APPENDIX I
AGREEMENT
AND
PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
FOR
AIM PREMIER EQUITY FUND,
A SEPARATE PORTFOLIO OF
AIM FUNDS GROUP
NOVEMBER 14, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS............................................................ A-1
SECTION 1.1. Definitions................................................. A-1
ARTICLE 2 TRANSFER OF ASSETS..................................................... A-4
SECTION 2.1. Reorganization of Selling Fund.............................. A-4
SECTION 2.2. Computation of Net Asset Value.............................. A-4
SECTION 2.3. Valuation Date.............................................. A-4
SECTION 2.4. Delivery.................................................... A-4
SECTION 2.5. Termination of Series and Redemption of Selling Fund
Shares...................................................... A-5
SECTION 2.6. Issuance of Buying Fund Shares.............................. A-5
SECTION 2.7. Investment Securities....................................... A-5
SECTION 2.8. Liabilities................................................. A-5
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER............................... A-5
SECTION 3.1. Organization; Authority..................................... A-5
SECTION 3.2. Registration and Regulation of Seller....................... A-5
SECTION 3.3. Financial Statements........................................ A-6
SECTION 3.4. No Material Adverse Changes; Contingent Liabilities......... A-6
SECTION 3.5. Selling Fund Shares; Business Operations.................... A-6
SECTION 3.6. Accountants................................................. A-6
SECTION 3.7. Binding Obligation.......................................... A-7
SECTION 3.8. No Breaches or Defaults..................................... A-7
SECTION 3.9. Authorizations or Consents.................................. A-7
SECTION 3.10. Permits..................................................... A-7
SECTION 3.11. No Actions, Suits or Proceedings............................ A-7
SECTION 3.12. Contracts................................................... A-8
SECTION 3.13. Properties and Assets....................................... A-8
SECTION 3.14. Taxes....................................................... A-8
SECTION 3.15. Benefit and Employment Obligations.......................... A-8
SECTION 3.16. Brokers..................................................... A-8
SECTION 3.17. Voting Requirements......................................... A-9
SECTION 3.18. State Takeover Statutes..................................... A-9
SECTION 3.19. Books and Records........................................... A-9
SECTION 3.20. Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.......... A-9
SECTION 3.21. No Distribution............................................. A-9
SECTION 3.22. Liabilities of Selling Fund................................. A-9
SECTION 3.23. Value of Shares............................................. A-9
SECTION 3.24. Shareholder Expenses........................................ A-9
SECTION 3.25. Intercompany Indebtedness; Consideration.................... A-9
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER................................ A-9
SECTION 4.1. Organization; Authority..................................... A-9
SECTION 4.2. Registration and Regulation of Buyer........................ A-9
SECTION 4.3. Financial Statements........................................ A-10
SECTION 4.4. No Material Adverse Changes; Contingent Liabilities......... A-10
SECTION 4.5. Registration of Buying Fund Shares.......................... A-10
SECTION 4.6. Accountants................................................. A-11
SECTION 4.7. Binding Obligation.......................................... A-11
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PAGE
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SECTION 4.8. No Breaches or Defaults..................................... A-11
SECTION 4.9. Authorizations or Consents.................................. A-11
SECTION 4.10. Permits..................................................... A-11
SECTION 4.11. No Actions, Suits or Proceedings............................ A-11
SECTION 4.12. Taxes....................................................... A-12
SECTION 4.13. Brokers..................................................... A-12
SECTION 4.14. Representations Concerning the Reorganization............... A-12
SECTION 4.15. Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.......... A-13
SECTION 4.16. Value of Shares............................................. A-13
SECTION 4.17. Intercompany Indebtedness; Consideration.................... A-13
ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS.............................................................. A-13
SECTION 5.1. Conduct of Business......................................... A-13
SECTION 5.2. Expenses.................................................... A-13
SECTION 5.3. Further Assurances.......................................... A-13
SECTION 5.4. Notice of Events............................................ A-14
SECTION 5.5. Consents, Approvals and Filings............................. A-14
SECTION 5.6. Submission of Agreement to Shareholders..................... A-14
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE REORGANIZATION............................. A-14
SECTION 6.1. Conditions Precedent of Buyer............................... A-14
SECTION 6.2. Mutual Conditions........................................... A-15
SECTION 6.3. Conditions Precedent of Seller.............................. A-15
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT............................................... A-16
SECTION 7.1. Termination................................................. A-16
SECTION 7.2. Survival After Termination.................................. A-16
ARTICLE 8 MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................... A-16
SECTION 8.1. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants....... A-16
SECTION 8.2. Governing Law............................................... A-16
SECTION 8.3. Binding Effect, Persons Benefiting, No Assignment........... A-16
SECTION 8.4. Obligations of Buyer and Seller............................. A-17
SECTION 8.5. Amendments.................................................. A-17
SECTION 8.6. Enforcement................................................. A-17
SECTION 8.7. Interpretation.............................................. A-17
SECTION 8.8. Counterparts................................................ A-17
SECTION 8.9. Entire Agreement; Exhibits and Schedules.................... A-17
SECTION 8.10. Notices..................................................... A-17
SECTION 8.11. Representations by Investment Adviser....................... A-18
SECTION 8.12. Successors and Assigns; Assignment.......................... A-18
EXHIBIT A Excluded Liabilities of Selling Fund
SCHEDULE 2.1 Classes of Shares of Selling Fund and Corresponding Classes
of Shares of Buying Fund
SCHEDULE 3.4 Certain Contingent Liabilities of Selling Fund
SCHEDULE 4.4 Certain Contingent Liabilities of Buying Fund
SCHEDULE 4.5(a) Classes of Shares of Buying Fund
SCHEDULE 4.14(b) Permitted Reorganizations of Funds
SCHEDULE 6.2(f) Tax Opinions
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION, dated as of November 14, 2005 (this
"Agreement"), by and among
AIM Funds Group, a
Delaware statutory trust
("Seller"), acting on behalf of AIM Premier Equity Fund ("Selling Fund"), a
separate series of Seller, AIM Equity Funds, a
Delaware statutory trust
("Buyer"), acting on behalf of AIM Charter Fund ("Buying Fund"), a separate
series of Buyer, and A I M Advisors, Inc., a
Delaware corporation.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, Seller is a management investment company registered with the SEC
(as defined below) under the Investment Company Act (as defined below) that
offers separate series of its shares representing interests in its investment
portfolios, including Selling Fund, for sale to the public; and
WHEREAS, Buyer is a management investment company registered with the SEC
under the Investment Company Act that offers separate series of its shares
representing interests in investment portfolios, including Buying Fund, for sale
to the public; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to provide for the reorganization of Selling Fund
through the transfer of all of its assets to Buying Fund in exchange for the
assumption by Buying Fund of all of the Liabilities (as defined below) of
Selling Fund and the issuance by Buyer of shares of Buying Fund in the manner
set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser (as defined below) serves as the investment
advisor to both Buying Fund and Selling Fund and is making certain
representations, warranties and agreements set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted by the parties
hereto as a Plan of Reorganization within the meaning of the regulations under
Section 368(a) of the Code (as defined below).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
agreements and undertakings contained in this Agreement, Seller and Buyer agree
as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. For all purposes in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1
(such definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms
of the terms herein defined):
"Advisers Act" means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended,
and all rules and regulations of the SEC adopted pursuant thereto.
