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KINETICS
MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
555
Taxter Road, Suite 175
Elmsford,
New York 10523
800-930-3828
Water
Infrastructure Fund
____________, 2009
Dear
Shareholder:
The Board of Directors of Kinetics
Mutual Funds, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to announce a Special Meeting of
Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the Company’s Water Infrastructure Fund (the
“Fund”) to be held on November 16, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) at the
Company’s offices located at 555 Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York
10523.
At the Meeting, shareholders of the
Fund will be asked to vote on the approval of a new sub-advisory agreement
between Kinetics Asset Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) and Brennan Investment
Partners, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”). The Fund currently operates under
a “master-feeder” structure, pursuant to which the Fund seeks its investment
objective by investing all of its investable assets in a corresponding portfolio
series, the Water Infrastructure Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of Kinetics
Portfolios Trust (the “Trust”), that has an identical investment objective and
strategy to that of the Fund. The Portfolio is seeking the vote of
its shareholders, principally the Fund, regarding the approval of a new
sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser (the
“Portfolio Proposal”). The Fund is seeking voting instructions from
shareholders and will vote its Portfolio shares for or against the Portfolio
Proposal proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against such matters
received from shareholders of the Fund. In the event that the Fund
does not receive voting instructions from shareholders, the portion of the
Fund’s Portfolio shares allocable to such shareholders will be voted in the same
proportions as the portion with respect to which it has received voting
instructions.
William S. Brennan, the Portfolio’s
lead portfolio manager, would continue to be responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Portfolio if the new sub-advisory agreement is
approved. The Adviser would also remain the investment adviser to the
Portfolio, and, as such, would continue to oversee the overall management of the
Portfolio. In addition, as the fees payable to the Sub-Adviser under
the new sub-advisory agreement would be paid by the Adviser, advisory fee levels
would remain unchanged.
The Board of Directors unanimously
recommends your approval of the proposal described in the Proxy
Statement.
Each shareholder is invited to attend
the Meeting in person. If you cannot be present at the Meeting, we
urge you to execute and return promptly in the enclosed envelope the
accompanying Proxy Card or Cards which are being solicited by the Company’s
Board of Directors. Also, please refer to your individual Proxy Card
for information about other convenient voting options that may be available to
you, such as voting by touch-tone telephone or via the Internet. This
is important for the purpose of ensuring a quorum at the Meeting. A
proxy may be revoked by any shareholder at any time before it is exercised by
executing and submitting a revised proxy, by giving written notice of revocation
to the Company’s Secretary, or by withdrawing the proxy and voting in person at
the Meeting.
Sincerely,
Peter B. Doyle
President
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY
OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
16,
2009
The
Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on
the Company’s website at [www.kineticsfunds.com].
By Order
of the Board of Directors
Peter B.
Doyle
President
__________,
2009
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
FOR
FUND SHAREHOLDERS
While we
encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed Proxy Statement, for your
convenience, we have provided a brief overview of the matters affecting the Fund
and the Portfolio that require a shareholder vote.
Questions
& Answers
Q. Why
am I receiving this proxy statement?
A. The
Portfolio and the Adviser would like to retain the services of Brennan
Investment Partners, LLC as sub-adviser to the Portfolio. The members
of the Company’s Board of Directors, including all of the Directors who are not
“interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”),
recommend that you vote FOR the approval of the new sub-advisory
agreement.
Q. How
will the agreements affect the Fund and the Portfolio?
A. The
management of the Portfolio and the Fund would not change under the new
sub-advisory agreement. William S. Brennan, who currently serves as
the Portfolio’s lead portfolio manager, was associated with the Portfolio’s
former sub-adviser, Aqua Terra Asset Management LLC. Mr. Brennan
joined the Adviser in 2008 and is currently an employee of both the Adviser and
Sub-Adviser. If the new sub-advisory applicant is approved by
shareholders, Mr. Brennan intends to resign as employee of the Adviser and would
continue to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio as an
employee of the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Adviser would remain
the investment adviser to the Portfolio, and, as such, would continue to oversee
the overall management of the Portfolio.
Q. Will
the investment advisory fee rates be the same upon approval of the new
sub-advisory agreement?
A. Yes,
as the fees payable to the Sub-Adviser under the new sub-advisory agreement
would be paid by the Adviser, advisory fee levels would remain
unchanged.
