AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
This Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (“Agreement”) is made as of February 10, 2011, by
and between Optique Funds, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), on behalf of its series,
Optique International Value Fund (the “Acquired Fund”), and Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds III, a Massachusetts
business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series Xxxx Xxxxxxx International Value Equity Fund
(the “Acquiring Fund” and together with the Acquired Fund, the “Funds” or individually, each a
“Fund”).
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization and liquidation
within the meaning of Sections 361(a) and Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any successor provision. The reorganization will
consist of the transfer of all assets of the Acquired Fund attributable to its shares in exchange
for Class A shares of the Acquiring Fund (the “Merger Shares”), and the assumption by the Acquiring
Fund of all known liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date (as defined below) and
the distribution of the Merger Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, all upon the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Each of the Company and the Trust is duly organized and validly existing under, and in
conformity with, the laws of jurisdiction of its organization, and has the power to own all of its
assets and to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and the Trust is
qualified as a foreign association in every jurisdiction where required, except to the extent that
failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Trust, as the
case may be. Each of the Company and the Trust is duly registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company and such
registration has not been revoked or rescinded and is in full force and effect. The Acquired Fund
and the Acquiring Fund are separate series of the Company and the Trust, respectively, duly
established and designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s Articles
of Incorporation dated January 27, 1998, as amended and supplemented with respect to the Acquired
Fund (the “Articles”), and the Trust’s Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of
Trust dated August 12, 2005 (the “Declaration”), respectively, and the 1940 Act.
The Company’s Board of Directors and the Trust’s Board of Trustees: (i) have adopted and
approved this Agreement and the transactions hereby contemplated; and (ii) have determined that
participation therein is in the best interests of their respective Funds and that the interests of
the existing shareholders thereof will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization (as defined
below).
All covenants and obligations of a Fund contained herein shall be deemed to be covenants and
obligations of the Company or the Trust, as the case may be, acting on behalf of that Fund, and all
rights and benefits created hereunder in favor of a Fund shall inure to, and shall be enforceable
by, the Company or the Trust, as the case may be, acting on behalf of that Fund.
In order to consummate the reorganization contemplated by this Agreement (the
“Reorganization”) and in consideration of the promises and the covenants and agreements hereinafter
set forth, and intending to be legally bound, each party hereby agrees as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Acquiring Fund.
The Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Acquired Fund that:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is a series of the Trust and, in conformity with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has the power to own all of its assets and to carry out its
obligations
under this Agreement. Each of the Trust and the Acquiring Fund has all necessary federal, state and
local authorizations to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to carry out this
Agreement.
(b) The Acquiring Fund was formed for the purpose of effecting the Reorganization, has not engaged
in any business prior to the Reorganization, and does not own any assets.
(c) The Acquiring Fund has no known liabilities of a material nature, contingent or otherwise. As
of the Valuation Time (as defined in Section 3(d)), the Acquiring Fund will advise the Acquired
Fund in writing of all known liabilities, contingent or otherwise, whether or not incurred in the
ordinary course of business, existing or accrued as of such time.
(d) The Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, has full power and authority to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action of the Trust’s Board, and this Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding contract enforceable in accordance with its terms subject to
approval by the Acquired Fund’s shareholders and subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws relating to or
affecting the rights or remedies of creditors’ generally; a party’s obligations of good faith, fair
dealing, diligence, reasonableness, or due notice; equitable rights, remedies, or defenses;
indemnifications from or against liability; and court decisions with respect thereto.
(e) There are no material legal, administrative or other proceedings pending or, to the knowledge
of the Trust or the Acquiring Fund, threatened against the Trust or the Acquiring Fund which assert
liability on the part of the Trust or the Acquiring Fund or which materially affect the financial
condition of the Trust or the Acquiring Fund or the Trust’s or the Acquiring Fund’s ability to
consummate the Reorganization. Neither the Trust nor the Acquiring Fund is charged with or, to the
best of their knowledge, threatened with any violation or investigation of any possible violation
of any provisions of any federal, state or local law or regulation or administrative ruling
relating to any aspect of their business.
(f) Neither the Trust nor the Acquiring Fund is obligated under any provision of the Declaration or
the Trust’s By-laws dated June 5, 2005, as may be amended (the “Trust By-laws”), and neither is a
party to any contract or other commitment or obligation, nor is subject to any order or decree,
which would be violated by its execution of or performance under this Agreement, except insofar as
the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund may mutually agree that the Acquiring Fund may take such
necessary action to amend such contract or other commitment or obligation to cure any potential
violation as a condition precedent to the Reorganization.