"Affiliated Person" means an affiliated person as defined in Section
2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act.
"Agreement" means this
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, together
with all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and all amendments hereto
and thereof.
"Applicable Law" means the applicable laws of the state of
Delaware
and shall include the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
"Benefit Plan" means any material "employee benefit plan" (as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and any material bonus, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option,
phantom stock, vacation, retirement, profit sharing, welfare plans or other
plan, arrangement or understanding maintained or contributed to by Seller
on behalf of Selling Fund, or otherwise providing benefits to any current
or former employee, officer or director/trustee of Seller.
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"Buyer" means AIM Equity Funds, a
Delaware statutory trust.
"Buyer Counsel" means Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, LLP.
"Buyer Custodian" means State Street Bank and Trust Company acting in
its capacity as custodian for the assets of Buying Fund.
"Buyer Registration Statement" means the registration statement on
Form N-1A of Buyer, as amended, 1940 Act Registration No. 811-1424.
"Buying Fund" means AIM Charter Fund, a separate series of Buyer.
"Buying Fund Auditors" means Ernst & Young LLP for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2004, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the periods
subsequent to October 31, 2004.
"Buying Fund Financial Statements" means the audited financial
statements of Buying Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, and
the Buying Fund Semiannual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2005.
"Buying Fund Shares" means shares of each class of Buying Fund issued
pursuant to Section 2.6 of this Agreement.
"Closing" means the transfer of the assets of Selling Fund to Buying
Fund, the assumption of all of Selling Fund's Liabilities by Buying Fund
and the issuance of Buying Fund Shares directly to Selling Fund
Shareholders as described in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
"Closing Date" means March 27, 2006, or such other date as the parties
may mutually agree upon.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all
rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
"Corresponding" means, when used with respect to a class of shares of
Selling Fund or Buying Fund, the classes of their shares set forth opposite
each other on Schedule 2.1.
"Effective Time" means 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Closing Date.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and all rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and all rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
"Governing Documents" means the organic documents which govern the
business and operations of each of Buyer and Seller and shall include, as
applicable, Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
Amended and Restated Bylaws and Bylaws.
"Governmental Authority" means any foreign, United States or state
government, government agency, department, board, commission (including the
SEC) or instrumentality, and any court, tribunal or arbitrator of competent
jurisdiction, and any governmental or non-governmental self-regulatory
organization, agency or authority (including the NASD Regulation, Inc., the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the National Futures Association, the
Investment Management Regulatory Organization Limited and the Office of
Fair Trading).
"Investment Adviser" means A I M Advisors, Inc.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and all rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
"Liabilities" means all of the liabilities of any kind of Selling
Fund, including without limitation all liabilities included in the
calculation of the net asset value per share of each class of Selling Fund
Shares on the Closing Date, but not including the excluded liabilities set
forth on Exhibit A.
"Lien" means any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim or
encumbrance of any kind.
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"Material Adverse Effect" means an effect that would cause a change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets or prospects of
an entity having an adverse monetary effect in an amount equal to or
greater than $50,000.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.
"Permits" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10 of this
Agreement.
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
"Reorganization" means the acquisition of the assets of Selling Fund
by Buying Fund in consideration of the assumption by Buying Fund of all of
the Liabilities of Selling Fund and the issuance by Buyer of Buying Fund
Shares directly to Selling Fund Shareholders as described in this
Agreement, and the termination of Selling Fund's status as a designated
series of shares of Seller.
"Required Shareholder Vote" means, if a quorum is present, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast at the Shareholders
Meeting.
"Return" means any return, report or form or any attachment thereto
required to be filed with any taxing authority.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all
rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
"Seller" means
AIM Funds Group, a
Delaware statutory trust.
"Seller Custodian" means State Street Bank and Trust acting in its
capacity as custodian for the assets of Selling Fund.
"Seller Registration Statement" means the registration statement on
Form N-1A of Seller, as amended, 1940 Act Registration No. 811-1540.
"Selling Fund" means AIM Premier Equity Fund, a separate series of
Seller.
"Selling Fund Auditors" means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
"Selling Fund Financial Statements" means the audited financial
statements of Selling Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and
the Selling Fund Semiannual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2005.
"Selling Fund Shareholders" means the holders of record of the
outstanding shares of each class of Selling Fund as of the close of regular
trading on the NYSE on the Valuation Date.
"Selling Fund Shares" means the outstanding shares of each class of
Selling Fund.
"Shareholders Meeting" means a meeting of the shareholders of Selling
Fund convened in accordance with Applicable Law and the Governing Documents
of Seller to consider and vote upon the approval of this Agreement.
"Tax" means any tax or similar governmental charge, impost or levy
(including income taxes (including alternative minimum tax and estimated
tax), franchise taxes, transfer taxes or fees, sales taxes, use taxes,
gross receipts taxes, value added taxes, employment taxes, excise taxes, ad
valorem taxes, property taxes, withholding taxes, payroll taxes, minimum
taxes, or windfall profit taxes), together with any related penalties,
fines, additions to tax or interest, imposed by the United States or any
state, county, local or foreign government or subdivision or agency
thereof.
