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:
--------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:
--------------------------------------------------------------
|_| 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
AAM Equity Fund GLOBALT Growth Fund
Ariston Convertible Securities 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
GJMB Growth Fund
1725 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200
Southlake, Texas 76092
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held November 22, 2002
Dear Shareholders:
The Board of Trustees of AmeriPrime Funds, an open-end investment company
organized as an Ohio business trust, has called a Special Meeting of the
Shareholders of the above-referenced Funds, to be held at the offices of the
Trust's administrator, Unified Fund Services, Inc., 431 North Pennsylvania
Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, on November 22, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., Central
time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect five members of the Board of Trustees; and
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on October 9, 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/
Carol Highsmith, Assistant Secretary
October 16, 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
AAM Equity Fund GLOBALT Growth Fund
Ariston Convertible Securities 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
GJMB Growth Fund
1725 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200
Southlake, Texas 76092
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PROXY STATEMENT
------------
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held November 22, 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 above-referenced Funds. This Proxy Statement is for use at the Special
Meeting of Shareholders of the Funds to be held at the offices of the Trust's
administrator, Unified Fund Services, Inc., 431 North Pennsylvania Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, on November 22, 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 are first being mailed to shareholders on or
about October 25, 2002. The purpose of the Meeting is to elect five members of
The Board of Trustees.
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.
Solicitations will be made primarily by mail by regular employees of Unified
Fund Services, Inc., the Trust's administrator.
Each full share of a Fund is entitled to one vote, and each fractional
share is entitled to a proportionate share of one vote.
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 Thomas G. Napurano, 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 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The purpose of this proxy is to ask shareholders to vote to elect five
members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, whose terms will be effective
beginning November 22, 2002 or, in the event of an adjournment of the Meeting,
such later date as shareholder approval is obtained (the "Effective Date").
Management's goal is to form a more experienced and more diverse Board of
Trustees. It is anticipated that the election of the proposed slate of Trustees
will result in improved operating efficiencies for the Trust and the Board, and
will also improve the Trust's ability to attract high-quality investment
advisers and new funds.
It is anticipated that Messrs. Mark W. Muller, Richard J. Wright, Jr. and
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller, each a current member of the Board, will resign on the
Effective Date if this proposal is approved by the Funds' shareholders. Each
nominee, including each person who is not an "interested person" of the Trust,
as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (each, an "Independent Trustee"), has
indicated a willingness to serve if elected. If elected, each trustee will hold
office until the termination of the Trust, or until he dies, resigns, retires or
is removed.
The nomination of these persons to serve as the Board of Trustees of the
Trust reflects an overall plan to enhance the efficiency of the governance of
the Trust and of certain other investment companies that are part of the
AmeriPrime Family of Funds. The proposal concerning the size and composition of
the Board has been reviewed by the current Independent Trustees with the advice
of their counsel. The Independent Trustee nominees were nominated by the current
Independent Trustees and, then, by the Board, along with the other nominees, at
a meeting held on October 9, 2002.
If all nominees are elected, the Trust's Board will consist of five
individuals. These individuals include Messrs. Timothy L. Ashburn, Daniel J.
Condon, Gary E. Hippenstiel, Stephen A. Little and Ronald C. Tritschler. Mr.
Hippenstiel currently serves as a trustee, while the remaining four nominees
will be new to the Trust's Board. Information concerning the qualifications and
background of each of the nominees is set forth in this Proxy Statement under
"Trustee and Officer Information" on page 3.
Unless you give contrary instructions, your proxy will be voted for the
election of all five 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, unless the Board reduces the number
of trusteeships or you have withheld authority as to the election of the
trustees.
Trustee and Officer Information
The current Board of Trustees consists of Gary E. Hippenstiel, Mark W.
Muller, Richard J. Wright, Jr. and Kenneth D. Trumpfheller. The Board of
Trustees held 11 meetings (including regularly scheduled and special meetings)
during the year ended September 30, 2002. Gary Hippenstiel is the only nominee
who served as a trustee during the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year.
Mr. Hippenstiel attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the
Board held during the year ended September 30, 2002. Trustees serve until
resignation, retirement, death or removal.
