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INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
EPH
China Fund
January
27, 2011
Dear
Shareholder:
The
shareholders of the EPH China Fund (the “Fund”) series of Investment Managers
Series Trust (the “Trust”) are being asked to approve the appointment by the
Trust’s Board of Trustees of Euro Pacific Asset Management, LLC (“Euro Pacific”)
and New Sheridan Advisors, Inc. (“New Sheridan”) as the new investment advisor
and sub-advisor to the Fund, respectively.
Euro
Pacific Halter Asia Management, Inc. (“EPHAM”) served as investment advisor to
the Fund from the Fund’s commencement of operations on July 31, 2009, until
November 30, 2010, when the owners of EPHAM restructured their
interests. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the change in
control of EPHAM automatically terminated EPHAM’s investment advisory agreement
with respect to the Fund.
In
September 2010, upon the recommendation of EPHAM and after careful
consideration, the Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Euro Pacific as
the Fund’s investment advisor and New Sheridan as the Fund’s sub-advisor,
effective on the date these appointments are approved by a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund. Until such approval is obtained, the
Board of Trustees has appointed New Sheridan to serve as investment advisor to
the Fund on an interim basis.
Euro
Pacific is wholly owned by Peter Schiff, the controlling person of one of the
former owners of EPHAM.
EPHAM
changed its name to New Sheridan Advisors, Inc. on December 1, 2010, and is now
majority owned by Russell Hoss, its President and the Portfolio Manager of the
Fund. Under the proposed advisory structure, Mr. Hoss would continue
to be responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the
Fund. There will be no change in the amount of advisory fees paid by
the Fund in connection with the restructuring of the Fund’s advisory
arrangements. Euro Pacific, as the Fund’s new investment advisor, would receive
the same advisory fees from the Fund as EPHAM did under its original investment
advisory agreement with the Fund, and Euro Pacific would pay New Sheridan’s
sub-advisory fees out of Euro Pacific’s advisory fees.
The Board
of Trustees has concluded that appointing Euro Pacific as the new investment
advisor to the Fund and appointing New Sheridan as the Fund’s sub-advisor would
serve the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board
of Trustees recommends that you vote FOR these two proposals after carefully
reviewing the enclosed materials.
Your vote is
important. Upon completing your review, please take a moment
to sign and return your proxy card in the enclosed postage paid return
envelope. If we do not hear from you after a reasonable amount of
time you may receive a telephone call from us reminding you to vote your
shares. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank you for your
continued investment in the EPH China Fund.
Sincerely,
John
Zader
President
INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
EPH
CHINA FUND
NOTICE
OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held on March 14, 2011
A Special
Meeting of Shareholders of the EPH China Fund (the “Fund”) will be held on March
14, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the office of Euro Pacific Asset
Management, LLC, 1201 Dove Street, Suite 370, Newport Beach, California
92660. At the meeting, we will ask the shareholders to vote
on:
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1.
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Appointment
of Euro Pacific Asset Management, LLC (“Euro Pacific”) as investment
advisor to the Fund;
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2.
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Appointment
of New Sheridan Advisors, Inc. (“New Sheridan”) as the sub-advisor to the
Fund; and
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3.
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Any
other matters that properly come before the
meeting.
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The Board
of Trustees of Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust”) has unanimously
approved Proposals 1 and 2. Please read the accompanying Proxy
Statement for a more complete discussion of the Proposals.
Shareholders
of the Fund of record as of the close of business on January 18, 2011, are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
You are
invited to attend the Special Meeting. If you cannot do so, please
complete and return in the enclosed postage paid return envelope the
accompanying proxy, which is being solicited by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust, as promptly as possible. This is important for the purpose of
ensuring a quorum at the special meeting. You may revoke your proxy
at any time before it is exercised by signing and submitting a revised proxy, by
giving written notice of revocation to the Trust at any time before the proxy is
exercised, or by voting in person at the special meeting.
By order
of the Board of Trustees
John
Zader
President
January
27, 2011
INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
PROXY
STATEMENT
TO
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE EPH CHINA FUND
The Board
of Trustees of Investment Managers Series Trust (the “Trust”) is sending this
Proxy Statement to the shareholders of the EPH China Fund series of the Trust
(the “Fund”) in connection with the solicitation of voting instructions for use
at a special meeting of shareholders of the Fund (the “Meeting”) for the
purposes set forth below and in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders.