"Termination Date" means September 30, 2006, or such later date as the
parties may mutually agree upon.
"Treasury Regulations" means the Federal income tax regulations
adopted pursuant to the Code.
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"Trustee Benefit Plans" means the Deferred Compensation Agreement for
the Directors/Trustees of the AIM Funds, the AIM Funds Retirement Plan for
Eligible Directors/Trustees, the Deferred Fee Agreement, the INVESCO Funds
Retirement Plan for Independent Directors and the Deferred Retirement Plan
Account Agreement.
"Valuation Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
TRANSFER OF ASSETS
SECTION 2.1. Reorganization of Selling Fund. At the Effective Time, all
of the assets of Selling Fund shall be delivered to Buyer Custodian for the
account of Buying Fund in exchange for the assumption by Buying Fund of all of
the Liabilities of Selling Fund and delivery by Buyer directly to the holders of
record as of the Effective Time of the issued and outstanding shares of each
class of Selling Fund of a number of shares of each corresponding class of
Buying Fund, as set forth on Schedule 2.1 (including, if applicable, fractional
shares rounded to the nearest thousandth), having an aggregate net asset value
equal to the value of the net assets of Selling Fund so transferred, assigned
and delivered, all determined and adjusted as provided in Section 2.2 below.
Upon delivery of such assets, Buying Fund will receive good and marketable title
to such assets free and clear of all Liens.
SECTION 2.2. Computation of Net Asset Value.
(a) The net asset value per share of each class of Buying Fund Shares, and
the value of the assets and the amount of the Liabilities of Selling Fund,
shall, in each case, be determined as of the close of regular trading on the
NYSE on the business day next preceding the Closing Date (the "Valuation Date").
(b) The net asset value per share of each class of Buying Fund Shares shall
be computed in accordance with the policies and procedures of Buying Fund as
described in the Buyer Registration Statement.
(c) The value of the assets and the amount of the Liabilities of Selling
Fund to be transferred to Buying Fund pursuant to this Agreement shall be
computed in accordance with the policies and procedures of Selling Fund as
described in the Seller Registration Statement.
(d) Subject to Sections 2.2(b) and (c) above, all computations of value
regarding the assets and Liabilities of Selling Fund and the net asset value per
share of each class of Buying Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made by agreement of Seller and Buyer. The parties agree to
use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any material pricing differences
between the prices of portfolio securities determined in accordance with their
respective pricing policies and procedures.
SECTION 2.3. Valuation Date. The share transfer books of Selling Fund
will be permanently closed as of the close of business on the Valuation Date and
only requests for the redemption of shares of Selling Fund received in proper
form prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the Valuation Date
shall be accepted by Selling Fund. Redemption requests thereafter received by
Selling Fund shall be deemed to be redemption requests for Buying Fund Shares of
the corresponding class (assuming that the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been consummated), to be distributed to Selling Fund Shareholders
under this Agreement.
SECTION 2.4. Delivery.
(a) No later than three (3) business days preceding the Closing Date,
Seller shall instruct Seller Custodian to transfer all assets held by Selling
Fund to the account of Buying Fund maintained at Buyer Custodian. Such assets
shall be delivered by Seller to Buyer Custodian on the Closing Date. The assets
so delivered shall be duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such
condition as to constitute a good delivery thereof, in accordance with the
custom of brokers, and shall be accompanied by all necessary state stock
transfer stamps, if any, or a check for the appropriate purchase price thereof.
Cash held by Selling Fund shall be delivered on the Closing Date and shall be in
the form of currency or wire transfer in Federal funds, payable to the order of
the account of Buying Fund at Buyer Custodian.
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(b) If, on the Closing Date, Selling Fund is unable to make delivery in the
manner contemplated by Section 2.4(a) of securities held by Selling Fund for the
reason that any of such securities purchased prior to the Closing Date have not
yet been delivered to Selling Fund or its broker, then Buyer shall waive the
delivery requirements of Section 2.4(a) with respect to said undelivered
securities if Selling Fund has delivered to Buyer Custodian by or on the Closing
Date, and with respect to said undelivered securities, executed copies of an
agreement of assignment and escrow and due bills executed on behalf of said
broker or brokers, together with such other documents as may be required by
Buyer or Buyer Custodian, including brokers' confirmation slips.
SECTION 2.5. Termination of Series and Redemption of Selling Fund
Shares. Following receipt of the Required Shareholder Vote and as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Closing, the status of Selling Fund as a
designated series of Seller shall be terminated and Seller shall redeem the
outstanding shares of Selling Fund from Selling Fund Shareholders in accordance
with its Governing Documents and all issued and outstanding shares of Selling
Fund shall thereupon be canceled on the books of Seller.
SECTION 2.6. Issuance of Buying Fund Shares. At the Effective Time,
Selling Fund Shareholders holding shares of a class of Selling Fund shall be
issued that number of full and fractional shares of the corresponding class of
Buying Fund having a net asset value equal to the net asset value of such shares
of such class of Selling Fund held by Selling Fund Shareholders on the Valuation
Date in accordance with Sections 2.1 and 2.2. Seller shall provide instructions
to the transfer agent of Buyer with respect to the shares of each class of
Buying Fund to be issued to Selling Fund Shareholders. Buyer shall have no
obligation to inquire as to the validity, propriety or correctness of any such
instruction, but shall, in each case, assume that such instruction is valid,
proper and correct. Buyer shall record on its books the ownership of the shares
of each class of Buying Fund by Selling Fund Shareholders and shall forward a
confirmation of such ownership to Selling Fund Shareholders. No redemption or
repurchase of such shares credited to former Selling Fund Shareholders in
respect of Selling Fund Shares represented by unsurrendered share certificates
shall be permitted until such certificates have been surrendered to Buyer for
cancellation, or if such certificates are lost or misplaced, until lost
certificate affidavits have been executed and delivered to Buyer.
SECTION 2.7. Investment Securities. On or prior to the Valuation Date,
Seller shall deliver a list setting forth the securities Selling Fund then owned
together with the respective Federal income tax bases thereof and holding
periods therefor. Seller shall provide to Buyer on or before the Valuation Date
detailed tax basis accounting records for each security to be transferred to it
pursuant to this Agreement. Such records shall be prepared in accordance with
the requirements for specific identification tax lot accounting and clearly
reflect the bases used for determination of gain and loss realized on the sale
of any security transferred to Buying Fund hereunder. Such records shall be made
available by Seller prior to the Valuation Date for inspection by the Treasurer
(or his or her designee) or Buying Fund Auditors upon reasonable request.
