AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 27th day of August, 2012, by and between (i) The Xxxxxx Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, with its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000 (the “Xxxxxx Trust”), with respect to its Xxxxxx Income Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), (ii) The Elite Group, a Massachusetts business trust, with its principal place of business at 0000 0xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the “Elite Trust”), with respect to its Elite Income Fund (the “Acquired Fund”), Xxxxxx Investment Counsel, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, solely with respect to paragraphs 1.9 and 9.1, and XxXxxxxxx Capital Management, Inc., a Washington corporation, solely with respect to paragraph 9.1.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of the regulations under Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The reorganization (the “Reorganization”) will consist of (i) the transfer of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange solely for shares of beneficial interest, without par value per share, of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”); (ii) the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the known liabilities of the Acquired Fund; and (iii) the distribution, after the Closing Date hereinafter referred to, of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the Xxxxxx Trust, and an open-end, registered investment company of the management type under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, the Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Elite Trust, an open-end, registered investment company of the management type and the Selling Fund owns securities that generally are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest;
WHEREAS, following the Reorganization, the Acquired Fund will deregister as an investment company in accordance with the rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”);
WHEREAS, following the effective date of its deregistration, the Acquired Fund shall voluntarily terminate in accordance with Massachusetts law and the terms of its Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time (“Elite Declaration of Trust”);
WHEREAS, the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund are authorized to issue their shares of beneficial interest;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Xxxxxx Trust have determined that the transactions contemplated herein will be in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will not be diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated herein;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Elite Trust have determined that the Acquired Fund should exchange all of its assets and liabilities for Acquiring Fund Shares and that the interests of the existing
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shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not be diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ACQUIRING FUND SHARES AND ASSUMPTION OF ACQUIRED FUND KNOWN LIABILITIES AND LIQUIDATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
1.1 THE EXCHANGE. 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 all of the Acquired Fund’s assets as set forth in paragraph 1.2 to the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund agrees in exchange for the Acquired Fund’s assets (i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund the number of Acquiring Fund Shares, including fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3; and (ii) to assume the known liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such transactions shall take place on the Closing Date provided for in paragraph 3.1.
1.2 ASSETS TO BE ACQUIRED. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all property, including, without limitation, all cash, securities, commodities, interests in futures and dividends or interest receivables, that is owned by the Acquired Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date.
The Acquired Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with its most recent unaudited financial statements, which contain a list of all of the Acquired Fund’s assets as of the date thereof. The Acquired Fund hereby represents that as of the date of the execution of this Agreement there have been no material changes in its financial position as reflected in said financial statements other than those occurring in the ordinary course of its business in connection with the purchase and sale of securities and the payment of its normal operating expenses. The Acquired Fund reserves the right to sell any of such securities, but will not, without the prior written approval of the Acquiring Fund, acquire any additional securities other than securities of the type in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest.
The Acquiring Fund will, within a reasonable time prior to the Closing Date, furnish the Acquired Fund with a list of the securities, if any, on the Acquired Fund’s list referred to in the second sentence of this paragraph that do not conform to the Acquiring Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. The Acquired Fund will, within a reasonable period of time (not less than 30 days) prior to the Closing Date, furnish the Acquiring Fund with a list of its portfolio securities and other investments. In the event that the Acquired Fund holds any investments that the addition, if it is determined that the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund portfolios, when aggregated, would contain investments exceeding certain percentage limitations imposed upon the Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, the Acquired Fund if requested by the Acquiring Fund will dispose of a sufficient amount of such investments as may be necessary to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will require the Acquired Fund to dispose of any investments or securities if, in the reasonable judgment of the Acquired Fund, such disposition would violate the Acquired Fund’s fiduciary duty to its shareholders.
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1.3 LIABILITIES TO BE ASSUMED. The Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall assume all of the Acquired Fund’s known liabilities and obligations reflected in the Acquired Fund’s net asset value as of the Closing Date.
