File Nos. 33-12381 & 811-5047
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(212) 697-6666
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
Important Notice
Please Read Immediately
Aquila
Group of Funds
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held
on June 27, 2008
To Shareholders of the Fund:
The purpose of this Notice is to advise you that an Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders of Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund"), will be held:
Place: (a) Colorado Convention Center
Room 507, 700 14th Street
Denver, Colorado;
Time: (b) on Friday, June 27, 2008
at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time;
Purposes: (c) for the following purposes:
(i) to elect seven Trustees; each Trustee elected
will hold office until the next annual meeting of
the Fund's shareholders or until his or her
successor is duly elected (Annual Meeting Proposal
No. 1);
(ii) to ratify (that is, to approve) or reject the
selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund's
independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008
(Annual Meeting Proposal No. 2); and
(iii) to act upon any other matters which may
properly come before the Annual Meeting at the
scheduled time and place or any adjourned meeting
or meetings.
Who Can
Vote What
Shares: (d) To vote at the Annual Meeting, you must have been a
shareholder on the Fund's records at the close of
business on March 31, 2008 (the "record date").
Also, the number of shares of each of the Fund's
outstanding classes of shares that you held at that
time and the respective net asset values of each
class of shares at that time determine the number of
votes you may cast at the Annual Meeting (or any
adjourned meeting or meetings).
By order of the Board of Trustees,
EDWARD M. W. HINES
Secretary
May 21, 2008
Please Note:
If you do not expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by any of three
ways: by the Internet, by telephone or by completing the enclosed proxy card and
returning it in the accompanying stamped envelope. To avoid unnecessary expense
to the Fund, we request your cooperation in voting no matter how large or small
your holding may be.
Important Notice
Please Read Immediately
Aquila
Group of Funds
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held
on June 27, 2008
To Shareholders of the Fund:
The purpose of this Notice is to advise you that a Special Meeting of the
Shareholders of Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund") will be held:
Place: (a) Colorado Convention Center
Room 507, 700 14th Street
Denver, Colorado;
Time: (b) on Friday, June 27, 2008
at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time;
Purposes: (c) for the following purposes:
(i) to act upon a new Advisory and Administration Agreement
(Special Meeting Proposal No. 1); and
(ii) to act upon a new Sub-Advisory Agreement (Special
Meeting Proposal No. 2)
Who Can
Vote What
Shares: (d) To vote at the Special Meeting, you must have been a
shareholder on the Fund's records at the close of
business on March 31, 2008 (the "record date").
Also, the number of shares of each of the Fund's
outstanding classes of shares that you held at that
time and the respective net asset values of each
class of shares at that time determine the number of
votes you may cast at the Special Meeting (or any
adjourned meeting or meetings).
By order of the Board of Trustees,
EDWARD M. W. HINES
Secretary
May 21, 2008
Please Note:
If you do not expect to attend the Special Meeting, please vote by any of three
ways: by the Internet, by telephone or by completing the enclosed proxy card and
returning it in the accompanying stamped envelope. To avoid unnecessary expense
to the Fund, we request your cooperation in voting no matter how large or small
your holding may be.
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Joint Proxy Statement
Introduction
The two Notices preceding this Joint Proxy Statement are to advise you
of the times, place and purposes of an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund"), and a Special Meeting of the
Shareholders that will take place immediately after the Annual Meeting. The
purpose of this Joint Proxy Statement is to give you information on which you
may base your voting decisions at both meetings.
The Fund's Manager (the "Manager") is Aquila Investment Management LLC,
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017, a subsidiary of the Fund's
founder, Aquila Management Corporation. The Fund's principal underwriter (the
"Distributor") is Aquila Distributors, Inc., 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New
York, NY 10017. The Fund's Investment Sub-Adviser (the "Sub-Adviser") is
Kirkpatrick Pettis Capital Management, a Division of Davidson Fixed Income
Management, 1600 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80202.
A copy of the Fund's most recent annual report will be sent to you without
charge upon written request to the Distributor, at the above address, or by
calling 800-437-1020 toll-free or 212-697-6666.
These Notices and Joint Proxy Statement are first being mailed on or about
May 21, 2008.
You should read this Joint Proxy Statement prior to voting. If your shares
are registered in the name of your broker or someone other than yourself, you
may authorize that person to vote your shares. If your shares are registered in
your name, then you may vote in one of three ways:
(1) Proxy Cards
The enclosed proxy cards authorize the persons named (or their substitutes)
to vote your shares; the Fund calls these persons the "proxy holders." There are
two proxy cards, one for each meeting. As to the election of Trustees you may
authorize the proxy holders to vote your shares for the entire slate indicated
below by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card for the Annual Meeting or
by merely signing and returning your proxy card with no instructions. Or you may
withhold the authority of the proxy holders to vote on the election of Trustees
by marking the appropriate box. Also, you may withhold that authority as to any
particular nominee by following the instructions on the proxy card.
As to the other matters listed on each proxy card, you may direct the proxy
holders to vote your shares on a proposal by marking the appropriate box "For"
or "Against" or instruct them not to vote your shares on a proposal by marking
the "Abstain" box. If you return your signed proxy card and do not mark a box on
the proposal, the proxy holders will vote your shares for that proposal.
(2) Internet Voting
To vote your shares by the Internet, please contact the Fund at the
Internet address shown on your proxy cards. You will be prompted to enter the
control numbers on your proxy cards. Follow the instructions on the screen,
using your proxy cards as guides. If you vote by the Internet, you need not
return the proxy cards by mail.
(3) Telephone Voting
To vote your shares by telephone, call the toll-free number on your proxy
cards. You will be prompted to enter the control numbers on your proxy cards.
Follow the recorded instructions using your proxy cards as guides. If you vote
by phone, you need not return the proxy cards by mail.
General Information
You may end the power of the proxy holders to vote your shares at either
meeting by: (i) so notifying the Fund in writing; (ii) signing a new and
different proxy card (if the Fund receives it before the old one is used); (iii)
voting your shares at the meeting in person or by your duly appointed agent; or
(iv) calling the toll free number provided or contacting the Fund's Internet
address, both of which are detailed on your proxy card, entering your control
number and revoking your previous vote.
Proxies for shares held by brokers in "street name" and not voted or
marked as abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining quorums at the
meetings. They will be counted as present at the meeting in determining voting
results, and will therefore have the same effect as negative votes. Quorums for
the two meetings will be determined separately.
The Fund is sending you the Notices and Joint Proxy Statement in
connection with the solicitation by its Trustees of proxies to be used at the
Annual Meeting and Special Meeting to be held at the times and place and for the
purposes indicated in the Notices or any adjourned meeting or meetings. Whenever
it is stated in this Joint Proxy Statement that a matter is to be acted on at
the Annual or Special Meeting, this means the meeting held at the scheduled time
or any adjourned meeting or meetings.
The Fund pays the costs of the solicitation. Proxies are being solicited by
the use of the mails; they may also be solicited by telephone, facsimile and
personal interviews. Brokerage firms, banks and others may be requested to
forward these Notices and Joint Proxy Statement to beneficial owners of the
Fund's shares so that these owners may authorize the voting of their shares. The
Fund will pay these firms their out-of-pocket expenses for doing so. Because
your vote is important, the Fund may telephone you to urge you to vote.
On the record date, the Fund had three classes of shares outstanding. All
shareholders of the Fund are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and the
Special Meeting. Each shareholder on the record date is entitled to one vote for
each dollar (and a proportionate fractional vote for each fraction of a dollar)
of net asset value (determined as of the record date) represented by full and
fractional shares of any class held on the record date.
On the record date, the net asset value per share of each of the Fund's
outstanding classes of shares was as follows: Class A Shares, $10.23; Class C
Shares, $10.21; and Class Y Shares, $10.26. Both meetings are expected to act
only upon matters that affect the Fund as a whole: at the Annual Meeting, the
election of Trustees and the selection of an independent registered public
accounting firm, and at the Special Meeting, action on a new Advisory and
Administration Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement. On matters that affect the
Fund as a whole, all shareholders of the Fund, including the shareholders of all
classes of shares of the Fund, are entitled to vote at the meeting.
On the record date, the total number of shares outstanding for each class
of shares was as follows: Class A Shares, 18,421,728; Class C Shares, 943,045;
and Class Y Shares, 656,028.
On the record date, the following holders held 5% or more of a class of the
Fund's outstanding shares. On the basis of information received from the
institutional holders, the Fund's management believes that all of the shares
indicated are held by them for the benefit of clients.
Name and address of
the holder of Record Number of shares Percent of class
Institutional 5% shareholders
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner
& Smith Inc. 168,832 Class C Shares 17.90%
FBO its Customers 82,308 Class Y Shares 12.55%
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, FL
Alpine Trust & Asset
Management 226,590 Class Y Shares 34.54%
225 N. 5th Street
Grand Junction, CO
NFS LLC FEBO
AMG National Bank/Haws & Co. 73,709 Class Y Shares 11.24%
6501 E. Belleview Avenue
Suite 400
Englewood CO
Additional 5% Shareholders
NFS LLC FEBO
Catherine C. Newman Ttee 42,149 Class Y Shares 6.42%
Catherine C. Newman Liv Tr
4736 Vista View Lane
Colorado Springs CO
The Fund's management is not aware of any other person beneficially owning more
than 5% of any class of its outstanding shares as of such date.
Election of Trustees
(Proposal No. 1 at the Annual Meeting)
At the Annual Meeting, seven Trustees are to be elected. Each Trustee
elected will serve until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor
is duly elected. The nominees selected by the Trustees are named in the table
below. See "Introduction" above for information as to how you can vote your
shares in the election of Trustees.
The following material includes information about each nominee and each
officer of the Fund. All shares of the Fund listed as owned by the Trustees are
Class A Shares unless indicated otherwise. All of the nominees are presently
Trustees and were elected by the shareholders in June 2007. All nominees have
consented to serve if elected.
Nominees(1)
Number of
Positions Held Portfolios Other Directorships
with in Fund Held by Trustee
Fund and Complex (The position held is
Name, Address(2) Length of Principal Occupation(s) Overseen a directorship unless
and Date of Birth Service(3) During Past 5 Years by Trustee indicated otherwise.)
Interested
Trustee(4)
Diana P. Herrmann Trustee Vice Chair and Chief Executive 12 ICI Mutual Insurance Company
New York, NY since 2000 Officer of Aquila Management
(02/25/58) and Corporation, Founder of the
President Aquila Group of Funds ((5)) and
since 1999 parent of Aquila Investment
Management LLC, Manager, since
2004, President and Chief
Operating Officer since 1997, a
Director since 1984, Secretary
since 1986 and previously its
Executive Vice President, Senior
Vice President or Vice President,
1986-1997; Chief Executive
Officer and Vice Chair since 2004
and President, Chief Operating
Officer and Manager of the
Manager since 2003; Chair, Vice
Chair, President, Executive Vice
President or Senior Vice
President of funds in the Aquila
Group of Funds since 1986;
Director of the Distributor since
1997; trustee, Reserve
Money-Market Funds, 1999-2000 and
Reserve Private Equity Series,
1998-2000; Governor, Investment
Company Institute (a trade
organization for the U.S. fund
industry dedicated to protecting
shareholder interests and
educating the public about
investing) and head of its Small
Funds Committee since 2004;
active in charitable and
volunteer organizations.
