APPENDIX A - FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

APPENDIX A - FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this __ day of ___ 2020, by and among Exchange Listed Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, with its principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, on behalf of its series Knowledge Leaders Developed World ETF (the “Acquired Fund”), Investment Managers Series Trust (the “IMST Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, with its principal place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, on behalf of its series Knowledge Leaders Developed World ETF (the “Acquiring Fund” and, together with the Acquired Fund, the “Funds”) and, solely with respect to Article IX, Knowledge Leaders Capital, LLC, the investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund (“KL”), with its principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, UMB Fund Services, Inc. (“UMBFS”), with its principal place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and Mutual Fund Administration, LLC (“MFAC”), with its principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.

 

WHEREAS, it is intended that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement constitute a “reorganization” as defined in Section 368(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury regulations thereunder. The reorganization will consist of: (i) the transfer of all of the property, assets, and goodwill of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for (A) shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share, of shares of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), and (B) the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all liabilities of the Acquired Fund; and (ii) the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Reorganization”). The parties hereby adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties with respect to each Fund shall be the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties of that Fund only, and in no event shall any other series of the Trust or the IMST Trust or the assets of any other series of the Trust or the IMST Trust be held liable with respect to the breach or other default by an obligated Fund of its obligations, agreements, representations and warranties as set forth herein.

 

WHEREAS, the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund are separate series of the Trust and the IMST Trust, respectively, and the Trust and the IMST Trust are open-end, registered management investment companies, and the Acquired Fund owns securities and other investments that are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest;

 

WHEREAS, each Fund is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial interest;

 

WHEREAS, the Acquired Fund currently offers and has outstanding one class of shares (“Acquired Fund Shares”), and, upon the Closing, the Acquiring Fund will offer one class of shares; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the Reorganization, with respect to the Acquired Fund, is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees of the IMST Trust have determined that the Reorganization, with respect to the Acquiring Fund, is in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and, there being no existing shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, that the Reorganization will not result in dilution of the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders’ interests; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, covenants, and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I

TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR ACQUIRING FUND
SHARES AND THE ASSUMPTION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND’S LIABILITIES AND TERMINATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND

 

1.1 THE EXCHANGE. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund agrees to sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver all of its assets, as set forth in paragraph 1.2, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, except those liens and encumbrances as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice, to the Acquiring Fund. In exchange, the Acquiring Fund agrees (a) to issue and deliver to the Acquired Fund the number of Acquiring Fund Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any) having an aggregate net asset value (“NAV”) equal to the aggregate NAV of the Acquired Fund attributable to the Acquired Fund Shares, as determined in the manner set forth in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2; and (b) to assume the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such transactions shall take place on the date of the Closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 (the “Closing Date”).

 

1.2 ASSETS TO BE ACQUIRED. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be sold, assigned, transferred and delivered to and acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all assets and property of every kind and nature, including, without limitation, all cash, securities, goodwill, commodities, interests in futures and dividends or interest receivables, receivables for shares sold and other rights that are owned by the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date, and any prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date (the “Acquired Assets”). For the sake of clarity, the Acquired Assets include, but are not limited to, all rights (including rights to indemnification and contribution) and claims (including, but not limited to, claims for breach of contract, violation of standards of care and claims in connection with past or present portfolio holdings, whether in the form of class action claims, opt-out or other direct litigation claims or regulator or government established investor recovery fund claims and any and all resulting recoveries, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims whatsoever, except those liens and encumbrances as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice) of the Acquired Fund against any party with whom the Acquired Fund has contracted for any actions or omissions up to the Closing Date.

 

The Acquired Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with its most recent audited financial statements, which contain a list of all of the Acquired Fund’s assets as of the date of such statements. The Acquired Fund hereby represents that as of the date of the execution of this Agreement, there have been no changes in its financial position as reflected in such financial statements other than those occurring in the ordinary course of business in connection with the purchase and sale of securities and the payment of normal operating expenses and the payment of dividends, capital gains distributions and redemption proceeds to shareholders. The Acquired Fund reserves the right to sell any of such securities or other investments.

 

1.3 LIABILITIES TO BE ASSUMED. The Acquired Fund will endeavor, consistent with its obligation to continue to pursue its investment objective and employ its investment strategies in accordance with the terms of its Prospectus, in good faith to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations to the extent practicable prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall assume all liabilities of the Acquired Fund not discharged prior to the Closing Date, whether known or unknown, contingent, accrued or otherwise (excluding expenses relating to the Reorganization borne by KL, UMBFS and MFAC pursuant to Article IX), and investment contracts entered into in accordance with the terms of its Prospectus, including options, futures, forward contracts, and swap agreements (the “Assumed Liabilities”).

