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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-8F
I. GENERAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
1. Reason fund is applying to deregister (check only one; for
descriptions, see Instruction 1 above):
[X] Merger
[ ] Liquidation
[ ] Abandonment of Registration
(Note: Abandonments of Registration answer only questions 1
through 15, 24 and 25 of this form and complete verification
at the end of the form.)
[ ] Election of status as a Business Development Company
(Note: Business Development Companies answer only questions 1
through 10 of this form and complete verification at the end
of the form.)
2. Name of fund: NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION
3. Securities and Exchange Commission File No.: 811-000435
4. Is this an initial Form N-8F or an amendment to a previously filed Form
N-8F?
[X] Initial Application [ ] Amendment
5. Address of Principal Executive Office (include No. & Street, City,
State, Zip Code):
ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
6. Name, address and telephone number of individual the Commission staff
should contact with any questions regarding this form:
DINA TANTRA, ESQ., SENIOR COUNSEL
VILLANOVA CAPITAL, INC.
1200 RIVER ROAD
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428
(484) 530-1528
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7. Name, address and telephone number of individual or entity responsible
for maintenance and preservation of fund records in accordance with
rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the Act [17 CFR 270.31A-1, .31A-2]:
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
THREE NATIONWIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 249-3030
NOTE: Once deregistered, a fund is still required to maintain and
preserve the records described in rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 for the periods
specified in those rules.
8. Classification of fund (check only one):
[X] Management company;
[ ] Unit investment trust; or
[ ] Face-amount certificate company.
9. Subclassification if the fund is a management company (check only one):
[X] Open-end [ ] Closed-end
10. State law under which the fund was organized or formed (e.g., Delaware,
Massachusetts):
MICHIGAN
11. Provide the name and address of each investment adviser of the fund
(including sub-advisers) during the last five years, even if the fund's
contracts with those advisers have been terminated:
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
THREE NATIONWIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
12. Provide the name and addresses of each principal underwriter of the
fund during the last five years, even if the fund's contracts, with
those underwriters have been terminated:
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
THREE NATIONWIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
13. If the fund is a unit investment trust ("UIT") provide:
(a) Depositor's name(s) and address(es):
(b) Trustee's name(s) and address(es):
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14. Is there a UIT registered under the Act that served as a vehicle for
investment in the fund (e.g., an insurance company separate account)?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes, for each UIT state:
Name(s):
File No.: 811-_______
Business Address:
15. (a) Did the fund obtain approval from the board of directors
concerning the decision to engage in a Merger, Liquidation or
Abandonment of Registration?
[X] Yes [ ] No
If Yes, state the date on which the board vote took place:
NOVEMBER 7, 1997.
If No, explain:
(b) Did the fund obtain approval from the shareholders concerning
the decision to engage in a Merger, Liquidation or Abandonment
of Registration?
[X] Yes [ ] No
If Yes, state the date on which the shareholder vote took
place: FEBRUARY 16, 1998.
If No, explain:
II. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
16. Has the fund distributed any assets to its shareholders in connection
with the Merger or Liquidation?
[X] Yes [ ] No
(a) If Yes, list the date(s) on which the fund made those
distributions: MAY 9, 1998.
(b) Were the distributions made on the basis of net assets?
[X] Yes [ ] No
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(c) Were the distributions made pro rata based on share ownership?
[X] Yes [ ] No
(d) If No to (b) or (c) above, describe the method of
distributions to shareholders. For Mergers, provide the
exchange ratio(s) used and explain how it was calculated:
(e) Liquidations only:
Were any distributions to shareholders made in kind?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If Yes, indicate the percentage of fund shares owned by
affiliates, or any other affiliation of shareholders:
17. Closed-end funds only:
Has the fund issued senior securities?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If Yes, describe the method of calculating payments to senior
security holders and distributions to other shareholders:
18. Has the fund distributed all of its assets to the fund's shareholders?
[X] Yes [ ] No
If No,
(a) How many shareholders does the fund have as of the date this
form is filed?
(b) Describe the relationship of each remaining shareholder to the
fund:
19. Are there any shareholders who have not yet received distributions in
complete liquidation of their interests?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes, describe briefly the plans (if any) for distributing to, or
preserving the interests of, those shareholders:
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III. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
20. Does the fund have any assets as of the date this form is filed?
(See question 18 above)
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes,
(a) Describe the type and amount of each asset retained by the
fund as of the date this form is filed:
(b) Why has the fund retained the remaining assets?
(c) Will the remaining assets be invested in securities?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
21. Does the fund have any outstanding debts (other than face-amount
certificates if the fund is a face-amount certificate company) or any
other liabilities?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes,
(a) Describe the type and amount of each debt or other liability:
(b) How does the fund intend to pay these outstanding debts or
other liabilities?
IV. INFORMATION ABOUT EVENT(S) LEADING TO REQUEST FOR DEREGISTRATION
22. (a) List the expenses incurred in connection with the Merger or
Liquidation:
(i) Legal expenses: $25,003
(ii) Accounting expenses: $0
(iii) Other expenses (list and identify separately):
Printing & Supplies: $ 73,645
Proxy Solicitation: 32,165
Postage: 67,971
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(iv) Total expenses (sum of lines (i)-(iii) above): $198,784
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(b) How are those expenses allocated? 50% TO NATIONWIDE INVESTING
FOUNDATION AND 50% TO
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY
SERVICES, INC.
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(c) Who paid those expenses? PAID BY THE PARTY TO WHOM ALLOCATED.
(d) How did the fund pay for unamortized expenses (if any)? There
were none.
23. Has the fund previously filed an application for an order of the
Commission regarding the Merger or Liquidation?
[X] Yes [ ] No
If Yes, cite the release numbers of the Commission's notice and order
or, if no notice or order has been issued, the file number and date the
application was filed:
ICA REL. NO. 23024 (NOTICE) (FEBRUARY 10, 1998)
ICA REL. NO. 23061 (ORDER) (MARCH 6, 1998)
V. CONCLUSION OF FUND BUSINESS
24. Is the fund a party to any litigation or administrative proceeding?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes, describe the nature of any litigation or proceeding and the
position taken by the fund in that litigation:
25. Is the fund now engaged, or intending to engage, in any business
activities other than those necessary for winding up its affairs?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If Yes, describe the nature and extent of those activities:
VI. MERGERS ONLY
26. (a) State the name of the fund surviving the Merger: NATIONWIDE
MUTUAL FUNDS (F/K/A NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION III)
(b) State the Investment Company Act file number of the fund
surviving the Merger: 811-08495
(c) If the merger or reorganization agreement has been filed with
the Commission, state the file number(s), form type used and
date the agreement was filed: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
REORGANIZATION DATED NOVEMBER 24, 1997, AS AMENDED DECEMBER
30, 1997, WAS FILED AS PART OF PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION III'S REGISTRATION
STATEMENT ON FORM N-14 (333-41175) ON JANUARY 7, 1998.
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(d) If the merger or reorganization agreement has not been filed
with the Commission, provide a copy of the agreement as an
exhibit to this form
VERIFICATION
The undersigned states that (i) she has executed this Form
N-8F application for an order under section 8(f) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940 on behalf of NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION, (ii) she is the ASSISTANT
SECRETARY of NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION, and (iii) all actions by
shareholders, directors, and any other body necessary to authorize the
undersigned to execute and file this Form N-8F application have been taken. The
undersigned also states that the facts set forth in this Form N-8F application
are true to the best of her knowledge, information and belief.
/s/ Elizabeth A. Davin
September 21, 2000 ---------------------------------------
Elizabeth A. Davin, Assistant Secretary
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