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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 12, 1995
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
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
/X/ Definitive proxy statement
/ / Definitive additional materials
/ / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
/ / $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(t)(1), or 14a-6(J)(2).
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
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(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
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(3) Filing party:
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(4) Date filed:
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Notes:
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(1)Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.
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FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
(INTERMEDIATE SERIES)
Dear Shareholder:
As a shareholder of the Intermediate Series (the "Existing Fund") of First
Prairie Municipal Bond Fund, a Maryland corporation (the "Corporation"), you are
entitled to vote on the proposal described below and in the enclosed materials.
Currently, the Existing Fund is organized as a separate series of a
Maryland corporation, that has two series -- one is the Existing Fund and the
other is the Insured Series. Because the Existing Fund is part of the Prairie
Family of Funds and is designed for individual investors, management of the
Existing Fund has determined that certain operational efficiencies might be
achievable if the Existing Fund -- while continuing as a separate entity for
purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940 -- were to reorganize as a
separate series of a single Massachusetts business trust. The transaction will
not result in the imposition of Federal income tax on you.
The proposal provides that the Existing Fund exchange all of its assets,
subject to its liabilities, for Class A Shares ("Series Shares") of a separate
new series of Prairie Funds, a newly-formed investment company organized as a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). The Trust is comprised of twelve
series, including the Intermediate Municipal Bond Series (the "Series") into
which the Existing Fund is proposed to be reorganized. Upon consummation of this
transaction (the "Exchange"), the Series Shares received by the Existing Fund
will be distributed by the Existing Fund to its shareholders (the
"Shareholders"), with each Shareholder receiving the same number of Series
Shares (or fractions thereof) as Existing Fund shares held by such Shareholder
immediately before the Exchange. The Existing Fund then will be liquidated and
dissolved.
The Series will have the same investment objective as the Existing Fund.
The Existing Fund and the Series differ in several respects: (i) the Existing
Fund is a series of a Maryland corporation and the Series is a series of a
Massachusetts business trust; (ii) the investment adviser of the Existing Fund
is The First National Bank of Chicago ("FNBC"), acting through its Investment
Management Department; the investment adviser of the Series will be a newly
formed subsidiary of FNBC which will employ substantially all the investment
personnel who currently provide advisory services to the Existing Fund; (iii)
the Series' aggregate management fee will be lower, and its structure will be
different, than the Existing Fund's; and (iv) certain management policies will
differ somewhat as a result of standardizing the policies of the funds in the
Prairie family. These differences are described in the enclosed Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.
Further information about the transaction is contained in the enclosed
materials, which you should review carefully.
Please take the time to consider the enclosed materials and then vote by
completing, dating and signing the enclosed proxy card. A self-addressed,
postage-paid envelope has been enclosed for your convenience.
THE CORPORATION'S BOARD MEMBERS RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION. If you have any questions after considering the enclosed
materials, please feel free to call (312) 732-3237 between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (New York time), Monday through Friday.
Sincerely,
/s/ JOHN E. PELLETIER
John E. Pelletier,
Secretary
December 19, 1994 --
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FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
(INTERMEDIATE SERIES)
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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To the Shareholders:
A Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Intermediate Series (the "Existing
Fund") of First Prairie Municipal Bond Fund will be held at the offices of
Concord Holding Corporation, 125 West 55th Street, 11th Floor, New York, New
York 10019, on Tuesday, January 17, 1995 at 10:00 a.m. for the following
purposes:
1. To consider an Agreement and Plan of Exchange (the "Plan") for the
Existing Fund providing for the transfer of all or substantially all of its
assets, subject to its liabilities, to a new series (the "Series") of
Prairie Funds, a newly created Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust").
Under the Plan, the Existing Fund would receive, in exchange (the
"Exchange") for its assets attributable to Class A, Class A shares of
beneficial interest of the Series, par value $.001 per share ("Series
Shares"). Series Shares received in the Exchange will be distributed by the
Existing Fund to its shareholders in liquidation of the Existing Fund,
after which the Existing Fund will be dissolved; and
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5, 1994, will
be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ JOHN E. PELLETIER
John E. Pelletier,
Secretary
New York, New York
December 19, 1994
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WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE IMMEDIATELY
A SHAREHOLDER MAY THINK HIS VOTE IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS VITAL. BY
LAW, THE MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE EXISTING FUND WILL HAVE TO BE
ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS IF LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF
ITS SHARES ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IS REPRESENTED. IN THAT EVENT, THE
EXISTING FUND, AT SHAREHOLDERS' EXPENSE, WOULD CONTINUE TO SOLICIT
VOTES IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE A QUORUM. CLEARLY, YOUR VOTE COULD BE
CRITICAL TO ENABLE THE EXISTING FUND TO HOLD THE MEETING AS SCHEDULED,
SO PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD IMMEDIATELY. YOU AND ALL OTHER
SHAREHOLDERS WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR COOPERATION.