(g) There are no material contracts outstanding to which the Acquiring Fund is a party that have
not been disclosed in the N-14 Registration Statement (as defined in sub-section (i) below) or that
will not otherwise be disclosed to the Acquired Fund prior to the Valuation Time.
(h) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or government authority is required
for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the Reorganization, except such as may be required
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “1934 Act”), the 1940 Act, or state securities laws (which term as used herein
shall include the laws of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico).
(i) The registration statement on Form N-14 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) by the Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and relating to the Merger Shares
issuable hereunder, and the proxy statement of the Acquired Fund relating to the meeting of the
Acquired Fund’s
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shareholders referred to in Section 6(b) herein (together with the documents incorporated therein
by reference, the “Proxy Statement/ Prospectus”), and any supplement or amendment thereto or to the
documents therein (as amended or supplemented, the “N-14 Registration Statement”), on the effective
date of the N-14 Registration Statement, at the time of the shareholders’ meeting referred to in
Section 6(b) of this Agreement and at the Closing Date, insofar as it relates to the Acquiring
Fund:
(A) did and will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
(B) does not and will not contain 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 not
misleading; and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included therein did not or will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that none of the representations and warranties in this sub-section shall apply
to statements in or omissions from the N-14 Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in the N-14 Registration
Statement.
(j) All issued and outstanding Class A shares of the Acquiring Fund are, and at the Closing Date
will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable by the Acquiring
Fund. In regard to the statement that the outstanding shares will be nonassessable, it is noted
that the Acquiring Fund is a “Massachusetts business trust” and under Massachusetts law,
shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of
the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any security convertible into any
of the Acquiring Fund shares.
(k) The Merger Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund pursuant to this Agreement have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will be legally and validly
issued Class A shares of beneficial interest in the Acquiring Fund and will be fully paid and
nonassessable by the Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund will have any
preemptive right of subscription or purchase in respect thereof. In regard to the statement above
that the Merger Shares will be nonassessable, it is noted that the Trust is a “Massachusetts
business trust” and under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be
held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.
(l) At or prior to the Closing Date, the Merger Shares to be transferred to the Acquired Fund for
distribution to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date will be duly qualified
for offering to the public in all states of the United States in which the sale of shares of the
Acquired Fund presently are qualified, and there will be a sufficient number of such shares
registered under the 1933 Act and, as may be necessary, with each pertinent state securities
commission to permit the transfers contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated.
(m) At or prior to the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have obtained any and all regulatory,
trustee and shareholder approvals necessary to issue the Merger Shares to the Acquired Fund.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Acquired Fund.
The Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Acquiring Fund that:
(a) The Acquired Fund is a series of the Company and, in conformity with the laws of the State of
Maryland, has the power to own all of its assets and to carry out its obligations under this
Agreement.
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Each of the Company and the Acquired Fund has all necessary federal, state and local authorizations
to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to carry out this Agreement.
(b) The Acquired Fund has elected to be, and has met the requirements of subchapter M of the Code
for treatment as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) within the meaning of Section 851 of the
Code at all times since its inception, and will continue to meet such requirements at all times
through the Closing Date. The Acquired Fund has not at any time since its inception been liable
for, and is not now liable for, and will not be liable for on the Closing Date, any material income
or excise tax pursuant to Sections 852 or 4982 of the Code.
(c) The Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, has full power and authority to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action of the Company’s Board, and this
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding contract enforceable in accordance with its terms subject
to approval by the Acquired Fund’s shareholders and subject to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or similar laws relating
to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors’ generally; a party’s obligations of good
faith, fair dealing, diligence, reasonableness, or due notice; equitable rights, remedies, or
defenses; indemnifications from or against liability; and court decisions with respect thereto.
(d) The Acquiring Fund has been furnished with: (i) the annual report of the Acquired Fund for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, and the audited financial statements appearing therein, having
been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm; and (ii) the semi-annual
report of the Acquired Fund for the six months ended April 30, 2010, which, in each case, fairly
present the financial condition and result of operations of the Acquired Fund as of the date
indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied
on a consistent basis.
(e) The Acquired Fund has no known liabilities of a material nature, contingent or otherwise, other
than those that are shown as belonging to it on its statement of assets and liabilities as of April
30, 2010, and those incurred in the ordinary course of business as an investment company since such
date. As of the Valuation Time, the Acquired Fund will advise the Acquiring Fund in writing of all
known liabilities, contingent or otherwise, whether or not incurred in the ordinary course of
business, existing or accrued as of such time.
