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))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FUNDS
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(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
N/A
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(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:
IMPORTANT PROXY INFORMATION
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 5, 2008
Shareholders of certain Nationwide Mutual Funds recently received in the mail a
package of materials regarding an upcoming Special Meeting of Shareholders. The
combined proxy statement/prospectus included in the package outlines the
proposed reorganization of certain Nationwide Funds into Aberdeen Funds. The
Nationwide Mutual Funds' Board of Trustees recommends that you vote FOR the
proposal.
Your vote is crucial for the success of the reorganization. Voting today will
help to avoid the expense of further solicitation. Please see the Proxy
Literature Resource Center below for helpful information.
There are two quick and easy ways to vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You
will need to enter the individual control number printed on the proxy card that
was included on your proxy package.
If your proxy card looks like:
(IT--Insert PDF titled "Registered Proxy Card here.
"View larger image" link below should open
the PDF in a new window for easier viewing)
View larger image
please click www.proxyonline.com or call 866-458-9850 to vote your shares
If your proxy card looks like:
(IT--Insert PDF titled "Beneficial Proxy Card" here.
"View larger image" link below should open
the PDF in a new window for easier viewing)
View larger image
please click www.proxyvote.com or call 800-690-6903 to vote your shares
Proxy Literature Resource Center
(PDF icon) Proxy Registration Statement
(PDF icon) Shareholder Guide to the Proxy
(PDF icon) Aberdeen Funds Prospectus
Voting by phone or Internet is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have any difficulties in voting or if you need additional information or
a proxy card, please call 866-745-2066. Specialists are available to assist you
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. You may also vote by mailing your
completed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided in
Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC, distributor of the Nationwide Funds, is not
affiliated with Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.
The table below lists the Nationwide Mutual Funds that are proposed for
reorganization.
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Fund Name
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Nationwide China Opportunities Fund(1), (2)
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Nationwide Emerging Markets Fund(1)
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Nationwide Global Financial Services Fund(1), (3)
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Nationwide Global Utilities Fund(1), (3)
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Nationwide Health Sciences Fund(1), (3)
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Nationwide Hedged Core Equity Fund(4)
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Nationwide International Growth Fund(1)
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Nationwide Leaders Fund(3)
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Nationwide Market Neutral Fund(4)
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Nationwide Mid Cap Growth Leaders Fund(3)
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Nationwide Natural Resources Fund(1), (3)
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Fund: Defensive(5)
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Fund: Moderate(5)
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Fund: Moderate Growth(5)
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Fund: Growth(5)
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Fund: Specialty(5)
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Nationwide Small Cap Fund(1), (2), (6)
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Nationwide Small Cap Core Fund(4), (6)
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Nationwide Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund(6), (7)
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Nationwide Small Cap Leaders Fund(2), (3), (6)
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Nationwide Small Cap Value Fund(6), (7), (8), (9)
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Nationwide Tax-Free Income Fund(10)
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Nationwide Technology and Communications Fund(1), (3)
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Nationwide U.S. Growth Leaders Fund(3)
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Nationwide U.S. Growth Leaders Long-Short Fund(4)
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Nationwide Worldwide Leaders Fund1, (3)
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FUND DISCLOSURE
1 International investing involves additional risks, including currency
fluctuations, differences in accounting standards, economic and political
instability, illiquidity and higher trading costs, and differences in
foreign regulations, all of which are magnified in emerging markets. The
Fund may purchase securities in initial public offerings, which can be
very volatile and carry high transaction costs.
2 The Fund may invest in initial public offerings, can be very volatile and
carry high transaction costs.
3 Funds that concentrate on specific sectors or a relatively small number
of securities may be subject to greater volatility than that of other
mutual funds.
4 In order to achieve the Fund's objective, the manager uses sophisticated
investment strategies such as leverage, short selling, and investing in
derivatives and ETFs. These strategies cause the Fund to have greater
risk and volatility, and higher expenses, than those of other
investments.
5 The Nationwide Optimal Allocations Funds are designed to provide
diversification and asset allocation across several types of investment
strategies and asset classes.
Each Fund is subject to different levels of risk, based on the types and
sizes of its underlying asset class allocations. Each Fund's underlying
funds are subject to specific investment risks such as those associated
with a concentrated, market-sector or asset class-focused portfolio (such
as REITs), small companies, international securities, initial public
offerings, short selling, short-term trading, bonds and short-term
instruments.
There is no assurance that a diversified portfolio will produce better
results than a nondiversified portfolio.
6 Small-company stocks have higher risks than the stocks of larger, more
established companies and have significant short-term price volatility.
7 The Fund may purchase securities in derivatives and initial public
offerings, which can be very volatile and carry high transaction costs.
8 The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are
more volatile than other types of securities.
9 Value stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market and
economic developments than the market overall and other types of stocks.
This can cause the Fund to underperform other funds using different
investment styles.