Non-interested
Trustees
Anne J. Mills Chair of the President, Loring Consulting 4 None
Castle Rock, CO Board of Company since 2001; Vice
(12/23/38) Trustees President for Business Management
since 2005 and CFO, Ottawa University, since
and Trustee 2006, Vice President for Business
since 1987 Affairs, 1992-2001; IBM
Corporation, 1965-1991; currently
active with various charitable
educational and religious
organizations.
Gary C. Cornia Vice Chair Director, Romney Institute of 4 Lincoln Institute of Land
Orem, UT of the Board Public Management, Marriott Policy, Cambridge, MA
(06/24/48) of Trustees School of Management, Brigham
since 2006 Young University, 2004 - present;
and Trustee Professor, Marriott School of
since 2000 Management, 1980 - present; Past
President, the National Tax
Association; Fellow, Lincoln
Institute of Land Policy, 2002 -
present; Associate Dean, Marriott
School of Management, Brigham
Young University, 1991-2000; Utah
Governor's Tax Review Committee
since 1993.
Tucker Hart Adams Trustee President, The Adams Group, Inc., 3 Director, Colorado Health
Colorado Springs, since 1989 an economic consulting firm, Facilities Authority
CO since 1989; formerly Chief
(01/11/38) Economist, United Banks of
Colorado; currently or formerly
active with numerous professional
and community organizations.
Thomas A. Trustee Vice President of Robinson, 3 None
Christopher since 2004 Hughes & Christopher, C.P.A.s,
Danville, KY P.S.C., since 1977; President, A
(12/19/47) Good Place for Fun, Inc., a
sports facility, since 1987;
currently or formerly active with
various professional and
community organizations.
Lyle W. Hillyard Trustee President of the law firm of 2 None
Logan, UT since 2006 Hillyard, Anderson & Olsen,
(09/25/40) Logan, Utah, since 1967; member
of Utah Senate, 1985 to present,
in the following positions:
President, 2000, Senate Majority
Leader, 1999-2000, Assistant
Majority Whip, 1995-1998; served
as Chairman of the following
Senate Committees: Tax and
Revenue, Senate Judiciary
Standing, Joint Executive
Appropriations, and Senate Rules;
currently serves as Co-Chair,
Joint Executive Appropriations.
John C. Lucking Trustee President, Econ-Linc, an economic 3 None
Phoenix, AZ since 2000 consulting firm, since 1995;
(05/20/43) formerly Consulting Economist,
Bank One Arizona and Chief
Economist, Valley National Bank;
member, Arizona's Joint
Legislative Budget Committee
Economic Advisory Panel and the
Western Blue Chip Economic
Forecast Panel; Board, Northern
Arizona University Foundation
since 1997; member, various
historical, civic and economic
associations.
Other Individuals
Trustees
Emeritus((6))
Lacy B. Herrmann Founder and Founder and Chairman of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Chairman Board, Aquila Management
(05/12/29) Emeritus Corporation, the sponsoring
since 2005; organization and parent of the
Chairman of Manager or Administrator and/or
the Board of Adviser or Sub-Adviser to each
Trustees, fund of the Aquila Group of
1987-2004 Funds; Chairman of the Manager or
Administrator and/or Adviser or
Sub-Adviser to each since 2004;
Founder and Chairman Emeritus of
each fund in the Aquila Group of
Funds; previously Chairman and a
Trustee of each fund in the
Aquila Group of Funds since its
establishment until 2004 or 2005;
Director of the Distributor since
1981 and formerly Vice President
or Secretary, 1981-1998; Trustee
Emeritus, Brown University and
the Hopkins School; active in
university, school and charitable
organizations.
J. William Weeks Trustee Retired; limited partner in real N/A N/A
Palm Beach, FL Emeritus estate partnerships Alex, Brown &
(06/22/27) since 2006 Sons No. 1 and 2; formerly Senior
Vice President or Vice President
of the Aquila Municipal Bond
Funds; and Vice President of the
Distributor.
Officers
Charles E. Executive Executive Vice President of all N/A N/A
Childs, III Vice funds in the Aquila Group of
New York, NY President Funds and the Manager and the
(04/01/57) since 2003 Manager's parent since 2003;
formerly Senior Vice President,
corporate development, Vice
President, Assistant Vice
President and Associate of the
Manager's parent since 1987;
Senior Vice President, Vice
President or Assistant Vice
President of the Aquila
Money-Market Funds, 1988-2003.
Stephen J. Caridi Senior Vice Vice President of the Distributor N/A N/A
New York, NY President since 1995; Vice President,
(05/06/61) since 2004 Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust since
1998; Senior Vice President,
Narragansett Insured Tax-Free
Income Fund since 1998, Vice
President 1996-1997; Senior Vice
President, Tax-Free Fund of
Colorado since 2004; Vice
President, Aquila Rocky Mountain
Equity Fund since 2006.
Jerry G. McGrew Senior Vice President of the Distributor N/A N/A
New York, NY President since 1998, Registered Principal
(06/18/44) since 1997 since 1993, Senior Vice
President, 1997-1998 and Vice
President, 1993-1997; Senior Vice
President, Aquila Three Peaks
High Income Fund, Aquila Rocky
Mountain Equity Fund and five
Aquila Municipal Bond Funds; Vice
President, Churchill Cash
Reserves Trust, 1995-2001.
Robert W. Anderson Chief Chief Compliance Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Compliance Fund and each of the other funds
(08/23/40) Officer in the Aquila Group of Funds, the
since 2004 Manager and the Distributor since
and 2004, Compliance Officer of the
Assistant Manager or its predecessor and
Secretary current parent 1998-2004;
since 2000 Assistant Secretary of the Aquila
Group of Funds since 2000.
Joseph P. DiMaggio Chief Chief Financial Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Financial Aquila Group of Funds since 2003
(11/06/56) Officer and Treasurer since 2000.
since 2003
and
Treasurer
since 2000
Edward M. W. Hines Secretary Shareholder of Butzel Long, a N/A N/A
New York, NY since 1987 professional corporation, counsel
(12/16/39) to the Fund, since 2007; Partner
of Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines
LLP, its predecessor as counsel,
1989-2007; Secretary of the
Aquila Group of Funds.
John M. Herndon Assistant Assistant Secretary of the Aquila N/A N/A
New York, NY Secretary Group of Funds since 1995 and
(12/17/39) since 1995 Vice President of the three
Aquila Money-Market Funds since
1990; Vice President of the
Manager or its predecessor and
current parent since 1990.
Lori A. Vindigni Assistant Assistant Treasurer of the Aquila N/A N/A
New York, NY Treasurer Group of Funds since 2000;
(11/02/66) since 2000 Assistant Vice President of the
Manager or its predecessor and
current parent since 1998; Fund
Accountant for the Aquila Group
of Funds, 1995-1998.
(1) The Fund's Statement of Additional Information includes additional
information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by
calling 800-437-1020 (toll-free) or by visiting the EDGAR Database at the SEC's
internet site at www.sec.gov.
(2) The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is c/oTax-Free Fund of
Colorado, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
(3) Each Trustee holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or
until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. The term of office of each
officer is one year.
(4) Ms. Herrmann is an interested person of the Fund as an officer of the Fund,
as a director, officer and shareholder of the Manager's corporate parent, as an
officer and Manager of the Manager, and as a shareholder and director of the
Distributor. Ms. Herrmann is the daughter of Lacy B. Herrmann, the Founder and
Chairman Emeritus of the Fund.
(5) In this material Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital U.S.
Government Securities Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets
Trust, each of which is a money-market fund, are called the "Aquila Money-Market
Funds"; Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Tax-Free Trust of
Oregon, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky,
Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund and Tax-Free Fund For Utah, each of
which is a tax-free municipal bond fund, are called the "Aquila Municipal Bond
Funds"; Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund is an equity fund; Aquila Three Peaks
High Income Fund is a high income corporate bond fund; considered together,
these 12 funds are called the "Aquila Group of Funds."
(6) A Trustee Emeritus may attend Board meetings but has no voting power.
Securities Holdings of the Nominees
(as of 12/31/07)
Name of Aggregate Dollar
Trustee Dollar Range of Range of Ownership
Ownership in Tax-Free Fund of in the Aquila
Colorado (1) Group of Funds (1)
Interested Trustees
Diana P. Herrmann C E
Non-interested Trustees
Tucker H. Adams B C
Thomas A. Christopher C E
Gary C. Cornia D E
Lyle W. Hillyard B D
John C. Lucking C C
Anne J. Mills D D
(1) A. None
B. $1-$10,000
C. $10,001-$50,000
D. $50,001-$100,000
E. over $100,000
None of the non-interested Trustees or their immediate family members
holds of record or beneficially any securities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser
or the Distributor.
The Fund does not currently pay fees to any of the Fund's officers or
to Trustees affiliated with the Manager or the Sub-Adviser. For its fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007, the Fund paid a total of $102,830 in compensation and
reimbursement of expenses to the Trustees. No other compensation or remuneration
of any type, direct or contingent, was paid by the Fund to its Trustees.
The Fund is one of the twelve funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, which
consist of three money-market funds, seven tax-free municipal bond funds, a high
income corporate bond fund and an equity fund. The following table lists the
compensation of all nominees for Trustee who received compensation from the Fund
or from other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds during the Fund's fiscal year.
None of such nominees has any pension or retirement benefits from the Fund or
any of the other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds.
Compensation Number of
from all boards on
Compensation funds in the which the
from the Aquila Trustee now
Name Fund Group of Funds serves
Tucker H.
Adams $11,000 $46,500 3
Thomas A.
Christopher $16,006 $72,997 3
Gary C.
Cornia $11,000 $65,500 4
Lyle W.
Hillyard $11,000 $21,000 2
John C.
Lucking $11,000 $39,500 3
Anne J.
Mills $18,167 $76,501 4
Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by the Fund's
Trustees and officers.
The Fund's Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquila Management
Corporation ("AMC"), founder of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds. As of
April 30, 2008, these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $5.1 billion,
of which approximately $2.3 billion consisted of assets of the tax-free
municipal bond funds. AMC's address is the same as that of the Manager. AMC,
which was founded in 1984, is currently controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann and
his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Herrmann, directly and through certain trusts,
although it is anticipated that these arrangements will change as described in
Proposal No. 1 at the Special Meeting. During the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007, the Fund paid $1,031,818 in management fees.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, $94,812 was paid under
Part I of the Fund's Distribution Plan to Qualified Recipients with respect to
the Class A Shares, of which $3,704 was retained by the Distributor. With
respect to Class C Shares, during the same period, $82,965 was paid under Part
II of the Plan and $27,655 was paid under the Fund's Shareholder Services Plan.
