FORM OF REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT AMONG JPMORGAN TRUST I FUNDS AND JPMORGAN TRUST II FUNDS JPMORGAN TRUST I JPMORGAN TRUST II AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“Agreement”)
is made as of this day of ___, ________, 2009, by and between JPMorgan Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust I”), on behalf of the
Trust I Acquiring Fund (as defined in the table below) and the Trust I Acquired Funds (as defined in the table below) and JPMorgan Trust II, a Delaware
statutory trust (“Trust II,” together with Trust I, a “Trust” or the “Trusts”), on behalf of the Trust II Acquiring Funds
(as defined in the table below) and the Trust II Acquired Funds (as defined in the table below).
Each
of the Trust I Acquired Funds and Trust II Acquired Funds listed below is an “Acquired Fund” and together they are the “Acquired
Funds” |
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Each a
“Trust I Acquired Fund,” and collectively the “Trust I Acquired Funds” |
Each a “Trust II Acquired Fund” and collectively the “Trust II Acquired Funds” |
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JPMorgan Bond
Fund |
JPMorgan Intermediate Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Short
Term Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Tax
Aware Enhanced Income Fund |
JPMorgan Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Tax
Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund |
JPMorgan West Virginia Municipal Bond Fund |
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Each
of the Trust I Acquiring Fund and Trust II Acquiring Funds listed below is an “Acquiring Fund” and together they are the “Acquiring Funds” |
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The
“Trust I Acquiring Fund” |
Each a “Trust II Acquiring Fund” and collectively the “Trust II Acquiring Funds” |
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JPMorgan
Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Core Plus Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Short Duration Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund |
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JPMorgan Core Bond Fund |
WHEREAS, each of the Acquired Funds and the Acquiring Funds is a
series of an open-end, investment company of the management type registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940
Act”);
WHEREAS, the contemplated reorganization and liquidation will
consist of (1) the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery of all of the property and assets of each Acquired Fund to the respective
Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for shares of beneficial interest of such Acquiring Fund (“Acquiring Fund Shares”) corresponding to the
outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Acquired Fund (“Acquired Fund Shares”), as described herein, (2) the assumption by the
Acquiring Fund of all liabilities of the respective Acquired Fund and (3) the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the Shareholders of each
Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, as provided herein (“Reorganizations”), all upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Trustees of Trust I and Trust II have determined,
with respect to each Trust I Acquiring Fund and Trust II Acquiring Fund, respectively, that the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery of
all of the property and assets of the respective Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption of all liabilities of such Acquired Fund by
the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of each Acquiring Fund, and that the interests of the existing Shareholders of the Acquiring Funds would
not be diluted as a result of these transactions; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees of Trust I and Trust II have determined,
with respect to each Trust I Acquired Fund and Trust II Acquired Fund, respectively, that the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery of
all of the property and assets of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption of all liabilities of the Acquired Fund by the
respective Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of each Acquired Fund and that the interests of the existing Shareholders of the Acquired Funds
would not be diluted as a result of these transactions;
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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. |
REORGANIZATIONS |
1.1 Subject to requisite approvals and
the other terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, Trust I and Trust II, on
behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, agrees to sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver all of its property and assets, as set forth in
paragraph 1.2, to the respective Acquiring Fund, and Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, agrees in exchange
therefor (a) to deliver to the respective Acquired Fund a number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of the Acquiring Fund of the
respective class (the “Merger Shares”) set forth on Schedule B having an aggregate net asset value equal to the value of the properties and
assets of the Acquired Fund attributable to the shares of the Acquired Fund on such date less the value of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund
attributable to those shares of the Acquired Fund as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 3.1, determined by dividing the value of such Acquired
Fund’s net 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 share of Acquiring
Fund Shares (computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 2.2), and (b) to assume all liabilities of the respective
Acquired Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such transactions shall take place on the date of the closing provided for in paragraph 3.1
(“Closing Date”).
1.2 The property and assets of Trust I
and Trust II attributable to each of their respective Acquired Funds, and to be sold, assigned, conveyed, transferred and delivered to and acquired by
Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of the corresponding Acquiring Funds, shall consist of all assets and property, including, without limitation,
all rights, cash, securities, commodities and futures interests and dividends or interests receivable that are owned by an Acquired Fund and any
deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund on the Valuation Date as defined in paragraph 2.1 (collectively,
“Assets”). Each Acquired Fund will sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver to the respective Acquiring Fund any rights, stock dividends,
or other securities received by the Acquired Fund after the Closing Date as stock dividends or other distributions on or with respect to the property
and assets transferred, which rights, stock dividends, and other securities shall be deemed included in the property and assets transferred to the
Acquiring Fund at the Closing Date and shall not be separately valued, in which case any such distribution that remains unpaid as of the Closing Date
shall be included in the determination of the value of the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund.
