EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (this "Agreement") is made as of
this __ day of ____________, 2003, by and between Advisors Series Trust ("AST"),
a Delaware statutory trust, on behalf of each of the following acquiring funds
(the "Acquiring Funds"), PIC Investment Trust ("PIC Trust"), a Delaware
statutory trust, on behalf of the following acquired funds (the "Acquired
Funds"), and, solely for the purposes of Section 9.2, Provident Investment
Counsel, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation.
Acquired Funds Corresponding Acquiring Funds
(each a series of PIC Trust) (each a series of AST)
-------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund I Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund,
Class I
Provident Investment Counsel Small Cap Provident Investment Counsel Small
Growth Fund I Cap Growth Fund, Class I
Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Provident Investment Counsel Small Cap
Growth Fund A Growth Fund, Class A
Provident Investment Counsel Twenty Fund I Provident Investment Counsel Twenty Fund
Class I
Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund B Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fun,
Class B
WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the parties desire that each Acquiring Fund acquire the assets and
assume the liabilities of the Acquired Fund listed above opposite the Acquiring
Fund in exchange for shares of the corresponding class of the corresponding
Acquiring Fund ("Acquiring Fund Shares"), and that these Acquiring Fund Shares
be distributed immediately after the Closing, as defined in this Agreement, by
each Acquired Fund to its shareholders in liquidation of the Acquired Fund;
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of PIC Trust, including a majority of its
trustees who are not "interested persons" of PIC Trust, as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), has determined that
the Reorganization (as such term is defined in Section 1.1 below) is in the best
interests of the shareholders of each Acquired Fund, and that their interests
would not be diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated thereby;
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of AST, including a majority of its trustees
who are not "interested persons" of AST, as defined in the 1940 Act, has
determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the sole
shareholder of each Acquiring Fund, each a newly created series of AST formed
for the specific purpose of entering into the Reorganization, and that the
interests of the sole shareholder of each Acquiring Fund would not be diluted as
a result of the transactions contemplated thereby.
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of
reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
NOW THEREFORE, In consideration of the premises and of the covenants and
agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
1. REORGANIZATION OF ACQUIRED FUNDS
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, and on the basis
of the representations and warranties contained herein, each Acquired Fund shall
assign, deliver and otherwise transfer its assets as set forth in paragraph 1.2
(the "Assets") to the corresponding Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall
assume the corresponding Acquired Fund's liabilities as set forth in paragraph
1.3 (the "Liabilities"). Each Acquiring Fund shall, as consideration therefor,
on the Closing Date (as defined in paragraph 3.1), deliver to the respective
Acquired Fund full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, the number of which
shall be determined by dividing (a) the value of the Acquired Fund's Assets, net
of the Acquired Fund's Liabilities, computed in the manner and as of the time
and date set forth in paragraph 2.1, by (b) the net asset value of one share of
the Acquiring Fund computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth
in paragraph 2.2. Such transfer, delivery and assumption shall take place at the
closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"Closing"). Immediately following the Closing, the Acquired Fund shall
distribute the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in
liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided in paragraph 1.4 hereof. Such
transactions are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
"Reorganization."
1.2 (a) With respect to each Acquired Fund, the Assets shall consist of all
property and assets of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all
cash, cash equivalents, securities, instruments, claims and receivables
(including dividend and interest receivables) owned by the Acquired Fund, and
any prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the Acquired Fund's books on the
Closing Date.
(b) Before the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will provide the
Acquiring Fund with a schedule of its assets and its known liabilities, and the
Acquiring Fund will provide the Acquired Fund with a copy of the current
investment objective and policies applicable to the Acquiring Fund. The Acquired
Fund reserves the right to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the securities or
other assets shown on the list of the Acquired Fund's Assets before the Closing
Date but will not, without the prior approval of the Acquiring Fund, acquire any
additional securities other than securities which the Acquiring Fund is
permitted to purchase in accordance with its stated investment objective and
policies.
1.3 Each Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known
liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date. Each Acquiring Fund will
assume all liabilities and obligations, allocated or attributable to the
Acquired Fund, whether absolute or contingent, known or unknown, accrued or
unaccrued (the "Liabilities").
