FT 254
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: May 15, 1998
The Trust Agreement among Nike Securities L.P., as
Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust
Advisors L.P., as Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor, sets forth
certain provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by
reference to the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust for The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 22
and certain subsequent Series, Effective November 20, 1991"
(herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"), and
such provisions as are incorporated by reference constitute a
single instrument. All references herein to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust.
WITNESSETH THAT:
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the Depositor, the Trustee, the
Evaluator and the Portfolio Supervisor agree as follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II and Part III hereof,
all the provisions contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety
and shall be deemed to be a part of this instrument as fully and
to the same extent as though said provisions had been set forth
in full in this instrument.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR THE DOW 5 QUALIFIED TARGET TRUST, 1998 SERIES
("TARGET 5 TRUST")
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust represented by
each Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio is as follows on the Initial Date
of Deposit is as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of
Investments."
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and Capital
Distributed?"
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and
Capital Distributed?"
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during each period in respect of which a
payment is made pursuant to Section 3.05, payable on a
Distribution Date. Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time
will the total amount received for evaluation services rendered
to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the
Evaluator of supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during the calendar year except during the
initial offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this
Indenture, in which case the fee is calculated based on the
largest number of units outstanding during the period for which
the compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any
calendar year in which the Trustee provides services during less
than the whole of such year). However, in no event, except as
may otherwise be provided in the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust, shall the Trustee receive compensation in any one year
from any Trust of less than $2,000 for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is May 15,
1998.
J. The minimum amount of Equity Securities to be sold by
the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR THE DOW 10 QUALIFIED TARGET TRUST, 1998 SERIES
("TARGET 10 TRUST")
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust represented by
each Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio is as follows on the Initial Date
of Deposit is as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of
Investments."
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and Capital
Distributed?"
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and
Capital Distributed?"
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during each period in respect of which a
payment is made pursuant to Section 3.05, payable on a
Distribution Date. Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time
will the total amount received for evaluation services rendered
to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the
Evaluator of supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during the calendar year except during the
initial offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this
Indenture, in which case the fee is calculated based on the
largest number of units outstanding during the period for which
the compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any
calendar year in which the Trustee provides services during less
than the whole of such year). However, in no event, except as
may otherwise be provided in the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust, shall the Trustee receive compensation in any one year
from any Trust of less than $2,000 for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is May 15,
1998.
J. The minimum amount of Equity Securities to be sold by
the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART II
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
FOR GLOBAL TARGET 30 QUALIFIED TRUST, 1998 SERIES
("TARGET 30 TRUST")
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
A. The Securities initially deposited in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
B. (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for the
Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust represented by
each Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
Documents representing this number of Units for the Trust
are being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
C. The Percentage Ratio is as follows on the Initial Date
of Deposit is as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of
Investments."
D. The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for the sale of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and Capital
Distributed?"
E. The Distribution Date shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus under "Rights of Unitholders - How are Income and
Capital Distributed?"
F. The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of Essential
Information."
G. The Evaluator's compensation as referred to in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during each period in respect of which a
payment is made pursuant to Section 3.05, payable on a
Distribution Date. Such fee may exceed the actual cost of
providing such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no time
will the total amount received for evaluation services rendered
to unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the
sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the
Evaluator of supplying such services in such year.
H. The Trustee's Compensation Rate pursuant to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units outstanding during the calendar year except during the
initial offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this
Indenture, in which case the fee is calculated based on the
largest number of units outstanding during the period for which
the compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any
calendar year in which the Trustee provides services during less
than the whole of such year). However, in no event, except as
may otherwise be provided in the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust, shall the Trustee receive compensation in any one year
from any Trust of less than $2,000 for such annual compensation.
I. The Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is May 15,
1998.
J. The minimum amount of Equity Securities to be sold by
the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture for the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
PART III
A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, references to subsequent
Series established after the date of effectiveness of the First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 24 shall include FT 254.
B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Prospectus, parties to the trust agreement are hereby advised:
The Trusts are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or
promoted by Dow Xxxxx & Company, Inc. ("Dow Xxxxx"). Dow
Xxxxx makes no representation or warranty, express or
implied, to the owners of the Trusts or any member of the
public regarding the advisability of investing in securities
generally or in the Trusts particularly. Dow Xxxxx' only
relationship to the Sponsor is the licensing of certain
trademarks, trade names and service marks of Dow Xxxxx and
of the Dow Xxxxx Industrial AverageSM , which is determined,
composed and calculated by Dow Xxxxx without regard to the
Sponsor or the Trusts. Dow Xxxxx has no obligation to take
the needs of the Sponsor or the owners of the Trusts into
consideration in determining, composing or calculating to
Dow Xxxxx Industrial AverageSM. Dow Xxxxx is not
responsible for and has not participated in the
determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of
the Trusts to be issued or in the determination or
calculation of the equation by which the Trusts are to be
converted into cash. Dow Xxxxx has no obligation or
liability in connection with the administration, marketing
or trading of the Trusts.
