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 ss.240.14a-12
AMERIPRIME FUNDS
----------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
|X| No fee required.
|_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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|_| Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|_| 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:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
3) Filing Party:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
4) Date Filed:
__________________________________________________________________________________
-
AmeriPrime Funds
1725 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200
Southlake, Texas 76092
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 29, 2002
Dear Shareholders:
The Board of Trustees of AmeriPrime Funds (the "Trust"), an open-end
investment company organized as an Ohio business trust, has called a special
meeting of the shareholders of the all of the series of funds of the Trust, to
be held at the principal offices of the Trust, 1725 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite
200, Southlake, Texas 76092, on May 29, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, for
the following purpose:
1. To elect members of the Board of Trustees.
2. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 4, 2002 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting and any
adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
/s/
KENNETH D. TRUMPFHELLER
Secretary
April 30, 2002
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
To assure your representation at the meeting, please complete the enclosed proxy
and return it promptly in the accompanying envelope or by faxing it to
317-266-8756, whether or not you expect to be present at the meeting. If you
attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person.
AMERIPRIME FUNDS
1725 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200
Southlake, Texas 76092
------------
PROXY STATEMENT
------------
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 29, 2002
------------
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Trustees of AmeriPrime Funds (the "Trust"), on behalf
of the following series of funds (the "Funds"):
AAM Equity Fund GJMB Growth Fund
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund GLOBALT Growth Fund
Ariston Internet Convertible Fund IMS Capital Value Fund
Auxier Focus Fund Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund
Columbia Partners Equity Fund Marathon Value Portfolio
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund
Dobson Covered Call Fund Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund
Florida Street Growth Fund Westcott Technology Fund
This Proxy Statement is for use at the Special Meeting of Shareholders
of the Trust (the "Meeting") to be held at the principal executive offices of
the Trust, 1725 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 200, Southlake, Texas 76092, on May
29, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, and at any and all adjournments thereof.
The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and accompanying form of proxy will first
be mailed to shareholders on or about April 30, 2002.
The persons named as proxies in the enclosed form of proxy will vote in
accordance with your instructions when the form of proxy is properly executed.
If no instructions are given, the shares represented by a properly executed
proxy will be voted:
1. For the election of members of the Board of Trustees;
2. At the discretion of the proxy holders on any other business as
may properly come before the meeting.
A copy of each Fund's most recent annual report, and most recent
semi-annual report succeeding the annual report (if any), including financial
statements and schedules, is available at no charge by sending a written request
to Robert Chopyak, Treasurer, AmeriPrime Funds, at the principal offices of the
Trust, 1725 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200, Southlake, Texas 76092 or by
calling the Trust at 800-298-1995.
PROPOSAL: ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Due to vacancies on the Board, the Trust is required to hold an
election of the entire Board of Trustees. The four trustees elected will
constitute the entire Board of Trustees. Each trustee will hold office until the
termination of the Trust, or until he dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Unless you give contrary instructions, your proxy will be voted for the election
of all four nominees. Each of the nominees has indicated a willingness to serve.
If any of the nominees should withdraw or otherwise become unavailable for
election due to events not now known, your proxies will be voted for such other
nominee(s) as the Board may recommend. Your proxies will be so voted, unless the
Board reduces the number of trusteeships, or you have withheld authority as to
the election of the Trustees.
Trustee and Officer Information
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller and Gary E. Hippenstiel are currently Trustees
of the Trust. The two other nominees are not. The Board of Trustees held 10
meetings (including regularly scheduled and special meetings) during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2002.
The non-interested nominees for election, their ages, addresses, a
description of their positions with the Trust, their principal occupations
during the last five years, the number of portfolios in the fund complex
overseen by the nominee and other directorships held by the nominee are listed
in the following table.