This
Proxy Statement is being mailed on or about January 31, 2011, to the
shareholders of the Fund of record as of January 18, 2011 (the “Record
Date”). As of the Record Date, 6,184,159 shares of the Fund were
issued and outstanding. Information on shareholders who owned
beneficially more than 5% of the shares of the Fund as of the Record Date is set
forth in Appendix A. To the knowledge of the Trust, the executive
officers and trustees of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund and of the Trust as of the Record
Date.
INTRODUCTION
Euro
Pacific Halter Asia Management, Inc. (“EPHAM”) served as investment advisor to
the Fund from the commencement of the Fund’s operations on July 31, 2009, until
November 30, 2010. During that period, the Fund did not have a
sub-advisor. Prior to a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trust
on September 14, 2010, Russell Hoss, the President of EPHAM and the portfolio
manager of the Fund, and other members of EPHAM’s senior management informed the
Board that Mr. Hoss intended to acquire all of the ownership interests of EPHAM,
and in that connection EPHAM’s management was proposing a restructuring of the
Fund’s investment advisory arrangements. At that time, EPHAM was
owned 40% by Euro Pacific Capital, Inc., 40% by Halter Financial Investments,
L.P., and 20% by Mr. Hoss. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the “1940 Act”), the proposed change of control of EPHAM would result in
automatic termination of EPHAM’s investment advisory agreement with respect to
the Fund.
At the
September 14, 2010, meeting, upon the recommendation of EPHAM and after careful
consideration, the Board of Trustees of the Trust approved the appointment of
Euro Pacific Asset Management, LLC (“Euro Pacific”) as the investment advisor to
the Fund, and of the newly restructured EPHAM, which later changed its name to
New Sheridan Advisors, Inc. (“New Sheridan”), as the sub-advisor to the Fund,
effective on the date such appointments are approved by a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund. Euro Pacific is owned by Peter
Schiff, the controlling person of Euro Pacific Capital, Inc., and currently
serves as investment advisor to three other funds in the Trust.
The
proposed change in control of EPHAM was effective on November 30,
2010. Until shareholder approval of the proposed new agreements is
obtained, the Board of Trustees has appointed New Sheridan to serve as
investment advisor to the Fund on an interim basis through April 30,
2011.
If the
Board’s appointments are approved by a majority of the shareholders of the Fund,
the Trust will enter into a new investment advisory agreement with Euro Pacific
with respect to the Fund (the “Proposed Advisory Agreement”), which would have
substantially the same terms as the previous investment advisory agreement
between the Trust and EPHAM with respect to the Fund, and Euro Pacific would
enter into a new sub-advisory agreement with New Sheridan with respect to the
Fund (the “Proposed Sub-advisory Agreement” and together with the Proposed
Advisory Agreement, the “Proposed Agreements”). The Board of Trustees
has determined that it is appropriate and in the best interest of the Fund
to approve the Proposed Agreements. The Proposed Agreements are being
submitted for shareholder approval, which is required under the 1940 Act for the
Proposed Agreements to be effective.
The
proposed changes do not affect the Fund’s total advisory fees or its investment
objectives, policies or restrictions, and shareholders are not being asked to
approve any changes to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies or
restrictions at this time.
Previous
and Current Investment Advisory Agreements
EPHAM
previously served as investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement that was approved by the Board on June 24, 2009, and by the
initial shareholder of the Fund on July 31, 2009. Pursuant to the
agreement, the Fund was obligated to pay EPHAM a management fee equal to 1.15%
of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to a contractual agreement by
EPHAM, effective until October 31, 2011, to waive its fees or absorb expenses of
the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses did not exceed
1.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund. During the Fund’s
fiscal period ended July 30, 2010, the Fund paid EPHAM $458,470 in investment
advisory fees.
Under the
1940 Act, the change of control of EPHAM on November 30, 2010, resulted in
automatic termination of EPHAM’s investment advisory agreement with the
Fund. At its meeting on September 14, 2010, the Board appointed EPHAM
(which changed its name to New Sheridan) to serve as investment advisor to the
Fund on an interim basis after the change of control, until shareholder approval
of the Proposed Agreements could be obtained. The interim investment
advisory agreement with New Sheridan has substantially the same terms as the
previous agreement with EPHAM, except that, as required under the 1940 Act, the
investment advisory fees earned by New Sheridan under the agreement are being
held in escrow until shareholder approval of the Proposed Agreements is
obtained, and the interim agreement will terminate on April 30,
2011. If the Proposed Agreements are approved by the shareholders of
the Fund, the escrowed fees will be paid to New Sheridan.