Q. How
does the Company’s Board of Directors recommend that I vote?
A. The
members of the Company’s Board of Directors, including all of the Independent
Directors, recommend that you vote in favor of the new sub-advisory
agreement. The reasons for their recommendation are discussed in more
detail in the enclosed Proxy Statement under “Board Approval and
Recommendation.”
Q. Will
the Funds pay for the proxy solicitation and related legal costs?
A. No. The
Adviser has agreed to bear these costs.
Q. When
and where will the shareholders’ meeting be held?
A. The
shareholders’ meeting will be held at the Company’s offices located at 555
Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York 10523 on November 16, 2009, at 2:00
p.m. (eastern time).
Q. Do
I have to attend the shareholders’ meeting in order to vote my
shares?
A. No. You
can simply mail in the enclosed proxy card(s) or use the telephone or internet
procedures for voting your shares as set forth below.
Q. How
can I vote my shares?
A. You
may vote your shares in person at the shareholder meeting. If you do
not plan to attend the meeting you may choose from one of the following options,
as described on the enclosed proxy card(s):
• By mail: You may
authorize your proxy by completing the enclosed proxy card(s) by dating, signing
and returning it in the postage paid envelope. Please note that if
you sign and date the proxy card but give no voting instructions, your shares
will be voted “FOR” the proposal described in this proxy statement.
• By touchtone
telephone: You may authorize your proxy by telephone by
calling the number on your proxy card(s). To vote in this manner, you
will need the “control” number that appears on your proxy
card(s).
• Through the Internet: You may
authorize your proxy via the Internet by accessing the website address printed
on the enclosed proxy card(s). To vote in this manner, you
will need the “control” number that appears on your proxy
card(s).
Q. Whom
should I contact for additional information or if I have any questions about the
enclosed Proxy Statement?
A. Please
call toll-free at 1 (866) 586-0652.
KINETICS
MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
555
Taxter Road, Suite 175
Elmsford,
New York 10523
800-930-3828
NOTICE
OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009
Water
Infrastructure Fund
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the Water Infrastructure Fund (the
“Fund”) of Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on November
16, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time), at the Company’s offices located at 555
Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York 10523.
The Meeting will be held for the
following purposes:
|
1.
|
To
approve a new sub-advisory agreement between Kinetics Asset Management,
Inc. (the “Adviser”) and Brennan Investment Partners, LLC (the
“Sub-Adviser”); and
|
|
2.
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
|
The Fund currently operates under a
“master-feeder” structure, pursuant to which the Fund seeks its investment
objective by investing all of its investable assets in a corresponding portfolio
series, the Water Infrastructure Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of Kinetics
Portfolios Trust (the “Trust”), that has an identical investment objective and
strategy to that of the Fund. The Portfolio is seeking the vote of
its shareholders, principally the Fund, regarding the approval of a new
sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser (the “Portfolio
Proposal”). The Fund is seeking voting instructions from shareholders
and will vote its Portfolio shares for or against the Portfolio Proposal
proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against such matters received
from shareholders. In the event that the Fund does not receive voting
instructions from shareholders, the portion of the Fund’s Portfolio shares
allocable to such shareholders will be voted in the same proportions as the
portion with respect to which it has received voting instructions.
The proposal stated above is discussed
in detail in the attached Proxy Statement. Shareholders of record as
of the close of business on September 8, 2009 are entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL.
Each shareholder is invited to attend
the Meeting in person. If you cannot be present at the Meeting, we
urge you to execute and return promptly in the enclosed envelope the
accompanying proxy card or cards which are being solicited by the Company’s
Board of Directors. Also, please refer to your individual proxy card
for information about other convenient voting options that may be available to
you, such as voting by touch-tone telephone or via the Internet. This
is important for the purpose of ensuring a quorum at the Meeting. A
proxy may be revoked by any shareholder at any time before it is exercised by
executing and submitting a revised proxy, by giving written notice of revocation
to the Company’s Secretary, or by withdrawing the proxy and voting in person at
the Meeting.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
Peter B. Doyle
President
KINETICS
MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
555
Taxter Road, Suite 175
Elmsford,
New York 10523
800-930-3828
PROXY
STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors (the “Board” or the “Directors”) of Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (the
“Company”) in connection with a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company’s
Water Infrastructure Fund (the “Fund”) to be held at the Company’s offices
located at 555 Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York 10523 on November 16,
2009 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) for the purposes set forth in the accompanying
Notice. Such meeting and any adjournments thereof are referred to in
this Proxy Statement as the “Meeting.”
