File Nos. 33-13021 & 811-5086
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
CHURCHILL TAX-FREE TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, New York 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(212) 697-66667
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
Important Notice
Please Read Immediately
Aquilasm Group of Funds
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017
Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held
on April 29, 2005
To Shareholders of the Fund:
The purpose of this Notice is to advise you that an Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders of Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky (the "Fund") will be held:
Place: (a) at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Brown & Williamson Room
2800 South Floyd Street
Louisville, Kentucky;
Time: (b) on April 29, 2005
at 10:00 a.m. Eastern 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(Proposal No. 1);
(ii) to ratify (that is, to approve) or reject the selection
of KPMG LLP as the Fund's independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2005 (Proposal No. 2);
(iii) to act upon any other matters which may properly come
before the Meeting at the scheduled time and place or
any adjourned meeting or meetings.
Who Can
Vote What
Shares: (d) To vote at the Meeting, you must have been a
shareholder on the Fund's records at the close of
business on January 31, 2005 (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 Meeting (or any adjourned
meeting or meetings).
By order of the Board of Trustees,
EDWARD M. W. HINES
Secretary
March 18, 2005
Please Note:
If you do not expect to attend the Meeting, please vote by any of three ways: by
telephone, by the Internet 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.
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017
Proxy Statement
Introduction
The purpose of the Notice preceding this Proxy Statement is to advise you
of the time, place and purposes of an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky (the "Fund"). The purpose of this Proxy
Statement is to give you information on which you may base your decisions as to
the choices, if any, you make in voting.
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.
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.
This Notice and Proxy Statement are first being mailed on or about March
18, 2005.
You should read this 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 Card
The enclosed proxy card authorizes the persons named (or their substitutes)
to vote your shares; the Fund calls these persons the "proxy holders." 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 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 matter listed on the proxy card, you may direct the proxy
holders to vote your shares on this proposal by marking the appropriate box
"For" or "Against" or instruct them not to vote your shares on the 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) Telephone Voting
To vote your shares by telephone, call the toll-free number on your proxy
card. You will be prompted to enter the control number on your proxy card.
Follow the recorded instructions using your proxy card as a guide. If you vote
by phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail.
(3) Internet Voting
To vote your shares by the Internet, please contact the Fund at the
Internet address shown on your proxy card. You will be prompted to enter the
control number on your proxy card. Follow the instructions on the screen, using
your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the
proxy card by mail.
General Information
You may end the power of the proxy holders to vote your shares 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 a quorum. They will
be counted as present in determining voting results, and will therefore have the
same effect as negative votes.
The Fund is sending you this Notice and Proxy Statement in connection with
the solicitation by its Trustees of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting to
be held at the time and place and for the purposes indicated in the Notice or
any adjourned meeting or meetings. Whenever it is stated in this Proxy Statement
that a matter is to be acted on at the 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 this Notice and 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.
On the record date, the Fund had four classes of shares outstanding. All
shareholders of the Fund are entitled to vote at the 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, $10.77;
Class C Shares, $10.77; Class Y Shares, $10.78; and Class I Shares, $10.77. The
meeting is expected to act only upon matters that affect the Fund as a whole:
the election of Trustees and the selection of an independent registered public
accounting firm. 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, 21,736,328; Class C Shares, 760,341;
Class Y Shares, 4,569,093 and Class I Shares, 706,576.
On the record date, the following holders held 5% or more 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 Number of shares Percent of class
of the holder of
record
Institutional 5% shareholders
SYAG
c/o Stock Yards Bank and Trust
P.O. Box 34290
Louisville, KY 2,390,368 Class A Shares 11.00%
MLPF&S for the sole
benefit of its customers
4800 Deer Lake Dr East
Jacksonville, FL 67,886 Class C Shares 8.93%
UBS Financial Services Inc.
FBO Mrs. Frances Carletta Jewell
Mr. Kenneth Dewany Jewell JTWROS
6971 Mt. Washington Road
Taylorsville, KY 46,324 Class C Shares 6.09%
US Bancorp Investments
FBO 228998431
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 40,389 Class C Shares 5.31%
Glenview Trust Company
4969 US Highway 42
Suite 2000
Louisville, KY 40222 3,056,899 Class Y Shares 66.90%
Bankdan
c/o Kentucky Trust Company
218 W. Main St.
Danville, KY 472,881 Class Y Shares 10.35%
J.J.B. Hilliard Lyons
FBO Cardinal Aluminum Co.