1.4 LIQUIDATION AND DISTRIBUTION. On or as soon after the Closing Date as is conveniently practicable (the “Liquidation Date”),
(a) the Acquired Fund will liquidate and distribute pro rata to the Acquired Fund’s shareholders of record, determined as of the close of business on the Valuation Date (the “Acquired Fund Shareholders”), the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1; and (b) the Acquired Fund will thereupon proceed to terminate as set forth in paragraph 1.8 below. Such liquidation and distribution 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 and representing the respective pro rata number of the Acquiring Fund Shares due such shareholders. All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be canceled on the books of the Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange.
1.5 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued in the manner described in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement which will be distributed to shareholders of the Acquired Fund as described in paragraph 4.1(o).
1.6 TRANSFER TAXES. Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of the Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered holder of the Acquired Fund shares on the books of the Acquired Fund as of that time shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred.
1.7 REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY. Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund is and shall remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund up to and including the Closing Date and such later date on which the Acquired Fund is terminated.
1.8 TERMINATION. The Trust shall take all necessary and appropriate steps under applicable law to terminate the Acquired Fund promptly following the Closing Date and the making of all distributions pursuant to paragraph 1.4.
1.9 MANAGEMENT FEES. The investment management fees charged by Xxxxxx to the Acquiring Fund shall not be increased for a period of at least two years following the Closing Date.
1.10 BOOKS AND RECORDS. As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall provide the Acquiring Fund with copies of all books and records that pertain to the Acquired Fund that the Acquiring Fund is required to maintain under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules of the Commission thereunder.
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ARTICLE II
VALUATION OF ASSETS
2.1 VALUATION OF ASSETS. The value of the Acquired Fund’s assets to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund hereunder shall be the value of such assets computed as of the close of business on the business day next preceding the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Date”), using the valuation procedures set forth in the Elite Declaration of Trust and the Acquired Fund’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information or such other valuation procedures as shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
2.2 VALUATION OF SHARES. The net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund Shares shall be the net asset value per share computed as of the close of business on the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures set forth in the Xxxxxx Trust’s Trust Instrument and the Acquiring Fund’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information.
2.3 SHARES TO BE ISSUED. The number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in exchange for the Acquired Fund’s assets shall be determined by multiplying the outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund by the ratio computed by dividing the net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund by the net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund on the Valuation Date, determined in accordance with in paragraph 2.2. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued for shares of the Acquired Fund.
2.4 DETERMINATION OF VALUE. All computations of value of the Acquiring Fund shall be made by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent, in accordance with its regular practice in pricing the shares and assets of the Acquiring Fund. All computations of value of the Acquired Fund shall be made by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing, the Acquired Fund’s transfer agent, in accordance with its regular practice in pricing the shares and assets of the Acquired Fund.
ARTICLE III
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1 CLOSING DATE. The closing of the Reorganization (the “Closing”) shall take place on or about September 27, 2012 or such other date as the parties may agree to in writing (the “Closing Date”). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously immediately prior to the opening of business on the Closing Date unless otherwise provided. The Closing shall be held as of 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the offices of The Elite Group, or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree.
3.2 PORTFOLIO SECURITIES MADE AVAILABLE. The portfolio securities of the Acquired Fund xxxXx be made available by the Acquired Fund to US Bank, N.A., as custodian for the Acquiring Fund (the “Custodian”), for examination no later than five business days preceding the Valuation Date. On the Closing Date, such portfolio securities and all the Acquired Fund’s cash shall be delivered by the Acquired Fund to the Custodian for the account of the Acquiring Fund, such portfolio securities to be duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such manner and condition as to constitute good delivery thereof in accordance with the custom of brokers or, in the case of portfolio securities held in the U.S. Treasury Department’s book-entry system or by the Depository Trust Company, Participants Trust Company or other third party depositories, by transfer to the account of the Custodian in accordance with Rule 17f-4 or Rule 17f-5, as the case may be, under the 1940 Act and accompanied by all necessary federal and state stock transfer stamps or a check for the appropriate purchase price of such
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transfer stamps. The cash delivered shall be in the form of currency or certified or official bank checks, payable to the order of “US Bank, N.A., custodian for The Xxxxxx Income Fund, a series of The Xxxxxx Trust.”