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1.3 Each Acquired Fund will make
reasonable efforts to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the Valuation Date, as defined below. Trust I and Trust II, on
behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, shall assume all of the liabilities of the respective Acquired Fund, whether accrued or contingent,
known or unknown, existing at the Valuation Date (collectively, “Liabilities”). On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date, each
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 (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends
paid) and realized net capital gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
1.4 Immediately following the actions
contemplated by paragraph 1.1, Trust I and Trust II shall take such actions necessary to complete the liquidation of each of their respective Acquired
Funds. To complete the liquidation, Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, shall (a) distribute to its
Shareholders of record as of the Closing Date, as defined in paragraph 3.1 (“Acquired Fund Shareholders”), on a pro rata basis, the Acquiring
Fund Shares received by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquired Funds, pursuant to paragraph 1.1 and (b) completely liquidate.
Such liquidation shall be accomplished, with respect to the Acquired Fund Shares, by the transfer of the corresponding Acquiring Fund Shares then
credited to the account of such Acquired Fund on the books of the respective Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund
in the names of the applicable 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 Acquired Fund Shareholders on the Closing Date. All
issued and outstanding Acquired Fund Shares will be canceled on the books of each Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Funds shall not issue certificates
representing Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange.
1.5 Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares
will be shown on the books of the respective Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent.
1.6 Any reporting responsibility of an
Acquired Fund, including, but not limited to, the responsibility for filing regulatory reports, tax returns, or other documents with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“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 such Acquired Fund.
1.7 The consummation of the
transactions provided for in this Agreement with respect to an Acquired Fund and the respective Acquiring Fund is not
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contingent upon the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement as to any other Acquired Fund(s) and Acquiring Fund(s).
2. |
VALUATION |
2.1 The value of the Assets of each
Acquired Fund shall be determined as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 pm New York time, and
after the declaration of any dividends by the Acquired Fund, on the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation
Date”), computed using the valuation procedures which the respective Acquiring Fund would use in determining the fair market value of its assets
and liabilities.
2.2 The net asset value per share of
each Acquiring Fund’s Acquiring Fund Shares shall be determined to the nearest full cent on the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures
established by the Board of Trustees of Trust I and Trust II, as applicable.
2.3 The number of Acquiring Fund Shares
to be issued in exchange for the Assets shall be determined with respect to each Acquired Fund by dividing the value of the net assets with respect to
the Acquired Fund Shares, determined as set forth in paragraph 2.1, by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share, determined as set forth in
paragraph 2.2.
3. |
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE |
3.1 The Closing Date shall be [June
24], 2009, or such other date as the parties may agree. All acts taking place at the closing of the transactions provided for in this Agreement
(“Closing”) shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of 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 5:00 p.m., New York time. The Closing shall be held at the offices of
X.X. Xxxxxx Investment Management Inc. or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree.
3.2 Trust I and Trust II shall direct
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMCB”), as custodian for each Acquired Fund (“Acquired Fund Custodian”), to deliver to Trust I or
Trust II, on behalf of each of the respective Acquiring Funds, at the Closing, a certificate of an authorized officer stating that (i) the Assets of
each Acquired Fund have been delivered in proper form to the respective Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date, and (ii) all necessary taxes in connection
with the delivery of the Assets of the Acquired Fund, including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, have been paid or
provision for payment has been made. Each Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be
presented by the Acquired Fund Custodian to JPMCB, as the custodian for each Acquiring Fund (“Acquiring Fund Custodian”). Such presentation
shall be made for examination no later than five business days preceding the Closing Date, and such
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certificates and other written instruments shall be transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date for the account of the respective Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. The Acquired Fund Custodian shall deliver to the Acquiring Fund Custodian as of the Closing Date by book entry, in accordance with the customary practices of the Acquired Fund Custodian and of each securities depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, the Assets of each Acquired Fund deposited with such depositories. The cash to be transferred by each Acquired Fund shall be delivered to the Acquiring Fund Custodian on the Closing Date.
3.3 Trust I and Trust II shall direct
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., in its capacity as transfer agent for each Acquired Fund (“Transfer Agent”), to deliver to Trust I and
Trust II, on behalf of the respective Acquiring Funds at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the name
and address of each Acquired Fund Shareholder and the number and percentage ownership of Acquired Fund Shares owned by each such Shareholder
immediately prior to the Closing. Each Acquiring Fund shall deliver to the Secretary of the respective Acquired Fund a confirmation evidencing that (a)
the appropriate number of Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to such Acquired Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund pursuant to
paragraph 1.1 prior to the actions contemplated by paragraph 1.4 and (b) the appropriate number of Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the
accounts of the Acquired Fund Shareholders on the books of the Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.4. At the Closing each party shall deliver to the
other party such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as the other party or its counsel may
reasonably request.
