Exhibit (h)(8)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the "Agreement") is made as
of this 9th day of November, 1998, by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds Trust (the
"Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust with its principal place of business at
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, on behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Short Term
Bond Fund, (the "Acquiring Fund"), a separate series of the Trust, and the
Trust, on behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Zero Coupon 2000 Fund (the "Acquired Fund"), a
separate series of the Trust.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of
reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The reorganization (the
"Reorganization") will consist of the transfer of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for
voting shares of beneficial interest ($.01 par value per share) of the Acquiring
Fund (the "Acquiring Fund Shares"), the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all
of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund and the distribution of the Acquiring
Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of
the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants
and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as
follows:
1. TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND TO THE ACQUIRING FUND IN
EXCHANGE FOR THE ACQUIRING FUND SHARES, THE ASSUMPTION OF ALL ACQUIRED
FUND LIABILITIES AND THE LIQUIDATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
1.1. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the
basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund
agrees to transfer to the Acquiring Fund all or substantially all of the
Acquired Fund's assets as set forth in section 1.2, and the Acquiring Fund
agrees in exchange therefor (i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund that number of
full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares determined by dividing the value of
the Acquired Fund's assets, computed in the manner and as of the time and date
set forth in section 2.1, by the net asset value of one Acquiring Fund Share,
computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in section 2.2; and
(ii) to assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as set forth in
section 1.3. Such transactions shall take place at the closing provided for in
section 3.1 (the "Closing").
1.2. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring
Fund (collectively "Assets") shall consist of all assets, including, without
limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, commodities and futures
interests and dividends or interest or other receivables that are owned by the
Acquired Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown on the unaudited
statement of assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund prepared as of the
effective time of the closing (the "Effective Time Statement"), prepared in
accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied consistently with those of the
Acquired Fund's most recent audited balance sheet. The assets shall constitute
at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets, and at least 70% of the
fair market value of the gross assets, held by Acquired Fund immediately before
the Closing (excluding for these purposes assets used to pay the dividends and
other distributions paid pursuant to section 1.4).
1.3. The Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known
liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date as defined in section 3.1.
1.4. On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date as defined
in section 3.1, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders of
record one or more dividends and/or other distributions so that it will have
distributed substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed
without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and realized net capital
gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
1.5. Immediately after the transfer of assets provided for in section
1.1 (the "Liquidation Time"), the Acquired Fund will distribute to the Acquired
Fund's shareholders of record, determined as of the Valuation Time (the
"Acquired Fund Shareholders"), on a pro rata basis, the Acquiring Fund Shares
received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to section 1.1 and will completely
liquidate. Such distribution and liquidation will be accomplished by the
transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then 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.
The aggregate net asset value of Acquiring Fund Shares to be so credited to
Acquired Fund Shareholders shall be equal to the aggregate net asset value of
the Acquired Fund shares owned by such shareholders as of the Valuation Time.
All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be
cancelled on the books of the Acquired Fund, although share certificates
representing interests in shares of the Acquired Fund will represent a number of
Acquiring Fund Shares after the Closing Date as determined in accordance with
section 2.3. The Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing
Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange.
1.6. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of
the Acquiring Fund. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued in the manner
described in the Acquiring Fund's then-current prospectus and statement of
additional information.
1.7. Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including,
without limitation, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax
returns, or other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), any state securities commission, and any federal, state or local
tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall remain
the responsibility of the Acquired Fund.
1.8. All books and records of the Acquired Fund, including all books
and records required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, shall be available to the Acquiring Fund from and after
the Closing Date and shall be turned over to the Acquiring Fund as soon as
practicable following the closing date.
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2. VALUATION
2.1. The value of the Assets shall be computed as of the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately
preceding the Closing Date, as defined in Section 3.1 (such time and date being
hereinafter called the "Valuation Time") after the declaration and payment of
any dividends and/or other distributions on that date, using the valuation
procedures set forth in the Acquiring Fund's Declaration of Trust, as amended,
and then-current prospectus or statement of additional information.
2.2. The net asset value of an Acquiring Fund share shall be the net
asset value per share computed as of the Valuation Time using the valuation
procedures referred to in section 2.1.
2.3. The number of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued (including
fractional shares, if any) in exchange for the Assets shall be determined by
dividing the value of the Assets with respect to shares of the Acquired Fund
determined in accordance with section 2.1 by the net asset value of an Acquiring
Fund Share determined in accordance with section 2.2.