 

1.4 LIQUIDATION AND DISTRIBUTION. On or as soon after the Closing Date as is practicable (the “Liquidation Date”): (a) the Acquired Fund will distribute, in liquidation, all of the Acquiring Fund Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any) received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1, pro rata to its shareholders of record, determined as of the close of business on the Valuation Date (as defined in paragraph 2.1) (the “Acquired Fund Shareholders”). Each Acquired Fund Shareholder will receive the number of Acquiring Fund Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any) that has an aggregate NAV equal to the aggregate NAV of the Acquired Fund Shares held of record by such Acquired Fund Shareholder on the Closing Date. Such liquidation and distribution will be accomplished by the transfer of Acquiring Fund Shares credited to the account of the Acquired Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, representing the respective pro rata number of Acquiring Fund Shares due such shareholders. All issued and outstanding Acquired Fund Shares will simultaneously be canceled on the books of the Acquired Fund, and the Acquired Fund will thereupon proceed to terminate as set forth in paragraph 1.8 below. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange. Each Acquired Fund Shareholder shall have the right to receive any unpaid dividends or other distributions that were declared by the Acquired Fund before the Effective Time (as defined in paragraph 3.1) with respect to Acquired Fund Shares that are held of record by the Acquired Fund Shareholder at the Effective Time on the Closing Date.

 

 

1.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, fractional Acquiring Fund Shares will not be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders. If the calculation of the pro rata distribution amount of Acquiring Fund Shares to any Acquired Fund Shareholder results in fractional shares, such Acquired Fund Shareholder will receive an amount in cash equal to the NAV of the fractional Acquiring Fund Shares at the Closing.

 

1.6 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent.

 

1.7 TRANSFER TAXES. Any transfer taxes payable upon the transfer of Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered holder of the Acquired Fund Shares on the books of the Acquired Fund as of that time shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be transferred.

 

1.8 TERMINATION. As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall make all filings and take all other steps as shall be necessary and proper to effect its complete dissolution under Delaware law. After the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall not conduct any business except in connection with its dissolution.

 

ARTICLE II

VALUATION

 

2.1 VALUATION OF ASSETS. The value of the Acquired Assets shall be the value of such Acquired Assets computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Date”). The NAV of each Acquiring Fund Share shall be computed by ▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. (“BBH”), in its capacity as the Acquiring Fund’s accounting agent, in the manner set forth in the IMST Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, or By-Laws, and the Acquiring Fund’s then-current prospectus and statement of additional information. The NAV of each Acquired Fund Share shall be computed by The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), in its capacity as the Acquired Fund’s accounting agent, in the manner set forth in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust, and the Acquired Fund’s then-current prospectus and statement of additional information. BNY shall confirm the NAV per share of Acquired Fund Shares, which shall be subject to adjustment by an amount, if any, agreed to by BBH and BNY.

 

2.2 VALUATION OF SHARES AND CALCULATION OF NUMBERS OF SHARES. The NAV per share of Acquiring Fund Shares and the NAV per share of Acquired Fund Shares shall, in each case, be computed as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE on the Valuation Date. The number of Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued (and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any) in the Reorganization shall be determined by BBH by dividing the NAV of the Acquired Fund Shares, as determined in accordance with paragraph 2.1 and 2.2, by the NAV of one Acquiring Fund Share, as determined in accordance with Paragraph 2.1 hereof.

 

 

2.3 DETERMINATION OF VALUE. All computations of value shall be made by BNY, in accordance with its regular practice in pricing the shares and assets of the Acquired Fund, and confirmed by BBH, and shall be subject to adjustment by an amount, if any, agreed to by BBH and BNY.

 

ARTICLE III

CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE

 

3.1 CLOSING DATE. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Articles VI, VII and VIII of this Agreement, the closing (the “Closing”) will be on the Closing Date, which will be on or about [ ], 2020, or such other date as the parties may agree to in writing. All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place immediately prior to the Closing Date unless otherwise provided. The Closing shall be held as of the close of business (the “Effective Time”) at the offices of [ETC, at ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇], or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree. All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously immediately at the Effective Time.

 

3.2 CUSTODIAN’S CERTIFICATE. The portfolio securities and other investments of the Acquired Fund shall be made available by the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund’s custodian for examination no later than five business days preceding the Closing Date. The Bank of New York Mellon, as custodian for the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that: (a) the Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities, cash, and any other assets shall have been delivered in proper form to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date; and (b) all necessary Taxes (as defined below), including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, shall have been paid, or provision for payment shall have been made, in conjunction with the delivery of portfolio securities by the Acquired Fund.

 

3.3 EFFECT OF SUSPENSION IN TRADING. In the event that on the Valuation Date, either: (a) the NYSE or another primary exchange on which the portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund are purchased or sold, shall be closed to trading or trading on such exchange shall be restricted; or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on the NYSE or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable as mutually determined by the parties, the Valuation Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading is fully resumed and reporting is restored.

