CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, For Use of the
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement Commission Only (as permitted
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to
Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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.: Schedule 14A;
33-23453; 811-05632
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3) Filing Party: Fremont Mutual Funds
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4) Date Filed: April 29, 1999
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INDEX OF FILING
I. Documents for Fremont Global Fund
1. Shareholder Letter for Fremont Global Fund
2. Shareholder Notice for Fremont Global Fund
3. Proxy Statement for Fremont Global Fund
4. Proxy Voting Card
5. Form of Portfolio Management Agreement for Fremont Global Fund
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT PROXY VOTE
FOR FREMONT GLOBAL FUND SHAREHOLDERS
PLEASE READ AND RESPOND PROMPTLY
May 17, 1999
Dear Fremont Global Fund Shareholder:
PLEASE READ THIS LETTER . . . IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED.
I am writing to inform you of a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fremont
Global Fund that will be held on JUNE 11, 1999. The purpose of the meeting is to
vote on an important proposal concerning the Fund. As a shareholder, you have
the opportunity to voice your opinion on this matter that affects your Fund.
Please read the enclosed materials and cast your vote promptly. For your
convenience you can now vote via the telephone or the Internet (see instructions
enclosed).
The Fremont Board of Directors recommends that the proxy resolution presented
below be approved and adopted by the Fremont Global Fund shareholders. For your
convenience here is a brief outline of the proxy proposal you are being asked to
vote on:
APPROVAL OF A NEW SUB-ADVISOR: The Fremont Funds' Board of Directors has
decided to further diversify the holdings of the Fremont Global Fund by
recommending that a new sub-advisor, Kern Capital Management LLC ("KCM"),
be retained to manage a portion of the Fund's assets. KCM specializes in
managing portfolios of micro-cap and small cap U.S. stocks. Led by Robert
Kern, who has over 30 years of small cap investment experience, KCM has an
outstanding track record as an investment manager in small, innovative,
fast growing companies. KCM will manage portfolios of both small cap and
micro-cap stocks for the Global Fund. KCM currently manages the Fremont
U.S. Micro-Cap Fund, the Fremont U.S. Small Cap Fund as well as a portion
of Fund A in the Bechtel Trust & Thrift Plan.
Fremont Investment Advisors, Inc. will continue as the Advisor and lead
portfolio manager for the Global Fund. As the Advisor, we will also determine
the allocation of investments among asset classes and managers for the Fund.
HOW TO VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION:
If you would like to cast your vote in person you may do so at a special
shareholder meeting that will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 11,
1999, in the main conference room on the 26th floor of 333 Market Street,
in San Francisco.
IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING OF FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS
SHAREHOLDERS, WE'VE CREATED THREE WAYS FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR THESE ITEMS:
1. By using a secure Internet web site,
2. By calling our automated telephone voting service, or
3. By completing and mailing the proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope.
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL THE PROXY CARD IF YOU ARE VOTING BY INTERNET OR
TELEPHONE.
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IN THIS PACKET YOU WILL FIND:
* THE PROXY STATEMENT - this explains more about the proposal outlined above,
and provides the background and purpose of this resolution.
* A PROXY CARD - to use as a ballot if you choose to vote via mail
* VOTING INSTRUCTION - to assist you in voting by telephone or internet.
We encourage you to exercise your rights as a shareholder and vote promptly.
Simply choose the method that's best for you and cast your vote NO LATER THAN
JUNE 4, 1999.
If you have any questions about any of these materials, please call us at
800-548-4539 (PRESS 2).
Sincerely,
/s/ Michael H. Kosich
Michael H. Kosich
President
<PAGE>
FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
FREMONT GLOBAL FUND
333 Market Street
26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 11, 1999
A Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of the Fremont Global
Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc. (the "Company") will
be held at the Company's offices located at 333 Market Street, 26th Floor, San
Francisco, California 94105, on Friday, June 11, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. for the
following purposes:
1. To consider and act upon the approval of a new Sub-Advisory Agreement
between and among (i) the Company, (ii) Fremont Investment Advisors,
Inc., and (iii) Kern Capital Management LLC.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The stock transfer books will not be closed but, in lieu thereof, the
Board of Directors of the Company has established the close of business on April
30, 1999 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of the Fund
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Tina Thomas
Tina Thomas, Secretary
================================================================================
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY
PROXY. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE,
DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD EITHER BY MAIL USING THE
SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE; BY TELEPHONE OR BY THE INTERNET, SO THAT
A QUORUM WILL BE PRESENT AND A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES MAY BE VOTED. IF YOU
ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY CHANGE YOUR VOTE AT THAT TIME.