3.3 EFFECT OF SUSPENSION IN TRADING. In the event that on the Valuation Date (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 thereon shall be restricted; or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on said Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Valuation Date (and 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.
3.4 TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE. The Acquired Fund shall cause its transfer agent to 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 of outstanding shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver, or cause its transfer agent, to issue and deliver, to the Secretary of the Elite Trust a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date or provide evidence satisfactory to the Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts and other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND. The Acquired Fund represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquired Fund is a separate investment series of the Elite Trust, a business trust duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts.
(b) The Acquired Fund is registered as an investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its 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 Acquired Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 misleading.
(d) The Acquired Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in violation of any material provision of the Elite Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(e) The Acquired Fund has no material contracts or other commitments that will be terminated with liability to it prior to the Closing Date, except for liabilities, if any, to be discharged as provided in paragraph 1.3 hereof.
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(f) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding, or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquired Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business, or the ability of the Acquired Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated.
(g) The audited financial statements of the Acquired Fund at September 30, 2011 are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquired Fund as of such date, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of such date not disclosed therein.
(h) Since September 30, 2011, 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 in writing to and accepted in writing by the Acquiring Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (h), a decline in the net asset value of the Acquired Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change.
(i) 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 date shall have been filed, and all federal and other taxes shown due on said returns and reports shall have been paid, or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof. 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.
(j) For each fiscal year of its operation, the Acquired Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated investment company and has distributed in each such year all net investment income and realized capital gains.
(k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquired Fund. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will, at the time of the Closing Date, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the transfer agent as provided in paragraph 3.4. 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.
(l) 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 paragraph 1.2 and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver such assets hereunder, 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, other than as disclosed in writing to the Acquiring Fund and accepted in writing by the Acquiring Fund.
(m) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquired Fund and, subject to approval by the Acquired
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Fund’s shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(n) The information furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is accurate and complete in all material respects and complies in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto, to the best of the Acquired Fund’s knowledge.
(o) The Acquired Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with information reasonably necessary for the preparation of a Prospectus/Proxy Statement, in compliance with the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act. The Prospectus/Proxy Statement (other than information therein that relates to the Acquiring Fund) does 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 were made, not misleading.
4.2 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND. The Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of the Xxxxxx Trust, a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.
(b) The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of the Xxxxxx Trust, which is registered as an investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
(c) The Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in violation of the Xxxxxx Trust’s Trust Instrument 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.
(d) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to the Acquired Fund and accepted by the Acquired Fund, no litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition and the conduct of its business or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
(e) The Acquiring Fund has not yet commenced investment operations and has no known contingent liabilities.
(f) The Acquiring Fund was established in order to effect the transactions described in this Agreement, and, prior to the Closing Date, will not have carried on any business activities (other than
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such activities as are customary to the organization of a new series of a registered investment company prior to its commencement of operations). The Acquiring Fund has not yet filed its first U.S. federal income tax return and, thus, has not yet elected to be as a “regulated investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, upon filing its first federal income tax return following the completion of its first taxable year, the Acquiring Fund will elect to be a “regulated investment company” and, from the beginning of its first taxable year, Acquiring Fund will take all steps necessary to ensure that it qualifies and will be treated as a “regulated investment company” under Sections 851 and 852 of the Code.
(g) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund 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, fully paid and non-assessable. The authorized capital of the Acquiring Fund consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, no par value. As of the date of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund has no outstanding shares. As of the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have outstanding the shares of beneficial interest issued to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund as contemplated by this Agreement, having the characteristics described in the Registration Statement. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Shares.
(h) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(i) The information furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in no-action letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials, and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is accurate and complete in all material respects and complies in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto.
