AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
Exhibit 4
This
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (this “Agreement”) is
made as of this 5th day of
June 2009, by and between WT Mutual Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of
its Wilmington Moderate Asset Allocation Fund (the “Moderate Fund”), and the Trust on behalf of its
Wilmington Conservative Asset Allocation Fund (the “Conservative Fund”).
WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into a plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) which will
consist, among other things, of the transfer of assets of the Moderate Fund to the Conservative
Fund in exchange for shares of the Conservative Fund (the “Shares”) and the assumption by the
Conservative Fund of the Moderate Fund’s liabilities, followed by the distribution of the Shares by
the Moderate Fund to its shareholders in complete liquidation and termination of the Moderate Fund;
and
WHEREAS, the parties intend that the transactions described in the preceding paragraph
constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”); and
WHEREAS, the reorganization is subject to, and shall be effected in accordance with, the terms
of this Agreement, which is intended to be and is adopted by the Trust, on its own behalf and on
behalf of each of the Moderate Fund and the Conservative Fund, as a “plan of reorganization” within
the meaning of Section 368 of the Code;
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
“interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the “1940 Act”), has determined that the Plan is in the best interests of the shareholders of the
Moderate Fund and the Conservative Fund, respectively, and that their interests would not be
diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated thereby.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Section 1.1. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, on the Closing Date (as hereafter defined), the Moderate Fund shall transfer all of its
assets to the Conservative Fund. In exchange therefor, the Conservative Fund shall assume all of
the liabilities of the Moderate Fund and deliver to the Moderate Fund a number of “A Shares” and
“Institutional Shares” of the Conservative Fund which is equal to (i) the aggregate net asset value
attributable to each such Class of shares of the Moderate Fund at the close of business on the day
preceding the Closing Date, divided by (ii) the net asset value per share of such Class of shares
of the Conservative Fund outstanding at the close of business on the day preceding the Closing
Date.
Section 1.2. Liquidation of Moderate Fund. Immediately after the transfer of assets provided for
in Section 1.1, the Moderate Fund shall completely liquidate and shall distribute pro rata to each
Class of its shareholders of record in proportion to their respective numbers of shares of each
Class held by such shareholders, determined as of the close of business on the day preceding the
Closing Date, the same Class of Shares received by the Moderate Fund pursuant to Section 1.1.
Section 1.3. No Issuance of Share Certificates. The Moderate Fund shall accomplish the liquidation
and distribution provided for herein by opening accounts on the books of the Conservative Fund in
the names of its shareholders and transferring to its shareholders the Shares
credited to the account of the Moderate Fund on the books of the Conservative Fund. No certificates
evidencing Shares shall be issued.
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Section 1.4. Time and Date of Valuation. The number of Shares to be issued by the Conservative
Fund to the Moderate Fund shall be computed as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date preceding
the Closing Date in accordance with the regular practices of the Moderate Fund, the Conservative
Fund and the Trust.
Section 1.5. Closing Time and Place. The Closing Date shall be August 24, 2009, or such later date
on which all of the conditions set forth in Article II have been fulfilled or otherwise waived by
the parties hereto, but in any event not later than August 31, 2009, or such later date as the
parties may mutually agree. All acts taking place on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be taking
place simultaneously as of the commencement of business on the Closing Date, unless otherwise
provided. The closing of the reorganization contemplated by the Plan (the “Closing”) shall be held
at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) at the offices of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, 3000 Two Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, or such other time and/or place as the parties may mutually
agree.
Section 1.6. Delay of Valuation. If on the business day preceding the Closing Date (a) the primary
trading market for portfolio securities of either party is closed to trading or trading thereon is
restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading is disrupted so that an accurate appraisal
of the value of the net assets of either party and an accurate calculation of the number of shares
held by each shareholder is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first
business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been
restored.
Section 1.7. Termination of Moderate Fund. As promptly as practicable after the Closing, the
Moderate Fund shall dissolve.