================================================================================
San Francisco, California
May 17, 1999
<PAGE>
FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
FREMONT GLOBAL FUND
333 Market Street
26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
(800) 548-4539
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held On June 11, 1999
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc. (the
"Company"), on behalf of the Fremont Global Fund (the "Fund"), of proxies to be
voted at a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund (the "Meeting") to be
held at the Company's offices located at 333 Market Street, 26th Floor, San
Francisco, California 94105, on Friday, June 11, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. and at any
and all adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders. This proxy statement is being sent to
the Fund's shareholders on or about May 17, 1999. At the Meeting, the
shareholders of the Fund will be asked:
1. To consider and act upon the approval of a new Sub-Advisory Agreement
between and among (i) the Company, (ii) Fremont Investment Advisors,
Inc., and (iii) Kern Capital Management LLC.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any and all adjournments thereof.
The costs of preparing, printing, mailing and soliciting the proxies
will be borne by Fremont Investment Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor"), the
investment adviser to the Fund. In addition, certain officers, directors and
employees of the Advisor and officers and directors of the Fund (none of whom
will receive additional compensation) may solicit proxies in person or by
telephone, telegraph or mail. ADP Investor Communication Services has been
retained at its customary rates to solicit proxies on behalf of the omnibus
accounts.
All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be
voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked or otherwise as
provided. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, shares represented by
the proxies will be voted "FOR" the proposal and any other business to come
before the Meeting. All shares in Fund-sponsored IRA accounts not voted by the
account owner will be voted by the IRA trustee in the same proportion (for,
against and abstain) as all other votes cast whether in person or by proxy. For
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purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for transacting business at the
Meeting, abstentions and broker "non-votes" (that is, proxies from brokers or
nominees indicating that such persons have not received instructions from the
beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares on a particular matter
with respect to which the brokers or nominees do not have discretionary power)
will be treated as shares that are present. However, while broker non-votes are
considered "present," they are disregarded in calculating the percentage of
votes cast in favor of or against a proposal by those "voting securities
present" when the voting requirement is based on achieving a percentage of the
voting securities present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Any proxy may be
revoked at any time prior to the Meeting by submitting another proxy bearing a
later date or by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the
address indicated above or by voting in person at the Meeting. The affirmative
vote of a majority of the shares as defined under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (a "Majority Vote") (either 67% of the voting
securities present at the Meeting, if holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities are present in person or by proxy, or more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities, whichever is less) of the Fund is
necessary to permit the Advisor to hire or modify sub-advisory agreements with
Kern Capital Management LLC, an affiliate of the Advisor (PROPOSAL I).
In the event that a Majority Vote has not been received by the time
scheduled for the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more
adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of the proxies with
respect to any proposals for which sufficient votes had not been received. Any
such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast
on the question in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The persons named as
proxies will vote against such adjournment only with respect to those proxies
that they are required to vote against such proposal.
The Board knows of no business other than that specifically mentioned
in the Notice of Meeting of Shareholders which will be presented for
consideration at the Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented, it is
the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance
with their best judgment.
The Board has fixed the close of business on April 30, 1999 as the
record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of shareholders of the
Fund entitled to notice of, and to vote, at the Meeting or any adjournment
thereof. Shareholders of the Fund on that date will be entitled to one vote on
each matter on which they are entitled to vote for each share held and a
fractional vote with respect to fractional shares, and shareholders will not
have cumulative voting rights. At the close of business on the Record Date, the
Fund had x,xxx,xxx.xxx outstanding shares, each with a par value of $0.0001 per
share and representing total net assets of approximately $xxx,xxx,xxx.
The Fund's current investment adviser is Fremont Investment Advisors,
Inc., 333 Market Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105. The Fund's
distributor is First Fund Distributors, Inc., 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite
261E, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. The Fund's transfer agent is State Street Bank and
Trust Company, c/o NFSD, P.O. Box 419343, Kansas City, Missouri 64141. The
principal executive offices of the Company are located at 333 Market Street,
26th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105.