Of these total payments of $110,620, the Distributor retained $25,104. All of
such payments were for compensation.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the Fund paid $29,529
to Butzel Long, a professional corporation ("Butzel Long"), independent counsel
to the Fund, and $23,781 to Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines LLP, predecessor to
Butzel Long, for legal services. Edward M.W. Hines, Secretary of the Fund, is a
shareholder of Butzel Long, and was a partner of Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines
LLP.
The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the shares of the
funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, including the Fund. Under the Distribution
Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the payment of certain printing
and distribution costs relating to prospectuses and reports as well as the costs
of supplemental sales literature, advertising and other promotional activities.
The shares of the Distributor are owned 24% by Diana P. Herrmann, 74% by Mr.
Herrmann and other members of his immediate family and the balance by Aquila
Management Corporation.
Other Information on Trustees
The Trustees have appointed a standing Audit Committee consisting of all of
the Trustees who are "independent" and are not "interested persons" of the Fund,
as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
The members of the Audit Committee are Anne J. Mills, Tucker Hart Adams, Thomas
A. Christopher, Gary C. Cornia, Lyle W. Hillyard and John C. Lucking. The
Committee (i) selects the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm
(subject to shareholder ratification); (ii) reviews the methods, scope and
result of audits and the fees charged; and (iii) reviews the adequacy of the
Fund's internal accounting procedures and controls. Selection of the independent
registered public accounting firm is also ratified by the Board of Trustees. The
Audit Committee held four meetings during the Fund's last fiscal year. The Board
of Trustees has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee.
During the Fund's last fiscal year, the Board of Trustees held four
meetings. Each current Trustee was present for at least 75% of the total number
of Board meetings and meetings of committees of which such Trustee was a member.
The Fund's policy is that all Trustees who can do so attend the Annual
Meeting. At the last Annual Meeting all of the Trustees were present.
The Fund has a Nominating Committee, consisting of all of the
Independent Trustees. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the last
fiscal year. The committee will consider nominees recommended by the
shareholders who may send recommendations to the committee in care of the
Manager at 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Recommendations of nominees
from shareholders are not treated differently than proposals from other sources.
The charter of the Nominating Committee is available on the Fund's website at
www.aquilafunds.com.
Shareholder communications intended for the Board of Trustees (or one
or more specified Trustees) may be sent to them in care of the Manager at the
above address.
Since the beginning of the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year,
no Trustee purchased or sold any shares of any class of the Manager, Sub-Adviser
or the parents or subsidiaries of either.
Vote Required
To be elected, each nominee must receive the affirmative votes of a
majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting.
Ratification or Rejection
of Selection of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Proposal No. 2 at the Annual Meeting)
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP ("TWB"), which is currently serving as the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected by the Fund's
Audit Committee and ratified by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of
the non-"interested" Trustees, as the Fund's independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Such selection is
submitted to the shareholders for ratification or rejection.
The following table represents fees for professional audit services
rendered by TWB for the audit of the Fund's annual financial statements, and
fees billed for other services rendered by TWB, for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2007.
2006 2007
Audit Fees $16,000 $16,000
Audit related fees 0 0
------- ------
Audit and audit related fees $16,000 $16,000
Tax fees (1) 3,000 3,000
All other fees 0 0
------ ------
Total $19,000 $19,000
====== ======
(1) Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.
TWB did not perform any services during the last fiscal year for the Fund's
investment adviser (the Manager) or any entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with the Manager that provides services to the Fund.
All audit and non-audit services performed by TWB on behalf of the Fund or
non-audit services performed on behalf of affiliated entities within the
investment company complex where such engagement relates directly to the
operations and financial reporting of the Fund are pre-approved by the Audit
Committee. Services to be considered between meetings of the Committee are
pre-approved by a selected member of the Committee in accordance with applicable
regulations and subject to additional procedures established by the Committee.
The Audit Committee has reviewed all services performed and fees charged by
TWB and has accepted TWB's representation that it is independent in recommending
re-appointment of it for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
TWB has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund, the Manager
or the Sub-Adviser. It is expected that representatives of TWB will not be
present at the meeting but will be available should any matter arise requiring
their presence.
Vote Required
Approval requires the affirmative votes of a majority of the shares present
at the Annual Meeting.
Consideration of
A New Advisory and Administration Agreement
(Proposal No. 1 at the Special Meeting)
Background and Reasons for the Proposals
The Manager is the Fund's investment adviser under an Advisory and
Administration Agreement (the "Current Advisory Agreement"). Its investment
advisory duties, including portfolio management, have been delegated to the
Sub-Adviser, Kirkpatrick Pettis Capital Management, Inc. ("KPCM"), under a
sub-advisory agreement (the "Current Sub-Advisory Agreement"; together with the
Current Advisory Agreement, the "Current Agreements") described below. The
Current Advisory Agreement was approved by the shareholders of the Fund on
August 28, 2000. The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement was also approved by the
shareholders on March 10, 2005. Both have been renewed annually thereafter by
the Board of Trustees, most recently on March 9, 2007.
The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMC. AMC, which was founded
in 1984, is currently controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann ("LBH") and his wife,
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Herrmann ("EBH"), directly and through certain trusts. These
ownership arrangements are described in detail below. Collectively, the current
owners of the shares of AMC are called the "Owners."
The Owners wish to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, the ongoing
continuity of management of the Manager and the Fund. Consistent with their
estate planning and tax objectives, they have sought through prudent planning to
structure an orderly generational transition of ownership changes of AMC among
the Owners (the "Transaction").
Although the proposed changes in ownership of AMC will not result in
any changes in the day-to-day operation of the Fund, the services provided to
it, the investment approach or style of the Manager with respect to the Fund, or
any increase in its advisory fees, the changes could be considered to result in
an "assignment" of the Current Advisory Agreement under the provisions of the
1940 Act. The 1940 Act provides generally that an advisory agreement of a mutual
fund must provide for its automatic termination in the event of an assignment
(as that term is defined in the 1940 Act), such as when a controlling block of
the Fund's investment adviser's voting securities is transferred. Under the 1940
Act, a person who does not own more than 25% of the voting securities of a
company shall be presumed not to control such company, while control is presumed
in an owner of more than 25%. As required by the 1940 Act, the Current Advisory
Agreement provides that in the event of an assignment, it terminates. Under the
current ownership arrangements such an assignment could also occur upon the
deaths of certain of the Owners. The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement contains a
provision that states that it terminates if the Current Advisory Agreement
terminates, and it also provides for its termination upon its assignment, which,
as with the Current Advisory Agreement, would occur upon the proposed ownership
changes.
In order to provide continuity of management services to the Fund, on
March 1, 2008, the Trustees approved a new advisory and administration agreement
(the "New Advisory Agreement") between the Manager and the Fund, which will
replace the Current Advisory Agreement when it terminates by reason of the
expected assignment. At the same time, the Trustees also approved a new
Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "New Sub-Advisory Agreement"; together with the New
Advisory Agreement, the "New Agreements") between the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser which will replace the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement which will
terminate by its terms when the Current Advisory Agreement terminates. The
Trustees are recommending that shareholders of the Fund approve the New
Agreements. As described below, the New Agreements are substantially identical
to the Current Agreements.
Under the 1940 Act a fund cannot enter into an advisory agreement, such
as the New Advisory Agreement, unless the shareholders of that fund vote to
approve the new agreement. The Shareholders must also approve the New
Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Trustees have carefully considered the matter, and
have concluded that it is appropriate to approve the New Advisory Agreement and
the New Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the New Advisory Agreement, the Manager
shall continue, following the Transaction, to manage the Fund on the same terms
as are now in effect, thereby promoting stability of the Fund's management. No
change in the Fund's advisory fees or expenses is being proposed. Furthermore,
no changes are being proposed with respect to the services provided for the
Fund, the investment approach or style of the Manager with respect to the Fund,
or the personnel or operations of the Manager.
Information Regarding the Manager
The Manager is the Fund's investment adviser under the Current Advisory
Agreement. The Manager provides for investment supervision, including
supervising continuously the investment program of the Fund and the composition
of its portfolio, determining what securities will be purchased or sold by the
Fund and arranging for the purchase and the sale of securities held in the
portfolio of the Fund, and, at the Manager's expense, providing for pricing of
the Fund's portfolio daily. The Manager is also responsible for administrative
services, including providing for the maintenance of the headquarters of the
Fund, overseeing relationships between the Fund and the service providers to the
Fund and providing other administrative services.
Names, Addresses and Principal Occupations of Each Manager of the Manager
LBH is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of each of the funds in the
Aquila Group of Funds. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of each of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds. Additionally, LBH is the
Founder and Chairman of the Board of AMC (the sponsoring organization and parent
of the Manager or the administrator of each of the funds in the Aquila Group of
Funds), as well as the Chairman of the Manager. LBH has served as a Director of
the Aquila Group of Funds' distributor since 1981. LBH is a Trustee Emeritus of
Brown University and the Hopkins School, and remains active in university,
school and charitable organizations.
EBH is a Director of AMC and a Manager of the Manager. She does not
have any other position with AMC or the Manager. She is active with various
charitable and volunteer organizations. EBH is the wife of LBH.
Diana P. Herrmann ("DPH") is President and, in some instances, Vice
Chair of each of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds. She serves as Vice
Chair, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of AMC; Chief Executive
Officer, Vice Chair, President, Chief Operating Officer and Manager of the
Manager; and as Director of the distributor. She previously served as Trustee to
the Reserve Money-Market Funds (1999-2000) and Reserve Private Equity Series
(1998-2000). DPH currently serves as Governor, Investment Company Institute and
head of its Small Funds Committee, as well as Director of ICI Mutual Insurance
Company. She is active in charitable and volunteer organizations. DPH is the
daughter of LBH and EBH.
The address of each of the Managers of the Manager is c/o Aquila
Investment Management LLC, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017.
The Transaction
At the time of the Transaction, the AMC shares will be divided into two
classes: voting (the "Voting Shares") and non-voting (the "Non-Voting Shares").