 

3.4 TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE. The Acquired Fund shall cause The Bank of New York Mellon, as transfer agent for the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date, to deliver at the Closing to the Secretary of the IMST Trust a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of Acquired Fund Shareholders, and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver or cause BBH its transfer agent, to issue and deliver to the Secretary of the Trust a confirmation evidencing Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date or provide evidence satisfactory to the Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, receipts and other documents, if any, as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request. The cash to be transferred by the Acquiring Fund in lieu of fractional shares, if any, shall be delivered on the Closing Date.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

4.1 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND. The Trust and the Acquired Fund represent and warrant to the IMST Trust and the Acquiring Fund as follows:

 

(a) The Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Trust, a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust has the power to own all of its properties and assets and, subject to approval by the Acquired Fund Shareholders, to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b) The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company, and its registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), is in full force and effect.

 

(c) The current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Acquired Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(d) The Acquired Fund is not currently engaged in, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement (subject to shareholder approval) will not result in, the violation of any material provision of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust or of any material agreement, exemptive order, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(e) The Acquired Fund Shares are the only outstanding equity interests in the Acquired Fund.

 

(f) The Acquired Fund has no material contracts or other commitments (other than this Agreement and agreements for the purchase and sale of securities or other permitted investments) that if terminated will result in material liability to the Acquired Fund.

 

(g) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding, or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquired Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business, or the ability of the Acquired Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects the Acquired Fund’s business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(h) The financial statements of the Acquired Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019 are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquired Fund as of April 30, 2019, in all material respects as of that date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of that date not disclosed in such statements.

 

(i) Since April 30, 2019, there have been no material adverse changes in the Acquired Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business (other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business), or any incurrence by the Acquired Fund of material indebtedness, except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (i), distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, changes in portfolio securities, changes in market value of portfolio securities, or net redemptions shall not constitute a material adverse change.

 

 

(j) All Tax (as defined below) returns and reports (including, but not limited to, information returns), that are required to have been filed by the Acquired Fund have been duly and timely filed. All such returns and reports are true, correct and complete, and accurately state the amount of Tax (if any) owed for the periods covered by the returns, or, in the case of information returns, the amount and character of income or other information required to be reported by the Acquired Fund. All Taxes due or properly shown to be due on such returns and reports have been paid, or provision has been made and properly accounted therefor. To the knowledge of the Trust, no return of the Acquired Fund is currently being audited by any federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority. To the knowledge of the Trust, there are no deficiency assessments (or deficiency assessments proposed in writing) with respect to any Taxes of the Acquired Fund. As used in this Agreement, “Tax” or “Taxes” means all federal, state, local and foreign (whether imposed by a country or political subdivision or authority thereunder) income, gross receipts, excise, sales, use, value added, employment, withholding, franchise, profits, property, ad valorem or other taxes, stamp taxes and duties, fees, assessments or charges, whether payable directly or by withholding, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority (foreign or domestic) with respect thereto, including any obligations to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to such a liability of any other person. There are no levies, liens or encumbrances relating to Taxes existing, threatened or pending with respect to the assets of the Acquired Fund (other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable).

 

(k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquired Fund and will have been issued in compliance with all applicable registration or qualification requirements of federal and state securities laws. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will, at the time of the Closing Date, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the Acquired Fund’s transfer agent as provided in paragraph 3.4. The Acquired Fund has no outstanding options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquired Fund shares, and has no outstanding securities convertible into any Acquired Fund shares.

 

(l) At the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will have good and valid title to the Acquired Assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.2, and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver such Acquired Assets hereunder. Upon delivery and payment for such Acquired Assets, the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and valid title, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer of such assets, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act, other than as disclosed to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund.

 

(m) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquired Fund. Subject to approval by the Acquired Fund’s shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

(n) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities laws and other laws and regulations.

 

(o) From the mailing of the N-14 Registration Statement (as defined in paragraph 5.6), through the time of the meeting of the Acquired Fund’s Shareholders and on the Closing Date, any written information furnished by the Acquired Fund with respect to the Acquired Fund for use in the N-14 Registration Statement, the N-1A Registration Statement (as defined in paragraph 4.3) or any other materials provided in connection with the Reorganization, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading.