DOW XXXXX DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE
COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW XXXXX INDUSTRIAL AVERAGESM OR ANY
DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND DOW XXXXX SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY
FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. DOW
XXXXX MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS
TO BE OBTAINED BY THE SPONSOR, OWNERS OF THE TRUSTS, OR ANY
OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW XXXXX
INDUSTRIAL AVERAGESM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. DOW
XXXXX MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DOW XXXXX
INDUSTRIAL AVERAGESM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT
LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DOW XXXXX
HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT,
PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED
OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
C. The term "Capital Account" as set forth in the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to the "Principal Account."
D. Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
E. Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(3) "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P.
and its successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
appointed as hereinafter provided."
F. Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
"(4) "Portfolio Supervisor" shall mean First Trust
Advisors L.P. and its successors in interest, or any
successor portfolio supervisor appointed as hereinafter
provided."
G. Section 1.01(26) shall be added to read as follows:
"(26) The term "Rollover Unit holder" shall be defined
as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
H. Section 1.01(27) shall be added to read as follows:
"(27) The "Rollover Notification Date" shall be
defined as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information."
I. Section 1.01(28) shall be added to read as follows:
"(28) The term "Rollover Distribution" shall be
defined as set forth in Section 5.05, herein."
J. Section 1.01(29) shall be added to read as follows:
"(29) The term "Distribution Agent" shall refer to the
Trustee acting in its capacity as distribution agent
pursuant to Section 5.02 herein."
K. Section 1.01(30) shall be added to read as follows:
"(30) The term "Special Redemption and Liquidation
Period" shall be as set forth in the Prospectus under
"Summary of Essential Information."
L. Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows:
(b)(1)From time to time following the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Depositor is hereby authorized, in its
discretion, to assign, convey to and deposit with the
Trustee, or facilitate the assignment, conveyance or deposit
with the Trustee of, (i) additional Securities, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by all necessary
instruments of assignment and transfer in proper form, (ii)
Contract Obligations relating to such additional Securities,
accompanied by cash and/or Letter(s) of Credit as specified
in paragraph (c) of this Section 2.01, or (iii) cash (or a
Letter of Credit in lieu of cash) with instructions to
purchase additional Securities, in an amount equal to the
portion of the Unit Value of the Units created by such
deposit attributable to the Securities to be purchased
pursuant to such instructions. Except as provided in the
following subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in
each case, shall ensure that each deposit of additional
Securities pursuant to this Section shall maintain, as
nearly as practicable, the Percentage Ratio. Each such
deposit of additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a
Notice of Deposit of Additional Securities delivered by the
Depositor to the Trustee. Instructions to purchase
additional Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify
the name of the Security, CUSIP number, if any, aggregate
amount, price or price range and date to be purchased. When
requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as broker
to execute purchases in accordance with such instructions;
the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor in
accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
(2) Additional Securities (or Contract Obligations
therefor) may, at the Depositor's discretion, be deposited
or purchased in round lots. If the amount of the deposit is
insufficient to acquire round lots of each Security to be
acquired, the additional Securities shall be deposited or
purchased in the order of the Security in the Trust most
under-represented immediately before the deposit with
respect to the Percentage Ratio.
(3) If at the time of a deposit of additional
Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the Initial
Date of Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement Securities
acquired to replace an issue deposited on the Initial Date
of Deposit) are unavailable, cannot be purchased at
reasonable prices or their purchase is prohibited or
restricted by applicable law, regulation or policies, the
Depositor may (i) deposit, or instruct the Trustee to
purchase, in lieu thereof, another issue of Securities or
Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a letter of
credit in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue of
Securities whose acquisition is not feasible with
instructions to acquire such Securities of such issue when
they become available.
(4) Any contrary authorization in the preceding
subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding, deposits of
additional Securities made after the 90-day period
immediately following the Initial Date of Deposit (except
for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations if
such deposits occur within 20 days from the date of a
failure occurring within such initial 90-day period) shall
maintain exactly the Percentage Ratio existing immediately
prior to such deposit.
