EXHIBIT 1.1
ADVISORS DISCIPLINED TRUST 1454
TRUST AGREEMENT
Dated: June 19, 2015
This Trust Agreement among Advisors Asset Management, Inc., as Depositor,
Evaluator and Supervisor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, sets
forth certain provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference
to the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust For Advisor's
Disciplined Trust, Effective for Unit Investment Trusts Investing in Equity
Securities Established On and After August 5, 2004 (Including Advisors
Disciplined Trust, Series 13 and Subsequent Series)" (the "Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust") and such provisions as are set forth in full 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, Trustee, Evaluator and Supervisor agree as follows:
PART I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
Subject to the provisions of Part II 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
The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed to:
1. The Securities listed in the Schedules hereto have been deposited in
trust under this Trust Agreement.
2. The fractional undivided interest in and ownership of the Trust
represented by each Unit thereof is a fractional amount, the numerator of which
is one and the denominator of which is the amount set forth under "Understanding
Your Investment--Statement of Financial Condition--Number of Units" in the
Prospectus for the Trust.
3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust, all Units will be held in uncertificated form and
Unitholders may not request a certificate representing his or her Units.
4. The aggregate number of Units described in Section 2.03(a) for the Trust
is that number of Units set forth under "Understanding Your Investment--
Statement of Financial Condition--Number of Units" in the Prospectus for the
Trust.
5. The term "Deferred Sales Charge Payment Dates" shall mean the dates
specified for deferred sales fee installments under "Investment Summary--Fees
and Expenses" in the Prospectus for the Trust.
6. The term "Distribution Date" shall mean the "Distribution Dates" set
forth under "Investment Summary--Essential Information" in the Prospectus for
the Trust.
7. The term "Mandatory Termination Date" shall mean the "Termination Date"
set forth under "Investment Summary--Essential Information" in the Prospectus
for the Trust.
8. The term "Record Date" shall mean the "Record Dates" set forth under
"Investment Summary--Essential Information" in the Prospectus for the Trust.
9. Section 1.01(1) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"'Depositor' shall mean Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and its successors
in interest, or any successor depositor appointed as hereinafter provided."
10. Section 1.01(2) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"'Trustee' shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon and its successors in
interest, or any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
11. Section 1.01(3) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"'Evaluator' shall mean Advisors Asset Management Inc., and its successors
in interest, or any successor evaluator appointed as hereinafter provided."
12. Section 1.01(4) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"'Supervisor' shall mean Advisors Asset Management Inc., and its successors
in interest, or any successor evaluator appointed as hereinafter provided."
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13. Section 2.01(f)(iii) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety by the following:
"(iii) Not later than the time on the settlement date for such
subscription when the Trustee is to deliver or assign the additional Units
created pursuant to the Subscription Notice, the Depositor shall deposit
with the Trustee (a) any additional Securities specified in the
Subscription Notice (or contracts to purchase such additional Securities
together with cash or a Letter of Credit in the amount necessary to settle
such contracts) or (b) cash or a Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the
aggregate value of the additional Securities specified in the Subscription
Notice to be acquired for the account of the Trust, and adding or
subtracting the difference between such aggregate value and the product of
(x) the Unit Value computed pursuant to Section 6.01 for the Business Day
preceding the Trade Date times (y) the verified number of additional Units
to be created."
14. Section 3.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is amended by
adding the following subsection immediately after Section 3.05(a)(iii):
"(iv) Notwithstanding any of the previous provisions, if a Trust has
elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Trustee is directed to make any
distribution or take any action necessary in order to maintain the qualification
of the Trust as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes
or to provide funds to make any distribution for a taxable year in order to
avoid imposition of any income or excise taxes on the Trust or on undistributed
income in the Trust."
15. Section 3.05(b)(ii) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"(ii) For the purpose of this Section 3.05, the Unitholder's "Income
Distribution" shall be equal to such Unitholder's pro rata share of the cash
balance in the Income Account computed as of the business on the Record Date
immediately preceding such Income Distribution after deduction of (1) the fees
and expenses then deductible pursuant to Section 3.05(a) and (2) 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."