SECTION 2.8. Liabilities. Selling Fund shall use reasonable best efforts
to discharge all of its known liabilities, so far as may be possible, prior to
the Closing Date.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Seller, on behalf of Selling Fund, represents and warrants to Buyer as
follows:
SECTION 3.1. Organization; Authority. Seller is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under Applicable Law, with all requisite trust
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations
hereunder.
SECTION 3.2. Registration and Regulation of Seller. Seller is duly
registered with the SEC as an investment company under the Investment Company
Act and all Selling Fund Shares which have been or are being offered for sale
have been duly registered under the Securities Act and have been duly
registered, qualified or are exempt from registration or qualification under the
securities laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which such shares have
been or are being offered for sale, and no action has been taken by
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Seller to revoke or rescind any such registration or qualification. Selling Fund
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act, the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all applicable state securities laws.
Selling Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the investment
policies and restrictions applicable to it set forth in the Seller Registration
Statement. The value of the net assets of Selling Fund is determined using
portfolio valuation methods that comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the Investment Company Act and the policies of Selling Fund and
all purchases and redemptions of Selling Fund Shares have been effected at the
net asset value per share calculated in such manner.
SECTION 3.3. Financial Statements. The books of account and related
records of Selling Fund fairly reflect in reasonable detail its assets,
liabilities and transactions in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis. The Selling Fund Financial Statements
previously delivered to Buyer present fairly in all material respects the
financial position of Selling Fund as of the dates indicated and the results of
operations and changes in net assets for the periods then ended in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis for
the periods then ended.
SECTION 3.4. No Material Adverse Changes; Contingent Liabilities. Since
the date of the Selling Fund Financial Statements, no material adverse change
has occurred in the financial condition, results of operations, business, assets
or liabilities of Selling Fund or the status of Selling Fund as a regulated
investment company under the Code, other than changes resulting from any change
in general conditions in the financial or securities markets or the performance
of any investments made by Selling Fund or occurring in the ordinary course of
business of Selling Fund or Seller. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4, there
are no contingent liabilities of Selling Fund not disclosed in the Selling Fund
Financial Statements and no contingent liabilities of Selling Fund have arisen
since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Selling
Fund Financial Statements.
SECTION 3.5. Selling Fund Shares; Business Operations.
(a) Selling Fund Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable.
(b) During the five-year period ending on the date of the Reorganization,
neither Selling Fund nor any person related to Selling Fund (as defined in
Section 1.368-1(e)(3) of the Treasury Regulations without regard to Section
1.368-1(e)(3)(i)(A)) will have directly or through any transaction, agreement,
or arrangement with any other person, (i) acquired shares of Selling Fund for
consideration other than shares of Selling Fund, except for shares redeemed in
the ordinary course of Selling Fund's business as an open-end investment company
as required by the Investment Company Act, or (ii) made distributions with
respect to Selling Fund's shares, except for (a) distributions necessary to
satisfy the requirements of Sections 852 and 4982 of the Code for qualification
as a regulated investment company and avoidance of excise tax liability and (b)
additional distributions, to the extent such additional distributions do not
exceed 50 percent of the value (without giving effect to such distributions) of
the proprietary interest in Selling Fund on the Effective Date.
(c) At the time of its Reorganization, Selling Fund shall not have
outstanding any warrants, options, convertible securities or any other type of
right pursuant to which any Person could acquire Selling Fund Shares, except for
the right of investors to acquire Selling Fund Shares at net asset value in the
normal course of its business as a series of an open-end management investment
company operating under the Investment Company Act.
(d) Except for the Senior Officer Seller is required to employ pursuant to
the Assurance of Discontinuance entered into by the Investment Adviser with the
Attorney General of the State of New York on or about October 7, 2004, Seller
does not have, and has not had during the six (6) months prior to the date of
this Agreement, any employees, and shall not hire any employees from and after
the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date.
SECTION 3.6. Accountants. Selling Fund Auditors, which have reported upon
the Selling Fund Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2004, are independent registered public accountants as required by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
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SECTION 3.7. Binding Obligation. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by Seller on behalf of Selling Fund and, assuming this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and approved by the
shareholders of Selling Fund, constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Seller enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms
from and with respect to the revenues and assets of Selling Fund, except as the
enforceability hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, or by
general equity principles (whether applied in a court of law or a court of
equity and including limitations on the availability of specific performance or
other equitable remedies).
SECTION 3.8. No Breaches or Defaults. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Seller on behalf of Selling Fund and performance by Seller of its
obligations hereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on
the part of Seller, other than approval by the shareholders of Selling Fund, and
(i) do not, and on the Closing Date will not, result in any violation of the
Governing Documents of Seller and (ii) do not, and on the Closing Date will not,
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute (with or
without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both) a default under, or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation
or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of Selling Fund (except
for such breaches or defaults or Liens that would not reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect) under (A)
any indenture, mortgage or loan agreement or any other material agreement or
instrument to which Seller is a party or by which it may be bound and which
relates to the assets of Selling Fund or to which any property of Selling Fund
may be subject; (B) any Permit (as defined below); or (C) any existing
applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over Seller or any property of Selling Fund.
Seller is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a proceeding under Title 11
of the United States Code or similar case within the meaning of Section
368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.
SECTION 3.9. Authorizations or Consents. Other than those which shall
have been obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date and those that must
be made after the Closing Date to comply with Section 2.5 of this Agreement, no
authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with,
any Governmental Authority will be required to be obtained or made by Seller in
connection with the due execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and
the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.10. Permits. Except for the absence of, or default under,
Permits (as defined below) that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, Seller has in full
force and effect all approvals, consents, authorizations, certificates, filings,
franchises, licenses, notices, permits and rights of Governmental Authorities
(collectively, "Permits") necessary for it to conduct its business as presently
conducted as it relates to Selling Fund. To the knowledge of Seller there are no
proceedings relating to the suspension, revocation or modification of any
Permit, except for such that would not reasonably be expected, individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. No Actions, Suits or Proceedings.