3.4 In the event that at the Valuation
Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of any Acquiring Fund or any Acquired Fund (each an
“Exchange”) 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 any Acquired Fund or any Acquiring Fund is impracticable
(in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of Trust I with respect to either the Trust I Acquiring Fund or Trust I Acquired Funds and the Board of
Trustees of Trust II with respect to either the Trust II Acquiring Funds or Trust II Acquired Funds), the Closing Date shall be postponed with respect
to such Acquired Fund or Acquiring Fund until the first Friday (that is also a business day) after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed
and reporting shall have been restored.
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4. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
4.1 Except as has been fully disclosed
to Trust I and Trust II in Schedule 4.1 to this Agreement, each of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds and in
their individual capacity solely with respect to their Trust, represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each Trust I Acquired
Fund is duly established as a series of Trust I, and each Trust II Acquired Fund is duly established as a series of Trust II, each of which is a
statutory trust duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power under its Certificate of Trust and
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended (collectively, the “Charter”), to own all of its Assets and to carry on its business as it is
being conducted as of the date hereof. Each of Trust I and Trust II is not required to qualify as a foreign trust or association in any jurisdiction,
except for any jurisdiction in which it has so qualified or in which a failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect. Each of Trust I
and Trust II has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to carry on its business as now being conducted and to fulfill the terms of this
Agreement, except as set forth in paragraph 4.1.
(b) Each of Trust I and
Trust II 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 the Acquired Fund Shares 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 Funds of the transactions contemplated
herein, except such as may be required under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), the 0000 Xxx, xxxxx
securities laws and the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxx Act.
(d) The current prospectus
and statement of additional information of each Acquired 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.
(e) On the Closing Date,
Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, will have good and marketable title to the Assets and full right, power,
and authority to sell, assign, convey, transfer
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and deliver such Assets hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances, and upon delivery and payment for the Assets, Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of the respective 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.
(f) Each 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 Charter or
by-laws of Trust I and Trust II, as applicable, or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which Trust I and
Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any material
obligation, or the imposition of any material penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which Trust I
and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, is a party or by which it is bound.
(g) All material contracts
or other commitments of each Acquired Fund (other than this Agreement, contracts listed in Schedule 4.1 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. Each contract listed in
Schedule 4.1 is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of each party thereto (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other
party thereto) and the assignment by the Acquired Fund to the respective Acquiring Fund of each such contract will not result in the termination of
such contract, any breach or default thereunder or the imposition of any penalty thereunder.
(h) No litigation or
administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to Trust I’s or to Trust II’s
knowledge, threatened against Trust I or Trust II, with respect to any Trust I Acquired Fund or Trust II Acquired Fund, as applicable, or any of such
Acquired Fund’s properties or assets, that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct
of its business. Each of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, 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 Statement of Assets
and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of each Acquired Fund for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2009 (for JPMorgan Tax Aware Enhanced Income Fund and JPMorgan Tax Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund, for the fiscal year ended October
31, 2008)
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have been audited by [______], Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) consistently applied. Such statements, and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Schedule of Investments for the six months ended April 30, 2009, for JPMorgan Tax Aware Enhanced Income Fund and JPMorgan Tax Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund (true and correct copies of which have been furnished to Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition of each Acquired Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent, accrued or other liabilities of each such Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date that are not disclosed therein.
(j) Since February 28, 2009
(and for JPMorgan Tax Aware Enhanced Income Fund and JPMorgan Tax Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund, since April 30, 2009), there has not been any
material adverse change in each Acquired Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business, other than changes occurring in the ordinary
course of business, or any incurrence by each such Acquired Fund of indebtedness, other than the incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of
business in accordance with the Acquired Fund’s investment restrictions. For the purposes of this subparagraph (j), a decline in net asset value
per share of Acquired Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by an Acquired Fund, the discharge of Acquired Fund liabilities,
or the redemption of Acquired Fund Shares by Shareholders of an 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 each 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 Trust I and Trust II’s knowledge, as applicable, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect
to such returns.
