[INVESCO ICON] INVESCO FUNDS INVESCO GLOBAL
HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
April 4, 2000
================================================================================
Dear INVESCO Global Health Sciences Fund Shareholder:
We are pleased to enclose the Proxy Statement for the May 10, 2000 annual
shareholders' meeting of your Fund. Please take the time to read the
accompanying Proxy Statement and cast your vote, since the matters we are
submitting for your consideration are important to the Fund and to you as a
shareholder. Your vote is important.
We are requesting action on two proposals:
1. Election of two trustees: INVESCO and the Board of Trustees propose
that John W. McIntyre and Charles W. Brady be reelected as Class C
Trustees; and
2. Ratification of Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
Fund's independent accountants: INVESCO and the Board of Trustees
propose that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP continue to be retained as the
Fund's independent accountants.
We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of these issues and ask that you
vote promptly. If we do not receive sufficient votes to approve these proposals,
it may necessitate a further mailing or a telephone canvass. Thank you.
Sincerely,
/s/ Mark H. Williamson
----------------------
Mark H. Williamson
President
INVESCO Global Health Sciences Fund
<PAGE>
[INVESCO ICON] INVESCO FUNDS INVESCO GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
7800 East Union Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80237
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2000
================================================================================
Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting")
of INVESCO Global Health Sciences Fund (the "Fund") will be held at 7800 E.
Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80237 on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at 1:00 p.m.,
Mountain Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect two trustees to serve as Class C trustees of the Fund until
the annual meeting of shareholders in 2003 and until their successors
are elected and qualified;
2. To ratify or reject the selection by the Fund's trustees of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the Fund for
the fiscal year ending October 31, 2000; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
The Trustees of the Fund have fixed the close of business on March 24, 2000, as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
A complete list of shareholders of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting will
be available and open to the examination of any shareholder of the Fund for any
purpose germane to the Meeting during ordinary business hours at the offices of
the Fund, 7800 East Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80237. A copy of this list
also will be available at the Meeting.
You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. Shareholders who do not expect
to attend the Meeting in person are requested to complete, sign and date the
enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the envelope provided for that
purpose. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Trustees of the
Fund.
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT
Please mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy in the accompanying
envelope as soon as possible in order to ensure a full representation at the
Meeting. The Meeting will have to be adjourned without conducting any business
if less than a majority of the eligible shares is represented, and the Fund, at
shareholders' expense, will have to continue to solicit votes until a quorum is
obtained. The Meeting also may be adjourned, if necessary, to continue to
solicit votes if less than the required shareholder vote has been obtained to
elect the trustees and ratify the selection of the Fund's independent
accountants. Your vote, then, could be critical in allowing the Fund to hold the
Meeting as scheduled. By marking, signing and promptly returning the enclosed
proxy, you may eliminate the need for additional solicitation. Your cooperation
will be appreciated.
By Order of the Trustees,
/s/ Glen A. Payne
-----------------
Glen A. Payne
Secretary
Denver, Colorado
Dated: April 4, 2000
<PAGE>
INVESCO GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
7800 East Union Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80237
================================================================================
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 10, 2000
INTRODUCTION
The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the trustees of INVESCO Global
Health Sciences Fund (the "Fund"), for use at the annual meeting of shareholders
(the "Meeting") to be held at 1:00 p.m., Mountain Time, on Wednesday, May 10,
2000. The Meeting will be held at 7800 E. Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80237.
The enclosed proxy will be used for the purposes described in the preceding
notice and may also be used at any adjournment of the Meeting, if required. AN
ANNUAL REPORT, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1999, IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST BY CALLING
1-800-528-8765 OR WRITING THE FUND AT P.O. BOX 173711, DENVER, CO 80217-3711.
The approximate mailing date of proxies and this Proxy Statement is April 4,
2000.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted
at the Meeting, your shares will be voted according to the instructions you have
marked on the proxy. If you sign the proxy but give no instructions, your shares
will be voted FOR the nominees for trustees, and FOR Item 2. A majority of the
shares of the Fund entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, will
constitute a quorum at the Meeting. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote
of a plurality (i.e., the largest number of shares voted at the meeting for a
trustee nominee) of the shares represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote
shall determine Item 1. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote shall determine Item 2.