(f) There are no material legal, administrative or other proceedings pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company or the Acquired Fund, threatened against the Company or the Acquired Fund that
assert liability on the part of the Company or the Acquired Fund or which materially affect the
financial condition of the Company or the Acquired Fund or the Company’s or the Acquired Fund’s
ability to consummate the Reorganization. Neither the Company nor the Acquired Fund is charged with
or, to the best of their knowledge, threatened with any violation or investigation of any possible
violation of any provisions of any federal, state or local law or regulation or administrative
ruling relating to any aspect of their business.
(g) There are no material contracts outstanding to which the Acquired Fund is a party that have not
been disclosed in the N-14 Registration Statement or that will not otherwise be disclosed to the
Acquiring Fund prior to the Valuation Time.
(h) Neither the Company nor the Acquired Fund is obligated under any provision of the Articles or
the Company’s By-laws dated January 27, 1998, as may be amended (the “Company By-laws”), and
neither is a party to any contract or other commitment or obligation, nor is subject to any order
or decree, which would be violated by its execution of or performance under this Agreement, except
insofar as the
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Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund may mutually agree that the Acquired Fund may take such
necessary action to amend such contract or other commitment or obligation to cure any potential
violation as a condition precedent to the Reorganization.
(i) The Acquired Fund has filed, or intends to file, or has obtained extensions to file, all
federal, state and local tax returns which are required to be filed by it, and has paid or has
obtained extensions to pay, all federal, state and local taxes shown on said returns to be due and
owing and all assessments received by it, up to and including the taxable year in which the Closing
Date occurs. All tax liabilities of the Acquired Fund have been adequately provided for on its
books, and no tax deficiency or liability of the Acquired Fund has been asserted and no question
with respect thereto has been raised by the Internal Revenue Service or by any state or local tax
authority for taxes in excess of those already paid, up to and including the taxable year in which
the Closing Date occurs.
(j) As used in this Agreement, the term “Acquired Fund Investments” shall mean: (i) the investments
of the Acquired Fund shown on its schedule of investments as of the Valuation Time furnished to the
Acquiring Fund; and (ii) all other assets owned by the Acquired Fund or liabilities incurred as of
the Valuation Time. At the Valuation Time and the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will have full
right, power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Acquired Fund Investments. At
the Closing Date, subject only to the obligation to deliver the Acquired Fund Investments as
contemplated by this Agreement, the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to all of the
Acquired Fund Investments, and the Acquiring Fund will acquire all of the Acquired Fund Investments
free and clear of any encumbrances, liens or security interests and without any restrictions upon
the transfer thereof (except those imposed by the federal or state securities laws and those
imperfections of title or encumbrances as do not materially detract from the value or use of the
Acquired Fund Investments or materially affect title thereto).
(k) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority is required
for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the Reorganization, except such as may be required
under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or state securities laws.
(l) The N-14 Registration Statement, on the effective date of the N-14 Registration Statement, at
the time of the shareholders’ meeting referred to in Section 6(b) of this Agreement and at the
Closing Date, insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund:
(A) did and will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and
(B) does not and will not contain 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 not
misleading; and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included therein did not or will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that none of the representations and warranties in this sub-section shall apply
to statements in or omissions from the N-14 Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in the N-14 Registration
Statement.
(m) 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 nonassessable by the Acquired Fund
(“Acquired Fund Shares”). The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any security convertible into
any of the Acquired Fund Shares.
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(n) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund were offered for sale and sold in
conformity with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
(o) The books and records of the Acquired Fund made available to the Acquiring Fund and/or its
counsel are substantially true and correct and contain no material misstatements or omissions with
respect to the operations of the Acquired Fund.
(p) The Acquired Fund will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Merger Shares to be received
in the Reorganization, except in distribution to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, as provided
in Section 3 of this Agreement.
3. The Reorganization.
(a) Subject to the requisite approval of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, and to the other
terms and conditions contained herein, the Acquired Fund agrees to sell, convey, transfer and
deliver to the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquiring Fund agrees to acquire from the Acquired Fund, on
the Closing Date, all of the Acquired Fund Investments (including interest accrued as of the
Valuation Time on debt instruments) and to assume all of the known liabilities of the Acquired Fund
as of the Closing Date, in exchange for that number of Merger Shares provided for in Section 4.
Pursuant to this Agreement, as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the Company will redeem
its Acquired Fund Shares in exchange for all Merger Shares received by it and will distribute such
Merger Shares to its shareholders. Such distributions shall be accomplished by the opening of
shareholder accounts on the share ledger records of the Acquiring Fund in the amounts due the
shareholders of the Acquired Fund based on their respective holdings in the Acquired Fund as of the
Valuation Time.
