Filed
by the registrant
|
x
|
Filed
by a party other than the registrant
|
o
|
o
|
Preliminary
proxy statement
|
o
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
x
|
Definitive
proxy statement
|
o
|
Definitive
additional materials
|
o
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule
14a-12
|
x
|
No
fee required.
|
|
o
|
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
|
|
1.
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
2.
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
3.
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
|
|
4.
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|
5.
|
Total
fee paid:
|
|
o
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
|
o
|
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.
|
|
2.
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
|
3.
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
|
4.
|
Filing
Party:
|
|
5.
|
Date
Filed:
|
|
By Order of the Board of Trustees, | |||
Arthur
Ally
Chairman
|
|||
August 26, 2005 |
(a) |
Approval
of a new sub-investment advisory agreement with Rittenhouse Financial
Services, Inc. (“Rittenhouse”) for the Fund; and
|
(b) |
Such
other business as may properly come before the shareholders of the
Fund.
|
PROPOSAL
# 1.
|
APPROVAL
OF A NEW SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH RITTENHOUSE FINANCIAL
SERVICES, INC. (“RITTENHOUSE”) ON BEHALF OF THE TIMOTHY PLAN LARGE/MID-CAP
GROWTH FUND
|
Portfolio
Manager
|
Types,
Asset Amounts and No. of Accounts
Managed by Team Members |
Types,
Asset Amounts and No. of Accounts
Managed by Team Members Where Compensation is Performance Based |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Registered
Investment Companies |
Other
Pooled
Investment Vehicles |
Other
Accounts
|
Registered
Investment Companies |
Other
Pooled
Investment Vehicles |
Other
Accounts
|
|||||||||||||||||||
No.
of Accts
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
No.
of Accts.
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
No.
of Accts.
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
No.
of Accts
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
No.
of Accts.
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
No.
of Accts.
|
Total
Assets (mil)
|
|||||||||||||
Team
|
4
|
$405
|
8
|
$121
|
37,634
|
$8,890
|
0
|
NA
|
0
|
NA
|
0
|
NA
|
1. |
The
Board reviewed information relating to the nature, extent, and quality
of
the services provided by Rittenhouse. Included in the Board's review
was
information previously presented to the Board at its February 25,
2005
Meeting, on May 20, 2005, by both outside entities and Rittenhouse,
and
information current through the latest reporting quarter. The Board
noted
with approval that Rittenhouse had performed in a competent and
workmanlike fashion for the Fund since the Fund's inception. The
Board
noted with further approval that every quarterly report submitted
with
respect to Rittenhouse demonstrated no deviation from the Fund's
stated
investment strategies and objectives. The Board further noted that
Rittenhouse was a large and apparently well-managed investment firm
with
significant assets under management, significant revenues and significant
resources that could be and had been utilized for the benefit of
the Fund.
Lastly, the Board noted that Rittenhouse had devoted a number of
well-qualified and seasoned investment professionals to the team
of
persons responsible for managing the Fund's assets and that the investment
team had not experienced significant turnover during the last year.
As a
result of the information presented and the internal discussions
of the
Board, the Board concluded that Rittenhouse would likely continue
to
provide a high level of service to the Fund under the proposed New
Agreement;
|
2. |
The
Board then reviewed information relating to the investment performance
of
the Fund under Rittenhouse's stewardship. Included in the Board's
review
was information previously presented to the Board at its February
25, 2005
Meeting, on May 20, 2005, by both outside entities and Rittenhouse,
and
information current through the latest reporting quarter. Also discussed
were the quarterly reports previously submitted to the Board at each
regular meeting detailing the investment performance of the Fund.
After
full and complete review of the materials presented, the Board noted
that
Rittenhouse had been and was likely to continue to be very stringent
in
adhereing to the Fund's stated investment objectives and strategies.