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FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
(INTERMEDIATE SERIES)
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
December 19, 1994
Special Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on January 17, 1995
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is furnished in connection with a
solicitation of proxies by the Board of First Prairie Municipal Bond Fund (the
"Corporation") to be used at the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting")
of the Intermediate Series (the "Existing Fund") of the Corporation, to be held
on Tuesday, January 17, 1995 at 10:00 a.m., at the offices of Concord Holding
Corporation, 125 West 55th Street, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10019, for the
purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders. Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5,
1994 (each, a "Shareholder" and, collectively, the "Shareholders") are entitled
to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Shareholders are entitled to
one vote for each share of common stock of the Existing Fund, par value $.001
per share ("Existing Fund Share"), held and fractional votes for each fractional
Existing Fund Share held. Existing Fund Shares are classified into two
classes -- Class A and Class B. Only Class A shares are outstanding. Existing
Fund Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in
accordance with the specifications made thereon. If the enclosed form of proxy
is executed and returned, it nevertheless may be revoked by giving another proxy
or by letter or telegram directed to the Existing Fund, which must indicate the
Shareholder's name and account number. To be effective, such revocation must be
received before the Meeting. Also, any Shareholder who attends the Meeting in
person may vote by ballot at such meeting, thereby canceling any proxy
previously given. As of December 5, 1994, 2,135,448.885 Existing Fund Shares
were issued and outstanding.
It is proposed that the Existing Fund transfer all or substantially all of
its assets, subject to its liabilities, to a separate new series of Prairie
Funds, a newly created Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). The Trust is
comprised of twelve series, including the Intermediate Municipal Bond Series
(the "Series") into which the Existing Fund is proposed to be reorganized. The
Series is an open-end, non-diversified management investment company.
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which should be retained for future
reference, sets forth concisely information about the Series that Shareholders
should know before voting on the proposal or investing in the Series. Additional
information, contained in a Statement of Additional Information dated December
19, 1994 forming a part of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File
No. 33-56527), has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
available without charge by calling 1-800-370-9446 or writing to the principal
executive offices of the Series at 125 West 55th Street, New York, New York
10019. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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PROPOSAL 1. APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF EXCHANGE PROVIDING FOR THE
TRANSFER OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS OF THE EXISTING
FUND TO THE SERIES
INTRODUCTION
At a meeting of the Board of the Corporation held on October 28, 1994, The
First National Bank of Chicago ("FNBC"), the Existing Fund's investment adviser,
recommended that the Board consider, and the Board approved, an Agreement and
Plan of Exchange (the "Plan"), a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
The Plan provides for the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Existing Fund attributable to its Class A, subject to stated liabilities, to
the Series. Under the Plan, the Existing Fund would receive, in exchange (the
"Exchange") for its assets attributable to Class A, Class A shares of beneficial
interest of the Series, par value $.001 per share ("Series Shares"), all as more
fully described herein. Upon consummation of the Exchange, Series Shares
received by the Existing Fund will be distributed to its Shareholders, with each
Shareholder receiving a distribution of a number of Series Shares (or fractions
thereof) equal to the value of such Shareholder's Existing Fund Shares held
prior to the Exchange. The Existing Fund then will be dissolved.
The Existing Fund and the Series differ in several respects: (i) the
Existing Fund is a series of a Maryland corporation and the Series is a series
of a Massachusetts business trust; (ii) the investment adviser of the Existing
Fund is FNBC, acting through its Investment Management Department; the
investment adviser of the Series will be a newly formed subsidiary of FNBC which
will employ substantially all the investment personnel who currently provide
advisory services to the Existing Fund; (iii) the Series' aggregate management
fee will be lower, and its structure will be different, than the Existing
Fund's; and (iv) certain management policies will differ somewhat as a result of
standardizing the policies of the funds in the Prairie Family. These differences
are described in "Certain Differences Between the Existing Fund and the Series"
below.
THE PLAN
The following summary of the important terms and conditions of the Plan is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan. The Plan provides that,
subject to the requisite approval of its Shareholders, on the date of the
Exchange the Existing Fund shall assign, transfer and convey to the Series all
of the assets (subject to liabilities) of the Existing Fund including all
securities and cash in exchange for Series Shares having an aggregate net asset
value equal to the value of the net assets of the Existing Fund acquired. The
Existing Fund will distribute all Series Shares received by it pro rata among
its Shareholders in proportion to the number of Existing Fund Shares held. It is
contemplated that each Shareholder will receive a number of Series Shares of the
same class equal in value to the value and class of Existing Fund Shares held by
such Shareholder immediately before the Exchange. Thereafter, the Existing Fund
will dissolve. The dissolution of the Existing Fund is expected to occur as soon
as practicable after the Exchange. Immediately following the Exchange, the
former Shareholders of the Existing Fund will hold the only outstanding Series
Shares (other than one Series Share which will be held by Concord Financial
Group, Inc., the Series' distributor, for regulatory purposes). After the
Exchange has been completed, the Series will operate as an open-end,
non-diversified management investment company.
Unless postponed by the Existing Fund and the Series, the Exchange is
expected to occur on January 27, 1995, on the basis of the net assets of the
Existing Fund as of the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time), on that day. The Exchange will
not be effected until certain conditions are satisfied, including approval of
the Plan by the Shareholders.
The Plan may be amended at any time prior to the Exchange.
The expenses of the Exchange are expected to be approximately $3,000.
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If the Exchange is not approved by the Shareholders, the Corporation's
Board will consider other appropriate courses of action, including continuing
operation of the Existing Fund in its present form.
REASONS FOR THE EXCHANGE
The Exchange will establish the Series as the successor investment vehicle
to the Existing Fund. It is believed that reorganization of the Existing Fund as
a new series of a newly created Massachusetts business trust will prove
beneficial in that the Series will be less expensive to operate than the
Existing Fund.
