AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
Exhibit 99.(4)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“Agreement”) is made as of June 28, 2012, by and between XXXXXX XXXXXXX FOCUS GROWTH FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (“Acquiring Fund”), and XXXXXX XXXXXXX INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, on behalf of the FOCUS GROWTH PORTFOLIO (“Acquired Fund”).
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.368-2(g), for a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The reorganization (“Reorganization”) will consist of the transfer to Acquiring Fund of substantially all of the assets of Acquired Fund in exchange for the assumption by Acquiring Fund of all stated liabilities of Acquired Fund and the issuance by Acquiring Fund of shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), to be distributed, after the Closing Date hereinafter referred to, to the shareholders of Acquired Fund in liquidation of Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
In consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. The Reorganization and Liquidation of Acquired Fund
1.1. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, agrees to assign, deliver and otherwise transfer the Acquired Fund Assets (as defined in paragraph 1.2) to Acquiring Fund, and Acquiring Fund, agrees in exchange therefor to assume all of Acquired Fund’s stated liabilities on the Closing Date as set forth in paragraph 1.3 and to deliver to Acquired Fund the number of Acquiring Fund Shares, including fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, determined in the manner set forth in paragraph 2.3. Such transactions shall take place at the closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 (“Closing”).
1.2. (a) The “Acquired Fund Assets” shall consist of all property, including without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities and dividend and interest receivables owned by Acquired Fund, and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on Acquired Fund’s books on the Valuation Date.
(b) On or prior to the Valuation Date, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will provide Acquiring Fund with a list of all of Acquired Fund’s assets to be assigned, delivered and otherwise transferred to Acquiring Fund and a list of the stated liabilities to be assumed by Acquiring Fund pursuant to this Agreement. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, reserves the right to sell any of the securities on such list but will not, without the prior approval of Acquiring Fund, acquire any additional securities other than securities of the type in which Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest and in amounts agreed to in writing by Acquiring Fund. Acquiring Fund, will, within a reasonable time prior to the Valuation Date, furnish Acquired Fund with a statement of Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and a list of the securities, if any, on the list referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph that do
not conform to Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. In the event that Acquired Fund holds any investments that Acquiring Fund is not permitted to hold, Acquired Fund will dispose of such securities on or prior to the Valuation Date. In addition, if it is determined that the portfolios of Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund, when aggregated, would contain investments exceeding certain percentage limitations imposed upon Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, Acquired Fund if requested by Acquiring Fund, will, on or prior to the Valuation Date, dispose of and/or reinvest a sufficient amount of such investments as may be necessary to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing Date (as defined in paragraph 3.1).
1.3. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will endeavor to discharge all of Acquired Fund’s liabilities and obligations on or prior to the Valuation Date. Acquiring Fund will assume all stated liabilities, which includes, without limitation, all expenses, costs, charges and reserves reflected on an unaudited Statement of Assets and Liabilities of Acquired Fund prepared by the Treasurer of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, as of the Valuation Date in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied from the prior audited period.
1.4. In order for the Acquired Fund to comply with Section 852(a)(1) of the Code and to avoid having any investment company taxable income or net capital gain (as defined in Sections 852(b)(2) and 1222(11) of the Code, respectively) in the short taxable year ending with its dissolution, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will on or before the Valuation Date (a) declare a dividend in an amount large enough so that Acquired Fund will have declared dividends of substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, for such taxable year (determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and (b) distribute such dividend.
1.5. On the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will distribute Acquiring Fund Shares received by Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1 pro rata to Acquired Fund’s shareholders of record determined as of the close of business on the Valuation Date (“Acquired Fund Shareholders”). Each Acquired Fund Shareholder will receive the class of shares of Acquiring Fund that corresponds to the class of shares of Acquired Fund currently held by that Acquired Fund shareholder. Accordingly, the Acquiring Fund Shares will be distributed as follows: each of the Class I shares of Acquiring Fund will be distributed to holders of Class I shares of Acquired Fund and each of the Class A shares of Acquiring Fund will be distributed to holders of Class P shares of Acquired Fund. Such distribution will be accomplished by an instruction, signed by the Company’s Secretary, to transfer Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to Acquired Fund’s account on the books of Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the books of Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund shareholders and representing the respective pro rata number of Acquiring Fund Shares due such Acquired Fund shareholders. All issued and outstanding shares of Acquired Fund simultaneously will be redeemed and canceled on Acquired Fund’s books without further notice, as permitted by the charter of the Company and applicable law.
