SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Wilmington Funds
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INFORMATION STATEMENT
Wilmington Funds
Wilmington Multi-Manager International Fund
111 South Calvert Street, 26th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of this Information Statement
The Information Statement is available at http://www.wilmingtonfunds.com
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND WE REQUEST THAT YOU NOT SEND US A PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.
This Information Statement is being provided to shareholders of Wilmington Multi-Manager International Fund (Fund), a series of the Wilmington Funds (the Trust), to notify you of the approval by the Board of Trustees of a new sub-advisory agreement between Wilmington Funds Management Corporation (WFMC or Adviser), the adviser to the Fund, and Oberweis Asset Management, Inc. (Oberweis), a sub-adviser retained by the Adviser to perform certain investment advisory services for the Fund. This Information Statement is being provided to shareholders pursuant to the terms of an exemptive order that the Trust has received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that allows certain sub-adviser changes to be made without shareholder approval (the Manager of Managers Order). Subject to certain conditions, the Manager of Managers Order allows WFMC, with the approval of the Trusts Board of Trustees (Trustees), to select sub-advisers and to enter into new sub-advisory agreements without obtaining shareholder approval. The Information Statement is being mailed on or about December 31, 2013 to shareholders of record of the Fund as of December 12, 2013. The Fund will pay the costs associated with preparing and distributing this Information Statement to shareholders.
The Fund provides periodic reports to its shareholders, which highlight relevant information about the Fund, including investment results and a review of portfolio investments. You may receive an additional copy of the most recent annual report and semi-annual report of the Fund, without charge, by calling (800) 836-2211, or by downloading them from the Trusts web-site at www.wilmingtonfunds.com or by writing to Wilmington Funds, Wilmington Multi-Manager International Fund, P.O. Box 9828, Providence, RI 02940-8025.
The Fund is a multi-manager fund that has retained an adviser and several sub-advisers to manage and make decisions with respect to investment of its assets. WFMC, located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, is the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement with the Trust. WFMC has overall responsibility for the general management and day-to-day operations of the Fund but has retained investment sub-advisers to make the investment decisions for the Funds assets. Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), an entity under common control with WFMC, provides certain investment services, information, advice, assistance and facilities and performs research, statistical and investment services pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, WFMC and WTIA. WFMC retains responsibility (subject to the Trustees oversight) for managing sub-advisers and evaluates the Funds needs and each sub-advisers skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Currently, WFMC allocates the Funds assets among six sub-advisers: Barings International Investment Limited, Dimensional Funds Advisors LP, LSV Asset Management, Northern Cross LLC, Parametric Portfolio Associates, Inc., and recently hired Oberweis.
Oberweis
At the September 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees, WFMC reported that it had conducted an analysis of the Fund, its structure and its current sub-advisers to which WFMC allocates the Funds assets. Based on its analysis of the Fund, WFMC recommended that the Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Trust, WFMC and Oberweis (the Agreement) be approved by the Board. WFMC believes Oberweis to be a qualified and appropriate candidate to sub-advise the Fund, after considering the results of a due diligence visit as well as the Funds investment objectives and strategies. WFMC also believes that increasing the Funds exposure to Oberweis investment strategy will improve the performance of the Fund. Oberweis investment process focuses on identifying good businesses through fundamental research and identifying catalysts for investment such as revenue and earnings revisions or consensus earnings or performance expectations that Oberweis believes are too low. Oberweis portfolio managers employ a disciplined, repeatable investment process that they believe to be based on a clearly-defined, empirically-proven and persistent source of alpha. This investment process will be utilized to create a portfolio of developed market small-cap growth equity securities.
Oberweis will use fundamental analysis and its investment philosophy to invest in global small-cap growth equities. Oberweis will receive an annual sub-advisory fee of 1.00% on the first $50 million of assets it manages, 0.90% on the next $50 million of assets it manages, and 0.80% on assets in excess of $100 million it manages. Pursuant to an exemptive order received from the SEC, the addition of Oberweis as sub-adviser to the Fund does not require shareholder approval. There will not be an increase to the Funds overall investment advisory fees as authorized by shareholders as a result of the Agreement.