TAX CONSEQUENCES
The exchange of Existing Fund assets for Series Shares is intended to
qualify for Federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). As
a condition to the closing of the Exchange, the Series and Existing Fund will
receive the opinion of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, counsel to both the Series and
the Existing Fund, to the effect that, on the basis of the existing provisions
of the Code, Treasury regulations issued thereunder, current administrative
regulations and pronouncements and court decisions, and certain facts,
assumptions and representations, for Federal income tax purposes: (1) the
transfer of all or substantially all of the Existing Fund's assets in exchange
for Series Shares and the assumption by the Series of Existing Fund liabilities
will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of
the Code; (2) no gain or loss will be recognized by the Series upon the receipt
of Existing Fund assets solely in exchange for Series Shares and the assumption
by the Series of liabilities of the Existing Fund; (3) no gain or loss will be
recognized by the Existing Fund upon the transfer of its assets to the Series in
exchange for Series Shares and the assumption by the Series of the Existing
Fund's liabilities or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of
Series Shares to Shareholders in exchange for their Existing Fund Shares; (4) no
gain or loss will be recognized by the Existing Fund Shareholders upon the
exchange of Existing Fund Shares for Series Shares; (5) the aggregate tax basis
for Series Shares received by each Existing Fund Shareholder pursuant to the
Exchange will be the same as the aggregate tax basis for Existing Fund Shares
held by such Shareholder immediately prior to the Exchange, and the holding
period of Series Shares to be received by each Existing Fund Shareholder will
include the period during which Existing Fund Shares surrendered in exchange
therefor were held by such Shareholder (provided Existing Fund Shares were held
as capital assets on the date of the Exchange); and (6) the tax basis of
Existing Fund assets acquired by the Series will be the same as the tax basis of
such assets to the Existing Fund immediately prior to the Exchange, and the
holding period of Existing Fund assets in the hands of the Series will include
the period during which those assets were held by the Existing Fund.
NEITHER THE EXISTING FUND NOR THE SERIES HAS SOUGHT A TAX RULING FROM THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ("IRS"). THE OPINION OF COUNSEL IS NOT BINDING ON THE
IRS NOR DOES IT PRECLUDE THE IRS FROM ADOPTING A CONTRARY POSITION. Existing
Fund Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect, if
any, of the proposed Exchange in light of their individual circumstances. Since
the foregoing discussion relates only to the Federal income tax consequences of
the Exchange, Existing Fund Shareholders also should consult their tax advisers
as to state and local tax consequences, if any, of the Exchange.
SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED
The Series will issue Series Shares in exchange for the transfer of the
Existing Fund's assets. Series Shares have no preemptive or subscription rights
and are freely transferable. Series Shares issued in the Exchange will be fully
paid, legally binding and non-assessable by the Series. The Series has
authorized an indefinite number of shares of beneficial interest and has
classified its shares as Class A, Class B and Class I.
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REQUIRED VOTE AND BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION
The Corporation's Board has approved the Plan and the Exchange and has
determined that (i) participation in the Exchange is in the Existing Fund's best
interests and (ii) the interests of the Existing Fund's Shareholders will not be
diluted as a result of the Exchange. Pursuant to the Existing Fund's charter
documents, an affirmative vote of a majority of its Shareholders is required to
approve the Plan and the Exchange.
THE CORPORATION'S BOARD, INCLUDING THE "NON-INTERESTED" BOARD MEMBERS,
RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE PLAN AND THE EXCHANGE.
CERTAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXISTING FUND AND THE SERIES
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR. The investment adviser of the
Existing Fund is FNBC, acting through its Investment Management Department. The
Corporation entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of December
16, 1989 (as revised October 1, 1993) with FNBC, pursuant to which the
Corporation has agreed to pay FNBC a monthly fee at the annual rate of .40 of 1%
of the value of the Existing Fund's average daily net assets. The administrator
of the Existing Fund is The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus"). The Corporation
entered into an Administration Agreement dated as of August 24, 1994 with
Dreyfus, pursuant to which the Corporation has agreed to pay Dreyfus a monthly
fee at the annual rate of .20 of 1% of the value of the Existing Fund's average
daily net assets.
The investment adviser of the Series will be First Chicago Investment
Management Company ("FCIMCO"), a newly formed subsidiary of FNBC, which will
employ substantially all the investment personnel who currently provide advisory
services to the Existing Fund. The Trust will enter into an Investment Advisory
Agreement with FCIMCO, pursuant to which the Trust will pay FCIMCO a monthly
advisory fee at the annual rate of .40 of 1% of the value of the Series' average
daily net assets. The administrator of the Series also will be FCIMCO. The Trust
will enter into an Administration Agreement with FCIMCO, pursuant to which the
Trust will pay FCIMCO a monthly administration fee at the annual rate of .15 of
1% of the value of the Series' average daily net assets (the "Administration
Fee"). In addition, FCIMCO will enter into a Master Sub-Administration Agreement
with Concord Holding Corporation ("Concord"), pursuant to which FCIMCO will pay
Concord a portion of its Administration Fee in consideration of Concord's
providing administrative services to the Series.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS. The Existing Fund has adopted investment
restrictions as fundamental policies that cannot be changed without Shareholder
approval. The Series has adopted investment restrictions that differ, but not
materially, from those of the Existing Fund.
The investment restrictions of both the Series and the Existing Fund are
set forth below and also may be found in their respective Statements of
Additional Information, under "Investment Objective and Management
Policies -- Investment Restrictions."(1) Language pertaining only to the
Series is underscored; language pertaining only to the Existing Fund is
bracketed.(2) Neither the Series nor the Existing Fund may:
[8]1. Invest in commodities, except that each [Series] Fund may purchase
and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating
to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.