PROPOSAL
1: APPROVAL OF PROPOSED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
On
September 14, 2010, the Board of Trustees approved the Proposed Advisory
Agreement with Euro Pacific as investment advisor to the EPH China
Fund. None of the Trustees are “interested persons” of Euro Pacific,
as defined in the 1940 Act. The Board, including the Trustees who are
not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the
“Independent Trustees”), voted unanimously to approve the Proposed Advisory
Agreement with Euro Pacific and to recommend approval of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement to the Fund’s shareholders.
Consideration
of Proposed Advisory Agreement
The Board
considered the Proposed Advisory Agreement at its meeting held on September 14,
2010. At that meeting, the Board considered a variety of factors and
reviewed a significant amount of information, including information received at
prior meetings of the Board and its Audit Committee. The Board also evaluated
and considered, among other things, written information provided in advance of
the meeting by Euro Pacific as well as answers to questions posed by the Board
to representatives of Euro Pacific present at the meeting.
The Board
did not identify any particular information that was all-important or
controlling. The approval determination was made on the basis of each
Trustee’s business judgment after considering all of the factors taken as a
whole. Below is a discussion of the information considered by the Board,
as well as the Board’s conclusion with respect to the Proposed Advisory
Agreement.
The Board
noted that, at the time of the meeting, Euro Pacific provided investment
advisory services to one other fund in the Trust and that appointing Euro
Pacific as the Fund’s advisor would provide the Fund with access to additional
resources, including research by Euro Pacific. In addition, the Board
noted that if approved by the Fund’s shareholders, Euro Pacific would retain the
Fund’s current advisor as the Fund’s sub-advisor, which would continue to manage
the Fund’s day-to-day portfolio management and compliance operations. The Board
considered that as investment advisor, Euro Pacific would supervise the
sub-advisor and provide operations, compliance and administrative support to the
sub-advisor and the Fund. The Board also noted that the terms of the
Proposed Advisory Agreement were substantially the same as the Fund’s previous
advisory agreement with EPHAM.
At the
September 2010 meeting, the Board considered the nature, extent and quality of
the services to be provided by Euro Pacific and the expected benefits to the
Fund and its shareholders. The Board considered a variety of matters discussed
at the September meeting and at prior meetings, including the background,
education and experience of Euro Pacific’s portfolio management and operational
personnel; Euro Pacific’s overall financial strength and stability; its
regulatory compliance systems and procedures; its resources and related efforts
to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Fund; the overall
general quality and depth of Euro Pacific’s organization and the resources and
services it would provide to the Fund. The Board noted its
familiarity with Euro Pacific, and that it had previously reviewed information
regarding Euro Pacific’s investment philosophies and processes as well as its
brokerage, trading and soft dollar practices. The Board also noted
that Euro Pacific manages another fund but not using substantially similar
strategies to those of the Fund; however performance information on the other
strategy had been provided. The Board determined that the nature,
extent and quality of the services to be provided by Euro Pacific were
satisfactory.
The Board
also reviewed information regarding the advisory fees proposed to be charged
under the Proposed Advisory Agreement, noting that the fees would be the same as
the fees previously paid to EPHAM as the Fund’s advisor. The Board
also reviewed the Fund’s advisory fee and total expense information, as compared
to those of a peer group of mutual funds compiled by the Fund’s co-administrator
using funds in the Morningstar category “Pacific/Asia Ex-Japan Stock” with asset
sizes similar to the Fund. The Board observed that the Fund’s
advisory fees and the total expenses were below the averages of the Fund’s peer
group of funds.
The Board
discussed with Euro Pacific’s representatives information about Euro Pacific’s
expected revenues with respect to the Fund. Based on the information provided,
the Board determined that the estimated profitability of the Proposed Advisory
Agreement to Euro Pacific was reasonable in light of the nature, extent and
quality of services to be provided to the Fund.
The Board
noted that currently, the Fund’s asset levels were likely too low to achieve
significant economies of scale. As a result, the Board concluded that the matter
of such economies, and the extent to which the Fund’s fee levels reflect those
economies for the benefit of Fund investors, would be reviewed in the future as
Fund assets grow.