(a) There is no pending action, suit or proceeding, nor, to the knowledge
of Seller, has any litigation been overtly threatened in writing or, if probable
of assertion, orally, against Seller before any Governmental Authority which
questions the validity or legality of this Agreement or of the actions
contemplated hereby or which seeks to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Reorganization.
(b) There are no judicial, administrative or arbitration actions, suits, or
proceedings instituted or pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened in
writing or, if probable of assertion, orally, against Seller affecting any
property, asset, interest or right of Selling Fund, that could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Selling Fund. There are not in existence on the date hereof any
plea agreements, judgments, injunctions, consents, decrees, exceptions or orders
that were entered by, filed with or issued by any Governmental Authority
relating to Seller's conduct of the business of Selling Fund affecting in any
significant respect the conduct of such business. Seller is not, and has not
been,
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to the knowledge of Seller, the target of any investigation by the SEC or any
state securities administrator with respect to its conduct of the business of
Selling Fund, other than as has been disclosed to Seller's Board of Trustees.
SECTION 3.12. Contracts. Seller is not in default under any contract,
agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument
to which it is a party and which involves or affects the assets of Selling Fund,
by which the assets, business, or operations of Selling Fund may be bound or
affected, or under which it or the assets, business or operations of Selling
Fund receives benefits, and which default could reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the
knowledge of Seller there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of
time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.
SECTION 3.13. Properties and Assets. Selling Fund has good and marketable
title to all properties and assets reflected in the Selling Fund Financial
Statements as owned by it, free and clear of all Liens, except as described in
the Selling Fund Financial Statements.
SECTION 3.14. Taxes.
(a) Selling Fund has elected to be a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code and is a fund that is treated as a separate corporation
under Section 851(g) of the Code. Since inception, Selling Fund has qualified
for treatment as a regulated investment company for each taxable year that has
ended prior to the Closing Date and will have satisfied the requirements of Part
I of Subchapter M of the Code to maintain such qualification for the period
beginning on the first day of its current taxable year and ending on the Closing
Date. Selling Fund has no earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year
in which the provisions of Subchapter M of the Code did not apply to it. In
order to (i) ensure continued qualification of Selling Fund for treatment as a
"regulated investment company" for tax purposes and (ii) eliminate any tax
liability of Selling Fund arising by reason of undistributed investment company
taxable income or net capital gain, Seller will declare on or prior to the
Valuation Date to the shareholders of Selling Fund a dividend or dividends that,
together with all previous such dividends, shall have the effect of distributing
(A) all of Selling Fund's investment company taxable income (determined without
regard to any deductions for dividends paid) for the taxable year ended December
31, 2005 and for the short taxable year beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending
on the Closing Date and (B) all of Selling Fund's net capital gain recognized in
its taxable year ended December 31, 2005 and in such short taxable year (after
reduction for any capital loss carryover).
(b) Selling Fund has timely filed all Returns required to be filed by it
and all Taxes with respect thereto have been paid, except where the failure so
to file or so to pay, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Adequate provision has been made
in the Selling Fund Financial Statements for all Taxes in respect of all periods
ended on or before the date of such financial statements, except where the
failure to make such provisions would not reasonably be expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No deficiencies for any
Taxes have been proposed, assessed or asserted in writing by any taxing
authority against Selling Fund, and no deficiency has been proposed, assessed or
asserted, in writing, where such deficiency would reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No waivers
of the time to assess any such Taxes are outstanding nor are any written
requests for such waivers pending and no Return of Selling Fund is currently
being or has been audited with respect to income taxes or other Taxes by any
Federal, state, local or foreign Tax authority.
SECTION 3.15. Benefit and Employment Obligations. Except for any
obligations under the Trustee Benefit Plans, Selling Fund has no obligation to
provide any post-retirement or post-employment benefit to any Person, including
but not limited to, under any Benefit Plan, and has no obligation to provide
unfunded deferred compensation or other unfunded or self-funded benefits to any
Person.
SECTION 3.16. Brokers. No broker, finder or similar intermediary has
acted for or on behalf of Seller in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, and no broker, finder, agent or
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similar intermediary is entitled to any broker's, finder's or similar fee or
other commission in connection therewith based on any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with Seller or any action taken by it.
SECTION 3.17. Voting Requirements. The Required Shareholder Vote is the
only vote of the holders of any class of shares of Selling Fund necessary to
approve this Agreement.
SECTION 3.18. State Takeover Statutes. No state takeover statute or
similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply to this Agreement or
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 3.19. Books and Records. The books and records of Seller relating
to Selling Fund, reflecting, among other things, the purchase and sale of
Selling Fund Shares, the number of issued and outstanding shares owned by each
Selling Fund Shareholder and the state or other jurisdiction in which such
shares were offered and sold, are complete and accurate in all material
respects.
SECTION 3.20. Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The
current prospectus and statement of additional information for Selling Fund as
of the date on which they were issued did not contain, and as supplemented by
any supplement thereto dated prior to or on the Closing Date do 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.
SECTION 3.21. No Distribution. Buying Fund Shares are not being acquired
for the purpose of any distribution thereof, other than in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.22. Liabilities of Selling Fund. The Liabilities of Selling
Fund that are to be assumed by Buying Fund in connection with the
Reorganization, or to which the assets of Selling Fund to be transferred in the
Reorganization are subject, were incurred by Selling Fund in the ordinary course
of its business. The fair market value of the assets of Selling Fund to be
transferred to Buying Fund in the Reorganization will equal or exceed the sum of
the Liabilities to be assumed by Buying Fund, plus the amount of Liabilities, if
any, to which such transferred assets will be subject.
SECTION 3.23. Value of Shares. The fair market value of the shares of
each class of Buying Fund received by Selling Fund Shareholders in the
Reorganization will be approximately equal, as of the Effective Time, to the
fair market value of the shares of each corresponding class of Selling Fund to
be constructively surrendered in exchange therefor.
SECTION 3.24. Shareholder Expenses. Selling Fund Shareholders will pay
their own expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the Reorganization.