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(1)Unless otherwise noted, the language of the Series' Investment
Restriction Nos. 1 through 9 differs only semantically from the
corresponding language of the Existing Fund's Investment Restrictions. The
differences reflect language changes believed more appropriate for an
investment company with multiple series that have different objectives and
policies.
(2)In its investment restrictions, the Existing Fund is referred to as the
"Series"; in its investment restrictions, the Series is referred to as the
"Fund." This difference is only semantic.
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This investment restriction is revised for the Series to clarify that the
Series may invest not only in options on futures contracts or indexes but in
other types of options as well.
[3]2. Purchase [or sell], hold or deal in real estate, or oil [and], gas
[interests] or other mineral leases or exploration or development programs, but
each [Series] Fund may [invest in Municipal Obligations] purchase and sell
securities that are secured by real estate or [interests therein] issued by
companies that invest or deal in real estate.
[2]3. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. For
purposes of this investment restriction, [the] a Fund's entry into options,
forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and
options on futures contracts or indexes shall not constitute borrowing.
[5]4. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of debt obligations
and the entry into repurchase agreements[;]. [h]However, each [Series] Fund may
lend its [portfolio] securities in an amount not to exceed 33 1/3% of the value
of its total assets. Any loans of portfolio securities will be made according to
guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
[Fund's] Trust's Board of [Directors] Trustees.
[4]5. [Underwrite the] Act as an underwriter of securities of other
issuers, except to the extent [the Series] a Fund may be deemed an underwriter
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by virtue of disposing of
portfolio securities, and except that the [Series] Fund may bid separately or as
part of a group for the purchase of Municipal Obligations directly from an
issuer for its own portfolio to take advantage of the lower purchase price
available.(3)
6. Issue any senior security (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of
the 1940 Act), except to the extent the activities permitted [in] under
Investment Restriction Nos. [2, 7, 8 and 11] 1, 3, 9 and 10 may be deemed to
give rise to [a] senior [security] securities.
7. Purchase securities on margin, but [the Series] each Fund may make
margin deposits in connection with transactions in options, forward contracts,
futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures
contracts or indexes.
[13]8. Invest in [companies] the securities of a company for the purpose of
exercising management or control, but each Fund will vote the securities it owns
in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.
[11]9. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate [, mortgage or otherwise encumber]
its assets, except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to
the extent related to the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing
covered put and call options and the purchase of securities on a when-issued or
[delayed-delivery] forward commitment basis and collateral and initial or
variation margin arrangements with respect to options, forward contracts,
futures contracts, including those [related] relating to indexes, and options on
futures contracts[,] or indexes.
10. Purchase, sell or write puts, calls or combinations thereof, except as
described in the Trust's Prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information.
The Existing Fund's investment restrictions do not limit the Existing
Fund's ability to enter into options transactions. Investment Restriction No. 10
has been added for the Series to clarify the extent to which the Series may
enter into such transactions. THIS CHANGE WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY CHANGE IN THE
MANNER IN WHICH THE SERIES, AS COMPARED TO THE EXISTING FUND, CONDUCTS ITS
OPERATIONS.
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(3)With respect to the Existing Fund, the two exceptions to this investment
restriction are set forth above in reverse order.
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[12]11. Enter into repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more
than seven days after notice or purchase securities which are illiquid [(which
securities could include participation interests (including municipal
lease/purchase agreements) that are not subject to the demand feature described
in the Fund's Prospectus and floating and variable rate demand notes and bonds
as to which each Series cannot exercise the demand feature described in the
Fund's Prospectus on less than seven days' notice and as to which there is no
secondary market)], if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of the value of [its]
the Fund's net assets would be so invested.
To conform this investment restriction for the Series with a similar
investment restriction applicable to other funds in the Prairie Family of Funds,
the Series' Investment Restriction No. 11 does not include examples of specific
types of illiquid securities. THE SERIES INTENDS, HOWEVER, TO CONTINUE TO TREAT
AS ILLIQUID ALL TYPES OF SECURITIES THAT THE EXISTING FUND TREATED AS ILLIQUID
UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A LIQUID SECONDARY MARKET EXISTS FOR THEM.
[10]12. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except to the
extent permitted under the Act.
13. Purchase securities of any company having less than three years'
continuous operations (including operations of any predecessors) if such
purchase would cause the value of the Fund's investments in all such companies
to exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
This investment restriction has been added for the Series to comply with
certain state securities laws requirements applicable to one or more series of
the Trust, other than the Series.
[1]16. Invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of
issuers in any single industry[;], provided that there shall be no such
limitation on the purchase of Municipal Obligations and, for temporary defensive
purposes, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies
or instrumentalities.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE. The schedules of the initial sales charge imposed on
the Existing Fund's Class A shares differ somewhat from those applicable to
Series Shares. The maximum initial sales charge is the same for both the
Existing Fund and the Series; in addition, at higher purchase levels, the
initial sales charge imposed on Series Shares is lower than that imposed on
Class A shares of the Existing Fund.