Prior to dividing its share capital into two classes of shares, AMC has one
class of common shares, all of which are Voting Shares. 99.5% of the Voting
Shares are held directly by or in trust for the benefit of members of the
Herrmann family. The Voting Shares are held as follows:
Owner Direct Ownership Indirect Ownership* Total
LBH 24.9% 20.0% 44.9%
EBH 27.5% -- 27.5%
DPH 4.9% 20.0% 24.9%
Conrad B. Herrmann ("CBH") -- 0.2% 0.2%
Catherine E. Wolff ("CEW") -- 2.0% 2.0%
Other 0.5% -- 0.5%
Total 100.0%
* Indicates Voting Shares for which the indicated Owner has voting rights but
does not directly own.
o LBH currently holds 24.9% of the Voting Shares directly; additionally
in his role as trustee (with voting rights) of a family trust for the
benefit of Conrad B. Herrmann ("CBH") (the "CBH Trust"), his son, LBH
holds voting rights with respect to an additional 20.0% of the Voting
Shares.
o EBH currently holds 27.5% of the Voting Shares directly.
o DPH holds 4.9% of the Voting Shares directly and, through her position
as trustee (with voting rights) of a family trust for her benefit (the
"DPH Trust"), holds voting rights with respect to an additional 20.0%
of the Voting Shares.
o CBH serves as trustee (with voting rights) of a trust for his own
benefit, and through his role as trustee (with voting rights) of that
trust holds voting rights with respect to 0.2% of the Voting Shares.
o Two family trusts (the "Family Trusts") hold 2.0% of the Voting Shares;
Catherine E. Wolff ("CEW"), a first cousin of DPH and CBH, currently
serves as trustee (with voting rights) of the Family Trusts.
In connection with their estate planning, LBH and EBH wish to (i)
transfer ownership of some of their Voting Shares, and (ii) appoint a new
trustee to serve as trustee for one of the trusts. Upon the consummation of the
Transaction, the ownership of the Voting Shares would be as follows:
Owner Direct Ownership Indirect Ownership* Total
LBH 24.9% -- 24.9%
T. Randolph Harris ("TRH") -- 24.9% 24.9%
EBH -- -- --
DPH 4.9% 20.0% 24.9%
CBH -- 0.2% 0.2%
CEW -- 24.6% 24.6%
Other 0.5% -- 0.5%
Total 100.0%
* Indicates Voting Shares for which the indicated Owner has voting rights but
does not directly own.
o LBH will continue to hold 24.9% of the Voting Shares directly.
o 24.9% of the Voting Shares previously held by EBH will be held in a
trust for the benefit of EBH (the "EBH Trust"), with T. Randolph Harris
("TRH") serving as trustee (with voting rights).
o DPH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that she will continue to
hold, either directly or through her position as trustee (with voting
rights) of the DPH Trust, 24.9% of the Voting Shares.
o CBH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that he will continue to
hold voting rights with respect to 0.2% of the Voting Shares through
his position as trustee (with voting rights) of a trust for his own
benefit.
o CEW will replace LBH as trustee of the CBH Trust, such that she will
serve as trustee (with voting rights) with respect to 20.0% of the
Voting Shares. The Family Trusts will hold 4.6% of the Voting Shares
(including 2.6% of the Voting Shares previously held by EBH), with CEW
continuing as trustee (with voting rights) of the Family Trusts.
Through her position as trustee (with voting rights) of the CBH Trust
and of the Family Trusts, CEW will serve as trustee (with voting
rights) with respect to 24.6% of the Voting Shares in the aggregate.
Upon consummation of the Transaction, no individual will hold with
power to vote, directly or indirectly, more than 24.9% of the Voting Shares. As
previously stated, the Transaction will not result in any changes in the Fund's
advisory fees and expenses, the services provided, the investment approach or
style of the Manager with respect to the Fund, or the personnel or operations of
the Manager.
Although the Owners currently intend to consummate the Transaction, the
Transaction may not necessarily occur. For example, approval or disapproval by
the Fund's shareholders of the New Advisory Agreement, taken together with
consents or approvals for other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, could affect
whether or not the Transaction occurs. It is possible, however, that the Owners
may proceed with the Transaction even if new contracts are approved by the
shareholders of less than all of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds for
which the Manager serves as investment adviser (either because the shareholders
of one or more of such funds do not approve such fund's new advisory agreement
or because LBH or EBH dies before approvals are obtained for all such funds).
AMC currently expects that the Transaction will occur during the fourth quarter
of 2008 (or upon the earlier death of either LBH or EBH, as described below),
but the Transaction could be delayed. If for some reason the Transaction does
not occur, the automatic termination of the Current Agreements will not occur
and the New Agreements will not be entered into, even if they have been approved
by the Fund's shareholders.
Performance of the Current Advisory Agreement is currently guaranteed
by AMC. If the Transaction occurs, AMC will provide an identical guarantee of
performance of the New Advisory Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if one or more of LBH or EBH dies after
the Fund's shareholders approve the New Advisory Agreement but before the
Manager obtains the approval or consent of the shareholders of all of the other
funds in the Aquila Group of Funds for which the Manager serves as investment
adviser, the surviving Herrmann family members may elect to proceed with the
contemplated direct and indirect ownership changes (as modified to reflect such
deaths, as described below), and the Fund's shareholders will be considered to
have approved the entry into the New Advisory Agreement after such death and the
resulting direct and indirect ownership changes. In such event, the ownership of
the Voting Shares would be as follows:
(A) If LBH dies before EBH:
Owner Direct Ownership Indirect Ownership Total
LBH -- -- --
BAS and then TRH -- 24.9% 24.9%
EBH 24.9% -- 24.9%
DPH 4.9% 20.0% 24.9%
CBH -- 0.2% 0.2%
CEW -- 24.6% 24.6%
Other 0.5% -- 0.5%
Total 100.0%
o 24.9% of the Voting Shares will be held first in LBH's estate, with
Barbara A. Sloan ("BAS") serving as executor (with voting rights), and
then in a marital trust for the benefit of EBH, with TRH serving as
trustee (with voting rights).
o EBH will hold 24.9% of the Voting Shares directly.
o DPH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that she will continue to
hold, either directly or through her position as trustee (with voting
rights) of the DPH Trust, 24.9% of the Voting Shares.
o CBH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that he will continue to
hold voting rights with respect to 0.2% of the Voting Shares through
his position as trustee (with voting rights) of a trust for his own
benefit.
o CEW will replace LBH as trustee of the CBH Trust, such that she serves
as trustee (with voting rights) with respect to 20.0% of the Voting
Shares. The Family Trusts will hold 4.6% of the Voting Shares, with CEW
continuing as trustee (with voting rights) of the Family Trusts.
Through her position as trustee (with voting rights) of the CBH Trust
and of the Family Trusts, CEW will serve as trustee (with voting
rights) with respect to 24.6% of the Voting Shares in the aggregate.
In such event, no individual will hold, directly or indirectly, more than
24.9% of the Voting Shares. The changes in ownership of the Voting Shares
will not result in any changes in the Fund's advisory fees and expenses,
services provided, the investment approach or style of the Manager with
respect to the Fund, or personnel or operations of the Manager (except that
LBH would no longer serve as a Manager or officer).
(B) If EBH dies before LBH:
Owner Direct Ownership Indirect Ownership Total
LBH 24.9% -- 24.9%
EBH -- -- --
BAS and then TRH -- 24.9% 24.9%
DPH 4.9% 20.0% 24.9%
CBH -- 0.2% 0.2%
CEW -- 24.6% 24.6%
Other 0.5% -- 0.5%
Total 100.0%
o LBH will continue to hold 24.9% of the Voting Shares directly.
o 24.9% of the Voting Shares will be held first in EBH's estate, with BAS
serving as executor (with voting rights), and then in a marital trust
for the benefit of LBH, with TRH serving as trustee (with voting
rights).
o DPH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that she will continue to
hold, either directly or through her position as trustee (with voting
rights) of the DPH Trust, 24.9% of the Voting Shares.
o CBH's ownership will remain unchanged, such that he will continue to
hold voting rights with respect to 0.2% of the Voting Shares through
his position as trustee (with voting rights) of a trust for his own
benefit.
o CEW will replace LBH as trustee of the CBH Trust, such that she serves
as trustee (with voting rights) with respect to 20.0% of the Voting
Shares. The Family Trusts will hold 4.6% of the Voting Shares, with CEW
continuing as trustee (with voting rights) of the Family Trusts.
Through her position as trustee (with voting rights) of the CBH Trust
and of the Family Trusts, CEW will serve as trustee (with voting
rights) with respect to 24.6% of the Voting Shares in the aggregate.
In such event, no individual will hold, directly or indirectly, more than
24.9% of the Voting Shares. The changes in ownership of the Voting Shares
will not result in any changes in the Fund's advisory fees and expenses,
services provided, the investment approach or style of the Manager with
respect to the Fund, or personnel or operations of the Manager (except that
EBH would no longer serve as a Manager).
Basis for the Trustees' Approval of the New Advisory Agreement
The Board of Trustees and the independent Trustees approved the renewal
until April 30, 2009 of the Current Advisory Agreement in March, 2008 at a
meeting called and held for that purpose at which a majority of the independent
Trustees were present in person. They additionally approved the New Advisory
Agreement at that meeting.
In connection with the renewal of the Current Advisory Agreement, the
following materials were considered:
o Copies of the agreement to be renewed;
o A term sheet describing the material terms of the agreement;
o The Annual Report of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2007;
o A report, prepared by the Manager and provided to the Trustees in advance
of the meeting for the Trustees' review, containing data about the
performance of the Fund, data about its fees, expenses and purchases and
redemptions of capital stock together with comparisons of such data with
similar data about other comparable funds, as well as data as to the
profitability of the Manager; and
o Quarterly materials reviewed at prior meetings on the Fund's performance,
operations, portfolio and compliance.
The Trustees considered the Current Advisory Agreement separately as
well as in conjunction with the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement to determine
their combined effects on the Fund. The Trustees reviewed materials relevant to,
and considered, the factors set forth below, and as to the agreement reached the
conclusions described.
The nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Manager .
The Manager has provided all administrative services to the Fund. The
Board considered the nature and extent of the Manager's supervision of
third-party service providers, including the Fund's shareholder servicing agent
and custodian. The Board considered that the Manager had established and
maintained a strong culture of ethical conduct and regulatory compliance.
The Manager has arranged for the Sub-Adviser to provide local
management of the Fund's portfolio.
The Board considered that the Manager had provided all services the
Board deemed necessary or appropriate, including the specific services that the
Board has determined are required for the Fund, given that its purpose is to
provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from Colorado
state and regular Federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of
capital.
The Board concluded that a commendable quality of services was provided
and that the Fund would be well served if they continued. Evaluation of this
factor weighed in favor of renewal of the Current Advisory Agreement.
The investment performance of the Fund and the Manager.
