-----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, ADXL1KnUpox0MlbU3hueZYOIcQ/VJ4G/wFONN4WRUaEOUA1asohdyIhB+iI7bsMM cT9p1nZeMuPf8QrWP36igw== 0000898531-03-000140.txt : 20030320 0000898531-03-000140.hdr.sgml : 20030320 20030320145304 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000898531-03-000140 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 425 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20030320 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CATHOLIC VALUES INVESTMENT TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001027808 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-482-8260 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 255 STATE STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CATHOLIC INVESTMENT TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19961202 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CATHOLIC FUNDS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001075375 IRS NUMBER: 391957112 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-09177 FILM NUMBER: 03610441 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 W WELLS ST CITY: MILWAUKEE STATE: WI ZIP: 53233 BUSINESS PHONE: 8772222402 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 W WELLS ST CITY: MILWAUKEE STATE: WI ZIP: 53233 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CATHOLIC ALLIANCE FUNDS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19981216 425 1 tcf-425.txt Filed by The Catholic Funds, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425 Under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Deemed Filed Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Subject Company: Catholic Values Investment Trust Equity Fund, a Series of Catholic Values Investment Trust Commission File No.: Catholic Values Investment Trust 1940 Act No.: 811-07951 [CATHOLIC VALUES INVESTMENT TRUST LETTERHEAD] March 20, 2003 Dear Catholic Values Investment Trust Equity Fund Shareholder: I am writing to you about a matter of primary importance to all of our Catholic Values Investment Trust ("CVIT") Equity Fund shareholders. We have appreciated the confidence you have placed in us and your support of the CVIT Equity Fund. However, we believe that your interests would be better served if the CVIT Equity Fund were to combine with and become a part of the Catholic Equity Fund, a series of The Catholic Funds, Inc., in a transaction structured as a tax-free reorganization. Although there are differences between investment objectives and principal strategies of the Catholic Equity Fund and those of the CVIT Fund, both Funds generally seek capital appreciation and dividend income by investing primarily in stocks of well-established companies in a manner consistent with core Catholic values. The Catholic Equity Fund specifically seeks a total return from dividends and capital gains which is equal to the S&P 500, less the Fund's operating expenses, by investing in a portfolio of common stocks that approximately parallels the composition of the Index. However, the Catholic Equity Fund does not invest in companies that directly participate in abortion and engages in advocacy activities to influence the practices of companies so that they better reflect and promote the dignity and primacy of the human person. The annual operating expenses of the Catholic Equity Fund are lower than the expenses of the CVIT Fund (after fee waivers and expense reimburse- ments), and the proposed transaction would result in a combined Fund of $21 million in assets, allowing it to take better advantage of economies of scale. The Catholic Equity Fund also offers classes of shares that are similar to those of the CVIT Fund. The Catholic Equity Fund is managed and distributed by Catholic Financial Services Corporation, which is owned by a Catholic frater- nal alliance headed by Catholic Knights. We believe the Catholic Equity Fund offers an appealing alternative for CVIT Fund shareholders. Shortly you will receive a Proxy Statement/Prospectus which will describe and seek your approval of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Agreement") involving the CVIT Equity Fund and the Catholic Equity Fund, and explain the similarities and differences between the two Funds. As a result of the transactions proposed in the Agreement (the "Reorganization"), substantially all of the assets and stated liabilities of the CVIT Equity Fund would be transferred to the Catholic Equity Fund, and you would receive shares of the Catholic Equity Fund in exchange for your CVIT Equity Fund shares. Immediately following the transfer, the dollar value of your account would be the same as it was immediately before the transfer and you would receive Class C or Class I shares that correspond with your holdings of Individual Shares or Institutional Service Shares of the CVIT Fund. You will not recognize any gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the exchange. The Board of Trustees of CVIT has unanimously approved the transaction and unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the Agreement when you receive the proxy. The Trustees believe that the Agreement and the Reorganization are in your best interests as a shareholder of the CVIT Equity Fund. Your vote is essential to approve the proposal. It is anticipated that the Reorganization will occur on May 21, 2003. Please read the Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully when you receive it because it contains important information. When you receive the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, please cast your vote by completing and returning the proxy card or voting by telephone as instructed on the proxy card. To help avoid additional expense, be sure to vote promptly. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-888-974-4486. Thank you for your consideration and continued support. Sincerely, Peter M. Donovan President HOW TO OBTAIN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Fund and the Catholic Equity Fund will provide the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to you free of charge. You may also obtain the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and any other relevant documents, for free at the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain the following documents of the Catholic Equity Fund free of charge by writing to The Catholic Funds, 1100 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 or by calling 1-877-222-2402: a Statement of Additional Information relating to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, a Prospectus and a Statement of Additional Infor- mation each dated January 31, 2003, and an Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended September 30, 2003. You may also obtain the following documents of the Fund free of charge by writing to the Fund, c/o Wright Investors' Service Distributors, Inc., 440 Wheelers Farm Road, Milford, Connecticut 06460 or by calling 1-888-974-4486: a Prospectus and a Statement of Additional Information each dated May 1, 2002, and an Annual Report to Shareholders of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2002. CVIT and The Catholic Funds, Inc., and their respective trustees, directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed Reorganization. Information regarding CVIT's trustees and executive officers is contained in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated May 1, 2002, which are filed with the SEC. As of March 13, 2003, CVIT's trustees and executive officers beneficially owned less than 1% of all outstanding shares of the Fund. Infor- mation regarding The Catholic Funds, Inc.' s directors and executive officers is contained in the Catholic Equity Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated January 31, 2003, which are filed with the SEC. As of March 13, 2003, The Catholic Funds, Inc.' s directors and executive officers beneficially owned less than 1% of all outstanding shares of the Catholic Equity Fund. A more complete description will be available in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. THIS LETTER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SE- CURITIES FOR SALE. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----