shares are offered with a maximum sales charge of 5%, and Class C shares are offered subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge if shares are redeemed within one year after purchase. Class A shares are available at no-load through financial intermediaries (such as registered investment advisors) and Charles Schwab & Co.'s Mutual Fund Marketplace. The Fund will be listed on the NASDAQ under BURFX for Class A shares, and BURCX for Class C shares. Burnham Investors Trust is committed to providing a high level of service to all of its clients. The Burnham family of mutual funds includes The Burnham Fund, Burnham Financial Services Fund, Burnham Financial Industries Fund and two money market funds. The average annualized total returns for one-year, three-year and since inception (June 7, 1999) periods ended March 31, 2004 of the Burnham Financial Services Fund's Class A shares were 46.64%, 28.02% and 29.10%, respectively. Including the maximum sales charge (5%) and all fees, performance was 39.31%, 25.85% and 27.74%, respectively. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of shares will fluctuate, so that those shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions. Performance is for the periods indicated and is for the Burnham Financial Services Fund (not the Burnham Financial Industries Fund) and current performance may differ due to market volatility. For more complete information about either fund including a free prospectus and current fund performance, please contact Burnham Securities Inc. The prospectus contains important information about the funds, including their management fees, sales charges, and other expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Sector funds primarily limit their investments to companies in specific industries. This type of fund may be susceptible to factors affecting these industries, and each fund's value may fluctuate more than a fund that invests in a wider range of industries. Because each fund concentrates its investments in one sector of the economy (financial services), and it invests in derivative securities, investors should consider these risks because they may experience greater volatility than in a fund that invests across several sectors. Morningstar Inc. is an independent monitor of fund performance and has no relationship with Burnham Securities Inc. Morningstar rates mutual funds from one to five stars based on how well they've performed (after adjusting for risk and accounting for all sales charges) in comparison to similar funds. Within each Morningstar Category, the top 10% of funds receive five stars, the next 22.5% four stars, the middle 35% three stars, the next 22.5% two stars, and the bottom 10% receive one star. Funds are rated for up to three time periods -- three-, five-, and 10 years -- and these ratings are combined to produce an overall rating. Funds with less than three years of history are not rated. Ratings are objective, based entirely on a mathematical evaluation of past performance. They're a useful tool for identifying funds worthy of further research, but shouldn't be considered buy or sell recommendations. Under no circumstances does information about Lipper Leader funds constitute a recommendation to buy or sell mutual funds. Lipper Leaders measures past fund performance, and investors should remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Lipper Leaders status is calculated monthly using data available at the time of calculation; Lipper undertakes no responsibility for updating the calculations more frequently than monthly to incorporate more current data. For more information, please email Shares of the fund are offered by Burnham Securities Inc., principal distributor, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019; 800-874-FUND; www.burnhamfunds.com. DATASOURCE: Burnham Investors Trust CONTACT: Debra B. Hyman of Burnham Securities, +1-212-603-7511 Web site: http://www.burnhamfunds.com/

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