The following table summarizes the
proposal to be voted on at the Meeting and indicates those shareholders who are
being solicited with respect to the proposal:
Proposal
|
|
Shareholders Solicited
|
1. To
approve a new sub-advisory agreement between Kinetics Asset Management,
Inc. and Brennan Investment Partners, LLC.
|
|
All
shareholders of record of the Fund voting together as a single
class.
|
The Fund currently operates under a
“master-feeder” structure, pursuant to which the Fund seeks its investment
objective by investing all of its investable assets in a corresponding portfolio
series, the Water Infrastructure Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of Kinetics
Portfolios Trust (the “Trust”), that has an identical investment objective and
strategy to that of the Fund. The Portfolio is seeking the vote of
its shareholders, principally the Fund, regarding the approval of a new
sub-advisory agreement between Kinetics Asset Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”)
and Brennan Investment Partners, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) (the “Portfolio
Proposal” or “Proposal 1”). The Fund is seeking voting instructions
from shareholders and will vote its Portfolio shares for or against the
Portfolio Proposal proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against
such matters received from shareholders. In the event that the Fund
does not receive voting instructions from shareholders, the portion of the
Fund’s Portfolio shares allocable to such shareholders will be voted in the same
proportions as the portion with respect to which it has received voting
instructions.
Only shareholders of record of the Fund
at the close of business on September 8, 2009, the record date for the Meeting
(“Record Date”), will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Meeting. As of the Record Date, the number of outstanding shares of
the Fund was _____________.
Each shareholder of record of the Fund
on the Record Date shall be entitled to one vote for each full share held and
each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional
vote. Shares may be voted in person, by proxy, by telephone, by
facsimile or via the Internet.
Proxy solicitations will be made
primarily by mail. The Company’s officers and employees of Kinetics
Asset Management, Inc., 555 Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York 10523,
the investment adviser to the Fund (“Kinetics” or the “Adviser”), may also
solicit proxies personally or by telephone or via the Internet. Broadridge
Investor Communications Services has been retained to solicit proxies in
connection with the Meeting for fees of approximately
$__________. The Adviser will bear all costs related to the proxy
solicitation and shareholder meeting. Any shareholder submitting a
proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by submitting to the
Company a written notice of revocation or a subsequently executed proxy or by
withdrawing the proxy, attending the Meeting and voting in
person. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed Proxy card or cards
will first be mailed to the Fund’s shareholders on or about September 18,
2009.
Properly signed proxies received by the
Company in time for voting and not so revoked will be voted in accordance with
the directions specified therein at the Meeting or any
adjournment. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval of
the Portfolio Proposal. If no specification is made, the proxy will
be voted: 1) FOR approval of the Portfolio Proposal and 2) in the
discretion of the proxies as to any other matter which may properly come before
the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Company will furnish, without
charge, copies of its annual report to shareholders dated December 31, 2008 to
any shareholder upon request. The annual report may be obtained by
writing to: Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc., c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 or by calling (800) 930-3828 or on-line
by visiting http://www.kineticsfunds.com.
INTRODUCTION
The Company is organized as a Maryland
corporation and is registered as an open-end management investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The
Fund is a series of the Company and currently operates under a “master-feeder”
structure pursuant to which the Fund seeks its investment objective by investing
all of its investable assets in the Portfolio, a corresponding portfolio series
of the Trust, that has an identical investment objective and strategy to that of
the Fund.
At a meeting held on March 18, 2009, a
new sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser with respect
to the Portfolio was approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including
all of the Trustees who are not parties to such sub-advisory agreement or
“interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party (the
“Independent Trustees”), subject to shareholder approval.