(j) The Prospectus/Proxy Statement (only insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund) does 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 were made, not misleading.
(k) 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 Blue Sky or securities laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND
5.1 OPERATION IN ORDINARY COURSE. 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, with respect to the Acquired Fund, such ordinary course of business will include customary dividends and distributions, and with respect to the Acquiring Fund, it shall be limited to such actions as are customary to the organization of a new series of a registered investment company prior to its commencement of investment operations.
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5.2 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION. 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.
5.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. The Acquired Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund shares.
5.4 PREPARATION OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT/SHAREHOLDER MEETING. The Acquired Fund will call a meeting of its shareholders to be held prior to the Closing Date to consider and act upon this Agreement and take all other reasonable action necessary to obtain the required shareholder approval of the transaction contemplated hereby. In connection with the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, the Acquiring Fund will prepare a Prospectus/Proxy Statement for such meeting, to be included in a Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “Registration Statement”) which the Xxxxxx Trust will prepare and file for registration under the 1933 Act of the Acquired Shares to be distributed to the Acquired Fund shareholders pursuant hereto, all in compliance with applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act.
5.5 FURTHER ACTION. 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, including any actions required to be taken after the Closing Date.
The Acquiring Fund will advise the Acquired Fund promptly if at any time prior to the Closing Date the Acquiring Fund becomes aware that the assets of the Acquired Fund include any securities which the Acquiring Fund is not permitted to acquire.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
The obligations of the Acquired Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date and that all the Acquiring Fund’s covenants have been complied with and conditions satisfied, and the Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a certificate executed in its name by the Xxxxxx Trust’s President or Vice President, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request.
6.2 With respect to the Acquiring Fund, the Elite Trust shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion from Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP, counsel to The Xxxxxx Trust and the Acquiring Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund, covering the following points:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is a separate investment series of a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the trust power
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to own all of its properties and assets and, to the knowledge of such counsel, to carry on its business as presently conducted.
(b) The Acquiring Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
(c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Acquiring Fund and, assuming the Registration Statement referred to in paragraph 5.4 complies with applicable federal securities laws and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles.
(d) Assuming that a consideration therefor not less than the net asset value thereof has been paid, the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund on behalf of the Acquired Fund Shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and upon such delivery will be legally issued and outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any statutory preemptive rights in respect thereof.
(e) The Registration Statement, to the knowledge of such counsel, has been declared effective by the Commission and no stop order under the 1933 Act pertaining thereto has been issued; and to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the State of Delaware is required for consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and as may be required under state securities laws.
(f) The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a violation of the Xxxxxx Trust’s Trust Instrument or By-Laws or a material provision of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking (in each case known to such counsel) to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or, to the knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty under any agreement, judgment, or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(g) Only insofar as they relate to the Acquiring Fund, the descriptions in the Registration Statement of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and material contracts, if any, are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown.
(h) Such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings, only insofar as they relate to the Acquiring Fund, existing on or before the effective date of the Registration Statement or the Closing Date required to be described in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement or to be filed as exhibits to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement which are not described or filed as required.
(i) To the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets and the Acquiring Fund 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, other than as previously disclosed in the Registration Statement.
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Such opinion shall contain such assumptions and limitations as shall be in the opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP appropriate to render the opinions expressed therein.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquired Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date and that all of the Acquired Fund’s covenants have been complied with and conditions satisfied, and the Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by the Elite Trust’s President or Vice President, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.
7.2 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities, together with a list of the Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities showing the tax costs of such securities by lot and the holding periods of such securities, as of the Closing Date, certified by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Trust.
7.3 With respect to the Acquired Fund, the Xxxxxx Trust shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Madrona Legal Advisers, LLC, counsel to The Elite Trust and the Acquired Fund, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, covering the following points:
(a) The Acquired Fund is a separate investment series of the Elite Trust, a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has the trust power to own all of its properties and assets and, to the knowledge of such counsel, to carry on its business as presently conducted.
