AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 31st day of May, 2007, by and between Phoenix Opportunities Trust a Delaware statutory trust (the “Acquiring Trust”), with its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, on behalf of the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), a separate series of the Acquiring Trust, and Phoenix Multi-Series Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Selling Trust”), on behalf of the Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund (the “Acquired Fund”), a separate series of the Selling Trust.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The reorganization (the “Reorganization”) will consist of the transfer of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for voting shares of beneficial interest of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all liabilities of the Acquired Fund, and the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
The Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Selling Trust and the Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the Acquiring Trust, each of which is an open-end, registered investment company of the management type. The Acquired Fund owns securities that generally are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest.
The Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Acquiring Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), has determined, with respect to the Acquiring Fund, that the exchange of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption of all liabilities of the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders, and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquiring Fund would not be diluted as a result of this transaction.
The Board of Trustees of the Selling Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Selling Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, has also determined, with respect to the Acquired Fund, that the exchange of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption of all liabilities of the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund and its shareholders and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquired Fund would not be diluted as a result of this transaction.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
| 1. |
TRANSACTION |
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund agrees to transfer all of the Acquired Fund’s assets, as set forth in paragraph 1.2, to the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquiring Fund agrees in exchange therefor: (i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund the number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, determined by dividing the value of the Acquired Fund’s net
A-1
assets, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 2.1, by the net asset value of one Acquiring Fund Share, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 2.2; and (ii) to assume all liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such transactions shall take place at the closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 (the “Closing Date”).
1.2 The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all assets and property, including, without limitation, all cash, securities, commodities and futures interests and dividends or interests receivable, that are owned by the Acquired Fund, and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund, on the Closing Date (collectively, the “Assets”).
1.3 The Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall also assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, whether accrued or contingent, known or unknown, existing at the Valuation Date, as defined in paragraph 2.1 (collectively, “Liabilities”). On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders of record one or more dividends and/or other distributions so that it will have distributed substantially all (and in no event less than 98%) of its investment company taxable income and realized net capital gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
1.4 Immediately after the transfer of Assets provided for in paragraph 1.1, the Acquired Fund will distribute to the Acquired Fund’s shareholders of record, determined as of immediately after the close of business on the Closing Date (the “Acquired Fund Shareholders”), on a pro rata basis, the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1, and will completely liquidate. Such distribution and liquidation will be accomplished, with respect to the Acquired Fund’s shares, by the transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the Acquired Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders. The aggregate net asset value of Acquiring Fund Shares to be so credited to Acquired Fund Shareholders shall be equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired Fund shares owned by such shareholders on the Closing Date. All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be canceled on the books of the Acquired Fund.
1.5 Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund or its Transfer Agent, as defined in paragraph 3.3.
1.6 Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including, but not limited to, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax returns, or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), any state securities commission, and any federal, state or local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund.
| 2. |
VALUATION |
2.1 The value of the Assets shall be the value computed as of immediately after the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange and after the declaration of any dividends on the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Date”), using the valuation procedures established by the Acquiring Trust’s Board of Trustees, which shall be described in the then-current prospectus and statement of additional information with respect to the Acquiring Fund.
A-2
2.2 The net asset value of the Acquiring Fund Shares shall be the net asset value per share computed as of the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures established by the Acquiring Trust’s Board of Trustees which shall be described in the Acquiring Fund’s then-current prospectus and statement of additional information.
2.3 The number of Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued (including fractional shares, if any) in exchange for the Acquired Fund’s Assets shall be determined by dividing the value of the net assets with respect to the shares of the Acquired Fund determined using the same valuation procedures referred to in paragraph 2.1, by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share, determined in accordance with paragraph 2.2.
