<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section240.14a-11(c) or
Section240.14a-12
MORGAN FUNSHARES, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(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:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(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):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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/ / 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:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
MORGAN FUNSHARES, INC.
----------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 13, 1998
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The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Morgan FunShares, Inc. (the "Fund")
will be held at Park Place, 10 West Streetsboro St., Hudson, Ohio 44236 at 4:00
p.m., local time, on Monday, April 13, 1998 for the following purposes:
1. To elect seven Directors to the Fund's Board of Directors to hold office
until the next Annual Meeting and until their respective successors have
been duly elected and qualified.
2. To ratify or reject the continuation of the Investment Advisory
Agreement between the Fund and Burton D. Morgan dated April 2, 1996.
3. To ratify or reject the continuation of McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s,
Inc. as the Fund's independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998.
4. To consider and act upon a proposal to amend the Articles of
Incorporation to increase the amount of authorized common shares, without
par value, of the Fund, from 1,200,000 shares to 2,500,000 shares.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 2, 1998 are
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Catherine Kantorowski
SECRETARY
Hudson, Ohio
March 27, 1998
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY. YOU MAY STILL VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND
THE MEETING.
<PAGE>
PROXY STATEMENT
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Directors of Morgan FunShares,
Inc. (the "Fund") for use at the Annual Meeting of its Shareholders, to be held
at Park Place, 10 West Streetsboro St., Hudson, Ohio 44236 at 4:00 p.m., local
time, on Monday, April 13, 1998.
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on the record date, March
2, 1998, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
As of that date, 1,175,990 common shares of the Fund were outstanding, each of
which is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting.
This proxy statement and form of proxy is being mailed to shareholders on or
about March 27, 1998.
THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT 1997 TO
ANY SHAREHOLDER WHO REQUESTS IT BY CONTACTING MR. ROBERT PINCUS, MAXUS
INVESTMENT GROUP, 1301 EAST NINTH ST., 36TH FLOOR, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114 (CALL
TOLL-FREE 1-800-44-MAXUS).
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy
to vote at the Annual Meeting for the election of the nominees named below as
Directors of the Fund to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until their
successors are elected and qualified. Each such nominee has consented to being
named herein and to serve if elected. If any such nominee should be unable to
serve, an event not now anticipated, the persons named as proxies may vote for
other persons in their discretion. A shareholder may instruct the persons named
as proxies not to vote the shares represented by his proxy for any or all of the
nominees for election.
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES
The information concerning the nominees set forth in the following table is
based in part on information received from the respective nominees and in part
on the Fund's records:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF
SHARES BENEFICIALLY
NAME AND POSITION PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OWNED
WITH THE FUND(1) PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE AS OF MARCH 2, 1998(2)
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
J. Martin Erbaugh President, ERBAUGH Corp. dba Lawnmark; President, Coer 5,400(3)
Director Properties; Director, Lesco, Inc.; Director, Morgan
Bank NA; Age 49.
Burton D. Morgan* Chairman, Morgan Bank NA; President, Basic Search, 580,000(49.3%)
Chairman and Director Inc.; Director, Multi-Color, Inc.; Director, Morgan
Adhesives, Inc.; Effective October 18, 1995, he
became a registered investment advisor; Age 81
Robert F. Pincus** Vice President--Marketing and Client Services, Maxus 6,500(3)
President and Director Investment Group; Age 53
William K. Cordier Chairman and President, Cordier Group Holdings, Inc.; 0
Director Chairman and CEO, Canton Drop Forge, Inc.; Age 70
Keith Brown President, Chimera Corporation; Director, USG 0
Director Corporation; Director, Myers Corporation; Age 46
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF
SHARES BENEFICIALLY
NAME AND POSITION PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OWNED
WITH THE FUND(1) PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE AS OF MARCH 2, 1998(2)
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
James M. Hojnacki Vice President, The Provident Bank, Cleveland, Ohio; 0
Director Age 36
James C. Onorato President, Summit Capital Inc.; Portfolio Manager, 800(3)
Vice President and Director Maxus investment Group; Age 41
</TABLE>
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* Mr. Morgan is an "interested person" as defined by the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "Act") by reason of his acting as investment advisor upon
approval of the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and by
reason of his beneficial ownership of 49.3% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund.