(5) In connection with and at the time of any deposit
of additional Securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(b),
any such deposit shall exactly replicate Cash (as defined
below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
such deposit. For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
as to the Capital Account, cash or other property (other
than Securities) on hand in the Capital Account or
receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account as of
the date of the deposit (other than amounts to be
distributed solely to persons other than holders of Units
created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account, cash
or other property (other than Securities) received by the
Trust as of the date of the deposit or receivable by the
Trust in respect of a record date for a payment on a
Security which has occurred or will occur before the Trust
will be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by the
amount of any cash or other property received or receivable
on any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
calculations of distributions from the Income Account
pursuant to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or to be
made in respect of a Record Date occurring prior to the
deposit. Such replication will be made on the basis of a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units
created by the deposit and the denominator of which is the
number of Units which are outstanding immediately prior to
the deposit. Cash represented by a foreign currency shall
be replicated in such currency or, if the Trustee has
entered into a contract for the conversion thereof, in U.S.
dollars in an amount replicating the dollars to be received
on such conversion."
M. The following shall be added immediately following the
first sentence of paragraph (c) of Section 2.01:
"The Trustee may allow the Depositor to substitute for
any Letter(s) of Credit deposited with the Trustee in
connection with the deposits described in Section 2.01(a)
and (b) cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy the
obligations to which the Letter(s) of Credit relates. Any
substituted Letter(s) of Credit shall be released by the
Trustee."
N. Section 2.01(c) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by adding the following at the conclusion
thereof:
"If any Contract Obligation requires settlement in
a foreign currency, in connection with the deposit of such
Contract Obligation the Depositor will deposit with the
Trustee either an amount of such currency sufficient to
settle the contract or a foreign exchange contract in such
amount which settles concurrently with the settlement of the
Contract Obligation and cash or a Letter of Credit in U.S.
dollars sufficient to perform such foreign exchange
contact."
O. Section 3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Section 3.01. Initial Cost. The expenses incurred in
establishing a Trust, including the cost of the preparation
and typesetting of the registration statement, prospectuses
(including preliminary prospectuses), the indenture and
other documents relating to the Trust, printing of
Certificates, Securities and Exchange Commission and state
blue sky registration fees, the costs of the initial
valuation of the portfolio and audit of the Trust, the
initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, and legal and
other out-of-pocket expenses related thereto, but not
including the expenses incurred in the printing of
preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses, expenses incurred
in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses, to the
extent not borne by the Depositor, shall be borne by the
Trust. To the extent the funds in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust shall be insufficient to pay the
expenses borne by the Trust specified in this Section 3.01,
the Trustee shall advance out of its own funds and cause to
be deposited and credited to the Income Account such amount
as may be required to permit payment of such expenses. The
Trustee shall be reimbursed for such advance on each Record
Date from funds on hand in the Income Account or, to the
extent funds are not available in such Account, from the
Capital Account, in the amount deemed to have accrued as of
such Record Date as provided in the following sentence (less
prior payments on account of such advances, if any), and the
provisions of Section 6.04 with respect to the reimbursement
of disbursements for Trust expenses, including, without
limitation, the lien in favor of the Trustee therefor and
the authority to sell Securities as needed to fund such
reimbursement, shall apply to the payment of expenses and
the amounts advanced pursuant to this Section. For the
purposes of the preceding sentence and the addition provided
in clause (4) of the first sentence of Section 5.01, the
expenses borne by the Trust pursuant to this Section shall
be deemed to have been paid on the date of the Trust
Agreement and to accrue at a daily rate over the time period
specified for their amortization provided in the Prospectus;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
prevent, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, full
reimbursement for any advances made pursuant to this Section
no later than the termination of the Trust. For purposes of
calculating the accrual of organizational expenses under
this Section 3.01, the Trustee shall rely on the written
estimates of such expenses provided by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 5.01."
P. The second paragraph of Section 3.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following sentence:
"Any non-cash distributions (other than a non-taxable
distribution of the shares of the distributing corporation
which shall be retained by a Trust) received by a Trust
shall be dealt with in the manner described at Section 3.11,
herein, and shall be retained or disposed of by such Trust
according to those provisions. The proceeds of any
disposition shall be credited to the Income Account of a
Trust. Neither the Trustee nor the Depositor shall be
liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss
incurred by reason of any such sale."
Q. Paragraph (c) of Subsection II of Section 3.05 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to read
as follows:
"On each Distribution Date the Trustee shall distribute
to each Unit holder of record at the close of business on
the Record Date immediately preceding such Distribution Date
an amount per Unit equal to such Unit holder's pro rata
share of the balance of the Capital Account (except for
monies on deposit therein required to purchase Contract
Obligations) computed as of the close of business on such
Record Date after deduction of any amounts provided in
Subsection I."
R. Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to include the following
subsection:
"Section 3.05.I.(e) deduct from the Income Account or,
to the extent funds are not available in such Account, from
the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount that
it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14.
S. Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee shall
distribute to each Unit holder of record at the close of
business on the Record Date immediately preceding such
Distribution Date an amount per Unit equal to such Unit
holder's Income Distribution (as defined below), plus such
Unit holder's pro rata share of the balance of the Capital
Account (except for monies on deposit therein required to
purchase Contract Obligations) computed as of the close of
business on such Record Date after deduction of any amounts
provided in Subsection I, provided, however, that the
Trustee shall not be required to make a distribution from
the Capital Account unless the amount available for
distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
Each Trust shall provide the following distribution
election: (1) distributions to be made by check mailed to
the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears on
the registration books of the Trustee."
T. Section 3.05.II(b) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"II. (b) For purposes of this Section 3.05, the Unit
holder's Income Distribution shall be equal to such Unit
holder's pro rata share of the cash balance in the Income
Account computed as of the close of business on the Record
Date immediately preceding such Income Distribution after
deduction of (i) the fees and expenses then deductible
pursuant to Section 3.05.I. and (ii) the Trustee's estimate
of other expenses properly chargeable to the Income Account
pursuant to the Indenture which have accrued, as of such
Record Date, or are otherwise properly attributable to the
period to which such Income Distribution relates."
U. Section 3.11 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following language:
"Section 3.11. Notice to Depositor.
In the event that the Trustee shall have been notified
at any time of any action to be taken or proposed to be
taken by at least a legally required number of holders of
any Securities deposited in a Trust, the Trustee shall take
such action or omit from taking any action, as appropriate,
so as to insure that the Securities are voted as closely as
possible in the same manner and the same general proportion
as are the Securities held by owners other than such Trust.
In the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
Securities or any other party shall be made to issue new
securities, or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities,
the Trustee shall reject such offer. However, should any
issuance, exchange or substitution be effected
notwithstanding such rejection or without an initial offer,
any securities, cash and/or property received shall be
deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if
securities or property, by the Trustee pursuant to the
Depositor's direction, unless the Depositor advises the
Trustee to keep such securities or property. The Depositor
may rely on the Portfolio Supervisor in so advising the
Trustee. The cash received in such exchange and cash
proceeds of any such sales shall be distributed to Unit
holders on the next distribution date in the manner set
forth in Section 3.05 regarding distributions from the
Capital Account. The Trustee shall not be liable or
responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by
reason of any such sale.
Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee shall be liable
to any person for any action or failure to take action
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.11.
Whenever new securities or property is received and
retained by a Trust pursuant to this Section 3.11, the
Trustee shall, within five days thereafter, mail to all Unit
holders of such Trust notices of such acquisition unless
legal counsel for such Trust determines that such notice is
not required by The Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended."
V. The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
"As compensation for providing supervisory portfolio
services under this Indenture, the Portfolio Supervisor
shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an
aggregate annual fee in an amount which shall not exceed
that amount as set forth in the Prospectus per Unit
outstanding as of January 1 of such year except for a Trust
during the year or years in which an initial offering period
as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture occurs, in
which case the fee for a month is based on the number of
Units outstanding at the end of such month (such annual fee
to be pro rated for any calendar year in which the Portfolio
Supervisor provides services during less than the whole of
such year), but in no event shall such compensation when
combined with all compensation received from other series of
the Trust for providing such supervisory services in any
calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Portfolio
Supervisor for the cost of providing such services."
W. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraphs
which shall be entitled Section 3.14.:
"Section 3.14. Bookkeeping and Administrative Expenses.
As compensation for providing bookkeeping and other
administrative services of a character described in
26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to the
extent such services are in addition to, and do not
duplicate, the services to be provided hereunder by the
Trustee or the Portfolio Supervisor, the Depositor shall
receive against a statement or statements therefor submitted
to the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee
in an amount which shall not exceed that amount set forth in
the Prospectus times the number of Units outstanding as of
January 1 of such year except for a year or years in which
an initial offering period as determined by Section 4.01 of
this Indenture occurs, in which case the fee for a month is
based on the number of Units outstanding at the end of such
month (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year
in which the Depositor provides service during less than the
whole of such year), but in no event shall such compensation
when combined with all compensation received from other unit
investment trusts for which the Depositor hereunder is
acting as Depositor for providing such bookkeeping and
administrative services in any calendar year exceed the
aggregate cost to the Depositor providing services to such
unit investment trusts. Such compensation may, from time to
time, be adjusted provided that the total adjustment upward
does not, at the time of such adjustment, exceed the
percentage of the total increase, after the date hereof, in
consumer prices for services as measured by the United
States Department of Labor Consumer Price Index entitled
"All Services Less Rent of Shelter" or similar index, if
such index should no longer be published. The consent or
concurrence of any Unit holder hereunder shall not be
required for any such adjustment or increase. Such
compensation shall be paid by the Trustee, upon receipt of
an invoice therefor from the Depositor, upon which, as to
the cost incurred by the Depositor of providing services
hereunder the Trustee may rely, and shall be charged against
the Income and Capital Accounts on or before the
Distribution Date following the Monthly Record Date on which
such period terminates. The Trustee shall have no liability
to any Certificateholder or other person for any payment
made in good faith pursuant to this Section.