As of the Record Date, Bechtel Mast Trust for Qualified Employees owned
XX% and, to the knowledge of the Company's management, no other person owned of
record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
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BACKGROUND
Currently, the Advisor provides the Fund with investment management and
administrative services under an Investment Advisory and Administrative
Agreement, which provides that the Advisor shall furnish advice to the Fund with
respect to its investments and shall, to the extent authorized by the Board,
determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Fund. The Advisor
has recommended to the Board that the Fund retain Kern Capital Management LLC to
serve as a sub-advisor for a portion of the Fund's assets, as determined by the
Advisor.
PROPOSAL I
TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE APPROVAL
OF A NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN
AND AMONG FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.,
FREMONT INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC. AND
KERN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
This Proposal seeks shareholders' approval for a new Portfolio
Management Agreement with Kern Capital Management LLC ("KCM") as a sub-advisor
to the Fund. The form of Portfolio Management Agreement to be entered between
and among the Fund, the Advisor and KCM (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement") is
attached as Exhibit A. THE SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT WILL NOT AFFECT THE FEES PAID
BY FUND SHAREHOLDERS FOR INVESTING IN THE FUND.
Section 15 of the 1940 Act prohibits any person from serving as an
investment advisor to a registered investment company except pursuant to a
written contract that has been approved by the shareholders. The Company and the
Advisor obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission an order that
permits the Advisor to hire or terminate sub-advisors and modify portfolio
management agreements without prior approval of shareholders. This order,
however, still requires shareholder approval for the hiring of a sub-advisor
which is also an affiliate of the Advisor of the Company. The Advisor currently
owns more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of KCM and therefore is
considered to be an "affiliated person" as such term is defined in Section
2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act. Accordingly, in order for KCM to provide investment
sub-advisory services to the Fund, shareholders of the Fund must have approved
the new Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement, if approved by the Fund's shareholders,
will commence on or about June 11, 1999. Thereafter, the Sub-Advisory Agreement
will remain in effect for two years and will continue in effect for additional
periods not exceeding one (1) year so long as such continuance is specifically
approved by (a) the Board or (b) a majority vote of the Fund's shareholders,
provided that in either event, the continuance also is approved by a majority of
the directors who are not "interested persons" by a vote cast in person at a
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meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If the Sub-Advisory
Agreement is not approved by shareholders of the Fund, the Advisor will continue
to manage the Fund's assets.
THE PROPOSED SUB-ADVISOR
Kern Capital Management LLC ("KCM"), located at 114 W. 47th Street,
Suite 1926, New York, New York, 10036, was founded in 1997. KCM is an investment
management firm that specializes in small cap and micro-cap companies, and has
approximately $405 million in assets under management as of December 31, 1998.
KCM will manage its portion of Fund assets in two market sectors, a
small cap account and a micro-cap account. These accounts will invest in equity
securities of U.S. companies of relatively small capitalization. The small cap
account will invest in companies with market capitalizations ranging from $10
million to $2 billion. The micro-cap account will invest in companies with
market capitalizations of less than $550 million. These companies are usually in
the early stages of their life cycles and are able to achieve rapid growth in
both sales and earnings. Emphasis is placed on those companies possessing a
variety of characteristics such as quality management, an entrepreneurial
management team, or a narrow product line focus. KCM may also consider companies
whose growth potential has been enhanced by new products, new market
opportunities, or new management.
The portfolio management team of KCM will consist of Robert E. Kern
Jr., David G. Kern, and Judy R. Finger, whose backgrounds are as follows:
Robert E. Kern, President and Chief Executive Officer of KCM, has over
30 years of investment management experience. Prior to co-founding KCM
in 1997, he was associated with Morgan Grenfell Assets Management, Inc.
from 1986 to 1997, where he headed its small capitalization equities
team. In addition, he served as a director at both Morgan Grenfell
Capital Management, Inc. and Morgan Grenfell Asset Management, Ltd.,
and was President of the Morgan Grenfell SMALLCap Fund, a closed-end
mutual fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1982, Bob Kern
was one of the first investment professionals, to focus on micro-cap
investing when he began managing the Bechtel Post-Venture Capital
Account, the U.S. micro-cap exposure in Bechtel Group Inc.'s profit
sharing plan. Currently, Bob Kern is the portfolio manager for KCM's
micro-cap portfolios, and has investment research responsibilities in
the technology, capital goods and services sectors. Bob Kern received a
degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1960.