Oberweis also serves as an investment manager to six other mutual funds that pursue an investment objective similar to the Funds investment objective of long-term capital appreciation. These six mutual funds are The Oberweis Emerging Growth Fund (the Emerging Fund), The Oberweis Micro-Cap Fund (the Micro-Cap Fund), The Oberweis Small-Cap Opportunities Fund (the Small-Cap Fund), The Oberweis China Opportunities Fund (the China Fund), The Oberweiss International Opportunities Fund (the International Fund) and The Oberweiss Asia Opportunities Fund (the Asia Fund). The investment objective of each of the Emerging, Micro-Cap and Small-Cap Funds is to maximize capital appreciation. The investment objective of each of the China, International and Asia Funds is to maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Below are the net asset sizes of each Fund as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and the rate of Oberweis compensation for managing each Fund. The management fees below serve as compensation to Oberweis for providing not only advisory services but also non-investment advisory, management and administrative services to each Fund.
Other Fund Managed by Oberweis |
Net Assets (unaudited) | Management Fee | ||||||
Emerging Fund |
$ | 65,447,959 | 0.84 | %* | ||||
Micro-Cap Fund |
$ | 22,032,465 | 1.00 | % | ||||
Small-Cap Fund |
$ | 7,479,640 | 0.80 | %** | ||||
China Fund |
$ | 130,631,777 | 1.25 | % | ||||
International Fund |
$ | 49,074,859 | 1.25 | %*** | ||||
Asia Fund |
$ | 5,383,484 | 1.25 | %**** |
* | As compensation for providing investment advisory services to the Emerging Fund, Oberweis receives from the Fund at the end of each month a fee at an annual rate equal to 0.45% of the first $50 million of the average daily net assets of the Fund and 0.40% of the average daily net assets of the Fund in excess of $50 million. In addition, as compensation for providing non-investment advisory, management and administrative services to the Fund, Oberweis receives on a monthly basis an annual management fee equal to 0.40% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. |
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** | Oberweis has a contractual arrangement with the Small-Cap Fund to reimburse it for total annual fund operating expenses in excess of 2% of average daily net assets for the first $25 million; plus 1.6% of average daily net assets in excess of $50 million, excluding any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses. The contractual arrangement continues in force until April 30, 2014, although the arrangement may be amended at any time by the mutual written consent of Oberweis and the Fund. |
*** | Oberweis has a contractual arrangement with the International Fund to reimburse it for total annual fund operating expenses in excess of 1.6% of average daily net assets, excluding any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses. The contractual arrangement continues in force until April 30, 2014, although the arrangement may be amended at any time by the mutual written consent of Oberweis and the Fund. |
**** | Oberweis has a contractual arrangement with the Asia Fund to reimburse it for total annual fund operating expenses in excess of 2.49% of average daily net assets, excluding any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses. The contractual arrangement continues in force until April 30, 2014, although the arrangement may be amended at any time by the mutual written consent of Oberweis and the Fund. |
The following portfolio manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds assets allocated to Oberweis.
Ralf Scherschmidt, Principal and Portfolio Manager of Oberweis, joined Oberweis in 2006 and is head of the International Opportunities strategy team. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS, summa cum laude, in Finance, Accounting and Chinese from Georgetown University. Ralf is a native German speaker.
Oberweis is a registered investment adviser with its principal executive office located at 3333 Warrenville Road, Suite 500, Lisle, IL 60532. As of September 30, 2013, Oberweis had assets under management of approximately $755 million. The name and principal occupation of the principal executive officers of Oberweis are as follows:
Name |
Position with Oberweis | |
James W. Oberweis | Chairman and President | |
Patrick B. Joyce | Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer |
James W. Oberweis owns over 50% of Oberweis. Also, the address for each principal officer listed is the same as the address for the principal executive office for Oberweis.
Board Approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with Oberweis
At the Board of Trustees meeting held on September 12, 2013, in accordance with a recommendation from WFMC, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not considered interested persons (the Independent Trustees) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), approved the Agreement. In evaluating the Agreement, the Trustees reviewed information provided concerning the following:
| The nature and quality of the services provided, including the activities of the Adviser with respect to the sub-advisers of the relevant Fund; |
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| The cost of providing the services for the sub-adviser as relevant and available; |
| The extent to which the sub-adviser, as relevant and available, realizes economies of scale as the Fund grows larger; |
| The fall-out benefits to advisory affiliates that can be attributed to the sub-advisers position with the Fund, as relevant and available; and |
| The Advisers recommendation that the Independent Trustees approve the Agreement. |
In considering this information, the Trustees took into account management style, investment strategies, and prevailing market conditions. After extensive discussion and consideration among themselves, and with the Adviser and independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, including during an executive session among the Independent Trustees and independent legal counsel, the Independent Trustees concluded the following:
| The nature and extent of the investment advisory services to be provided to the Fund by the sub-adviser were consistent with the terms of the Agreement; and |
| The prospects for satisfactory investment performance were reasonable. |
Based on all relevant information and factors, none of which was individually determinative of the outcome, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the approval of the Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders and approved the Agreement. Oberweis was allocated Fund assets on October 24, 2013.
Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Agreement was approved by the Trustees on September 12, 2013. In accordance with the Manager of Managers Order, the Agreement will not be submitted to the Funds shareholders for their approval. The following is a brief summary of the material terms of the Agreement.
General. Under the terms of the Agreement, Oberweis is responsible for managing that portion of the Funds assets that it is allocated to manage by WFMC. In providing investment management services to the Fund, Oberweis determines which securities shall be purchased, held or sold, and what assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust, the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Funds registration statement, the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and such policies and instructions as the Trustees of the Trust may determine.
It is anticipated that Oberweis will: (1) maintain all books and records required to be maintained by it pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the transactions Oberweis effects on behalf of the Fund; and (2) complete such reports concerning purchases or sales of investments of Fund assets managed by Oberweis as the Adviser or the Trust may from time to time require to assure compliance with, among others, the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code.
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Brokerage Commissions and Portfolio Transactions. Oberweis places orders for portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund with issuers, underwriters or other brokers and dealers. When it can be done consistently with the policy of obtaining best execution, Oberweis may place such orders with brokers and dealers who supply research, market and statistical information to the Fund or to Oberweis. Oberweis is authorized when placing portfolio transactions for equity securities to pay a brokerage commission (to the extent applicable) in excess of that which another broker might charge for executing the same transaction because of the receipt of research, market or statistical information. Allocation of portfolio transactions is supervised by WFMC.
Compensation. For services rendered under the Agreement, Oberweis receives an annual fee paid monthly as follows: 1.00% on the first $50 million of assets; 0.90% on the next $50 million of assets; and 0.80% on assets in excess of $100 million.
Liability of Oberweis. The Agreement provides that Oberweis shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its reasonable judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by the Agreement, or in accordance with (or in the absence of) specific directions or instructions from the Trust or Adviser, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from Oberweis willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or a reckless disregard of duty.
Term. The Agreement is expected to remain in effect, unless earlier terminated, for an initial term expiring no more than two years from the date of effectiveness and will continue in effect thereafter for successive twelve-month periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and, in either case (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons of any such party (other than as Trustees of the Trust). The term majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act means: the affirmative vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Termination. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Agreement may at any time be terminated without penalty upon sixty (60) days written notice by any party. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may agree to terminate the Agreement either by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the vote of the Trustees of the Trust. The Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
Additional Information About WFMC and Affiliates
WFMC serves as the investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement dated March 12, 2012 between WFMC and the Trust (the Investment Advisory Contract). The Investment Advisory Contract was last approved by the Board on September 12, 2013 and by Fund shareholders on March 8, 2012. WMFC is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WFMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of M&T Bank Corporation (M&T).
Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Contract, WFMC has agreed to: (a) direct the investments of the Fund, subject to and in accordance with the Funds investment goal, policies and limitations set forth in the Funds prospectus and statement of additional information; (b) purchase and sell for the Fund, securities and other investments consistent with the Funds goals and policies; (c) supply office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary for servicing the investments of the Fund; (d) pay the
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salaries of all personnel of the investment advisor performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities on behalf of the Fund; (e) make available and provide such information as the Trust and/or its administrator may reasonably request for use in the preparation of its registration statement, reports and other documents required by any applicable federal, foreign or state statutes or regulations; (f) make its officers and employees available to the Trustees and officers of the Trust for consultation and discussion regarding the management of each Fund and its investment activities. Additionally, WFMC has agreed to create and maintain all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to a contract with the Fund. The Trust and/or WFMC may at any time upon approval by the Board of Trustees, enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with a sub-advisor pursuant to which WFMC delegates any or all of its duties as listed. The Investment Advisory Contract provides that WFMC shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the agreement relates, except to the extent of a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its obligations and duties under the agreement.
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Contract, WFMC is entitled to receive an annual investment advisory fee of 0.50%, paid monthly as a percentage of average daily net assets. WFMC has contractually agreed to waive until August 31, 2014 a portion of its advisory fee or reimburse expenses to the extent that the expenses of a Fund (excluding the effects of acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes or other extraordinary expenses), expressed as an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, do not exceed 1.49% for Class A Shares and 1.36% for Class I Shares of the Fund. The advisory fee paid to WFMC by the Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2013 was $2,038,438.