(c) The Acquired Fund will pay or cause to be paid to the Acquiring Fund any interest the Acquired
Fund receives on or after the Closing Date with respect to any of the Acquired Fund Investments
transferred to the Acquiring Fund hereunder.
(d) The Valuation Time shall be 4:00 PM, Eastern Time, on the Closing Date, or such earlier or
later day and time as may be mutually agreed upon in writing (the “Valuation Time”).
(e) Recourse for liabilities assumed from the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund in the
Reorganization will be limited to the assets acquired by the Acquiring Fund. The known liabilities
of the Acquired Fund, as of the Valuation Time, shall be confirmed to the Acquiring Fund pursuant
to Section 2(e) of this Agreement. For the elimination of doubt, the Acquiring Fund does not assume
any other liabilities hereunder.
(f) The Acquired Fund will cease operations and be terminated as a series of the Company following
the Closing Date.
4. Valuation.
(a) On the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will deliver to the Acquired Fund a number of full and
fractional Merger Shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to the value of the assets of
the Acquired Fund on such date less the value of the liabilities attributable to shares of the
Acquired Fund assumed by the Acquiring Fund on that date, determined as hereinafter provided in
this Section 4.
(b) The net asset value of the Merger Shares to be delivered to the Acquired Fund, the value of the
assets attributable to the Acquired Fund Shares, and the value of the liabilities of the Acquired
Fund to be assumed by the Acquiring Fund, shall in each case be determined as of the Valuation
Time.
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(c) The net asset value of the Merger Shares shall be computed in the manner set forth in the
Acquiring Fund Prospectus. The value of the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund shall be
determined by the Acquiring Fund, in cooperation with the Acquired Fund, pursuant to procedures
which the Acquiring Fund would use in determining the fair market value of the Acquiring Fund’s
assets and liabilities.
(d) No adjustment shall be made in the net asset value of either the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring
Fund to take into account differences in realized and unrealized gains and losses.
(e) The Acquiring Fund shall issue the Merger Shares to the Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund shall
promptly distribute the Merger Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund by establishing open
accounts for each Acquired Fund shareholder on the share ledger records of the Acquiring Fund.
Certificates representing Merger Shares will not be issued to Acquired Fund shareholders.
(f) The Acquiring Fund shall assume all of the known liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of the
Closing Date, whether accrued or contingent, in connection with the acquisition of assets and
subsequent liquidation and termination of the Acquired Fund or otherwise, as disclosed to the
Acquiring Fund pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof.
5. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5, Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Services,
LLC, by countersigning this Agreement, agrees that it will bear any and all reasonable documented
costs and expenses of the Reorganization incurred by the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund;
provided, however, that 1) the payment of such expenses of the Acquired Fund shall be subject to
the prior written approval of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Services, LLC; 2) shall not
include the cost of any “tail” directors and officers liability insurance policy purchased in
connection with the Reorganization, which costs shall be borne by the Acquired Fund; and 3) the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each pay any brokerage commissions, dealer xxxx-ups and
similar expenses (“Portfolio Expenses”) that it may incur in connection with the purchases or sale
of portfolio securities; and provided, further, that, the Acquiring Fund will pay all governmental
fees required in connection with the registration or qualification of the Merger Shares under
applicable state and federal laws.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, if for any reason the Reorganization
contemplated by this Agreement is not consummated, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund
shall be liable to the other for any damages resulting therefrom, including, without limitation,
consequential damages, except as specifically set forth above.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, costs and expenses will in any event be paid by the party
directly incurring them if and to the extent that the payment by another party of such costs and
expenses would result in the disqualification of such party as a “regulated investment company”
within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Code.
6. Covenants of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund.
The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund hereby covenant and agree with the other as follows:
(a) Each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will operate its business as presently
conducted in the ordinary course of business between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being
understood that such ordinary course of business will include regular and customary periodic
dividends and distributions.
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(b) The Company, on behalf of 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 Reorganization contemplated
hereby.
(c) In connection with the Acquired Fund shareholders’ meeting referred to in sub-section (b)
above, the Acquiring Fund will prepare the Prospectus/Proxy Statement for such meeting, to be
included in the N-14 Registration Statement, which the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, will
prepare and file for registration under the 1933 Act of the Merger Shares to be distributed to the
Acquired Fund’s shareholders pursuant hereto, all in compliance with the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act. The Acquiring Fund will use its best efforts to
provide for the N-14 Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. The
Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will cooperate fully with each other, and each will furnish to
the other the information relating to itself to be set forth in the N-14 Registration Statement, as
required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and
the state securities laws.