2.4. All computations of value hereunder shall be made by or under the
direction of each Fund's respective accounting agent, if applicable, in
accordance with its regular practice and the requirements of the 1940 Act and
shall be subject to confirmation by each Fund's respective independent
accountants.
3. CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1. The Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be December 18, 1998, or such later date as the parties may agree in
writing (the "Closing Date"). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be
deemed to take place simultaneously as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the
Closing Date, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Closing shall be
held at the offices of Dechert Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ - ▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other place and time as the parties may agree.
3.2. Acquired Fund shall deliver to Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date
a schedule of assets.
3.3. State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian for the Acquired
Fund, shall (a) deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer
stating that the Assets shall have been delivered in proper form to State Street
Bank and Trust Company, custodian for the Acquiring Fund, prior to or on the
Closing Date and (b) all necessary taxes in connection with the delivery of the
Assets, including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if
any, have been paid or provision for payment has been made. Acquired Fund's
portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument
shall be presented by Custodian for Acquired Fund to Custodian for Acquiring
Fund for examination no later than five business days preceding the Closing Date
and transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date by the
Acquired Fund for the account of Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for
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transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. Acquired
Fund's portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a securities
depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, shall be delivered as
of the Closing Date by book entry in accordance with the customary practices of
such depositories and Custodian for Acquiring Fund. The cash to be transferred
by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire transfer of federal funds on the
Closing Date.
3.4. The Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall deliver
at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records
contain the names and addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and the number
and percentage ownership (to three decimal places) of outstanding Acquired Fund
Shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The
Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring
Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date to the Acquired Fund 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, if any, receipts or other documents as
such other party or its counsel may reasonably request to effect the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.5. In the event that immediately prior to the Valuation Time (a) the
New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio
securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund shall be closed to trading
or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of
trading on such Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the
judgment of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, accurate appraisal of the value
of the net assets with respect to the Acquiring Fund Shares or the Acquired Fund
Shares is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first
business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and
reporting shall have been restored.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1. The Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants
to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Trust is a business trust duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with power under the Trust's
Declaration of Trust, as amended, to own all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Trust is registered with the Commission as an open-end
management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), and such registration is in full force and effect;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or
governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of
the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
the Securities Act of 1933, as
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amended (the "1933 Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act") and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities
laws;
(d) Other than with respect to contracts entered into in connection
with the portfolio management of the Acquired Fund which shall terminate on or
prior to the Closing Date, the Trust is not, and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Trust will not result, in violation of
Massachusetts law or of the Trust's Declaration of Trust, as amended, or
By-Laws, or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or
other undertaking known to counsel to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by
which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the Acquired Fund will not result in the acceleration of any obligation, or
the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument,
contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by
which it is bound;
(e) No material litigation or 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 properties or
assets held by it. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts which might form the
basis for the institution of such proceedings which would materially and
adversely affect its business and is not 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 herein contemplated;
(f) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in
Net Assets, the Supplementary Information, and the Investment Portfolio of the
Acquired Fund at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, has been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public accountants,
and is in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statement (a copy
of which has been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) presents fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of such date
in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the
Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes
thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(g) Since December 31, 1997, there has not been any material adverse
change 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 indebtedness maturing more than one year from
the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and
accepted in writing by the Acquiring Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g),
a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund due to declines in
market values of securities in the Acquired Fund's portfolio, the discharge of
Acquired Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquired Fund shares by Acquired
Fund Shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse change;
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other
tax returns and reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to have been filed
by such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will
be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as
due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall
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have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and,
to the best of the Acquired Fund's knowledge, no such return is currently under
audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year
ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met the requirements of
Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company and
has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to and has computed its
federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed all
of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain (as defined in the
Code) that has accrued through the Closing Date;
(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund (i) have
been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance
in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933
Act and state securities laws, (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly
and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing
that, under Massachusetts law, Acquired Fund Shareholders, under certain
circumstances, could be held personally liable for obligations of the Acquired
Fund), and (iii) will be held at the time of the Closing by the persons and in
the amounts set forth in the records of the Transfer Agent, as provided in
section 3.3. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants
or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund shares,
nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund
shares;
(k) At the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will have good and
marketable title to the Acquired Fund's assets to be transferred to the
Acquiring Fund pursuant to section 1.2 and full right, power, and authority to
sell, assign, transfer and deliver such assets hereunder free of any liens or
other encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquiring
Fund has received notice at or prior to the Closing, and upon delivery and
payment for such assets, the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable
title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof,
including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act, except those
restrictions as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice and necessary
documentation at or prior to the Closing;
(l) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have
been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the
part of the Trustees of the Trust, and, subject to the approval of the Acquired
Fund Shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(m) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in
applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use
in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local
regulatory authority (including the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply
in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations
applicable thereto; and
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(n) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of
the Acquired Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not materially misleading; and
(o) The proxy statement of the Acquired Fund to be included in the
Registration Statement referred to in section 5.7 (the "Proxy Statement"),
insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund, will, on the effective date of the
Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements are made, not materially misleading;
provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this section shall
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement and the
Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
that was furnished or should have been furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use
therein.