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held Time Served in Fund Complex*
with Trust Overseen by Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Gary E. Hippenstiel Trustee Trustee 17
600 Jefferson Street since 1995
Suite 350
Houston, TX 77002
Year of Birth: 1947
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Legacy Trust Company
since None 1992; President and Director of Heritage Trust Company from
1994-1996; Vice President and Manager of Investments of Kanaly Trust Company
from 1988 to 1992.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held Time Served in Fund Complex*
with Trust Overseen by Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Mark W. Muller Nominee N/A 35
5016 Cedar River Tr.
Ft. Worth, Texas 76137
Year of Birth: 1964
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisers Trust since 1999. President of JAMAR Resources, Inc., a None
manufacturers representative firm, September 2001 to present. Account Manager for SCI,
Inc., a custom manufacturer, from April 2000 to September 2001. Account Manager for
Clarion Technologies, a manufacturer of automotive, heavy truck, and consumer goods,
from 1996 to April 2000. From 1986 to 1996, an engineer for Sicor, a telecommunication
hardware company.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Position(s) Held Time Served in Fund Complex*
Name, Age and Address with Trust Overseen by Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Richard J. Wright, Jr. Nominee N/A 35
13532 N. Central Expressway
MS 3800
Dallas, Texas 75243
Year of Birth: 1962
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisers Trust since 1999. Various positions with Texas
None Instruments, a technology company, since 1995, including the following:
Program Manager for Semi-Conductor Business Opportunity Management System, 1998
to present; Development Manager for web-based interface, 1999 to present;
Systems Manager for Semi-Conductor Business Opportunity Management System, 1997
to 1998; Development Manager for Acquisition Manager, 1996-1997; Operations
Manager for Procurement Systems, 1994-1997.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
* As of December 31, 2001, the terms "Fund Complex" and "AmeriPrime Family of Funds" refers to AmeriPrime Funds and
AmeriPrime Advisors Trust. Mr. Muller and Mr. Wright currently oversee 18 portfolios in the Fund Complex. If
elected, they will oversee 35 portfolios in the Fund Complex.
The following table provides information regarding each Trustee nominee
who is an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, and each officer of the Trust.
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Name, Age and Address Position(s) In Time Served in Fund Complex**
Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller* President, Secretary and Trustee and 35
1725 E. Southlake Blvd. Trustee President
Suite 200 since 1995;
Southlake, Texas 76092 Secretary
Year of Birth: 1958 since 2000
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
President and Managing Director of Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Funds' transfer None
agent, fund accountant and administrator, since October 2000. President, Treasurer and
Secretary of AmeriPrime Financial Services, Inc., a fund administrator, (which merged
with Unified Fund Services, Inc.) from 1994 through October 2000. President, Treasurer
and Secretary of AmeriPrime Financial Securities, Inc., the Funds' distributor through
December 2000, from 1994 through December 2000.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Position(s) in Time Served in Fund Complex**
Name, Age and Address Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
Robert A. Chopyak Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Treasurer N/A
1725 E. Southlake Blvd. and CFO
Suite 200 since 2000
Southlake, Texas 76092
Year of Birth: 1968
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Assistant Vice-President of Financial Administration of Unified Fund Services, Inc., the N/A
Funds' transfer agent, fund accountant and administrator, since August 2000. Manager of
AmeriPrime Financial Services, Inc. from February 2000 to August 2000. Self-employed,
performing Y2K testing, January 1999 to January 2000. Vice President of Fund
Accounting, American Data Services, Inc., a mutual fund services company, October 1992
to December 1998.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
* Mr. Trumpfheller is an "interested person" of the Trust because he is an
officer of the Trust. In addition, he may be deemed to be an "interested person"
of the Trust because he is a registered principal of the Unified Financial
Securities, Inc., the distributor for the Funds.
** As of December 31, 2001, the terms "Fund Complex" and "AmeriPrime Family of
Funds" refers to AmeriPrime Funds and AmeriPrime Advisors Trust.
Security Ownership Of Management
The following information regarding beneficial ownership by the
Trustees, nominees and officers is based on statements furnished to the Trust by
the Trustees, nominees and officers. As of March 11, 2002, the Trustees and
officers of the Trust as a group owned of record and beneficially approximately
4,741 shares, or 0.34% of the Trust.
The following table provides information regarding the dollar range of
equity securities beneficially owned in each Fund as well as in the Fund Complex
by the disinterested trustees and nominees as of March 11, 2002.