The Board reviewed each aspect of the Fund's performance and compared
its performance with that of its local competitors, with national averages and
with benchmark indices. It was noted that the materials provided by the Manager
indicated that compared to the five largest competitive Colorado funds, the Fund
has had an average annual return that was higher than all but one of its peers
for the one-year period, while lower than its peers for the five- and ten-year
periods, with rates of return explained in part by the Fund's generally
higher-quality portfolio and generally shorter average maturities. Furthermore,
the Trustees noted that in the past year the Fund's net asset value generally
fluctuated modestly compared to the local Colorado competitors. The Fund
considers its local competitors to be Colorado-oriented funds that invest
chiefly in high-quality Colorado municipal obligations.
The Board concluded that the performance of the Fund was acceptable in
light of market conditions, the length of its average maturities, its investment
objectives and its long-standing emphasis on minimizing risk. Evaluation of this
factor indicated to the Trustees that renewal of the Current Advisory Agreement
would be appropriate.
The costs of the services to be provided and profits to be realized by the
Manager and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund.
The information provided in connection with renewal contained expense
data for the Fund and its local competitors as well as data for all single-state
tax-free municipal bond funds nationwide, including data for all such front-end
sales charge funds of a comparable asset size. The materials also showed the
profitability to the Manager of its services to the Fund.
The Board compared the expense and fee data with respect to the Fund to
similar data about other funds that it found to be relevant. The Board concluded
that the expenses of the Fund and the fees paid were similar to and were
reasonable as compared to those being paid by single-state tax-free municipal
bond funds nationwide.
The Board considered that the foregoing indicated the appropriateness
of the costs of the services to the Fund, which was being well managed as
indicated by the factors considered previously.
The Board further concluded that the profitability to the Manager did
not argue against approval of the fees to be paid under the Current Advisory
Agreement.
The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows.
Data provided to the Trustees showed that the Fund's average net asset
size had declined in recent years. They concluded that the uncertain interest
rate environment might make it difficult to achieve substantial growth in assets
in the near future. The Trustees also noted that the materials indicated that
the Fund's fees were already lower than what those of its peers would be at
comparable asset levels, including those with breakpoints. Evaluation of this
factor indicated to the Board that the Current Advisory Agreement should be
renewed without addition of breakpoints at this time.
Benefits derived or to be derived by the Manager and its affiliates from their
relationships with the Fund.
The Board observed that, as is generally true of most fund complexes,
the Manager and its affiliates, by providing services to a number of funds or
other investment clients including the Fund, were able to spread costs as they
would otherwise be unable to do. The Board noted that while that produces
efficiencies and increased profitability for the Manager and its affiliates, it
also makes their services available to the Fund at favorable levels of quality
and cost which are more advantageous to the Fund than would otherwise have been
possible.
In connection with approval of the New Agreement and recommendation
that the shareholders of the Fund approve that agreement, the Trustees noted
that that agreement is substantially the same as the Current Advisory Agreement
except for its starting date and accordingly the materials considered in
connection with the Annual Review, and the reasons for renewing the Current
Advisory Agreement, apply to the New Advisory Agreement as well. In addition, as
noted above, in addressing the desirability of replacing the Current Avisory
Agreement with the New Advisory Agreement, the Trustees considered a wide range
of information relevant to the ongoing and future continuity of management of
the Fund, including:
|X| representations by representatives of AMC and the Manager that the proposed
change of control was not expected to result in a change in the personnel
or operations of the Manager or Sub-Adviser;
|X| representations from representatives of AMC and the Manager that the
investment approach or style of the Manager with respect to the Fund, or
the services provided by them to the Fund, would not change.
|X| the fact that the Transaction will not result in any change to the advisory
fees paid by the Fund or the Fund's total expense ratio;
|X| the fact that the Transaction will not result in a change in the costs of
the services to be provided by the Manager; and |X| the fact that the Fund
has operated in compliance with its investment objective and restrictions.
Based on their evaluation of all factors that they deemed to be material,
including those factors described above, and assisted by the advice of
independent counsel, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, concluded
that the New Advisory Agreement should be approved and recommended that the
shareholders of the Fund vote to approve the New Advisory Agreement for an
initial one-year term.
Description of the New Advisory Agreement
The Manager provides the Fund with local advisory services. Under the
New Advisory Agreement, the Fund will pay the Manager a fee payable monthly and
computed on the net asset value of the Fund as of the close of business each
business day at the annual rate of 0.50 of 1% of such net asset value, provided,
however, that for any day that the Fund pays or accrues a fee under the
Distribution Plan of the Fund based upon the assets of the Fund, the annual
advisory fee is payable at the annual rate of 0.40 of 1% of such net asset
value.
The proposed New Advisory Agreement for the Fund is substantially
identical to the Current Advisory Agreement (together, the "Advisory
Agreements"). For a complete understanding of the proposed New Advisory
Agreement, please refer to the form of New Advisory Agreement provided as
Appendix A.
Action Requested
THE TRUSTEES OF THE FUND RECOMMEND THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND
VOTE TO APPROVE THE NEW ADVISORY AGREEMENT.
Vote Required
The favorable vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the outstanding shares of the Fund is required for the approval of this
Proposal No. 3. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund means the vote of the holders of the lesser of
(a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at the Meeting or represented
by proxy if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are so present or
represented, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, with
one (1) vote for each dollar (and a proportionate fractional vote for each
fraction of a dollar) of net asset value (determined as of the record date)
represented by full and fractional shares of all of the Fund's three outstanding
classes of shares.
If necessary or desirable, the meeting can be adjourned by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy. In
voting for an adjournment, the proxies will consider all relevant factors,
including possible delay of receipt of proxies and whether or not a substantial
number of negative votes have been cast with respect to any proposal. The
proxies of shareholders who have voted by proxy against a proposal will be voted
against adjournment.
If this proposal is not approved by the shareholders the Board of
Trustees will consider what further action is appropriate, which could include
calling another shareholder meeting.
Consideration of
A New Sub-Advisory Agreement
(Proposal No. 2 of the Special Meeting)
See the information under Proposal No. 1 for the reasons for this proposal.
Information About The Sub-Adviser
The Sub-Adviser, KPCM, is an independent registered investment adviser
that provides a wide range of fixed-income investment management services for
non-profit entities, higher education institutions, state governments, school
districts, all levels of local government and mutual funds. It has approximately
$4.3 billion in assets under management. KPCM has a local office at 1600
Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80202. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Davidson
Companies, based at 8 Third Street North, Great Falls, Montana.
Mr. Christopher Johns has been the Fund's portfolio manager since the
Fund's inception in 1987. Mr. Johns is a Senior Vice President of KPCM and was a
Vice President of Kirkpatrick Pettis Investment Management, Inc., the
predecessor of KPCM, from 1992 through 2004. From 1984 through 1992, he was a
portfolio manager at United Bank of Denver (now Wells Fargo, Denver) which acted
as investment adviser to the Fund from its inception through 1992. He was
formerly a portfolio manager of Toledo Trust Company. He holds the degree of BBA
in Finance from the University of Cincinnati.
Mr. Robert Schultz is the Fund's back-up portfolio manager and research
analyst since 2000. He is Vice President - Public Finance of D.A. Davidson Fixed
Income Capital Markets (formerly Kirkpatrick Pettis) since 2000. From 1999
through 2000, he was Assistant Vice President - Public Finance of U.S. Bancorp
Piper Jaffray in Chicago. He worked at John Nuveen & Company in Chicago from
1990 to 1999. Mr. Schultz has an MBA from Loyola University (Chicago) and a BS
in Finance from Miami University (Ohio).
The Sub-Adviser is a division of Davidson Fixed Income Management,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davidson Companies.
Description of Davidson Companies
Davidson Companies is a holding company, based at 8 Third Street North,
Great Falls, MT 59401, providing financial services to its customers throughout
the nation from its locations in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. It
has six wholly-owned subsidiaries: D.A. Davidson & Co., a securities broker
dealer, Davidson Trust Co., a trust company, Davidson Investment Advisors, Inc.,
an investment advisor; Davidson Travel, Inc., a travel agency, Davidson Fixed
Income Management, Inc. a fixed income investment advisor, and Davidson Funding
Company, a special purpose entity that facilitates the financing of multi-family
housing bonds.
Ownership of Davidson Companies
Ian B. Davidson 18%
Employee Stock Ownership
Plan ESOP (owned by the
Employees of Davidson
Companies) 27%
No other person owns more than 10% of its outstanding shares.
Additional Information about the Sub-Adviser
KPCM is a division of Davidson Fixed Income Management, Inc.. The
names, addresses, and principal occupations of the principal executive officer
and each director of Davidson Fixed Income Management, Inc. are as follows:
Name and Address of Position
Director
Sam C. Doyle President, Fixed Income Capital Markets of D.A.
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100 Davidson & Co.
Denver, CO 80202
L.C. (Jack) Petersen Vice-Chairman
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
Chris Blackwood Senior Vice President, Managing Director
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
Kreg A. Jones Senior Vice President, Director of Fixed Income Capital
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100 Markets
Denver, CO 80202
Tom S. Nelson Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100 Chief Operating Officer
Denver, CO 80202
Scott D. Prickett, CTP(R) Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
Deanne Woodring, CFA Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
William A. Johnstone President and Chief Executive Officer
1600 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
Basis for the Trustees' Approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The Board of Trustees and the independent Trustees approved the renewal
until April 30, 2009 of the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement in March, 2008 at a
meeting called and held for that purpose at which a majority of the independent
Trustees were present in person. They additionally approved the New Sub-Advisory
Agreement at that meeting.
In connection with the renewal of the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement,
the following materials were considered:
o Copies of the agreement to be renewed;
o A term sheet describing the material terms of the agreement;
o The Annual Report of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2007;
o A report, prepared by the Manager and provided to the Trustees in advance
of the meeting for the Trustees' review, containing data about the
performance of the Fund, data about its fees, expenses and purchases and
redemptions of capital stock together with comparisons of such data with
similar data about other comparable funds, as well as data as to the
profitability of the Sub-Adviser; and
o Quarterly materials reviewed at prior meetings on the Fund's performance,
operations, portfolio and compliance.
The Trustees considered the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement separately
as well as in conjunction with Current Advisory Agreement to determine their
combined effects on the Fund. The Trustees reviewed materials relevant to, and
considered, the factors set forth below, and as to the agreement reached the
conclusions described.
The nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Sub-Adviser.
The Manager has arranged for the Sub-Adviser to provide local
management of the Fund's portfolio. The Trustees noted that the Sub-Adviser
employs Mr. Christopher Johns as portfolio manager for the Fund and Mr. Robert
Schultz as back-up portfolio manager and research analyst, and have provided
facilities for credit analysis of the Fund's portfolio securities. Mr. Johns,
based in Denver, Colorado, has provided local information regarding specific
holdings in the Fund's portfolio. The portfolio manager has also been available
to and has met with the brokerage and financial planner community and with
investors and prospective investors to provide them with information generally
about the Fund's portfolio, with which to assess the Fund as an investment
vehicle for residents of Colorado in light of prevailing interest rates and
local economic conditions.