Conclusion
Based on
its review, including its consideration of the fact that Euro Pacific’s
compensation under the Proposed Advisory Agreement is the same as the
compensation previously paid to EPHAM as the Fund’s investment advisor, the
Board concluded that the Proposed Advisory Agreement provides for fair and
equitable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services to be
provided by Euro Pacific to the Fund and its shareholders, and that approval of
the Proposed Agreement was in the best interest of the Fund and its
shareholders.
Information
Regarding Euro Pacific
Euro
Pacific’s principal offices are located at 1201 Dove Street, Suite 370, Newport
Beach, California 92660. Euro Pacific is wholly owned by Peter
Schiff. Euro Pacific has been providing investment management
services to individual and institutional clients since 2010 and as of December
31, 2010, managed assets of approximately $303.4 million.
The names
and principal occupations of each principal executive officer and director of
Euro Pacific, all located at 1201 Dove Street, Suite 370, Newport Beach,
California 92660, are listed below:
Name
|
|
Principal Occupation/Title
|
James
Nelson
|
|
Portfolio
Manager/Managing Member
|
Peter
Schiff
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer & Chief Strategist, Euro Pacific Capital,
Inc./Member
|
Euro
Pacific does not serve as advisor or sub-advisor to any other mutual funds with
the same investment objective as the Fund.
Terms
of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
The terms
of the Proposed Advisory Agreement are the same as those of the Fund’s previous
investment advisory agreement with EPHAM in all material respects.
Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, Euro Pacific would be
responsible for, among other things, supervising the investment program of the
Fund and the composition of its investment portfolio, and arranging for the
purchase and sale of securities and other assets held in the Fund’s portfolio.
The Proposed Advisory Agreement provides that, subject to the necessary
approvals required under the 1940 Act, Euro Pacific may delegate to one or more
sub-advisors, at its own cost and expense, its responsibility to manage the
investments of the Fund. The Proposed Advisory Agreement also
provides that no such delegation will relieve Euro Pacific from its duties and
obligations to manage and supervise management of the Fund’s assets pursuant to
the Agreement. Euro Pacific would not be liable, under the terms of
the Proposed Advisory Agreement, for any error of judgment or mistake of law or
for any loss suffered by Euro Pacific or the Fund in connection with the
Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect
to the receipt of compensation for services or resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties
under the Agreement.
For the
services provided under the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the Fund would agree to
pay Euro Pacific a management fee equal to 1.15% of the Fund’s average daily net
assets – the same fee the Fund paid to EPHAM under the previous investment
advisory agreement.
If
approved by the shareholders of the Fund, the Proposed Advisory Agreement would
continue in force with respect to the Fund for a period of two years after the
effective date of the Agreement (which will be no earlier than the date such
shareholder approval is obtained), unless sooner terminated as provided in the
Agreement. The Proposed Advisory Agreement would continue in force
from year to year thereafter with respect to the Fund so long as it is
specifically approved for the Fund at least annually in the manner required by
the 1940 Act.
The
Proposed Advisory Agreement would automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Proposed Advisory
Agreement could be terminated by the Trust at any time without the payment of
any penalty, upon giving Euro Pacific 60 days’ notice, provided that such
termination is directed by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority
of the shares of the Fund. The Proposed Advisory Agreement could also
be terminated by Euro Pacific on 60 days’ written notice.
PROPOSAL
2: APPROVAL OF PROPOSED SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
At its
meeting held on September 14, 2010, the Board of Trustees considered the
proposed appointment of New Sheridan (formerly EPHAM) as sub-advisor to the
Fund. The Board, including the Independent Trustees, voted unanimously to
approve the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement between Euro Pacific and New
Sheridan and to recommend approval of the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement to the
shareholders of the Fund.
Consideration
of Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Board
considered the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement at its meeting held on September
14, 2010. At that meeting, the Board considered a variety of factors and
reviewed a significant amount of information, including information received at
prior meetings of the Board and its Audit Committee. The Board also evaluated
and considered, among other things, written information provided in advance of
the meeting by EPHAM as well as answers to questions posed by the Board to a
representative of EPHAM present at the meeting.
The Board
did not identify any particular information that was all-important or
controlling. The approval determination was made on the basis of each
Trustee’s business judgment after considering all of the factors taken as a
whole. Below is a discussion of the information considered by the Board,
as well as the Board’s conclusion with respect to the Proposed Sub-Advisory
Agreement.