(d) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund for use in the N-14
Registration Statement shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply
with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto.
(e) The Trust, having filed a post-effective amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A
(the “Trust’s N-1A Registration Statement”) with the Commission registering the Acquiring Fund and
its shares under the 1933 Act and 1940 Act, shall file any supplements and amendments as may be
required. The Acquiring Fund shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and
authorizations required by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and to register the Acquiring Fund’s
shares with such state securities agencies as it may deem appropriate, in order to commence
operations on the Closing Date.
(f) The Company shall, on behalf of the Acquired Fund:
(A) following the consummation of the Reorganization, terminate the Acquired Fund in
accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, the Articles and Company By-laws, the 1940 Act
and any other applicable law;
(B) not make any distributions of any Merger Shares other than to the respective Acquired Fund
shareholders and without first paying or adequately providing for the payment of all of its
respective liabilities not assumed by the Acquiring Fund, if any; and
(C) on and after the Closing Date not conduct any business on behalf of the Acquired Fund
except in connection with the termination of the Acquired Fund.
(g) Each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund agrees that by the Closing Date all of its
federal and other tax returns and reports required to be filed on or before such date shall have
been filed and all taxes shown as due on said returns either have been paid or adequate liability
reserves have been provided for the payment of such taxes.
(h) The Acquiring Fund agrees to report the Reorganization as a reorganization qualifying under
Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, with the Acquiring Fund as the successor to the Acquired Fund.
Neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund shall take any action or cause any action to be
taken (including, without limitation, the filing of any tax return) that results in the failure of
the Reorganization to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the
Code or is inconsistent with the treatment of the Reorganization as a reorganization within the
meaning of such Code section. At or prior to the Closing Date, the Company, the Trust, and the
Funds will take such action, or cause such
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action to be taken, as is reasonably necessary to enable K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the Acquired
Fund, to render the tax opinion required herein (including, without limitation, each party’s
execution of representations reasonably requested by and addressed to K&L Gates LLP).
(i) In connection with the covenant in subsection (g) above, each of the Acquired Fund and
Acquiring Fund will cooperate with each other in filing any tax return, amended return or claim for
refund, determining a liability for taxes or a right to a refund of taxes or participating in or
conducting any audit or other proceeding in respect of taxes. The Acquiring Fund will retain for a
period of nine (9) years following the Closing Date all returns, schedules and work papers and all
material records or other documents relating to tax matters of the Acquired Fund for such Acquired
Fund’s taxable period first ending after the Closing Date and for all prior taxable periods.
(j) Following the consummation of the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will continue its business
as a diversified series of the Trust, an open-end management investment company registered under
the 1940 Act.
7. Closing Date.
(a) Delivery of the assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred, together with any other Acquired
Fund Investments, assumption of the known liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date
to be assumed, and delivery of the Merger Shares to be issued as provided in this Agreement shall
be made at such place and time as the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund shall mutually agree, as of
the close of business on February 11, 2011 or at such other time and date agreed to by the Acquired
Fund and the Acquiring Fund, the date and time upon which such delivery is to take place being
referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”
(b) To the extent that any Acquired Fund Investments, for any reason, are not transferable on the
Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall cause such Acquired Fund Investments to be transferred to the
Acquiring Fund’s account with its custodian at the earliest practicable date thereafter.
(c) The Acquired Fund will deliver to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date confirmation or other
adequate evidence as to the tax basis of the Acquired Fund Investments delivered to the Acquiring
Fund hereunder.
(d) As soon as practicable after the close of business on the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall
deliver to the Acquiring Fund a list of the names and addresses of all of the shareholders of
record of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date and the number of Acquired Fund Shares owned by
each such shareholder, certified to the best of its knowledge and belief by the transfer agent for
the Acquired Fund or by its President.
8. Conditions of the Acquired Fund’s Obligations.
The obligations of the Acquired Fund hereunder shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) That this Agreement shall have been adopted, and the Reorganization shall have been approved,
by the Company’s Board and that the Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a copy
of the resolutions approving this Agreement adopted by the Trust’s Board certified by its
Secretary.
(b) That the Acquiring Fund shall have furnished to the Acquired Fund a certificate signed by the
Acquiring Fund’s President (or any Vice President) or its Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date,
certifying that, as of the Valuation Time and as of the Closing Date, all representations and
warranties of
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the Acquiring Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects with the
same effect as if made at and as of such dates, and that the Acquiring Fund has complied with all
of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to each of such dates.