William
S. Brennan, who currently serves as the Portfolio’s lead portfolio manager,
joined the Adviser in 2008 and is currently an employee of both the Adviser and
Sub-Adviser. If the new sub-advisory agreement is approved by
shareholders, Mr. Brennan intends to resign as an employee of the Adviser and
would continue to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio
in his capacity as an employee of the Sub-Adviser. However, if the
new sub-advisory agreement is not approved by shareholders, it is possible that
Mr. Brennan will determine to resign from the Adviser, in which case the Adviser
will consider other alternatives and will make such recommendations for the
management of the Portfolio’s investments as it deems appropriate and in the
best interests of the Portfolio and the Fund, including (without limitation) the
recommendation of one or more other sub-advisers, subject to approval by the
Board of Trustees and Portfolio and Fund shareholders, or the liquidation of the
Portfolio, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Directors of the Company
recommends that Fund shareholders vote for approval of the new
sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser.
PROPOSAL
1: APPROVAL OF NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The Company’s Board of Directors
recommends that shareholders of the Kinetics Water Infrastructure Fund vote FOR
the approval of the new sub-advisory agreement between Kinetics Asset Management, Inc. and
Brennan Investment Partners, LLC
At the Meeting, shareholders will be
asked to vote on the approval of a new sub-advisory agreement between the
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Portfolio. William S.
Brennan, the Portfolio’s lead portfolio manager, would continue to be
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Portfolio if the new
sub-advisory agreement is approved. The Adviser would also remain the
investment adviser to the Portfolio, and, as such, would continue to oversee the
overall management of the Portfolio.
Compensation
Paid to the Sub-Adviser
Under the
new sub-advisory agreement, the Sub-Adviser would be entitled to receive a
monthly sub-advisory fee, paid by the Adviser, computed at the annual rate of
0.35% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets in return for the services
provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Portfolio. As the fees payable to
the Sub-Adviser under the new sub-advisory agreement would be paid by the
Adviser, advisory fee levels would remain unchanged.
Information
about the Sub-Adviser
Brennan
Investment Partners, LLC is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Sub-Adviser’s
principal offices are located at 690 Lee Road, Suite 310, Wayne, Pennsylvania
19087. The Sub-Adviser is a newly registered investment adviser
controlled by William S. Brennan, the Portfolio’s lead portfolio
manager. As of December 31, 2008, Mr. Brennan managed no other
accounts other than the Portfolio.
The
following table sets forth the name, position and principal occupation of each
chief executive officer and each director of the Sub-Adviser as of December 31,
2008. Each individual’s address is c/o Brennan Investment Partners,
LLC, 690 Lee Road, Suite 310, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.
Name
|
Principal
Occupation with the Sub-Adviser
|
William
S. Brennan
|
Managing
Member and Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
There
were no brokerage commissions paid by any portfolio of the Trust to affiliated
brokers of the Sub-Adviser for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
Summary
of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement
A copy of
the new sub-advisory agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The
following description is only a summary. You should refer to Exhibit
A for the new sub-advisory agreement, and the description set forth in this
Proxy Statement of the new sub-advisory agreement is qualified in its entirety
by reference to Exhibit A.
Advisory
Services. The new sub-advisory agreement provides that,
subject to the oversight and review of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will (i)
manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the
Portfolio, (ii) determine in its sole discretion, and subject to the
oversight and review of the Adviser, the securities to be purchased or sold for
the Portfolio, (iii) will make available to the Adviser records concerning its
activities for the Portfolio which the Sub-Adviser is required to maintain, and
(iv) will render regular reports to the Adviser and to officers and Trustees of
the Trust concerning its discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. The new
sub-advisory agreement provides that the Sub-Adviser shall discharge the
foregoing responsibilities subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees
of the Trust and in compliance with such policies as the Board of Trustees of
the Trust may from time to time establish and which the Adviser shall
communicate in writing to Sub-Adviser, and in compliance with (i) the investment
objectives, policies, and limitations for the Portfolio set forth in the Trust’s
current prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information as provided to
the Sub-Adviser, and (ii) applicable laws and regulations. Under the
new sub-advisory agreement, the Sub-Adviser has no responsibilities in
connection with proxy voting for the Portfolio unless it is affirmatively
requested to make a proxy voting recommendation, in which case the Sub-Adviser’s
sole responsibility shall be to make such a recommendation.
Brokerage. The new
sub-advisory agreement does not authorize the Sub-Adviser to select the brokers
or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for
the Portfolio. The Adviser will be responsible for the selection of
broker-dealers, the negotiation of commission rates and the execution of
transactions of the Portfolio.
