The Acquisition At the Closing (as defined below), each Stockholder shall sell to Group 1 and Group 1 shall purchase from each Stockholder that number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share of the Company ("Company Common Stock") as set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto in exchange for that number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share of Group 1 ("Group 1 Common Stock") set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto (as may be appropriately adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits and/or stock dividends). In the event that the Board of Directors of Group 1 approves a reverse stock split upon the recommendation of the Representatives of the Underwriters in connection with the IPO, the number of shares of Group 1 Common Stock to be received by the shareholders of the Founding Companies shall be decreased proportionately as a result of the reverse stock split; provided, however, that in the event that the number of shares of Group 1 Common Stock resulting from the reverse stock split recommended by the Representatives of the Underwriters is less than the number of shares resulting from a 4.444 for 5 reverse stock split, a 4.444 for 5 reverse stock split shall be implemented and the number of shares of Group 1 Common Stock resulting from such 4.444 for 5 reverse stock split to be received by the shareholders of the Founding Companies shall be further decreased proportionately to the number of shares that would have been issued to the shareholders of the Founding Companies had the reverse stock split recommended by the Representatives of the Underwriters been implemented. If the number of shares of Group 1 Common Stock received by a Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement includes a fractional share as a result of a reverse stock split affecting the Group 1 Common Stock, such fractional share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Group 1 Common Stock.
COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND 5.1 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include customary dividends and distributions.
5.2 The Trust will call a meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein.
5.3 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4 As promptly as practicable, but in any case within sixty days after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall furnish the Acquiring Fund, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, a statement of the earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes which will be carried over to the Acquiring Fund as a result of Section 381 of the Code and which will be certified by the Trust's President and its Treasurer.
5.5 The Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring Fund with information reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement, referred to in paragraph 4.1(o), all to be included in a Registration Statement on Form N-14 of the Acquiring Fund (the "Registration Statement"), in compliance with the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act in connection with the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders to consider approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
5.6 The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
5.7 Prior to the Valuation Date, the Acquired Fund shall have declared a dividend or dividends, with a record date and ex-dividend date prior to the Valuation Date, which, together with all previous dividends, shall have the effect of distributing to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income, if any, plus the excess of its interest income, if any, excludable from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code over its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Code for the taxable periods or years ended on or before December 31, 1996 and for the period from said date to and including the Closing Date (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid), and all of its net capital gain, if any, realized in taxable periods or years ended on or before December 31, 1996 and in the period from said date to and including the Closing Date.
Representations of the Acquired Funds In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquired Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquiring Fund if such Acquired Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
Acquisition Transactions The Company shall provide the holder of this Warrant with at least twenty (20) days’ written notice prior to closing thereof of the terms and conditions of any of the following transactions (to the extent the Company has notice thereof): (i) the sale, lease, exchange, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s property or business, or (ii) its merger into or consolidation with any other corporation (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), or any transaction (including a merger or other reorganization) or series of related transactions, in which more than 50% of the voting power of the Company is disposed of.
REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND The Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants to the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, as follows:
a) The Acquiring Fund is a legally designated, separate series of a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.
b) The Corporation is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and the Trust's registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
c) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated or necessary to make such statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
d) The Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not, result in a violation of the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound. e) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquired Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and it is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transaction contemplated herein. f) The financial statements of the Acquiring Fund as of April 30, 2003 and for the fiscal year then ended have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquired Funds) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund as of such date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund as of such date that are not disclosed in such statements. g) The unaudited financial statements of the Acquiring Fund as of October 31, 2003, and for the fiscal year then ended have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquired Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund as of such date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund as of such date that are not disclosed in such statements. h) Since the date of the financial statements referred to in paragraph (g) above, there have been no material adverse changes 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 by the Acquired Fund. For the purposes of this paragraph (h), a decline in the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change. i) All federal and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to be filed, have been filed. All federal and other taxes shown due on such returns and reports have been paid or provision shall have been made for their payment. 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.
