FT 344
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: June 24, 1999
The Trust Agreement among Nike Securities L.P., as
Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust
Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor, sets forth
certain provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by
reference to the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust for The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22
and certain subsequent Series, Effective November 20, 1991"
(herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"), and
such provisions as are incorporated by reference constitute a
single instrument. All references herein to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust.
WITNESSETH THAT:
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the Depositor, the Trustee, the
Evaluator and the Portfolio Supervisor agree as follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II and Part III hereof,
all the provisions contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety
and shall be deemed to be a part of this instrument as fully and
to the same extent as though said provisions had been set forth
in full in this instrument.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR DOW ▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNET INDEX (SM) SECURITIES PORTFOLIO, SERIES 2
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust represented by
each Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio on the Initial Date of Deposit is
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of Investments."
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Summary of Essential Information."
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Summary of Essential Information."
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee in the amount of $.0030 per Unit, calculated
based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the
calendar year except during the initial offering period as
determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the
fee is calculated based on the largest number of units
outstanding during the period for which the compensation is paid
(such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Evaluator provides services during less than the whole of
such year). Such fee may exceed the actual cost of providing
such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time will the
total amount received for evaluation services rendered to unit
investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the sponsor in
any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Evaluator of
supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee in the amount of $.0095 per Unit, calculated
based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the
calendar year except during the initial offering period as
determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the
fee is calculated based on the largest number of units
outstanding during the period for which the compensation is paid
(such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Trustee provides services during less than the whole of such
year). However, in no event, except as may otherwise be provided
in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, shall the Trustee
receive compensation in any one year from any Trust of less than
$2,000 for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is June 24,
1999.
J. The minimum amount of Securities to be sold by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART III
A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, references to subsequent
Series established after the date of effectiveness of the First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 24 shall include FT 344.
B. The term "Principal Account" as set forth in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced with the
term "Capital Account."
C. Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
D. Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(3) "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P.
and its successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
appointed as hereinafter provided."
E. Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(4) "Portfolio Supervisor" shall mean First Trust
Advisors L.P. and its successors in interest, or any
successor portfolio supervisor appointed as hereinafter
provided."
F. Section 1.01(26) shall be added to read as follows:
"(26) The term "Rollover Unit holder" shall be defined
as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
G. Section 1.01(27) shall be added to read as follows:
"(27) The "Rollover Notification Date" shall be
defined as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information."
H. Section 1.01(28) shall be added to read as follows:
"(28) The term "Rollover Distribution" shall be
defined as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
I. Section 1.01(29) shall be added to read as follows:
"(29) The term "Distribution Agent" shall refer to the
Trustee acting in its capacity as distribution agent
pursuant to Section 5.05 herein."
J. Section 1.01(30) shall be added to read as follows:
"(30) The term "Special Redemption and Liquidation
Period" shall be as set forth in the Prospectus under
"Summary of Essential Information."
K. Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows:
(b)(1)From time to time following the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its
discretion, to assign, convey to and deposit with the
Trustee (i) additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and
transfer in proper form, (ii) Contract Obligations relating
to such additional Securities, accompanied by cash and/or
Letter(s) of Credit as specified in paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.01, or (iii) cash (or a Letter of Credit in lieu
of cash) with instructions to purchase additional
Securities, in an amount equal to the portion of the Unit
Value of the Units created by such deposit attributable to
the Securities to be purchased pursuant to such
instructions. Except as provided in the following
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in each case,
shall ensure that each deposit of additional Securities
pursuant to this Section shall maintain, as nearly as
practicable, the Percentage Ratio. Each such deposit of
additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a Notice of
Deposit of Additional Securities delivered by the Depositor
to the Trustee. Instructions to purchase additional
Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify the name
of the Security, CUSIP number, if any, aggregate amount,
price or price range and date to be purchased. When
requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as broker
to execute purchases in accordance with such instructions;
the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
(2) Additional Securities (or Contract Obligations
therefor) may, at the Depositor's discretion, be deposited
or purchased in round lots. If the amount of the deposit is
insufficient to acquire round lots of each Security to be
acquired, the additional Securities shall be deposited or
purchased in the order of the Security in the Trust most
under-represented immediately before the deposit with
respect to the Percentage Ratio.
