AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (this “Agreement”) is made as of this 23rd day of February, 2017, by and among Great-West Funds, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), on behalf of Great-West S&P 500 Index Fund, a separate series of the Corporation (the “Acquiring Fund”), and Great-West Stock Index Fund, a separate series of the Corporation (the “Acquired Fund,” together with the Acquiring Fund, each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), and Great-West Capital Management, LLC (“GWCM”), investment adviser for the Funds (for purposes of section 10.2 of this Agreement only). The principal place of business of the Corporation is 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the 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 Initial Class voting shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”) and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, immediately followed by the pro rata distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation and termination of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
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. Transfer of Assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in Consideration for Acquiring Fund Shares and the Assumption of All Acquired Fund Liabilities and the Liquidation of the Acquired Fund
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund agrees to transfer to the Acquiring Fund all of the Acquired Fund’s assets as set forth in section 1.2, and the Acquiring Fund agrees in consideration therefor (i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund that number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares determined by dividing the value of the Acquired Fund’s assets net of any liabilities of the Acquired Fund, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in section 2.1, by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share, computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in section 2.2; and (ii) to assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund. All Acquiring Fund Shares delivered to the Acquired Fund shall be delivered at net asset value without a sales load, commission or other similar fee being imposed. Such transactions shall take place at the closing provided for in section 3.1 (the “Closing”).
1.2 The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund (the “Assets”) shall consist of all assets as of the time of the Closing, including, without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, commodities and futures contracts and dividends or interest or other receivables that are owned by the Acquired Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown on the unaudited statement of assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund to be prepared as of the effective time of the Closing in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) applied consistently with those of the Acquired Fund’s most recent audited statement of assets and liabilities. The Assets shall constitute at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets, and at least 70% of the fair market value of the gross assets, held by the Acquired Fund immediately before the Closing (excluding for these purposes assets used to pay dividends and other distributions, for the purpose of distributing all or substantially all of the Acquired Fund’s income and gains so as to avoid the imposition of income or excise taxes).
1.3 The Acquired Fund will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to discharge all of its liabilities and obligations that are accrued prior to the Closing.
1.4 Immediately after the transfer of Assets provided for in section 1.1, the Acquired Fund will distribute to the Acquired Fund’s Initial Class shareholders of record (the “Acquired Fund Shareholders”), determined as of the time of such distribution, on a pro rata basis, the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to section 1.1 in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund. Such distribution and
liquidation will be accomplished with respect to the Acquired Fund 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 Acquiring Fund shall have no obligation to inquire as to the validity, propriety or correctness of such records, but shall assume that such transaction is valid, proper and correct. 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 as of the Valuation Time (as defined in Section 2.1). All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be cancelled on the books of the Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares.
1.5 Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued in the manner described in the Acquiring Fund’s most recently effective prospectus and statement of additional information.
1.6 Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including, without limitation, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax returns, or other documents with the 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.
1.7 All books and records of the Acquired Fund, including, without limitation, all books and records required to be maintained under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, shall be available to the Acquiring Fund from and after the Closing Date and shall be turned over to the Acquiring Fund as soon as practicable following the Closing.
2. Valuation
2.1 The value of the Assets and the liabilities of the Acquired Fund shall be computed as of the close of regular trading on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on the Closing Date (the “Valuation Time”) after the declaration and payment of any dividends and/or other distributions, using the valuation procedures set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, the Acquiring Fund’s most recently effective prospectus and statement of additional information and any other valuation policies or procedures applicable to the Acquiring Fund then in effect, copies of which have been delivered to the Acquired Fund.
2.2 The net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share shall be the net asset value per share computed as of the Valuation Time using the valuation procedures referred to in section 2.1.
2.3 All computations of value hereunder shall be made by or under the direction of each Fund’s respective accounting agent, if applicable, in accordance with its regular practice and the requirements of the 1940 Act and shall be subject to confirmation by each Fund’s respective Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm upon the reasonable request of the other Fund.
3. Closing and Closing Date
3.1 The Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall occur on July 14, 2017, or such later date as the parties may agree in writing (the “Closing Date”). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Closing Date, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Closing shall be held at the offices of counsel to the Acquiring Fund, or at such other place and time as the parties may agree.