1.4 Immediately following the Closing, each Acquired Fund will distribute
the corresponding Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund pursuant
to paragraph 1.1 pro rata to its shareholders of record determined as of the
close of business on the Closing Date ("Acquired Fund Investors") in complete
liquidation of the Acquired Fund. That distribution will be accomplished by an
instruction, signed by an appropriate officer of AST, to transfer the Acquiring
Fund Shares then credited to the Acquired Fund's account on the books of the
Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the books of the Acquiring Fund established
and maintained by the Acquiring Fund's transfer agent in the names of record of
the Acquired Fund Investors and representing the number of shares of the
Acquiring Fund due such Acquired Fund Investor. All issued and outstanding
shares of the Acquired Fund will be cancelled simultaneously therewith on the
Acquired Fund's books, and any outstanding share certificates representing
interests in the Acquired Fund will represent only the right to receive such
number of Acquiring Fund Shares after the Closing as determined in accordance
with paragraph 1.l.
1.5 Following the transfer of assets by the Acquired Fund to the
corresponding Acquiring Fund, the assumption of the Acquired Fund's Liabilities
by the corresponding Acquiring Fund, and the distribution by the Acquired Fund
of the corresponding Acquiring Fund Shares received by it pursuant to paragraph
1.4, the Acquired Fund shall terminate its qualification, classification and
registration with all appropriate federal and state agencies. Any reporting or
other responsibility of the Acquired Fund is and shall remain the responsibility
of the Acquired Fund up to and including the date on which the Acquired Fund is
terminated and deregistered, subject to any reporting or other obligations
described in paragraph 4.8.
2. VALUATION
2.1 The value of each Acquired Fund's Assets shall be the value of those
assets computed as of the time at which its net asset value is calculated
pursuant to the valuation procedures set forth in the Acquiring Fund's
then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information on the business
day immediately preceding the Closing Date, or at such time on such earlier or
later date as may mutually be agreed upon in writing among the parties hereto
(such time and date being herein called the "Applicable Valuation Date").
2.2 The net asset value of each share of each Acquiring Fund shall be the
net asset value per share computed on the Applicable Valuation Date, using the
market valuation procedures set forth in the Acquiring Fund's then-current
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
2.3 All computations of value contemplated by this Article 2 shall be made
by the Acquiring Funds' administrator in accordance with its regular practice as
pricing agent. Each Acquiring Fund shall cause the administrator to deliver a
copy of its valuation report to the Acquired Fund at the Closing.
3. CLOSING(S) AND CLOSING DATE
3.1 The Closing for the Reorganization shall occur on December 12, 2003,
and/or on such other date(s) as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the
parties hereto (each, a "Closing Date"). The Closing(s) shall be held at the
offices of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000, or at such other location as is mutually agreeable to the
parties hereto. All acts taking place at the Closing(s) shall be deemed to take
place simultaneously as of 9:00 a.m., local time on the Closing Date unless
otherwise provided.
3.2 The Acquiring Funds' custodian shall deliver at the Closing evidence
that: (a) the Acquired Funds' Assets have been delivered in proper form to the
corresponding Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date and (b) all necessary taxes
including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, have
been paid, or provision for payment shall have been made, by the Acquired Funds
in conjunction with the delivery of portfolio securities.
3.3 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if on the Applicable
Valuation Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange shall be closed to trading or
trading thereon shall be restricted or (b) trading or the reporting of trading
on such exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the judgment of the
Acquiring Funds, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the
Acquiring Funds or the Acquired Funds is impracticable, the Applicable Valuation
Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading
shall have been fully resumed without restriction or disruption and reporting
shall have been restored.
4. COVENANTS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUIRING FUNDS AND THE ACQUIRED FUNDS
4.1 The Acquired Funds have called or will call a joint meeting of the
Acquired Funds' respective shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement
and to take all other actions reasonably necessary to obtain the approval of the
transactions contemplated herein, including approval for the Acquired Funds'
liquidating distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares contemplated hereby, and for
each Acquired Fund to terminate its qualification, classification and
registration if requisite approvals are obtained with respect to the Acquired
Fund. The Acquired Funds shall prepare the notice of meeting, form of proxy and
proxy statement (collectively, "Proxy Materials") to be used in connection with
that meeting.