(3) If at the time of a deposit of additional
Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the Initial
Date of Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement Securities
acquired to replace an issue deposited on the Initial Date
of Deposit) are unavailable, cannot be purchased at
reasonable prices or their purchase is prohibited or
restricted by applicable law, regulation or policies, the
Depositor may (i) deposit, or instruct the Trustee to
purchase, in lieu thereof, another issue of Securities or
Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a letter of
credit in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue of
Securities whose acquisition is not feasible with
instructions to acquire such Securities of such issue when
they become available.
(4) Any contrary authorization in the preceding
subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding, deposits of
additional Securities made after the 90-day period
immediately following the Initial Date of Deposit (except
for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations if
such deposits occur within 20 days from the date of a
failure occurring within such initial 90-day period) shall
maintain exactly the Percentage Ratio existing immediately
prior to such deposit.
(5) In connection with and at the time of any deposit
of additional Securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(b),
the Depositor shall exactly replicate Cash (as defined
below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
such deposit. For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
as to the Capital Account, cash or other property (other
than Securities) on hand in the Capital Account or
receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account as of
the date of the deposit (other than amounts to be
distributed solely to persons other than holders of Units
created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account, cash
or other property (other than Securities) received by the
Trust as of the date of the deposit or receivable by the
Trust in respect of a record date for a payment on a
Security which has occurred or will occur before the Trust
will be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by the
amount of any cash or other property received or receivable
on any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
calculations of distributions from the Income Account
pursuant to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or to be
made in respect of a Record Date occurring prior to the
deposit. Such replication will be made on the basis of a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units
created by the deposit and the denominator of which is the
number of Units which are outstanding immediately prior to
the deposit."
L. The following shall be added immediately following the
first sentence of paragraph (c) of Section 2.01:
"The Trustee may allow the Depositor to substitute for
any Letter(s) of Credit deposited with the Trustee in
connection with the deposits described in Section 2.01(a)
and (b) cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy the
obligations to which the Letter(s) of Credit relates. Any
substituted Letter(s) of Credit shall be released by the
Trustee."
M. Section 2.03(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended by adding the following sentence after the
first sentence of such section:
"The number of Units may be increased through a split
of the Units or decreased through a reverse split thereof,
as directed in writing by the Depositor, at any time when
the Depositor is the only beneficial holder of Units, which
revised number of Units shall be recorded by the Trustee on
its books. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the
Depositor's direction as certification that no person other
than the Depositor has a beneficial interest in the Units
and the Trustee shall have no liability to any person for
action taken pursuant to such direction."