 

 

(p) The Trust has in effect an election to treat the Acquired Fund as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) for federal income tax purposes under Part I of Chapter 1, Subchapter M of the Code. The Acquired Fund is a fund that is treated as a corporation separate from each other series of the Trust under Section 851(g) of the Code. The Acquired Fund has no earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year to which the provisions of Part I of Chapter 1, Subchapter M of the Code (or the corresponding provisions of prior law) did not apply to it. The Acquired Fund has qualified for treatment as a RIC for each taxable year since its formation (or since it was first treated as a separate corporation under Section 851(g) of the Code) that has ended prior to the Closing Date and, subject to the accuracy of the representations set forth in paragraph 4.2(m), expects to satisfy the requirements of Part I of Chapter 1, Subchapter M of the Code to maintain such qualification for the current taxable year. Subject to the accuracy of the representations set forth in paragraph 4.2(m), the Acquired Fund does not expect that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will cause it to fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC as of the Closing Date or as of the end of the taxable year that includes the Closing Date. The Acquired Fund has not at any time since its inception been liable for any income or excise tax pursuant to Sections 852 or 4982 of the Code that has not been timely paid. The Acquired Fund is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Code and all applicable Treasury regulations pertaining to the reporting of dividends and other distributions on and redemptions or sales of its shares of beneficial interest and to withholding in respect of dividends and other distributions to shareholders and redemption or sale of shares, and is not liable for any material penalties that could be imposed thereunder.

 

(q) The Acquired Fund’s investment operations from inception to the date hereof have been in compliance in all material respects with the investment policies and investment restrictions set forth in the Acquired Fund’s Prospectus, except as previously disclosed in writing to the Acquiring Fund.

 

(r) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1 will not be acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof other than to the Acquired Fund Shareholders as provided in paragraph 1.4.

 

(s) No governmental consents, approvals, authorizations or filings are required under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), the 1940 Act or Delaware law for the execution of this Agreement by the Trust, for itself and on behalf of the Acquired Fund, except for the effectiveness of the N-1A Registration Statement and the N-14 Registration Statement and such other consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as have been made or received, and such consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as may be required subsequent to the Closing Date, it being understood, however, that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein must be approved by the Acquired Fund Shareholders as described in paragraph 5.2.

 

(t) The books and records of the Acquired Fund, including FASB ASC ▇▇▇-▇▇-▇▇ (formerly FIN 48) workpapers and supporting statements, made available to the Acquiring Fund and/or its counsel are substantially true and correct and contain no material misstatements or omissions with respect to the operations of the Acquired Fund.

 

(u) The Acquired Fund would not be subject to corporate-level taxation on the sale of any assets currently held by it as a result of the application of Section 337(d) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

 

 

(v) The Acquired Fund has not waived or extended any applicable statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or collection of Taxes.

 

(w) The Acquired Fund has not received written notification from any taxing authority that asserts a position contrary to any of the above representations set forth in paragraphs (j), (p), (t), (u), and (v) of this Section 4.1.

 

4.2 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND. The IMST Trust and the Acquiring Fund represent and warrant to the Trust and the Acquired Fund as follows:

 

(a) The Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the IMST Trust, a Delaware statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The IMST Trust has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b) The IMST Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company, and its registration with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.

 

(c) The current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated or necessary to make such statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(d) The Acquiring Fund is not currently engaged in, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in, a violation of any material provision of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the IMST Trust or its By-Laws, or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(e) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to the Acquired Fund and accepted by the Acquired Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending, or to its knowledge, threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition and the conduct of its business or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and it is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(f) There shall be no issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund prior to the Closing Date other than a nominal number of shares (“Initial Shares”) issued to a seed capital investor (which shall be an affiliate of the Acquiring Fund) in order to commence operations of the Acquiring Fund. The Initial Shares have been or will be redeemed by the Acquiring Fund prior to the Closing for the price for which they were issued, and any price paid for the Initial Shares shall at all times have been held by the Acquiring Fund in a non-interest bearing account.

 

(g) All issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares will be, at the Closing Date, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund has no outstanding options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund shares, and there are no outstanding securities convertible into any Acquiring Fund shares.

 

 

(h) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

(i) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities laws and other laws and regulations.

 

(j) From the mailing of the N-14 Registration Statement through the time of the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and on the Closing Date, any written information furnished by the IMST Trust with respect to the Acquiring Fund for use in the N-14 Registration Statement, the N-1A Registration Statement or any other materials provided in connection with the Reorganization, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading.

 

(k) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, and any state blue sky or securities laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.

 

(l) No governmental consents, approvals, authorizations or filings are required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or Delaware law for the execution of this Agreement by the IMST Trust, for itself and on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, or the performance of the Agreement by the IMST Trust, for itself and on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, except for the effectiveness of the N-1A Registration Statement and the N-14 Registration Statement and such other consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as have been made or received, and except for such consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as may be required subsequent to the Closing Date.

 

(m) Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties in paragraph 4.1(p), for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date, the IMST Trust expects that the Acquiring Fund will meet the requirements of Chapter 1, Part I of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a RIC and will be eligible to, and will, compute its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code. After the Closing, the Acquiring Fund will be a fund that is treated as a separate corporation under Section 851(g) of the Code.