The Board considered that the Sub-Adviser had provided all services the
Board deemed necessary or appropriate, including the specific services that the
Board has determined are required for the Fund, given that its purpose is to
provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from Colorado
state and regular Federal income taxes as is consistent with preservation of
capital. It noted that compared to other Colorado state-specific municipal bond
funds, the portfolio of the Fund was of significantly higher quality and
contained no securities subject to the alternative minimum tax.
The Board concluded that a commendable quality of services was provided
and that the Fund would be well served if they continued. Evaluation of this
factor weighed in favor of renewal of the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The investment performance of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser.
The Board reviewed each aspect of the Fund's performance and compared
its performance with that of its local competitors, with national averages and
with benchmark indices. It was noted that the materials provided by the Manager
indicated that compared to the five largest competitive Colorado funds, the Fund
has had an average annual return that was higher than all but one of its peers
for the one-year period, while lower than its peers for the five- and ten-year
periods, with rates of return explained in part by the Fund's generally
higher-quality portfolio and generally shorter average maturities. Furthermore,
the Trustees noted that in the past year the Fund's net asset value generally
fluctuated modestly compared to the local Colorado competitors. The Fund
considers its local competitors to be Colorado-oriented funds that invest
chiefly in high-quality Colorado municipal obligations.
The Board concluded that the performance of the Fund was acceptable in
light of market conditions, the length of its average maturities, its investment
objectives and its long-standing emphasis on minimizing risk. Evaluation of this
factor indicated to the Trustees that renewal of the Current Sub-Advisory
Agreement would be appropriate.
The costs of the services to be provided and profits to be realized by
Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund.
The information provided in connection with renewal contained expense
data for the Fund and its local competitors as well as data for all single-state
tax-free municipal bond funds nationwide, including data for all such front-end
sales charge funds of a comparable asset size. The materials also showed the
profitability to the Sub-Adviser of its services to the Fund.
The Board compared the expense and fee data with respect to the Fund to
similar data about other funds that it found to be relevant. The Board concluded
that the expenses of the Fund and the fees paid were similar to and were
reasonable as compared to those being paid by single-state tax-free municipal
bond funds nationwide and by the Fund's local competitors.
The Board considered that the foregoing indicated the appropriateness
of the costs of the services to the Fund, which was being well managed as
indicated by the factors considered previously.
The Board further concluded that the profitability to the Sub-Adviser
did not argue against approval of the fees to be paid under the Current
Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows.
Data provided to the Trustees showed that the Fund's average net asset
size had declined in recent years. They concluded that the uncertain interest
rate environment might make it difficult to achieve substantial growth in assets
in the near future. The Trustees also noted that the materials indicated that
the Fund's fees were already lower than what those of its peers would be at
comparable asset levels, including those with breakpoints. Evaluation of this
factor indicated to the Board that the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement should be
renewed without addition of breakpoints at this time.
Benefits derived or to be derived by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from
their relationships with the Fund.
The Board observed that, as is generally true of most fund complexes,
the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, by providing services to a number of funds
or other investment clients including the Fund, were able to spread costs as
they would otherwise be unable to do. The Board noted that while that produces
efficiencies and increased profitability for Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, it
also makes their services available to the Fund at favorable levels of quality
and cost which are more advantageous to the Fund than would otherwise have been
possible.
In connection with approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement and
recommendation that the shareholders of the Fund approve it, the Trustees noted
that that agreement is substantially the same as the Current Sub-Advisory
Agreement except for its starting date and accordingly the materials considered
in connection with the Annual Review, and the reasons for renewing the Current
Sub-Advisory Agreement, apply to the New Sub-Advisory Agreement as well. In
addition, as noted above, in addressing the desirability of replacing the
Current Sub-Advisory Agreement with the New Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Trustees
considered a wide range of information relevant to the ongoing and future
continuity of management of the Fund, including:
|X| representations by representatives of the Sub-Adviser that the proposed
change of control of the Manager was not expected to result in a change in
the personnel or operations of the Sub-Adviser;
|X| representations from representatives of the Sub-Adviser that the investment
approach or style of the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Fund, or the
services provided by it to the Fund, would not change.
|X| the fact that the Transaction will not result in any change to the advisory
fees paid by the Fund or the Fund's total expense ratio;
|X| the fact that the Transaction will not result in a change in the costs of
the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser; and,
|X| the fact that the Fund has operated in compliance with its investment
objective and restrictions.
Based on their evaluation of all factors that they deemed to be
material, including those factors described above, and assisted by the advice of
independent counsel, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, concluded
that the New Sub-Advisory Agreement should be approved and recommended that the
shareholders of the Fund vote to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement for an
initial one-year term.
Description of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Sub-Adviser provides the Fund with local advisory services. Under
the New Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Manager will pay the Sub-Advisor a fee
payable monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Fund as of the close
of business each business day at the annual rate of 0.23 of 1% of such net asset
value, provided, however, that for any day that the Fund pays or accrues a fee
under the Distribution Plan of the Fund based upon the assets of the Fund, the
annual advisory fee is payable at the annual rate of 0.18 of 1% of such net
asset value.
The proposed New Sub-Advisory Agreement is substantially identical to
the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement. For a complete understanding of the New
Sub-Advisory Agreement, please refer to the form of New Sub-Advisory Agreement
provided as Appendix B.
Action Requested
THE TRUSTEES OF THE FUND RECOMMEND THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND
VOTE TO APPROVE THE NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT.
Vote Required
The vote required is the same as that for Proposal No. 1 of the Special
Meeting. Please refer to the description provided under Proposal No. 1.
General
Proposals No. 1 and No. 2 are designed to operate together. Neither
separately will have the intended results. Accordingly, the proposed New
Advisory Agreement and the proposed New Sub-Advisory Agreement will not go into
effect unless shareholders approve both Proposals No. 1 and 2. If these
proposals are not both approved, the current arrangements will remain in effect.
The Board of Trustees will consider what further action is appropriate, which
could include calling another shareholder meeting.
Shareholder Proposals
Under the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
shareholder proposals meeting tests contained in those rules may, under certain
conditions, be included in the Fund's proxy statement and proxy card for a
particular annual meeting. One of these conditions relates to the timely receipt
by the Fund of any such proposal. Under these rules, proposals submitted for
inclusion in the proxy material for the Fund's next annual meeting after the
annual meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates must be received by the
Fund not less than 120 days before the anniversary of the date of this Proxy
Statement. Accordingly, a shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the
Fund's 2008 annual meeting must be received by the Fund by January 16, 2009 in
order to be included in the Fund's proxy material relating to that meeting. The
date for such submission could change, depending on the scheduled date for the
next annual meeting; if so, shareholders will be notified.
The fact that the Fund receives a shareholder proposal in a timely
manner does not insure its inclusion in the Fund's proxy material, since there
are other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion.
A shareholder wishing to provide notice of a proposal in the manner
prescribed by Rule 14a-4 (c)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 must
submit written notice of the proposal to the Fund by April 2, 2009.
Other Business
The Fund does not know of any other matter which will come up for action at
the Annual Meeting. If any other matter or matters properly come up for action
at the Annual Meeting, including any adjournment of the Annual Meeting, the
proxy holders will vote the shares which your proxy card, Internet or telephone
vote entitles them to vote, in accordance with their judgment on such matter or
matters, except as noted. That is, by signing and returning your proxy card or
by voting by telephone or the Internet, you give the proxy holders discretionary
authority as to any such matter or matters.
The Fund does not know of any other matter which will come up for
action at the Special Meeting. If any other matter or matters properly come up
for action at the Special Meeting, including any adjournment of the Special
Meeting, the proxy holders will vote the shares which your proxy card, Internet
or telephone vote entitles them to vote, in accordance with their judgment on
such matter or matters except as noted. That is, by signing and returning your
proxy card or by voting by the Internet or telephone, you give the proxy holders
discretionary authority as to any such matter or matters.
Appendix A
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of ________, 2008 by and between TAX-FREE FUND OF
COLORADO (the "Fund"), 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
and AQUILA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC (the "Manager"), a Delaware limited
liability company, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust which is registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") as an open-end,
non-diversified management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Manager wish to enter into an amended Advisory and
Administration Agreement, referred to hereafter as "this Agreement," with
respect to the Fund;
WHEREAS, this Agreement replaces a prior agreement, setting forth a
different fee arrangement; and
WHEREAS, the shareholders of the Fund have approved this Agreement on August
28, 2000 at a reconvened meeting of shareholders originally held on June 22,
2000;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. In General
The Manager shall perform (at its own expense) the functions set forth more
fully herein for the Fund.
2. Duties and Obligations of the Manager
(a) Investment Advisory Services Subject to the succeeding provisions of
this section and subject to the direction and control of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund, the Manager shall:
(i) supervise continuously the investment program of the Fund and the
composition of its portfolio;
(ii) determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Fund;
(iii) arrange for the purchase and the sale of securities held in the portfolio
of the Fund;
(iv) at its expense provide for pricing of the Fund's portfolio daily using a
pricing service or other source of pricing information satisfactory to the
Fund and, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Trustees, provide for
pricing of the Fund's portfolio at least quarterly using another such source
satisfactory to the Fund; and
Subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof, the Manager may at its own
expense delegate to a qualified organization ("Sub-Adviser"), affiliated or not
affiliated with the Manager, any or all of the above duties. Any such delegation
of the duties set forth in (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be by a written
agreement (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement") approved as provided in Section 15 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(b) Administration. Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section and
subject to the direction and control of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, the
Manager shall provide all administrative services to the Fund other than those
relating to its investment portfolio delegated to a Sub-Adviser of the Fund
under a Sub-Advisory Agreement; as part of such administrative duties, the
Manager shall:
(i) provide office space, personnel, facilities and equipment for the
performance of the following functions and for the maintenance of the
headquarters of the Fund;
(ii) oversee all relationships between the Fund and any sub-adviser, transfer
agent, custodian, legal counsel, auditors and principal underwriter,
including the negotiation of agreements in relation thereto, the supervision
and coordination of the performance of such agreements, and the overseeing
of all administrative matters which are necessary or desirable for the
effective operation of the Fund and for the sale, servicing or redemption of
the Fund's shares;
(iii) either keep the accounting records of the Fund, including the computation
of net asset value per share and the dividends (provided that if there is a
Sub-Adviser, daily pricing of the Fund's portfolio shall be the
responsibility of the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement) or, at
its expense and responsibility, delegate such duties in whole or in part to
a company satisfactory to the Fund;
(iv) maintain the Fund's books and records, and prepare (or assist counsel and
auditors in the preparation of) all required proxy statements, reports to
the Fund's shareholders and Trustees, reports to and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any other governmental agencies, and
tax returns, and oversee the insurance relationships of the Fund;
(v) prepare, on behalf of the Fund and at the Fund's expense, such applications
and reports as may be necessary to register or maintain the registration of
the Fund and/or its shares under the securities or "Blue-Sky" laws of all
such jurisdictions as may be required from time to time;
(vi) respond to any inquiries or other communications of shareholders of the
Fund and broker-dealers, or if any such inquiry or communication is more
properly to be responded to by the Fund's shareholder servicing and transfer
agent or distributor, oversee such shareholder servicing and transfer
agent's or distributor's response thereto.