David G. Kern, Executive Vice President and co-founder of KCM, was a
Vice President at Founders Asset Management, Inc. from 1995 to 1997,
where he was a portfolio manager for the Founders Discovery Fund, a
mutual fund dedicated to investing in small cap and micro-cap stocks.
David Kern also served as Vice President and Assistant Portfolio
Manager for the Delaware Management Company of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania from 1990 through 1994. Throughout his career, David Kern
has focused his research efforts on the less efficient sectors of the
U.S. equity market, looking for relatively unknown companies that have
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potential to become much larger and more successful. Currently, David
Kern is the portfolio manager for KCM's small cap portfolios, and has
investment research responsibilities in the technology-software,
healthcare and services sectors. A graduate of Lehigh University, he
received his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1993.
Judy R. Finger, Member and Senior Vice President, joined KCM in 1997.
From 1995 to 1997, she was Vice President and Assistant Portfolio
Manager for the Delaware Management Company of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and was responsible for more than $500 million in micro-,
small and mid-cap stock investments. She was also employed as a Senior
Analyst at Fred Alger Management located in New York from 1992 to 1995.
At KCM, Judy Finger's investment research responsibilities include the
consumer and services sectors. Judy Finger earned an M.B.A. from the
University of Chicago and a B.S. in Finance from the Wharton School of
Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Chartered
Financial Analyst designation in 1994.
The controlling members of KCM include Robert E. Kern, David G. Kern,
and the Advisor. KCM is currently the sub-advisor for the Fremont U.S. Small Cap
Fund, the Fremont U.S. Micro-Cap Fund and the Fremont Institutional U.S.
Micro-Cap Fund.
EFFECT ON AGGREGATE FEES
Currently, the Advisor receives 0.60% of the Fund's average daily net
assets per annum, paid monthly. KCM's fees will be paid by the Advisor and not
by the Fund. THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN ADVISORY FEES TO THE FUND AND ITS
SHAREHOLDERS. The fees paid to KCM by the Advisor will depend both on the fee
rate negotiated with the Advisor and on the portion of the Fund's assets
allocated to KCM by the Advisor. Because the Advisor pays KCM's fees out of its
own fees received from the Fund, there is no "duplication" of advisory fees paid
by shareholders of the Fund. Under the new Sub-Advisory Agreement, KCM is
entitled to receive sub-advisory fees at the annual rate of 0.50% of the portion
of the Fund's average net assets managed by KCM, and is paid monthly.
EVALUATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On March 12, 1999, the Board met and discussed the proposed new
sub-advisory arrangement and its possible effect on the Fund. Upon careful
review of the materials presented at the meeting, and such other factors and
information as they deemed relevant, the Board found that:
1. KCM's investment style brings added diversification to the Fund;
2. KCM has displayed discipline and thoroughness in pursuit of stated
investment objectives;
3. KCM has over time maintained above-average performance consistently
and, has evidenced the ability to conserve capital in down markets;
and
4. KCM has demonstrated a high level of service and responsibility to its
clients.
Accordingly, the Directors, including a majority of the Directors who
are not interested persons (as such term is defined by the 1940 Act), approved
the appointment of KCM as a sub-advisor to the Fund, and voted to recommend to
the Fund's shareholders the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The Board, therefore, recommends that shareholders vote "FOR" the
proposal respecting the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between and among
the Company, the Advisor and KCM.
6
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GENERAL INFORMATION
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE ADVISOR
The Advisor's principal executive officers are set forth below. The
address of each as it relates to his/her duties at the Advisor, is the same as
that of the Advisor.
Name Position with the Advisor Position with the Company
- - ---- ------------------------- -------------------------
David L. Redo President and Director Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
Michael H. Kosich Managing Director President and Director
Peter F. Landini Managing Director Executive Vice President
and Director
Albert W. Kirschbaum Managing Director Senior Vice President
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The management of the Company knows of no other matters which are to be
brought before the Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement.
If other matters not now known should properly come before the Meeting, it is
the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote such
Proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
All Proxies received will be voted IN FAVOR of all the proposals,
unless otherwise directed therein.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Meeting is a special meeting of shareholders. The Fund is not
required to, nor does it intend to, hold regular annual meetings of its
shareholders. If such a meeting is called, any shareholder who wishes to submit
a proposal for consideration at the meeting should submit the proposal promptly
to the Company.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Company will furnish, without charge, a copy of the most recent
Annual Report to Shareholders of the Company upon request. Request for such
report should be directed to the Company c/o Fremont Investment Advisors, Inc.,
333 Market Street, Suite 2900, San Francisco, California 94105-4022, or by
calling (800) 548-4539 (press 2).