SECTION 3.25. Intercompany Indebtedness; Consideration. There is no
intercompany indebtedness between Seller and Buyer that was issued or acquired,
or will be settled, at a discount. No consideration other than Buying Fund
Shares (and Buying Fund's assumption of Selling Fund's Liabilities, including
for this purpose any liabilities to which the assets of Selling Fund are
subject) will be given in exchange for the assets of Selling Fund acquired by
Buying Fund in connection with the Reorganization.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer, on behalf of Buying Fund, represents and warrants to Seller as
follows:
SECTION 4.1. Organization; Authority. Buyer is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under Applicable Law, with all requisite corporate
or trust power, as applicable, and authority to enter into this Agreement and
perform its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 4.2. Registration and Regulation of Buyer. Buyer is duly
registered with the SEC as an investment company under the Investment Company
Act. Buying Fund is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Investment
Company Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all applicable state
securities laws. Buying Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable investment policies and restrictions set forth in the
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Buyer Registration Statement. The value of the net assets of Buying Fund is
determined using portfolio valuation methods that comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Investment Company Act and the policies of
Buying Fund and all purchases and redemptions of Buying Fund Shares have been
effected at the net asset value per share calculated in such manner.
SECTION 4.3. Financial Statements. The books of account and related
records of Buying Fund fairly reflect in reasonable detail its assets,
liabilities and transactions in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis. The Buying Fund Financial Statements
previously delivered to Seller present fairly in all material respects the
financial position of Buying Fund as of the dates indicated and the results of
operations and changes in net assets for the periods then ended in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis for
the periods then ended.
SECTION 4.4. No Material Adverse Changes; Contingent Liabilities. Since
the date of the Buying Fund Financial Statements, no material adverse change has
occurred in the financial condition, results of operations, business, assets or
liabilities of Buying Fund or the status of Buying Fund as a regulated
investment company under the Code, other than changes resulting from any change
in general conditions in the financial or securities markets or the performance
of any investments made by Buying Fund or occurring in the ordinary course of
business of Buying Fund or Buyer. There are no contingent liabilities of Buying
Fund not disclosed in the Buying Fund Financial Statements which are required to
be disclosed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.4, no contingent liabilities of Buying Fund have
arisen since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the
Buying Fund Financial Statements which are required to be disclosed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
SECTION 4.5. Registration of Buying Fund Shares.
(a) Buying Fund currently has those classes of shares that are set forth on
Schedule 4.5(a). Under its Governing Documents, Buyer is authorized to issue an
unlimited number of shares of each such class.
(b) Buying Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to Section 2.6 shall on the
Closing Date be duly registered under the Securities Act by a Registration
Statement on Form N-14 of Buyer then in effect.
(c) Buying Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to Section 2.6 are duly
authorized and on the Closing Date will be validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the
Registration Statement on Form N-14 then in effect. At the time of its
Reorganization, Buying Fund shall not have outstanding any warrants, options,
convertible securities or any other type of right pursuant to which any Person
could acquire shares of Buying Fund, except for the right of investors to
acquire shares of Buying Fund at net asset value in the normal course of its
business as a series of an open-end management investment company operating
under the Investment Company Act.
(d) The combined proxy statement/prospectus (the "Combined Proxy
Statement/Prospectus"), which forms a part of Buyer's Registration Statement on
Form N-14, shall be furnished to the shareholders of Selling Fund entitled to
vote at the Shareholders Meeting in accordance with normal market practice for
such transactions. The Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and related Statement
of Additional Information of Buying Fund, when they become effective, shall
conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Investment Company Act and shall not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(e) The shares of Buying Fund which have been or are being offered for sale
(other than the Buying Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the
Reorganization) have been duly registered under the Securities Act by the Buyer
Registration Statement and have been duly registered, qualified or are exempt
from registration or qualification under the securities laws of each state or
other jurisdiction in which such shares have been or are being offered for sale,
and no action has been taken by Buyer to revoke or rescind any such registration
or qualification.
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SECTION 4.6. Accountants. Buying Fund Auditors, which have reported upon
the Buying Fund Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending October 31,
2004, are independent registered public accountants as required by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
SECTION 4.7. Binding Obligation. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by Buyer on behalf of Buying Fund and, assuming this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller, constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance
with its terms from and with respect to the revenues and assets of Buying Fund,
except as the enforceability hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, or by general equity principles (whether applied in a court of law or
a court of equity and including limitations on the availability of specific
performance or other equitable remedies).
SECTION 4.8. No Breaches or Defaults. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Buyer on behalf of Buying Fund and performance by Buyer of its
obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on
the part of Buyer and (i) do not, and on the Closing Date will not, result in
any violation of the Governing Documents of Buyer and (ii) do not, and on the
Closing Date will not, result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitute (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both) a default under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of
Buying Fund (except for such breaches or defaults or Liens that would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material
Adverse Effect) under (A) any indenture, mortgage or loan agreement or any other
material agreement or instrument to which Buyer is a party or by which it may be
bound and which relates to the assets of Buying Fund or to which any properties
of Buying Fund may be subject; (B) any Permit; or (C) any existing applicable
law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Authority
having jurisdiction over Buyer or any property of Buying Fund. Buyer is not
under the jurisdiction of a court in a proceeding under Title 11 of the United
States Code or similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the
Code.
SECTION 4.9. Authorizations or Consents. Other than those which shall
have been obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date, no authorization or
approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental
Authority will be required to be obtained or made by Buyer in connection with
the due execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation
by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.10. Permits. Except for the absence of, or default under,
Permits that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, Buyer has in full force and effect all
Permits necessary for it to conduct its business as presently conducted as it
relates to Buying Fund. To the knowledge of Buyer there are no proceedings
relating to the suspension, revocation or modification of any Permit, except for
such that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.11. No Actions, Suits or Proceedings.
(a) There is no pending action, suit or proceeding, nor, to the knowledge
of Buyer, has any litigation been overtly threatened in writing or, if probable
of assertion, orally, against Buyer before any Governmental Authority which
questions the validity or legality of this Agreement or of the transactions
contemplated hereby, or which seeks to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Reorganization.