Sub-Advisory
Fees. Under the new sub-advisory agreement, the Sub-Adviser
receives sub-advisory fees at the annual rate of 0.35% of the average daily net
assets of the Portfolio. The new sub-advisory agreement provides that
the Sub-Adviser is responsible for its own expenses in performing its duties but
shall not be responsible for the expenses of the Adviser, the Trust or the
Portfolio.
Duration and
Termination. The new sub-advisory agreement provides that it
will continue in effect until April 30, 2010 and that it shall continue in
effect for successive annual periods, subject to annual approval as required by
the 1940 Act. The new sub-advisory agreement may be terminated at any
time, without the payment of a penalty, on not less than 30 nor more than 60
days’ prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser, by the Trust (by vote of the
Trust’s Board of Trustees), by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Portfolio, or by the Adviser. The new sub-advisory
agreement may also be terminated by the Sub-Adviser at any time, without the
payment of a penalty, on not less than 90 days’ written notice to the Adviser
and to the Trust. The new sub-advisory agreement will also terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment or in the event that the investment
advisory agreement by and between the Trust and the Adviser is
terminated.
Limitation on Liability and
Indemnification. Under the new sub-advisory
agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties (“disabling conduct”)
on the part of the Sub-Adviser (and its officers, directors, partners, managers,
members, agents, employees, controlling persons, shareholders and any other
person or entity affiliated with the Sub-Adviser), the Sub-Adviser shall not be
subject to liability to the Adviser, the Portfolio, the Trust or any of their
respective officers, directors, agents, employees, controlling persons or
shareholders for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with,
rendering services under the new sub-advisory agreement, including without
limitation, any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by
any of them in connection with the matters to which the new sub-advisory
agreement relates, except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the 1940
Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to
the receipt of compensation for services. The new sub-advisory
agreement also provides that, except for such disabling conduct, the Adviser
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser and its officers, directors,
partners, members, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons,
shareholders and any other person or entity affiliated with the Sub-Adviser from
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including
reasonable legal and other expenses) arising from the Sub-Adviser’s providing
services under the new sub-advisory agreement or the sale of securities of the
Trust.
Under the
new sub-advisory agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Adviser and its affiliates and each of its directors and officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Adviser within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other
expenses), to which the Adviser or its affiliates or such directors, officers or
controlling person may become subject under the 1933 Act, under other statutes,
at common law or otherwise, which are caused by Sub-Adviser’s disabling conduct
with respect to the performance of its obligations under the new sub-advisory
agreement; provided, however, that in no case does the Sub-Adviser's indemnity
in favor of any person apply to protect such other person against any liability
if such person’s actions or omissions constituted willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of his, her or
its duties or by reason of his, her or its reckless disregard of obligations and
duties under the new sub-advisory agreement.
BOARD
APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION OF PROPOSAL 1
In
reaching its decision to approve the new sub-advisory agreement, the Trustees,
including all of the Independent Trustees, met at a meeting held on March 18,
2009 with representatives of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. In the
course of their review, the Trustees considered their legal responsibilities
with regard to all factors deemed to be relevant to the Portfolio, including,
but not limited to the following: (1) the quality of services provided by Mr.
Brennan as lead portfolio manager to the Portfolio; (2) the performance of the
Portfolio; (3) the fact that the current lead portfolio manager will continue to
manage the Portfolio; (5) the fact that the sub-advisory fees would be paid by
the Adviser and would not affect the Portfolio’s expenses; and (6) other factors
deemed relevant. The Independent Trustees considered similar factors,
and reached the same conclusions with respect to the approval of the new
sub-advisory agreement.
The
Trustees also evaluated the new sub-advisory agreement in light of information
they had requested and received from the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser prior to
the meeting. The Trustees reviewed these materials with management of
the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and legal counsel to the Trust. The
Independent Trustees also discussed the New Agreements in an executive session,
at which no representatives of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser were
present. The Trustees considered whether the new sub-advisory
agreement would be in the best interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders
and the overall fairness of the new sub-advisory agreement. Among
other things, the Trustees reviewed information concerning: (1) the nature,
extent and quality of the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser; (2) the
Portfolio’s investment performance; (3) the cost of the services to be provided
by the Sub-Adviser; (4) the extent to which economies of scale will be realized
as the Portfolio grows and the extent to which fee levels reflect the economies
of scale, if any, for the benefit of the Portfolio’s shareholders; and (5)
ancillary benefits and other factors. In their deliberations, the
Trustees did not rank the importance of any particular piece of information or
factor considered, and it is presumed that each Trustee attributed different
weights to the various factors.