1.6. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent. Acquiring Fund Shares will be issued in the manner described in Acquiring Fund’s current Prospectus, as supplemented, and the Acquiring Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
1.7. Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered older of Acquiring Fund Shares on Acquired Fund’s books as of the close of business on the Valuation Date shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred.
1.8. Any reporting responsibility of Acquired Fund is and shall remain the responsibility of Acquired Fund up to and including the date on which Acquired Fund is dissolved and terminated pursuant to paragraph 1.9.
1.9. Within one year after the Closing Date, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, shall pay or make provision for the payment of all Acquired Fund’s liabilities and taxes. If and to the extent that any trust, escrow account, or other similar entity continues after the close of such one-year period in connection either with making provision for payment of liabilities or taxes or with distributions to shareholders of Acquired Fund, such entity shall either (i) qualify as a liquidating trust under Section 7701 of the Code (and applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder) or other entity which does not constitute a continuation of Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes, or (ii) be subject to a waiver under Section 368(a)(2)(G)(ii) of the complete distribution requirement of Section 368(a)(2)(G)(i) of the Code. Acquired Fund shall be terminated following the making of all distributions pursuant to paragraph 1.5.
1.10. Copies of all books and records maintained on behalf of Acquired Fund in connection with its obligations under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Code, state blue sky laws or otherwise in connection with this Agreement will promptly be delivered after the Closing to officers of Acquiring Fund or their designee, and Acquiring Fund or its designee shall comply with applicable record retention requirements to which Acquired Fund is subject under the 1940 Act.
2. Valuation
2.1. The value of the Acquired Fund Assets shall be the value of such assets computed as of 4:00 p.m. on the New York Stock Exchange on the third business day following the receipt of the requisite approval of this Agreement by shareholders of Acquired Fund or at such time on such earlier or later date after such approval as may be mutually agreed upon in writing (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Date”), using the valuation procedures set forth in Acquiring Fund’s then current Prospectus, as supplemented, and the Acquiring Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
2.2. The net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share shall be the net asset value per share computed on the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures set forth in Acquiring Fund’s then current Prospectus, as supplemented, and the Acquiring Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
2.3. The number of Acquiring Fund Shares (including fractional shares, if any) to be issued hereunder shall be determined, with respect to each class, by dividing the aggregate net asset value of each class of Acquired Fund shares (determined in accordance with paragraph 2.1) by the net asset value per share of the corresponding class of shares of Acquiring Fund (determined in accordance with paragraph 2.2).
2.4. All computations of value shall be made by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Services Company Inc. (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Services”) in accordance with its regular practice in pricing Acquiring Fund. Acquiring Fund, shall cause Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Services to deliver a copy of Acquiring Fund’s valuation report at the Closing.
3. Closing and Closing Date
3.1. The Closing shall take place on the Valuation Date or on the next business day following the Valuation Date (the “Closing Date”). The Closing shall be held as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern time, or at such other time as the parties may agree. The Closing shall be held in a location mutually agreeable to the parties hereto. All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Closing Date unless otherwise provided.
3.2. Portfolio securities held by Acquired Fund and represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be presented by it or on its behalf to State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”), as custodian for Acquiring Fund, for examination no later than five business days preceding the Valuation Date. Such portfolio securities (together with any cash or other assets) shall be delivered by Acquired Fund to the Custodian for the account of Acquiring Fund on or before the Closing Date in conformity with applicable custody provisions under the 1940 Act and duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof in accordance with the custom of brokers. The portfolio securities shall be accompanied by all necessary federal and state stock transfer stamps or a check for the appropriate purchase price of such stamps. Portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a securities depository (as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 0000 Xxx) shall be delivered on or before the Closing Date by book-entry in accordance with customary practices of such depository and the Custodian. The cash delivered shall be in the form of a Federal Funds wire, payable to the order of “State Street Bank and Trust Company, Custodian for Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Focus Growth Fund.”
3.3. In the event that on the Valuation Date, (a) the New York Stock Exchange shall be closed to trading or trading thereon shall be restricted or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the judgment of both Acquiring Fund, and the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund Assets is impracticable, the Valuation Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed without restriction or disruption and reporting shall have been restored.