** Maxus Information Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Maxus Investment Group
performs all of the processing of the trades, prices the Fund, and maintains
the records for the transactions and expenses of the Fund, pursuant to an
Accounting Services Agreement with the Fund.
(1) Mr. Morgan has served as a Director since 1989, Mr. Pincus has served since
1993, Mr. Erbaugh has served since 1994, Messrs. Cordier, Brown and Hojnacki
have served since 1996, and Mr. Onorato has served since 1997.
(2) On February 17, 1998, the Board of Directors authorized a 2-for-1 stock
split. The record date for the stock split was set as March 2, 1998. These
figures include shares received in the split.
(3) Constitutes less than 1% of outstanding shares.
As of March 2, 1998, all eight Officers and Directors as a group held
596,700 shares, constituting 50.7% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Four meetings of the Board of Directors were held during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997. Each Director attended at least 50% of the meetings of
the Board of Directors during the fiscal year.
The Fund did not have a standing audit committee, nominating committee, or
compensation committee of the Board of Directors as of December 31, 1997. It has
established an audit committee as of February 17, 1998, consisting of directors
James M. Hojnacki, J. Martin Erbaugh and Robert F. Pincus.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
In addition to Messrs. Morgan, Pincus and Onorato, the Fund has the
following executive officer:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES
NAME AND POSITION PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING BENEFICIALLY OWNED AS OF
WITH THE FUND(1) PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE MARCH 2, 1998(2)
- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Catherine Kantorowski Executive Secretary to Burton D. Morgan; Age 67 4,000(3)
Secretary
</TABLE>
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(1) Ms. Kantorowski has served since 1996.
(2) On February 17, 1998, the Board of Directors authorized a 2-for-1 stock
split. The record date for the stock split was set as March 2, 1998. These
figures include shares received in the split.
(3) Constitutes less than 1% of outstanding shares.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Each Director who was not acting as the Investment Advisor or was not an
interested person of Maxus Information Systems, Inc. earned compensation from
the Fund in the amount of $100 for each Board of Directors or shareholders
meeting attended. The Board of Directors met four times in fiscal year 1997.
2
<PAGE>
2. CONTINUATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The Fund's investments are managed by Burton D. Morgan (the "Advisor")
pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Agreement") dated April 2,
1996. The Agreement was approved by the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting of
the Shareholders held on April 2, 1996. The Board of Directors approved the
Agreement and the Advisor on April 2, 1996. On March 3, 1998, the Board of
Directors, including a majority of the Directors, who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund or the Advisor, approved the continuation of the Agreement.
The Agreement provides that as compensation for his services to the Fund,
the Advisor is entitled to receive from the Fund an annual fee of 1% of the
average value of the Fund's net assets up to $150,000,000, and .75% of the
average value of the Fund's net assets in excess of $150,000,000, payable
monthly. The Agreement also provides that the Advisor will reimburse the Fund in
the amount, if any, by which total operating expenses of the Fund for any fiscal
year, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions, amortization
and extraordinary expenses, exceed 2% of the average annual net assets of the
Fund, except that the amount required to be reimbursed for any fiscal year will
not exceed the amount of fees received by the Advisor with respect to that
fiscal year. The Advisor received a management fee from the Fund for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1997, in the amount of $61,671. The Advisor reimbursed
the Fund in the amount of $40,397.99 on January 14, 1998 for expenses exceeding
the 2% limit in 1996.
Subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of Directors, the Advisor (i)
manages all the Fund's assets in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives, policies and limitations as stated in the Fund's prospectus; (ii)
makes investment decisions with respect to the assets; and (iii) places orders
to purchase and sell securities.
The Agreement will automatically renew for successive annual periods,
provided the continuance is specifically approved by (i) the Fund's Board of
Directors, or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the Act), provided that in either event the
continuance is also approved by a majority of the Board of Directors who are not
"interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, by vote cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the approval. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Agreement may be terminated (i) at any time without penalty
by the Fund, upon the vote of the majority of the Fund's Board of Directors or
by vote of the majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, upon notice
to the Fund, or (ii) by the Advisor at any time without penalty.