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NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEE NOMINEES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Name of Trustee or Nominee Dollar Range of Equity Securities in each Fund Securities in All Funds Overseen or to be
Overseen by Trustee or Nominee in Family
of Investment Companies*
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Gary E. Hippenstiel None None
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Mark W. Muller None None
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Richard J. Wright, Jr. None None
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERESTED TRUSTEE NOMINEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Name of Trustee or Nominee Dollar Range of Equity Securities in each Fund Securities in All Funds Overseen or to be
Overseen by Trustee or Nominee in Family
of Investment Companies*
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------------------------------
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller Dobson Covered Call Fund $1-$10,000
Columbia Partners Equity Fund $1-$10,000
Corbin Small-Cap Fund $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000
Auxier Focus Fund $1-$10,000
IMS Capital Value Fund $10,001-$50,000
- ------------------------------ --------------------------------- ------------------- --------------------------------------------
* As of March 11, 2002, the terms "Fund Complex" and "AmeriPrime Family of
Funds" refers to AmeriPrime Funds and AmeriPrime Advisors Trust.
The following table provides information regarding the security
interests owned by trustees or nominees in the Funds' investment advisers,
principal underwriters, or persons directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or principal
underwriters as of March 11, 2002.
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Name of Trustee or Nominee Name of Owners and Company Title of Value of Percent
Relationships to Trustee Class Securities of Class
or Nominee
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------- -------------- -----------
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller Kenneth D. Trumpfheller Unified Financial Common $12,300.00 14.2%
Services, Inc. Stock
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------- -------------- -----------
Compensation Table
Trustee fees are Trust expenses, and each series of the Trust pays a
portion of the Trustee fees. The compensation paid to the Trustees for the
applicable fiscal year ended for each Fund (as indicated in footnotes below) is
set forth in the following table. Mr. Muller and Mr. Wright were not Trustees
during the applicable fiscal year.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE TRUSTEE COMPENSATION FOR EACH FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Gary E. Hippenstiel Kenneth D. Richard J.
Name of Fund Mark W. Muller Trumpfheller Wright, Jr.
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
AAM Equity Fund5 $1000 0 0 0
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- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund6 $750 0 0 0
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- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Ariston Internet Convertible Fund6 $750 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Auxier Focus Fund2 $1000 0 0 0
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- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Columbia Partners Equity Fund1 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund5 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Dobson Covered Call Fund3 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Florida Street Growth Fund5 $750 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
GJMB Growth Fund6 $1000 0 0 0
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- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
GLOBALT Growth Fund5 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
IMS Capital Value Fund2 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund2 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Marathon Value Portfolio5 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund1 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund4 0 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
Westcott Technology Fund4 $1000 0 0 0
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------
1For fiscal year ended March 31, 2002.
2 For fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.
3 For fiscal year ended July 31, 2001.
4 For fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.
5 For fiscal year ended October 31, 2001.
6 For fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.
Audit Committee
The Trust's audit committee consists of Mr. Cobb and Mr. Hippenstiel,
who are both independent trustees. The audit committee held no meetings during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. The audit committee is responsible for
overseeing the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and
practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of
certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Trust's
financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and
acting as a liaison between the Funds' independent auditors and the full Board
of Trustees.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL OF THE NOMINEES.
OPERATION OF THE FUND
The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as an
Ohio business trust on August 8, 1995. The Board of Trustees supervise the
business activities of the Trust. Like other mutual funds, the Funds retain
various organizations to perform specialized services. Unified Fund Services,
Inc. 431 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, acts as the
Trust's administrator. See Exhibit A for a listing of the Funds of the Trust and
each Fund's investment adviser and principal underwriter.
THE PROXY
The Board of Trustees solicits proxies so that each shareholder has the
opportunity to vote on the proposals to be considered at the Meeting. A proxy
for voting your shares at the Meeting is enclosed. The shares represented by
each valid proxy received in time will be voted at the meeting as specified. If
no specification is made, the shares represented by a duly executed proxy will
be voted for the election of the members of the Board of Trustees, and at the
discretion of the holders of the proxy, on any other matter that may come before
the meeting that the Trust did not have notice of a reasonable time prior to the
mailing of this Proxy Statement. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it
is exercised by (1) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, (2)
submitting a written notice to the President of the Trust revoking the proxy, or
(3) attending and voting in person at the Meeting.
VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING
The close of business on April 4, 2002 is the record date for
determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or
any adjournment(s) thereof (the "Record Date"). The following table describes
the number of shares of beneficial interest of each Fund issued and outstanding
as of the Record Date:
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OF BENEFICIAL
NAME OF FUND INTEREST OF EACH FUND ISSUED AND
OUTSTANDING AS OF THE RECORD DATE
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
AAM Equity Fund 683,216.52
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund 689,030.77
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Ariston Internet Convertible Fund 25,860.56
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Auxier Focus Fund 1,134,647.97
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Columbia Partners Equity Fund 1,905,855.04
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund 2,238,295.98
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Dobson Covered Call Fund 203,125.94
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Florida Street Growth Fund 353,599.48
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
GJMB Growth Fund 1,335,794.84
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
GLOBALT Growth Fund 970,000.51
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
IMS Capital Value Fund 1,355,705.90
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund 3,077,286.01
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Marathon Value Portfolio 814,809.75
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund 476,164.94
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund 611,378.63
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Westcott Technology Fund 1,104,959.51
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
As of the Record Date, the Trust had a total of 16,979,732.35 shares of
beneficial interest issued and outstanding. Only shareholders of record on the
Record Date are entitled to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to
one (1) vote per share held, and fractional votes for fractional shares held, on
any matter submitted to a vote at the Meeting.
Trustees are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders
of shares of the Trust present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting at
which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise instructed, the persons named as
proxies will vote FOR the election of the nominees to the Board of Trustees. The
presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders holding at least a majority of
the shares entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies will
adjourn the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies.
"Broker non-votes" and abstentions will be considered present for
purposes of determining the existence of a quorum and the number of shares
represented at the meeting, but are not votes for any proposal. Broker non-votes
are shares held in the name of the broker, but for which the broker indicates
that instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or other
persons entitled to vote, and the broker does not have discretionary voting
authority. Accordingly, broker non-votes and abstentions will not be considered
as votes for or against a nominee.
A shareholder receiving this proxy statement may hold shares in one
or more of the Funds. A proxy card with respect to each Fund of which a
shareholder owns shares accompanies this proxy statement. A shareholder may
execute proxies or vote at the meeting with respect to all shares owned in each
of the Funds.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Trust has not received any shareholder proposals to be considered
for presentation at the Meeting. Under the proxy rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, shareholder proposals may, under certain conditions, be
included in the Trust's proxy statement and proxy for a particular meeting.
Under these rules, proposals submitted for inclusion in the Trust's proxy
materials must be received by the Trust within a reasonable time before the
solicitation is made. The fact that the Trust receives a shareholder proposal in
a timely manner does not insure its inclusion in its proxy materials, because
there are other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion. You
should be aware that annual meetings of shareholders are not required as long as
there is no particular requirement under the Investment Company Act, which must
be met by convening such a shareholder meeting. Any shareholder proposal should
be sent to Mr. Kenneth D. Trumpfheller, Secretary, Ameriprime Funds, 1725 E.
Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200, Southlake, Texas 76092.
COST OF SOLICITATION
The Board of Trustees of the Trust is making this solicitation of
proxies. The cost of preparing and mailing this Proxy Statement, the
accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and proxy and any additional materials
relating to the meeting and the cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the
Funds (pro rata based on assets). In addition to solicitation by mail, the Trust
will request banks, brokers and other custodial nominees and fiduciaries to
supply proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of the Funds of whom
they have knowledge, and the Trust will reimburse them for their expenses in so
doing. Certain officers, employees and agents of the Trust may solicit proxies
in person or by telephone, facsimile transmission or mail, for which they will
not receive any special compensation.
OTHER MATTERS
The Trust's Board of Trustees knows of no other matters to be presented
at the Meeting other than as set forth above. If any other matters properly come
before the meeting that the Trust did not have notice of a reasonable time prior
to the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the holders of the proxy will vote the
shares represented by the proxy on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment, and discretionary authority to do so is included in the proxy.
PROXY DELIVERY
If you and another shareholder share the same address, the Trust may
only send one proxy statement unless you or the other shareholder(s) request
otherwise. Call or write to the Trust if you wish to receive a separate copy of
the proxy statement, and the Trust will promptly mail a copy to you. You may
also call or write to the Trust if you wish to receive a separate proxy in the
future, or if you are receiving multiple copies now, and wish to receive a
single copy in the future. For such requests, call the Trust at (800) 298-1995,
or write the Trust at 1725 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 200, Southlake, Texas
76092.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
/s/
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller
Secretary
Dated: April 30, 2002
Please date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed
reply envelope or fax it to 317-266-8756.