IN ORDER THAT THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE MEETING MAY BE ASSURED, PLEASE
PROMPTLY EXECUTE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY EITHER BY MAIL USING THE ENCLOSED
SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
The Fremont Funds, Inc.
The Fremont Global Fund
Tina Thomas
Secretary
San Francisco, California
May 17, 199
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PROXY
FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF THE
FREMONT GLOBAL FUND
JUNE 11, 1999
SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
The undersigned hereby appoints Michael H. Kosich and Tina Thomas, and
each of them, as proxies of the undersigned, each with the power to appoint his
or her substitute, for the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fremont Global
Fund, a series of the Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), to be held on
June 11, 1999 at the offices of the Company, Inc., 333 Market Street, 26th
Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, or at any and all adjournments thereof
(the "Meeting"), to vote, as designated below, all shares of the Company, held
by the undersigned at the close of business on April 30, 1999. Capitalized terms
used without definition have the meanings given to them in the accompanying
Proxy Statement.
A SIGNED PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL LISTED BELOW UNLESS YOU
HAVE SPECIFIED OTHERWISE. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY. YOU
MAY VOTE ONLY IF YOU HELD SHARES IN THE FUND AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON APRIL
30, 1999. YOUR SIGNATURE AUTHORIZES THE PROXIES TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION UPON
SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION ALL MATTERS INCIDENT TO THE CONDUCT OF THE MEETING.
1. To consider and act upon the approval of a new Sub-Advisory Agreement
between and among (i) Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc., (ii) Fremont Investment
Advisors, Inc., and (iii) Kern Capital Management LLC:
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
Dated: ______________, 1999 -----------------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------------
Title (if applicable)
Dated: ______________, 1999 -----------------------------------
Signature (if held jointly)
-----------------------------------
Title (if applicable)
Please sign exactly as name or names appear on your shareholder account
statement. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator,
custodian, guardian or corporate officer, please give full title. If shares are
held jointly, each shareholder must sign.
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PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT dated and effective as of __________, 1999, among Kern
Capital Management LLC (the "Sub-Advisor"); Fremont Investment Advisors, Inc.
(the "Advisor"), a Delaware corporation; and Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc. (the
"Fund"), a Maryland corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, diversified management investment
company and is authorized to issue separate series (the "Series"), each of which
may offer a separate class of shares of beneficial interest, each series having
its own investment objective, policies and limitations; and
WHEREAS, the Fund presently offers shares of a particular series named the
Fremont Global Fund (the "Global Series"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has retained the Advisor to render investment management
and administrative services to the Global Series; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor and the Fund desire to retain the Sub-Advisor to
furnish portfolio management services to the Global Series in connection with
Advisor's investment management activities on behalf of the Series, and the
Sub-Advisor is willing to furnish such services to the Advisor and the Global
Series;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein
contained, it is agreed between the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor and the Fund as
follows:
1. Appointment. The Advisor and the Fund hereby appoint Sub-Advisor to act
as Sub-Advisor with respect to certain assets of the Global Series for the
periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor accepts
such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth, for the
compensation herein provided.
2. Sub-Advisor Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Advisor and the
Fund's Board of Directors, the Sub-Advisor shall have full discretionary
authority as agent and attorney-in-fact with respect to the portion of assets of
the Global Series' portfolio assigned to the Sub-Advisor, from time to time by
the Advisor or the Board of Directors, including authority to: (a) buy, sell,
exchange, convert or otherwise trade in any stocks without limitation and (b)
place orders for the execution of such securities transactions with or through
such brokers, dealers, or issuers as Sub-Advisor may select. The Sub-Advisor
will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Global
Series' registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), as amended. Investments by the Sub-Advisor shall conform with the
provisions of Appendix A attached hereto, as such may be revised from time to
time at the discretion of the Advisor and the Fund. Subject to the foregoing,
the Sub-Advisor will vote proxies with respect to the securities and investments
purchased with the assets of the Global Series' portfolio managed by the
Sub-Advisor and will provide regular reports of proxy voting. The Sub-Advisor
further agrees that it will:
<PAGE>
(a) conform with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
(b) place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the
Global Series either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer. In
placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisor will attempt to obtain
the best net price and the most favorable execution of its orders. Consistent
with this obligation, when the execution and price offered by two or more
brokers or dealers are comparable, the Sub-Advisor may, in its discretion,
purchase and sell portfolio securities to and from brokers and dealers who
provide it with research advice and other services of lawful assistance to the
Sub-Advisor in serving the Global Series as the Sub-Advisor or who sell the
Global Series' shares.