4.2 The Acquired Funds covenant that the corresponding 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.
4.3 The Acquired Funds will assist the Acquiring Funds in obtaining such
information as the Acquiring Funds reasonably request concerning the beneficial
ownership of shares of the Acquired Funds.
4.4 Subject to the provisions hereof, AST, on behalf the Acquiring Funds,
and PIC Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds, will take, or cause to be taken,
all actions, and do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated herein.
4.5 Each Acquired Fund shall furnish to the corresponding Acquiring Fund on
the Closing Date, a final statement of the total amount of such Acquired Fund's
assets and liabilities as of the Closing Date.
4.6 AST, on behalf of the Acquiring Funds, has prepared and filed, or will
prepare and file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a
registration statement on Form N-14, and the current prospectuses and statements
of additional information of the Acquiring Funds, under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), relating to the Acquiring Fund Shares (the
"Registration Statement"). The Acquired Funds have provided or will provide the
Acquiring Funds with the Proxy Materials for inclusion in the Registration
Statement, prepared in accordance with paragraph 4.1, and with such other
information and documents relating to the Acquired Funds as are requested by the
Acquiring Funds and as are reasonably necessary for the preparation of the
Registration Statement.
4.7 As soon after the Closing Date as is reasonably practicable, each
Acquired Fund: (a) shall prepare and file all federal and other tax returns and
reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to be filed with respect to all
periods ending on/or before the Closing Date but not theretofore filed and (b)
shall pay all federal and other taxes shown as due thereon and/or all federal
and other taxes that were unpaid as of the Closing Date.
4.8 Following the transfer of Assets by each Acquired Fund to the
corresponding Acquiring Fund and the assumption of the Liabilities of each
Acquired Fund in exchange for the corresponding Acquiring Fund Shares as
contemplated herein, each Acquired Fund will file any final regulatory reports,
including but not limited to any Form N-SAR filings with respect to the Acquired
Funds, promptly after the Closing Date and also will take all other steps as are
necessary and proper to effect the termination or declassification of the
Acquired Funds in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and other
applicable requirements.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
5.1 AST, on behalf of the Acquiring Funds, represents and warrants to PIC
Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds as follows:
(a) AST was duly created pursuant to its Agreement and Declaration of Trust
by its trustees for the purpose of acting as a management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and is validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and its Declaration of Trust
directs its trustees to manage the affairs of AST and grants them all powers
necessary or desirable to carry out such responsibility, including administering
AST's business as currently conducted by AST and as described in the current
prospectuses of AST. AST is registered as an investment company classified as an
open-end management company under the 1940 Act and its registration with the SEC
as an investment company is in full force and effect;
(b) The Registration Statement, including the current prospectuses and
statements of additional information of the Acquiring Funds, conforms or will
conform, at all times up to and including the Closing Date, in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the
regulations thereunder and does not include and will 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;
(c) The Acquiring Funds are not in breach or violation of, and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by AST for itself and on
behalf of the Acquiring Fund does not and will not (i) violate AST's Declaration
of Trust or By-Laws, or (ii) result in a breach of, violate, or constitute a
default under, any material agreement or material instrument to which AST is a
party or by which its properties or assets are bound;
(d) Except as previously disclosed in writing to PIC Trust, no litigation
or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or
governmental body is presently pending or, to AST's knowledge, threatened
against AST or its business, the Acquiring Funds or any of their properties or
assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect
AST or the Acquiring Funds' financial condition or the conduct of their
business. AST knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of
any such proceeding or investigation, and the Acquiring Funds are 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, or is reasonably
likely to materially and adversely affect, its business or its ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated herein;
(e) All issued and outstanding shares, including shares to be issued in
connection with the Reorganization, of the Acquiring Funds will, as of the
Closing Date, be duly authorized and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid
and nonassessable, free and clear of all liens, pledges, security interests,
charges or other encumbrances; the shares of each class of each Acquiring Fund
issued and outstanding before the Closing Date were offered and sold in
compliance with the applicable registration requirements, or exemptions
therefrom, of the 1933 Act, and all applicable state securities laws, and the
regulations thereunder; and the Acquiring Funds do not have outstanding any
option, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of its shares
nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of their shares;
(f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement on behalf of
the Acquiring Funds will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by
all necessary action on the part of AST, its trustees and the Acquiring Funds,
and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of AST and the
Acquiring Funds enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium
and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights, and to general equity principles;