Nature, Extent and Quality of
Services Provided to the Portfolio. The Board considered the
scope and quality of services expected to be provided by the Adviser and
Sub-Adviser to the Portfolios, particularly the qualifications and capabilities
of the personnel responsible for providing services to the Portfolio. On the
basis of this evaluation, the Board concluded that the nature, quality and
extent of services to be provided by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are
satisfactory.
Investment Performance of the
Portfolio. The Trustees considered the investment experience
of the Sub-Adviser and the performance of the Portfolio. The Trustees
noted that although the Sub-Adviser was new, its managing member, Mr. Brennan,
had been the lead portfolio manager of the Portfolio since its
inception. The Board’s analysis of the Portfolio’s performance
included a discussion and review of data concerning the performance of the
Portfolio compared to a peer group. The Board noted that the
Portfolio had performed better than any other member of its peer group and had
performed in the top quartile among all natural resources funds since its
inception.
Costs of Services Provided by the
Sub-Adviser. In connection with the Trustees' consideration of
the level of the advisory fees, the Trustees considered a number of
factors. The Board's analysis of the Portfolio's advisory fees and
estimated expenses included a discussion and review of data concerning the
current fees and expense ratio of the Portfolio compared to those of a peer
group. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s advisory fee and expense
ratio were generally in line with those of its peer group. The Board
also noted the Adviser’s voluntary agreement to limit the total expenses of the
Portfolio. The Board also noted that the Sub-Adviser’s fees will be
paid entirely by the Adviser so that no additional expenses would be borne by
shareholders in connection with the engagement of the Sub-Adviser.
Economies of Scale and Fee Levels
Reflecting Those Economies. The Trustees considered the extent to which
economies of scale were expected to be realized relative to fee levels as the
Portfolio’s assets grow, and whether the advisory and sub-advisory fee levels
reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of shareholders.
Other Benefits to the
Sub-Adviser. In addition to the above factors, the
Trustees also discussed other benefits to be received by the Sub-Adviser from
its management of the Portfolio, including, without limitation, possible soft
dollar benefits and the ability to market its advisory services for similar
products in the future.
Based
on all of the foregoing, the Directors recommend that shareholders of the Fund
vote FOR the Proposal above.
OTHER
MATTERS
No business other than the matter
described above is expected to come before the Meeting, but should any other
matter requiring a vote of shareholders arise, including any question as to
adjournment of the Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote thereon in
their discretion according to their best judgment in the interests of the Fund
and its shareholders.
VOTING
INFORMATION
As a shareholder of the Portfolio, the
Fund will vote its interest in the Portfolio on the Portfolio
Proposal. The Fund is seeking voting instructions from shareholders
and will vote its Portfolio shares for or against the Portfolio Proposal
proportionately to the instructions to vote for or against such matters received
from shareholders. In the event that the Fund does not receive voting
instructions from shareholders, the portion of the Fund’s Portfolio shares
allocable to such shareholders will be voted in the same proportions as the
portion with respect to which it has received voting instructions.
The approval of Proposal 1 requires the
affirmative vote of “a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities” (as
defined in the 1940 Act), which means the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of
common stock of the Fund represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the
outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund.
The presence in person or by proxy of
the holders of one-third of the shares of the Fund issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
the Meeting. For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum,
abstentions, broker “non-votes” or withheld votes will be counted as
present. Abstentions will have the effect of a “no” vote for purposes
of obtaining the requisite approval of the proposal. Broker
“non-votes” (that is, proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that such
persons have not received instructions from the beneficial owners 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
abstentions.
In the event that a quorum is not
present at the Meeting, or in the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting
but sufficient votes to approve the Portfolio Proposal are not received, the
persons named as proxies, or their substitutes, may propose and vote for one or
more adjournments of the Meeting to permit the further solicitation of
proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of those shares affected by the adjournment that are represented at the
Meeting in person or by proxy.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Principal Holders of the
Fund’s Shares
The following table provides the name
and address of any person who owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of the Fund as of the record date (a “principal
shareholder”). A control person is one who owns beneficially either
directly or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities
of a company or who acknowledges or asserts the existence of
control.