(b) There are no judicial, administrative or arbitration actions, suits, or
proceedings instituted or pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer, threatened in
writing or, if probable of assertion, orally, against Buyer, affecting any
property, asset, interest or right of Buying Fund, that could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Buying Fund. There are not in existence on the date hereof any
plea agreements, judgments, injunctions, consents, decrees, exceptions or orders
that were entered by, filed with or issued by any Governmental Authority
relating to Buyer's conduct of the business of Buying Fund affecting in any
significant respect the conduct of such business. Buyer is not, and has not
been,
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to the knowledge of Buyer, the target of any investigation by the SEC or any
state securities administrator with respect to its conduct of the business of
Buying Fund, other than as has been disclosed to Buyer's Board of Trustees.
SECTION 4.12. Taxes.
(a) Buying Fund has elected to be a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code and is a fund that is treated as a separate corporation
under Section 851(g) of the Code. Since inception, Buying Fund has qualified for
treatment as a regulated investment company for each taxable year that has ended
prior to the Closing Date and will satisfy the requirements of Part I of
Subchapter M of the Code to maintain such qualification for its current taxable
year. Buying Fund has no earnings or profits accumulated in any taxable year in
which the provisions of Subchapter M of the Code did not apply to it.
(b) Buying Fund has timely filed all Returns required to be filed by it and
all Taxes with respect thereto have been paid, except where the failure so to
file or so to pay, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Adequate provision has been made
in the Buying Fund Financial Statements for all Taxes in respect of all periods
ending on or before the date of such financial statements, except where the
failure to make such provisions would not reasonably be expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No deficiencies for any
Taxes have been proposed, assessed or asserted in writing by any taxing
authority against Buying Fund, and no deficiency has been proposed, assessed or
asserted, in writing, where such deficiency would reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No waivers
of the time to assess any such Taxes are outstanding nor are any written
requests for such waivers pending and no Return of Buying Fund is currently
being or has been audited with respect to income taxes or other Taxes by any
Federal, state, local or foreign Tax authority.
SECTION 4.13. Brokers. No broker, finder or similar intermediary has
acted for or on behalf of Buyer in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, and no broker, finder, agent or similar
intermediary is entitled to any broker's, finder's or similar fee or other
commission in connection therewith based on any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with Buyer or any action taken by it.
SECTION 4.14. Representations Concerning the Reorganization.
(a) There is no plan or intention by Buyer or any person related to Buyer
to acquire or redeem any Buying Fund Shares issued in the Reorganization, except
to the extent that Buying Fund is required by the Investment Company Act to
redeem any of its shares presented for redemption at net asset value in the
ordinary course of its business as an open-end, management investment company.
(b) Buying Fund has no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose of
any of the assets of Selling Fund acquired in the Reorganization, other than in
the ordinary course of its business and to the extent necessary to maintain its
status as a "regulated investment company" under the Code; provided, however,
that this Section 4.14(b) shall not preclude any of the reorganizations of funds
set forth on Schedule 4.14(b).
(c) Following the Reorganization, Buying Fund will continue an "historic
business" of Selling Fund or use a significant portion of Selling Fund's
"historic business assets" in a business. For purposes of this representation,
the terms "historic business" and "historic business assets" shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in Section 1.368-1(d) of the Treasury Regulations;
provided, however, that this Section 4.14(c) shall not preclude any of the
reorganizations of funds set forth on Schedule 4.14(b).
(d) Prior to or in the Reorganization, neither Buying Fund nor any person
related to Buying Fund (for purposes of this paragraph as defined in Section
1.368-1(e)(3) of the Treasury Regulations) will have acquired directly or
through any transaction, agreement or arrangement with any other person, shares
of Selling Fund with consideration other than shares of Buying Fund. There is no
plan or intention by Buying Fund to redeem, or by any person related to Buying
Fund to acquire any of the Buying Fund Shares issued in the Reorganization
either directly or through any transaction, agreement, or arrangement with any
other person, other than redemptions in the ordinary course of Buying Fund's
business as an open-end investment company as required by the Investment Company
Act.
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SECTION 4.15. Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The
current prospectus and statement of additional information for Buying Fund as of
the date on which it was issued does not contain, and as supplemented by any
supplement thereto dated prior to or on the Closing Date does 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.
SECTION 4.16. Value of Shares. The fair market value of the shares of
each class of Buying Fund received by Selling Fund Shareholders in the
Reorganization will be approximately equal, as of the Effective Time, to the
fair market value of the shares of each corresponding class of Selling Fund to
be constructively surrendered in exchange therefor. The fair market value of the
assets of Buying Fund will exceed the amount of its liabilities immediately
after the exchange.
SECTION 4.17. Intercompany Indebtedness; Consideration. There is no
intercompany indebtedness between Seller and Buyer that was issued or acquired,
or will be settled, at a discount. No consideration other than Buying Fund
Shares (and Buying Fund's assumption of Selling Fund's Liabilities, including
for this purpose any liabilities to which the assets of Selling Fund are
subject) will be given in exchange for the assets of Selling Fund acquired by
Buying Fund in connection with the Reorganization. The fair market value of the
assets of Selling Fund transferred to Buying Fund in the Reorganization will
equal or exceed the sum of the Liabilities assumed by Buying Fund, plus the
amount of liabilities, if any, to which such transferred assets are subject.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.1. Conduct of Business.
(a) From the date of this Agreement up to and including the Closing Date
(or, if earlier, the date upon which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Article 7), Seller shall conduct the business of Selling Fund only in the
ordinary course and substantially in accordance with past practices, and shall
use its reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its business organization and
material assets and maintain the rights, franchises and business and customer
relations necessary to conduct the business operations of Selling Fund in the
ordinary course in all material respects; provided, however, that this Section
5.1(a) shall not preclude any of the reorganizations of funds set forth on
Schedule 4.14(b).
(b) From the date of this Agreement up to and including the Closing Date
(or, if earlier, the date upon which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Article 7), Buyer shall conduct the business of Buying Fund only in the ordinary
course and substantially in accordance with past practices, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its business organization and
material assets and maintain the rights, franchises and business and customer
relations necessary to conduct the business operations of Buying Fund in the
ordinary course in all material respects; provided, however, that this Section
5.1(b) shall not preclude any of the reorganizations of funds set forth on
Schedule 4.14(b).