 

(n) The Acquiring Fund is, and will be at the time of Closing, a newly created series without assets (other than the seed capital provided in exchange for Initial Shares) and without liabilities, created for the purpose of acquiring the assets and assuming the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, and, prior to the Closing, will not carry on any business activities (other than such activities as are customary to the organization of a new series of a registered investment company prior to its commencement of investment operations). The Initial Shares have been or will be redeemed by the Acquiring Fund prior to the Effective Time for the price for which they were issued, and any price paid for the Initial Shares shall have been held by the Acquiring Fund only in a non-interest bearing account.

 

4.3 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE IMST TRUST. The IMST Trust represents and warrants that the IMST Trust has filed an initial registration statement for open-end management investment companies on Form N-1A (“N-1A Registration Statement”) for the purpose of registering the Acquiring Fund under the 1940 Act.

 

 

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 OPERATION IN ORDINARY COURSE. Each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will operate their businesses in the ordinary course between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business may include (i) customary dividends and distributions and shareholder redemptions in the case of the Acquired Fund and redemptions of the Initial Shares in the case of the Acquiring Fund, and (ii) obtaining such additional “run off” insurance coverage as the Trust’s Board may approve.

 

5.2 APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS. The Trust will call a special meeting of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein.

 

5.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. The Acquired Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund’s shares.

 

5.4 FURTHER ACTION. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will take or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any actions required to be taken after the Closing Date.

 

5.5 STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND PROFITS. As promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall furnish the Acquiring Fund, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, a statement of the earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes that will be carried over by the Acquiring Fund as a result of Section 381 of the Code, and which will be certified by the Trust’s Treasurer.

 

5.6 PREPARATION OF N-14 REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The IMST Trust will prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-14 (the “N-14 Registration Statement”) relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act. The Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring Fund with the materials and information necessary to prepare the N-14 Registration Statement.

 

5.7 INDEMNIFICATION.

 

(a) The Acquiring Fund (solely out of the Acquiring Fund’s assets and property, including any amounts paid to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to any applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquired Fund and the Acquired Fund’s Trustees and officers (collectively, “Acquired Fund Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which the Acquired Fund Indemnified Persons may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or is based on any material breach by the Acquiring Fund of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b) The Acquired Fund (solely out of the Acquired Fund’s assets and property, including any amounts paid to the Acquired Fund pursuant to any applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s Trustees and officers (collectively, “Acquiring Fund Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which the Acquiring Fund or any of the Acquiring Fund Indemnified Persons may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or is based on any material breach by the Acquired Fund of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

5.8 TAX RETURNS. The Trust covenants that by the time of the Closing, all of the Acquired Fund’s federal and other Tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed on or before the Closing (taking extensions into account) shall have been filed and all Taxes (if any) of the Acquired Fund shall have either been paid or, if not yet due, adequate liability reserves shall have been provided for the payment of such Taxes.

 

5.9 CLOSING DOCUMENTS. At the Closing, the Trust will provide the IMST Trust with the following:

 

(a) A certificate, signed by the President and the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Trust on behalf of the Acquired Fund, stating the Acquired Fund’s known assets and liabilities, together with information concerning the tax basis and holding period of the Acquired Fund in all securities or investments transferred to the Acquiring Fund.

 

(b) A copy of any Tax books and records of the Acquired Fund necessary for purposes of preparing any Tax returns, schedules, forms, statements or related documents (including but not limited to any income, excise or information returns, as well as any transfer statements (as described in Treasury regulation Section 1.6045A-1)) required by law to be filed by the Acquiring Fund after the Closing.

 

(c) A copy (which may be in electronic form) of the shareholder ledger accounts of the Acquired Fund, including, without limitation, the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each shareholder of record; the number of shares of beneficial interest held by each shareholder; the dividend reinvestment elections applicable to each shareholder; the backup withholding certifications (e.g., IRS Form W-9) or foreign person certifications (e.g., IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY), notices or records on file with the Acquired Fund with respect to each shareholder; and such information as the IMST Trust may reasonably request concerning Acquired Fund Shares or Acquired Fund Shareholders in connection with the Acquiring Fund’s cost basis reporting and related obligations under Sections 1012, 6045, 6045A, and 6045B of the Code and related Treasury regulations following the Closing for all of the Acquired Fund Shareholders (the “Acquired Fund Shareholder Documentation”), certified by the Trust’s transfer agent or its President or its Vice President to the best of their knowledge and belief.

 

(d) All FASB ASC ▇▇▇-▇▇-▇▇ (formerly, FIN 48) work papers and supporting statements pertaining to the Acquired Fund.

 

5.10 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund intend that the Reorganization will qualify as a reorganization described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code. Neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund shall take any action or cause any action to be taken (including, without limitation the filing of any Tax return) that is inconsistent with such treatment or results in the failure of such Reorganization to qualify as a reorganization described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code.