(c) make available to the Advisor and the Fund promptly upon their
request all its investment records and ledgers to assist the Advisor and the
Fund in their compliance with respect to the Global Series' securities
transactions as required by the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
("Advisers Act"), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Advisor will furnish
the Fund's Board of Directors with respect to the Global Series such periodic
and special reports as the Advisor and the Directors may reasonably request.
(d) maintain detailed records of the assets managed by the Sub-Advisor
as well as all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions made
with such assets. Such records shall be open to inspection and audit at
reasonable times by any person designated by the Advisor or the Fund. The
Sub-Advisor shall provide to the Advisor or the Fund and any other party either
the Advisor or the Fund designates: (i) monthly statements of the activities
with regard to the assets for the month and of the assets showing each asset at
its cost and, for each security listed on any national securities exchange, its
value at the last quoted sale price reported on the composite tape on the
valuation date or, in the cases of securities not so reported, by the principal
exchange on which the security is traded, or, if no trade was made on the
valuation date or if such security is not listed on any exchange, its value as
determined by a nationally recognized pricing service used by the Sub-Advisor to
value securities in their client accounts, at the value specified by such
pricing service on the valuation date, and for any other security or asset in a
manner determined in good faith by the Sub-Advisor to reflect its then fair
market value; (ii) statements evidencing any purchases and sales as soon as
practicable after such transaction has taken place; (iii) a quarterly review of
the assets under management; and (iv) tax information as requested, on a monthly
basis, to the Fund's custodian bank.
3. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor will pay
all expenses incurred by it, its staff and their activities, in connection with
its portfolio management activities under this Agreement.
4. Compensation. For the services provided to the Global Series, the
Advisor will pay the Sub-Advisor the fees as set forth in Appendix B hereto at
the times set forth in Appendix B hereto.
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5. Books and Records; Custody. (a) In compliance with the requirements of
Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor hereby agrees that all records
which it maintains for the Global Series are the property of the Fund and
further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the
Fund's request. The Sub-Advisor further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to preserve the records required
by Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act for the period specified in the Rule.
(b) Title to all investments shall be made in the name of the Fund,
provided that for convenience in buying, selling, and exchanging securities
(stocks, bonds, commercial paper, etc.), title to such securities may be held in
the name of the Fund's custodian bank, or its nominee. The Fund shall advise the
Sub-Advisor of the identity of its custodian bank and shall give the Sub-Advisor
15 days' written notice of any changes in such custody arrangements.
Neither the Sub-Advisor, nor any parent, subsidiary or related firm,
shall take possession of or handle any cash, securities, mortgages or deeds of
trust, or other indicia of ownership of the Fund's investments, or otherwise act
as custodian of such investments. All cash and the indicia of ownership of all
other investments shall be held by the Fund's custodian bank.
The Fund shall instruct its custodian bank to (a) carry out all
investment instructions as may be directed by the Sub-Advisor with respect
thereto (which may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (b) provide the
Sub-Advisor with all operational information necessary for the Sub-Advisor to
trade on behalf of the Fund.
