-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, JtGBBe7yQVmL0F4z2lJpsVAvB7fQgE71I8hzfJUpA41tChUhqCGD2BLfn9LsnNld D+CxgcO6Espg+hw3U5qO9g== 0001035449-02-000383.txt : 20021023 0001035449-02-000383.hdr.sgml : 20021023 20021023170825 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001035449-02-000383 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20021122 FILED AS OF DATE: 20021023 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20021023 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERIPRIME FUNDS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001000579 IRS NUMBER: 752616671 STATE OF INCORPORATION: OH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-09096 FILM NUMBER: 02796395 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1793 KINGSWOOD DR STREET 2: STE 200 CITY: SOUTHLAKE STATE: TX ZIP: 76092 BUSINESS PHONE: 8174311297 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1793 KINGSWOOD DRIVE STREET 2: SUITE 200 CITY: SOUTHLAKE STATE: TX ZIP: 76092 DEF 14A 1 afdefproxy1002.txt DEFINITIVE PROXY 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 ------------ 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. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----