3.2 The Acquired Fund shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a schedule of the Assets.
3.3 The Bank of New York Mellon, custodian for the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that (a) the Assets have been delivered in proper form to The Bank of New York Mellon, also the custodian for the Acquiring Fund, prior to or at the Closing and (b) 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 custodian for the Acquired Fund to the custodian for the Acquiring Fund for examination no later than five business days preceding the Closing Date and transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of the Closing for the account of the Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. The Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a securities depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, shall be delivered as of the Closing by book entry in accordance with the customary practices of such depositories and the custodian for the Acquiring Fund. The cash to be transferred by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire transfer of federal funds as of the Closing.
3.4 DST Systems, Inc., as transfer agent for the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership (to three decimal places) of outstanding Initial Class Acquired Fund 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 as of the Closing to 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 to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.5 In the event that immediately prior to the Valuation Time (a) the NYSE or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on the NYSE or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets or shares of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
3.6 The liabilities of the Acquired Fund to be assumed by the Acquiring Fund shall include all of the Acquired Fund’s liabilities, debts, obligations, and duties of whatever kind or nature as of the time of the Closing, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, whether or not determinable at the Closing, and whether or not specifically referred to in this Agreement, including, but not limited, to any deferred compensation payable by the Acquired Fund to the Corporation’s directors.
4. Representations and Warranties
4.1 The Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Corporation is a Maryland corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland with power under the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to carry out this Agreement. The Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Corporation duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended. The Corporation and Acquired Fund are qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be so qualified, except jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund has all material federal, state and local authorizations necessary to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except authorizations which the failure to so obtain would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Fund.
(b) The Corporation is registered with the Commission as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full force and effect and the Acquired Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 Corporation is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation will not result (i) in violation of Maryland law or of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement or Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended, (ii) in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund will not result in the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Acquired Fund.
(e) No material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to the Acquired Fund’s knowledge threatened against the Acquired Fund or any properties or assets held by it. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its business 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.
(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the Acquired Fund at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each of which has been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of the respective date in accordance with GAAP and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a statement of assets and liabilities (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein.
(g) Since December 31, 2016, 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 in writing by the Acquiring Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g), 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 shall not constitute a material adverse change.
(h) All federal, state, local and other tax returns and reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to be filed by it (taking into account permitted extensions for filing) have been timely filed and are complete and correct in all material respects. All federal, state, local and other taxes of the Acquired Fund required to be paid (whether or not shown on any such return or report) have been paid, or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and any such unpaid taxes, as of the date of the financial statements referred to above, are properly reflected thereon. To the best of the Acquired Fund’s knowledge, no tax authority is currently auditing or preparing to audit the Acquired Fund, and no assessment for taxes, interest, additions to tax or penalties has been asserted against the Acquired Fund.
(i) For each taxable year of its operations (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund (i) has elected to qualify, and has qualified or will qualify (in the case of the taxable year ending with the Closing Date), as a “regulated investment company” under the Code (a “RIC”), (ii) has been eligible to compute and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and on or prior to the Closing Date will have declared and paid a distribution with respect to all its
investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), the excess of its interest income excludible from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code over its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Code and its net capital gain after reduction for any available capital loss carryover and excluding any net capital gain on which the Acquired Fund paid tax under Section 852(b)(3)(A) of the Code (as such terms are defined in the Code), in each case that has accrued or will accrue on or prior to the Closing Date, and (iii) has been, and will be (in the case of the taxable year ending with the Closing Date), treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 851(g) of the Code.
(j) For all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Acquired Fund from the date of its inception (including the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date), the assets of the Acquired Fund have been (or will be in the case of the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date) sufficiently diversified so that each segregated asset account investing all its assets in the Acquired Fund was (or will be in the case of the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date) adequately diversified within the meaning of Section 817(h) of the Code.
(k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund (i) 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, (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and not subject to preemptive or dissenter’s rights, and (iii) will be held at the time of the Closing by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of DST Systems, Inc., as provided in section 3.4. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquired Fund shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquired Fund shares.
(l) At the Closing, the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to the Acquired Fund’s Assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to section 1.1 and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver such Assets hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice at or prior to the Closing, and upon delivery and payment for such Assets, the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, except those restrictions as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice and necessary documentation at or prior to the Closing.