The schedules of the initial sales charge imposed on Series Shares and
Existing Fund Class A shares are set forth below:
SERIES' TOTAL SALES LOAD
AS A
AS A % OF DEALERS'
% OF NET REALLOWANCE
OFFERING ASSET AS A
PRICE VALUE % OF
PER PER OFFERING
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION SHARE SHARE PRICE
- ------------------------------------------- ----- ----- -----
Less than $50,000.......................... 3.00 3.10 2.75
$50,000 to less than $100,000.............. 2.50 2.60 2.25
$100,000 to less than $250,000............. 2.00 2.00 1.75
$250,000 to less than $500,000............. 1.50 1.50 1.25
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000........... 1.00 1.00 0.75
$1,000,000 and above....................... none none none
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EXISTING FUND'S TOTAL SALES LOAD
AS A DEALERS'
% OF AS A REALLOWANCE
OFFERING % OF AS A
PRICE NET % OF
PER ASSET OFFERING
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION SHARE VALUE PRICE
- ------------------------------------------- ----- ----- -----
Less than $100,000......................... 3.00 3.10 2.75
$100,000 to less than $500,000............. 2.50 2.55 2.25
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000........... 2.00 2.00 1.75
$1,000,000 and above....................... 1.00 1.00 1.00
While there is no initial sales charge on purchases of $1,000,000 or more
of Series Shares, if an investor redeems those Shares within a certain period
after purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed at
the time of redemption. Class A shares of the Existing Fund were not subject to
such a CDSC at the time of redemption. The following table sets forth the CDSC
imposed on Series Shares for the indicated time periods:
CDSC
AS A
%
OF
AMOUNT
INVESTED
OR
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS REDEMPTION YEAR SINCE
AT OFFERING PRICE PROCEEDS PURCHASE WAS MADE
- ----------------------------------------- ----- ------------------
$1,000,000 to less than $2,500,000....... 1.00% First or Second
$2,500,000 to less than $5,000,000....... 0.50% First
$5,000,000 and above..................... 0.25% First
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES. Both the Existing Fund and the Series offer the
following shareholder services: Exchange Privilege -- allows you to exchange
your shares for shares of another eligible fund; Automatic Investment Plan (or
Automatic Asset Builder) -- allows you to purchase shares automatically at
regular intervals which you select; and Letter of Intent -- by signing a Letter
of Intent to purchase additional Class A shares or Series Shares, as the case
may be, within 13 months, you become eligible for any reduced sales charge
applicable to the total purchase.
The following shareholder services are offered by the Existing Fund but not
by the Series: Auto-Exchange Privilege -- allows you to automatically exchange
Existing Fund shares for shares of certain other First Prairie mutual funds at
regular intervals which you select; Government Direct Deposit
Privilege -- enables you to purchase Existing Fund shares by having Federal
salary, Social Security or certain veterans', military or other payments from
the Federal government automatically deposited into your Existing Fund account;
Automatic Withdrawal Plan -- allows you to withdraw a specified dollar amount
from your Existing Fund account every month or quarter; and Dividend
Options -- allows you to "sweep" your dividends and capital gain distributions
into certain other First Prairie mutual funds.
Conversely, the Series offers a Reinstatement Privilege (not offered by the
Existing Fund), which allows you to repurchase Series Shares at the then-current
net asset value, within 30 days of a redemption, in any amount not to exceed the
redemption proceeds received.
CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL DIFFERENCES. The Trust is a Massachusetts business
trust and the rights of the Series' shareholders are governed by the Trust's
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Bylaws and applicable Massachusetts law. The
Corporation is a Maryland corporation and the rights of Existing Fund
Shareholders are governed by the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation (the
"Charter"), Bylaws and the Maryland General Corporation Law. Certain relevant
differences between the two forms of organization are summarized below.
Voting Requirements. The Boards of the Corporation and the Trust are each
required to call a special meeting of shareholders for any purpose when
requested to do so in writing by the holders of no less than 10%, in the case of
the Existing Fund, and 30%, in the case of the Series, of the Existing Fund's or
Series' outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Series'
shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to the following matters:
(1) the election or removal of Trustees if a meeting is called
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for such purpose; (2) the adoption of any contract for which shareholder
approval is required by the 1940 Act; (3) any amendment of the Trust's Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, other than amendments to change the Trust's name,
authorize additional series or classes of shares, supply any omission or cure,
correct or supplement any ambiguity or defective or inconsistent provision
contained therein; (4) any termination or reorganization of the Trust to the
extent and as provided in the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust; (5) a
determination as to whether a court action, proceeding or claim should or should
not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the
Series or its shareholders, to the same extent as the shareholders of a
Massachusetts business corporation would be entitled to vote on such a
determination; and (6) such additional matters relating to the Series as may be
required by law, the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trust's
Bylaws, or any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") or any state, or as the Trustees may consider
necessary or desirable. The Series' shareholders also vote upon changes in
fundamental investment policies or restrictions.
The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that any question,
except the election of Trustees -- which requires a plurality -- and the removal
of a Trustee -- which requires two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote thereon -- requires a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a
quorum is present. On any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares
of the Trust then entitled to vote will be voted in the aggregate as a single
class without regard to series or classes of shares, except (i) when required by
the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects
one or more series or classes differently, shares will be voted by individual
series or class and (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter
affects only the interests of one or more series or classes, then only
shareholders of such series or classes will be entitled to vote thereon.
The Corporation's charter documents provide that certain matters, such as
an amendment to the Charter, a merger, consolidation or transfer of all or
substantially all assets, dissolution and removal of a Director, require the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast; election of
Directors requires a plurality of votes cast; and other matters require the
approval of the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at
which a quorum is present. All holders of shares of stock vote as a single class
except as may otherwise be required by law pursuant to any applicable order,
rule or interpretation issued by the Commission, or otherwise, or except with
respect to any matter which affects only one or more classes of stock, in which
case only the holders of shares of the class or classes affected will be
entitled to vote.