(c) That there shall not be any material litigation pending with respect to the matters
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) That the Acquired Fund shall have received the opinion, in form satisfactory to the Company, of
K&L Gates LLP, counsel for the Acquiring Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the
Acquired Fund substantially in the form and to the effect that:
(A) both the Acquiring Fund and the Trust are duly formed and validly existing under the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
(B) the Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the Trust, an open-end, management investment
company registered under the 1940 Act;
(C) this Agreement and the Reorganization provided for herein and the execution of this
Agreement have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite action of the Trust’s Board, and
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund
and (assuming this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the other party hereto) is a
valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund;
(D) neither the execution or delivery by the Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund of this
Agreement nor the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the Reorganization contemplated hereby
violates any provision of any statute or any published regulation or any judgment or order
disclosed to counsel by the Acquiring Fund as being applicable to the Acquiring Fund;
(E) the Merger Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance thereof in accordance with
this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except to the extent
shareholders could under certain circumstances, in accordance with Massachusetts law, be held
personally liable for the obligations of the Acquiring Fund; and
(F) to their knowledge and subject to the qualifications set forth below, the execution and
delivery by the Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Reorganization herein contemplated do not require, under the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts or any state in which the Acquiring Fund is qualified to do business or the federal
laws of the United States, the consent, approval, authorization, registration, qualification or
order of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body (except such as have been
obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder).
Counsel need express no opinion, however, as to any such consent, approval, authorization,
registration, qualification, order or filing that may be required as a result of the involvement of
other parties to this Agreement in the transactions herein contemplated because of their legal or
regulatory status or because of any other facts specifically pertaining to them.
(e) That the Acquired Fund shall have obtained an opinion, in form satisfactory to the Company,
from K&L Gates dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Company, on behalf of the Acquired
Fund, and based upon such representations of the parties as K&L Gates may reasonably request, that
the consummation of the Reorganization set forth in this Agreement complies with the requirements
of a reorganization as described in Section 368(a) of the Code.
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(f) That all proceedings taken by the Acquiring Fund and its counsel in connection with the
Reorganization and all documents incidental thereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
the Company.
(g) That the N-14 Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act, and no
stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the
Trust or the Acquiring Fund, be contemplated by the Commission.
(h) That the Trust’s N-1A Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act,
and that no stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of the Trust or the Acquiring Fund, be contemplated by the Commission.
9. Conditions of the Acquiring Fund’s Obligations.
The obligations of the Acquiring Fund hereunder shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) That this Agreement shall have been adopted, and the Reorganization shall have been approved,
by the Company’s Board and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
Acquired Fund Shares (as defined in the Articles); and the Acquired Fund shall have delivered to
the Acquiring Fund a copy of the resolutions approving this Agreement adopted by the Company’s
Board, and a certificate setting forth the vote of the holders of the Acquired Fund Shares
obtained, each certified by such Board’s Secretary.
(b) That the Acquired Fund shall have furnished to the Acquiring Fund a statement of its assets,
liabilities and capital, with values determined as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement,
together with a schedule of investments with their respective dates of acquisition and tax costs,
all as of the Valuation Time, certified on the Acquired Fund’s behalf by its President (or any Vice
President) or its Treasurer, and a certificate signed by the Acquired Fund’s President (or any Vice
President) or its Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that as of the Valuation Time
and as of the Closing Date there has been no material adverse change in the financial position of
the Acquired Fund since the date of the Acquired Fund’s most recent annual report or semiannual
report, as applicable, other than changes in the Acquired Fund Investments since that date or
changes in the market value of the Acquired Fund Investments.
(c) That the Acquired Fund shall have furnished to the Acquiring Fund a certificate signed by the
Acquired Fund’s President (or any Vice President) or its Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date,
certifying that as of the Valuation Time and as of the Closing Date, all representations and
warranties of the Acquired Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct in all material
respects with the same effect as if made at and as of such dates and the Acquired Fund has complied
with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to such dates.