 

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND

 

The obligations of the Acquired Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by the Acquiring Fund pursuant to this Agreement on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition, subject to the following conditions:

 

 

6.1 All representations, covenants, and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of that Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund on such Closing Date a certificate executed in the Acquiring Fund’s name by the IMST Trust’s President or Vice President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request.

 

6.2 The IMST Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, shall have executed and delivered to the Trust an Assumption of Liabilities dated as of the Closing Date pursuant to which the Acquiring Fund will assume all of the Assumed Liabilities of the Acquired Fund not discharged prior to the Closing Date in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.

 

6.3 The Acquired Fund shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate from the President of the IMST Trust, dated as of the Closing Date, addressing the following points:

 

(i)The IMST Trust is a statutory trust validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and described in the registration statement on Form N-1A of the IMST Trust, and the Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the IMST Trust constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the IMST Trust.

 

(ii)The IMST Trust is registered with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act and such registration with the SEC is in full force and effect.

 

(iii)Assuming that consideration of not less than the NAV of the Acquiring Fund Shares has been paid, the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund, as provided by this Agreement, are duly authorized and upon such delivery will be legally issued and outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any preemptive rights with respect to Acquiring Fund Shares.

 

(iv)The N-14 Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the State of Delaware is required for consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, and as may be required under Delaware securities laws.

 

(v)The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not, result in a violation of the IMST Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

 

(vi)To the knowledge of the President of the IMST Trust, except as has been disclosed in writing to the Trust, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the IMST Trust or the Acquiring Fund or any of their properties or assets or any person who the IMST Trust or the Acquiring Fund may be obligated to indemnify in connection with such litigation, proceeding or investigation, and neither the IMST Trust nor the Acquiring Fund is a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

6.4 The N-1A Registration Statement filed by the IMST Trust with the SEC to register the offer of the sale of the Acquiring Fund Shares will be in effect on the Closing Date.

 

6.5 Subject to Section 6.3, as of the Closing Date with respect to the Reorganization of the Acquired Fund, there shall have been no material change in the investment objective, policies and restrictions nor any material change in the investment management fees, other fees payable for services provided to the Acquiring Fund, or fee waiver or expense reimbursement undertakings of the Acquiring Fund from those fee amounts and undertakings of the Acquiring Fund described in the N-14 Registration Statement or N-1A Registration Statement.

 

6.6 The IMST Trust Board of Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the IMST Trust as defined under the 1940 Act, has determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquiring Fund would not be diluted as a result of such transactions.

 

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND

 

The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquired Fund of all the obligations to be performed by the Acquired Fund pursuant to this Agreement, on or before the Closing Date and, in addition, shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

7.1 All representations, covenants, and warranties of the Acquired Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such Closing Date. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on such Closing Date a certificate executed in the Acquired Fund’s name by the Trust’s President or Vice President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of such Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.

 

7.2 The Trust shall have duly executed and delivered to the IMST Trust such bills of sale, assignments, certificates and other instruments of transfer as may be necessary or desirable to transfer all right, title and interest of the Acquired Fund in and to the Acquired Assets.

 

7.3 The Acquiring Fund shall have received on the Closing Date a certification from the President of the Trust, dated as of the Closing Date, addressing the following points:

 

(i)The Trust is a statutory trust validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and described in the registration statement on Form N-1A of the Trust, and the Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Trust constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

 

 

(ii)The Acquired Fund has the power to sell, assign, transfer and deliver its assets to be transferred by it under the Agreement, and, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Acquired Fund will have transferred such assets to the Acquiring Fund.

 

(iii)The execution and delivery of the Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not, result in a violation of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

 

(iv)No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Trust and the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except such as have been obtained.

 

(v)There are no legal or governmental proceedings relating to the Trust or the Acquired Fund existing on or before the date of mailing of the N-14 Registration Statement or the Closing Date required to be described in the N-14 Registration Statement which are not described as required.

 

(vi)The Trust is registered with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act and such registration with the SEC is in full force and effect.

 

(vii)To the knowledge of the President of the Trust, except as has been disclosed in writing to the IMST Trust, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Trust or the Acquired Fund or any of their properties or assets or any person who the Trust or the Acquired Fund may be obligated to indemnify in connection with such litigation, proceeding or investigation, and neither the Trust nor the Acquired Fund is a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body, which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

7.4 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund (a) a certificate, signed by the President or Vice President and the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Trust on behalf of the Acquired Fund, stating the Acquired Fund’s known assets and liabilities, together with information concerning the tax basis and holding period of the Acquired Fund in all securities or investments transferred to the Acquiring Fund; (b) the Acquired Fund Shareholder Documentation; (c) all FASB ASC ▇▇▇-▇▇-▇▇ (formerly, FIN 48) work papers; (d) copies of the Tax books and records of the Acquired Fund for purposes of preparing any Tax returns required by law to be filed after the Closing Date; and (e) a statement of earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund, as described in paragraph 5.5.