3.4. If requested, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, shall deliver to Acquiring Fund, or its designee (a) at the Closing, a list, certified by the Company’s Secretary, of the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of the Acquired Fund shareholders and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding Acquired Fund shares owned by each such Acquired Fund shareholder, all as of the Valuation Date, and (b) as soon as practicable after the Closing, all original documentation (including Internal Revenue Service forms, certificates, certifications and correspondence) relating to the Acquired Fund shareholders’ taxpayer identification numbers and their liability for or exemption from back-up withholding. Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver to such Secretary a confirmation evidencing delivery of Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date to Acquired Fund or provide evidence
satisfactory to Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to Acquired Fund’s account on the books of Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
4. Covenants of Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund
4.1. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, and Acquiring Fund, will operate in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include customary dividends and other distributions.
4.2. Acquiring Fund will prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) a registration statement on Form N-14 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), relating to Acquiring Fund Shares (“Registration Statement”). The Company will provide the Proxy Materials as described in paragraph 4.3 below for inclusion in the Registration Statement. Acquiring Fund, and the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, agree that each of Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund will further provide such other information and documents as are reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Registration Statement.
4.3. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will call a meeting of Acquired Fund’s shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will prepare the notice of meeting, form of proxy and proxy statement (collectively, “Proxy Materials”) to be used in connection with such meeting; provided that Acquiring Fund will furnish the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, with its currently effective prospectus for inclusion in the Proxy Materials and with such other information relating to Acquiring Fund as is reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Proxy Materials.
4.4. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will assist Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of Acquired Fund shares.
4.5. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Acquiring Fund and the Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, agree that each respective Fund will take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.6. The Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Acquiring Fund within 30 days after the Closing Date a statement of Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities as of the Closing Date, which statement shall be certified by the Company’s Treasurer and shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. As promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, the Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall furnish Acquiring Fund, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to Acquiring Fund, a statement certified by the Company’s Treasurer of Acquired
Fund’s earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes that will be carried over to Acquiring Fund pursuant to Section 381 of the Code.
4.7. As soon after the Closing Date as is reasonably practicable, Acquiring Fund (a) shall prepare and file all federal and other tax returns and reports of Acquired Fund required by law to be filed with respect to all periods ending on or before the Closing Date but not theretofore filed and (b) shall pay all federal and other taxes shown as due thereon and/or all federal and other taxes that were unpaid as of the Closing Date, including without limitation, all taxes for which the provision for payment was made as of the Closing Date (as represented in paragraph 5.2(k)).
4.8. Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and to make such filings required by the state Blue Sky and securities laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue the Acquiring Fund’s operations after the Closing Date.
5. Representations and Warranties
5.1. Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, as follows:
(a) Acquiring Fund is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust with full power to carry on its business as presently conducted;
(b) Acquiring Fund is a duly registered, open-end management investment company, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of its shares under the 1933 Act are in full force and effect;
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiring Fund have been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws. Shares of Acquiring Fund are registered in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be registered under state securities laws and other laws, and said registrations, including any periodic reports or supplemental filings, are complete and current, all fees required to be paid have been paid, and Acquiring Fund is not subject to any stop order and is fully qualified to sell its shares in each state in which its shares have been registered;
(d) The current Prospectus of the Acquiring Fund and Statement of Additional Information of the Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(e) Acquiring Fund is not in, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a, material violation of any provision of its Declaration of Trust or By-Laws, each as amended, or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which Acquiring Fund 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 its knowledge, threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect Acquiring Fund’s financial condition or the conduct of its business; and Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that 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, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(g) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Financial Highlights for its last completed fiscal year, audited by Ernst & Young LLP (except that the financial information for the Acquiring Fund for the fiscal years ended prior to 2011 was audited by the Acquiring Fund’s prior independent registered accounting firm) (copies of which will be furnished to Acquired Fund), fairly present, in all material respects, Acquiring Fund’s financial condition as of such date in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and its results of such operations, changes in its net assets and financial highlights for such period, and as of such date there will be no known liabilities of Acquiring Fund (contingent or otherwise) not disclosed therein that would be required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to be disclosed therein;
(h) All issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of its shares;
(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Acquiring Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. No other consents, authorizations or approvals are necessary in connection with Acquiring Fund’s performance of this Agreement;
(j) Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to Acquired Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof;
(k) All material federal and other tax returns and reports of Acquiring Fund required by law to be filed on or before the Closing Date have been filed and are correct, and all federal and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports have been paid or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and to the best of Acquiring Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return;
(l) For each taxable year since its inception, Acquiring Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a “regulated investment company” and neither the execution or delivery of nor the performance of Acquiring Fund’s obligations under this Agreement will adversely affect, and no other events are reasonably likely to occur which will adversely affect, the ability of Acquiring Fund to continue to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code;
(m) Since December 31, 2011, there has been no change by Acquiring Fund in accounting methods, principles, or practices, including those required by generally accepted accounting principles;
(n) The information furnished or to be furnished by Acquiring Fund for use in registration statements, proxy materials and other documents which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto; and
(o) The Proxy Materials to be included in the Registration Statement (only insofar as they relate to Acquiring Fund) will, on the effective date of the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, 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.