At the
September 2010 meeting, the Board considered the services currently provided by
EPHAM as the Fund’s investment advisor and to be provided to the Fund as its
sub-advisor. The Board considered a variety of matters discussed at
the September meeting and at prior Board meetings, including the background,
education and experience of EPHAM’s portfolio management and operational
personnel; EPHAM’s capitalization and overall financial strength and stability;
its regulatory compliance systems and procedures; its resources and related
efforts to retain, attract and motivate capable personnel to serve the Fund; and
the overall general quality and depth of EPHAM’s organization. The
Board also reviewed information regarding EPHAM’s investment philosophies and
processes as well as its brokerage, trading and soft dollar
practices.
The Board
examined the nature, extent and quality of the services currently provided by
EPHAM to the Fund. The Board discussed the experience of EPHAM and the
firm’s expertise in the Asia markets. The Board also considered the terms
of the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement and the responsibilities of EPHAM, noting
that it would continue to be responsible for day-to-day management of the
investment operations and composition of the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with
its investment objective and strategies as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, and that Mr. Hoss would continue as the
Fund’s portfolio manager. The Board considered that Euro Pacific, in its
capacity as investment advisor of the Fund, would oversee the investment
sub-advisory services performed by EPHAM, and would be ultimately
responsible for providing portfolio management services to the
Fund. The Board also reviewed information about the performance of
the Fund since its commencement on July 31, 2009, noting that for the calendar
year to date and since-inception periods ending July 31, 2010, the Fund had
outperformed the MSCI China Index. The Board concluded that it was satisfied
with the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by EPHAM under the
current investment management agreement, and determined there was a reasonable
basis to conclude that EPHAM would provide satisfactory services to the Fund on
a sub-advisory basis.
The Board
considered EPHAM’s proposed sub-advisory fees and noted that such fees would be
paid by Euro Pacific out of its advisory fee, and not by the
Fund. The Board noted that it could not compare the proposed
sub-advisory fees to any other fees charged by EPHAM, as EPHAM currently had no
clients other than the Fund.
Conclusion
Based on
its review, the Board concluded that the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement
provides for fair and equitable compensation in light of the nature and quality
of the services to be provided by EPHAM to the Fund and its shareholders, and
that approval of the Proposed Sub-advisory Agreement was in the best interest of
the Fund and its shareholders.
Information
Regarding New Sheridan (formerly EPHAM).
New
Sheridan’s principal offices are located at 1201 Dove Street, Suite 370, Newport
Beach, California 92660. New Sheridan is 98% owned by Russell Hoss
and 2% owned by Peter Schiff. New Sheridan has been providing
investment management services to mutual funds since 2009 and as of December 31,
2010, managed assets of approximately $103.6 million.
The names
and principal occupations of each principal executive officer and director of
New Sheridan, all located at 1201 Dove Street, Suite 370, Newport Beach,
California 92660, are listed below:
Name
|
|
Principal Occupation/Title
|
Russell
Hoss
|
|
President
and Portfolio Manager
|
Gordon
McBean
|
|
Director
|
New
Sheridan does not serve as advisor or sub-advisor to any other mutual funds with
the same investment objective as the Fund.
Terms
of the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement
The
Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement differs from the current investment advisory
agreement in that Euro Pacific, and not New Sheridan, would be ultimately
responsible for overall management of the Fund. Pursuant to the Proposed
Sub-Advisory Agreement, however, Euro Pacific would delegate to New Sheridan
responsibility to make decisions with respect to all purchases and sales of
securities and other investment assets in the Fund’s portfolio. Under the
Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement, New Sheridan would provide Euro Pacific
and the officers and Trustees of the Trust such reports and
information regarding the Fund as they may reasonably request, or as New
Sheridan may believe appropriate. New Sheridan would not be liable to
Euro Pacific or the Fund, under the terms of the Proposed Sub-Advisory
Agreement, for any mistake of judgment, except in the case of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties in the performance of New Sheridan’s duties under the
Agreement.
The fee
structure of the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement also differs from the current
investment advisory agreement in that Euro Pacific will pay New Sheridan.