501 S. 4th St.
Louisville, KY 250,509 Class Y Shares 5.48%
Danky & Co.
P.O. Box 28
Danville, KY 243,478 Class Y Shares 5.33%
Pershing LLC
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 606,790 Class I Shares 85.88%
Charles Schwab & Co.
Special Custody Account
FBO Customers
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 68,656 Class I Shares 9.72%
Additional 5% shareholders
Ray N. Cossey and Elizabeth
S. Cossey, Trustees
Cossey Family Revoc. Liv. Trust
c/o Carolyn E. Pitchford
1049 Halifax Bailey Road
Scottsdale, KY 42,634 Class C Shares 5.61%
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 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 April, 2004. All nominees have
consented to serve if elected.
Trustees(1)
and Officers
Number of
Portfolios in Other Directorships
Positions Held with Fund Held by Trustee
Fund Complex(4) (The position held is
Name, Address(2) and and Length Principal Occupation(s) Overseen by a directorship unless
Date of Birth of Service(3) During Past 5 Years Trustee indicated otherwise.)
Interested
Trustee(5)
Diana P. Herrmann Trustee since Vice Chair and Chief Executive 10 None
New York, NY 1995 and Officer of Aquila Management
(02/25/58) President since Corporation, Founder of the
1999 Aquilasm Group of Funds(6) and
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; Vice
Chair, President, Executive Vice
President or Senior Vice
President of funds in the
Aquilasm 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 (2004) and head of its
Small Funds Committee since
2004; active in charitable and
volunteer organizations.
Non-interested Trustees
Thomas A. Chair of the Vice President of Robinson, 2 None
Christopher Board of Hughes & Christopher, C.P.A.s,
Danville, KY Trustees since P.S.C., since 1977; President, A
(12/19/47) 2005 and Good Place for Fun, Inc., a
Trustee since sports facility, since 1987;
1992 currently or formerly active
with various professional and
community organizations.
Douglas Dean Trustee Founder and Chairman of the 1 None
Lexington, since 1987 Board of Directors, Dean, Dorton
KY & Ford P.S.C., a public
(03/21/49) accounting firm, since 1982;
active as an officer and member
of various charitable and
community organizations.
Theodore T. Mason Trustee since Executive Director, East Wind 10 Trustee, Pimco Advisors VIT.
New York, NY 1987 Power Partners LTD since 1994
(11/24/35) and Louisiana Power Partners,
1999-2003; Treasurer, Alumni
Association of SUNY Maritime
College since 2004 (President,
2002-2003, First Vice President,
2000-2001, Second Vice
President, 1998-2000) and
director of the same
organization since 1997;
Director, STCM Management
Company, Inc., 1973-2004; twice
national officer of Naval
Reserve Association, commanding
officer of four naval reserve
units and Captain, USNR (Ret);
director, The Navy League of the
United States New York Council
since 2002; trustee, The
Maritime Industry Museum at Fort
Schuyler, 2000-2004, and the
Maritime College at Fort
Schuyler Foundation, Inc. since
2000.
Anne J. Mills Trustee since President, Loring Consulting 4 None
Castle Rock, CO 1987 Company since 2001; Vice
(12/23/38) President for Business Affairs,
Ottawa University, 1992-2001;
IBM Corporation, 1965-1991;
Budget Review Officer, the
American Baptist Churches/USA,
1994-1997; director, the
American Baptist Foundation;
Trustee, Ottawa University; and
Trustee Emerita, Brown
University.
William J. Nightingale Trustee since Retired; formerly Chairman, 2 Ring's End, Inc.
Rowayton, CT 1993 founder (1975) and Senior
(09/16/29) Advisor until 2000 of
Nightingale & Associates,
L.L.C., a general management
consulting firm focusing on
interim management,
divestitures, turnaround of
troubled companies, corporate
restructuring and financial
advisory services.
James R. Ramsey Trustee since President, University of 2 Community Bank and Trust,
Louisville, KY 1987 Louisville since November 2002; Pikeville, KY and Texas
(11/14/48) Professor of Economics, Roadhouse Inc.