(g) Each Acquiring Fund has qualified as a separate regulated investment
company under the Code and has taken all necessary and required actions to
maintain such status;
(h) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, at the time of the
meeting of the Acquired Funds' shareholders and on the Closing Date, any written
information furnished by AST with respect to the Acquiring Funds for use in the
Proxy Materials, the Registration Statement or any other materials provided in
connection with the Reorganization does not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the information provided not misleading; and
(i) To the knowledge of the Acquiring Funds, no governmental consents,
approvals, authorizations or filings are required under the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the 1940 Act or Delaware law
for the execution of this Agreement by AST, for itself and on behalf of the
Acquiring Funds, or the performance of the Agreement by AST for itself and on
behalf of the Acquiring Funds, except for such consents, approvals,
authorizations and filings as have been contemplated by this Agreement, and
except for such consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as may be
required after the Closing Date.
5.2 PIC Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds, represents and warrants to the
Acquiring Funds as follows:
(a) PIC Trust was duly created pursuant to its Agreement and Declaration of
Trust by its trustees for the purpose of acting as a management investment
company under the 1940 Act and is validly existing under the laws of Delaware,
and its Agreement and Declaration of Trust directs its trustees to manage the
affairs of PIC Trust and grants them all powers necessary or desirable to carry
out such responsibility, including administering PIC Trust's business as
currently conducted by PIC Trust and as described in the current prospectuses of
the Acquired Funds. PIC Trust is registered as an investment company classified
as an open-end management company under the 1940 Act and its registration with
the SEC as an investment company is in full force and effect;
(b) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Funds have
been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with applicable
registration or notice requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws;
all issued and outstanding shares of each Acquired Fund are, and on the Closing
Date will be, duly authorized and validly issued and outstanding, and fully paid
and non-assessable, and the Acquired Funds do not have outstanding any options,
warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of their shares, nor
is there outstanding any security convertible into any of their shares (other
than exchange privileges set forth in the Registration Statement);
(c) The Registration Statement, including the current prospectuses and
statements of additional information of the Acquired Funds, conforms or will
conform, at all times up to and including the Closing Date, in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the
regulations thereunder and does not include and will 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 Funds are not in breach or violation of, and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Funds does
not and will not (i) violate PIC Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust or
By-Laws, or (ii) result in a breach of, violate, or constitute a default under,
any material agreement or material instrument to which PIC Trust is a party or
by its properties or assets are bound;
(e) Except as previously disclosed in writing to AST, no litigation or
administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or
governmental body is presently pending or, to PIC Trust's knowledge, threatened
against PIC Trust or its business, the Acquired Funds or any of their properties
or assets which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect
PIC Trust or the Acquired Funds' financial condition or the conduct of their
business. PIC Trust knows of no facts that might form the basis for the
institution of any such proceeding or investigation, and the Acquired Funds are
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, or is
reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, their business or their
ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein;
(f) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and
Statements of Changes in Net Assets of the Acquired Funds as of and for the
period ended October 31, 2002, audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (copies of
which have been or will be furnished to the Acquiring Funds) fairly present, in
all material respects, each Acquired Fund's financial condition as of such date
and its results of operations for such period in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and as of such date there
were no liabilities of the Acquired Funds (contingent or otherwise) known to the
Acquired Funds that were not disclosed therein but that would be required to be
disclosed therein in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(g) Since the date of its most recent audited financial statements, there
has not been any material adverse change in any 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 Funds of
indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was
incurred, except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the
Acquiring Funds, prior to the Closing Date (for the purposes of this
subparagraph (f), neither a decline in an Acquired Fund's net asset value per
share nor a decrease in an Acquired Fund's size due to redemptions shall be
deemed to constitute a material adverse change);
(h) All federal and other tax returns and reports of the Acquired Funds
required by law to be filed on or before the Closing Date have been filed, and
all taxes owed by the Acquired Funds or the Acquired Funds have been paid so far
as due, and to the best of the Acquired Funds' knowledge, no such return is
currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any
such return;
(i) For each full and partial taxable year from its inception through the
Closing Date, each of the Acquired Funds has qualified as a separate regulated
investment company under the Code and has taken all necessary and required
actions to maintain such status;