(c) Compliance with Requirements. Any investment program furnished, and any
activities performed, by the Manager or by a Sub-Adviser under this section
shall at all times conform to, and be in accordance with, any requirements
imposed by: (1) the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") and any rules or
regulations in force thereunder; (2) any other applicable laws, rules and
regulations; (3) the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund as amended
from time to time; (4) any policies and determinations of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund; and (5) the fundamental policies of the Fund, as reflected in its
registration statement under the Act or as amended by the shareholders of the
Fund.
(d) Best Efforts; Responsibility. The Manager shall give the Fund the
benefit of its best judgment and effort in rendering services hereunder, but the
Manager shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the adoption of
any investment policy or the purchase, sale or retention of any security,
whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon (i)
its own investigation and research or (ii) investigation and research made by
any other individual, firm or corporation, if such purchase, sale or retention
shall have been made and such other individual, firm or corporation shall have
been selected in good faith by the Manager or a Sub-Adviser.
(e) Other Customers. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Manager or
any officer thereof from acting as investment adviser, sub-adviser,
administrator or manager for any other person, firm, or corporation, and shall
not in any way limit or restrict the Manager or any of its officers,
stockholders or employees from buying, selling or trading any securities for its
own or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may
be acting, provided, however, that the Manager expressly represents that it will
undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Order Allocation. In connection with any duties for which it may become
responsible to arrange for the purchase and sale of the Fund's portfolio
securities, the Manager shall select, and shall cause any Sub-Adviser to select,
such broker-dealers ("dealers") as shall, in the Manager's judgment, implement
the policy of the Fund to achieve "best execution," i.e., prompt, efficient, and
reliable execution of orders at the most favorable net price. The Manager shall
cause the Fund to deal directly with the selling or purchasing principal or
market maker without incurring brokerage commissions unless the Manager
determines that better price or execution may be obtained by paying such
commissions; the Fund expects that most transactions will be principal
transactions at net prices and that the Fund will incur little or no brokerage
costs. The Fund understands that purchases from underwriters include a
commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and that
principal transactions placed through dealers include a spread between the bid
and asked prices. In allocating transactions to dealers, the Manager is
authorized and shall authorize any Sub-Adviser, to consider, in determining
whether a particular dealer will provide best execution, the dealer's
reliability, integrity, financial condition and risk in positioning the
securities involved, as well as the difficulty of the transaction in question,
and thus need not pay the lowest spread or commission available if the Manager
determines in good faith that the amount of commission is reasonable in relation
to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the dealer,
viewed either in terms of the particular transaction or the Manager's overall
responsibilities. If, on the foregoing basis, the transaction in question could
be allocated to two or more dealers, the Manager is authorized, in making such
allocation, to consider whether a dealer has provided research services, as
further discussed below. Such research may be in written form or through direct
contact with individuals and may include quotations on portfolio securities and
information on particular issuers and industries, as well as on market,
economic, or institutional activities. The Fund recognizes that no dollar value
can be placed on such research services or on execution services and that such
research services may or may not be useful to the Fund and may be used for the
benefit of the Manager or its other clients. The Manager shall cause the
foregoing provisions, in substantially the same form, to be included in any
Sub-Advisory Agreement.
(g) Registration Statement; Information. It is agreed that the Manager shall
have no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the
Fund's Registration Statement under the Act and the Securities Act of 1933,
except for information supplied by the Manager for inclusion therein. The
Manager shall promptly inform the Fund as to any information concerning the
Manager appropriate for inclusion in such Registration Statement, or as to any
transaction or proposed transaction which might result in an assignment of the
Agreement.
(h) Liability for Error. The Manager shall not be liable for any error in
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Fund or its security holders in
connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from wilful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in
the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall, or
shall be construed to, waive or limit any rights which the Fund may have under
federal and state securities laws which may impose liability under certain
circumstances on persons who act in good faith.
(i) Indemnification. The Fund shall indemnify the Manager to the full extent
permitted by the Fund's Declaration of Trust.
3. Allocation of Expenses
The Manager shall, at its own expense, provide office space, facilities,
equipment, and personnel for the performance of its functions hereunder and
shall pay all compensation of Trustees, officers, and employees of the Fund who
are affiliated persons of the Manager.
The Fund agrees to bear the costs of preparing and setting in type its
prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports to its
shareholders, and the costs of printing or otherwise producing and distributing
those copies of such prospectuses, statements of additional information and
reports as are sent to its shareholders. All costs and expenses not expressly
assumed by the Manager under this sub-section or otherwise by the Manager,
administrator or principal underwriter or by any Sub-Adviser shall be paid by
the Fund, including, but not limited to (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage
commissions; (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation of its Trustees other
than those affiliated with the Manager or such adviser, administrator or
principal underwriter and expenses of all its Trustees; (v) legal and audit
expenses; (vi) custodian and transfer agent, or shareholder servicing agent,
fees and expenses; (vii) expenses incident to the issuance of its shares
(including issuance on the payment of, or reinvestment of, dividends); (viii)
fees and expenses incident to the registration under Federal or State securities
laws of the Fund or its shares; (ix) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing
reports and notices and proxy material to shareholders of the Fund; (x) all
other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Fund's shareholders; and
(xi) such non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation affecting
the Fund and the legal obligations for which the Fund may have to indemnify its
officers and Trustees.
4. Compensation of the Manager
The Fund agrees to pay the Manager, and the Manager agrees to accept as
full compensation for all services rendered by the Manager as such, an annual
fee payable monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Fund as of the
close of business each business day at the annual rate of 0.50 of 1% of such net
asset value.
5. Termination of Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Sub-Advisory Agreement may provide for its termination by the Manager
upon reasonable notice, provided, however, that the Manager agrees not to
terminate the Sub-Advisory Agreement except in accordance with such
authorization and direction of the Board of Trustees, if any, as may be in
effect from time to time.
6. Duration and Termination of this Agreement
(a) Duration. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first
written above following approval by the shareholders of the Fund and shall,
unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in effect until the April 30
next preceding the second anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement,
and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (1) by a vote of the Fund's Board of
Trustees, including a vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to
this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such
party, with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval, or (2) by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as so
defined) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and by such a vote of
the Trustees.
(b) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Manager at any time
without penalty upon giving the Fund sixty days' written notice (which notice
may be waived by the Fund) and may be terminated by the Fund at any time without
penalty upon giving the Manager sixty days' written notice (which notice may be
waived by the Manager), provided that such termination by the Fund shall be
directed or approved by a vote of a majority of its Trustees in office at the
time or by a vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the Act) of the
voting securities of the Fund outstanding and entitled to vote. The portions of
this Agreement which relate to providing investment advisory services (Sections
2(a), (c), (d) and (e)) shall automatically terminate in the event of the
assignment (as defined in the Act) of this Agreement, but all other provisions
relating to providing services other than investment advisory services shall not
terminate, provided however, that upon such an assignment the annual fee payable
monthly and computed on the net asset value of the Fund as of the close of
business each business day shall be reduced to the annual rate of .30 of 1% of
such net asset value.
7. Disclaimer of Shareholder Liability
The Manager understands that the obligations of this Agreement are not
binding upon any shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund's
property; the Manager represents that it has notice of the provisions of the
Fund's Declaration of Trust disclaiming shareholder liability for acts or
obligations of the Fund.
8. Notices of Meetings
The Fund agrees that notice of each meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund will be sent to the Manager and that the Fund will make
appropriate arrangements for the attendance (as persons present by invitation)
of such person or persons as the Manager may designate.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their duly authorized officers and their seals to be hereunto
affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
___________________ By:___________________________________
ATTEST: AQUILA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
___________________ By:___________________________________
Appendix B
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of _______, 2008 by and between AQUILA
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC (the "Manager"), 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New
York, New York 10017, and KIRKPATRICK PETTIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. (the
"Sub-Adviser"), 1600 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80202.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund") is a Massachusetts
business trust which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Act") as an open-end, non-diversified management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into an Advisory and Administration
Agreement as of the date hereof with the Fund (the "Advisory and Administration
Agreement") pursuant to which the Manager shall act as investment adviser with
respect to the Fund;
WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 2 of the Advisory and Administration
Agreement, the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser for purposes of
rendering investment advisory services to the Manager in connection with the
Fund upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements
herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. In General
The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to render, to the Manager
and to the Fund, investment research and advisory services as set forth below
under the supervision of the Manager and subject to the approval and direction
of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall, all as more fully
set forth herein, act as managerial investment adviser to the Fund with respect
to the investment of the Fund's assets, and supervise and arrange the purchase
of securities for and the sale of securities held in the portfolio of the Fund.
2. Duties and Obligations of the Sub-Adviser With Respect To Investment of the
Assets of the Fund
(a) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section and subject to
the direction and control of the Manager and the Board of Trustees of the Fund,
the Sub-Adviser shall:
(i) supervise continuously the investment program of the Fund and the
composition of its portfolio;
(ii) determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Fund;
(iii) arrange for the purchase and the sale of securities held in the
portfolio of the Fund;
(iv) at its expense provide for pricing of the Fund's portfolio daily using
a pricing service or other source of pricing information satisfactory
to the Fund and, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Trustees,
provide for pricing of the Fund's portfolio at least quarterly using
another such source satisfactory to the Fund; and
(v) consult with the Manager in connection with its duties hereunder.
(b) Any investment program furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this
section shall at all times conform to, and be in accordance with, any
requirements imposed by: (1) the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") and
any rules or regulations in force thereunder; (2) any other applicable laws,
rules and regulations; (3) the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund as
amended from time to time; (4) any policies and determinations of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund; and (5) the fundamental policies of the Fund, as reflected
in its registration statement under the Act or as amended by the shareholders of
the Fund.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall give to the Manager and to the Fund the
benefit of its best judgment and effort in rendering services hereunder, but the
Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the adoption
of any investment policy or the purchase, sale or retention of any security,
whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon (i)
its own investigation and research or (ii) investigation and research made by
any other individual, firm or corporation, if such purchase, sale or retention
shall have been made and such other individual, firm or corporation shall have
been selected in good faith by the Sub-Adviser.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Sub-Adviser or any
affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of the Sub-Adviser from acting as
investment adviser or manager for any other person, firm or corporation and
shall not in any way limit or restrict the Sub-Adviser or any such affiliated
person from buying, selling or trading any securities for its own or their own
accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting,
provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser expressly represents that, while acting
as Sub-Adviser, it will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will
adversely affect the performance of its obligations to the Fund under this
Agreement.