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing by all necessary action on the part of the Board (including the determinations required by Rule 17a-8(a) under the 1940 Act), and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(n) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including but not limited to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)), 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 applicable thereto.
(o) The most recently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund conform 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 do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(p) The Acquired Fund shares have been duly established and designated by the Board.
4.2 The Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Corporation is a Maryland corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland with power under the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to carry out this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the Corporation duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended. The Corporation and Acquiring Fund are qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be so qualified, except jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund has all material federal, state and local authorizations necessary to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except authorizations which the failure to so obtain would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquiring Fund.
(b) The Corporation is registered with the Commission as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full force and effect and the Acquiring Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) 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.
(d) The Corporation is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation will not result (i) in violation of Maryland law or of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement or Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended, (ii) in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund will not result in 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 Fund is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Acquiring Fund.
(e) No material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to the Acquiring Fund’s knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any properties or assets held by it. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its business 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.
(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the Acquiring Fund at and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each of which has been furnished to the Acquired Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of the respective date in accordance with GAAP and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a statement of assets and liabilities (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein.
(g) Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted in writing by the Acquired Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g), a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund due to declines in market values of securities in the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio shall not constitute a material adverse change.
(h) All federal, state, local and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to be filed by it (taking into account permitted extensions for filing) have been timely filed and are complete and correct in all material respects. All federal, state, local and other taxes of the Acquiring Fund required to be paid (whether or not shown on any such return or report) have been paid or provision shall have been made for their payment, and any such unpaid taxes, as of the date of the financial statements referred to above, are properly reflected thereon. To the best of the Acquiring Fund’s knowledge, no tax authority is currently auditing or preparing to audit the Acquiring Fund, and no assessment for taxes, interest, additions to tax or penalties has been asserted against the Acquiring Fund.
(i) For each taxable year of its operations, including the taxable year that includes the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund (i) has elected or will elect to qualify, has qualified or will qualify (in the case of the year that includes the Closing Date) and intends to continue to qualify as a RIC under the Code, (ii) has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will do so for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date, and (iii) has been, and will be (in the case of the taxable year that includes the Closing Date), treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 851(g) of the Code.
(j) For all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Acquiring Fund from the date of its inception (including the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date), the assets of the Acquiring Fund have been (or will be in the case of the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date) sufficiently diversified so that each segregated asset account investing all its assets in the Acquiring Fund was (or will be in the case of the taxable year and quarter that includes the Closing Date) adequately diversified within the meaning of Section 817(h) of the Code.
(k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund (i) 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 and (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and not subject to preemptive or dissenter’s rights. 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.
(l) The 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 at the Closing have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be legally and validly issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable.
(m) At the Closing, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable title to the Acquiring Fund’s assets, free of any liens or other encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquired Fund has received notice at or prior to the Closing.
(n) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing by all necessary action on the part of the Board (including the determinations required by Rule 17a-8(a) under the 0000 Xxx) and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(o) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including but not limited to FINRA), 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 applicable thereto.
(p) The most recently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(q) 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 securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
(r) The Acquiring Fund Shares have been duly established and designated by the Board.
5. Covenants of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund
The Corporation on behalf of each Fund covenants as follows:
5.1 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, each covenants to operate its business in the ordinary course from the date hereof through the Closing Date except as otherwise provided herein, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include the declaration and payment of customary dividends and other distributions and such changes as are contemplated by the Funds’ normal operations. No party shall take any action that would, or reasonably would be expected to, result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect. The Acquired Fund covenants and agrees to coordinate its portfolio, as set forth in Section 5.13, in order that at the Closing, when the Assets are added to the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio, the resulting portfolio will be consistent with the implementation of the Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies, strategies and restrictions to become effective on the Closing Date, a written description of which has been delivered to the Acquired Fund.
5.2 Upon reasonable notice, the Corporation’s officers and agents shall have reasonable access to the Acquired Fund’s books and records necessary to maintain current knowledge of the Acquired Fund and to ensure that the representations and warranties made by the Acquired Fund are accurate.
5.3 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.