(j) At the Closing Date, each Acquired Fund will have good and marketable
title to its Assets and full right, power and authority to assign, deliver and
otherwise transfer such Assets hereunder, and upon delivery and payment for such
Assets as contemplated herein, the appropriate Acquiring Fund will acquire good
and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the ownership or
transfer thereof other than such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act;
(k) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement on behalf of
the Acquired Funds will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by
all necessary action on the part of PIC Trust, its trustees and the Acquired
Funds, and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation the
Acquired Funds enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium
and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors, rights and to general equity principles;
(l) From the effective date of the Registration Statement through the time
of the meeting of the Acquired Funds Investors, and on the Closing Date, the
Proxy Materials (exclusive of the portions of the Acquiring Funds' Prospectuses
contained or incorporated by reference therein, and exclusive of any written
information furnished by the Acquired Funds with respect to the corresponding
Acquiring Fund): (i) will comply in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations
thereunder and (ii) will 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 not misleading, and as of such dates and times, any
written information furnished by PIC Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds, for
use in the Registration Statement or in any other manner that may be necessary
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the information provided not misleading; and
(m) To the knowledge of the Acquired Funds, no governmental consents,
approvals, authorizations or filings are required under the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, the 1940 Act or Delaware law for the execution of this Agreement by PIC
Trust, for itself and on behalf of the Acquired Funds, or the performance of the
Agreement by PIC Trust, for itself and on behalf of the Acquired Funds, except
for such consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as have been made or
received, and except for such consents, approvals, authorizations and filings as
may be required subsequent to the Closing Date.
6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIRED FUNDS
The obligations of the Acquired Funds to consummate the Reorganization
shall be subject to the performance by each 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 with respect to the corresponding Acquiring
Fund:
6.1 All representations and warranties of AST with respect to the Acquiring
Funds contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects as of
the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions
contemplated herein, as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if
made on and as of the Closing Date.
6.2 AST, on behalf of the Acquiring Funds, shall have delivered to PIC
Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds, at the Closing a certificate executed on
behalf of each Acquiring Fund by any two of AST's President, Secretary or
Treasurer in a form reasonably satisfactory to PIC Trust and dated as of the
Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of AST with
respect to the Acquiring Funds made herein are true and correct at and as of the
Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated
herein, and as to such other matters as the Acquired Funds shall reasonably
request.
6.3 Unless waived by PIC Trust, the Acquired Funds shall have received at
the Closing assurances of an officer of AST, in a form reasonably satisfactory
to PIC Trust, substantially to the effect that:
(a) AST is a duly registered, open-end, management investment company, and
its registration with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in
full force and effect;
(b) AST is a statutory trust duly created pursuant to its Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
Delaware, and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust directs its trustees to
manage the affairs of AST and the Acquiring Funds and grants them all powers
necessary or desirable to carry out such responsibility, including administering
the Acquiring Funds' business as described in the prospectuses of the Acquiring
Funds;
(c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by AST
on behalf of AST and the Acquiring Funds and, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement on behalf of the Acquired Funds, is a
valid and binding obligation of AST, enforceable against AST in accordance with
its terms, subject as to enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
arrangement, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors, rights and to general equity principles;
(d) the Acquiring Funds Shares to be issued to the corresponding Acquired
Funds and then distributed to the Acquired Funds Investors pursuant to this
Agreement are duly registered under the 1933 Act on the appropriate form, and
are duly authorized and upon such issuance will be validly issued and
outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, and no shareholder of the
Acquiring Funds has any preemptive rights to subscription or purchase in respect
thereof;
(e) the Registration Statement has become effective with the SEC and, to
the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted
or are pending or threatened;
(f) to the knowledge of such officer, no consent, approval, authorization,
filing or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or
any state is required for the consummation of the Reorganization with respect to
the Acquiring Funds, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations and
filings as have been made or received, and except for such consents, approvals,
authorizations and filings as may be required after the Closing Date; and
(g) to the knowledge of such officer, no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is
presently pending or threatened as to AST or the Acquiring Funds or any of their
properties or assets and neither AST nor any of the Acquiring Funds is 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.