Section 1.8. Transfer Taxes. Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of the Shares in a name
other than the registered holder of the Moderate Fund shares on the books of the Moderate Fund as
of that time shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom
such Shares are to be issued and transferred.
Section 1.9. Reporting Responsibility. Any reporting responsibility of the Moderate Fund
(including regulatory and tax reporting responsibility) shall become the responsibility of the
Conservative Fund at the Closing Date.
ARTICLE II
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
REORGANIZATION.
REORGANIZATION.
The respective obligation of each party to effect the reorganization contemplated by this
Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
Section 2.1. Shareholder Approval. On or prior to the Closing Date, the shareholders of the
Moderate Fund shall have approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance
with the provisions of Delaware law and the 1940 Act.
Section 2.2. No Injunctions or Restraints. On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other
proceeding shall be pending before any court or government agency which seeks to restrain or
prohibit or obtain damages or other relief in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 2.3. Consents. All consents of the other party and all other consents, orders and permits
of Federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by the Trust to permit
consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been
obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not involve a risk
of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of either party or the Trust.
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Section 2.4. Effective Registration Statement. The Form N-1A Registration Statement of the Trust
and the Form N-14 Registration Statement of the Trust with respect to the Shares shall continue to
be effective 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.
Section 2.5. Tax Opinion. Each of the Moderate Fund and the Conservative Fund shall have received
an opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP substantially to the effect that, based on certain
representations, qualifications and assumptions, for federal income tax purposes:
| (i) | The transfer of all of the assets of the Moderate Fund solely in exchange for Shares and the assumption by the Conservative Fund of all of the liabilities of the Moderate Fund, followed by the distribution of the Shares by the Moderate Fund to its shareholders in complete liquidation and termination of the Moderate Fund, will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and each of the Conservative Fund and the Moderate Fund will be a party to a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; | ||
| (ii) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Conservative Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Moderate Fund solely in exchange for Shares and the assumption by the Conservative Fund of the liabilities of the Moderate Fund. | ||
| (iii) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Moderate Fund upon the transfer of all of its assets to the Conservative Fund solely in exchange for the Shares and the assumption by the Conservative Fund of the liabilities of the Moderate Fund, or upon the distribution of the Shares to the Moderate Fund’s shareholders in complete liquidation in exchange for their shares of the Moderate Fund. | ||
| (iv) | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Moderate Fund’s shareholders upon the exchange of their shares of the Moderate Fund for Shares in the Reorganization; | ||
| (v) | The aggregate tax basis of the Shares received by each shareholder of the Moderate Fund pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the shares of the Moderate Fund held by such shareholder immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding period of the Shares received by a shareholder of the Moderate Fund will include the period during which the shares of the Moderate Fund exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder (provided that the shares of the Moderate Fund were held as a capital asset on the date of the Reorganization); and | ||
| (vi) | The tax basis of the assets of the Moderate Fund acquired by the Conservative Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to the Moderate Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding period of such assets in the hands of the Conservative Fund will include the period during which the assets were held by the Moderate Fund. |
No opinion, however, will be expressed as to: (1) the effect of the Reorganization on (i) the
Moderate Fund or the Conservative Fund (x) with respect to any asset as to which any unrealized
gain or loss is required to be recognized for federal income tax purposes at the end of the taxable
year (or on the termination or transfer thereof) under a xxxx-to-market system of accounting, or
(y) with respect to any stock held of a passive foreign investment company as defined in Section
1297(a) of the Code or (ii) any shareholder of the Moderate Fund that is required to recognize
unrealized gains and losses for federal income tax purposes under a xxxx-to-market system of
accounting and (2) any other federal tax issues (except those set forth above) and all state, local
or foreign tax issues of any kind.
Section 2.6. Covenants, Representations and Warranties. Each party shall have performed all of its
covenants set forth in Article 4, and its representations and warranties set forth in Article 3
shall
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be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as if made on such
date, and the President or a Vice-President of the Trust shall have executed a certificate to such
effect.