University of Louisville,
1999-present; Kentucky
Governor's Senior Policy Advisor
and State Budget Director,
1999-2002; Vice Chancellor for
Finance and Administration, the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, 1998 to 1999;
previously Vice President for
Finance and Administration at
Western Kentucky University,
State Budget Director for the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Chief
State Economist and Executive
Director for the Office of
Financial Management and
Economic Analysis for the
Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Adjunct Professor at the
University of Kentucky,
Associate Professor at Loyola
University-New Orleans and
Assistant Professor at Middle
Tennessee State University.
Officers
Charles E. Executive Vice Executive Vice President of all N/A N/A
Childs, III President since funds in the Aquilasm Group of
New York, NY 2003 Funds and the Manager since
(04/01/57) 2003; Senior Vice President,
corporate development, formerly
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.
Thomas S. Albright Senior Vice Senior Vice President and N/A N/A
Louisville, KY President since Portfolio Manager, Churchill
(07/26/52) 2000 Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky since
July 2000; Senior Vice
President, Tax-Free Fund For
Utah since 2003, Vice President,
2001-2003 and co-portfolio
manager since 2001; Vice
President and backup portfolio
manager, Tax-Free Trust of
Arizona, since 2004; Vice
President and Portfolio Manager,
Banc One Investment Advisors,
Inc., 1994-2000.
Jerry G. McGrew Senior Vice President of the Distributor N/A N/A
New York, NY (06/18/44) President since since 1998, Registered Principal
1994 since 1993, Senior Vice
President, 1997-1998 and Vice
President, 1993-1997; Senior
Vice President, Aquila Rocky
Mountain Equity Fund and five
Aquila Bond Funds since 1995;
Vice President, Churchill Cash
Reserves Trust, 1995-2001.
Todd W. Curtis Vice President Senior Vice President and N/A N/A
Phoenix, AZ since 2004 Portfolio Manager, Tax-Free
(06/08/49) Trust of Arizona, since August
2004; Vice President and backup
portfolio manager, Churchill
Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, since
2004; Vice President and
Portfolio Manager, Banc One
Investment Advisors, Inc. and
its predecessors, 1981-2004.
James M. McCullough Vice President Senior Vice President or Vice N/A N/A
Portland, OR (06/11/45) since 2000 President of Aquila Rocky
Mountain Equity Fund and four
Aquila Bond Funds; Senior Vice
President of the Distributor
since 2000; Director of Fixed
Income Institutional Sales, CIBC
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Seattle,
WA, 1995-1999.
Jason T. McGrew Vice President Vice President, Churchill N/A N/A
Elizabethtown, KY since 2001 Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky since
(08/14/71) 2001, Assistant Vice President,
2000-2001; Investment Broker
with Raymond James Financial
Services 1999-2000 and with J.C.
Bradford and Company 1997-1999;
Associate Broker at Prudential
Securities 1996-1997.
Robert W. Anderson Chief Chief Compliance Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY (08/23/40) Compliance Fund, the Manager and the
Officer since Distributor since 2004,
2004 and Compliance Officer of the
Assistant Manager or its predecessor and
Secretary current parent since 1998 and
since 2000 Assistant Secretary of the
Aquilasm Group of Funds since
2000; Consultant, The Wadsworth
Group, 1995-1998.
Joseph P. DiMaggio Chief Financial Chief Financial Officer of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Officer since Aquilasm Group of Funds since
(11/06/56) 2003 and 2003 and Treasurer since 2000;
Treasurer since Controller, Van Eck Global
2000 Funds, 1993-2000.
Edward M. W. Hines Secretary since Partner, Hollyer Brady Barrett & N/A N/A
New York, NY 1987 Hines LLP, legal counsel to the
(12/16/39) Fund, since 1989; Secretary of
the Aquilasm Group of Funds.
John M. Herndon Assistant Assistant Secretary of the N/A N/A
New York, NY (12/17/39) Secretary since Aquilasm Group of Funds since
1995 1995 and 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 N/A N/A
New York, NY Treasurer since Aquilasm Group of Funds since
(11/02/66) 2000 2000; Assistant Vice President
of the Manager or its
predecessor and current parent
since 1998; Fund Accountant for
the Aquilasm Group of Funds,
1995-1998.
Trustees Emeritus(7)
Lacy B. Herrmann Trustee Founder and Chairman of the N/A N/A
New York, NY Emeritus since Board, Aquila Management
(05/12/29) 2005; Founder, Corporation, the sponsoring
Chairman of the organization and parent of the
Board of Manager or Administrator and/or
Trustees Adviser or Sub-Adviser to each
1987-2004 fund of the Aquilasm Group of
Funds, Chairman of the Manager
or Administrator and/or Adviser
or Sub-Adviser to each since
2004, and Founder, Chairman of
the Board of Trustees, Trustee
and (currently or until 1998)
President of each since its
establishment, beginning in
1984, except Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of Hawaiian
Tax-Free Trust, Pacific Capital
Cash Assets Trust, Pacific
Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets
Trust and Pacific Capital U.S.