(l) For each taxable year of
its operation (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), each Acquired Fund has met or meets the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code
for qualification as a regulated investment company, and has been or is eligible to and has computed or will compute its federal income tax under
Section 852 of the
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Code. In that regard, each Acquired Fund has distributed or, with respect to its taxable year most recently ended and its taxable year ending on the Closing Date, has declared and distributed, or has declared and will distribute, substantially all of (i) its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid), (ii) the excess, if any, of (x) its investment income excludible from gross income under Section 103 of the Code over (y) its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171 of the Code (“net tax-exempt income”), and (iii) any net capital gain (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward) (as defined in the Code).
(m) All issued and
outstanding Acquired Fund Shares are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly and legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and
non-assessable by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquired Funds, and will have been offered and sold in every state, territory and
the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of all applicable federal and state
securities laws. All of the issued and outstanding Acquired Fund Shares 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 each Acquired Fund, as provided in paragraph 3.3. No Acquired Fund has outstanding any
options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into
any of the Acquired Fund Shares. Each Acquired Fund will review its Assets to ensure that at any time prior to the Closing Date its Assets do not
include any assets that the respective Acquiring Fund is not permitted, or reasonably believes to be unsuitable for it, to acquire, including without
limitation any security that, prior to its acquisition by the Acquired Fund, is unsuitable for the Acquiring Fund to acquire.
(n) The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated herein, have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on the part of the
Board of Trustees of Trust I and Trust II, and by the approval of each Acquired Fund’s Shareholders, as described in paragraph 8.1, and this
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, 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.
(o) The combined proxy
statement and prospectus (“Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) to be included in the Registration Statement (as defined in paragraph 5.6), insofar
as it relates to each Acquired Fund, Trust I and Trust II, will from the effective date of the Registration Statement through
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the date of the meeting of Shareholders of each Acquired Fund contemplated therein and on the Closing Date (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading (provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement/Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished by the Acquiring Funds for use therein) and (ii) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The information to be furnished by the Acquired Funds for use in registration statements and other documents filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including 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 thereunder applicable thereto.
4.2 Except as has been fully disclosed
to Trust I and Trust II in Schedule 4.2 to this Agreement, each of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds and in
their individual capacity solely with respect to their Trust, represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each Trust I Acquiring
Fund is duly established as a series of Trust I and each Trust II Acquiring Fund is duly established as a series of Trust II, each of which is a
statutory trust duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power under its Charter, to own all of its
Assets and to carry on its business as it is being conducted as of the date hereof. Each of Trust I and Trust II is not required to qualify as a
foreign trust or association in any jurisdiction, except for any jurisdiction in which it has so qualified or in which a failure to so qualify would
not have a material adverse effect. Each of Trust I and Trust II has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to carry on its business as
now being conducted and to fulfill the terms of this Agreement, except as set forth in paragraph 4.1.
(b) Each of Trust I and
Trust II 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 the Acquiring Fund Shares under the 1933 Act will be in full force and effect as of the
Closing Date.
(c) No consent, approval,
authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Funds of the transactions contemplated
herein, except such as may be
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required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, state securities laws and the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act.
(d) The current prospectus
and statement of additional information of each 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.
(e) Each 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 Charter or
bylaws of Trust I and Trust II, as applicable, or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which Trust I and
Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any material
obligation, or the imposition of any material penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which Trust I
and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, is a party or by which it is bound.
(f) No litigation or
administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to Trust I’s or to Trust II’s
knowledge, threatened against Trust I or Trust II, with respect to any Trust I Acquiring Fund or Trust II Acquiring Fund, as applicable, or any of such
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 its business. Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.2 to this Agreement, Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their
respective Acquiring Funds, 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 its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated.
(g) The Statement of Assets
and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of the Acquiring Fund at February 28, 2009, have been
audited by [______], Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (true and
correct copies of which have been furnished to Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquired Funds) present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial condition of each Acquiring Fund as of such date in accordance
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with GAAP, and there are no known contingent, accrued or other liabilities of each such Acquiring Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date that are not disclosed therein.
(h) Since February 28, 2009,
there has not been any material adverse change in each Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business, other than changes
occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by each such Acquiring Fund of indebtedness, other than the incurrence of indebtedness
in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the Acquiring Fund’s investment restrictions. For the purposes of this subparagraph (h), a
decline in net asset value per share of Acquiring Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by an Acquiring Fund, the discharge
of Acquiring Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquiring Fund Shares by Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund shall not constitute a material adverse
change.
(i) On the Closing Date, all
federal and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of each Acquiring 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 Trust I’s and of Trust II’s knowledge, as applicable, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been
asserted with respect to such returns.