Shares held by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at
the Meeting will be counted both for the purpose of determining the presence of
a quorum and for calculating the votes cast on the issues before the Meeting. An
abstention on a particular vote by a shareholder, either by proxy or by vote in
person at the Meeting, has the same effect as a negative vote, because approval
of Item 2 requires the YES vote of a majority of the shares represented at the
Meeting (including abstaining shares). Shares held by a broker or other
fiduciary as record owner for the account of the beneficial owner are counted
toward the required quorum if the beneficial owner has executed and timely
delivered the necessary proxy, or if the broker or other fiduciary votes the
shares pursuant to applicable stock exchange rules granting the broker or
fiduciary the discretion to vote the beneficial owner's shares on one or more of
the issues before the Meeting. Where the broker or fiduciary does not have the
discretion to vote the shares on one or more issues before the Meeting, and does
not receive a proxy from the beneficial owner, the shares will not be voted on
such issues, and will not count for or against such issues.
Execution of the enclosed proxy will not affect a shareholder's right to
attend the Meeting and vote in person, and a shareholder giving a proxy has the
power to revoke it (by written notice to the Fund at Post Office Box 173711,
Denver, Colorado 80217-3711, execution of a subsequent proxy, or oral revocation
at the Meeting) at any time before it is exercised.
<PAGE>
Shareholders of record of the Fund at the close of business on March 24,
2000 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to vote at the Meeting, including any
adjournment thereof, and are entitled to one vote for each share, and
corresponding fractional votes for fractional shares, on each matter to be acted
upon at the Meeting. On the Record Date, 38,705,515 of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share, were outstanding.
There were no persons known to own beneficially 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of the Fund on the Record Date. On the Record Date, the
trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, beneficially owned less than one
percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, proxies may be
solicited by officers of the Fund, by officers and employees of INVESCO Funds
Group, Inc. ("IFG"), the Fund's investment adviser, and by officers and
employees of INVESCO Distributors, Inc. ("IDI"), the broker-dealer subsidiary of
IFG. These proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone or telegraph,
without special compensation. IFG and IDI are referred to collectively as
"INVESCO".
Shareholder Communications Corporation ("SCC") has been retained to assist
in the solicitation of proxies. As the meeting date approaches, certain
shareholders whose votes the Fund has not yet received may receive telephone
calls from representatives of SCC requesting that they authorize SCC, by
telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions, to execute proxy cards on
their behalf. Telephone authorizations will be recorded in accordance with the
procedures set forth below. INVESCO believes that these procedures are
reasonably designed to ensure that the identity of the shareholder casting the
vote is accurately determined and that the voting instructions of the
shareholder are accurately determined.
In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the SCC representative
is required to ask the shareholder for such shareholder's full name, address,
Social Security or employer identification number, title (if the person giving
the proxy is authorized to act on behalf of an entity, such as a corporation),
and the number of shares owned, and to confirm that the shareholder has received
the Proxy Statement in the mail. If the information solicited agrees with the
information provided to SCC by the Fund, the SCC representative has the
responsibility to explain the voting process, read the proposals listed on the
proxy card, and ask for the shareholder's instructions on the proposal. Although
he or she is permitted to answer questions about the process, the SCC
representative is not permitted to recommend to the shareholder how to vote,
other than to read any recommendation set forth in the Proxy Statement. SCC will
record the shareholder's instructions on the card. Within 72 hours, SCC will
send the shareholder a letter or mailgram confirming the shareholder's vote and
asking the shareholder to call SCC immediately if the shareholder's instructions
are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Meeting, but does not wish to
give a proxy by telephone, such shareholder may still submit the proxy card
originally sent with the Proxy Statement or attend in person. Any proxy given by
a shareholder, whether in writing or by telephone, is revocable. A shareholder
may revoke the accompanying proxy or a proxy given telephonically at any time
prior to its use by filing with the Fund a written revocation or duly executed
proxy bearing a later date. In addition, any shareholder who attends the Meeting
in person may vote by ballot at the Meeting, thereby canceling any proxy
previously given.