5.4 The Acquired Fund covenants that it will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund shares.
5.5 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper, and/or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.6 The Acquired Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by 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 Fund may reasonably
deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm the Acquiring Fund’s title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.7 The Acquiring Fund covenants to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and 1940 Act, and such of the state securities laws as it deems appropriate in order to continue the Acquiring Fund’s operations after the Closing Date and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein; provided, however, that the Corporation may take such actions it reasonably deems advisable after the Closing Date as circumstances change.
5.8 The Acquiring Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by the Acquired Fund, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments, assumption agreements, releases, and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action, as the Acquired Fund may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to (i) vest and confirm to the Acquired Fund title to and possession of all Acquiring Fund Shares to be transferred to the Acquired Fund pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund.
5.9 Immediately after the Closing, the Acquired Fund shall make a liquidating distribution to its shareholders consisting of the Acquiring Fund Shares received at the Closing in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund and the Acquired Fund’s existence shall as soon as possible thereafter be terminated.
5.10 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each 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.
5.11 The intention of the parties is that the Reorganization will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. None of the Corporation, the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund shall take any action, or cause any action to be taken (including, without limitation, the filing of any tax return) that is inconsistent with such treatment or results in the failure of the transaction to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. At or prior to the Closing, the Corporation, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will take such action, or cause such action to be taken, as is reasonably necessary to enable Xxxxxx Price P.C. to render the tax opinion contemplated herein in section 8.3.
5.12 At or immediately prior to the Valuation Time, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders a dividend or dividends, which, together with all previous such dividends, shall have the effect of distributing to the Acquired Fund Shareholders at least (i) all of the excess of (x) the Acquired Fund’s interest income excludable from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code over (y) the Acquired Fund’s deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Code, (ii) all of the Acquired Fund’s investment company taxable income as defined in Code Section 852 (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and (iii) all of the Acquired Fund’s realized net capital gain (after reduction by any available capital loss carryover and excluding any net capital gain on which the Acquired Fund paid tax under Section 852(b)(3)(A) of the Code), in each case for both the current taxable year (which will end on the Closing Date) and all preceding taxable years.
5.13 The Acquiring Fund agrees to identify in writing prior to the Closing Date any assets of the Acquired Fund that the Acquiring Fund does not wish to acquire because they are not consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions or strategies on the Closing Date, and the Acquired Fund agrees to dispose of such assets prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund agrees to identify in writing prior to the Closing Date any assets that it would like the Acquired Fund to purchase so that, immediately after the Closing, the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio will be consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies on the Closing Date, and the Acquired Fund agrees to purchase prior to the Closing such assets (to the extent consistent with the Acquired Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions or strategies) pursuant to the Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions or strategies on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will require the Acquired Fund to dispose of or purchase any assets if, in the reasonable judgment of the Acquired Fund, such disposition would adversely affect the tax-free nature of the Reorganization for federal income tax purposes.
5.14 The Corporation will prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement on Form N-14 relating to the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement shall include an information statement of the Acquired Fund and a prospectus of the Acquiring Fund relating to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement. The Registration Statement shall be in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act, as applicable. Each party will provide the other party with the materials and information necessary to prepare the information statement and related materials, for inclusion therein.
6. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquired Fund
The obligations of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder at or before the Closing, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of the Corporation, 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, with the same force and effect as if made at and as of the Closing; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other than the Acquired Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the Acquiring Fund or its investment adviser(s), Board members or officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquiring Fund which the Acquiring Fund reasonably believes might result in such litigation.
6.2 The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund at the Closing a certificate executed in its name by the Corporation’s President, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or a Vice President, 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 Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, made in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing, 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.
6.3 The Corporation, 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 performed or complied with by the Acquiring Fund at or before the Closing.
7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquiring Fund
The obligations of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquired Fund of all of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder at or before the Closing and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of the Corporation, 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, with the same force and effect as if made at and as of the Closing; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other than the Acquiring Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the Acquired Fund or its investment adviser, directors or officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquired Fund which the Acquired Fund reasonably believes might result in such litigation.
7.2 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities as of the Closing, certified by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation.
7.3 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate executed in its name by the Corporation’s President, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or a Vice President, 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 Corporation with respect to the Acquired Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct
and as of the Closing, 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.