WTIA, 111 South Calvert Street, 26 Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, provides certain investment services, information, advice, assistance and facilities and performs research, statistical and investment services pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, WFMC and WTIA. For providing sub-advisory services, WTIA receives 80% of WFMCs advisory fee received from the Fund. The allocation of the fees between WFMC and WTIA is based on the allocation of responsibilities between WFMC and WTIA with respect to each Fund. WFMC may reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between itself and WTIA without obtaining shareholder approval. Any such reallocation will not result in a reduction in the nature and level of services provided to each Fund or in an increase in the aggregate fees paid by the Fund for such services.
WFMC also serves as co-administrator to the Trust and provides the Fund with certain administrative personnel and services necessary to operate the Fund. Effective October 1, 2013, fees payable to WFMC are as follows:
Maximum Administrative Fee |
Average Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Wilmington | |
0.040% |
on the first $5 billion | |
0.030% |
on the next $2 billion | |
0.025% |
on the next $3 billion | |
0.018% |
on assets in excess of $10 billion |
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Prior to October 1, 2013, fees payable to WFMC were as follows:
Maximum Administrative Fee |
Average Aggregate Daily Net Assets of the Wilmington | |
0.033% | on the first $5 billion | |
0.020% | on the next $2 billion | |
0.016% | on the next $3 billion | |
0.015% | on assets in excess of $10 billion |
The co-administration fee paid to WFMC by the Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2013 was $101,297.
R. Samuel Fraundorf, a Trustee of the Trust, also serves as the President of WTIA. Robert J. Truesdell, a Trustee of the Trust, also serves as a Group Vice President and Senior Investment Advisor for Wilmington Trust Wealth Advisory Services of M&T Bank, the parent of WFMC. The following officers of the Trust also serve as officers of WTIA or M&T Bank, the parent of WFMC:
Name |
Position Held with the Trust |
Position Held with WTIA or M&T | ||
Samuel Guerrieri | President | Senior Vice President (M&T) | ||
Michael D. Daniels | Chief Operating Officer | Chief Operating Officers (WTIA); Administrative Vice President (M&T) | ||
Jeffrey M. Seling | Assistant Treasurer and Vice President | Vice President (WTIA and M&T) | ||
John C. McDonnell | Assistant Treasurer and Vice President | Vice President (WTIA) | ||
Hope L. Brown | Chief Compliance Officer, AML Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary | Vice President (WTIA) | ||
Eric B. Paul | Vice President | Administrative Vice President (M&T) | ||
Ralph V. Partlow, III | Vice President | Administrative Vice President and Deputy General Counsel (M&T) |
WFMC continues to provide investment advisory and co-administrative services after the Agreement was approved.
Shareholdings Information
As of December 12, 2013, the Fund had 68,339,174 shares of Class I and 801,522 shares of Class A issued and outstanding. As of December 12, 2013, the following persons owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund:
Class I Shares
Name and Address |
Percentage Ownership of Fund |
Total Number of Shares Owned |
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SEI Private Trust Company C/O M&T Bank ID 337 Attn: Mutual Fund Administrator One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 9989 |
30.4 | % | 20,802,781 |
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Name and Address |
Percentage Ownership of Fund |
Total Number of Shares Owned |
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SEI Private Trust Company C/O M&T Bank/WTC ID 337 Attn: Mutual Fund Administrator One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 9989 |
27.8 | % | 18,995,807 | |||||
SEI Private Trust Company C/O M&T Bank /WTC ID 337 Attn: Mutual Fund Administrator One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 9989 |
7.3 | % | 5,019,978 | |||||
SEI Private Trust Company C/O M&T Bank ID 337 Attn: Mutual Fund Administrator One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, PA 19456 9989 |
6.6 | % | 4,487,098 |
Class A Shares
Name and Address |
Percentage Ownership of Fund Share Class |
Total Number of Shares Owned |
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Subramonian Shankar Norcross, GA 30092-1418 |
12.3 | % | 98,867 |
As of December 12, 2013, each Trustees individual shareholdings constituted less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and as a group, the Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the shares of the Fund.
Householding
Only one
copy of this Information Statement may be mailed to households, even if more than one person in a household is a Fund shareholder of record; unless the Trust has received instructions to the contrary. If you need additional copies of this
Information Statement, please contact your participating securities dealer or other financial intermediary or you may call
(800) 836-2211. If you do not want the mailing of an Information Statement to be combined with those for other
members of your household in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would rather receive just one copy for the household, please contact your participating securities dealer or other financial intermediary or you may call
(800) 836-2211.
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