2.4 Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (“PEPCO”) shall make all computations of value, in its capacity as financial agent for the Acquiring Trust.
| 3. |
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE |
3.1 The Closing Date shall be June 26, 2007 or such other date as the parties may agree. All acts taking place at the closing of the transaction (the “Closing”) shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of immediately after the close of business on the Closing Date unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The close of business on the Closing Date shall be as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The Closing shall be held at the offices of Phoenix Life Insurance Company, Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree.
3.2 The Selling Trust shall direct State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian for the Acquired Fund (the “Custodian”), to deliver, on the next business day after the Closing, a certificate of an authorized officer stating that the Assets shall have been delivered in proper form to the Acquiring Fund on the next business day following the Closing Date. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a certificate executed in the Acquired Fund’s name by its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that all necessary taxes in connection with the delivery of the Assets, including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, have been paid or provision for payment has been made. The Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be presented by the Acquired Fund’s Custodian to the custodian for the Acquiring Fund for examination no later than on the next business day following the Closing Date, and shall be transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund on the next business day following the Closing Date for the account of the Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. The Custodian shall deliver as of the Closing Date by book entry, in accordance with the customary practices of such depositories and the Custodian, the Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a “securities depository”, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act. The cash to be transferred by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire transfer of federal funds on the Closing Date.
3.3 The Selling Trust shall direct PEPCO (the “Transfer Agent”), on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to deliver on the next business day following the Closing, a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date to the
A-3
Secretary of the Acquired Fund, or provide evidence satisfactory to the Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
3.4 In the event that on the Valuation Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquired Fund shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first Friday after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
| 4. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
4.1 The Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Acquired Fund is duly organized as a series of the Selling Trust, which is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with power under the Selling Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) to own all of its assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Selling Trust is a registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and the registration of shares of the Acquired Fund under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), is in full force and effect;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities laws;
(d) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund and each prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund used at all times previous to the date of this Agreement conforms or conformed at the time of its use in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and does not or did not at the time of its use 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 materially misleading;
(e) On the Closing Date, the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, will have good and marketable title to the Assets and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver such Assets hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances, and upon delivery and payment for such Assets, the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act, other than as disclosed to the Acquiring Fund;
A-4
(f) The Acquired Fund is not engaged currently, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in (i) a material violation of the Selling Trust’s Declaration of Trust or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, is a party or by which it is bound;
(g) All material contracts or other commitments of the Acquired Fund (other than this Agreement and certain investment contracts, including options, futures and forward contracts) will terminate without liability to the Acquired Fund on or prior to the Closing Date;
(h) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, or any of its properties or assets that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business. The Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(i) The unaudited Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of the Acquired Fund at April 30, 2007 are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Acquired Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(j) Since April 30, 2007, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquired Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquired Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred, except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund. For the purposes of this subparagraph (j), a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund due to declines in market values of securities in the Acquired Fund’s portfolio, the discharge of Acquired Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquired Fund shares by shareholders of the Acquired Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change;
(k) On the Closing Date, all Federal and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all Federal and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and to the best of the Acquired Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
A-5
(l) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met (or will meet) the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company, has been (or will be) eligible to and has computed (or will compute) its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain (as defined in the Code) that has accrued through the Closing Date, and before the Closing Date will have declared dividends sufficient to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for the period ending on the Closing Date;
(m) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and have been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will, at the time of Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, as provided in paragraph 3.3. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the shares of the Acquired Fund, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund shares;
(n) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action, if any, on the part of the Board of Trustees of the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and
(o) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in registration statements and other documents filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including the NASD, Inc.), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with Federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto.
4.2 The Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is duly organized as a series of the Acquiring Trust, which is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with power under the Acquiring Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Trust Instrument”) to own all of its assets and to carry on the business to be transferred by the Acquired Fund;
(b) The Acquiring Fund is a newly-formed separate series of the Acquiring Trust that, immediately prior to the Reorganization, will have no assets or liabilities other than its name and will not be engaged in the conduct of a business.