(e) In connection with its duties to arrange for the purchase and sale
of the Fund's portfolio securities, the Sub-Adviser shall select such
broker-dealers ("dealers") as shall, in the Sub-Adviser's judgment, implement
the policy of the Fund to achieve "best execution," i.e., prompt, efficient, and
reliable execution of orders at the most favorable net price. The Sub-Adviser
shall cause the Fund to deal directly with the selling or purchasing principal
or market maker without incurring brokerage commissions unless the Sub-Adviser
determines that better price or execution may be obtained by paying such
commissions; the Fund expects that most transactions will be principal
transactions at net prices and that the Fund will incur little or no brokerage
costs. The Fund understands that purchases from underwriters include a
commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and that
principal transactions placed through dealers include a spread between the bid
and asked prices. In allocating transactions to dealers, the Sub-Adviser is
authorized to consider, in determining whether a particular dealer will provide
best execution, the dealer's reliability, integrity, financial condition and
risk in positioning the securities involved, as well as the difficulty of the
transaction in question, and thus need not pay the lowest spread or commission
available if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that the amount of
commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research
services provided by the dealer, viewed either in terms of the particular
transaction or the Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities. If, on the foregoing
basis, the transaction in question could be allocated to two or more dealers,
the Sub-Adviser is authorized, in making such allocation, to consider whether a
dealer has provided research services, as further discussed below. Such research
may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may
include quotations on portfolio securities and information on particular issuers
and industries, as well as on market, economic, or institutional activities. The
Fund recognizes that no dollar value can be placed on such research services or
on execution services and that such research services may or may not be useful
to the Fund and may be used for the benefit of the Sub-Adviser or its other
clients.
(f) The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain, and to preserve for the periods
prescribed, such books and records with respect to the portfolio transactions of
the Fund as are required by applicable law and regulation, and agrees that all
records which it maintains for the Fund on behalf of the Manager shall be the
property of the Fund and shall be surrendered promptly to the Fund or the
Manager upon request.
(g) The Sub-Adviser agrees to furnish to the Manager and to the Board
of Trustees of the Fund such periodic and special reports as each may reasonably
request.
(h) It is agreed that the Sub-Adviser shall have no responsibility or
liability for the accuracy or completeness of the Fund's Registration Statement
under the Act and the Securities Act of 1933, except for information supplied by
the Sub-Adviser for inclusion therein. The Sub-Adviser shall promptly inform the
Fund as to any information concerning the Sub-Adviser appropriate for inclusion
in such Registration Statement, or as to any transaction or proposed transaction
which might result in an assignment (as defined in the Act) of this Agreement.
(i) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error in judgment or
for any loss suffered by the Fund or its security holders in connection with the
matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from wilful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall, or shall be construed to, waive or
limit any rights which the Fund may have under federal and state securities laws
which may impose liability under certain circumstances on persons who act in
good faith.
(j) To the extent that the Manager is indemnified under the Fund's
Declaration of Trust with respect to the services provided hereunder by the
Sub-Adviser, the Manager agrees to provide the Sub-Adviser the benefits of such
indemnification.
3. Allocation of Expenses
The Sub-Adviser shall bear all of the expenses it incurs in fulfilling
its obligations under this Agreement. In particular, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing: the Sub-Adviser shall furnish, at the Sub-Adviser's
expense, all office space, facilities, equipment and clerical personnel
necessary for carrying out its duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser
shall supply, or cause to be supplied, to any investment adviser, administrator
or principal underwriter of the Fund all necessary financial information in
connection with such adviser's, administrator's or principal underwriter's
duties under any agreement between such adviser, administrator or principal
underwriter and the Fund. The Sub-Adviser will also pay all compensation of the
Fund's officers, employees, and Trustees, if any, who are affiliated persons of
the Sub-Adviser.
4. Compensation of the Sub-Adviser
The Manager agrees to pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees
to accept as full compensation for all services rendered by the Sub-Adviser as
such, a management fee payable monthly and computed on the net asset value of
the Fund as of the close of business each business day at the annual rate of
0.20 of 1% of such net asset value.
5. Duration and Termination
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the day it is approved by
the shareholders of the Fund and shall, unless terminated as hereinafter
provided, continue in effect until the April 30 next preceding the first
anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, and from year to year
thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually (1) by a vote of the Fund's Board of Trustees, including a vote
of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or
"interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such party, with votes cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or (2)
by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as so defined) of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund and by such a vote of the Trustees.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by the Sub-Adviser at any time
without penalty upon giving the Manager and the Fund sixty days' written notice
(which notice may be waived). This Agreement may be terminated by the Manager or
the Fund at any time without penalty upon giving the Sub-Adviser sixty days'
written notice (which notice may be waived by the Sub-Adviser), provided that
such termination by the Fund shall be directed or approved by a vote of a
majority of its Trustees in office at the time or by a vote of the holders of a
majority (as defined in the Act) of the voting securities of the Fund
outstanding and entitled to vote. This Agreement shall automatically terminate
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Act) or the termination of the
Advisory and Administration Agreement.
6. Notices of Meetings
The Manager agrees that notice of each meeting of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund will be sent to the Sub-Adviser and that Sub-Adviser will make
appropriate arrangements for the attendance (as persons present by invitation)
of such person or persons as the Sub-Adviser may designate.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing
instrument to be executed by their duly authorized officers and their seals to
be hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: AQUILA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
___________________ By:___________________________________
ATTEST: KIRKPATRICK PETTIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
___________________ By:___________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTICE
PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY
Tax-Free Fund of Colorado
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
And
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be held on June 27, 2008
PROXY STATEMENT
EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Your Proxy Vote is important!
And now you can Vote your Proxy on the PHONE or the INTERNET.
It saves Money! Telephone and Internet voting saves postage costs.
Savings which can help minimize expenses.
It saves Time! Telephone and Internet voting is instantaneous - 24 hours a day.
It's Easy! Just follow these simple steps:
1. Read your Proxy Statement and have it at hand.
2. Call toll-free 1-866-241-6192, or go to website: www.proxy-direct.com
3. Follow the recorded or on-screen directions.
4. Do not mail your Proxy Card when you vote by phone or Internet.
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
PROXY PROXY
AQUILA GROUP OF FUNDS
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders - June 27, 2008
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
The shareholder(s) of Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund") whose signature(s)
appear(s) below does/do hereby appoint DIANA P. HERRMANN, CHARLES E. CHILDS, III
and EDWARD M. W. HINES, or any of them, as attorneys and proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Trust to be held on Friday, June 27, 2008 at the Colorado
Convention Center, Room 507, 700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado, at 10:00 a.m.
Mountain Daylight Time, and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote the
shares held in the name of the undersigned on the record date for said meeting
on the matters listed on the reverse side. Such shares are entitled to one vote
for every dollar of net asset value represented by the share balance printed
below.
Management recommends a vote FOR all nominees in Proposal 1 and FOR
Proposal 2. The shares represented hereby will be voted as indicated on the
reverse or FOR if no choice is indicated.
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com
Note: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAMES(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS
PROXY CARD. When signing as custodian, attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, etc., please sign your
title as such. Joint owners should each sign.
________________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Signature (if held jointly)
_________________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________
Yes No
__ __
I plan to attend the Annual Meeting in Denver. [__] [__]
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ABOVE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR
PROXY TODAY
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
Please read the proxy statement prior to voting.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS IN THIS EXAMPLE:
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO ANNUAL MEETING
01. Tucker Hart Adams 02. Thomas A. Christopher 03. Gary C. Cornia
04. Diana P. Herrmann* 05. Lyle W. Hillyard 06. John C. Lucking
07. Anne J. Mills
*Interested Trustee
For All Withhold All For All Except
__ __ __
[__] [__] [__]
To withhold authority to vote for one or more (but not all) nominees, mark "FOR
ALL EXCEPT" and write the nominee number(s) and/ or name(s) on the line below.
____________________
2. Action on selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as independent registered
public accounting firm. (Proposal No. 2 in Proxy Statement)
For Against Abstain
__ __ __
[__] [__] [__]
As to any other matter said proxies shall vote in accordance with their best
judgment.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Your Proxy Vote is important!
And now you can Vote your Proxy on the PHONE or the INTERNET.
It saves Money! Telephone and Internet voting saves postage costs.
Savings which can help minimize expenses.
It saves Time! Telephone and Internet voting is instantaneous - 24 hours a day.
It's Easy! Just follow these simple steps:
1. Read your Proxy Statement and have it at hand.
2. Call toll-free 1-866-241-6192, or go to website: www.proxy-direct.com
3. Follow the recorded or on-screen directions.
4. Do not mail your Proxy Card when you vote by phone or Internet.
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
PROXY PROXY
AQUILA GROUP OF FUNDS
TAX-FREE FUND OF COLORADO
Proxy for Special Meeting of Shareholders - June 27, 2008
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
The shareholder(s) of Tax-Free Fund of Colorado (the "Fund") whose signature(s)
appear(s) below does/do hereby appoint DIANA P. HERRMANN, CHARLES E. CHILDS, III
and EDWARD M. W. HINES, or any of them, as attorneys and proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Trust to be held on Friday, June 27, 2008 at the Colorado
Convention Center, Room 507, 700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado, at 11:00 a.m.
Mountain Daylight Time, and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote the
shares held in the name of the undersigned on the record date for said meeting
on the matters listed on the reverse side. Such shares are entitled to one vote
for every dollar of net asset value represented by the share balance printed
below.
Management recommends a vote FOR the Special Meeting Proposals No. 1 and No. 2.
The shares represented hereby will be voted as indicated on the reverse or FOR
if no choice is indicated.
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com
Note: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAMES(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS
PROXY CARD. When signing as custodian, attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, etc., please sign your
title as such. Joint owners should each sign.
________________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Signature (if held jointly)
_________________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________
Yes No
__ __
I plan to attend the Special Meeting in Denver. [__] [__]
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ABOVE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR
PROXY TODAY
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
Please read the proxy statement prior to voting.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS IN THIS EXAMPLE:
1. Action on a new Advisory and Administration Agreement.
(Special Meeting Proposal No. 1 in Proxy Statement)
For Against Abstain
__ __ __
[__] [__] [__]
2. Action on a new Sub-Advisory Agreement.
(Special Meeting Proposal No. 2 in Proxy Statement)
For Against Abstain
__ __ __
[__] [__] [__]
As to any other matter said proxies shall vote in accordance with their
best judgment.
Special Meeting Attendance - You are encouraged to attend the Special Meeting of
Shareholders. If you can attend, please so indicate on the proxy card or e-mail
us at info@aquilafunds.com
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.