If the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts
shall be insufficient to provide for amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 3.14, the Trustee shall have the
power to sell (i) Securities from the current list of
Securities designated to be sold pursuant to Section 5.02
hereof, or (ii) if no such Securities have been so
designated, such Securities as the Trustee may see fit to
sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 3.14.
Any moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this
Section 3.14 shall be secured by a prior lien on the Trust
Fund except that no such lien shall be prior to any lien in
favor of the Trustee under the provisions of Section 6.04
herein.
X. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections
3.15 and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, so
long as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
Y. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph
which shall be entitled Section 3.15:
"Section 3.15. Deferred Sales Charge. If the
prospectus related to the Trust specifies a deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, on the dates specified in and as
permitted by such Prospectus (the "Deferred Sales Charge
Payment Dates"), withdraw from the Capital Account, an
amount per Unit specified in such Prospectus and credit such
amount to a special non-Trust account designated by the
Depositor out of which the deferred sales charge will be
distributed to or on the order of the Depositor on such
Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates (the "Deferred Sales
Charge Account"). If the balance in the Capital Account is
insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall, as
directed by the Depositor, advance funds in an amount
required to fund the proposed withdrawal and be entitled to
reimbursement of such advance upon the deposit of additional
monies in the Capital Account, and/or sell Securities and
credit the proceeds thereof to the Deferred Sales Charge
Account, provided, however, that the aggregate amount
advanced by the Trustee at any time for payment of the
deferred sales charge shall not exceed $15,000. Such
direction shall, if the Trustee is directed to sell a
Security, identify the Security to be sold and include
instructions as to the execution of such sale. In the
absence of such direction by the Depositor, the Trustee
shall sell Securities sufficient to pay the deferred sales
charge (and any unreimbursed advance then outstanding) in
full, and shall select Securities to be sold in such manner
as will maintain (to the extent practicable) the relative
proportion of number of shares of each Security then held.
The proceeds of such sales, less any amounts paid to the
Trustee in reimbursement of its advances, shall be credited
to the Deferred Sales Charge Account. If a Unit holder
redeems Units prior to full payment of the deferred sales
charge, the Trustee shall, if so provided in the related
Prospectus, on the Redemption Date, withhold from the
Redemption Price payable to such Unit holder an amount equal
to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated for reasons other than that set
forth in Section 6.01(g), the Trustee shall, if so provided
in the related Prospectus, on the termination of the Trust,
withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit holders an amount
equal to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
If the Trust is terminated pursuant to Section 6.01(g), the
Trustee shall not withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit
holders any amounts of unpaid deferred sales charges. If
pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, the Depositor shall
purchase a Unit tendered for redemption prior to the payment
in full of the deferred sales charge due on the tendered
Unit, the Depositor shall pay to the Unit holder the amount
specified under Section 5.02 less the unpaid portion of the
deferred sales charge. All advances made by the Trustee
pursuant to this Section shall be secured by a lien on the
Trust prior to the interest of the Unit holders."
Z. Article III of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is hereby amended by adding the following new Section 3.16:
"Section 3.16. Foreign Currency Exchange. Unless the
Depositor shall otherwise direct, whenever funds are
received by the Trustee in foreign currency, upon the
receipt thereof or, if such funds are to be received in
respect of a sale of Securities, concurrently with the
contract of the sale for the Security (in the latter case
the foreign exchange contract to have a settlement date
coincident with the relevant contract of sale for the
Security), the Trustee shall enter into a foreign exchange
contract for the conversion of such funds to U.S. dollars
pursuant to the instruction of the Depositor. The Trustee
shall have no liability for any loss or depreciation
resulting from action taken pursuant to such instruction."
AA. Article IV, Section 4.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended in the following manner:
1. Section 4.01(b) is hereby amended by deleting that
portion of the first sentence appearing after the colon and
the entire second sentence and replacing them in their
entirety with the following:
"if the Securities are listed on a national
or foreign securities exchange or the NASDAQ
National Market System, such Evaluation shall
generally be based on the closing sale price on
the exchange or system which is the principal
market therefor, which shall be deemed to be the
New York Stock Exchange if the Securities are
listed thereon (unless the Evaluator deems such
price inappropriate as a basis for evaluation), or
if there is no closing sale price on such exchange
or system, at the closing ask prices. If the
Securities are not so listed or, if so listed and
the principal market therefor is other than on an
exchange, the evaluation shall generally be based
on the current ask price on the over-the-counter
market (unless it is determined that these prices
are inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If
current ask prices are unavailable, the evaluation
is generally determined (a) on the basis of
current ask prices for comparable securities, (b)
by appraising the value of the Securities on the
ask side of the market or (c) any combination of
the above. If such prices are in a currency other
than U.S. dollars, the Evaluation of such Security
shall be converted to U.S. dollars based on
current offering side exchange rates, unless the
Security is in the form of an American Depositary
Share or Receipt, in which case the Evaluations
shall be based upon the U.S. dollar prices in the
market for American Depositary Shares or Receipts
(unless the Evaluator deems such prices
inappropriate as a basis for valuation). As used
herein, the closing sale price is deemed to mean
the most recent closing sale price on the relevant
securities exchange immediately prior to the
Evaluation time."