 

7.5 The Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act, has determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are in the best interests of the Acquired Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquired Fund would not be diluted as a result of such transactions.

 

ARTICLE VIII

FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE
ACQUIRING FUND AND ACQUIRED FUND

 

If any of the conditions set forth below do not exist on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, if the conditions stated in paragraphs 8.1 and 8.5 below do not exist on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not be consummated:

 

 

8.1 This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, with respect to the Acquired Fund, shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund in accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust. Certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this paragraph 8.1.

 

8.2 On the Closing Date, the SEC shall not have issued an unfavorable report under Section 25(b) of the 1940 Act, or instituted any proceeding seeking to enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under Section 25(c) of the 1940 Act. Furthermore, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.

 

8.3 All required consents of other parties and all other consents, orders, and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those of the SEC and of state blue sky securities authorities, including any necessary no-action positions and exemptive orders from such federal and state authorities) to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent, order, or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, provided that either party hereto may waive any such conditions for itself.

 

8.4 Each of the N-1A Registration Statement and the N-14 Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued. To the best knowledge of the parties to this Agreement, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.

 

8.5 The parties shall have received the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, substantially to the effect that for federal income tax purposes:

 

(a) The Reorganization will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, and each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code;

 

(b) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of the Acquired Assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares, cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, or upon the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, to the Acquired Fund Shareholders, except for (A) gain or loss that may be recognized on the transfer of “section 1256 contracts” as defined in Section 1256(b) of the Code, (B) gain that may be recognized on the transfer of stock in a “passive foreign investment company” as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code, and (C) any other gain or loss that may be required to be recognized upon the transfer of an asset regardless of whether such transfer would otherwise be a non-recognition transaction under the Code;

 

(c) The tax basis in the hands of the Acquiring Fund of each Acquired Asset transferred from the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization will be the same as the tax basis of such Acquired Asset in the hands of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the transfer thereof, increased by the amount of gain (or decreased by the amount of loss), if any, recognized by the Acquired Fund on the transfer;

 

 

(d) The holding period in the hands of the Acquiring Fund of each Acquired Asset transferred from the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization, other than assets with respect to which gain or loss is required to be recognized, will include the Acquired Fund’s holding period for such Acquired Asset (except where investment activities of the Acquiring Fund have the effect of reducing or eliminating the holding period with respect to an asset);

 

(e) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon its receipt of all the Acquired Assets solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares, cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund as part of the Reorganization;

 

(f) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund Shareholders upon the exchange of their Acquired Fund Shares for Acquiring Fund Shares as part of the Reorganization except with respect to cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any;

 

(g) The aggregate tax basis of the Acquiring Fund Shares that each Acquired Fund Shareholder receives in the Reorganization (including fractional shares, if any, to which they may be entitled but for the distribution of cash in lieu of fractional shares) will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Acquired Fund Shares exchanged therefor;

 

(h) Each Acquired Fund Shareholder’s holding period for the Acquiring Fund Shares received in the Reorganization will include the Acquired Fund Shareholder’s holding period for the Acquired Fund Shares exchanged therefor, provided that the Acquired Fund Shareholder held such Acquired Fund Shares as capital assets on the date of the exchange; and

 

(i) The taxable year of the Acquired Fund will not end as a result of the Reorganization.

 

Such opinion shall be based on customary certificates, assumptions and such representations as ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Bockius LLP may reasonably request, and the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund will cooperate to make and certify the accuracy of such representations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this paragraph 8.5.

 

ARTICLE IX

EXPENSES

 

9.1 Except as otherwise provided for herein, KL (or any affiliate thereof), UMBFS (or any affiliate thereof) and MFAC (or any affiliate thereof) shall bear all expenses of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than expenses, if any, of the shareholders). Such expenses include, without limitation: (a) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of the N-14 Registration Statement; (b) postage; (c) printing; (d) accounting fees; (e) audit and legal fees, including fees of the counsel to the Trust, counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Trust, counsel to the IMST Trust and counsel to the Independent Trustees of the IMST Trust; (f) solicitation costs of the transactions; (g) any costs associated with meetings of the Funds’ Boards of Trustees relating to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

KL (or any affiliate thereof), UMBFS (or any affiliate thereof) and MFAC (or any affiliate thereof) shall remain so liable for expenses, regardless of whether the transactions contemplated by this Agreement occur, and this Section 9.1 shall survive the Closing and any termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 11.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, expenses will in any event be paid by the party directly incurring such expenses if and to the extent that the payment by another person of such expenses would result in a failure by either the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund to qualify for treatment as a RIC within the meaning of Section 851 of the Code or would prevent the Reorganization from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or otherwise result in the imposition of tax on either the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund or on any of their respective shareholders.