(j) For each taxable year of
its operation, each Acquiring Fund has met or meets the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company,
and has been or is eligible to and has computed or will compute its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code. In that regard, each Acquiring
Fund has distributed or, with respect to its taxable year most recently ended, has declared and distributed, or has declared and will distribute,
substantially all of (i) its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid), (ii) the excess, if any,
of (x) its investment income excludible from gross income under Section 103 of the Code over (y) its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171
of the Code (“net tax-exempt income”), and (iii) any net capital gain (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward) (as defined in the
Code).
(k) All of the issued and
outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly and legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and
non-assessable by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds, and will have been offered and
13
sold in every state, territory and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of all applicable federal and state securities laws. No Acquiring Fund has 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. All of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Funds, for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to this Agreement will on the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly and legally issued Acquiring Fund Shares and be fully paid and non-assessable by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds.
(l) The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated herein, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Board
of Trustees of Trust I, on behalf of the Trust I Acquiring Fund, and the Board of Trustees of Trust II, on behalf of the Trust II Acquiring Funds, and
this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, 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.
(m) The Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to be included in the Registration Statement, insofar as it relates to each Acquiring Fund, Trust I, Trust II and the Acquiring
Fund Shares, will from the effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of the meeting of Shareholders of each Acquired Fund
contemplated therein and on the Closing Date (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially
misleading (provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement/Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished by the Acquired Funds for use therein) and (ii) comply in all material respects
with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The information to be furnished by the
Acquiring Funds for use in registration statements and other documents filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority
(including 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 thereunder applicable
thereto.
14
5. |
COVENANTS |
Trust I, on behalf of each Trust I Acquired Fund and the Trust I
Acquiring Fund, and Trust II, on behalf of each Trust II Acquired Fund and each Trust II Acquiring Fund, respectively, hereby further covenant as
follows:
5.1 Each Acquired Fund and the
respective Acquiring Fund will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such
ordinary course of business will include the declaration and payment of customary dividends and distributions, and any other distribution that may be
advisable.
5.2 Trust I and Trust II will call a
meeting of the Shareholders of each Acquired Fund to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other action necessary to obtain approval of
the transactions contemplated herein.
5.3 Each 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 Each Acquired Fund will assist the
respective 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, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund covenant to 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.
5.6 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
their respective Acquiring Funds, shall prepare and file a Registration Statement on Form N-14 in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the
1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the Reorganizations (“Registration Statement”). Each Acquired Fund will
provide to the respective Acquiring Fund such information regarding the Acquired Fund as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the
Registration Statement.
5.7 Each of the Acquiring Funds and
each of the Acquired Funds covenant to 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.
5.8 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquired Funds, each covenants that it will 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 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring
Funds, may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) each Trust’s, on behalf of its respective
15
Acquired Funds, title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) each Trust’s, on behalf of its respective Acquiring Funds, title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.9 Each Acquiring Fund covenants 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.
5.10 Each Acquiring Fund shall not
change its Declaration of Trust, prospectus or statement of additional information prior to closing so as to restrict permitted investments for the
Acquiring Fund prior to the closing, except as required by the Commission.
6. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH ACQUIRED FUND |
The obligations of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of
their respective Acquired Funds, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at their own election, to the performance by
Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the
Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties
of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, 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.
6.2 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquiring Funds, 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 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, on or before the Closing
Date.
6.3 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquiring Funds, shall have executed and delivered an assumption of the Liabilities (the “Assumption Instrument”)
and all such other agreements and instruments as Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, may reasonably deem
necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, have title to
and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) Trust I’s and Trust II’s, on behalf of each of their respective
Acquiring Funds, assumption of all of the Liabilities and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
16
6.4 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquiring Funds, shall have delivered to the corresponding Acquired Fund a certificate executed in the name of Trust I and
Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquiring Funds, by the President or Vice President and the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of Trust I
and Trust II, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of the corresponding Acquired Funds, and dated as of the Closing
Date, as to the matters set forth in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 and as to such other matters as Trust I and Trust II shall reasonably
request.
6.5 Each Acquired Fund and the
respective Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the
Reorganizations after such number has been calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.1.
7. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH ACQUIRING FUND |
The obligations of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of
their respective Acquiring Funds, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at the election of Trust I and Trust II , to the
performance by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, 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:
7.1 All representations and warranties
of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, 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 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquired Funds, 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 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of such Acquired Fund, on or before the Closing Date.
7.3 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquired Funds, shall have delivered to the respective Acquiring Fund a statement of the Assets and Liabilities, as of the
Closing Date, including a schedule of investments, certified by the Treasurer of Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquired Funds.