6. Indemnification. The Sub-Advisor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless,
the Advisor, the Fund, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section
2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act ("affiliated person") of the Advisor or the Fund (other
than the Sub-Advisor) and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), controls
("controlling person") the Advisor or the Fund against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses),
to which the Advisor, the Fund or such affiliated person or controlling person
may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or under any
other statute, at common law or otherwise, which (1) may be based upon any
wrongful act or omission by the Sub-Advisor, any of its employees or
representatives or any affiliate of or any person acting on behalf of the
Sub-Advisor or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement or prospectus
covering the shares of the Global Series or any amendment thereof or any
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Fund or any affiliated person of the Fund by
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<PAGE>
the Sub-Advisor or any affiliated person of the Sub-Advisor; provided, however,
that in no case is the Sub-Advisor's indemnity in favor of the Advisor or the
Fund or any affiliated person or controlling person of the Advisor or the Fund
deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of his duties or by reason of his reckless
disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
The Fund agrees not to hold the Sub-Advisor or any of its officers or
employees liable for, and to indemnify or insure the Sub-Advisor and its
officers and employees ("Indemnified Parties") against any act or omission of
any other Sub-Advisor providing investment management services to the Fund, and
against any costs and liabilities the Indemnified Parties may incur as a result
of a claim against the Indemnified Parties regarding actions taken in good faith
exercise of their powers hereunder excepting matters as to which the Indemnified
Parties have been negligent, engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless
disregard of the obligations and duties under this Agreement or have been in
violation of applicable law or regulations.
7. Services Not Exclusive. It is understood that the services of the
Sub-Advisor are not exclusive, and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the
Sub-Advisor from providing similar services to other investment companies
(subject to such restrictions as Sub-Advisor may agree to separately) or from
engaging in other activities. When the Sub-Advisor recommends the purchase or
sale of a security for other investment companies and other clients, and at the
same time the Sub-Advisor recommends the purchase or sale of the same security
for the Global Series, it is understood that such transactions will be executed
on a basis that is fair and equitable to the Series.
8. (a) Duration. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first
written above. Unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effective for no more than two (2) years and shall continue in
full force and effect for periods of one year thereafter so long as such
continuance is approved at least annually (i) by either the Directors of the
Fund or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding
voting securities of the Global Series, and (ii) by the Advisor, and (iii) in
either event by the vote of a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not
parties of this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval.
(b) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a
majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of
the Global Series, or by the Advisor, on thirty (30) days' written notice to the
Sub-Advisor, or by the Sub-Advisor on like notice to the Fund and to the
Advisor.
(c) Automatic Termination. This Agreement shall automatically and
immediately terminate in the event of its assignment.
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<PAGE>
9. Amendments. No provision of this agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by
the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective
until approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Global Series, if such approval is required by applicable law.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC
thereunder.
(b) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only
and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect.
(c) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(d) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Advisor
as an agent of the Fund or the Advisor.
(e) This Agreement supersedes any prior agreement relating to the
subject matter hereof between the parties.
KERN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
By:
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
(Title)
FREMONT INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
(Title)
FREMONT MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
(Title)
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APPENDIX A
TO PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Kern Capital Management LLC
Sub-Advisor to the Fremont Global Fund
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND GUIDELINES
Overall Investment Objective:
The objective of the Fremont Global Fund is to maximize total return while
reducing risk. The Fund seeks to provide a systematic, disciplined approach to
reduce overall portfolio risk through asset diversification and to weight the
portfolio toward asset categories which, at the time of evaluation, appear to
have the best expected total return.
Policy and Guidelines for Sub-Advisor:
The Sub-Advisor will manage two account sectors, a small and a micro-cap type
account. These accounts will invest their assets in equity securities of U. S.
companies of relatively small capitalization. The small cap account will consist
of companies with market capitalizations ranging from $10 million to $2 billion.
The micro-cap account will consist of companies with market capitalizations of
less than $550 million.
The Sub-Advisor will adhere to the Investment Objectives and to the policies in
the Fremont Global Fund prospectus.
Performance Objective for Sub-Advisor:
The Sub-Advisor is expected to achieve a competitive rate of return over a 3 to
5 year time horizon and/or a complete market cycle, when compared to other
managers of similar size and with similar investment objectives.
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APPENDIX B
TO PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Kern Capital Management, LLC
Sub-Advisor to the Fremont Global Fund
SCHEDULE OF FEES
Fremont Investment Advisors, Inc. will pay to Kern Capital Management, LLC a fee
computed at the annual rate of 0.50% (50 basis points) of the average value of
the daily assets of the Fremont Global Series under management by Kern Capital
Management, LLC The Portfolio Management Agreement with the Sub-Advisor may be
terminated by the Advisor or the Fund upon 30 days' written notice. The Advisor
has day-to-day authority to increase or decrease the amount of the Global
Series' assets under management by the Sub-Advisor.
Fees will be billed after the end of each calendar month. Fees will be prorated
for any period less than one month and shall be due and payable within thirty
(30) days after an invoice has been delivered to the Advisor.
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