6.4 With respect to AST, its Board of Trustees shall have determined that
the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Acquiring Funds.
7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF ACQUIRING FUNDS
The obligations of AST to consummate the Reorganization with respect to the
Acquiring Funds shall be subject to the performance by AST of all the
obligations to be performed by it hereunder, with respect to PIC Trust and the
Acquired Funds, on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the
following conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of PIC Trust on behalf of the
Acquired Funds contained herein shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the
same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
7.2 PIC Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds, shall have delivered to the
Acquiring Funds at the Closing a certificate executed on behalf of each Acquired
Fund, by any two of PIC Trust's President, Secretary or Treasurer, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Funds and dated as of the Closing Date,
to the effect that the representations and warranties of PIC Trust and the
Acquired Fund made herein are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date,
except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated herein and as to
such other matters as the Acquiring Funds shall reasonably request.
7.3 The Acquiring Funds shall have received at the Closing assurances of an
officer of PIC Trust, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Funds,
substantially to the effect that:
(a) PIC Trust is a duly registered, open-end, management investment
company, and its registration with the SEC as an investment company under the
1940 Act is in full force and effect;
(b) PIC Trust is a statutory trust duly created pursuant to its Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, is validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of Delaware, and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust directs its
trustees to manage the affairs of PIC Trust and the Acquired Funds and grants
them all powers necessary or desirable to carry out such responsibility,
including administering the Acquired Funds' business as described in the current
prospectuses of the Acquired Funds;
(c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
PIC Trust and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this
Agreement on behalf of the Acquiring Funds, is a valid and binding obligation of
PIC Trust, enforceable against PIC Trust in accordance with its terms, subject
as to enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement,
moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting creditors, rights and to general equity principles;
(d) to the knowledge of such officer, no consent, approval, authorization,
filing or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or
any state is required for the consummation of the Reorganization with respect to
the Acquired Funds, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations and
filings as have been made or received, and except for such consents, approvals,
authorizations and filings as may be required subsequent to the Closing Date;
(e) to the knowledge of such officer, no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is
presently pending or threatened as to PIC Trust or the Acquired Funds or any of
their properties or assets and neither PIC Trust nor any of the Acquired Funds
is a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of
any court or governmental body that materially and adversely effects its
business;
(f) the Acquired Funds Shares then issued and outstanding are duly
registered under the 1933 Act on the appropriate form, and are duly authorized
and are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and non-assessable, and no
shareholder of the corresponding Acquiring Fund has any preemptive rights to
subscription or purchase in respect thereof; and
(g) the registration statement of the Acquired Funds is effective with the
SEC and, to such officer's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted
or are pending or threatened.
7.4 With respect to PIC Trust, its Board of Trustees shall have determined
that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Acquired Funds.
7.5 The transfer agent to the Acquired Funds shall have delivered to each
of the Acquiring Funds at the Closing a certificate executed on its own behalf
by an authorized officer in form and substance satisfactory to each of the
Acquiring Funds and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the
shareholder records of each Acquired Fund are in good order and as to such other
matters as the corresponding Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.
7.6 PIC Trust shall arrange to make the Acquired Funds' auditors available
to the Acquiring Funds and its agents to answer their questions at a mutually
agreeable time prior to the Closing.
8. FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUNDS AND THE
ACQUIRED FUNDS
The obligations of the Acquiring Funds and of the Acquired Funds herein are
each subject to the further conditions that on or before the Closing Date with
respect to the Acquiring Funds and the Acquired Funds:
8.1 This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have been
approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of each
of the Acquired Funds in accordance with the provisions of the PIC Trust's
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the requirements of the 1940 Act, and
certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been
delivered to AST.