Alternative Transaction In the event that, in lieu of the Arrangement, the Purchaser seeks to complete the acquisition of the Company Shares other than as contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement on a basis that (a) provides for economic terms which, in relation to the Shareholder, on an after-tax basis, are at least equivalent to or better than those contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement taking into account the Intended Tax Treatment, (b) would not likely result in a delay or time to completion beyond the Voting Support Outside Date, and (c) is otherwise on terms and conditions not materially more onerous on the Shareholder than the Arrangement (including any take-over bid) any such transaction, an “Alternative Transaction”), then during the term of this Agreement the Shareholder may, on its own accord, and shall, upon written request of the Purchaser, support the completion of such Alternative Transaction in the same manner as the Arrangement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement mutatis mutandis, including by (A) depositing or causing the deposit of its Subject Shares (including any Company Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise, conversion or vesting, as applicable, of any Company Options, Company Compensation Options or Company RSUs) into an Alternative Transaction conducted by way of a take-over bid made by the Purchaser or an affiliate of Purchaser and not withdrawing them; and/or (B) voting or causing to be voted all of the Subject Shares (to the extent that they carry the right to vote) in favour of, and not dissenting from, such Alternative Transaction proposed by the Purchaser, provided however that the Shareholder shall not be required to exercise, convert or exchange any Subject Shares (other than Company Shares) in connection with an Alternative Transaction.
Representations of the Acquiring Funds (a) In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquiring Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to Acquiring Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquired Fund if such Acquiring Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to its investment in such Acquired Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(b) An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund:
i. of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities;
ii. of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities;
iii. where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and
iv. if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that has an “affiliated person” (as defined under the 1940 Act) that is: (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a broker-dealer or bank that borrows as part of a securities lending program, or (iii) a futures commission merchant or a swap dealer, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities without prior approval from the Acquired Fund, and (b) notify the Acquired Fund if any investment by the Acquiring Fund that complied with (a) at the time of purchase no longer complies.
(d) The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc.
(e) An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request.
(f) Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time.
Alternative Transactions (a) Except as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02, until the Effective Time, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Company Subsidiaries, or any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, to, or authorize any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative retained by it or any of the Company Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage, or take any other action to knowingly facilitate, any Alternative Transaction Proposal or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Alternative Transaction Proposal, (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish or provide access to any Person any information with respect to, any Alternative Transaction Proposal (except, subject to this Section 6.02, to disclose the existence of the provisions of this Section 6.02), (iii) authorize, approve or cause or permit the Company to enter into any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, memorandum of understanding, letter of intent or similar agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) relating to an Alternative Transaction Proposal (an “Alternative Transaction Agreement”) or (iv) agree or resolve to take any actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) of this sentence.
(b) Until the Effective Time, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within one Business Day) notify Parent orally and in writing after receipt of (i) any Alternative Transaction Proposal or any inquiry, offer or proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Alternative Transaction Proposal or (ii) any request for nonpublic information with respect to the Company or Company Subsidiaries relating to any Alternative Transaction Proposal. Such notice shall include the material terms and conditions of such Alternative Transaction Proposal or inquiry, offer, proposal or request (including the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Transaction Proposal, inquiry, offer, proposal or request) and any amendments thereto.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.02(a), if at any time prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval the Company receives an unsolicited, bona fide Alternative Transaction Proposal from any Person that the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor, is, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal, the Company may (i) furnish or provide access to information to the Person making such Alternative Transaction Proposal with respect to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement (it being understood that the Company shall as promptly as is reasonably practicable make available to Parent and Merger Sub any written information concerning the Company or the Company Subsidiaries that is provided to any Person pursuant to this Section 6.02(c)(i) to the extent such information was not previously provided to Parent or Merger Sub) and (ii) engage in discussions or negotiations with such Person and its Representatives with respect to such Alternative Transaction Proposal. Upon Parent’s request, the Company shall provide Parent a reasonably detailed update on the status and terms of any discussions, negotiations, inquiries, offers, proposals or requests relating to any such Alternative Transaction Proposal. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall provide to Parent, as soon as practicable and in any event within one (1) Business Day after receipt or delivery thereof, copies of all draft agreements (and any other transaction documents to the extent such transaction documents contain any financial terms, conditions or other material terms relating to such Alternative Transaction Proposal, and a summary of the terms of any financing commitments related thereto to the extent applicable and available) sent by or provided to the Company.