ALL COSTS OF PRINTING AND MAILING PROXY MATERIALS AND THE COSTS AND
EXPENSES OF HOLDING THE MEETING AND SOLICITING PROXIES, INCLUDING ANY AMOUNT
PAID TO SCC, WILL BE PAID BY THE FUND.
<PAGE>
The Trustees may seek one or more adjournments of the Meeting to solicit
additional shareholders, if necessary, to obtain a quorum for the Meeting, or to
obtain the required shareholder vote to elect the trustees and ratify the
selection of the Fund's independent accountants. An adjournment would require
the YES vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present at the Meeting
(or an adjournment thereof), in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote. If an
adjournment is proposed in order to obtain the required shareholder vote on a
particular proposal, the persons named as proxies will vote in favor of
adjournment those shares which they are entitled to vote in favor of the
proposal, and will vote against adjournment those shares required to be voted
against the proposal. A shareholder vote may be taken on one of the Items
discussed herein prior to any such adjournment if sufficient votes have been
received and it is otherwise appropriate.
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND
The Fund currently has four Trustees, divided into three classes, with one
Trustee in Class A, one Trustee in Class B and two Trustees in Class C. The
Class A Trustee's term will expire at the Meeting to be held on May 10, 2002;
the Class B Trustee's term will expire at the annual meeting of shareholders to
be held in 2001; and the Class C Trustees' terms will expire at the annual
meeting of shareholders to be held in 2000.
At the Meeting, the Class C Trustees are to be elected to hold office until
the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected
and qualified. The nominees, Charles W. Brady and John W. McIntyre, who are both
presently Trustees of the Fund, have consented to serve if reelected, and no
circumstances now known will prevent the nominees from serving. If the nominee
should be unable to serve, the proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee
proposed by the present trustees.
THE TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT THE FUND'S
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO REELECT THE NOMINEES
AS TRUSTEES OF THE FUND.
<PAGE>
Information concerning the trustees of the Fund is set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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No.of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned
Principal Occupation During Past Five Years Directly or Indirectly
Name and Address Other Affiliations* Trustee Since on March 24, 2000+
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Vice Chairman of the Board of the INVESCO 1992 144.070
Fred A. Deering# Funds; formerly Chairman of the Executive
Security Life Center Committee and Chairman of the Board of Security
1290 Broadway Life of Denver Insurance Company, Denver,
Denver, CO 80203 Colorado; Director of ING American Holdings
Company and First ING Life Insurance Company
of New York. Age 72.
Class B Retired. Formerly, Chairman of the Board (1987 1991 34,882.000
Larry Soll, Ph.D.# to 1994), Chief Executive Officer (1982 to 1989;
345 Poorman Road 1993 to 1994) and President (1982 to 1989) of
Boulder, CO 80302 Synergen Inc. (a biotechnology company),
Boulder, Colorado. Director of Synergen since its
incorporation in 1982. Director of ISIS
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Director of INVESCO
Funds. Age 57.
Class C Retired. Formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board of 1991 15,243.535
John W. McIntyre# The Citizens and Southern Corporation and
7 Piedmont Center, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Suite 100 Officer of The Citizens and Southern Georgia
Atlanta, GA 30305 Corp. and The Citizens and Southern National
Bank. Director of the INVESCO Funds and Kaiser
Foundation Health Plans of Georgia, Inc. Trustee
of Gables Residential Trust, Employee's
Retirement System of GA, Emory University, and
J.M. Tull Charitable Foundation. Age 69.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No.of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned
Principal Occupation During Past Five Years Directly or Indirectly
Name and Address Other Affiliations* Trustee Since on March 24, 2000+
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1991 (Mr. Brady 0
Charles W. Brady++ AMVESCAP PLC, London, England, and of did not serve as a
Chairman of the Board various subsidiaries thereof. Chairman of the trustee between
1315 Peachtree Street, Ne Board of the Fund. Director of INVESCO Funds. 2/28/1997 and
Atlanta, GA 30309 Age 64. 8/3/1998)
All trustees and 50,269.605
executive officers
as a group
</TABLE>
* As used in this Proxy Statement, the term "INVESCO Funds" refers to
the 8 investment companies, consisting of 45 separate portfolios,
managed by IFG and distributed by IDI, excluding the Fund.