5.2. The Company, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) Acquired Fund is series of the Company, a validly existing Maryland corporation with full power to carry on its business as presently conducted;
(b) The Company is a duly registered, open-end management investment company, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of its shares under the 1933 Act are in full force and effect;
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquired Fund have been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws. Shares of Acquired Fund are registered in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be registered and said registrations, including any periodic reports or supplemental filings, are complete and current, all fees required to be paid have been paid, and Acquired Fund is not subject to any stop order and is fully qualified to sell its shares in each state in which its shares have been registered;
(d) The current Prospectus, as supplemented, of Acquired Fund and Statement of Additional Information of the Company conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(e) The Company is not in, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a, material violation of any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, each as amended, or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which Acquired Fund 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 its knowledge, threatened against the Company, Acquired Fund or any of their properties or assets which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect Acquired Fund’s financial condition or the conduct of its business; and the Company knows of no facts that 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, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(g) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statements of Changes in Net Assets and Financial Highlights of Acquired Fund for its last completed fiscal year, audited by Ernst & Young LLP (copies of which have been or will be furnished to Acquiring Fund) fairly present, in all material respects, Acquired Fund’s financial condition as of such date, and its results of operations, changes in its net assets and financial highlights for such period in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and as of such date there were no known liabilities of Acquired Fund (contingent or otherwise) not disclosed therein that would be required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to be disclosed therein;
(h) Acquired Fund has no material contracts or other commitments (other than this Agreement) that will be terminated with liability to it prior to the Closing Date;
(i) All issued and outstanding shares of Acquired Fund are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of its shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible to any of its shares. All such shares will, at the time of Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the list of shareholders submitted to Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 3.4;
(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the part of the Company, and subject to the approval of Acquired Fund’s shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. No other consents, authorizations or approvals are necessary in connection with Acquired Fund’s performance of this Agreement;
(k) All material federal and other tax returns and reports of Acquired Fund required by law to be filed on or before the Closing Date shall have been filed and are correct and all federal and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports
have been paid or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return;
(l) For each taxable year since its inception, Acquired Fund has met all the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a “regulated investment company” and neither the execution or delivery of nor the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to Acquiring Fund under this Agreement will adversely affect, and no other events are reasonably likely to occur which will adversely affect, the ability of Acquired Fund to continue to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for its final taxable year ending on the Closing Date;
(m) At the Closing Date, Acquired Fund will have good and valid title to the Acquired Fund Assets, subject to no liens (other than the obligation, if any, to pay the purchase price of portfolio securities purchased by Acquired Fund which have not settled prior to the Closing Date), security interests or other encumbrances, and full right, power and authority to assign, deliver and otherwise transfer such assets hereunder, and upon delivery and payment for such assets, Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including any restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act;
(n) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, at the time of the meeting of Acquired Fund’s shareholders and on the Closing Date, the Proxy Materials (exclusive of the currently effective Acquiring Fund Prospectus contained therein) will (i) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), and the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and (ii) 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 not misleading. Any other information furnished by the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, for use in the Registration Statement or in any other manner that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be accurate and complete and shall comply in all material respects with applicable federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder;
(o) The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, will, on or prior to the Valuation Date, declare one or more dividends or other distributions to shareholders that, together with all previous dividends and other distributions to shareholders, shall have the effect of distributing to the shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, through the Valuation Date (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid);
(p) The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, has maintained or has caused to be maintained on its behalf all books and accounts as required of a registered investment company in compliance with the requirements of Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder; and
(q) Acquired Fund is not acquiring Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder for the purpose of making any distribution thereof other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
6. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Acquired Fund
The obligations of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following conditions:
6.1. All representations and warranties of Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date;
6.2. Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to Acquired Fund a certificate of Acquiring Fund’s President and Treasurer, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Acquired Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, shall reasonably request;
6.3. Acquired Fund, shall have received a favorable opinion from Dechert LLP, counsel to Acquiring Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) Acquiring Fund is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust, and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted; (b) Acquiring Fund is a duly registered, open-end, management investment company, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect; (c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming that the Registration Statement complies with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and regulations thereunder and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of Acquiring Fund enforceable against Acquiring Fund 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; (d) Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to Acquired Fund shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and upon such delivery will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and no shareholder of Acquiring Fund has any preemptive rights to subscription or purchase in respect thereof; (e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws, each as amended; and (f) to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or any state is required for the consummation by Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under state securities laws; and
6.4. As of the Closing Date, there shall have been no material change in the investment objective, policies and restrictions of Acquiring Fund or any increase in the investment management fees or annual fees pursuant to Acquiring Fund’s shareholder services plan from
those described in Acquiring Fund’s Prospectus dated April 30, 2012, as may be supplemented, and the Company’s Statement of Additional Information dated April 30, 2012, as may be supplemented.