The Independent Trustee nominees, 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 trustee or
nominee and other directorships held by the trustee or nominee are listed in the
following table. Each nominee will oversee 28 portfolios if elected to the Board
of both the Trust and the AmeriPrime Advisors Trust.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE NOMINEES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------------------
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held with the Fund Length of Time Number of Portfolios in Fund
Complex* Served Complex* Overseen by Trustee
and Nominee
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------------------
Gary E. Hippenstiel Trustee Trustee of the 28
600 Jefferson Street Trust since
Suite 350 1995; Trustee
Houston, TX 77002 of AmeriPrime
Year of Birth: 1947 Advisors Trust
since July 2002
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee and
Nominee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Legacy Trust Company None
since 1992.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held Time Served in Fund Complex*
with the Fund Complex* Overseen by Trustee
Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
Stephen A. Little None N/A 28
3647 Totem Lane
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Year of Birth: 1946
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee Nominee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
President and founder, The Rose, Inc., a registered investment advisor, since None
April 1993.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
Number of Portfolios in
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held with the Length of Time Fund Complex* Overseen
Fund Complex* Served by Trustee Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
Daniel Condon None N/A 28
2385 The Woods Lane
Lexington, KY 40502
Year of Birth: 1950
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- -------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Vice President and General Manager, International Crankshaft Inc., an automotive
None equipment manufacturing company, 1990 to present; Trustee, The Unified
Funds, from 1994 to 2002; Trustee, Star Select Funds, a REIT mutual fund, from
1997 to 2000.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
* As of September 30, 2002, the terms "Fund Complex" and "AmeriPrime Family of
Funds" refers to AmeriPrime Funds and AmeriPrime Advisors Trust.
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.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERESTED PERSON TRUSTEE NOMINEES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------
Length of Number of Portfolios
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held with the Fund Time Served in Fund Complex*
Complex* Overseen by Trustee
Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------
Timothy Ashburn** President and Secretary Since October 28
2424 Harrodsburg Road 2002 for the
Lexington, KY 40503 Trust and
Year of Birth: 1950 AmeriPrime
Advisors Trust
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Chairman of Unified Financial Services, Inc. since 1989 and Chief Executive Officer Unified Financial Services, Inc.
from 1989 to 1992 and 1994 to April 2002; President of Unified Financial Services since 1989
from November 1997 to April 2000.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Term of Office Number of
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held with The Fund and Length of Portfolios in Fund
Complex* Time Served Complex* Overseen
by Trustee Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Ronald C. Tritschler*** None N/A 28
2361 Old Hickory Lane
Lexington, KY 40515
Year of Birth: 1952
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Chief Executive Officer, Director and legal counsel of The Webb Companies, a
national None real estate company, from 2001 to present; Executive Vice
President and Director of The Webb Companies from 1990 to 2000; Director, The
Lexington Bank, from 1998 to present; Director, Vice President and legal counsel
for The Traxx Companies, an owner and operator of convenience store, from 1989
to present.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Term of Office Number of
Name, Age and Address Position(s) Held with the Fund and Length of Portfolios in Fund
Complex* Time Served Complex* Overseen
by Trustee Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Thomas G. Napurano Treasurer and Chief Financial Since October N/A
2424 Harrodsburg Road Officer 2002 for the
Lexington, KY 40503 Trust and
Year of Birth: 1941 AmeriPrime
Advisors Trust
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years Other Directorships Held by Trustee
Nominee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Unified Financial Services, N/A
Inc., the parent company of the Trust's administrator and principal underwriter;
member the board of directors of Unified Financial Services, Inc. from 1989 to March
2002.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
* As of December 31, 2001, the terms "Fund Complex" and "AmeriPrime Family of
Funds" refers to AmeriPrime Funds and AmeriPrime Advisors Trust.
** Mr. Ashburn 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 Chairman of Unified Financial Services, Inc., the parent of
the principal underwriter for the Funds.
*** Mr. Tritschler may be deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust
because he has an ownership interest in Unified Financial Services, Inc., the
parent of the principal underwriter for the Funds.
Security Ownership Of Management
Based on statements furnished to the Trust by the trustee nominees and
officers, no trustee nominee or officer owns shares of any Fund of the Trust or
shares of any fund in the Fund Complex.
Compensation Table
Trustee fees and compensation paid to officers are Trust expenses. Each
Fund pays a pro rata portion of the trustee fees and officer compensation. The
compensation paid to the trustees and officers for the year ended September 30,
2002, is set forth in the following table.
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Aggregate Total Compensation
Name of Person, Position Compensation From From the Fund
Trust Complex
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Gary E. Hippenstiel $18,625 $22,125
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Mark W. Muller $4,521 $20,771
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Kenneth D. Trumpfheller $0 $0
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Richard J. Wright, Jr. $4,521 $20,771
- ------------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------
Audit Committee
The Trust's current audit committee consists of Messrs. Hippenstiel, Muller
and Wright. The audit committee had one meeting in the year ended September 30,
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 TRUST
The principal executive offices of the Trust are located at 1725 E.
Southlake Boulevard, Suite 200, Southlake, Texas 76092. The Trust is an open-end
management investment company organized as an Ohio business trust on August 8,
1995. The Board of Trustees supervises 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 each Fund's investment adviser and sub-advisers. Unified
Financial Securities, Inc. serves as principal underwriter for each Fund, except
that Capital Research Brokerage Services, LLC, 107 South Fair Oaks Drive, Suite
315, Pasadena, CA 91105 serves as principal underwriter for IMS Capital Value
Fund.