Under the Agreement, the Advisor is not liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the
matter to which the Agreement relates, provided that nothing in the Agreement
protects the Advisor against any liability to the Fund or to the holders of the
Fund's shares representing interests in the Fund to which the Advisor would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on his part in the performance of his duties or by reason of the
Advisor's reckless disregard of his obligations and duties under the Agreement.
The Advisor is doing business as a sole proprietor whose address is Park
Place, 10 West Streetsboro, Hudson, Ohio 44236-2850. The Advisor is the Chairman
and a Director of the Fund.
The affirmative vote of at least 67% of the shares represented at the
meeting (if more than 50% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are
represented at the meeting) or a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund,
whichever is less, is required to approve this proposal .
The Fund has entered into an Accounting Services Agreement with Maxus
Information Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Maxus Investment Group, under which
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund paid Maxus Information
Systems, Inc. $30,088. The Agreement provides that Maxus Information Systems,
Inc. will maintain the current books, accounts, records, journals or other
records of original entry relating to the business of the Fund.
3
<PAGE>
The Advisor has an agreement with Maxus Asset Management, Inc., under which
Maxus Asset Management, Inc. provides the Advisor with statistical and other
factual information regarding economic and market factors and individual
companies. The Advisor pays Maxus Asset Management, Inc. a fee of $3,000 per
month for these services.
3. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund, have selected McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s,
Inc. to continue as Auditors for the Fund for the fiscal year ending December
31, 1998. McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s, Inc. has advised the Fund that it has
no direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund. This selection is subject
to the approval of the shareholders of the Fund at the Annual Meeting. The
enclosed proxy card provides space for instructions directing the proxies named
therein to vote for or against ratification of the selection. A representative
of McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s, Inc. is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions relating to
the examination of the Fund's financial statements and will have the opportunity
to make a statement if so desired.
4. AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
At the Annual Meeting, the Shareholders are being requested to approve an
amendment to the Fund's Articles of Incorporation for the purpose of increasing
the total number of shares of Common Stock the Fund is authorized to issue. The
Fund's current Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the "Articles") authorize
the Fund to issue 1,200,000 common shares, without par value. On February 17,
1998, the Board of Directors of the Fund authorized an amendment to the Articles
to increase the authorized number of shares to 2,500,000 common shares.
REASON FOR THE AMENDMENT
The Board of Directors has no specific plans to issue the additional shares
resulting from the proposed amendment. The Board of Directors may consider
various alternatives to increase the amount of equity of the Fund held by the
public and seeks the increase so that the Fund will have shares available if the
Board determines that the Fund should seek to raise additional capital.
No shareholder is entitled to any preemptive rights with respect to the
Fund's Common Stock. If the amendment is approved by the Shareholders, no
further vote of the Shareholders will be required prior to the Fund's issuance
of Common Stock in accordance with the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, except as may be required by applicable law.
TEXT OF AMENDMENT
Under the proposed amendment, Article Fourth of the Articles of
Incorporation would be amended as follows:
"FOURTH: The Corporation shall be authorized to issue 2,500,000
common shares, without par value."
If the proposed amendment is approved, the Fund intends to file the
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Ohio
as soon as is reasonably practicable after such approval is obtained.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL
OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
4
<PAGE>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
As of March 2, 1998, the only persons who are known by the Fund to be the
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are
Burton D. Morgan, Park Place, 10 West Streetsboro, Hudson, Ohio, who owns
580,000 shares (49.3% of the outstanding shares) as of that date, and Luke E.
Sims, 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 3700, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who owns 91,240
shares (7.8% of the outstanding shares) as of that date.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Fund's
directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Fund's equity securities, to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and
other equity securities of the Fund. Officers, directors and greater than 10%
beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms which they file with the SEC.
To the Fund's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Fund and written representations that no other reports
were required, during 1997, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to
its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied
with.
OTHER MATTERS
The Fund knows of no business to be brought before the Meeting except as set
forth above. If, however, any other matters properly come before the Meeting,
the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote on such matters
in accordance with their best judgment.