The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that 30% of the
outstanding shares shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
a shareholders' meeting. The Corporation's Charter provide that the presence at
a shareholders' meeting in person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the
shares entitled to vote on a matter shall constitute a quorum. Matters requiring
a larger vote by law or under the organization documents for either fund are not
affected by such quorum requirements.
Shareholder Liability. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a
Massachusetts business trust, under certain circumstances, could be held
personally liable for the obligations of the business trust. However, the
Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for
acts or obligations of the Series and requires that notice of such disclaimer be
given in every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued or entered into
by or on behalf of the Series or the Trust's Trustees. The Trust's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Series' property
for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the
obligations of the Series solely by reason of his being or having been a Series
shareholder and not because of his acts or omissions or some other reason. Thus,
the Series considers the risk of a Series shareholder incurring financial loss
on account of shareholder liability to be remote since it is limited to
circumstances in which a disclaimer is inoperative or the Series itself would be
unable to meet its obligations. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust also
provides that the Series, upon request, shall assume the defense of any claim
made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy
any judgment thereon. A substantial number of mutual funds in the United States
are organized as
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Massachusetts business trusts. Under Maryland law, Existing Fund shareholders
have no personal liability as such for the Existing Fund's acts or obligations.
Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Trustees. Under the
Corporation's Charter and Maryland law, subject to the 1940 Act, a Director or
officer of the Corporation is not liable to the Corporation or its shareholders
for monetary damages except to the extent he receives an improper personal
benefit or his action or his failure to act was the result of active and
deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated. In
addition, a Director is entitled to indemnification against judgments,
penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses unless his act or omission
was material to the cause of action and was committed in bad faith or was the
result of active and deliberate dishonesty or the individual received an
improper personal benefit (or, in a criminal case, had reasonable cause to
believe that his act or omission was unlawful). Indemnification may be made
against amounts recoverable by settlement of suits brought by or in the right of
a corporation except where the individual is adjudged liable to the corporation.
The termination of a civil proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not
create a presumption that the requisite standard of conduct was not met. A
Director or officer is entitled to advances of expenses in the course of
litigation if (i) such Director or officer undertakes to repay such sums if
indemnification is ultimately denied and provides acceptable security, (ii) the
Corporation is insured against losses arising from the advances, or (iii) the
disinterested non-party directors or independent legal counsel determine there
is a reason to believe the Director or officer ultimately will be found to be
entitled to indemnification. Officers, employees and agents may be indemnified
to the same extent as Directors and to such further extent as is consistent with
law.
If these provisions of Maryland law are amended, the Directors and officers
will be entitled to limited liability and to indemnification to the fullest
extent of Maryland law as amended. No amendment or repeal of the provisions of
the Charter relating to limited liability and indemnification will apply to any
event, omission or proceeding which precedes the amendment or repeal.
Under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a Trustee is entitled
to indemnification against all liability and expenses reasonably incurred by him
in connection with the defense or disposition of any threatened or actual
proceeding by reason of his being or having been a Trustee, unless such Trustee
shall have been adjudicated to have acted with bad faith, willful misfeasance,
gross negligence or in reckless disregard of his duties. Representatives and
employees of the Series may be indemnified to the same extent as Trustees.
Under the 1940 Act, a director or trustee may not be protected against
liability to a fund and its security holders to which he would otherwise be
subject as a result of his willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of his duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of his
obligations and duties. The staff of the Commission interprets the 1940 Act to
require additional limits on indemnification of directors, or trustees, and
officers.
* * *
The foregoing is only a summary of certain differences between (i) the
Corporation or Existing Fund, the Corporation's Charter, Bylaws and Maryland
law, and (ii) the Trust or Series, the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, Bylaws and Massachusetts law. It is not a complete list of differences,
but only of material differences. Shareholders desiring copies of the
Corporation's Charter and Bylaws and the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of
Trust and Bylaws should write to the respective fund.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth as of December 5, 1994, (1) the
capitalization of the Existing Fund, (2) the capitalization of the Series and
(3) the pro forma capitalization of the Series as adjusted showing the effect of
the Exchange had it occurred on such date. No assurance can be given as to how
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many Series Shares the Existing Fund will receive in the Exchange, and the
following table should not be relied upon to reflect the number of Series Shares
that will actually be received in the Exchange for distribution to Shareholders.
PRO FORMA
EXISTING FOR SERIES
FUND SERIES AFTER EXCHANGE
-------------- ------ --------------
Total Class A net assets........................... $24,450,889.73 $10.00 $24,450,899.73
Net asset value per Class A share.................. $11.45 $10.00 $10.00
Class A shares outstanding......................... 2,135,448.885 1 2,445,089.97
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERIES AND EXISTING FUND
Information about the Series is included in the Trust's current Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information for the Series, each dated December 13,
1994. Information about the Existing Fund is included in the Corporation's
current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for the Existing
Fund, each dated June 27, 1994. Copies of each of the Trust's and the
Corporation's Prospectuses are being furnished with this Prospectus/Proxy
Statement and, together with each of the Series' and Existing Fund's Statements
of Additional Information, are incorporated herein by reference.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPERTS
The audited financial statements of the Existing Fund for the fiscal year
ended February 28, 1994, which are included in the Corporation's Statement of
Additional Information, dated June 27, 1994, have been examined by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent auditors, whose reports thereon are included therein. The
financial statements examined by Ernst & Young LLP have been incorporated herein
by reference in reliance upon their report given on their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
OTHER MATTERS
The Corporation's Directors are not aware of any other matters which may
come before the Meeting. However, should any such matters properly come before
the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form
of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
VOTING INFORMATION
The Existing Fund will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to
the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited personally, by telephone or by
telegraph, and the Existing Fund may pay persons holding Existing Fund Shares in
their names or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting
materials to their principals.