N. Section 3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Section 3.01. Initial Cost. Subject to reimbursement
as hereinafter provided, the cost of organizing the Trust
and the sale of the Trust Units shall be borne by the
Depositor, provided, however, that the liability on the part
of the Depositor under this section shall not include any
fees or other expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of the Trust subsequent to the deposit
referred to in Section 2.01. At the conclusion of the
primary offering period (as certified by the Depositor to
the Trustee), the Trustee shall withdraw from the Account or
Accounts specified in the Prospectus or, if no Account is
therein specified, from the Capital Account, and pay to the
Depositor the Depositor's reimbursable expenses of
organizing the Trust in an amount certified to the Trustee
by the Depositor. In no event shall the amount paid by the
Trustee to the Depositor for the Depositors reimbursable
expenses of organizing the Trust exceed the estimated per
Unit amount of organization costs set forth in the
prospectus for the Trust multiplied by the number of Units
of the Trust outstanding at the conclusion of the primary
offering period; nor shall the Depositor be entitled to or
request reimbursement for expenses of organizing the Trust
incurred after the conclusion of the primary offering
period. If the cash balance of the Capital Account is
insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as
directed by the Depositor, sell Securities identified by the
Depositor, or distribute to the Depositor Securities having
a value, as determined under Section 4.01 as of the date of
distribution, sufficient for such reimbursement. Securities
sold or distributed to the Depositor to reimburse the
Depositor pursuant to this Section shall be sold or
distributed by the Trustee, to the extent practicable, in
the percentage ratio then existing. The reimbursement
provided for in this section shall be for the account of the
Unit holders of record at the conclusion of the primary
offering period. Any assets deposited with the Trustee in
respect of the expenses reimbursable under this Section 3.01
shall be held and administered as assets of the Trust for
all purposes hereunder. The Depositor shall deliver to the
Trustee any cash identified in the Statement of Net Assets
of the Trust included in the Prospectus not later than the
expiration of the Delivery Period and the Depositors
obligation to make such delivery shall be secured by the
letter of credit deposited pursuant to Section 2.01. Any
cash which the Depositor has identified as to be used for
reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Section 3.01
shall be held by the Trustee, without interest, and reserved
for such purpose and, accordingly, prior to the conclusion
of the primary offering period, shall not be subject to
distribution or, unless the Depositor otherwise directs,
used for payment of redemptions in excess of the per Unit
amount payable pursuant to the next sentence. If a Unit
holder redeems Units prior to the conclusion of the primary
offering period, the Trustee shall pay to the Unit holder,
in addition to the Redemption Value of the tendered Units,
unless otherwise directed by the Depositor, an amount equal
to the estimated per Unit cost of organizing the Trust set
forth in the Prospectus, or such lower revision thereof most
recently communicated to the Trustee by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 5.01, multiplied by the number of Units
tendered for redemption; to the extent the cash on hand in
the Trust is insufficient for such payment, the Trustee
shall have the power to sell Securities in accordance with
Section 5.02. As used herein, the Depositor's reimbursable
expenses of organizing the Trust shall include the cost of
the initial preparation and typesetting of the registration
statement, prospectuses (including preliminary
prospectuses), the indenture, and other documents relating
to the Trust, SEC and state blue sky registration fees, the
cost of the initial valuation of the portfolio and audit of
the Trust, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, and
legal and other out-of-pocket expenses related thereto, but
not including the expenses incurred in the printing of
preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses, expenses incurred
in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses.
O. The second paragraph of Section 3.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following sentence:
"Any non-cash distributions (other than a non-taxable
distribution of the shares of the distributing corporation
which shall be retained by a Trust) received by a Trust
shall be dealt with in the manner described at Section 3.11,
herein, and shall be retained or disposed of by such Trust
according to those provisions. The proceeds of any
disposition shall be credited to the Income Account of a
Trust. Neither the Trustee nor the Depositor shall be
liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss
incurred by reason of any such sale."
P. Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee shall
distribute to each Unit holder of record at the close of
business on the Record Date immediately preceding such
Distribution Date an amount per Unit equal to such Unit
holder's Income Distribution (as defined below), plus such
Unit holder's pro rata share of the balance of the Capital
Account (except for monies on deposit therein required to
purchase Contract Obligations) computed as of the close of
business on such Record Date after deduction of any amounts
provided in Subsection I, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall not be required to make a distribution from
the Capital Account unless the amount available for
distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
Each Trust shall provide the following distribution
elections: (1) distributions to be made by check mailed to
the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears on
the registration books of the Trustee, or (2) the following
reinvestment option:
The Trustee will, for any Unit holder who provides
the Trustee written instruction, properly executed and
in form satisfactory to the Trustee, received by the
Trustee no later than its close of business 10 business
days prior to a Record Date (the "Reinvestment Notice
Date"), reinvest such Unit holder's distribution from
the Income and Capital Accounts in Units of the Trust,
purchased from the Depositor, to the extent the
Depositor shall make Units available for such purchase,
at the Depositor's offering price as of the third
business day prior to the following Distribution Date,
and at such reduced sales charge as may be described in
the prospectus for the Trusts. If, for any reason, the
Depositor does not have Units of the Trust available
for purchase, the Trustee shall distribute such Unit
holder's distribution from the Income and Capital
Accounts in the manner provided in clause (1) of the
preceding paragraph. The Trustee shall be entitled to
rely on a written instruction received as of the
Reinvestment Notice Date and shall not be affected by
any subsequent notice to the contrary. The Trustee
shall have no responsibility for any loss or
depreciation resulting from any reinvestment made in
accordance with this paragraph, or for any failure to
make such reinvestment in the event the Depositor does
not make Units available for purchase.