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 October 9, 2002 is the record date for determining
the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any
adjournment(s) thereof. Only holders of shares as of this date are entitled to
notice of and 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. At least a majority of the shares of
the Trust entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, must be present
at the meeting to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business 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.
As of October 9, 2002, the record date, there were 16,000,439.33 shares of
the Trust issued and outstanding. As of the record date, the following
shareholders beneficially owned, in the aggregate, 5% or more of the total
outstanding shares of the Trust.
Beneficial Ownership
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Amount Percent
------------------------------------ ------ -------
Dawn K. Bullard 1,557,756.888 9.74
407 East 5th Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
The following table describes the number of shares of beneficial interest
of each Fund issued and outstanding as of October 9, 2002, 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 865,224.467
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund 565,217.009
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Auxier Focus Fund 1,924,747.282
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Columbia Partners Equity Fund 1,763,860.698
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund 1,704,151.687
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Dobson Covered Call Fund 203,826.288
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
GJMB Growth Fund 126,2674.980
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
GLOBALT Growth Fund 819,856.096
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
IMS Capital Value Fund 1,573,258.305
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund 3,342,813.223
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Marathon Value Portfolio 1,058,956.188
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund 390,004.354
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund 525,848.751
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
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. The individuals named as proxies on the enclosed
proxy card will vote in accordance with your directions as indicated thereon if
your proxy card is received properly executed by you or by your duly appointed
agent or attorney-in-fact.
The duly appointed proxies may, in their discretion, vote upon such other
matters as may properly come before the meeting.
"Broker non-votes" 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 will not be considered as votes for or against a nominee.
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 of 1940,
which must be met by convening such a shareholder meeting. Any shareholder
proposal should be sent to Carol Highsmith, Assistant Secretary, Ameriprime
Funds, c/o Unified Fund Services, Inc., 431 North Pennsylvania Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
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 Unified Fund
Services, Inc. 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/
Carol Highsmith, Assistant Secretary
Dated: October 16, 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 AND SUB-ADVISERS
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
NAME OF FUND INVESTMENT ADVISER INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
AAM Equity Fund Appalachian Asset Management N/A
1018 Kanawha Boulevard, Suite 309
Charleston, West Virginia
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Ariston Convertible Securities Fund Ariston Capital Management Corp. N/A
40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 220
Bellevue, Washington 98005
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Auxier Focus Fund Auxier Asset Management, LLC N/A
8050 S.W. Warm Springs, Suite 130
Tualatin, Oregon 97062
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Columbia Partners Equity Fund Columbia Partners, LLC, Investment Management N/A
1775 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 1169
Washington, D.C. 20005
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Corbin Small-Cap Value Fund Corbin & Company N/A
3113 South University Drive, Suite 500
Fort Worth, Texas 76109
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Dobson Covered Call Fund Dobson Capital Management, Inc. N/A
1422 S. Van Ness Street
Santa Ana, California 92707
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
GJMB Growth Fund Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent N/A
301 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 802
Pasadena, California 91101
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
GLOBALT Growth Fund GLOBALT, Inc. N/A
3060 Peachtree Road, N.W.
One Buckhead Plaza, Suite 225
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
IMS Capital Value Fund IMS Capital Management N/A
10159 S.E. Sunnyside Road, Suite 330
Portland, Oregon 97015
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Jumper Strategic Advantage Fund The Jumper Group, Inc. N/A
One Union Square, Suite 505
Chattanooga, Tennesee 37402
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Marathon Value Portfolio Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc. N/A
1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 950
Atlanta, Georgia 30338
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Martin Capital U.S. Opportunity Fund Martin Capital Advisors, L.L.P. N/A
816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1540
Austin, Texas 78701
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Westcott Large-Cap Value Fund Aegis Asset Management, Inc. Gulf Investment Management
230 Westcott, Suite 1 Three Memorial City Plaza
Houston, Texas 77007 840 Gessner, Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77024
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
PROXY
AMERIPRIME FUNDS
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
November 22, 2002
The undersigned shareholder of the AmeriPrime Funds (the "Trust")
hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints David Bogaert and Carol Highsmith,
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 431 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, on November
22, 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:
PROPOSAL #1: TO ELECT THE FIVE PERSONS NAMED BELOW TO SERVE UNTIL THEIR
SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED AND HAVE QUALIFIED:
Timothy L. Ashburn Daniel J. Condon Gary E. Hippenstiel Stephen A. Little Ronald C. Tritschler
|_| FOR |_| AGAINST (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 "FOR" 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 "FOR" for this proposal. 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, properly 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
------------ ------- ----------------------------
(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. Please promptly return this proxy in the enclosed
envelope.
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.