# Member of the audit committee.
+ As interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a security
is beneficially owned by a person if that person has or shares voting
power or investment power with respect to the security. The persons
listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to their
respective Fund shares.
++ Because of his affiliation with IFG, the Fund's investment adviser, or
companies affiliated with IFG, this individual is deemed to be an
"interested person" of the Fund as that term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
The only standing committee of the Board of Trustees is the audit
committee. The audit committee, consisting of three independent Trustees, meets
periodically with the Fund's independent accountants and the executive officers
of the Fund. This committee reviews the accounting principles being applied by
the Fund in financial reporting, the scope and adequacy of internal controls,
the scope of the audit and non-audit assignments of the independent accountants
and the related fees. All of the recommendations of the audit committee are
reported to the Trustees. During the year ended October 31, 1999, the Trustees
met four times and the audit committee met two times. Each Trustee attended
seventy-five percent or more of the total meetings of the trustees and the
committee of the Trustees on which he served that were held during the year.
TRUSTEE COMPENSATION
The following table shows the compensation paid by the Fund to its three
independent Trustees for their services as trustees of the Fund in the fiscal
year ended October 31, 1999. The following table also shows the total
compensation paid by the Fund and the INVESCO Funds (collectively, the 46
portfolios of the "INVESCO Complex", including the Fund) to these trustees for
their services as directors or trustees during the year ended December 31, 1999.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMPENSATION TABLE
AMOUNTS PAID DURING THE MOST RECENT
FISCAL YEAR BY THE FUND TO TRUSTEES
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Name of Person, Aggregate Benefits Accrued as Estimated Annual Total Compensation
Position Compensation Part of Fund Benefits Upon from the Fund and
from the Fund Expenses(2) Retirement(3) INVESCO Funds Paid
to Trustees
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRED A. DEERING 18,700 16,835 8,400 107,050
JOHN W. MCINTYRE(1) 20,700 15,909 9,724 108,700
DR. LARRY SOLL 18,700 12,927 16,631 100,900
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
As a Percentage 58,100 45,671 34,755 316,650
of Net Assets 0.0086%(4) 0.0067%(4) 0.0010%(5)
</TABLE>
(1) The chairman of the audit committee receives compensation for serving
in such capacity in addition to the compensation paid to all
Independent Trustees.
(2) Represents benefits accrued with respect to the Defined Benefit
Deferred Compensation Plan discussed below, and not compensation
deferred at the election of the trustees. This plan was adopted by the
Board of Trustees on October 12, 1998.
(3) These figures represent the Fund's estimated annual benefits payable
upon the trustee's retirement. These estimated benefits assume
retirement at age 72 and that the basic retainer payable to the
trustees will be adjusted periodically for inflation. This results in
lower estimated benefits for trustees who are closer to retirement and
higher estimated benefits for trustees who are farther from
retirement. Each of these trustees has served as a trustee for the
minimum five-year period required to be eligible to participate in the
Defined Benefit Deferred Compensation Plan.
(4) Total as a percentage of Fund's net assets as of October 31, 1999.
(5) Total as a percentage of the INVESCO Complex's net assets as of
December 31, 1999.
The Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined under
federal law) and of the other funds in the INVESCO Complex (the "Independent
Trustees"), establish their own compensation from the Fund and other funds in
the INVESCO Complex and are not paid by INVESCO or any affiliated company. Mr.