7.4 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 Acquired Fund at or before the Closing.
8. Further Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund
The obligations under this Agreement of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall be subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the following conditions:
8.1 At the Closing, 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 material damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
8.2 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, 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.
8.3 The Funds shall have received an opinion of Xxxxxx Price P.C. addressed to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund substantially to the effect that for federal income tax purposes:
(a) The transfer of all the Acquired Fund’s assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund immediately followed by the pro rata distribution to the Acquired Fund Shareholders of all the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund and the termination of the Acquired Fund as soon as practicable thereafter will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization,” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, with respect to the Reorganization.
(b) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of all the assets of the Acquired Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund.
(c) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of all the Acquired Fund’s assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of such Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund Shareholders solely in exchange for such shareholders’ shares of the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund.
(d) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund Shareholders upon the exchange of their Acquired Fund shares solely for Acquiring Fund Shares in the Reorganization.
(e) The aggregate basis of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Acquired Fund Shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate basis of the Acquired Fund shares exchanged therefor by such shareholder. The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Acquired Fund Shareholder will include the period during which the Acquired Fund shares exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder, provided such Acquired Fund shares are held as capital assets at the time of the Reorganization.
(f) The basis of the Acquired Fund’s assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets to the Acquired Fund immediately before the Reorganization. The holding period of the assets of the Acquired Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by the Acquired Fund.
No opinion will be expressed as to (1) the effect of the Reorganization on the Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund or any Acquired Fund Shareholder with respect to any asset (including without limitation any stock held in a passive foreign investment company as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code) as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized under federal income tax principles (i) at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination thereof) or (ii) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such transfer would otherwise be a non-taxable transaction under the Code or (2) any other federal tax issues (except those set forth above) and all state, local or foreign tax issues of any kind.
Such opinion shall be based on customary assumptions and such representations as Xxxxxx Price P.C. may reasonably request of the Funds, and the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will cooperate to make and certify the accuracy of such representations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this Section 8.3.
8.4 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued. To the best knowledge of the parties to this Agreement, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act.
9. Reserved
10. Fees and Expenses
10.1 The Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants that it has no obligations to pay any brokers or finders fees in connection with the transactions provided for herein.
10.2 GWCM will pay all expenses incurred by each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganization. Reorganization expenses include, without limitation: (a) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of supplements to the Corporation’s Registration Statement; (b) postage; (c) printing; (d) accounting fees; (e) legal fees incurred by each Fund; and (f) other related administrative or operational costs. GWCM will also bear any transaction costs incurred through the sale and purchase of assets pursuant to section 5.13. Notwithstanding 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 party of such expenses would result in the disqualification of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, as the case may be, as a RIC.
11. Entire Agreement
The parties agree that no party has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties.
12. Termination
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned (i) by mutual agreement of the parties, or (ii) by any party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before ten months from the date of Agreement, unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the parties, or (iii) by any party if another 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 the Board members 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. Amendments
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by any authorized officer of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, as specifically authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
14. Notices
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given if delivered by hand (including by Federal Express or similar express courier) or transmitted by facsimile or three days after being mailed by prepaid registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, 0X0, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, or to any other address that the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund shall have last designated by notice to the other party.
15. Headings; Counterparts; Assignment; Limitation of Liability
15.1 The Article and section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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 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 the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
15.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties with respect to each Fund shall constitute the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties of that Fund only (the “Obligated Fund”), and in no event shall any other series of the Corporation or the assets of any such series be held liable with respect to the breach or other default by the Obligated Fund of its obligations, agreements, representations and warranties as set forth herein.
15.5 This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by an authorized officer and its seal to be affixed thereto and attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary.
| Attest: | GREAT-WEST FUNDS, INC., on behalf of Great-West S&P 500 Index Fund | |
| /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Secretary |
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Its: Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | |
| Attest: | GREAT-WEST FUNDS, INC., on behalf of Great-West Stock Index Fund | |
| /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Secretary |
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Its: Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | |
| AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED ONLY WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 10.2 HERETO |
||
| GREAT-WEST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx |
||
| By: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Its: President & CEO |
||
| /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
||
| By: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Its: Portfolio Manager |
||