Any Unit holder who does not effectively elect
reinvestment in Units of their respective Trust pursuant to
the preceding paragraph shall receive a cash distribution in
the manner provided in clause (1) of the second preceding
paragraph."
Q. Section 3.05.II(b) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (b) For purposes of this Section 3.05, the Unit
holder's Income Distribution shall be equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata share of the cash balance in the Income
Account computed as of the close of business on the Record
Date immediately preceding such Income Distribution after
deduction of (i) the fees and expenses then deductible
pursuant to Section 3.05.I. and (ii) the Trustee's estimate
of other expenses properly chargeable to the Income Account
pursuant to the Indenture which have accrued, as of such
Record Date, or are otherwise properly attributable to the
period to which such Income Distribution relates."
R. Paragraph (c) of Subsection II of Section 3.05 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"On each Distribution Date the Trustee shall distribute
to each Unit holder of record at the close of business on
the Record Date immediately preceding such Distribution Date
an amount per Unit equal to such Unit holder's pro rata
share of the balance of the Capital Account (except for
monies on deposit therein required to purchase Contract
Obligations) computed as of the close of business on such
Record Date after deduction of any amounts provided in
Subsection I."
S. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I.(e) deduct from the Income Account or,
to the extent funds are not available in such Account, from
the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount that
it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14.
T. Section 3.11 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following language:
"Section 3.11. Notice to Depositor.
In the event that the Trustee shall have been notified
at any time of any action to be taken or proposed to be
taken by at least a legally required number of holders of
any Securities deposited in a Trust, the Trustee shall take
such action or omit from taking any action, as appropriate,
so as to insure that the Securities are voted as closely as
possible in the same manner and the same general proportion
as are the Securities held by owners other than such Trust.
In the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
Securities or any other party shall be made to issue new
securities, or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities,
the Trustee shall reject such offer. However, should any
issuance, exchange or substitution be effected
notwithstanding such rejection or without an initial offer,
any securities, cash and/or property received shall be
deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if
securities or property, by the Trustee pursuant to the
Depositor's direction, unless the Depositor advises the
Trustee to keep such securities or property. The Depositor
may rely on the Portfolio Supervisor in so advising the
Trustee. The cash received in such exchange and cash
proceeds of any such sales shall be distributed to Unit
holders on the next distribution date in the manner set
forth in Section 3.05 regarding distributions from the
Capital Account. The Trustee shall not be liable or
responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by
reason of any such sale.
Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee shall be liable
to any person for any action or failure to take action
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.11.
Whenever new securities or property is received and
retained by a Trust pursuant to this Section 3.11, the
Trustee shall provide to all Unit holders of such Trust
notices of such acquisition in the Trustee's annual report
unless prior notice is directed by the Depositor."
U. The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing supervisory portfolio
services under this Indenture, the Portfolio Supervisor
shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an
aggregate annual fee in the amount of $.0035 per Unit,
calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding
during the calendar year except during the initial offering
period as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in
which case the fee is calculated based on the largest number
of Units outstanding during the period for which the
compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for
any calendar year in which the Portfolio Supervisor provides
services during less than the whole of such year). Such fee
may exceed the actual cost of providing such portfolio
supervision services for the Trust, but at no time will the
total amount received for portfolio supervision services
rendered to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities
L.P. is the sponsor in any calendar year exceed the
aggregate cost to the Portfolio Supervisor of supplying such
services in such year."
V. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraphs
which shall be entitled Section 3.14.:
"Section 3.14. Bookkeeping and Administrative Expenses.
As compensation for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services of a character described in Section
26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to the
extent such services are in addition to, and do not
duplicate, the services to be provided hereunder by the
Trustee or the Portfolio Supervisor, the Depositor shall
receive against a statement or statements therefor submitted
to the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee
in the amount of $.0015 per Unit, calculated based on the
largest number of Units outstanding during the calendar year
except during the initial offering period as determined in
Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the fee is
calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding
during the period for which the compensation is paid (such
annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which
the Depositor provides services during less than the whole
of such year). Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such bookkeeping and administrative services for
the Trust, but at no time will the total amount received for
bookkeeping and administrative services rendered to unit
investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to
the Depositor of supplying such services in such year. Such
compensation may, from time to time, be adjusted provided
that the total adjustment upward does not, at the time of
such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total
increase, after the date hereof, in consumer prices for
services as measured by the United States Department of
Labor Consumer Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent
of Shelter" or similar index, if such index should no longer
be published. The consent or concurrence of any Unit holder
hereunder shall not be required for any such adjustment or
increase. Such compensation shall be paid by the Trustee,
upon receipt of an invoice therefor from the Depositor, upon
which, as to the cost incurred by the Depositor of providing
services hereunder the Trustee may rely, and shall be
charged against the Income and Capital Accounts on or before
the Distribution Date following the Monthly Record Date on
which such period terminates. The Trustee shall have no
liability to any Certificateholder or other person for any
payment made in good faith pursuant to this Section.
If the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts
shall be insufficient to provide for amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 3.14, the Trustee shall have the
power to sell (i) Securities from the current list of
Securities designated to be sold pursuant to Section 5.02
hereof, or (ii) if no such Securities have been so
designated, such Securities as the Trustee may see fit to
sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 3.14.
Any moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this
Section 3.14 shall be secured by a prior lien on the Trust
Fund except that no such lien shall be prior to any lien in
favor of the Trustee under the provisions of Section 6.04
herein.
W. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph
which shall be entitled Section 3.15:
"Section 3.15. Deferred Sales Charge. If the
prospectus related to the Trust specifies a deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, on the dates specified in and as
permitted by such Prospectus (the "Deferred Sales Charge
Payment Dates"), withdraw from the Capital Account, an
amount per Unit specified in such Prospectus and credit such
amount to a special non-Trust account designated by the
Depositor out of which the deferred sales charge will be
distributed to or on the order of the Depositor on such
Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates (the "Deferred Sales
Charge Account"). If the balance in the Capital Account is
insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as
directed by the Depositor, advance funds in an amount
required to fund the proposed withdrawal and be entitled to
reimbursement of such advance upon the deposit of additional
monies in the Capital Account, and/or sell Securities and
credit the proceeds thereof to the Deferred Sales Charge
Account, provided, however, that the aggregate amount
advanced by the Trustee at any time for payment of the
deferred sales charge shall not exceed $15,000. Such
direction shall, if the Trustee is directed to sell a
Security, identify the Security to be sold and include
instructions as to the execution of such sale. In the
absence of such direction by the Depositor, the Trustee
shall sell Securities sufficient to pay the deferred sales
charge (and any unreimbursed advance then outstanding) in
full, and shall select Securities to be sold in such manner
as will maintain (to the extent practicable) the relative
proportion of number of shares of each Security then held.