Brady, as an "interested person" of the Fund and of other funds in the INVESCO
Complex, receives compensation as an officer of companies affiliated with
INVESCO, but does not receive any Trustee fees or other compensation from the
Fund or from other funds in the INVESCO Complex for his service as a trustee or
director.
<PAGE>
On October 12, 1998, the Board of Trustees of the Fund adopted a Defined
Benefit Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") for the Independent Trustees of
the Fund. Under the Plan, each Trustee who is not an interested person of the
Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act), and who has served for at
least five years (a "Qualified Trustee") is entitled to receive four quarterly
payments during the first twelve months after his retirement, with each payment
to be equal to 25 percent of the sum of the annual basic retainer and annualized
quarterly board meeting fees payable by the Fund to the Independent Trustee on
his retirement (the "First Year Retirement Benefit").
Trustees normally retire at age 72, or age 73, 74, or 75, if the retirement
date is extended by the Board. In no event may a Trustee retire later than the
last day of the calendar quarter in which the Trustee's seventy-fifth birthday
occurs.
Beginning with the first anniversary of the Qualified Trustee's retirement,
and beginning as of the retirement of an Independent Trustee whose retirement is
after the date of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such Trustee's
seventy-fifth birthday occurred, the Independent Trustee will receive, for the
remainder of his life, a benefit (the "Benefit"), payable quarterly, with each
quarterly payment to be equal to 12.50 percent of the sum of the annual basic
retainer and annualized quarterly board meeting fees payable by the Fund to the
Independent Trustee on his retirement.
If an Independent Trustee's service as a Trustee is terminated because of
his death after the last day of the calendar quarter in which such Trustee's
seventy-second birthday occurred and before the last day of the calendar quarter
in which such Trustee's seventy-fifth birthday occurs, the designated
beneficiary of the Independent Trustee will receive the First Year Retirement
Benefit and will, beginning with the quarter following the quarter in which the
last First Year Retirement Benefit is paid, receive the Benefit for a period of
ten years, with quarterly payments to be made to the designated beneficiary.
If an Independent Trustee's service as a Trustee is terminated because of
his death before the last day of the calendar quarter in which such Trustee's
seventy-second birthday occurs or after the last day of the calendar quarter in
which such Trustee's seventy-fifth birthday occurred, the designated beneficiary
of the Independent Trustee will receive the Benefit for a period of ten years,
with quarterly payments to be made to the designated beneficiary beginning in
the first quarter following the trustee's death.
If an Independent Trustee's service as a Trustee is terminated because of
his disability after the last day of the calendar quarter in which such
Trustee's seventy-second birthday occurred and before the last day of the
calendar quarter in which such Trustee's seventy-fifth birthday occurs, the
Independent Trustee will receive the First Year Retirement Benefit and will,
beginning with the quarter following the quarter in which the last First Year
Retirement Benefit payment is made, receive the Benefit for the remainder of his
life, with quarterly payments to be made to the disabled Independent Trustee. If
the disabled Independent Trustee should die before the First Year Retirement
Benefit payments are completed and before forty quarterly Benefit payments are
made, such payments will continue to be made to the Independent Trustee's
designated beneficiary until the aggregate of the First Year Retirement Benefit
payments and forty quarterly Benefit payments have been made to the disabled
Independent Trustee and the trustee's designated beneficiary.
<PAGE>
If an Independent Trustee's service as a Trustee is terminated because of
his disability before the last day of the calendar quarter in which such
Trustee's seventy-second birthday occurs or after the last day of the calendar
quarter in which such Trustee's seventy-fifth birthday occurred, the Independent
Trustee will receive the Benefit for the remainder of his life, with quarterly
payments to be made to the disabled Independent Trustee beginning in the first
quarter following the trustee's termination for disability. If the disabled
Independent Trustee should die before forty quarterly payments are made,
payments will continue to be made to the Independent Trustee's designated
beneficiary until the aggregate of forty quarterly payments has been made to the
disabled Independent Trustee and the trustee's designated beneficiary.