Trust I and Trust II shall have executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments of transfer (the “Transfer Instruments”) as
Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a)
Trust I’s and Trust II s title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) Trust I’s and Trust II’s
title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
17
7.4 Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of
each of their respective Acquired Funds, shall have delivered to the corresponding Acquiring Funds, a certificate executed in the name of Trust I or
Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective Acquired Funds, by the President or Vice President and the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of Trust I
or Trust II, respectively, in a form reasonably satisfactory and dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2
and as to such other matters as Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds, shall reasonably request.
7.5 Each Acquired Fund and the
respective Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the
Reorganizations after such number has been calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.1.
8. |
FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH ACQUIRING FUND AND EACH ACQUIRED FUND |
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been satisfied
on or before the Closing Date with respect to Trust I or Trust II, on behalf of each of an Acquired Fund or an Acquiring Fund, as applicable, the other
party to this Agreement shall be entitled, at its option, to refuse to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as to such Acquired
Fund and Acquiring Fund:
8.1 This Agreement and the transactions
contemplated herein shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of each Acquired Fund with respect to each
Acquired Fund in accordance with the provision of the Charter and by-laws of Trust I and Trust II, applicable state law and the 1940 Act, and certified
copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to the respective Acquiring Fund. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, neither Trust I or Trust II may waive the condition set forth in this paragraph 8.1.
8.2 On the Closing Date no action, suit
or other proceeding shall be pending or, to Trust I’s or to Trust II’s 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.
8.3 All consents of other parties and
all other consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by Trust I and Trust II 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 any Acquiring Fund or any Acquired Fund,
provided that either party hereto may for itself waive any of such conditions.
18
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 and, to the best knowledge of
the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 0000
Xxx.
8.5 With respect to each
Reorganization, the parties shall have received an opinion of Ropes & Xxxx LLP (or other suitable counsel) dated the Closing Date, substantially to
the effect that for federal income tax purposes: (i) the transfer of the Acquired Fund’s assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquiring
Fund Shares and the assumption of the Acquired Fund’s liabilities, followed by a distribution of those shares to the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund and the termination of the Acquired Fund will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the
Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund each will be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) under
Section 1032 of the Code, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange for
Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund; (iii) under Section 362(b) of the Code, the
Acquiring Fund’s tax basis in the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization will be the same as the tax
basis of such assets in the hands of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization; (iv) under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding
periods of the assets of the Acquired Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the periods during which such assets were held by the
Acquired Fund; (v) under Section 361 of the Code, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of its assets to the
Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, or upon the
distribution (whether actual or constructive) of Acquiring Fund Shares by the Acquired Fund to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in liquidation;
(vi) under Section 354 of the Code, the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not recognize a gain or loss upon the exchange of their shares of the
Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares; (vii) under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate tax basis of Acquiring Fund Shares that the shareholders of
the Acquired Fund receive in connection with the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of their respective shares in the Acquired
Fund exchanged therefor; (viii) under Section 1223(1) of the Code, the holding period for the shares of the Acquiring Fund that a shareholder of the
Acquired Fund receives in the Reorganization will include the period during which the Acquired Fund Shares exchanged therefor were held by such
shareholder, provided that on the date of the exchange it held such Acquired Fund Shares as capital assets; and (ix) the Acquiring Fund will succeed to
and take into account the items of the
19
Acquired Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and Regulations thereunder. Ropes & Xxxx LLP (or other suitable counsel) will express no view with respect to the effect of the transaction on any transferred asset 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 upon the termination thereof, or (ii) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such a transfer would otherwise be a non-taxable transaction. The opinion will be subject to receipt of and based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund and will also be based on customary assumptions. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could disagree with Ropes & Xxxx LLP’s (or other suitable counsel’s) opinion. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither Trust I nor Trust II may waive the conditions set forth in this paragraph 8.5.