2. Section 4.01(c) is hereby deleted and
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"(c) After the initial offering period and
both during and after the initial offering period,
for purposes of the Trust Fund Evaluations
required by Section 5.01 in determining Redemption
Value and Unit Value, Evaluation of the Securities
shall be made in the manner described in Section
4.01(b), on the basis of current bid prices for
Zero Coupon Obligations (if any),the bid side
value of the relevant currency exchange rate
expressed in U.S. dollars and, except in those
cases in which the Equity Securities are listed on
a national or foreign securities exchange or the
NASDAQ National Market System and the closing sale
prices are utilized, on the basis of the current
bid prices of the Equity Securities. In addition,
the Evaluator shall reduce the Evaluation of each
Security by the amount of any liquidation costs
(other than brokerage costs incurred on any
national securities exchange) and any capital
gains or other taxes which would be incurred by
the Trust upon the sale of such Security, such
taxes being computed as if the Security were sold
on the date of the Evaluation."
BB. Section 5.01 is hereby amended to add the following at
the conclusion of the first paragraph thereof:
"Amounts receivable by the Trust in a foreign currency
shall be reported to the Evaluator who shall convert the
same to U.S. dollars based on current exchange rates, in the
same manner as provided in Section 4.01(b) or 4.01(c), as
applicable, for the conversion of the valuation of foreign
Equity Securities, and the Evaluator shall report such
conversion with each Evaluation made pursuant to Section
4.01."
CC. Section 5.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The first sentence of the first paragraph of
Section 5.01 shall be amended by deleting the phrase
"together with all other assets of the Trust" at the end of
such sentence and adding the following at the conclusion
thereof: ", plus (4) amounts representing organizational
expenses paid from the Trust less amounts representing
accrued organizational expenses of the Trust, plus (5) all
other assets of the Trust."
(ii) The following shall be added at the end of the
first paragraph of Section 5.01:
Until the Depositor has informed the Trustee that
there will be no further deposits of Additional
Securities pursuant to section 2.01(b), the Depositor
shall provide the Trustee with written estimates of (i)
the total organizational expenses to be borne by the
Trust pursuant to Section 3.01 and (ii) the total
number of Units to be issued in connection with the
initial deposit and all anticipated deposits of
additional Securities. For purposes of calculating the
Trust Fund Evaluation and Unit Value, the Trustee shall
treat all such anticipated expenses as having been paid
and all liabilities therefor as having been incurred,
and all Units as having been issued, in each case on
the date of the Trust Agreement, and, in connection
with each such calculation, shall take into account a
pro rata portion of such expense and liability based on
the actual number of Units issued as of the date of
such calculation. In the event the Trustee is informed
by the Depositor of a revision in its estimate of total
expenses or total Units and upon the conclusion of the
deposit of additional Securities, the Trustee shall
base calculations made thereafter on such revised
estimates or actual expenses, respectively, but such
adjustment shall not affect calculations made prior
thereto and no adjustment shall be made in respect
thereof.
DD. Section 5.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust is amended by adding the following after the second
paragraph of such section:
"Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
the event that any tender of Units pursuant to this Section
5.02 would result in the disposition by the Trustee of less
than a whole Security, the Trustee shall distribute cash in
lieu thereof and sell such Securities as directed by the
Sponsors as required to make such cash available.
Subject to the restrictions set forth in the prospectus
Units of a Trust held by a Unit holder on the "Rollover
Notification Date" will be redeemed in-kind and reinvested
as provided by Section 5.05. Such in kind distribution
shall consist of (i) such Unit holder's pro rata portion of
each of the Securities in such Trust, in whole shares, and
(ii) cash equal to such Unit holder's pro rata portion of
the Income and Capital Accounts as follows: (x) a pro rata
portion of the net proceeds of sale of the Securities
representing any fractional shares included in such Unit
holder's pro rata share of the Securities and (y) such other
cash as may properly be included in such Unit holder's pro
rata share of the sum of the cash balances of the Income and
Principal Accounts in an amount equal to the Unit Value
determined on the basis of a Trust Fund Evaluation made in
accordance with Section 5.01 determined by the Trustee on
the date of tender less amounts determined in clauses (i)
and (ii)(x) of this Section. Any distribution in kind will
be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges."