Section 2.7. Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Moderate Fund shall have delivered to the
Trust on the Closing Date a statement of its assets and liabilities, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, together with a certificate of its
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer as to its portfolio securities and the federal income tax basis
and holding period as of the Closing Date.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The parties represent and warrant as follows:
Section 3.1. Structure and Standing. Each party represents and warrants that it is duly organized
as a series of a statutory trust, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and conduct its business.
Section 3.2. Power. Each party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust; this Agreement does not violate, and its performance will not result in
violation of, any provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, or any agreement, instrument
or other undertaking to which it is a party or by which it is bound; and this Agreement constitutes
its valid and binding contract enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of
bankruptcy, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’
rights generally and court decisions with respect thereto.
Section 3.3. Litigation. Each party represents and warrants that no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is currently pending
against it and, to the best of its knowledge, none is threatened against it or any of its
properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its
financial condition or the conduct of its business; it knows of no facts which might form the basis
for the institution of such proceedings; and it 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.
Section 3.4. Fund Assets. The Moderate Fund represents and warrants that on the Closing Date the
assets received by the Conservative Fund from the Moderate Fund will be delivered to the
Conservative Fund as provided in Section 1.1 free and clear of all liens, pledges, security
interests, charges or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever created by the Moderate Fund and
without any restriction upon the transfer thereof, except for such liabilities assumed as provided
in Section 1.1.
Section 3.5. The Shares. The Conservative Fund represents and warrants that on the Closing Date
(a) the Shares to be delivered to the Moderate Fund as contemplated in this Agreement will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; (b) no shareholder of the Conservative
Fund or any other series of the Trust has any preemptive right to subscription or purchase in
respect thereof; (c) the Moderate Fund will acquire the Shares free and clear of all liens pledges,
security interests, charges or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever created by the Trust and
without any restriction on the transfer thereof; and (d) the Shares will be duly qualified for
offering to the public in all of the states of the United States in which such qualification is
required or an exemption from such requirement shall have been obtained.
Section 3.6. Tax Status and Filings. Each of the Moderate Fund and the Conservative Fund (the
“Funds”) represents and warrants that:
(a) At the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns and reports of the Funds required
by law to have been filed by such date shall have been filed, and all federal and other taxes due
and payable
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shall have been paid, or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof. To
the best of the Funds knowledge, no such return is currently under audit by the IRS or any state or
local tax authority, and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns.
(b) For each fiscal year of its operation, the Funds have met, and will continue to meet
through the Closing Date, the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and
treatment as a regulated investment company and have distributed in each such year all net
investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and
net realized capital gains (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward).
Section 3.7. Accuracy of Information. Each party represents and warrants that all information
furnished by it to the other party for use in any documents which may be necessary in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be accurate and complete and will comply
in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto.
Section 3.8. Acquisition of the Shares. The Moderate Fund represents and warrants that the Shares
it acquires pursuant to this Agreement are not being acquired for the purpose of making any
distribution thereof, except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 3.9. Financial Statements. Each party represents and warrants that its Statement of Assets
and Liabilities as of December 31, 2008, provided to the other party has been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and fairly reflects
the financial condition of such party as of such date, and there are no known contingent
liabilities of such party as of such date not disclosed therein.
Section 3.10. No Adverse Changes. Each party represents and warrants that since December 31, 2008,
there has not been any material adverse change in its financial condition, assets, liabilities or
business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business except as otherwise
disclosed in writing to and accepted by the other party (for the purposes of this paragraph, a
decline in net asset value per share of a party shall not constitute a material adverse change).