Government Securities Cash
Assets Trust through 2003,
Trustee until 2004 and Chairman
of the Board, Emeritus since
2004; 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.
Carroll F. Knicely Trustee President, Associated N/A N/A
Glasgow, KY Emeritus since Publications Inc, Glasgow,
(12/08/28) 2004 Kentucky; director and member,
Executive Board of West Kentucky
Corporation and director and
Secretary-Treasurer, South Gate
Plaza, Inc. (owner and developer
of shopping centers and
commercial real estate);
director, Vice President and
Treasurer, Knicely and Knicely,
Inc. (owner and developer of
rental properties and
residential real estate); former
trustee, Cambellsville
University; formerly Secretary
of Commerce and Commissioner of
Commerce, Commonwealth of
Kentucky.
(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).
(2) The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is c/o Churchill Tax-Free
Fund of Kentucky, 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) Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public
shareholders.
(5) 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.
(6) 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 Bond Funds";
Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund is an equity fund; considered together, these
11 funds, which do not include the dormant funds described in footnote 4, are
called the "Aquilasm Group of Funds."
(7) A Trustee Emeritus may attend Trustee meetings but has no voting power.
Securities Holdings of the Trustees
(as of 12/31/04)
Dollar Range of Aggregate Dollar Range of
Name of Ownership in Churchill Ownership in Aquilasm
Trustee Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky(1) Investment Companies
Overseen by Trustee(1)
Interested Trustee
Diana P. Herrmann B E
Non-interested Trustees
Thomas A. Christopher C C
Douglas Dean D D
Theodore T. Mason B C
Anne J. Mills B D
William J. Nightingale C C
James R. Ramsey C C
(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 or the Distributor.
The Fund does not currently pay fees to any of the Fund's officers or to
Trustees affiliated with the Manager. For its fiscal year ended December 31,
2004, the Fund paid a total of $93,711 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 11 funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds, which
consist of tax-free municipal bond funds, money-market funds 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 Aquilasm Group of
Funds during the Fund's fiscal year. None of such Trustees has any pension or
retirement benefits from the Fund or any of the other funds in the Aquila group.
Compensation Number of
from all boards on
Compensation funds in the which the
from the Aquilasm Trustee
Name Fund Group of Funds serves
Thomas A.
Christopher $8,500 $16,467 2
Douglas
Dean $9,050 $ 9,050 1
Theodore T.
Mason $8,550 $63,100 10
Anne J.
Mills $8,350 $38,275 4
William J.
Nightingale $9,125 $18,400 2
James R.
Ramsey $8,350 $ 8,685 2
Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by certain of 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 Aquilasm Group of Funds. As of
January 31, 2005, these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $4.1
billion, of which approximately $2.5 billion consisted of assets of the tax-free
municipal bond funds. AMC's address is the same as that of the Manager. AMC is
controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann, through share ownership directly, through
two trusts and by his wife. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the
Fund paid $1,156,672 in management fees.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, $348,547 was paid under
Part I of the Fund's Distribution Plan to Qualified Recipients with respect to
the Class A Shares, of which $8,438 was retained by the Distributor. With
respect to Class C shares, during the same period $54,943 was paid under Part II
of the Plan and $18,314 was paid under Part I of the Shareholder Services Plan.
Of these total payments of $73,257 the Distributor retained $12,102. With
respect to Class I Shares, during the same period $12,714 was paid under Part
III of the Plan and $9,535 was paid under Part II of the Shareholder Services
Plan. All of such payments were for compensation.
The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the funds in the
Aquilasm 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, 72% by Mr.
Herrmann and other members of his immediate family and the balance by current
employees of Aquila Investment Management LLC.
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 1940 Act. The members of the Audit Committee are
Thomas A. Christopher, Douglas Dean, Theodore T. Mason, Anne J. Mills, William
J. Nightingale and James R. Ramsey. 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 one meeting 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 Audit Committee meetings (if such Trustee was a member of
that committee).
The Fund's policy is that all Trustees who can do so attend the Annual
Meeting.