The
Board noted with approval that the Fund's investment performance
since
inception had been well placed in relation to the Fund's benchmark
index
and its peers. Lastly, the Board noted with approval that Rittenhouse
had
strictly adhered to the Fund's moral screening process and had not
experienced any appreciable negative investment performance relating
to
such restrictions. As a result of the information presented and the
internal discussions of the Board, the Board concluded that Rittenhouse
would likely continue to strive to achieve high levels of relative
investment return under the proposed New Agreement;
|
3. |
The
Board next reviewed the costs of the services to be provided and
profits
to be realized by Rittenhouse from its relationship with the Fund
and
noted that the advisory fees to be paid under the proposed New Agreement
were identical to the fees formerly paid and were paid by TPL out
of the
overall investment advisory fee charged to the Fund by TPL. Since
neither
the Rittenhouse fee or the overall management fee would be changing
in any
way, the Board relied on its previous determinations that the fees
to be
charged were reasonable under the circumstances and did not represent
an
excessive fee.
|
4. |
The
Board lastly considered the extent to which economies of scale would
be
realized by Rittenhouse as the Fund grows; and whether fee levels
in the
proposed New Agreement reflected these economies of scale for the
benefit
of Fund investors and concluded that both points were moot in that
Rittenhouse was paid a portion of the overall management fee received
by
TPL, and that economies of scale should first be realized under the
TPL
Agreement. However, the Board did note with approval that the fee
schedule
under the proposed New Agreement continued to contain breakpoint
provisions as Fund assets grew.
|
Daily
Net Assets
|
Fee
Rate
|
|
For
the first $50 million
|
.35
of 1%
|
|
For
assets over $50 million
|
.25
of 1%
|
FUND
|
Class
A
|
Class
C
|
||
ANNUAL
OPERATING EXPENSES
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Management
Fee (1)
|
0.85%
|
0.85%
|
0.85%
|
0.85%
|
Service
& Distribution (12b-1) Fees
|
0.25%
|
0.25%
|
1.00%
|
1.00%
|
Other
Expenses (2)
|
0.45%
|
0.45%
|
0.45%
|
0.45%
|
Total
Annual Operating Expenses
|
||||
(before
reimbursement by Advisor)
|
1.55%
|
1.55%
|
2.30%
|
2.30%
|
Expense
Recoupment by Advisor
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
0.05%
|
Total
Annual Operating Expenses (3)
|
||||
(after
reimbursement by Advisor)
|
1.60%
|
1.60%
|
2.35%
|
2.35%
|
(1) |
Management
Fees currently include a fee equal to an annual rate of 0.85% of
the
average daily net assets of the Fund, which is paid to the Funds’ Adviser,
TPL. From that fee, TPL paid Rittenhouse a fee equal to an annual
rate of
0.35% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. Under the proposed
Rittenhouse agreement, Management Fees would continue to include
a fee
equal to an annual rate of 0.85% of the average daily net assets
of the
Fund, paid to the Funds’ Adviser, TPL. From that fee, TPL would pay
Rittenhouse a fee equal to a maximum rate of 0.35% of the average
daily
net assets of the Fund.
|
(2) |
Other
Expenses include administration fees, transfer agency fees and all
other
ordinary operating expenses of the Fund not listed above, and reflect
actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the Fund’s fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003.
|
(3) |
Timothy
Partners, Ltd. is contractually obligated to waive its fees and/or
reimburse the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain certain overall
expense caps for each Class. The expense cap of the Fund is as follows:
For Class A shares, the expense cap is 1.60%. For Class C shares
of the
Fund, the expense cap is 2.35%. TPL also operates under a written
expense
recapture agreement that allows TPL to recover in future years waivers
and/or reimbursements made in prior
years.