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISERS,
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
NAME OF FUND INVESTMENT ADVISER PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
AAM Equity Fund Appalachian Asset Management Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
1018 Kanawha Boulevard, Suite 309 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Charleston, West Virginia Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund Ariston Capital Management Corp. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 220 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Bellevue, Washington 98005 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Ariston Internet Convertible Fund Ariston Capital Management Corp. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 220 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Bellevue, Washington 98005 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Auxier Focus Fund Auxier Asset Management, LLC Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
8050 S.W. Warm Springs, Suite 130 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Tualatin, Oregon 97062 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Columbia Partners Equity Fund Columbia Partners, LLC, Investment Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
Management 431 North Pennsylvania Street
1775 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 1169 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Washington, D.C. 20005
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund Corbin & Company Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
3113 South University Drive, Suite 500 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76109 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Dobson Covered Call Fund Dobson Capital Management, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
1422 S. Van Ness Street 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Santa Ana, CA 92707 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Florida Street Growth Fund CommonWealth Advisors, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
247 Florida Street 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
GJMB Growth Fund Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
301 East Colorado Blvd. 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Suite 802 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Pasadena, CA 91101
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
GLOBALT Growth Fund GLOBALT, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
3060 Peachtree Road, N.W. 431 North Pennsylvania Street
One Buckhead Plaza, Suite 225 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
IMS Capital Value Fund IMS Capital Management Capital Research Brokerage Services,
10159 S.E. Sunnyside Road, Suite 330 LLC
Portland, Oregon 97015 107 South Fair Oaks Drive, Suite 315
Pasadena, California 91105
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund The Jumper Group, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
One Union Square 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Suite 505 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Chattanooga, TN 37402
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Marathon Value Portfolio Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 950 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Atlanta, GA 30338 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund Martin Capital Advisors, L.L.P. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1540 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Austin, Texas 78701 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
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Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund Aegis Asset Management, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
230 Westcott, Suite 1 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Houston, Texas 77007 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
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Westcott Technology Fund Aegis Asset Management, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc.
230 Westcott, Suite 1 431 North Pennsylvania Street
Houston, Texas 77007 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
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369964
PROXY
AMERIPRIME FUNDS
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 29, 2002
The undersigned shareholder of the AmeriPrime Funds (the "Trust")
hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints Robert A. Chopyak and Kenneth D.
Trumpfheller, and each of them, the attorney, agent and proxy of the
undersigned, with full powers of substitution, to vote all the shares of the
Trust which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at 1725 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 200, Southlake, Texas
76092, on May 29, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, and at any and all
adjournments thereof, as fully and with the same force and effect as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present as follows:
TO ELECT THE FOUR PERSONS NAMED BELOW TO SERVE UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS
ARE ELECTED AND HAVE QUALIFIED:
Gary E. Hippenstiel, Mark W. Muller, Kenneth D. Trumpfheller, Richard J. Wright,
Jr.
|_| AUTHORITY GIVEN |_| AUTHORITY WITHHELD (ALL NOMINEES)
If you wish to withhold authority to vote for some but not all of the
nominees named above, you should check the box marked "Authority Given" and
write the name(s) of the nominee(s) with respect to whom you wish to withhold
authority to vote in the space provided below.
------------------------------------------------
The Board of Trustees recommends a vote of "AUTHORITY GIVEN." The Proxy
shall be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Trustees
unless a contrary instruction is indicated, in which case the Proxy shall be
voted in accordance with such instructions. In all other matters, if any,
presented at the meeting, this Proxy shall be voted in the discretion of the
Proxy holders, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Trustees,
if any.
________________ DATED , 2002 ___________________________
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(Number of Shares) (Please Print Your Name)
(Signature of Shareholder)
(Please Print Your Name)
______________________________
(Signature of Shareholder)
Please date this proxy and sign your name as it appears on the label.
Executors, administrators, trustees, etc. should give their full titles. All
joint owners should sign.
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Trust's Board of Trustees, and may
be revoked prior to its exercise by filing with the President of the Trust
an instrument revoking this Proxy or a duly executed Proxy bearing a later
date, or by appearing in person and voting at the meeting.