8.6 Trust I and Trust II shall have
received the opinion of Ropes & Xxxx LLP (or other suitable counsel) dated the Closing Date (subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and
limitations and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Funds and Acquired Funds)
substantially to the effect that, based upon certain facts and certifications made by Trust I and Trust II, on behalf of each of their respective
Acquiring Funds and Acquired Funds, and their authorized officers, (a) each of Trust I and Trust II is a duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of Delaware and has power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and each Acquiring Fund and
Acquired Fund is a separate series thereof duly constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Charter and bylaws of
Trust I and Trust II; (b) each Acquiring Fund has the power to assume the liabilities to be assumed by it hereunder and, upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the execution and delivery to each Acquired Fund by the Acquiring
Trust, on behalf of their respective Acquiring Fund, of the Assumption Instrument, the Acquiring Fund will have duly assumed such liabilities; (c) each
Acquired Fund has the power to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the assets to be transferred by it hereunder, and, upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the execution and delivery to each Acquiring Fund by the Acquired
Trust, on behalf of the respective Acquired Fund, of the Transfer Instruments against payment therefore, the Acquired Fund will have duly transferred
such assets to the respective Acquiring Fund; (d) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of each Acquiring Fund and
Acquired Fund and, assuming the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement comply with applicable federal securities laws, constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of each Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund, enforceable against the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund in accordance with its
terms,
20
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (e) the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued for transfer to each Acquired Fund’s shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered by each Acquiring Fund against delivery of all of the assets of the respective Acquired Fund as set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable shares in the applicable Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any preemptive right of subscription or purchase in respect thereof; (f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, violate the Charter or bylaws of Trust I and Trust II or result in a violation of the terms and provision of the agreements to which Trust I and Trust II or an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund is a party or by which either Trust I and Trust II or an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund is bound that are listed in an annex to such opinion and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any United States federal or Delaware state court or governmental body is required for the consummation by Trust I and Trust II and each Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except such as have been obtained; (g) to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of Trust I and Trust II but without other independent investigation, there is no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body presently pending or threatened as to Trust I and Trust II or any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund or any of their respective properties or assets; to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of Trust I and Trust II but without other independent investigation, neither Trust I and Trust II nor any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund is 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 either of their respective businesses; and, to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of Trust I and Trust II but without other independent investigation, there is no legal or governmental proceeding relating to Trust I and Trust II or any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund pending on or before the date of mailing of the Proxy Statement or the date hereof which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not disclosed therein; (h) Trust I and Trust II are registered with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act; and (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and, to the knowledge of such counsel, (1) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and (2) no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
21
8.7 The Assets of each Acquired Fund
will include no assets which the respective Acquiring Fund, by reason of limitations contained in its Charter or of investment restrictions disclosed
in its current prospectus and statement of additional information, as supplemented, in effect on the Closing Date, may not properly
acquire.
9. |
INDEMNIFICATION |
9.1 Each Trust I Acquired Fund and
Trust I Acquiring Fund, solely out of its assets and property (including any amounts paid to the corresponding Trust II Acquiring Fund pursuant to any
applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements), severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
corresponding Trust II Acquiring Fund or Trust II Acquired Fund and its Trustees and officers from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which the
respective Trust II Acquiring Fund or Trust II Acquired Fund may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions
with respect thereto) arises out of or is based on (a) any breach by a Trust I Acquired Fund or Trust I Acquiring Fund, as applicable of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement or (b) any act, error, omission, neglect, misstatement, materially
misleading statement, breach of duty or other act wrongfully done or attempted to be committed by Trust I or its Trustees or officers prior to the
Closing Date, provided that such indemnification by any Trust I Acquired Fund or Trust I Acquiring Fund is not (i) in violation of any applicable law
or (ii) otherwise prohibited as a result of any applicable order or decree issued by any governing regulatory authority or court of competent
jurisdiction.
9.2 Each Trust II Acquiring Fund and
Trust II Acquired Fund, solely out of its assets and property including (including any amounts paid to the corresponding Trust I Acquired Fund or Trust
I Acquiring Fund pursuant to any applicable liability insurance policies or indemnification agreements), severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless Trust I and its Trustees and officers from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including,
without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which the corresponding Trust I Acquired Fund or
Trust I Acquiring Fund may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or
is based on (a) any breach by a Trust II Acquiring Fund or Trust II Acquired Fund of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
set forth in this Agreement or (b) any act, error, omission, neglect, misstatement, materially misleading statement, breach of duty or other act
wrongfully done or attempted to be committed by Trust II or its Trustees or officers prior to the Closing Date, provided that such indemnification by
any Trust II Acquiring Fund or Trust II Acquired Fund is not (i) in violation of any
22
applicable law or (ii) otherwise prohibited as a result of any applicable order or decree issued by any governing regulatory authority or court of competent jurisdiction.
10. |
BROKERAGE FEES AND BROKERAGE EXPENSES |
10.1 Trust I and Trust II 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 X.X. Xxxxxx Investment Management
Inc. or JPMorgan Investment Advisors Inc., as applicable, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. will waive their
fees and/or reimburse each Fund in an amount sufficient to offset the costs incurred by the Fund relating to its Reorganization. The costs of the
Reorganizations shall include, but not be limited to, costs associated with obtaining any necessary order of exemption from the 1940 Act, preparation
and filing of the Registration Statement and printing and distribution of the Proxy Statement, legal fees, accounting fees, securities registration
fees, and expenses of holding a Shareholders’ meeting pursuant to paragraph 5.2. The costs of the Reorganizations will not include brokerage fees
and brokerage expenses related to the disposition and acquisition of portfolio assets. 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.
11. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES |
11.1 Trust I and Trust II agree that
neither party has made any representation, warranty or covenant, on behalf of either an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund, not set forth herein and
that 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 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 with respect to one or more Acquiring Funds or the respective Acquired Funds by resolution of the either the Board
of Trustees of Trust I or the Board of Trustees of Trust II, at any time prior to the Closing Date, if circumstances should develop that, in the
opinion of that Board, make proceeding with the Agreement inadvisable with respect to such Acquiring Fund(s) or the respective Acquired Fund(s),
respectively.
23
13. |
AMENDMENTS |
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such
manner as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the authorized officers of Trust I and Trust II.
14. |
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, electronic delivery (i.e., e-mail) personal service or prepaid or
certified mail addressed as follows:
If to either Trust I or Trust II, at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000, in each case to the attention of the Trust’s secretary and with a copy to Ropes & Xxxx LLP, One Metro Center, 000 00xx Xxxxxx, XX,
Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx.
15. |
HEADINGS; GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; RULE 145 |
15.1 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.
15.2 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.
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 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.
15.4 Pursuant to Rule 145 under the
1933 Act, each Acquiring Fund will, in connection with the issuance of any Acquiring Fund Shares to any person who at the time of the transaction
contemplated hereby is deemed to be an affiliate of a party to the transaction pursuant to Rule 145(c), cause to be affixed upon the certificates
issued to such person (if any) such legends as may be reasonably believed by counsel to the Acquiring Fund to be required by law, and, further, each
Acquiring Fund will issue stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to such Acquiring Fund Shares. Each Acquired Fund shall provide
the respective Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date with the name of any Acquired Fund Shareholder who is to the knowledge of the Acquired Fund an
affiliate of the Acquired Fund on such date.
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date and year first above written.
JPMorgan Trust
I, on behalf of its series on Schedule A |
JPMorgan Trust II, on behalf of its series on Schedule A |
|||||
By: |
By: |
|||||
Name: |
Name: |
|||||
Title: |
Title: |
With respect to paragraph 10.2 of this Agreement, Accepted and
Acknowledged by:
X.X. Xxxxxx
Investment Management Inc. |
JPMorgan Investment Advisors Inc. |
|||||
By: |
By: |
|||||
Name: |
Name: |
|||||
Title: |
Title: |
|||||
JPMorgan
Distribution Services Inc. |
JPMorgan Funds Management Inc. |
|||||
By: |
By: |
|||||
Name: |
Name: |
|||||
Title: |
Title: |
25
Schedule A
JPMorgan Trust I Acquired Funds |
JPMorgan Trust II Acquired Funds |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPMorgan Bond
Fund |
JPMorgan Intermediate Bond Fund |
|||||
JPMorgan Short
Term Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund |
|||||
JPMorgan Tax
Aware Enhanced Income Fund |
JPMorgan Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund |
|||||
JPMorgan Tax
Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund |
JPMorgan West Virginia Municipal Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Trust I Acquiring Fund |
JPMorgan Trust II Acquiring Funds |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPMorgan
Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Core Plus Bond Fund |
|||||
JPMorgan Short Duration Bond Fund |
||||||
JPMorgan Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund |
||||||
JPMorgan Core Bond Fund |
A-1
Schedule B
Acquired Fund |
Acquiring Fund |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPMorgan Bond Fund | JPMorgan Core Plus Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Class B | → |
Class
B |
||||||||
Class C | → |
Class
C |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
Institutional Class | → |
Institutional Class |
||||||||
Ultra | → |
Ultra |
||||||||
JPMorgan Short Term Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Short Duration Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
Institutional Class | → |
Ultra |
||||||||
JPMorgan Tax Aware Enhanced Income Fund | JPMorgan Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
Institutional Class | → |
Institutional Class |
||||||||
JPMorgan Tax Aware Short-Intermediate Income Fund | JPMorgan Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
Institutional Class | → |
Institutional Class |
||||||||
JPMorgan Intermediate Bond Fund | JPMorgan Core Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Class B | → |
Class
B |
||||||||
Class C | → |
Class
C |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
Ultra | → |
Ultra |
||||||||
JPMorgan Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund | JPMorgan Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Class B | → |
Class
B |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
B-1
Acquired Fund |
Acquiring Fund | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPMorgan Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund | JPMorgan Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Class B | → |
Class
B |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
||||||||
JPMorgan West Virginia Municipal Bond Fund | JPMorgan Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund |
|||||||||
Class A | → |
Class
A |
||||||||
Class B | → |
Class
B |
||||||||
Select Class | → |
Select Class |
B-2