The Fund has a Nominating Committee, consisting of all of the Independent
Trustees. The Nominating Committee held no meetings 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. The charter of the Nominating Committee is available
on the Fund's website at www.aquilafunds.com.
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 or its parent
or subsidiaries.
Vote Required
To be elected, each nominee must receive the affirmative votes of a
majority of the shares present.
Ratification or Rejection
of Selection of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Proposal No. 2)
KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), 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
Independent Trustees, as the Fund's independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. Such selection is submitted
to the shareholders for ratification or rejection.
The following table represents fees for professional audit services
rendered by KPMG for the audit of the Fund's annual financial statements for
2003 and 2004, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG.
2003 2004
Audit Fees: 20,100 20,700
Audit related fees 0 0
______ ______
Audit and audit related fees 20,100 20,700
Tax fees (1) 8,942 8,350
All other fees 0 0
______ _____
Total fees $29,042 $29,050
_______ _______
(1) Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.
KPMG 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 KPMG 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
KPMG and has accepted KPMG's representation that it is independent in
recommending re-appointment of it for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.
KPMG has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund or the
Manager. It is expected that representatives of KPMG 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.
Receipt of 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
meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates must be received by the Fund not
less than 120 days before the anniversary of the date stated in this Proxy
Statement for the first mailing of this Proxy Statement. 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.
Other Business
The Fund does not know of any other matter which will come up for action at
the Meeting. If any other matter or matters properly come up for action at the
Meeting, including any adjournment of the Meeting, the proxy holders will vote
the shares which your proxy card, telephone or Internet 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.
<page>
IMPORTANT NOTICE
PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY
CHURCHILL TAX-FREE FUND OF KENTUCKY
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be held on APRIL 29, 2005
PROXY STATEMENT
<page>
THE AQUILASM GROUP OF FUNDS
380 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 2300
NEW YORK, NY 10017
VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET OR MAIL
24 Hours a day, 7 days a week
TELEPHONE
1-888-221-0697
To vote your shares by telephone, call toll free 1-888-221-0697. Follow the
simple recorded instructions using this proxy card as a guide. If you vote by
phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail.
INTERNET VOTING
www.proxyweb.com/aquila
To vote your shares by the Internet, contact the Fund at
www.proxyweb.com/aquila. Follow the simple instructions at the website, using
your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the
proxy card by mail.
MAIL
You can vote your shares by completing and returning this proxy card.
Please mark your proxy, date and sign it below and return it promptly in the
accompanying envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the United States.
Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing.
Aquilasm Group of Funds
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky
Proxy for Shareholder Meeting April 29, 2005
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
The shareholder(s) of Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky (the "Fund")
whose signature(s)appear(s) below does/do hereby appoint LACY B. HERRMANN, DIANA
P. HERRMANN 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 Fund to be held on Friday, April 29, 2005 at Papa John's
Cardinal Stadium, Brown & Williamson Room, 2800 South Floyd Street, Louisville,
Kentucky, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, and at 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.
Please read the proxy statement prior to voting.
Annual Meeting Attendance
We encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If you can join
us, please so indicate on the proxy card or e-mail us at
info@aquilafunds.com
Address changes/comments: _______________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(If you noted any address changes/comments above, please mark corresponding box
on other side.)
Dated: __________________, 2005
_________________________________
Signature(s) (SIGN IN THE BOX)
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing
as a custodian, attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc.,
please sign your full title as such. Joint owners should each sign.
<page>
Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or number 2 pencil.
[X] PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS
1. Election of Trustees
01) Thomas A. Christopher; 02) Douglas Dean; 03) Diana P. Herrmann*; 04)
Theodore T. Mason; 05) Anne J. Mills; 06) William J. Nightingale; 07) James R.
Ramsey
* interested Trustee
__
[__] FOR ALL
__
[__] WITHHOLD ALL
__
[__] FOR ALL EXCEPT
_____________________
INSTRUCTION: 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 above.
[bolded in printed form]
Management recommends a vote FOR all nominees listed above and FOR the proposal
listed at right. The shares represented hereby will be voted as indicated below
or FOR if no choice is indicated.
2. Action on selection of KPMG 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.
__
I plan to attend the annual meeting in Louisville [__]
__
I plan to attend the outreach meeting in Elizabethtown [__]
For address changes and/or comments, please check the box at right and write
them on the front where indicated. _
[_]
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.