Under the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement, Euro Pacific, at its own
expense, will pay New Sheridan for providing sub-advisory services to the
Fund. Pursuant to the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement, Euro Pacific would
pay New Sheridan a sub-advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s first
$150 million in average daily net assets; 0.55% of the Fund’s next $100 million
in average daily net assets; 0.45% of the Fund’s next $250 million in average
daily net assets; 0.35% of the Fund’s next $250 million in average daily net
assets; 0.30% of the Fund’s next $250 million in average daily net assets; and
0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion. The
Fund will not pay any fees directly to New Sheridan as the
sub-advisor.
If
approved by the shareholders of the Fund, the Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement
would continue in force with respect to the Fund for a period of two years after
the effective date of the Agreement (which will be no earlier than the date such
shareholder approval is obtained), unless sooner terminated as provided in the
Agreement. The Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement would continue in force from year
to year thereafter with respect to the Fund so long as it is specifically
approved for the Fund at least annually in the manner required by the 1940
Act.
The
Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement would automatically terminate in the event of
its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act), or upon termination of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement. The Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement could be
terminated by the Trust at any time without the payment of any penalty, upon
giving New Sheridan 60 days’ notice, provided that such termination is directed
by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
Fund. The Proposed Sub-Advisory Agreement could also be terminated by
either Euro Pacific or New Sheridan on 60 days’ written
notice.
Required
Vote
Approval
of each Proposal requires the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund” as defined in the 1940 Act. This means the
lesser of (1) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at the meeting if
the owners of more than 50% of the Fund’s shares then outstanding are present in
person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund
entitled to vote at the meeting. If the proposals are not approved,
the Board of Trustees will take appropriate action to ensure continuity of
management of the Fund after reviewing the available alternatives, which may
include appointing another investment advisor or liquidating the
Fund.
THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND APPROVE 1) THE
PROPOSED ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TRUST AND EURO PACIFIC AND 2) THE
PROPOSED SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN EURO PACIFIC AND NEW
SHERIDAN.
VOTING
PROCEDURES
How
to Vote
This
proxy is being solicited by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. You
can vote by mail or in person at the Meeting.
To vote
by mail, sign and send us the enclosed Proxy voting card in the postage paid
return envelope provided. If you vote by Proxy, you can revoke your
Proxy by notifying the Secretary of the Trust in writing, or by returning a
Proxy with a later date. You also can revoke a Proxy by voting in
person at the Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting and
vote in person, please return the enclosed Proxy card. This will help
us ensure that an adequate number of shares are present at the
Meeting.
Proxy
Solicitation
Euro
Pacific will bear the expenses incurred in connection with preparing this Proxy
Statement. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail,
officers of the Fund and officers and employees of Euro Pacific and New
Sheridan, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies in person or by
telephone.
Quorum
and Voting Requirements
The
presence in person or by proxy of one third of the outstanding shares of the
Fund entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for the Meeting. If a
quorum is not present, sufficient votes are not received by the date of the
Meeting, or the holders of shares present in person or by proxy determine to
adjourn the Meeting for any other reason, a person named as proxy may propose
one or more adjournments from time to time to permit further solicitation of
proxies. The Fund will count all shares represented by proxies that
reflect abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers
or nominees as to which instructions have not been received from the beneficial
owners or the person entitled to vote, and the broker or nominee does not have
discretionary voting power on the matter) as shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A majority of
shares represented at the meeting can adjourn the meeting. The
persons named as proxies will vote in favor of adjournment those shares which
they represent if adjournment is necessary to obtain a quorum or to obtain a
favorable vote on any proposal. “Broker non-votes” and abstentions
will have the effect of votes against adjournment.
The Fund
will count the number of votes cast “for” approval of each Proposed Agreement to
determine whether sufficient affirmative votes have been
cast. Assuming the presence of a quorum, abstentions and broker
non-votes have the effect of negative votes.
Information
Regarding the Officers and Trustees of the Trust
No
officers or Trustees of the Trust are officers, employees, directors, general
partners or shareholders of Euro Pacific or New Sheridan. In
addition, since July 31, 2009, the beginning of the Fund’s last fiscal year, no
Trustee has had, directly or indirectly, a material interest, material
transaction or material proposed transaction to which Euro Pacific or New
Sheridan, any of their parents or subsidiaries, or any subsidiaries of a parent
of any such entities, was or is to be a party.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
No other
matters are expected to be presented at the Meeting other than the
Proposals. If any other matter properly comes before the Meeting, the
shares represented by proxies will be voted with respect thereto in the
discretion of the person or persons voting the proxies.