Any question involving entitlement to payments under or the administration
of the Plan will be referred to a four-person committee (the "Committee")
composed of three Independent Trustees designated by all of the Independent
Trustees of the Fund and one trustee of the Fund who is not an Independent
Trustee, designated by the non-Independent Trustees. Except as otherwise
provided, the Committee will make all interpretations and determinations
necessary or desirable for the Plan's administration, and such interpretations
and determinations will be final and conclusive. Committee members will be
elected annually.
The Committee will represent and act on behalf of the Fund in respect of
the Plan and, subject to the other provisions of the Plan, the Committee may
adopt, amend or repeal bylaws or other regulations relating to the
administration of the Plan, the conduct of the Committee's affairs, its rights
or powers, or the rights or powers of its members. The Committee will report to
the Independent Trustees and to the Board of Trustees from time to time on its
activities in respect of the Plan. The Committee or persons designated by it
will cause such records to be kept as may be necessary for the administration of
the Plan. The cost of the Plan is paid by the Fund.
A Deferred Fee Agreement for Independent Trustees became effective on
January 1, 1999. Pursuant to the Deferred Fee Agreement, the Independent
Trustees may defer receipt of a portion of the compensation which they would
otherwise have been paid as Trustees of the Fund. The deferred amount is
invested in shares of the Fund. Each Independent Trustee who has elected to
defer payment of fees pursuant to the Deferred Fee Agreement may be deemed to
have an indirect interest in shares of the Fund, in addition to any Fund shares
he may own directly or beneficially.
The Fund's officers and Trustees, persons who are beneficial owners of more
than 10% of the Fund's shares, and certain persons affiliated with INVESCO are
required to file reports of their holdings and transactions in the Fund's shares
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and
to furnish the Fund with copies of those reports. Based solely upon its review
of the copies it has received and upon written representations it has obtained
from these persons, the Fund believes that during the fiscal year ended October
31, 1999, these persons have complied with all such filing requirements.
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONCERNING INVESCO
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. ("IFG"), a Delaware corporation incorporated in
1932, serves as adviser to 46 investment company portfolios, including the Fund.
These funds had aggregate assets of approximately $41.4 billion as of February
29, 2000. In addition, IFG provides investment management services to private
clients. INVESCO Distributors, Inc. ("IDI") is a wholly owned subsidiary of IFG.
Both companies are indirect subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC, an international
investment management company that managed approximately $357.4 billion in
assets as of December 31, 1999. AMVESCAP PLC is based in London with money
managers located in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.
One of the trustees of the Fund is affiliated with INVESCO. Charles W.
Brady, the current Chairman of the Fund, is also Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of AMVESCAP PLC and a director of various subsidiaries thereof. Mark H.
Williamson, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund since 1998, is
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IFG and IDI; formerly,
Chairman and CEO of NationsBanc Advisors, Inc. (1995-1997 ) and Chairman of
NationsBanc Investments, Inc. (1997-1998). Other officers of the Fund who are
also officers of IFG are: John R. Schroer, 34 years of age, Vice President and
portfolio manager (since 1996) of the Fund and Senior Vice President (since
1998) and portfolio manager (since 1993) of IFG, Vice President (1995-1996) and
Senior Vice President (1996-1998) of INVESCO Trust Company, Vice President
(1995-1996), Assistant Vice President of Trust Company of the West, (1990-1993);
Ronald L. Grooms, 53 years of age, Treasurer and Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer of the Fund since 1991, Senior Vice President, Director, and
Treasurer of IFG and IDI, formerly, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of
INVESCO Trust Company (1988 to 1998); and Glen A. Payne, 52 years of age,
Secretary of the Fund since 1991 and Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of IFG and IDI, formerly, Senior Vice President, Secretary, and
General Counsel of INVESCO Trust Company. The address of the foregoing officers
and directors is INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., 7800 East Union Avenue, Denver,
Colorado 80237.