(b) The Acquired Fund is a separate investment series of a Massachusetts business trust registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
(c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Acquired Fund and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund enforceable against the Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles.
(d) To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required for consummation by the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and as may be required under state securities laws.
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(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a violation of the Elite Declaration of Trust or By-laws, or a material provision of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking (in each case known to such counsel) to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or, to the knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, judgment, or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(f) Only insofar as they relate to the Acquired Fund, the descriptions in the Registration Statement of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and material contracts, if any, are accurate and fairly represent the information required to be shown.
(g) Such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings, only insofar as they relate to the Acquired Fund existing on or before the effective date of the Registration Statement or the Closing Date, required to be described in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required.
(h) To the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquired Fund or any of its respective properties or assets and the Acquired Fund is not a party to nor subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body, which materially and adversely affects its business other than as previously disclosed in the Registration Statement.
(i) Assuming that a consideration therefor of not less than the net asset value thereof has been paid, and assuming that such shares were issued in accordance with the terms of the Acquired Fund’s registration statement, or any amendment thereto, in effect at the time of such issuance, all issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund are legally issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
Such opinion shall contain such other assumptions and limitations as shall be in the opinion of Madrona Legal Advisers, LLC appropriate to render the opinions expressed therein.
ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND
If any of the conditions set forth below do not exist on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1 On the Closing Date, the Commission shall not have issued an unfavorable report under Section 25(b) of the 1940 Act, nor instituted any proceeding seeking to enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under Section 25(c) of the 1940 Act and no action, suit or other proceeding shall be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
8.2 All required consents of other parties and all other consents, orders, and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those of the Commission and of state Blue Sky securities authorities, including any necessary “no-action” positions of and exemptive orders from
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such federal and state authorities) to permit consummation 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.
8.3 The Elite Trust and the Xxxxxx Trust shall have received a favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP addressed to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund substantially to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes:
(a) The Reorganization will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Elite Income Fund and the Xxxxxx Income Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code;
(b) Under Code Section 361, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Elite Income Fund (i) upon the transfer of its assets to the Xxxxxx Income Fund in exchange for shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund and the assumption by the Xxxxxx Income Fund of the liabilities of the Elite Income Fund or (ii) upon the distribution of shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund by the Elite Income Fund to its shareholders in liquidation;
(c) Under Code Section 354, no gain or loss will be recognized by shareholders of the Elite Income Fund upon the exchange of all of their Fund shares for shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund in the Reorganization;
(d) Under Code Section 358, the aggregate tax basis of shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund to be received by each Elite Income Fund shareholder in exchange for his or her or its Fund shares in the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Elite Income Fund shares exchanged therefor;
(e) Under Section 1223(1) of the Code, an Elite Income Fund shareholder’s holding period for shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund to be received pursuant to the Reorganization will be determined by including the holding period for the Elite Income Fund shares exchanged therefor, provided that the shareholder held those Fund shares as a capital asset on the date of the exchange;
(f) Under Code Section 1032, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Xxxxxx Income Fund upon receipt of the assets of the Xxxxxx Income Fund pursuant to the Reorganization in exchange for the assumption by the Xxxxxx Income Fund of the liabilities of the Elite Income Fund and issuance of shares of the Xxxxxx Income Fund;
(g) Under Code Section 362(b), the Xxxxxx Income Fund’s tax basis of the assets that the Xxxxxx Income Fund acquires from the Elite Income Fund in the Reorganization will be the same as the Elite Income Fund’s tax basis of such assets immediately prior to such transfer;
(h) Under Code Section 1223(2), the holding period for the assets the Xxxxxx Income Fund receives from the Elite Income Fund in the Reorganization will include the periods during which such assets were held by the Elite Income Fund; and
(i) The Xxxxxx Income Fund will succeed to and take into account all items of the Elite Income Fund described in Code Section 381(c) subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Code Sections 381, 382, 383, and 384 and the Treasury regulations thereunder.