(d) Except as set forth in this Section 6.02(d), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw, withhold, qualify, amend or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board of this Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve, adopt, endorse or recommend any Alternative Transaction Proposal or Alternative Transaction Agreement or (iii) agree, propose or resolve to take any of the actions set forth in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence. Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, but subject to the other terms of this Section 6.02(d), prior to the time the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Company Board may (A) if an Intervening Event has occurred, withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify its approval or recommendation of this Agreement and the Merger in connection with such Intervening Event or (B) if the Company has received after the date hereof an Alternative Transaction Proposal that the Company Board determines, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor, is a Superior Proposal, withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify its approval or recommendation of this Agreement and the Merger and approve or recommend such Superior Proposal (any action in clause (A) or (B), a “Change of Recommendation”), in each case if, but only if:
(i) the Company notifies Parent and Merger Sub in writing (a “Change of Recommendation Notice”), at least four (4) Business Days in advance, that the Company Board intends to effect a Change of Recommendation and the reasons therefor, which notice shall (y) in the case of an Intervening Event, describe in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances giving rise or relating to such Intervening Event, and (z) in the case of a Superior Proposal, identify the Person making such Superior Proposal, describe the material terms and conditions thereof (including any financing commitments related thereto to the extent applicable and available), and include unredacted copies of the most current and complete draft of any proposed Alternative Transaction Agreement;
(ii) the Company negotiates, and causes its outside legal counsel and independent financial advisor to negotiate, in good faith with Parent and its outside legal counsel and independent financial advisor (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) during such four (4) Business Day period (the “Notice Period”) to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would permit the Company Board not to effect a Change of Recommendation with respect to such Intervening Event or so that such Alternative Transaction Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal, as the case may be;
(iii) at the conclusion of the Notice Period, the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel and its independent financial advisor, and after taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed in writing by Parent, that (y) the failure to effect a Change of Recommendation would reasonably be likely to result in a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law and (z) in the case of a Superior Proposal, that such Superior Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal; and
(iv) in the case of a Superior Proposal, the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01(d)(i) promptly after effecting such Change of Recommendation and immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with such termination, pays to Parent any amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.02(b). In the event of any material change in the facts or circumstances giving rise to any such Intervening Event or to the terms of any such Superior Proposal (including any change to the amount or form of consideration), the Company shall, in each case, provide Parent with a new Change of Recommendation Notice, except that the Notice Period shall be two (2) Business Days instead of four (4) Business Days, before the Company Board may effect a Change of Recommendation and, in the case of a Superior Proposal, terminate this Agreement.
(e) Nothing contained in this Section 6.02 shall prohibit the Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any required disclosure to the Company’s stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Company Board, failure to so disclose would reasonably be likely to result in a violation of applicable Law; provided, however, that if such disclosure does not reaffirm the approval or recommendation by the Company Board of this Agreement and the Merger or has the substantive effect of withholding, withdrawing, qualifying, amending or modifying, in a manner adverse to Parent and Merger Sub, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board of this Agreement or the Merger, such disclosure shall be deemed to be a Change of Recommendation (it being understood, however, that a “stop, look and listen” communication to the Company’s stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act shall not be deemed a Change of Recommendation).
(f) For purposes of this Agreement:
Shareholder Transactions (i) Process shareholder purchase and redemption orders in accordance with conditions set forth in the Trust's prospectus.
(ii) Set up account information, including address, dividend option, taxpayer identification numbers and wire instructions.
(iii) Issue confirmations in compliance with Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act").
(iv) Issue periodic statements for shareholders.
(v) Process transfers and exchanges.
(vi) Act as a service agent and process dividend payments, including the purchase of new shares, through dividend reimbursement.
(vii) Record the issuance of shares and maintain pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) of the 1934 Act a record of the total number of shares of each Portfolio which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and issued and outstanding.
(viii) Perform such services as are required to comply with Rules 17a-24 and 17Ad-17 of the 1934 Act (the "Lost Shareholder Rules").
(ix) Administer and/or perform all other customary services of a transfer agent.
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 conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of the Successor Company on behalf of the Acquiring 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.
6.2 The Successor Company shall have delivered to the Predecessor Company on the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by the Successor Company’s President or Vice President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Predecessor Company, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Successor Company made in this Agreement on behalf of the Acquiring Fund are true and correct at 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 Predecessor Company reasonably requests.
6.3 The Successor Company (on behalf of and with respect to the Acquiring Fund) shall have entered into or adopted an investment management agreement with the investment advisers as set forth in Appendix B, an Administrative Services Agreement with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DIMA”), a distribution agreement with DWS Distributors Inc., plans of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, shareholder services plans, a transfer agency agreement with DWS Investments Service Company, and other agreements necessary for the Acquiring Fund’s operation as a series of an open-end investment company. The investment management agreement and each such agreement and plan shall have been approved by the Successor Board, including, to the extent required by law, those trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Successor Company or DIMA and who do not have a material interest in such agreement or plan or any related agreement.