If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to
withhold authority to vote, represents a broker "non-vote" (that is, a proxy
from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote Existing
Fund Shares on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee
does not have discretionary power) or is marked with an abstention
(collectively, "abstentions"), the Existing Fund Shares represented thereby will
be considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the
existence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Abstentions, however,
will have the effect of a "no" vote for the purpose of obtaining requisite
approval for Proposal No. 1.
If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, or if a quorum is present but
sufficient votes to approve the proposal are not received, the persons named as
proxies may propose one or more adjournments of
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the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. In determining whether to
adjourn the Meeting, the following factors may be considered: the nature of the
proposal that is the subject of the Meeting, the percentage of votes actually
cast, the percentage of negative votes actually cast, the nature of any further
solicitation and the information to be provided to shareholders with respect to
the reasons for the solicitation. Any adjournment will require the affirmative
vote of a majority of those Shares represented at the Meeting in person or by
proxy.
To the Existing Fund's knowledge, no Shareholder beneficially owned 5% or
more of the Existing Fund's outstanding voting securities on December 5, 1994.
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND VOTING TRUSTEES
AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Existing Fund, in care of The First National Bank of
Chicago, Three First National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60670, Attention: Laurel
Carignan, whether other persons are the beneficial owners of Existing Fund
Shares for which proxies are being solicited from you, and, if so, the number of
copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other soliciting material you wish
to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of Existing Fund
Shares.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, SHAREHOLDERS
WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND IN PERSON ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND
RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.
Dated: December 19, 1994
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF EXCHANGE dated , 1995 (the "Agreement"),
between the INTERMEDIATE SERIES (the "Existing Fund") of FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL
BOND FUND, a Maryland corporation (the "Corporation"), and the INTERMEDIATE
MUNICIPAL BOND SERIES (the "Series") of PRAIRIE FUNDS, a Massachusetts business
trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Boards of the Corporation and the Trust have determined that
it is in the best interests of the Existing Fund and Series, respectively, that
the assets of the Existing Fund be acquired by the Series pursuant to this
Agreement and in accordance with the applicable statutes of the State of
Maryland and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into a plan of exchange pursuant to
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and
agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. PLAN OF EXCHANGE.
(a) Subject to the requisite approval of the shareholders of the
Existing Fund (the "Shareholders"), and to the terms and conditions
contained herein, on the Exchange Date (as defined herein) the Existing
Fund shall assign, transfer and convey to the Series, and the Series shall
acquire, all of the Class A assets of the Existing Fund, including all
securities and cash (subject to liabilities), for full Class A shares of
beneficial interest of the Series, par value $.001 per share (the "Series
Shares"), and, to the extent necessary, a fractional Series Share, all to
be issued by the Series and all having an aggregate net asset value equal
to the value of the net assets of the Existing Fund acquired. The value of
the Existing Fund's assets to be acquired by the Series and the net asset
value per share of the Series Shares shall be determined, as of the
Exchange Date, in accordance with the procedures for determining the value
of the Series' assets set forth in the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of
Trust and in the then-current prospectus and statement of additional
information that forms part of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A. In lieu of delivering certificates for the Series Shares, the Series
shall credit the Series Shares to the Existing Fund's account on the share
record books of the Series and shall deliver a confirmation thereof to the
Existing Fund. The Existing Fund shall then deliver written instructions to
the Trust's transfer agent to establish accounts for the Shareholders on
the share record books of the Series.
(b) Delivery of the assets of the Existing Fund to be transferred
shall be made not later than the next business day following the Exchange
Date. Assets transferred shall be delivered to The Bank of New York, 110
Washington Street, New York, New York, the Trust's custodian (the
"Custodian"), for the account of the Series, with all securities not in
book entry or bearer form duly endorsed, or accompanied by duly executed
separate assignments or stock powers, in proper form for transfer, with
signatures guaranteed, and with all necessary stock transfer stamps,
sufficient to transfer good and marketable title thereto (including all
accrued interest and dividends and rights pertaining thereto) to the
Custodian for the account of the Series free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, rights, restrictions and claims. All cash delivered shall be
in the form of immediately available funds payable to the order of the
Custodian for the account of the Series.
(c) The Existing Fund will pay or cause to be paid to the Series any
interest received on or after the Exchange Date with respect to assets
transferred to the Series hereunder. The Existing Fund will transfer to the
Series any distributions, rights or other assets received by the Existing
Fund after the Exchange Date as distributions on or with respect to the
securities transferred. Such
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assets shall be deemed included in assets transferred to the Series on the
Exchange Date and shall not be separately valued.
(d) The Exchange Date shall be January 27, 1995, or such earlier or
later date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
(e) As soon as practicable after the Exchange Date the Existing Fund
shall distribute all Series Shares received by it among the Shareholders in
proportion to the number of shares each Shareholder holds in the Existing
Fund (the "Existing Fund Shares"), and thereafter will dissolve.