 

 

9.2 At the Closing, KL (or any affiliate thereof), UMBFS (or any affiliate thereof) and MFAC (or any affiliate thereof) shall pay the estimated costs of the Reorganization to be paid by it pursuant to paragraph 9.1, and any remaining balance shall be paid by KL (or any affiliate thereof), UMBFS (or any affiliate thereof) and MFAC (or any affiliate thereof) within thirty (30) days after the Closing.

 

ARTICLE X

ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL

 

10.1 The IMST Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, agree that neither party has made to the other party any representation, warranty and/or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.

 

10.2 The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the indemnification obligations under Section 5.7, shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder. The covenants to be performed after the Closing Date, and the obligations of the Acquiring Fund, shall continue in effect beyond the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

ARTICLE XI

TERMINATION

 

11.1 This Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the IMST Trust and the Trust. In addition, either the IMST Trust or the Trust may at its option terminate this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date due to:

 

(a) a breach by the other of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date, if not cured within 30 days or, in the sole discretion of the non-breaching party’s Board of Trustees, prior to the Closing Date;

 

(b) a condition herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating party that has not been met and it reasonably appears to the terminating party’s Board of Trustees that it will not or cannot be met; or

 

(c) a determination by the terminating party’s Board of Trustees that the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein is not in the best interest of the party, and to give notice to the other party hereto.

 

11.2 In the event of any such termination, in the absence of willful default, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund, the Acquired Fund, the IMST Trust, the Trust, or the respective Trustees or officers to the other party or its Trustees or officers, but paragraph 9.1 shall continue to apply.

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

 

12.1 This Agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund; provided, however, that following the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders pursuant to paragraph 5.2 of this Agreement, no such amendment may have the effect of changing any provisions to the detriment of such shareholders.

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT;
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

13.1 The Article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

13.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

 

13.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

 

13.4 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but, except as provided in this paragraph, no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm, or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

13.5 It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Acquiring Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, agents, or employees of the IMST Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Acquiring Fund, as provided in the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the IMST Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the IMST Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and signed by authorized officers of the IMST Trust, acting as such. Such authorization by such Trustees and such execution and delivery by such officers shall not be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Acquiring Fund as provided in the IMST Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

 

13.6 It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Acquired Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, agents, or employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Acquired Fund, as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust on behalf of the Acquired Fund and signed by authorized officers of the Trust, acting as such. Such authorization by such Trustees and such execution and delivery by such officers shall not be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Acquired Fund as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

 

13.7 Both parties specifically acknowledge and agree that any liability under this Agreement with respect to the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund, or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein with respect to the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund, shall be discharged only out of the assets of the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund, and that no other series of the IMST Trust or the Trust shall be liable with respect thereto.

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

14.1 Each Fund agrees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the other Fund all records and other information, including any information relating to portfolio holdings, of such other Fund and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that after prior notification of and written approval by such other Fund (which approval shall not be withheld if the disclosing Fund would be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities having proper jurisdiction, and which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably in any other circumstance), a Fund may disclose such records and/or information as so approved.

 

ARTICLE XV

COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

 

15.1 The Trust and the IMST Trust will provide each other and their respective representatives with such cooperation, assistance and information as either of them reasonably may request of the other in filing any Tax returns, amended Tax returns or claims for Tax refunds, determining a liability for Taxes or a right to a refund of Taxes, requesting a closing agreement or similar relief from a taxing authority or participating in or conducting any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes, or in determining the financial reporting of any Tax position. Each party or their respective agents will retain for a period of six (6) years following the Closing all returns, schedules and work papers and all material records or other documents relating to Tax matters and financial reporting of Tax positions of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund for its taxable period first ending after the Closing and for prior taxable periods for which the party is required to retain records as of the Closing, provided that the Acquired Fund shall not be required to maintain any such documents that it has delivered to the Acquiring Fund.

 

15.2 Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund is and shall remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund, up to and including the date of the Closing, and such later date on which the Acquired Fund is terminated including, without limitation, responsibility for (i) preparing and filing any Tax returns relating to Tax periods ending on or prior to the date of the Closing (whether due before or after the Closing); and (ii) preparing and filing other documents with the SEC, any state securities commission, and any federal, state or local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, except as otherwise is mutually agreed by the parties.

 

***Signature Page Follows.***

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.

 

EXCHANGE LISTED FUNDS TRUST INVESTMENT MANAGERS SERIES TRUST
on behalf of the Acquired Fund on behalf of the Acquiring Fund
   
By:     By:    
Name:     Name:    
Title:     Title:    
           
KNOWLEDGE LEADERS CAPITAL, LLC UMB FUND SERVICES, INC.
solely with respect to Article IX solely with respect to Article IX
   
By:     By:    
Name:     Name:    
Title:     Title:    
           
MUTUAL FUND ADMINISTRATION, LLC      
solely with respect to Article IX      
       
By:          
Name:          
Title:          

 

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Filed: March 18th, 2020