The proceeds of such sales, less any amounts paid to the
Trustee in reimbursement of its advances, shall be credited
to the Deferred Sales Charge Account. If a Unit holder
redeems Units prior to full payment of the deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, if so provided in the related
Prospectus, on the Redemption Date, withhold from the
Redemption Price payable to such Unit holder an amount equal
to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated for reasons other than that set
forth in Section 6.01(g), the Trustee shall, if so provided
in the related Prospectus, on the termination of the Trust,
withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit holders an amount
equal to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated pursuant to Section 6.01(g), the
Trustee shall not withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit
holders any amounts of unpaid deferred sales charges. If
pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, the Depositor shall
purchase a Unit tendered for redemption prior to the payment
in full of the deferred sales charge due on the tendered
Unit, the Depositor shall pay to the Unit holder the amount
specified under Section 5.02 less the unpaid portion of the
deferred sales charge. All advances made by the Trustee
pursuant to this Section shall be secured by a lien on the
Trust prior to the interest of the Unit holders."
X. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
3.15 and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, so
long as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
Y. The first sentence of Section 4.03. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing evaluation services under
this Indenture, the Evaluator shall receive, in arrears, against
a statement or statements therefor submitted to the Trustee
monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee equal to the amount
specified as compensation for the Evaluator in the Trust
Agreement, calculated based on the largest number of Units
outstanding during the calendar year except during the initial
offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture,
in which case the fee is calculated based on the largest number
of Units outstanding during the period for which the compensation
is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in
which the Evaluator provides services during less than the whole
of such year). Such compensation may, from time to time, be
adjusted provided that the total adjustment upward does not, at
the time of such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total
increase, after the date hereof, in consumer prices for services
as measured by the United States Department of Labor Consumer
Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" or
similar index, if such index should no longer be published. The
consent or concurrence of any Unit holder hereunder shall not be
required for any such adjustment or increase. Such compensation
shall be paid by the Trustee, upon receipt of invoice therefor
from the Evaluator, upon which, as to the cost incurred by the
Evaluator of providing services hereunder the Trustee may rely,
and shall be charged against the Income and/or Capital Accounts,
in accordance with Section 3.05."
Z. Section 5.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The second sentence of the first paragraph of Section
5.01 shall be amended by deleting the phrase "and (iii)" and
adding the following "(iii) amounts representing unpaid accrued
organizational and offering costs, and (iv)" ; and
(ii) The following text shall immediately precede the last
sentence of the first paragraph of Section 5.01:
"Prior to the payment to the Depositor of its
reimbursable organization costs to be made at the
conclusion of the primary offering period in accordance
with Section 3.01, for purposes of determining the
Trust Fund Evaluation under this Section 5.01, the
Trustee shall rely upon the amounts representing unpaid
accrued organization costs in the estimated amount per
Unit set forth in the Prospectus until such time as the
Depositor notifies the Trustee in writing of a revised
estimated amount per Unit representing unpaid accrued
organization costs. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Trustee shall use this revised estimated amount per
Unit representing unpaid accrued organization costs in
determining the Trust Fund Evaluation but such revision
of the estimated expenses shall not effect calculations
made prior thereto and no adjustment shall be made in
respect thereof."
AA. Section 5.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is amended by adding the following after the second
paragraph of such section:
"Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
the event that any tender of Units pursuant to this Section
5.02 would result in the disposition by the Trustee of less
than a whole Security, the Trustee shall distribute cash in
lieu thereof and sell such Securities as directed by the
Sponsors as required to make such cash available.
Subject to the restrictions set forth in the
Prospectus, Unit holders may redeem 1,000 Units or more of a
Trust and request a distribution in kind of (i) such Unit
holder's pro rata portion of each of the Securities in such
Trust, in whole shares, and (ii) cash equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata portion of the Income and Capital Accounts
as follows: (x) a pro rata portion of the net proceeds of
sale of the Securities representing any fractional shares
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the
Securities and (y) such other cash as may properly be
included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the sum of
the cash balances of the Income and Capital Accounts in an
amount equal to the Unit Value determined on the basis of a
Trust Fund Evaluation made in accordance with Section 5.01
determined by the Trustee on the date of tender less amounts
determined in clauses (i) and (ii)(x) of this Section.