7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Acquiring Fund
The obligations of Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following conditions:
7.1. All representations and warranties of the Company made on behalf of Acquired Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date;
7.2. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, shall have delivered to Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate of the Company’s President and its Treasurer, in form and substance satisfactory to Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Company, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, shall reasonably request;
7.3. Acquired Fund shall have delivered to Acquiring Fund a statement of the Acquired Fund Assets and its liabilities, together with a list of Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities and other assets showing the respective adjusted bases and holding periods thereof for income tax purposes, as of the Closing Date, certified by the Treasurer of the Acquired Fund;
7.4. The Company, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, shall have received at the Closing a favorable opinion from Dechert LLP, counsel to Acquired Fund, dated as of the Closing Date to the effect that:
(a) Acquired Fund is a series of the Company, a validly existing Maryland corporation, and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted (Maryland counsel may be relied upon in delivering such opinion); (b) the Company is a duly registered, open-end, management investment company under the 1940 Act, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect; (c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming that the Registration Statement complies with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of Acquired Fund enforceable against Acquired Fund 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; (d) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, each
as amended; and (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or any state is required for the consummation by Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under state securities laws; and
7.5. On the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund Assets shall include no assets that the Acquiring Fund, by reason of limitations of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or otherwise, may not properly acquire.
8. Further Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund
The obligations of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, and Acquiring Fund hereunder are each subject to the further conditions that on or before the Closing Date:
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 Acquired Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to Acquiring Fund;
8.2. On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending 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 (including those of the Commission and of state Blue Sky and securities authorities, including “no-action” positions of and exemptive orders from such federal and state authorities) deemed necessary by Acquiring Fund or the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, 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 risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund;
8.4. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act, no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act;
8.5. The Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, shall have declared and paid a dividend or dividends and/or other distribution or distributions that, together with all previous such dividends or distributions, shall have the effect of distributing to the Acquired Fund shareholders all of Acquired Fund’s investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and all of its net capital gain (after reduction for any capital loss carry-forward and computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) for all taxable years ending on or before the Closing Date; and
8.6. The parties shall have received the opinion of the law firm of Dechert LLP (based on certain facts, assumptions and representations), addressed to Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund,
which opinion may be relied upon by the shareholders of Acquired Fund, substantially to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes:
(a) The transfer of substantially all of Acquired Fund’s assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by Acquiring Fund of certain stated liabilities of Acquired Fund followed by the distribution by Acquired Fund of Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund shareholders in exchange for their Acquired Fund shares pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Reorganization Agreement will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code;
(b) No gain or loss will be recognized by Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of Acquired Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by Acquiring Fund of the stated liabilities of Acquired Fund;
(c) No gain or loss will be recognized by Acquired Fund upon the transfer of substantially all of the assets of Acquired Fund to Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by Acquiring Fund of the stated liabilities or upon the distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund shareholders in exchange for their Acquired Fund shares, except that Acquired Fund may be required to recognize gain or loss with respect to contracts described in Section 1256(b) of the Code or stock in a passive foreign investment company, as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code;
(d) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund shareholders upon the exchange of the Acquired Fund shares for Acquiring Fund Shares;
(e) The aggregate tax basis for Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Acquired Fund shareholder pursuant to the reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Acquired Fund shares surrendered by each such Acquired Fund shareholder in exchange therefor;
(f) The holding period of Acquiring Fund Shares to be received by each Acquired Fund shareholder will include the period during which the Acquired Fund shares surrendered in exchange therefor were held (provided such Acquired Fund shares were held as capital assets on the date of the Reorganization);
(g) The tax basis of the assets of Acquired Fund acquired by Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization; and
(h) The holding period of the assets of Acquired Fund in the hands of Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by Acquired Fund (except where the investment activities of Acquiring Fund have the effect of reducing or eliminating such periods with respect to an asset).