8.2 On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be
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 any of the transactions contemplated herein.
8.3 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders, approvals
and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including,
without limitation, those of the SEC and of state securities authorities) deemed
necessary by AST, on behalf of the Acquiring Funds, or PIC Trust, on behalf of
the Acquired Funds, to permit consummation, in all material respects, of the
transactions contemplated herein shall have been obtained, except where failure
to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not, in the opinion of the
party asserting that the condition to closing has not been satisfied, involve a
risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring
Funds or the Acquired Funds.
8.4 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933
Act, no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued
and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding
for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or
contemplated under the 0000 Xxx.
8.5 The Acquiring Funds and the Acquired Funds shall have received an
opinion of counsel to AST substantially to the effect that for federal income
tax purposes:
(a) the transfer by each Acquired Fund of the Assets in exchange for the
corresponding Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the appropriate
Acquiring Fund of the Liabilities will constitute a "reorganization" within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and each Acquiring Fund and corresponding
Acquired Fund are "parties to a reorganization" within the meaning of Section
368(b) of the Code;
(b) no gain or loss will be recognized by any Acquiring Fund upon the
receipt of the Assets solely in exchange for the corresponding Acquiring Fund
Shares and the assumption by the appropriate Acquiring Fund of the Liabilities;
(c) no gain or loss will be recognized by any Acquired Fund upon the
transfer of the Assets to the corresponding Acquiring Fund and the assumption by
the appropriate Acquiring Fund of the Liabilities in exchange for the Acquiring
Fund Shares or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of the
Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund shareholders in exchange for their
shares of the appropriate Acquired Fund;
(d) no gain or loss will be recognized by any of the Acquired Fund
Investors upon the exchange of their Acquired Fund Shares for the corresponding
Acquiring Fund Shares;
(e) the aggregate tax basis for the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each
of the Acquired Fund Investors pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same
as the aggregate tax basis of the Acquired Fund shares held by such shareholder
immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding period of the Acquiring
Fund Shares to be received by each of the Acquired Fund Investors will include
the period during which the Acquired Fund shares exchanged therefor were held by
such shareholder (provided the Acquired Fund shares were held as capital assets
on the date of the Reorganization); and
(f) the tax basis of each of the Acquired Fund assets acquired by the
corresponding Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to
the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding
period of the assets of each Acquired Fund in the hands of the corresponding
Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by
the Acquired Fund.
9. EXPENSES
9.1 Except as may be otherwise provided herein, each of the Acquired Funds
and the Acquiring Funds shall be liable for its respective expenses incurred in
connection with entering into and carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The
expenses payable by:
(a) the Acquired Funds hereunder shall include (i) fees and expenses of its
counsel and independent auditors incurred in connection with the Reorganization;
(ii) expenses associated with printing and mailing the Prospectus/Proxy
Statement and soliciting proxies in connection with the meeting of shareholders
of the Acquired Funds referred to in paragraph 4.1 hereof; (iii) all fees and
expenses related to the liquidation of the Acquired Funds; (iv) fees and
expenses of the Acquired Funds' custodian and transfer agent(s) incurred in
connection with the Reorganization; and (v) any special pricing fees associated
with the valuation of the Acquired Funds' portfolio on the Applicable Valuation
Date.
(b) the Acquiring Funds hereunder shall include (i) fees and expenses of
its counsel and independent auditors incurred in connection with the
Reorganization; (ii) expenses associated with preparing this Agreement and
preparing and filing the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act covering the
Acquiring Funds Shares to be issued in the Reorganization; (iii) registration or
qualification fees and expenses of preparing and filing such forms, if any, as
are necessary under applicable state securities laws to qualify the Acquiring
Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganization; (iv) any fees
and expenses of the Acquiring Funds' custodian and transfer agent(s) incurred in
connection with the Reorganization; and (v) any special pricing fees associated
with the valuation of the Acquiring Funds' portfolio on the Applicable Valuation
Date.