Section 3.11. Proxy Statement. Each party represents and warrants that the Combined Proxy
Statement and Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement on Form N-14 to be used in
connection with the transaction contemplated hereby (only insofar as it relates to such party)
will, on its effective date and on the Closing Date, not contain any untrue statement of material
fact with respect to such party or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein with
respect to such party or necessary to make the statements therein with respect to such party, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Conduct of Business. During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing
until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Closing Date, each party shall
operate its business in the ordinary course except as contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.2. Shareholder Meeting. The Moderate Fund shall call a special meeting of its
shareholders as soon as possible for the purpose of considering the reorganization contemplated by
this Agreement.
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Section 4.3. Preparation of Combined Proxy Statement and Prospectus. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the execution of this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Moderate Fund, shall
prepare and file a combined prospectus and proxy statement with respect to the reorganization with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in form and substance satisfactory to both
parties, and shall use its best efforts to provide that the combined prospectus and proxy statement
can be distributed to the shareholders of the Moderate Fund as promptly thereafter as is
practicable. As soon as reasonably practicable, the parties shall also prepare and file any other
related filings required under applicable state securities laws.
Section 4.4. Fees and Expenses. Whether or not this Agreement is consummated, each party shall
bear its respective costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.5. Provision of Documents. Each party agrees that it will, from time to time as and when
reasonably requested by the other party, provide or cause to be provided to the other party such
information, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered
to the other party such documents, and take or cause to be taken such further action, as the other
party may deem necessary in order to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
Section 4.6. Moderate Fund Liabilities. The Moderate Fund will use its best efforts to discharge
all of its financial liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date.
Section 4.7. Prior to the closing, the Moderate Fund will have declared a dividend which, together
with all previous dividends, will have the effect of distributing to its shareholders all of the
Moderate Fund’s investment company taxable income for taxable years ending on or prior to closing,
and all of its net capital gains, if any, realized in taxable years ending on or prior to closing.
Section 4.8. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Conservative Fund and the
Moderate Fund will each 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.
Section 4.9. The Conservative Fund and the Moderate Fund shall each use its reasonable best
efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to effect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
Section 4.10. The Conservative Fund will use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals
and authorizations required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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.
ARTICLE V
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 5.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Trust at any time prior to the Closing Date, if
(a) either party shall have breached any material provision of this Agreement; or
(b) circumstances develop that, in the opinion of such Board, make proceeding with the Plan
inadvisable; or
(c) any governmental body shall have issued an order, decree or ruling having the effect of
permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of this Agreement.
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Section 5.2. Effect of Termination.
In the event of any termination pursuant to Section 5.1, there shall be no liability for damage on
the part of either party to the other party.
Section 5.3. Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect
to the reorganization contemplated by the Plan and may be amended prior to the Closing Date by the
parties in writing at any time; provided, however, that there shall not be any amendment that by
law requires approval by the shareholders of a party without obtaining such approval.
Section 5.4. Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing Date, any of the terms or conditions of this
Agreement may be waived by the Board of Trustees of the Trust if, in its judgment after
consultation with legal counsel, such action or waiver will not have a material adverse effect on
the benefits intended under this Agreement to the shareholders of the Moderate Fund or the
Conservative Fund, respectively.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 6.2. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon 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 either 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 other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns
any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 6.3. Recourse. All persons dealing with the Conservative Fund or the Moderate Fund must
look solely to the property of the Conservative Fund or the Moderate Fund for the enforcement of
any claims against the Conservative Fund or the Moderate Fund, respectively, as neither the
trustees, directors, officers, agents nor shareholders of the Conservative Fund or the Moderate
Fund assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Conservative Fund
or the Moderate Fund, respectively.
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Section 6.4. 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 prepaid telegraph, telecopy
or certified mail addressed to either party at:
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Del Xxxx
0000 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Del Xxxx
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has caused this Agreement to be executed and attested on its
behalf by its duly authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
| WT MUTUAL FUND, on behalf of its
Wilmington Moderate Asset Allocation Fund |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, President | ||||
| WT MUTUAL FUND, on behalf of its Wilmington Conservative Asset Allocation Fund |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, President | ||||
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