16. Section 3.07(a)(xiii) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
"(xii) if the Trust has elected to be taxed as a "regulated investment
company" as defined in the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, that such sale is necessary or advisable (i) to maintain the
qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company or (ii) to provide
funds to make any distribution for a taxable year in order to avoid imposition
of any income or excise taxes on the Trust or on undistributed income in the
Trust.
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(xiii) that as result of the ownership of the Security, the Trust or
its Unitholders would be a direct or indirect shareholder of a passive foreign
investment company as defined in section 1297 (a) of the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended."
17. Section 3.10 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby
amended by adding the following immediately after Section 3.10(c):
"(d) (i) The Depositor may resign and be discharged hereunder, by executing
an instrument in writing resigning as Depositor and filing the same with the
Trustee, not less than sixty (60) days before the date specified in such
instrument when such resignation is to take effect. Upon effective resignation
hereunder, the resigning Depositor shall be discharged and shall no longer be
liable in any manner hereunder except as to acts or omissions occurring prior to
such resignation and any successor Depositor being appointed by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 7.01(f). Notice of such resignation and appointment of a
successor depositor shall be mailed by the Trustee to each Unitholder then of
record.
(ii) Any successor depositor appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment hereunder, and such successor depositor without any further
act, deed or conveyance shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder with like effect as if
originally named Depositor herein and shall be bound by all the terms and
conditions hereunder.
(iii) In case at any time the Depositor shall resign and no successor
depositor shall have been appointed and have accepted appointment within
thirty (30) days after notice of resignation has been received by the
Trustee, the Depositor may forthwith apply to a court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor depositor. Such court may
thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor depositor.
(iv) Any entity into which the Depositor hereunder may be merged or
with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger
or consolidation to which the Depositor hereunder shall be a party, shall
be the successor depositor under this Indenture without the execution or
filing of any paper, instrument or further act to be done on the part of
the parties hereto, anything herein, or in any agreement relating to such
merger or consolidation, by which the Depositor may seek to retain certain
powers, rights and privileges theretofore obtaining for any period of time
following such merger or consolidation, to the contrary notwithstanding.
(v) Any resignation of the Depositor and appointment of a successor
depositor pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall become effective upon
acceptance of appointment by the successor depositor as provided in Section
3.10(d)(ii)."
18. The first two sentences in the second paragraph of Section 3.11 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced in their entirety with
the following:
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"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 at the direction of the Depositor, vote
for or against, or accept or reject, any offer for new or exchanged securities
or property in exchange for a Trust Security. Should any issuance, exchange or
substitution be effected, 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."
19. Section 3.12(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"(a) The Replacement Securities shall be Securities as originally selected
for deposit in the Trust or securities which the Depositor determines to be
similar in character as Securities originally selected for deposit in the
Trust;"
20. The third paragraph of Section 3.13 of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is replaced in its entirety by the following:
"To the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations, any
moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this Section 3.13 shall be secured
by a lien on the related Trust in favor of the Depositor prior to the interest
of Unitholders, but no such lien shall be prior to any lien in favor of the
Trustee under the provisions of Section 7.04 herein. To the extent of such
lien, the Trustee shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the
Depositor, provided that the Trustee is authorized to make dispositions,
distributions and payments for expenses in the ordinary course of the
administration of the Trust without regard to such lien."
21. The Depositor's annual compensation as set forth under Section 3.13
shall be that dollar amount per 100 Units set forth under "Investment Summary--
Fees and Expenses--Annual operating expenses--Supervisory, evaluation and
administration fees" in the Prospectus for the Trust.
22. Section 3.14 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby
amended by adding the following immediately after the second paragraph:
"To the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations, any
moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this Section 3.14 shall be secured
by a lien on the related Trust in favor of the Depositor prior to the interest
of Unitholders, but no such lien shall be prior to any lien in favor of the
Trustee under the provisions of Section 7.04 herein. To the extent of such
lien, the Trustee shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the
Depositor, provided that the Trustee is authorized to make dispositions,
distributions and payments for expenses in the ordinary course of the
administration of the Trust without regard to such lien."