(c) The Acquiring Trust is a registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of shares of the Acquiring Fund under the 1933 Act, is in full force and effect;
A-6
(d) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities laws;
(e) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund conforms in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and does 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 materially misleading;
(f) The Acquiring Fund is not engaged currently, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in (i) a material violation of the Acquiring Trust’s Trust Instrument or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it is bound;
(g) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, or any of the Acquiring Fund’s properties or assets that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition or the conduct of the Acquiring Fund’s business. The Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects the Acquiring Fund’s business or the Acquiring Fund’s ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(h) On the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable title to its assets;
(i) All issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing that, under Delaware law, it is theoretically possible that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for obligations of the Acquiring Fund) and have been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Shares;
(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been fully authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action, if any, on the part of the Trustees of the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
A-7
moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
(k) Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will on the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing that, under Delaware law, it is theoretically possible that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for obligations of the Acquiring Fund);
(l) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Trust for use in the registration statements and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with Federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto; and
(m) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state blue sky or securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
| 5. |
COVENANTS OF THE SELLING TRUST ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRED FUND |
5.1 The Acquired Fund will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date except as contemplated by this Agreement.
5.2 The Acquired Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof, other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.3 The Acquired Fund shall assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the holders of the Acquired Fund’s shares.
5.4 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquired Fund will take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.5 As soon as is reasonably practicable after the Closing, the Acquired Fund will make a liquidating distribution to its shareholders consisting of the Acquiring Fund Shares received at the Closing.
5.6 The Acquired Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
5.7 The Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, covenants that it will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action as the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to
A-8
vest in and confirm (a) the Selling Trust’s, on behalf of the Acquired Fund’s, title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder, and (b) the Acquiring Trust’s, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund’s, title to and possession of all the assets, and to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
| 6. |
COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING TRUST ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRING FUND |
6.1 The Acquiring Fund will not conduct any business between the date hereof and the Closing Date except as contemplated by this Agreement.
6.2 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.3 The Acquiring Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
6.4 The Acquiring Fund has elected, or will elect, pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3(c)(1) to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes effective from the date of its formation.
6.5 For each fiscal year of its operation, the Acquiring Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated investment company, to distribute in each such year all net investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and net realized capital gains (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward), and to meet the diversification requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
6.6 The Acquiring Fund will use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state blue sky or securities laws as may be necessary in order to commence its operations as of the Closing Date.
| 7. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND |
The obligations of the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at the Selling Trust’s election, to the performance by the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date;
7.2 The Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be
A-9
performed or complied with by the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund on or before the Closing Date; and
7.3 The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a certificate executed in the Acquiring Fund’s name by its President or Vice President, and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as to such other matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request.
| 8. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND |
The obligations of the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at the Acquiring Trust’s election, to the performance by the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, of all of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
8.1 All representations and warranties of the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date;
8.2 The Selling Trust shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities, as of the Closing Date, certified by the Treasurer of the Selling Trust;
8.3. The Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, on or before the Closing Date;
8.4 The Acquired Fund shall have declared and paid a distribution or distributions prior to the Closing that, together with all previous distributions, shall have the effect of distributing to its shareholders (i) all of its investment company taxable income and all of its net realized capital gains, if any, for the period from the close of its last fiscal year to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Closing; and (ii) any undistributed investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains from any period to the extent not otherwise already distributed; and
8.5 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a certificate executed in the Acquired Fund’s name by its President or Vice President, and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.
| 9. |
FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND |
A-10
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been satisfied on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, or the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
9.1 On the Closing Date no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending or, to its knowledge, threatened before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein;
9.2 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and permits of Federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by the Selling Trust and the Acquiring Trust to permit consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, provided that either party hereto may for itself waive any of such conditions;
9.3 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and 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 1933 Act; and
9.4 The parties shall have received the opinion of XxXxxxxxx Will & Xxxxx LLP, addressed to the Acquiring Trust substantially to the effect that, based upon certain facts, assumptions, and representations, the transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall, for federal income tax purposes, qualify as a tax free reorganization described in Section 368(a) of the Code. The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt of representations it shall request of the Acquiring Trust. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Acquiring Trust may not waive the condition set forth in this paragraph 9.4.
| 10. |
BROKERAGE FEES AND EXPENSES |
10.1 The Selling Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represent and warrant to each other that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein.