10 For some investors, income from the Fund may be subject to state and
local taxes, and the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax
INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER A FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, FEES,
CHARGES AND EXPENSES BEFORE INVESTING ANY MONEY. TO OBTAIN THIS AND OTHER FUND
INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 1-800-848-0920 TO REQUEST A PROSPECTUS, OR DOWNLOAD A
PROSPECTUS AT NATIONWIDEFUNDS.COM. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING ANY
MONEY.
Mutual fund investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
Nationwide Funds distributed by NATIONWIDE FUND DISTRIBUTORS LLC, Member FINRA.
1200 River Road, Suite 1000, Conshohocken, PA 19428.
OUTBOUND CALLING GUIDE TO FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Here are the most important points to communicate to financial advisors
regarding the proposed reorganization:
o The proxy materials mailed to shareholders relate to the reorganization
proposal of 26 Nationwide mutual funds into corresponding portfolios of
Aberdeen Funds. List of funds can be found on the following page.
o Shareholders of the Nationwide Funds included in the reorganization
proposal who owned shares as of Feb. 29, 2008 will receive the proxy
materials and voting instructions by mail. Following the mailing,
certain clients may also be contacted by phone to solicit their vote.
o Currently, Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. is the one of the largest
subadvisers to the Nationwide Funds. In November 2007, the Nationwide
Mutual Funds' Board of Trustees approved the proposal and determined
that the reorganization is in the best interest of shareholders, and
recommends that your clients vote FOR the proposal.
o If the proposal is approved, your client will become a shareholder of
Aberdeen Funds. Aberdeen will serve as the investment advisor and the
funds will be managed by the same portfolio managers (except for the
Nationwide Tax-Free Income Fund) who currently manage their Nationwide
Fund. Upon shareholder approval, Aberdeen Tax-Free Income will be
subadvised by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC
o If you receive calls regarding this proxy from your clients, please let
them know that they should not discard their proxy card included in the
mailing and encourage them to vote immediately.
o If the client discarded their material, an additional proxy card can be
obtained in one of two ways:
1. Client can call 866-745-0266
2. Advisor can contact their firm's proxy department.
o Shareholders have three ways to vote:
1. By Internet - Visit the website listed on proxy card.
2. By Phone - Call the toll-free number listed on the proxy card.
3. By Mail - Sign/date the proxy card and return in the postage-paid
envelope.
o Advisors can vote if their client has authorized them to vote on their
behalf. Advisor should contact their firm's proxy department and
provide them with the following information. This process will vary by
firm.
1. Account Name/Title
2. Account #
3. CUSIP & # of shares
4. Instructions on how the vote is to be cast (For, Against, Abstain)
The following chart lists the names of the Aberdeen Fund that, upon shareholder
approval, will acquire the corresponding Nationwide Fund.
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Current Nationwide Fund Name Proposed Aberdeen Fund Name
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Nationwide China Opportunities Fund Aberdeen China Opportunities Fund
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Nationwide Emerging Markets Fund Aberdeen Developing Markets Fund
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Nationwide Global Financial Services Fund Aberdeen Global Financial Services Fund
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Nationwide Global Utilities Fund Aberdeen Global Utilities Fund
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Nationwide Health Sciences Fund Aberdeen Health Sciences Fund
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Nationwide Hedged Core Equity Fund Aberdeen Hedged Core Equity Fund
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Nationwide International Growth Fund Aberdeen International Equity Fund
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Nationwide Leaders Fund Aberdeen Select Equity Fund
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Nationwide Market Neutral Fund Aberdeen Market Neutral Fund
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Nationwide Mid Cap Growth Aberdeen Select Mid Cap Growth Fund
Leaders Fund
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Nationwide Natural Resources Fund Aberdeen Natural Resources Fund
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Aberdeen Optimal Allocations
Fund: Defensive Fund: Defensive
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Aberdeen Optimal Allocations
Fund: Moderate Fund: Moderate
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Aberdeen Optimal Allocations
Fund: Moderate Growth Fund: Moderate Growth
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Aberdeen Optimal Allocations
Fund: Growth Fund: Growth
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Nationwide Optimal Allocations Aberdeen Optimal Allocations
Fund: Specialty Fund: Specialty
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Nationwide Small Cap Core Fund Aberdeen Small Cap
Opportunities Fund
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Nationwide Small Cap Fund Aberdeen Small Cap Fund
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Nationwide Small Cap Growth Aberdeen Small Cap Growth Fund
Opportunities Fund
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Nationwide Small Cap Leaders Fund Aberdeen Select Small Cap Fund
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Nationwide Small Cap Value Fund Aberdeen Small Cap Value Fund
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Nationwide Tax-Free Income Fund Aberdeen Tax-Free Income Fund
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Nationwide Technology and Communications Fund Aberdeen Technology
and Communications Fund
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Nationwide U.S. Growth Leaders Fund Aberdeen Select Growth Fund
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Nationwide U.S. Growth Leaders Aberdeen Equity Long-Short Fund
Long-Short Fund
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Nationwide Worldwide Leaders Fund Aberdeen Select Worldwide Fund
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