The
Water Infrastructure Fund
(No
Load Shares)
Name
and Address
|
%
Ownership
|
Type
of Ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Advisor
Class A Shares)
Name
and Address
|
%
Ownership
|
Type
of Ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Advisor
Class C Shares)
Name
and Address
|
%
Ownership
|
Type
of Ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Institutional
Shares)
Name
and Address
|
%
Ownership
|
Type
of Ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security Ownership of
Management
As of the
Record Date, the officers and/or Directors of the Fund as a group owned less
than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Administrator and
Distributor
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“U.S.
Bancorp”), located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202,
serves as Administrator of the Fund. Kinetics Funds Distributor, Inc.
(“KFDI”), 555 Taxter Road, Suite 175, Elmsford, New York 10523, is the
distributor of the Fund’s shares. KFDI is a registered broker-dealer
and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and an affiliate
of the Adviser.
PROCEDURES
FOR SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH BOARD
The Company’s Board will receive and
review written correspondence from shareholders. Shareholders may
address correspondence to individual Directors or to the full Board at the
Company’s principal business address. The Board or an individual
Director will respond to shareholder correspondence in a manner that the Board
or Director deems appropriate given the subject matter of the particular
correspondence.
The
Company maintains copies of all correspondence addressed to individual Directors
or the Board. Copies of all such correspondence are forwarded
promptly to an individual Director or the Board, as applicable.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
The Company does not intend to hold
meetings of shareholders except to the extent that such meetings may be required
under the 1940 Act or state law. Shareholders who wish to submit
proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement for a subsequent shareholder
meeting should submit their written proposals to the Company at its principal
office within a reasonable time before such meeting. The timely
submission of a proposal does not guarantee its consideration at the
meeting.
DELIVERY
OF PROXY STATEMENT
The
Securities and Exchanged Commission has adopted rules that permit investment
companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery
requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more shareholders
sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to
those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as
“householding,” potentially means extra convenience for shareholders and cost
savings for companies. If, at any time, you no longer wish to
participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate proxy
statement, please call toll-free at 1-800-930-3828.
Dated: _________,
2009
PROXY
Water
Infrastructure Fund
(An
Investment Portfolio of Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc.)
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SPECIAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOVEMBER
16, 2009
This
Proxy is solicited on behalf of
the Board of Directors of Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (the “Company”) for
the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) and related to the proposal
with respect to the Company’s Water Infrastructure Fund (the
“Fund”). The undersigned hereby appoints Russell Grimaldi, Peggy
Petercsak and Jay Kesslen, and each of them, proxies for the undersigned, with
full power of substitution and revocation to represent the undersigned and to
vote on behalf of the undersigned all shares of the Fund which the undersigned
is entitled to vote at the Meeting to be held at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time), on
November 16, 2009 at the Company’s offices located at 555 Taxter Road, Suite
175, Elmsford, New York 10523, and any adjournment(s) thereof. In
their discretion, the proxies, and each of them, also are authorized to vote
upon any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment(s) thereof. In addition, the Water Infrastructure
Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is seeking the vote of its shareholders, principally
the Fund, regarding the approval of a new sub-advisory agreement between
Kinetics Asset Management, Inc. and Brennan Investment Partners, LLC with
respect to the Portfolio (the “Portfolio Proposal”). The Fund is
seeking voting instructions from you and will vote its Portfolio shares for or
against the Portfolio Proposal proportionately to the instructions to vote for
or against such matters received from shareholders. In the event that
the Fund does not receive voting instructions from shareholders, the portion of
the Fund’s Portfolio shares allocable to such shareholders will be voted in the
same proportions as the portion with respect to which it has received voting
instructions.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
AS INSTRUCTED. UNLESS INDICATED TO THE CONTRARY, THIS PROXY SHALL BE
DEEMED TO GRANT AUTHORITY TO VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL RELATING TO THE FUND WITH
DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) THEREOF. THE UNDERSIGNED
HEREBY REVOKES ANY PROXY PREVIOUSLY GIVEN.
VOTE
BY PHONE, INTERNET OR MAIL
PHONE: CALL TOLL-FREE
[1-800-690-6903]
INTERNET: www.proxyvote.com
MAIL:
RETURN
YOUR SIGNED AND DATED BALLOT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID
ENVELOPE