EE. The following Section 5.05 shall be added:
"Section 5.05. Rollover of Units. (a) If the
Depositor shall offer a subsequent series of the Target 5
Trust, the Target 10 Trust, or the Global Target 30 Trust
(the "New Series"), the Trustee shall, at the Depositor's
sole cost and expense, include in the notice sent to Unit
holders specified in Section 8.02 a notice informing Unit
holders that any Units held on or after the Rollover
Notification Date will be tendered and redeemed in kind in
the manner provided in Section 5.02, the Securities included
in the redemption distribution sold, and the cash proceeds applied
by the Distribution Agent to purchase Units of a New Series,
all as hereinafter provided. The notice to be sent to Unit
holders in respect of any redemption and purchase of Units
of a New Series as provided in this section shall be in such
form and shall be sent at such time or times as the
Depositor shall direct the Trustee in writing and the
Trustee shall have no responsibility therefor. The
Distributions Agent acts solely as disbursing agent in
connection with purchases of Units pursuant to this Section
and nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute the
Distribution Agent a broker in such transactions.
All Units so tendered (a "Rollover Unit holder") shall
be redeemed and cancelled during the Special Redemption and
Liquidation Period on such date or dates specified by
Depositor. Subject to payment by such Rollover Unit holder
of any tax or other governmental charges which may be
imposed thereon, such redemption is to be made in kind
pursuant to Section 5.02 by distribution of cash and/or
Securities to the Distribution Agent on the redemption date
equal to the net asset value (determined on the basis of the
Trust Fund Evaluation as of the redemption date in
accordance with Section 4.01) multiplied by the number of
Units being redeemed (herein called the "Rollover
Distribution"). Any Securities that are made part of the
Rollover Distribution shall be valued for purposes of the
redemption distribution as of the redemption date.
All Securities included in a Unit holder's Rollover
Distribution shall be sold by the Distribution Agent during
the Special Redemption and Liquidation Period specified in
the Prospectus pursuant to the Depositor's direction, and
the Distribution Agent shall, unless directed otherwise by
the Depositor, employ the Depositor as broker in connection
with such sales. For such brokerage services, the Depositor
shall be entitled to compensation at its customary rates,
provided however, that its compensation shall not exceed the
amount authorized by applicable securities laws and
regulations. The Depositor shall direct that sales be made
in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the
Prospectus under the heading "Special Redemption,
Liquidation and Investment in a New Trust." Should the
Depositor fail to provide direction, the Distribution Agent
shall sell the Securities in the manner provided in the
prospectus. The Distribution Agent shall have no
responsibility for any loss or depreciation incurred by
reason of any sale made pursuant to this Section.
Upon completion of all sales of Securities included in
the Rollover Unit holder's Rollover Distribution, the
Distribution Agent shall, as agent for such Rollover Unit
holder, enter into a contract with the Depositor to purchase
Units of a New Series (if any), at the public offering price
for such Units on such day. Such contract shall provide for
purchase of the maximum number of Units of a New Series
whose purchase price is equal to or less than the cash
proceeds held by the Distribution Agent for the Unit holder
on such day (including therein the proceeds anticipated to
be received in respect of Securities traded on such day net
of all brokerage fees, governmental charges and any other
expenses incurred in connection with such sale), to the
extent Units are available for purchase. In the event a
sale of Securities included in the Rollover Unit holder's
redemption distribution shall not be consummated in
accordance with its terms, the Distribution Agent shall
apply the cash proceeds held for such Unit holder as of the
settlement date for the purchase of Units of a New Series to
purchase the maximum number of Units which such cash balance
will permit, and the Depositor agrees that the settlement
date for Units whose purchase was not consummated as a
result of insufficient funds will be extended until cash
proceeds from the Rollover Distribution are available in a
sufficient amount to settle such purchase. If the Unit
holder's Rollover Distribution will produce insufficient
cash proceeds to purchase all of the Units of a New Series
contracted for, the Depositor agrees that the contract shall
be rescinded with respect to the Units as to which there was
a cash shortfall without any liability to the Rollover Unit
holder or the Distribution Agent. Any cash balance
remaining after such purchase shall be distributed within a
reasonable time to the Rollover Unit holder by check mailed
to the address of such Unit holder on the registration books
of the Trustee. Units of a New Series will be uncertificated
unless and until the Rollover Unit holder requests a
certificate. Any cash held by the Distribution Agent shall
be held in a non-interest bearing account which will be of
benefit to the Distribution Agent in accordance with normal
banking procedures. Neither the Trustee nor the
Distribution Agent shall have any responsibility or
liability for loss or depreciation resulting from any
reinvestment made in accordance with this paragraph, or for
any failure to make such reinvestment in the event the
Depositor does not make Units available for purchase.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositor may,
in its discretion at any time, decide not to offer any new
Trust Series in the future, and if so, this Section 5.05
concerning the Rollover of Units shall be inoperative.