4.2. The Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and
warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Trust is a business trust duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with power under the Trust's
Declaration of Trust, as amended, to own all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Trust is registered with the Commission as an open-end
management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in
full force and effect;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or
governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of
the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state
securities laws;
(d) The Trust is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Trust will not result, in violation of Massachusetts law
or of the Trust's Declaration of Trust, as amended, or By-Laws, or of any
material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking
known to counsel to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound,
and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquiring
Fund will not result in the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of
any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease,
judgment or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is
bound;
(e) No material litigation or administrative proceeding or
investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending
or to its knowledge threatened against the
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Acquiring Fund or any properties or assets held by it. The Acquiring Fund knows
of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings
which would materially and adversely affect its business and is not 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 herein contemplated;
(f) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in
Net Assets, the Supplementary Information, and the Investment Portfolio of the
Acquiring Fund at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 has been
audited by Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, independent certified public
accountants, and is in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such
statement (a copy of which has been furnished to the Acquired Fund) presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Acquiring Fund
as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent
liabilities of the Acquiring Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet
(including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not
disclosed therein;
(g) Since December 31, 1997, there has not been any material adverse
change in the Acquiring Fund's financial condition, assets, liabilities or
business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any
incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year
from the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to
and accepted in writing by the Acquired Fund. For purposes of this subsection
(g), a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund due to
declines in market values of securities in the Acquiring Fund's portfolio, the
discharge of Acquiring Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquiring Fund
shares by Acquiring Fund shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse
change;
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other
tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to have been filed
by such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will
be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as
due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been
paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and, to the best
of the Acquiring Fund's knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and
no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation, the Acquiring Fund has met
the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated
investment company and has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to
and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will
do so for the taxable year including the Closing Date;
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(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund (i) have
been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance
in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933
Act and state securities laws and (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be,
duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable
(recognizing that, under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund Shareholders, under
certain circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of
the Acquired Fund). The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options,
warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquiring Fund
shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the
Acquiring Fund shares;
(k) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the
Acquired Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement, will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized
and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued and
outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable
(recognizing that, under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund Shareholders, under
certain circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of
the Acquired Fund).
(l) At the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have good and
marketable title to the Acquiring Fund's assets, free of any liens or other
encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquired Fund
has received notice at or prior to the Closing;
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have
been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the
part of the Trustees of the Trust and this Agreement will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(n) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in
applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use
in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local
regulatory authority (including the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply
in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations
applicable thereto;
(o) 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 of
the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not materially misleading;
(p) The Proxy Statement to be included in the Registration Statement,
only insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund, will, on the effective date of
the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
9
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
materially misleading; provided, however, that the representations and
warranties in this section shall not apply to statements in or omissions from
the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information that was furnished or should have been furnished by
the Acquired Fund for use therein; and
(q) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain
the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such
of the state securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its
operations after the Closing Date.
5. COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND
5.1. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each covenants to operate
its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing
Date, it being understood that (a) such ordinary course of business will include
(i) the declaration and payment of customary dividends and other distributions
and (ii) such changes as are contemplated by the Funds' normal operations; and
(b) each Fund shall retain exclusive control of the composition of its portfolio
until the Closing Date.
5.2. Upon reasonable notice, the Acquiring Fund's officers and agents
shall have reasonable access to the Acquired Fund's books and records necessary
to maintain current knowledge of the Acquired Fund and to ensure that the
representations and warranties made by the Acquired Fund are accurate.
5.3. The Acquired Fund covenants to call a meeting of the Acquired Fund
Shareholders entitled to vote thereon to consider and act upon this Agreement
and to take all other reasonable action necessary to obtain approval of the
transactions contemplated herein. Such meeting shall be scheduled for no later
than March 31, 1999.
5.4. The Acquired Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be
issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any
distribution thereof other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.5. The Acquired Fund covenants that it will assist the Acquiring Fund
in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests
concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund Shares and will provide
the Acquiring Fund with a list of affiliates of the Acquired Fund.