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither Acquiring Fund nor the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, may waive the conditions set forth in this paragraph 8.6.
9. Fees and Expenses
9.1. (a) Acquired Fund shall bear expenses incurred in connection with the entering into, and carrying out of, the provisions of this Agreement, including printing, filing and proxy solicitation expenses, legal, accounting, Commission registration fees and Blue Sky expenses up to an amount equal to $134,400. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Inc., the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser, shall bear any expenses in excess of such amount.
(b) In the event the transactions contemplated herein are not consummated by reason of Acquired Fund being either unwilling or unable to go forward (other than by reason of the non-fulfillment or failure of any condition to Acquired Fund’s obligations specified in this Agreement), Acquired Fund’s only obligation hereunder shall be to reimburse Acquiring Fund for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by Acquiring Fund in connection with those transactions.
(c) In the event the transactions contemplated herein are not consummated by reason of Acquiring Fund being either unwilling or unable to go forward (other than by reason of the non-fulfillment or failure of any condition to Acquiring Fund’s obligations specified in this Agreement), Acquiring Fund’s only obligation hereunder shall be to reimburse Acquired Fund for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by Acquired Fund in connection with those transactions.
10. Entire Agreement; Survival of Warranties
10.1. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
10.2. 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 herein, except that the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, hereunder shall not survive the dissolution and complete liquidation of Acquired Fund in accordance with paragraph 1.9.
11. Termination
11.1. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, and Acquiring Fund;
(b) by either Acquiring Fund or the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, by notice to the other, without liability to the terminating party on account of such termination (providing the terminating party is not otherwise in material default or breach of this Agreement), if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before June 28, 2013; or
(c) by either Acquiring Fund or the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, in writing without liability to the terminating party on account of such termination (provided the terminating party is not otherwise in material default or breach of this Agreement), if (i) the other
party shall fail to perform in any material respect its agreements contained herein required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) the other party materially breaches any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, (iii) the Acquired Fund shareholders fail to approve this Agreement at any meeting called for such purpose at which a quorum was present or (iv) any other condition herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating party has not been met and it reasonably appears that it will not or cannot be met.
11.2. (a) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraphs 11.1(a) or (b) shall terminate all obligations of the parties hereunder and there shall be no liability for damages on the part of Acquiring Fund, the Company or Acquired Fund, or the trustees or officers of Acquiring Fund, or the directors or officers of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, to any other party or its directors, trustees or officers.
(b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 11.1(c) shall terminate all obligations of the parties hereunder and there shall be no liability for damages on the part of Acquiring Fund, the Company or Acquired Fund, or the trustees or officers of Acquiring Fund or the directors or officers of the Company, on behalf of Acquired Fund, except that any party in breach of this Agreement shall, upon demand, reimburse the non-breaching party for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including legal, accounting and filing fees.
12. Amendments
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties.
13. Miscellaneous
13.1. 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.
13.2. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
13.3. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
13.4. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder or by reason of this Agreement.
13.5. The obligations and liabilities of Acquiring Fund hereunder are solely those of Acquiring Fund. It is expressly agreed that no shareholder, nominee, trustee, officer, agent, or employee of Acquiring Fund, or the trustees or officers of Acquiring Fund, shall be personally liable hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the trustees of
Acquiring Fund and signed by authorized officers of Acquiring Fund, and neither such authorization by such trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally.
13.6. The obligations and liabilities of Acquired Fund hereunder are solely those of Acquired Fund. It is expressly agreed that no shareholder, nominee, director, officer, agent, or employee of Acquired Fund, or the directors or officers of the Company, acting on behalf of Acquired Fund shall be personally liable hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the directors of the Company, acting on behalf of the Acquired Fund and signed by authorized officers of the Acquired Fund, and neither such authorization by such directors nor such execution and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer.
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XXXXXX XXXXXXX FOCUS GROWTH FUND |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxx |
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Name: Xxxxxx Xxx |
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Title: President and Principal Executive Officer |
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XXXXXX XXXXXXX INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC., |
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on behalf of the Focus Growth Portfolio |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxx |
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Name: Xxxxxx Xxx |
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Title: President and Principal Executive Officer |
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