It is
anticipated that, following the Meeting, the Fund will not hold any meetings of
shareholders except as required by Federal law or Delaware state law.
Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in a proxy statement for
a subsequent shareholder meeting should send proposals to the Secretary of the
Trust, care of Mutual Fund Administration Corporation, 2220 E. Route 66, Suite
226, Glendora, California 91740.
The
principal executive offices of the Trust are located at 803 West Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233. Mutual Fund Administration
Corporation, 2220 E. Route 66, Suite 226, Glendora, California 91740 serves as
the Trust’s co-administrator, and UMB Fund Services, Inc., 803 West Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, serves as the Trust’s other
co-administrator, transfer agent, and fund accountant. The Trust’s
principal underwriter is Grand Distribution Services, LLC, 803 West Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233. UMB Bank National Association,
928 Grand Blvd, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, serves as the custodian
for the portfolio securities, cash and other assets of the
Trust. Counsel to the Trust and the Independent Trustees is Bingham McCutchen LLP,
355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400, Los Angeles, California 90071.
The
Trust will furnish, without charge, a copy of the most recent annual report and
semi-annual report to shareholders of the EPH China Fund upon request. Requests
for such reports should be directed to Euro Pacific Funds, c/o UMB Fund
Services, Inc., 803 West Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233-2301, or by
calling 1-888-949-9940.
APPENDIX
A
Shareholders
Owning Beneficially or of Record More than 5%
of
the EPH China Fund
Shareholder Name and Address
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Number of Shares Owned
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Percentage of Shares Owned
as of January 18, 2011
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KLT
Investments LLC
534
Ponte Vedra
Ponte
Vedra, Florida 32082
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510,569
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8.26%
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To
vote by Internet
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PROXY
TABULATOR
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P.O.
BOX 9112
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1)
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Read
the Combined Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below
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FARMINGDALE,
NY 11735
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at
hand. |
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2)
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Go to website
www.proxyvote.com.
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3)
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Follow
the instructions provided on the website.
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To
vote by Telephone
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1)
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Read
the Combined Proxy Statement and have the proxy
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card
below at hand.
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2)
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Call 1-800-690-6903.
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3)
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Follow
the instructions.
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To
vote by Mail
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1)
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Read
the Combined Proxy Statement.
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2)
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Check
the appropriate boxes on the proxy card below.
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3)
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Sign
and date the proxy card.
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4)
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Return
the proxy card in the envelope
provided.
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TO VOTE,
MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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<XXXXX>1
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KEEP
THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
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THIS
PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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DETACH
AND RETURN THIS PORTION
ONLY
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INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES TRUST - EPH CHINA FUND
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This
proxy will be voted as specified below with respect to the action to be
taken on each of the following proposals. In the absence of any
specification, this proxy will be voted in favor of each proposal. The
Board of Trustees recommends that you vote FOR each of the proposals
below.
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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1.
To appoint Euro Pacific Asset Management, LLC as investment advisor to the
Fund.
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¨
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¨
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¨
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2.
To appoint New Sheridan Advisors, Inc. as sub-advisor to the
Fund.
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¨
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¨
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¨
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3.
In their discretion, on any other matter that may properly come before the
meeting.
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Note:
Please sign exactly as name(s) appear(s) hereon. Corporate or partnership
proxies should be signed in full corporate or partnership name by an
authorized officer. Each joint owner should sign personally. When signing
as a fiduciary, please give full title as such.
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Signature
[PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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Signature
(Joint Owners)
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Date
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<XXXXX>2
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PROXY
CARD
INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
EPH
CHINA FUND
This
proxy is solicited by the Board of Trustees of Investment Managers Series
Trust (the “Trust”) for use at a special meeting of shareholders of the
EPH China Fund series of the Trust (the “Fund”) to be held on March 14,
2011.
The
undersigned hereby appoints Russell Hoss and James Nelson, and each of
them, as attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with the power of
substitution and resubstitution, to attend, and to vote all shares of the
EPH China Fund, at the above-referenced meeting of shareholders and any
adjournment or adjournments thereof, and to vote all shares of the Fund
that the undersigned may be entitled to vote with respect to the proposals
in accordance with the specifications indicated, if any, and with all the
powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, hereby
revoking any prior proxy to vote at such meeting. The undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt of the notice of special meeting of shareholders of
the Fund and the proxy statement dated January 27, 2011.
PLEASE
SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
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