5.6. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund
and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do
or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper, and/or advisable
to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
5.7. Each Fund covenants to prepare the Registration Statement on Form
N-14 (the "Registration Statement"), in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and the 1940 Act in
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connection with the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders to consider
approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. The
Acquiring Fund will file the Registration Statement, including the Proxy
Statement, with the Commission. The Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring
Fund with information reasonably necessary for the preparation of a prospectus,
which will include the Proxy Statement referred to in section 4.1(o), all to be
included in the Registration Statement, in compliance in all material respects
with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act.
5.8. The Acquired Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as
and when reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund, execute and deliver or
cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments,
and will take or cause to be taken such further action as the Acquiring Fund may
reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm the
Acquiring Fund's title to and possession of all the assets and otherwise to
carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.9. The Acquiring Fund covenants to use all reasonable efforts to
obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and 1940 Act,
and such of the state securities laws as it deems appropriate in order to
continue its operations after the Closing Date and to consummate the
transactions contemplated herein; provided, however, that the Acquiring Fund may
take such actions it reasonably deems advisable after the Closing Date as
circumstances change.
5.10. The Acquiring Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as
and when reasonably requested by the Acquired Fund, execute and deliver or cause
to be executed and delivered all such assignments, assumption agreements,
releases, and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further
action, as the Acquired Fund may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order
to (i) vest and confirm to the Acquired Fund title to and possession of all
Acquiring Fund shares to be transferred to Acquired Fund pursuant to this
Agreement and (ii) assume the assumed liabilities from the Acquired Fund.
5.11. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing, the Acquired
Fund shall make a liquidating distribution to its shareholders consisting of the
Acquiring Fund Shares received at the Closing.
5.12. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each use its
reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions
precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly
as practicable.
6. 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 it hereunder on or
before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further
conditions:
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6.1. All representations and warranties of the Trust, with respect to
the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; and there
shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other
than Acquiring Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the
Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund or their advisers, directors, trustees or
officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquired
Fund which the Acquired Fund reasonably believes might result in such
litigation.
6.2. The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund on
the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice
President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and dated as
of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of
the Trust, with respect to the Acquiring Fund, made in this Agreement are true
and correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the
Acquired Fund shall reasonably request;
6.3. The Acquired Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Dechert Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
Acquired Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) The Trust has been duly formed and is an existing business trust;
(b) the Acquiring Fund has the power to carry on its business as presently
conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Trust's registration
statement under the 1940 Act; (c) the Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and
constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, on behalf of
the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and laws
of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; (d) the execution and delivery of the Agreement did
not, and the exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares
pursuant to the Agreement will not, violate the Acquiring Fund's Declaration of
Trust, as amended, or By-laws; and (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, all
regulatory consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be
obtained or made by the Acquiring Fund under the Federal laws of the United
States or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the exchange of the
Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares, pursuant to the Agreement have
been obtained or made; and
6.4. The Acquiring Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and
complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Acquiring Fund on or before the Closing Date.
7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
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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 of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or
before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following further
conditions:
7.1. All representations and warranties of the Trust, with respect to
the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; and there
shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other
than Acquired Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the
Acquiring Fund, the Acquired Fund or their advisers, directors, trustees or
officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquiring
Fund which the Acquiring Fund reasonably believes might result in such
litigation.
7.2. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a
statement of the Acquired Fund's assets and liabilities as of the Closing Date,
certified by the Treasurer of the Acquired Fund;
7.3. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on
the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice
President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as
of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of
the Trust with respect to the Acquired Fund made in this Agreement are true and
correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the
Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request;
7.4. The Acquiring Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Dechert Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
Acquiring Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) The Trust has been duly formed and is an existing business trust;
(b) the Acquired Fund has the corporate power to carry on its business as
presently conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Trust's
registration statement under the 1940 Act; (c) the Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund,
and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, on behalf
of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and laws
of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; (d) the execution and delivery of the Agreement did
not, and the exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares
pursuant to the Agreement will not, violate the Trust's Declaration of Trust, as
amended, or By-laws; and (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, all regulatory
consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be obtained or made
by the Acquired Fund under the Federal laws of the United States or the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets
for Acquiring Fund Shares, pursuant to the Agreement have been obtained or made;
and
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7.5. The Acquired Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and
complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Acquired Fund on or before the Closing Date.
8. FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND
THE ACQUIRED FUND
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been met 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:
8.1. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have
been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of
the Acquired Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's Declaration
of Trust, as amended, and By-Laws, applicable Massachusetts law and the 1940
Act, and 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 section 8.1;
8.2. On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be
pending or to its knowledge threatened before any court or governmental agency
in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain material damages or
other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
herein;
8.3. All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and
permits of Federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by
the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund to permit consummation, in all material
respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby 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 for
itself waive any of such conditions;
8.4. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the
1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened
or contemplated under the 1933 Act; and
8.5. The parties shall have received an opinion of Dechert Price &
▇▇▇▇▇▇ addressed to the Trust substantially to the effect that, based upon
certain facts, assumptions and representations, the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement constitutes a tax-free reorganization for Federal income tax
purposes. The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt by Dechert
Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of representations it shall request of the Trust. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired
Fund may waive the condition set forth in this section 8.5.
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9. INDEMNIFICATION
9.1. The Acquiring Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Acquired Fund and each of the Acquired Fund's trustees and officers 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 jointly and severally, the Acquired Fund or any of its
trustees or officers 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 breach by the Acquiring Fund of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
9.2. The Acquired Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Acquiring Fund and each of the Acquiring Fund's trustees and officers 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 jointly and severally, the Acquiring Fund or any of its
trustees or officers 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 breach by the Acquired Fund of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
10. FEES AND EXPENSES
10.1. The Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and the Trust, on
behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to the other that it has no
obligations to pay any brokers or finders fees in connection with the
transactions provided for herein.
10.2. Expenses of the Reorganization that relate to the Acquiring Fund
and the Acquired Fund will be borne by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investments, Inc., the
investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund. Any such
expenses which are so borne by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investments, Inc. will be solely
and directly related to the Reorganization within the meaning of Revenue Ruling
73-54, 1973-1 C.B. 187. The Acquired Fund shareholders will pay their own
expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the Reorganization.
11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES
11.1. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund agree that neither party
has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that
this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
11.2. Except as specified in the next sentence set forth in this
section 11.2, the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
shall not survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
The covenants to be performed after the Closing and the obligations of each of
the Acquired Fund and Acquired Fund in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 shall survive the
Closing.
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12. TERMINATION
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be abandoned by either party by (i) mutual agreement of the parties,
or (ii) by either party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
March 31, 1999, unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the parties,
or (iii) by either party if the other party shall have materially breached its
obligations under this Agreement or made a material and intentional
misrepresentation herein or in connection herewith. In the event of any such
termination, this Agreement shall become void and there shall be no liability
hereunder on the part of any party or their respective directors/trustees or
officers, except for any such material breach or intentional misrepresentation,
as to each of which all remedies at law or in equity of the party adversely
affected shall survive.
13. AMENDMENTS
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 called by the Acquired Fund pursuant
to section 5.2 of this Agreement, no such amendment may have the effect of
changing the provisions for determining the number of the Acquiring Fund Shares
to be issued to the Acquired Fund shareholders under this Agreement to the
detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
14. NOTICES
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any
provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given
if delivered by hand (including by Federal Express or similar express courier)
or transmitted by facsimile or three days after being mailed by prepaid
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the
Acquired Fund, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, with a copy to
Dechert Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇,
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., or to the Acquiring Fund, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, with a copy to Dechert Price & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.,
or to any other address that the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund shall have
last designated by notice to the other party.
15. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
15.1. The Article and section headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
15.2. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original.
15.3. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or
transfer hereof or of any rights or
16
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 the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund
and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this Agreement.
15.4. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust, and
references in this Agreement to the Trust mean and refer to the Trustees from
time to time serving under its Declaration of Trust on file with the Secretary
of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the same may be amended from
time to time, pursuant to which the Trust conducts its business. It is expressly
agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any
of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents, or employees of the
Trust, the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund personally, but bind only the
respective property of each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, as
provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust. Moreover, no series of the Trust
other than the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall be responsible for the
obligations of the Trust hereunder, and all persons shall look only to the
respective assets of each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund to satisfy
the obligations of the Trust hereunder. The execution and the delivery of this
Agreement have been authorized by the Trust's Board of Trustees, on behalf of
each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, respectively, and this
Agreement has been signed by authorized officers of each of the Acquiring Fund
and the Acquired Fund acting as such, and neither such authorization by such
Trustees, nor such execution and delivery by such officers, shall 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 respective property of each of the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, as provided in the Trust's Declaration of
Trust.
15.5. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced
in accordance with, the laws of the State of Massachusetts, without regard to
its principles of conflicts of laws.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed by its President or Vice President and its seal to be
affixed thereto and attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary.
Attest: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds Trust
on behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Zero Coupon 2000 Fund
/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Secretary /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its: President
Attest: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds Trust
on behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Short Term Bond Fund
/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Secretary /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its: President
18