(d) That there shall not be any material litigation pending with respect to the matters
contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) That the Acquiring Fund shall have received the opinion, in form satisfactory to the Trust, of
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Acquired Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the
Acquiring Fund, substantially in the form and to the effect that:
(A) both the Acquired Fund and the Company are duly formed, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Maryland;
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(B) the Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Company, an open-end, management investment
company registered under the 1940 Act;
(C) this Agreement and the Reorganization provided for herein and the execution of this
Agreement have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite action of the Company’s Board,
and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company on behalf of the Acquired
Fund and (assuming this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the other party hereto) is a
valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund;
(D) neither the execution or delivery by the Company on behalf of the Acquired Fund of this
Agreement nor the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the Reorganization contemplated hereby
violates any provision of any statute, or any published regulation or any judgment or order
disclosed to counsel by the Acquired Fund as being applicable to the Acquired Fund; and
(E) to their knowledge and subject to the qualifications set forth below, the execution and
delivery by the Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, of the Agreement and the consummation of
the Reorganization herein contemplated do not require, under the laws of state of Maryland or any
state in which the Acquired Fund is qualified to do business, or the federal laws of the United
States, the consent, approval, authorization, registration, qualification or order of, or filing
with, any court or governmental agency or body (except such as have been obtained under the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder). Counsel need express no
opinion, however, as to any such consent, approval, authorization, registration, qualification,
order or filing which may be required as a result of the involvement of other parties to this
Agreement in the transactions herein contemplated because of their legal or regulatory status or
because of any other facts specifically pertaining to them.
(f) That the Acquiring Fund shall have obtained an opinion from K&L Gates dated as of the Closing
Date, addressed to the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and based upon such representations
of the parties as K&L Gates may reasonably request, that the consummation of the Reorganization set
forth in this Agreement complies with the requirements of a reorganization as described in Section
368(a) of the Code.
(g) That the N-14 Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop
order suspending such effectiveness shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Acquired
Fund, be contemplated by the Commission.
(h) That the Trust’s N-1A Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act,
and that no stop order suspending such effectiveness shall have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of the Trust or the Acquiring Fund, be contemplated by the Commission.
(i) That the Acquired Fund’s custodian shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a certificate
identifying all assets of the Acquired Fund held or maintained by such custodian as of the
Valuation Time.
(j) That all proceedings taken by the Acquired Fund and its counsel in connection with the
Reorganization and all documents incidental thereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
the Trust.
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10. Termination, Postponement and Waivers.
(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be
terminated and the Reorganization abandoned at any time (whether before or after adoption thereof
by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund) prior to the Closing Date, or the Closing Date may be
postponed,
(A) by consent of the Boards of the Company and the Trust, acting on behalf of their
respective Funds;
(B) by the Company’s Board, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, if any condition of the Acquired
Fund’s obligations set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement has not been fulfilled or waived by
such Board;
(C) by the Trust’s Board, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, if any condition of the Acquiring
Fund’s obligations set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement has not been fulfilled or waived by
such Board; or
(D) by either party because of a material breach by the other of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained herein to be performed by the other party at or prior to the
Closing.
(b) If the Reorganization contemplated by this Agreement has not been consummated by July 9, 2011,
this Agreement automatically shall terminate on that date, unless a later date is agreed to by the
Boards of the Company and the Trust, acting on behalf of their respective Funds.
(c) In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions hereof, the same shall
become void and have no further effect, and there shall not be any liability on the part of the
Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund or persons who are their directors, trustees, officers, agents or
shareholders in respect of this Agreement.
(d) At any time prior to the Closing Date, any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement may be
waived by the Board of the Company or the Trust, on behalf of whichever Fund is entitled to the
benefit thereof, if, in the judgment of such Board after consultation with its counsel, such action
or waiver will not have a material adverse effect on the benefits intended under this Agreement to
the shareholders of the respective Fund, on behalf of which such action is taken.
(e) The respective representations and warranties contained in Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement
shall expire with, and be terminated by, the consummation of the Reorganization, and the Acquired
Fund and the Acquiring Fund, and the officers, directors, trustees, agents or shareholders of such
Funds shall not have any liability with respect to such representations or warranties after the
Closing Date. This provision shall not protect any officer, director, trustee, agent or shareholder
of either the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund against any liability to the entity for which
that officer, director, trustee, agent or shareholder so acts or to its shareholders, to which that
officer, director, trustee, agent or shareholder otherwise would be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his or her duties in the conduct
of such office.
(f) If any order or orders of the Commission with respect to this Agreement shall be issued prior
to the Closing Date and shall impose any terms or conditions that are determined by action of the
Boards of the Company and the Trust to be acceptable, such terms and conditions shall be binding as
if a part of this Agreement without further vote or approval of the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund unless such terms and conditions shall result in a change in the method of computing the
number of Merger Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund, in which event, unless such terms and
conditions shall have been included in
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the proxy solicitation materials furnished to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund prior to the
meeting at which the Reorganization shall have been approved, this Agreement shall not be
consummated and shall terminate unless the Acquired Fund promptly shall call a special meeting of
shareholders at which such conditions so imposed shall be submitted for approval.