10.2 The expenses relating to the proposed Reorganization will be borne by the Acquiring Fund. The costs of the Reorganization shall include, but not be limited to, costs associated with obtaining any necessary order of exemption from the 1940 Act, printing and distributing the Acquiring Fund’s prospectus, legal fees, accounting fees, and securities registration fees. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, expenses will in any event be paid by the party directly incurring such expenses if and to the extent that the payment by another person of such expenses would result in the disqualification of such party as a “regulated investment company” within the meaning of Section 851 of the Code.
10.3 In the event the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, then Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc. agrees that it shall bear all of the costs and expenses incurred by both the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund in connection with such transactions.
A-11
| 11. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES |
11.1 The Selling Trust and the Acquiring Trust have not made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein; this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
11.2 The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall not survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder. The covenants to be performed after the Closing shall survive the Closing.
| 12. |
TERMINATION |
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by either party by (i) mutual agreement of the parties, or (ii) by either party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before June 26, 2007 unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the parties, or (iii) by either party if the other party shall have materially breached its obligations under this Agreement or made a material and intentional misrepresentation herein or in connection herewith. In the event of any such termination, this Agreement shall become void and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of any party or their respective Trustees or officers, except for any such material breach or intentional misrepresentation, as to each of which all remedies at law or in equity of the party adversely affected shall survive.
| 13. |
WAIVER |
The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, after consultation with their respective counsel and by mutual consent of their respective Board of Trustees, may waive any condition to their respective obligations hereunder, except that the Acquiring Trust may not waive the condition set forth in paragraph 9.4.
| 14. |
AMENDMENTS |
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be deemed necessary or advisable and mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of the Selling Trust and the Acquiring Trust.
| 15. |
NOTICES |
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by facsimile, personal service or prepaid or certified mail addressed to Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: General Counsel.
| 16. |
HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
16.1 The Article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
A-12
16.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
16.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
16.4 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
16.5 It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Acquired Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents, or employees of the Acquired Fund personally, but shall bind only the property of the Acquired Fund, as provided in the Declaration of Trust of the Acquired Fund. The execution and delivery by such officers of the Acquired Fund shall not 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 property of the Acquired Fund as provided in the Declaration of Trust of the Acquired Fund.
16.6 It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the parties hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Acquiring Fund personally, but shall bind only the Acquiring Trust property of the Acquiring Fund, as provided in the Trust Instrument of the Acquiring Fund. The execution and delivery by such officers of the Acquiring Fund shall not 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 Acquiring Trust property of the Acquiring Fund as provided in the Trust Instrument of the Acquiring Fund.
[signature page follows]
A-13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by its President or Vice President and attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, all as of the date first written above.
| Attest: |
PHOENIX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST, on behalf of its series Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
|||||||||
| /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
||||||||
| By: |
Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
|||||||
| Title: |
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer |
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
|||||||
| Counsel and Secretary |
||||||||||
| Attest: |
PHOENIX MULTI-SERIES TRUST, on behalf of its series Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
|||||||||
| /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
||||||||
| By: |
Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
|||||||
| Title: |
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer |
Title: |
Senior Vice President |
|||||||
| Counsel and Secretary |
||||||||||
| Agreed and accepted as to paragraph 10.3 only: |
||||||||||
| Attest: |
PHOENIX INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC. |
|||||||||
| /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx |
||||||||
| By: |
Xxxxx X. Xxxx |
By: |
Xxxx X. Xxxxx |
|||||||
| Title: |
Vice President and Assistant Clerk |
Title: |
Vice President and Clerk |
|||||||
A-14