2. THE EXISTING FUND'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
2.1. The Existing Fund represents and warrants to and agrees with the
Series as follows:
(a) The Existing Fund (i) is a series of the Corporation, which is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Maryland, and (ii) has power to own all of its properties and
assets and, subject to the approval of the Shareholders, to carry out this
Agreement.
(b) The Existing Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, non-diversified,
management investment company, and such registration has not been revoked
or rescinded and is in full force and effect.
(c) Except as shown on the financial statements of the Existing Fund
for the period ended February 28, 1994 and as incurred in the ordinary
course of the Existing Fund's business since February 28, 1994, the
Existing Fund has no known liabilities of a material amount, contingent or
otherwise, and there are no material legal, administrative or other
proceedings pending or threatened against the Existing Fund.
(d) For each fiscal year of its operation, the Existing Fund has met
the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and
treatment as a regulated investment company.
(e) On the Exchange Date, the Existing Fund will have full right,
power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the assets to be
transferred by it hereunder.
3. THE SERIES' REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
The Series represents and warrants to and agrees with the Existing Fund as
follows:
(a) The Series (i) is a series of the Trust, a business trust duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and (ii) has power to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted and to carry out this Agreement.
(b) The Series is registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end,
non-diversified, management investment company, and such registration has
not been revoked or rescinded and is in full force and effect.
(c) The Series has no known liabilities of a material amount,
contingent or otherwise, and there are no material legal, administrative or
other proceedings pending or threatened against the Series.
(d) For its fiscal year in which the exchange contemplated hereby
occurs and for each taxable year thereafter, the Series intends to meet the
requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as
a regulated investment company.
(e) At the Exchange Date, the Series Shares to be issued to the
Existing Fund (the only Series Shares to be issued as of the Exchange Date,
except for the initial capital of the Series) will have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will
be legally and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable by
the Series. No Series shareholder will have any preemptive right of
subscription or purchase in respect thereof.
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4. THE SERIES' CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
The obligations of the Series hereunder shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) The Existing Fund shall have furnished to the Series a statement
of the Existing Fund's assets, including a list of securities owned by the
Existing Fund with their respective tax costs and values determined as
provided in Section 1 hereof, all as of the Exchange Date.
(b) As of the Exchange Date, all representations and warranties of the
Existing Fund made in this Agreement shall be true and correct as if made
at and as of such date, and the Existing Fund shall have complied with all
the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed
or satisfied at or prior to such date.
(c) A vote approving this Agreement and the transactions and exchange
contemplated hereby shall have been adopted by the holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding Existing Fund Shares entitled to vote.
5. THE EXISTING FUND'S CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
The obligations of the Existing Fund hereunder shall be subject to the
condition that as of the Exchange Date all representations and warranties of the
Series made in this Agreement shall be true and correct as if made at and as of
such date, and that the Series shall have complied with all of the agreements
and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such date.
6. THE SERIES' AND THE EXISTING FUND'S CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
The obligations of both the Series and the Existing Fund hereunder shall be
subject to the following conditions:
(a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
been approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the
Existing Fund Shares as of the close of business on January 17, 1995, or
such earlier or later date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
(b) There shall not be any material litigation pending with respect to
the matters contemplated by this Agreement.
7. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby may be terminated
and abandoned by resolution of the Board of either the Corporation or the Trust,
at any time prior to the Exchange Date (and notwithstanding any vote of the
Shareholders) if circumstances should develop that, in the opinion of either of
the Boards, make proceeding with this Agreement inadvisable.
If this Agreement is terminated and the exchange contemplated hereby is
abandoned pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7, this Agreement shall
become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party
hereto or the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Series or Trust, or the
Directors, officers or shareholders of the Existing Fund or Corporation, in
respect of this Agreement.
8. WAIVER.
At any time prior to the Exchange Date, any of the foregoing conditions may
be waived by the Board of either the Corporation or the Trust, if, in the
judgment of the waiving party, such waiver will not have a material adverse
effect on the benefits intended under this Agreement to the Shareholders.
9. NO SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS.
None of the representations and warranties included or provided for herein
shall survive consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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10. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of
conflict of laws; provided, however, that the due authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement, in the case of the Existing Fund, shall be governed
and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Maryland and,
in the case of the Series, shall be governed and construed in accordance with
the internal laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in each case without
giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.
11. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which, when
executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original.
12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
The names "Intermediate Municipal Bond Series of Prairie Funds" and
"Trustees of the Trust" refer, respectively, to the Series and the Trustees of
the Trust, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to
time under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a copy of which is on
file at the office of the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and at the principal office of the Trust. The obligations of the
Series entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees of
the Trust, or its representatives or agents are made not individually, but in
such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders,
representatives or agents of the Series or Trust personally, but bind only the
Series' property, and all persons dealing with any class or series of shares of
the Series must look solely to the Series' property belonging to such class or
series for the enforcement of any claims against the Series.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Series and Existing Fund has caused this
Agreement and Plan of Exchange to be executed and attested on its behalf by its
duly authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
PRAIRIE FUNDS,
on behalf of its
INTERMEDIATE MUNICIPAL BOND SERIES
ATTEST:_________________________________ By:_____________________________________
[Name, Title] [Name, Title]
FIRST PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND,
on behalf of its
INTERMEDIATE SERIES
ATTEST:_________________________________ By:_____________________________________
[Name, Title] [Name, Title]
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