|
One
Year
|
Three
Years
|
Five
Years
|
Ten
Years
|
|||||
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
|
Class
A
|
$679
|
$679
|
$993
|
$993
|
$1,330
|
$1,330
|
$2,278
|
$2,278
|
Class
C
|
$338
|
$338
|
$723
|
$723
|
$1,235
|
$1,235
|
$2,639
|
$2,639
|
One
Year
|
Three
Years
|
Five
Years
|
Ten
Years
|
|||||
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
Current
|
Proposed
|
|
Class
A
|
$679
|
$679
|
$993
|
$993
|
$1,330
|
$1,330
|
$2,278
|
$2,278
|
Class
C
|
$238
|
$238
|
$723
|
$723
|
$1,235
|
$1,235
|
$2,639
|
$2,639
|
The
Fund’s Board of Trustees , including the independent Trustees, unanimously
recommends
that you vote “For” the
Proposal.
|
Class
A
|
Class
B
|
Class
C
|
Total
|
7,473,753.8
|
354,901.0
|
203,722.4
|
8,032,377.2
|
Name
& Address of Shareholder
|
Share
Class
|
No.
of Shares
|
%
of Total
Fund Shares |
National
Financial Securities Corp., for the exclusive
benefit of its clients 1555 N. River Center, Suite 210 Milwaukee,
WI 53212
|
A
|
4,312,193
|
53.7%
|
Name
|
Dollar
Range of
Shares Owned in Fund |
Dollar
Range of
Shares Owned, All Funds |
Arthur
D. Ally, Interested Trustee, President, Treasurer
|
None
|
$0
to $10,000
|
Joseph
Boatwright, Interested Trustee, Secretary
|
None
|
Over
$100,000
|
Mathew
Staver, Interested Trustee
|
None
|
Over
$100,000
|
Charles
Nelson, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
Wesley
Pennington, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
Over
$100,000
|
Scott
Preissler, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
Alan
Ross, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
Kathryn
T. Martinez, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
Richard
W. Copeland, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
William
W. Johnson, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
None
|
John
C. Mulder, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
$50,000
$100,000
|
David
J. Tolliver, Independent Trustee
|
None
|
$20,000
to $50,000
|
1. |
Appointment.
Manager, with the express consent of the Trust, hereby
appoints
Sub-Adviser to provide certain sub-investment advisory
services to the
Portfolio for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Agreement.
Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish
the services
herein set forth for the compensation herein
provided.
|
2. |
Additional
Portfolios.
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more additional
portfolios
other than the Portfolio with respect to which the Manager desires
to
engage the Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services
hereunder,
the Manager shall notify the Sub-Adviser of such desire. If the
Sub-Adviser is willing to render such services, it shall notify
the
Manager in writing whereupon such portfolio or portfolios shall
become a
Portfolio hereunder.
|
3. |
Services
to be Performed.
Subject always to the supervision of Trust’s Board of Trustees and the
Manager, Sub-Adviser will furnish an investment program in respect
of,
make investment decisions for, and place all orders for the purchase
and
sale of securities for the Portfolio, all on behalf of the Portfolio.
In
the performance of its duties, Sub-Adviser will satisfy its fiduciary
duties to the Fund (as set forth in Section 7, below), and will
monitor
the Portfolio’s investments, and will comply with the provisions of Fund’s
Declaration of Trust and By-laws, as amended from time to time,
and the
stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the
Portfolio.
Manager will provide Sub-Adviser with current copies of the Fund’s
Declaration of Trust, By-laws, prospectus and any amendments
thereto, and
any objectives, policies or limitations not appearing therein
as they may
be relevant to Sub-Adviser’s performance under this Agreement. Sub-Adviser
and Manager will each make its officers and employees available
to the
other from time to time at reasonable times to review investment
policies
of the Portfolio and to consult with each other regarding the
investment
affairs of the Portfolio. Sub-Adviser will report to the Board
of Trustees
and to Manager with respect to the implementation of such
program.
|
4. |
Expenses.
During the term of this Agreement, Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses
incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement
other than the cost of securities (including brokerage commission,
if any)
purchased for the Fund.
|
5. |
Compensation.