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
Any person giving a proxy has power to revoke it at any time prior to its
exercise by executing a superseding proxy or by submitting a notice of
revocation to the Secretary of the Fund. In addition, a shareholder present at
the Meeting may withdraw his proxy and vote in person. All properly executed and
unrevoked proxies received in time for the Meeting will be voted in accordance
with the instructions contained therein. If no specification is made on a proxy,
it will be voted for the election of Directors, for ratification of the
continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement, for ratification of the
continuation of the independent accountants, and for approval to amend the
Articles of Incorporation to increase the amount of authorized common shares.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited in person or by
telephone by Officers or Directors of the Fund. The cost of preparing and
mailing this statement and the accompanying form of notice and proxy will be
borne by the Fund.
Although neither Ohio law nor the Articles of Incorporation or Code of
Regulations of the Fund specifically provide for such matters, the Fund's policy
and practice is that (i) properly executed proxies that are marked "abstain" or
are held in "street name" by brokers that are not voted on one or more proposals
(if otherwise voted on at least one proposal) will be counted for purposes of
determining whether a quorum has been achieved at the Annual Meeting, and (ii)
abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as either a vote for or a
vote against any of the proposals to which such abstention or broker non-vote
applies.
5
<PAGE>
PROPOSALS OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of
the Fund in 1999 must be received by the Fund no later than December 31, 1998
for inclusion in the Fund's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that
meeting. The mailing address of the Fund is Park Place, 10 West Streetsboro,
Hudson, Ohio 44236.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Catherine Kantorowski
SECRETARY
March 27, 1998
6
<PAGE>
MORGAN FUNSHARES, INC.
PROXY Annual Meeting of Shareholders -- April 13,
1998 PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Burton D. Morgan
and J. Martin Erbaugh, and each of them, the proxies
of the undersigned with power of substitution to each
of them to vote all shares of Morgan FunShares, Inc.
which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders held at Park Place, 10
West Streetsboro, Hudson, Ohio on April 13, 1998 at
4:00 p.m. local time, and any adjournment thereof.
1. Election of Directors: (Instructions: To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee,
strike a line through the nominee's name indicated
below).
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
J. MARTIN ERBAUGH ROBERT F. PINCUS JAMES M. HOJNACKI KEITH BROWN
BURTON D. MORGAN JAMES C. ONORATO WILLIAM K. CORDIER
</TABLE>
2. Proposal to approve continuation of the Investment
Advisory Agreement.
3. Proposal to ratify the continuation of McCurdy &
Associates C.P.A.'s, Inc., as auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 1998.
4. Proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation to
increase the amount of authorized Common Stock,
without par value from 1,200,000 shares to
2,500,000 shares.
5. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to
vote upon such other business as may properly come
before the meeting including the election of any
person as a Director if any of the nominees named
above is unable to serve or for good cause
unwilling to serve and matters incident to the
conduct of the Annual Meeting.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE
MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.
IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
PROPOSALS 1, 2 3, AND 4. PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR AN ADDRESS CHANGE, PLEASE NOTE BELOW.
COMMENTS:
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ADDRESS CHANGE
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STREET
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APT.NO./P.O. BOX
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CITY
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STATE
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ZIP CODE
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SIGNATURE
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (Vote for all nominees except as 2. TO APPROVE CONTINUANCE OF THE INVESTMENT
indicated above). ADVISORY AGREEMENT
/ / For / / Withhold Authority / / For / / Against / / Abstain
3. TO RATIFY THE CONTINUATION OF MCCURDY & ASSOCIATES 4. TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF
C.P.A.'S, INC. AS AUDITORS. INCORPORATION
/ / For / / Against / / Abstain / / For / / Against / / Abstain
DO YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING? Dated:
/ / Yes / / No ----------------------------------------------------------
Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)
Please sign exactly as name appears in the box on the left.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give your title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by president or other
authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign partnership
name by authorized person as a joint account, please provide
both signatures.
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Print Name of Shareholder
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Signature
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Print Shareholder Name if held jointly
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Signature if held jointly
</TABLE>