23. Section 3.15 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby
amended by adding the following immediately after the first paragraph:
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"To the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations, any
moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant to this Section 3.15 shall be secured
by a lien on the related Trust in favor of the Depositor prior to the interest
of Unitholders, but no such lien shall be prior to any lien in favor of the
Trustee under the provisions of Section 7.04 herein. To the extent of such
lien, the Trustee shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of the
Depositor, provided that the Trustee is authorized to make dispositions,
distributions and payments for expenses in the ordinary course of the
administration of the Trust without regard to such lien."
24. The Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be amended to include
the following section:
"Section 3.18. Regulated Investment Company Election. If the Prospectus
for a Trust states that such Trust intends to elect to be treated and to qualify
as a "regulated investment company" as defined in the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Trustee is hereby directed to make such
elections and take all actions, including any appropriate election to be taxed
as a corporation, as shall be necessary to effect such qualification or to
provide funds to make any distribution for a taxable year in order to avoid
imposition of any income or excise tax on the Trust or on undistributed income
in the Trust. The Trustee shall make such reviews of each Trust portfolio as
shall be necessary to maintain qualification of a particular Trust as regulated
investment company and to avoid imposition of tax on a Trust or undistributed
income in a Trust, and the Depositor and Supervisor shall be authorized to rely
conclusively upon such reviews."
25. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust, no Unitholder may request a distribution of Securities in-
kind pursuant to Sections 6.02, 6.05 or 9.02 during the 30 days prior to and
including the Mandatory Termination Date of a Trust.
26. The first sentence of Section 6.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is replaced in its entirety by the following:
"Any Unit tendered for redemption by a Unitholder or his duly authorized
attorney to the Trustee at its unit investment trust division office, currently
at 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, tendered by means of an
appropriate request for redemption in form approved by the Trustee shall be
redeemed by the Trustee no later than the seventh calendar day following the day
on which tender for redemption is made, provided that if such day of redemption
is not a Business Day, then such Unit shall be redeemed on the first Business
Day prior thereto (being herein called the "Redemption Date")."
27. The second and third paragraph of Section 6.02 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if a Unitholder electing an In
Kind Distribution is an Affiliated Redeeming Unitholder, as such term is defined
below, such In Kind Distribution shall be permitted subject to the following
conditions:
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(a) The In Kind Distribution shall be consistent with the Trust's redemption
policies and undertakings, as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus;
(b) Neither the Affiliated Redeeming Unitholder, nor any other party with
the ability and the pecuniary incentive to influence the In Kind Distribution,
may select, or influence the selection of, the distributed Securities;
(c) Upon an In Kind Distribution by the Affiliated Redeeming Unitholder, the
Trustee shall distribute to the Affiliated Redeeming Unitholder its
proportionate share of every Security in the Trust's portfolio, provided that if
the Trustee is not an affiliated person (as the term "affiliated person" is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Affiliated
Redeeming Unitholder, the Trustee may exclude Discretionary Assets (as defined
below) from the In Kind Distribution to the extent that the Trustee cannot
practicably distribute such Discretionary Assets without undue burden or adverse
impact to the Trust or its Unitholders. If the Trustee determines that it is
impracticable to distribute the Discretionary Assets in kind, the Trustee shall
sell or liquidate the Discretionary Assets to raise funds to satisfy the
redemption, provided that if the Trustee cannot sell or liquidate the
Discretionary Assets, the Trustee may sell or liquidate other Securities;
(d) The In Kind Distribution may not favor the Affiliated Redeeming
Unitholder to the detriment of any other Unitholder;
(e) The Trustee shall monitor each In Kind Distribution on a quarterly basis
for compliance with all provisions of this Section 6.02; and
(f) The Trustee shall maintain and preserve for a period of not less than
six years from the end of the fiscal year in which the In Kind Distribution
occurs, the first two years in an easily accessible place, records for each In
Kind Distribution setting forth the identity of the Affiliated Redeeming
Unitholder, a description of the composition of the Trust's portfolio (including
each asset's value) immediately prior to the In Kind Distribution, a description
of each Security distributed in-kind, the terms of the In Kind Distribution, the
information or materials upon which the asset valuations were made, and a
description of the composition of the Trust's portfolio (including each asset's
value) one month after the In Kind Distribution.