Subject to Section 5.05 with respect to Rollover Unit
holders, if applicable, to the extent possible,
distributions of Securities pursuant to an in kind
redemption of Units shall be made by the Trustee through the
distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form to
the account of the Unit holder's bank or broker-dealer at
the Depository Trust Company. Any distribution in kind will
be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges."
BB. The following Section 5.05 shall be added:
"Section 5.05. Rollover of Units. (a) If the
Depositor shall offer a subsequent series of the Trust (the
"New Series"), the Trustee shall, at the Depositor's sole
cost and expense, include in the notice sent to Unit holders
specified in Section 8.02 a form of election whereby Unit
holders, whose redemption distribution would be in an amount
sufficient to purchase at least one Unit of the New Series,
may elect to have their Unit(s) redeemed in kind in the
manner provided in Section 5.02, the Securities included in
the redemption distribution sold, and the cash proceeds
applied by the Distribution Agent to purchase Units of a New
Series, all as hereinafter provided. The Trustee shall
honor properly completed election forms returned to the
Trustee, accompanied by any Certificate evidencing Units
tendered for redemption or a properly completed redemption
request with respect to uncertificated Units, by its close
of business on the Rollover Notification Date. The notice
and form of election to be sent to Unit holders in respect
of any redemption and purchase of Units of a New Series as
provided in this section shall be in such form and shall be
sent at such time or times as the Depositor shall direct the
Trustee in writing and the Trustee shall have no
responsibility therefor. The Distributions Agent acts
solely as disbursing agent in connection with purchases of
Units pursuant to this Section and nothing herein shall be
deemed to constitute the Distribution Agent a broker in such
transactions
All Units so tendered by a Unit holder (a "Rollover
Unit holder") shall be redeemed and cancelled during the
Special Redemption and Liquidation Period on such date or
dates specified by Depositor. Subject to payment by such
Rollover Unit holder of any tax or other governmental
charges which may be imposed thereon, such redemption is to
be made in kind pursuant to Section 5.02 by distribution of
cash and/or Securities to the Distribution Agent on the
redemption date equal to the net asset value (determined on
the basis of the Trust Fund Evaluation as of the redemption
date in accordance with Section 4.01) multiplied by the
number of Units being redeemed (herein called the "Rollover
Distribution"). Any Securities that are made part of the
Rollover Distribution shall be valued for purposes of the
redemption distribution as of the redemption date.
All Securities included in a Unit holder's Rollover
Distribution shall be sold by the Distribution Agent during
the Special Redemption and Liquidation Period specified in
the Prospectus pursuant to the Depositor's direction, and
the Distribution Agent shall, unless directed otherwise by
the Depositor, employ the Depositor as broker in connection
with such sales. For such brokerage services, the Depositor
shall be entitled to compensation at its customary rates,
provided however, that its compensation shall not exceed the
amount authorized by applicable securities laws and
regulations. The Depositor shall direct that sales be made
in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the
Prospectus under the heading "Special Redemption,
Liquidation and Investment in a New Trust." Should the
Depositor fail to provide direction, the Distribution Agent
shall sell the Securities in the manner provided in the
prospectus. The Distribution Agent shall have no
responsibility for any loss or depreciation incurred by
reason of any sale made pursuant to this Section.