(c) The Distribution Agent shall receive no fees for
performing its duties hereunder. The Distribution Agent
shall, however, be entitled to receive indemnification and
reimbursement from the Trust for any and all expenses and
disbursements to the same extent as the Trustee is permitted
reimbursement hereunder."
FF. Paragraph (e) of Section 6.01 of Article VI of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is amended to read as
follows:
"(e) (I) Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs
(II) and (III) of this paragraph, the Trustee may employ
agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants and auditors
and shall not be answerable for the default or misconduct of
any such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants or
auditors if such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys,
accountants or auditors shall have been selected with
reasonable care. The Trustee shall be fully protected in
respect of any action under this Indenture taken or suffered
in good faith by the Trustee in accordance with the opinion
of counsel, which may be counsel to the Depositor acceptable
to the Trustee, provided, however, that this disclaimer of
liability shall not (i) excuse the Trustee from the
responsibilities specified in subparagraph II below or
(ii) limit the obligation of the Trustee to indemnify the
Trust under subparagraph III below. The fees and expenses
charged by such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys,
accountants or auditors shall constitute an expense of the
Trust reimbursable from the Income and Capital Accounts of
the affected Trust as set forth in section 6.04 hereof.
(II) The Trustee may place and maintain in the care of
an eligible foreign custodian (which is employed by the
Trustee as a sub-custodian as contemplated by subparagraph
(I) of this paragraph (e) and which may be an affiliate or
subsidiary of the Trustee or any other entity in which the
Trustee may have an ownership Income) the Trust's foreign
securities, cash and cash equivalents in amounts reasonably
necessary to effect the Trust's foreign securities
transactions, provided that the Trustee hereby agrees to
perform all the duties assigned by rule 17f-5 as now in
effect or as it may be amended in the future, to the boards
of management investment companies. The Trustee's duties
under the preceding sentence will not be delegated.
As used in this subparagraph (II),
(1) "foreign securities" include: securities
issued and sold primarily outside the United States by a
foreign government, a national of any foreign country or a
corporation or other organization incorporated or organized
under the laws of any foreign country and securities issued
or guaranteed by the government of the United States or by
any state or any political subdivision thereof or by any
agency thereof or by any entity organized under the laws of
the United States or of any state thereof which have been
issued and sold primarily outside the United States.
(2) "eligible foreign custodian" means
(a) The following securities depositories and
clearing agencies which operate transnational systems for
the central handling of securities or equivalent book
entries which, by appropriate exemptive order issued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, have been qualified as
eligible foreign custodians for the Trust but only for so
long as such exemptive order continues in effect: Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels, Belgium, in
its capacity as operator of the Euroclear System
("Euroclear"), and Central de Livraison de Valeurs
Mobilires, S.A. ("CEDEL").
(b) Any other entity that shall have been
qualified as an eligible foreign custodian for the foreign
securities of the Trust by the Securities and Exchange
Commission by exemptive order, rule or other appropriate
action, commencing on such date as it shall have been so
qualified but only for so long as such exemptive order, rule
or other appropriate action continues in effect.
(III) The Trustee will indemnify and hold the
Trust harmless from and against any loss occurring as a
result of an eligible foreign custodian's willful
misfeasance, reckless disregard, bad faith, or gross
negligence in performing custodial duties."
GG. Paragraph (g) of Section 6.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended by inserting the following
after the first word thereof:
"(i) the value of any Trust as shown by an evaluation
by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof shall be less
than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of
Securities deposited in such Trust during the initial
offering period, or (ii)"
HH. Section 8.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
(i) The first sentence of the fourth paragraph shall
be deleted and replaced with the following:
"Commencing no earlier than the close of business ten
business days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date, the
Trustee will liquidate the Securities during such period and
in such daily amounts as the Depositor shall direct."
II. The first sentence of the second paragraph of Section
6.04 shall be amended to include the phrase "license fees, if
any," immediately after the reference to legal and auditing
expenses.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nike Securities L.P., The Chase
Manhattan Bank and First Trust Advisors L.P. have each caused
this Trust Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate
seal to be hereto affixed and attested (if applicable) by
authorized officers; all as of the day, month and year first
above written.
NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
Depositor
By Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Vice President
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Trustee
By Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Vice President
[SEAL]
ATTEST:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Assistant Treasurer
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Evaluator
By Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Vice President
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
Portfolio Supervisor
By Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
Securities Initially Deposited
FT 254
(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof for the
Trust is the "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust as set forth
in the Prospectus.)