(g) The term "Affiliated Redeeming Unitholder" shall mean an affiliated
person or a promoter of or a principal underwriter for the Trust, or an
affiliated person of such a person, promoter or principal underwriter. The
terms "affiliated person," "promoter" and "principal underwriter" as used in the
preceding sentence shall have the meanings assigned to each such term in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(h) The term "Discretionary Assets" shall mean (i) securities that, if
distributed, would be required to be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended; (ii) securities issued by entities in countries that (A)
restrict or prohibit the holding of securities by non-nationals other than
through qualified investment vehicles, or (B) permit transfers of ownership of
securities to be effected only by transactions conducted on a local stock
exchange; and (iii) any
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assets that, although they may be liquid and marketable, must be traded through
the marketplace or with the counterparty to the transaction in order to effect a
change in beneficial ownership."
28. The first sentence of Section 7.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is replaced in its entirety by the following:
"For services performed under this Indenture the Trustee shall be paid an
annual fee in the amount per Unit set forth in the Trust Agreement, which fee
shall accrue daily and be computed based on the number of Units 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 5.01 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 Trustee provides services during less than the whole
of such year)."
29. The Trustee's annual compensation as set forth under Section 7.04 shall
be $0.0105 per Unit.
30. Section 9.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be
replaced in its entirety with the following:
"Section 9.01. Amendments. (a) This Indenture may be amended from time to
time by the Depositor and Trustee or their respective successors, without the
consent of any of the Unitholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provision contained herein, (ii) to make such other provision in
regard to matters or questions arising hereunder as shall not materially
adversely affect the interests of the Unitholders or (iii) to make such
amendments as may be necessary (a) for the Trust to continue to qualify as a
regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes if the Trust has
elected to be taxed as such under the United States Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, or (b) to prevent the Trust from being deemed an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes if the Trust has not
elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. This Indenture may not be amended,
however, without the consent of all Unitholders then outstanding, so as (1) to
permit, except in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, the
acquisition hereunder of any Securities other than those specified in the
Schedules to the Trust Agreement or (2) to reduce the aforesaid percentage of
Units the holders of which are required to consent to certain of such
amendments. This Indenture may not be amended so as to reduce the interest in a
Trust represented by Units without the consent of all affected Unitholders.
(b) Except for the amendments, changes or modifications as provided in
Section 9.01(a) hereof, neither the parties hereto nor their respective
successors shall consent to any other amendment, change or modification of this
Indenture without the giving of notice and the obtaining of the approval or
consent of Unitholders representing at least 66 2/3% of the Units then
outstanding of the affected Trust. Nothing contained in this Section 9.01(b)
shall permit, or be construed as permitting, a reduction of the aggregate
percentage of Units the holders of which are required to consent to any
amendment, change or modification of this Indenture without the
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consent of the Unitholders of all of the Units then outstanding of the affected
Trust and in no event may any amendment be made which would (1) alter the rights
to the Unitholders as against each other, (2) provide the Trustee with the power
to engage in business or investment activities other than as specifically
provided in this Indenture, (3) adversely affect the tax status of the Trust for
federal income tax purposes or result in the Units being deemed to be sold or
exchanged for federal income tax purposes or (4) unless the Trust has elected to
be taxed as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes,
result in a variation of the investment of Unitholders in the Trust.
(c) Unless the Depositor directs that other notice shall be provided, the
Trustee shall include in the annual report provided pursuant to Section 3.06
notification of the substance of such amendment."
31. The first sentence of the fourth paragraph of Section 9.02 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is replaced in its entirety by the
following:
"In connection with the termination of a Trust, the Trustee will liquidate
the Securities not segregated for in-kind distributions during such period and
in such daily amounts as the Depositor shall direct."
32. The first clause of the fifth paragraph of Section 9.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions of Trust is replaced in its entirety by the following:
"No later than the fifth business day following receipt of all proceeds of
sale of the Securities, the Trustee shall:"
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Trust Agreement to be
executed; all as of the day, month and year first above written.
ADVISORS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
By /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
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Senior Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
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Vice President
SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
SECURITIES INITIALLY DEPOSITED
IN
ADVISORS DISCIPLINED TRUST 1454
Incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof
is the schedule set forth under "Portfolio" in the Prospectus for the Trust.