9.2 Provident Investment Counsel, Inc. shall be responsible for all
expenses in connection with the Reorganization, except as set forth in this
paragraph 9.2, and shall reimburse each of the Acquiring Funds and the Acquired
Funds for all expenses incurred by it in connection with the Reorganization and
with this Agreement.
10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES
10.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and
supersedes any prior or contemporaneous understanding or arrangement with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
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 herein.
11. TERMINATION
11.1 This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be abandoned at any time before the Closing by either AST or PIC
Trust, if
(a) the other party shall have breached any material provision of this
Agreement;
(b) circumstances develop that, in the opinion of either party, make
proceeding with the Agreement inadvisable; or
(c) any governmental body shall have issued an order, decree or ruling
having the effect of permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting
the consummation of this Agreement.
11.2 In the event of any termination pursuant to Section 11.1(b) or (c),
there shall be no liability for damage on the part of either party to the other
party respecting such termination.
12. AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as
may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of PIC Trust,
on behalf of the Acquired Funds, and officers of AST, on behalf of the Acquiring
Funds; provided, however, that following the meeting of the shareholders of the
Acquired Funds, no such amendment may have the effect of changing the provisions
for determining the number of shares of the Acquiring Funds to be to the
Acquired Funds Investors under this Agreement to the detriment of such Acquired
Funds Investors, or otherwise materially and adversely affecting the Acquired
Funds, without the Acquired Funds obtaining the Acquired Funds Investors'
approvals except that nothing in this paragraph 12 shall be construed to
prohibit the Acquiring Funds and the Acquired Funds from amending this Agreement
to change the Closing Date or Applicable Valuation Date by mutual agreement.
13. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) AST and the Acquiring Funds agree to indemnify PIC Trust and the
Acquired Funds, the trustees and officers (in their capacity as trustees or
officers), and agents from all liabilities that may arise in connection with, or
as a result of, a breach of a representation or warranty made by AST or the
Acquiring Funds under this Agreement. No party shall be entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement unless written notice of the events or
circumstances giving rise to such claim for indemnification has been provided to
the indemnifying party or parties no later than two (2) years after the Closing
Date; and
(b) PIC Trust and the Acquired Funds agree to indemnify AST and the
Acquiring Funds, the trustees and officers (in their capacity as trustees and
officers), and agents from all liabilities that may arise in connection with, or
as a result of, a breach of a representation or warranty made by the Acquired
Fund under this Agreement; provided, however, the debts, liabilities,
obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with
respect to a particular Acquired Fund shall be enforceable against the property
of such Acquired Fund only, as a series of PIC Trust, and not against the assets
of any other Acquired Fund or against PIC Trust generally. No party shall be
entitled to indemnification under this Agreement unless written notice of the
events or circumstances giving rise to such claim for indemnification has been
provided to the indemnifying party or parties no later than two (2) years after
the Closing Date.
14. NOTICES
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any
provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by facsimile,
certified mail or overnight express courier addressed to:
For AST, on behalf of itself and the Acquiring Funds:
Advisors Series Trust
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
President & Trustee
For PIC Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Funds:
PIC Investment Trust
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
For Provident Investment Counsel, Inc.:
Provident Investment Counsel, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Managing Director
15. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
15.1 The article and paragraph headings contained herein are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement. All references herein to Articles, paragraphs, subparagraphs or
Exhibits shall be construed as referring to Articles, paragraphs or
subparagraphs hereof or Exhibits hereto, respectively. Whenever the terms
"hereto", "hereunder", "herein" or "hereof" are used in this Agreement, they
shall be construed as referring to this entire Agreement, rather than to any
individual Article, paragraph, subparagraph or sentence.
15.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original.
15.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of Delaware (without regard to rules regarding choice of law).
15.4 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 parties. 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 assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by its authorized officer.
Advisors Series Trust,
for itself and on behalf of
Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund,
Provident Investment Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund,
Provident Investment Counsel Twenty Fund, and
Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
President and Trustee
PIC INVESTMENT TRUST:
for itself and on behalf of
Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund I,
Provident Investment Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund I,
Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth Fund A,
Provident Investment Counsel Twenty Fund I, and
Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund B
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
PROVIDENT INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC.
with respect to its obligations under Paragraph 9.2:
By:
------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Managing Director