Upon completion of all sales of Securities included in
the Rollover Unit holder's Rollover Distribution, the
Distribution Agent shall, as agent for such Rollover Unit
holder, enter into a contract with the Depositor to purchase
from the Depositor Units of a New Series (if any), at the
Depositor's public offering price for such Units on such
day, and at such reduced sales charge as shall be described
in the prospectus for such Trust. Such contract shall
provide for purchase of the maximum number of Units of a New
Series whose purchase price is equal to or less than the
cash proceeds held by the Distribution Agent for the Unit
holder on such day (including therein the proceeds
anticipated to be received in respect of Securities traded
on such day net of all brokerage fees, governmental charges
and any other expenses incurred in connection with such
sale), to the extent Units are available for purchase from
the Depositor. In the event a sale of Securities included
in the Rollover Unit holder's redemption distribution shall
not be consummated in accordance with its terms, the
Distribution Agent shall apply the cash proceeds held for
such Unit holder as of the settlement date for the purchase
of Units of a New Series to purchase the maximum number of
Units which such cash balance will permit, and the Depositor
agrees that the settlement date for Units whose purchase was
not consummated as a result of insufficient funds will be
extended until cash proceeds from the Rollover Distribution
are available in a sufficient amount to settle such
purchase. If the Unit holder's Rollover Distribution will
produce insufficient cash proceeds to purchase all of the
Units of a New Series contracted for, the Depositor agrees
that the contract shall be rescinded with respect to the
Units as to which there was a cash shortfall without any
liability to the Rollover Unit holder or the Distribution
Agent. Any cash balance remaining after such purchase shall
be distributed within a reasonable time to the Rollover Unit
holder by check mailed to the address of such Unit holder on
the registration books of the Trustee. Units of a New Series
will be uncertificated unless and until the Rollover Unit
holder requests a certificate. Any cash held by the
Distribution Agent shall be held in a non-interest bearing
account which will be of benefit to the Distribution Agent
in accordance with normal banking procedures. Neither the
Trustee nor the Distribution Agent shall have any
responsibility or liability for loss or depreciation
resulting from any reinvestment made in accordance with this
paragraph, or for any failure to make such reinvestment in
the event the Depositor does not make Units available for
purchase.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositor may,
in its discretion at any time, decide not to offer any new
Trust Series in the future, and if so, this Section 5.05
concerning the Rollover of Units shall be inoperative.
(c) The Distribution Agent shall receive no fees for
performing its duties hereunder. The Distribution Agent
shall, however, be entitled to receive indemnification and
reimbursement from the Trust for any and all expenses and
disbursements to the same extent as the Trustee is permitted
reimbursement hereunder."
CC. Paragraph (g) of Section 6.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following
after the first word thereof:
"(i) the value of any Trust as shown by an evaluation
by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof shall be less
than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of
Securities deposited in such Trust during the initial
offering period, or (ii)"
DD. The third sentence of paragraph (a) of Section 6.05 of
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced in
its entirety by the following:
"In case at any time the Trustee shall become incapable of
acting, or if a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall
enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Trustee in
an involuntary case, or the Trustee shall commence a voluntary
case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law now or hereafter in effect, or any receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or
similar official) for the Trustee or for any substantial part of
its property shall be appointed, or the Trustee shall make any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall
generally fail to pay its debts as they become due, or if the
Sponsor shall determine in good faith that there has occurred
either (1) a material deterioration in the creditworthiness of
the Trustee or (2) one or more negligent acts on the part of the
Trustee having a materially adverse effect, either singly or in
the aggregate, on the Trust or on one or more Trusts of one or
more Funds, such that the replacement of the Trustee is in the
best interests of the Unit holders, the Sponsor may remove the
Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in
duplicate, one copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor trustee."
EE. Section 8.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The fourth sentence of the second paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"The Trustee will honor duly executed requests for in-
kind distributions received (accompanied by the electing
Unit holder's Certificate, if issued) by the close of
business ten business days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date."
(ii) The first sentence of the fourth paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"Commencing no earlier than the business day following that
date on which Unit holders must submit to the Trustee notice of
their request to receive an in-kind distribution of Securities at
termination, the Trustee will liquidate the Securities not
segregated for in-kind distributions during such period and in
such daily amounts as the Depositor shall direct."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nike Securities L.P., The Chase Manhattan
Bank and First Trust Advisors L.P. have each caused this Trust
Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate seal to be
hereto affixed and attested (if applicable) by authorized
officers; all as of the day, month and year first above written.
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
Depositor
By ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
By ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Assistant Treasurer
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
By ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
By ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
FT 344
(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof for the
Trust is the "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust as set forth
in the Prospectus.)