For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this
Agreement, Manager will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser
agrees to
accept as full compensation therefor, a portfolio management fee
based on
daily net assets at the annual rate as set forth
below:
|
Daily
Net Assets
|
Rate
of Fee
|
For
the first $50 million
|
.35
of 1%
|
For
assets over $50 million
|
.25
of 1%
|
6. |
Services
to Others.
Manager understands, and has advised Fund’s Board of Trustees, that
Sub-Adviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an investment
adviser
to fiduciary and other managed accounts, and as investment adviser
or
sub-investment adviser to other investment companies, provided that
whenever the Portfolio and one or more other investment advisory
clients
of Sub-Adviser have available funds for investment, investments suitable
and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by
Sub-Adviser to be equitable to each. Manager recognizes, and has
advised
Fund’s Board of Trustees, that in some cases this procedure may adversely
affect the size of the position that the Portfolio may obtain in
a
particular security. It is further agreed that, on occasions when
the
Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the
best
interests of the Portfolio as well as other accounts, it may, to
the
extent permitted by applicable law, but will not be obligated to,
aggregate the securities to be so sold or purchased for the Portfolio
with
those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in order to obtain
favorable execution and lower brokerage commissions. In addition,
Manager
understands, and has advised Fund’s Board of Trustees, that the persons
employed by Sub-Adviser to assist in Sub-Adviser’s duties under this
Agreement will not devote their full attention to such service and
nothing
contained in this Agreement will be deemed to limit or restrict the
right
of Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates to engage in and devote time
and
attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind
or
nature. It is also agreed that the Sub-Adviser may use any supplemental
research obtained for the benefit of the Fund in providing investment
advice to its other investment advisory accounts or for managing
its own
accounts.
|
7. |
Limitation
of Liability.
Manager will not take any action against Sub-Adviser to hold Sub-Adviser
liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss
suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of Sub- Adviser’s
duties under this Agreement, except for a loss resulting from Sub-
Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard
of its
obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
|
8. |
Term;
Termination; Amendment.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Portfolio
on the
date first written above, provided that it has been approved by a
vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio
in
accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, and shall remain
in full
force until March 31, 2006 unless sooner terminated as hereinafter
provided. This Agreement shall continue in force from year to year
thereafter with respect to the Portfolio, but only as long as such
continuance is specifically approved for the Portfolio at least annually
in the manner required by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder; provided, however, that if the continuation of this Agreement
is not approved for the Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser may continue to
serve
in such capacity for such Portfolio in the manner and to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
|
9. |
Notice.
Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such
address
as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice.
|
10. |
Limitations
on Liability.
All parties hereto are expressly put on notice of the Fund’s Agreement and
Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto, all of which
are on file
with the Secretary of Massachusetts, and the limitation of shareholder
and
trustee liability contained therein. The obligations of the Fund
entered
in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives
or agents are made not individually but only in such capacities
and are
not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders
of the
Fund individually but are binding upon only the assets and property
of the
Fund, and persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
assets of
the Fund and those assets belonging to the subject Portfolio,
for the
enforcement of any
claims.
|
11. |
Miscellaneous.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference
only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions
hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision
of this
Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute,
rule or
otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected
thereby.
This Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective
successors.
|
12. |
Applicable
Law.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable
federal
law and (except as to Section 11 hereof which shall be construed
in
accordance with the laws of Massachusetts) the laws of the State
of
Illinois.
|
The
Timothy Plan
|
Timothy
Partners, Ltd.
|
Rittenhouse
Financial Services, Inc.
|
________________
|
______________________
|
___________________________
|
Arthur
D. Ally
|
Covenant
Funds, Inc.
|
By:
________________________
|
President
|
Managing
General
|
Its:
________________________
|
Partner,
Arthur D.
|
||
Ally,
President
|
Proposal
# 1.
|
Approve
the Sub-investment Advisory Agreement with Rittenhouse Financial
Services,
Inc. for its services to the Fund
|
||
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
|
o
|
o
|
o
|