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ARTICLE IX
EXPENSES
9.1 Except as otherwise provided for herein, all expenses of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement incurred by the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, whether incurred before or after the date of this Agreement, will be borne by the Fund incurring such expenses, except that Xxxxxx Investment Counsel, LLC and XxXxxxxxx Capital Management, Inc. shall bear all the out-of-pocket expenses of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, such expenses to be shared between Xxxxxx Investment Counsel, LLC and XxXxxxxxx Capital Management, Inc. Such expenses include, without limitation, (a) expenses incurred in connection with the entering into and the carrying out of the provisions of this Agreement; (b) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act covering the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (c) postage; (d) printing; (e) accounting fees; (f) legal fees; and (g) solicitation costs of the transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Acquired Fund shall pay its own federal and state registration fees. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, expenses will in any event be paid by the party directly incurring such expenses if and to the extent that the payment by another person of such expenses would result in the disqualification of such party as a regulated investment company within the meaning of Section 851 of the Code.
9.2 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund represent and warrant that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein, other than any brokerage fees and expenses incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities in connection with the Reorganization.
ARTICLE X
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 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.
10.2 The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
10.3 The Xxxxxx Trust, out of the Acquiring Fund’s assets and property (including any amounts paid to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to any applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements), agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquired Fund and its 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 the Acquired Fund and its Trustees and officers may become subject, insofar as 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, provided that such indemnification by the Acquiring Fund is not in violation of any applicable law.
10.4 The Elite Trust, out of the Acquired Fund’s assets and property (including any amounts paid to the Acquired Fund pursuant to any applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements), agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquiring Fund and its
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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 the Acquiring Fund and its Trustees and officers may become subject, insofar as 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, provided that such indemnification by the Acquired Fund is not in violation of any applicable law.
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 This Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund. In addition, either the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund may at its option terminate this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date because:
(a) of a material breach by the other of any representation, warranty, or agreement contained herein to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date, if not cured within 30 days of notice thereof; or
(b) a condition herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating party has not been met and it reasonably appears that it will not or cannot be met in all material respects.
11.2 In the event of any such termination, in the absence of gross negligence or willful default, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund, the Acquired Fund, the Xxxxxx Trust, the Elite Trust or its Trustees or officers, to the other party, but each shall bear the expenses incurred by it incidental to the preparation and carrying out of this Agreement as provided in paragraph 9.1.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
12.1 This Agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of the Trust.
ARTICLE XIII
HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
13.1 The Article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
13.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
13.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.
13.4 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm, or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
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13.5 With respect to the Elite Trust, the name used herein refers respectively to the trust created and, as the case may be, the Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to time under organizational documents filed in Massachusetts, which are hereby referred to and are also on file at the principal offices of the Trust. The obligations of the Trust entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents of the Trust, are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders or representatives of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property, and all persons dealing with the Acquired Fund must look solely to the trust property belonging to the Acquired Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Acquired Fund.
With respect to the Xxxxxx Trust, the name used herein refers respectively to the trust created and, as the case may be, the Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to time under organizational documents filed in Delaware, which are hereby referred to and are also on file at the principal offices of the Trust. The obligations of the Trust entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents of the Trust, are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders or representatives of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property, and all persons dealing with the Acquiring Fund must look solely to the trust property belonging to the Acquiring Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Acquiring Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
The Elite Trust
On behalf of the Elite Income Fund |
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The Xxxxxx Trust
On behalf of the Xxxxxx Income Fund |
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BY: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
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BY: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Title: President |
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Title: President
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Only With Respect to Paragraph 9.1 of this Agreement:
XxXxxxxxx Capital Management, Inc.
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx | ||
Title: President
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Only With Respect to Paragraphs 1.9 and 9.1 of this Agreement:
Xxxxxx Investment Counsel, LLC
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: Chairman
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