11. Indemnification.
(a) Each party (an “Indemnitor”) shall indemnify and hold the other and its officers, directors,
trustees, agents and persons controlled by or controlling any of them (each an “Indemnified Party”)
harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, judgments,
settlements, deficiencies, taxes, assessments, charges, costs and expenses of any nature whatsoever
(including reasonable attorneys’ fees) including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in
compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with the defense or disposition of any claim, action, suit or other proceeding,
whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which such
Indemnified Party may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such
Indemnified Party may be or may have been threatened (collectively, the “Losses”) arising out of or
related to any claim of a breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made herein by the
Indemnitor, provided, however, that no Indemnified Party shall be indemnified hereunder against any
Losses arising directly from such Indemnified Party’s: (i) willful misfeasance; (ii) bad faith;
(iii) gross negligence; or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such
Indemnified Party’s position.
(b) The Indemnified Party shall use its best efforts to minimize any liabilities, damages,
deficiencies, claims, judgments, assessments, costs and expenses in respect of which indemnity may
be sought hereunder. The Indemnified Party shall give written notice to Indemnitor within the
earlier of ten (10) days of receipt of written notice to Indemnified Party or thirty (30) days from
discovery by Indemnified Party of any matters which may give rise to a claim for indemnification or
reimbursement under this Agreement. The failure to give such notice shall not affect the right of
Indemnified Party to indemnity hereunder unless such failure has materially and adversely affected
the rights of the Indemnitor. At any time after ten (10) days from the giving of such notice,
Indemnified Party may, at its option, resist, settle or otherwise compromise, or pay such claim
unless it shall have received notice from Indemnitor that Indemnitor intends, at Indemnitor’s sole
cost and expense, to assume the defense of any such matter, in which case Indemnified Party shall
have the right, at no cost or expense to Indemnitor, to participate in such defense. If Indemnitor
does not assume the defense of such matter, and in any event until Indemnitor states in writing
that it will assume the defense, Indemnitor shall pay all costs of Indemnified Party arising out of
the defense until the defense is assumed; provided, however, that Indemnified Party shall consult
with Indemnitor and obtain Indemnitor’s prior written consent to any payment or settlement of any
such claim. Indemnitor shall keep Indemnified Party fully apprised at all times as to the status of
the defense. If Indemnitor does not assume the defense, Indemnified Party shall keep Indemnitor
apprised at all times as to the status of the defense. Following indemnification as provided for
hereunder, Indemnitor shall be subrogated to all rights of Indemnified Party with respect to all
third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been
made.
12. Other Matters.
(a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made under this Agreement and any
certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been material and relied
upon by each of the parties, notwithstanding any investigation made by them or on their behalf.
(b) All notices hereunder shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and
delivered personally or sent by registered mail or certified mail, postage prepaid. Notice to the
Acquired
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Fund shall be addressed to Optique International Value Fund, c/o Optique Funds, Inc., 000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President, or at such other address as
the Acquired Fund may designate by written notice to the Acquiring Fund. Notice to the Acquiring
Fund shall be addressed to Xxxx Xxxxxxx International Value Equity Fund, x/x Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
XXX, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Chief Legal Officer, or at such
other address and to the attention of such other person as the Acquiring Fund may designate by
written notice to the Acquired Fund. Any notice shall be deemed to have been served or given as of
the date such notice is delivered personally or mailed.
(c) This Agreement supersedes all previous correspondence and oral communications between the
parties regarding the Reorganization, constitutes the only understanding with respect to the
Reorganization, may not be changed except by a letter of agreement signed by each party and shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said state.
(d) It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, hereunder shall not be binding upon any of its
respective directors, trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents, or employees personally,
but shall bind only the respective Fund’s property, as provided (with respect to the Company) in
the Articles or (with respect to the Trust) the Declaration (a copy of which, together with all
amendments thereto, is on file in the office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts), as the case may be. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been
authorized by the Board of the Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and by the Board of the
Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and signed by authorized officers of each respective Fund,
acting as such, and neither such authorization by such directors or trustees, nor such execution
and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to
impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the Fund property on behalf of
the relevant Fund as provided in the Articles or the Declaration, as the case may be.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed and
delivered, shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts together shall constitute
but one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be executed and
delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.
XXXX XXXXXXX FUNDS III, on behalf of its Xxxx Xxxxxxx International Value Equity Fund |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Attest: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
15
OPTIQUE FUNDS, INC., on behalf of its Optique International Value Fund |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President |
Attest: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Assistant |
Agreed and accepted as to Section 5 only: XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC, on behalf of itself and its affiliates |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President |
Attest: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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