On December 6, 1996, Advantage Partners, L.P. filed an action, individually
and derivatively on behalf of the Fund, against INVESCO Trust Company (the
former name of the adviser to the Fund), INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., INVESCO PLC
(the predecessor to AMVESCAP PLC), and the Fund's Trustees. The suit was filed
in the federal court for the District of Colorado, Case No. 96-D-2824. Plaintiff
alleged violations of Sections 36(b) and 48(a) of the 1940 Act and state law
(including an alleged breach of fiduciary duty against the Fund's adviser and
the Trustees) concerning the Fund's capital gain distribution declared for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, and other alleged action or inaction by the
Fund's adviser or the Trustees. The Fund, the Trustees and INVESCO denied any
wrong doing. This case was settled on February 19, 1999. Implementation of the
approved settlement has now been completed, resulting in the case being
dismissed under the terms of the February 19, 1999 court order. The settlement
required no payment by the Fund.
<PAGE>
ITEM 2: RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF
SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Independent Trustees have selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to
continue to serve as independent accountants of the Fund for the year ending
October 31, 2000. This selection is subject to ratification by the Fund's
shareholders at the Meeting. This firm has no direct financial interest or
material indirect financial interest in the Fund or INVESCO. Representatives of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are not expected to attend the Meeting.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP performed the following audit services for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1999.
o audit of annual financial statements
o preparation of the Fund's federal and state income tax returns
o preparation of the Fund's federal excise tax return
o consultation with the Fund's audit committee
o routine consultation on financial accounting and reporting matters.
The trustees authorized all services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP. In addition, the trustees annually review the scope of services to be
provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and consider the effect, if any, that
performance of any non-audit services might have on audit independence.
The audit committee of the Fund, consisting of three independent Trustees,
meets periodically with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to review accounting and
reporting requirements.
THE TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT THE FUND'S
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 2.
OTHER BUSINESS
The management of the Fund has no business to bring before the Meeting
other than the matters described above. Should any other business be presented
at the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying
proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of shareholders which may be properly included in the proxy
solicitation material for the 2001 annual meeting of the shareholders of the
Fund must be received by the Secretary of the Fund, 7800 East Union Avenue,
Denver, Colorado 80237, no later than November 30, 2000.
By Order of the Trustees,
/s/Glen A. Payne
----------------
Glen A. Payne
Secretary
April 4, 2000
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TO BE SURE YOU ARE REPRESENTED, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.
INVESCO GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 10, 2000
The undersigned hereby appoints Mark H. Williamson and Glen A. Payne, and each
of them, proxy for the undersigned, with the power of substitution to vote with
the same force and effect as the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of INVESCO Global Health Sciences Fund (the "Fund"), to be held at
the offices of the Fund, 7800 East Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday,
May 10, 2000 at 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) and at any adjournment thereof, upon
the matters set forth on the reverse side, all in accordance with and as more
fully described in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, dated April
4, 2000, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE TRUSTEES AND FOR ITEM 2.
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PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE, THANK YOU.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. If stock is held in the name of
joint owners, each should sign. Attorneys-in-fact, executors, administrators,
etc., should so indicate. If shareholder is a corporation or partnership, please
sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized person.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS?
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<CAPTION>
X PLEASE MARK VOTES
- -- AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
- ----------------------------------- THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR":
INVESCO GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES FUND
- -----------------------------------
<S> <C>
For All With- For All
Nominees hold Except
1. Proposal to elect (01)John W. McIntyre ----- ----- -----
and (02)Charles W. Brady as Class C
trustees of the Fund until the annual
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES meeting of shareholders in 2003 and
until the annual meeting of shareholders
in 2003 and until their successors are
elected and qualified.
CONTROL NUMBER: Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, mark the
"For All Except" box and strike a line through the nominee's name in
the list above. Your shares will be voted "For" the remaining nominee.
For Against Abstain
2. Proposal to ratify the selection of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent ----- ----- -----
accountants for the Fund Fiscal year
ending October 31, 2000.
In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
Date:
---------------- Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been
noted on the reverse side of this card. -----
- --------------------- ------------------
Shareholder sign here Co-owner sign here RECORD DATE SHARES:
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