SECTION 5.2. Expenses. Buying Fund shall bear all of its costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Reorganization
without any reimbursement therefor. Prior to the submission of the Agreement to
the Boards of Trustees of Buyer and Seller for approval, the Investment Adviser,
in the ordinary course of its business as a registered investment advisor
operating under the Advisors Act, agreed to bear 86% of the costs and expenses
of Selling Fund incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
Reorganization and other transactions contemplated hereby; provided that any
such expenses incurred by Selling Fund shall not be reimbursed or paid for by
the Investment Advisor or any other Person unless those expenses are solely and
directly related to the Reorganization.
SECTION 5.3. Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall execute
such documents and other papers and perform such further acts as may be
reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Each such party shall, on or prior to the Closing Date, use
its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the
conditions precedent to the consummation of the
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Reorganization, including the execution and delivery of any documents,
certificates, instruments or other papers that are reasonably required for the
consummation of the Reorganization.
SECTION 5.4. Notice of Events. Buyer shall give prompt notice to Seller,
and Seller shall give prompt notice to Buyer, of (a) the occurrence or
non-occurrence of any event which to the knowledge of Buyer or to the knowledge
of Seller would be likely to result in any of the conditions specified in (i) in
the case of Seller, Sections 6.1 and 6.2 or (ii) in the case of Buyer, Sections
6.2 and 6.3, not being satisfied so as to permit the consummation of the
Reorganization and (b) any material failure on its part, or on the part of the
other party hereto of which it has knowledge, to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it
hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this
Section 5.5 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder
to any party.
SECTION 5.5. Consents, Approvals and Filings. Each of Seller and Buyer
shall make all necessary filings, as soon as reasonably practicable, including,
without limitation, those required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act,
the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, in order to facilitate prompt
consummation of the Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. In addition, each of Seller and Buyer shall use its reasonable
best efforts, and shall cooperate fully with each other (i) to comply as
promptly as reasonably practicable with all requirements of Governmental
Authorities applicable to the Reorganization and the other transactions
contemplated herein and (ii) to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all
necessary permits, orders or other consents of Governmental Authorities and
consents of all third parties necessary for the consummation of the
Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated herein. Each of Seller
and Buyer shall use reasonable efforts to provide such information and
communications
SECTION 5.6. Submission of Agreement to Shareholders. Seller shall take
all action necessary in accordance with applicable law and its Governing
Documents to convene the Shareholders Meeting. Seller shall, through its Board
of Trustees, recommend to the shareholders of Selling Fund approval of this
Agreement. Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to hold a Shareholders
Meeting as soon as practicable and advisable after the date hereof.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE REORGANIZATION
SECTION 6.1. Conditions Precedent of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to
consummate the Reorganization is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the
Closing Date, of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may
be waived in writing by Buyer.
(a) The representations and warranties of Seller on behalf of Selling Fund
set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect
as though all such representations and warranties had been made as of the
Closing Date.
(b) Seller shall have complied with and satisfied in all material respects
all agreements and conditions relating to Selling Fund set forth herein on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Buyer shall have received at the Closing Date (i) a certificate, dated
as of the Closing Date, from an officer of Seller, in such individual's capacity
as an officer of Seller and not as an individual, to the effect that the
conditions specified in Sections 6.1(a) and (b) have been satisfied and (ii) a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, from the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary (in such capacity) of Seller certifying as to the accuracy and
completeness of the attached Governing Documents of Seller, and resolutions,
consents and authorizations of or regarding Seller with respect to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) The dividend or dividends described in the last sentence of Section
3.14(a) shall have been declared.
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(e) Buyer shall have received from Seller confirmations or other adequate
evidence as to the tax costs and holding periods of the assets and property of
Selling Fund transferred to Buying Fund in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
(f) To the extent applicable, the Investment Adviser shall have terminated
or waived, in either case in writing, any rights to reimbursement from Selling
Fund to which it is entitled for fees and expenses absorbed by the Investment
Adviser pursuant to voluntary and contractual fee waiver or expense limitation
commitments between the Investment Adviser and Selling Fund.
SECTION 6.2. Mutual Conditions. The obligations of Seller and Buyer to
consummate the Reorganization are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to
the Closing Date, of all of the following further conditions, any one or more of
which may be waived in writing by Seller and Buyer, but only if and to the
extent that such waiver is mutual.
(a) All filings required to be made prior to the Closing Date with, and all
consents, approvals, permits and authorizations required to be obtained on or
prior to the Closing Date from, Governmental Authorities in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein by Seller and Buyer shall have been made or
obtained, as the case may be; provided, however, that such consents, approvals,
permits and authorizations may be subject to conditions that would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) This Agreement, the Reorganization of Selling Fund and related matters
shall have been approved and adopted at the Shareholders Meeting by the
shareholders of Selling Fund on the record date by the Required Shareholder
Vote.
(c) The assets of Selling Fund to be acquired by Buying Fund shall
constitute at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets and at least
70% of the fair market value of the gross assets held by Selling Fund
immediately prior to the Reorganization. For purposes of this Section 6.2(c),
assets used by Selling Fund to pay the expenses it incurs in connection with
this Agreement and the Reorganization and to effect all shareholder redemptions
and distributions (other than regular, normal dividends and regular, normal
redemptions pursuant to the Investment Company Act, and not in excess of the
requirements of Section 852 of the Code, occurring in the ordinary course of
Selling Fund's business as a series of an open-end management investment
company) after the date of this Agreement shall be included as assets of Selling
Fund held immediately prior to the Reorganization.
(d) No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order issued by any Governmental Authority preventing the consummation of
the Reorganization on the Closing Date shall be in effect; provided, however,
that the party or parties invoking this condition shall use reasonable efforts
to have any such order or injunction vacated.
(e) The Registration Statement on Form N-14 filed by Buyer with respect to
Buying Fund Shares to be issued to Selling Fund Shareholders in connection with
the Reorganization shall have become effective under the Securities Act and
shall include an undertaking therein to file the opinion referenced in Section
6.2(f) as a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement after the
Closing Date, and no stop order 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 Securities Act.
(f) Seller and Buyer shall have received on or before the Closing Date an
opinion of Buyer Counsel in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Seller
and Buyer, as to the matters set forth on Schedule 6.2(f). In rendering such
opinion, Buyer Counsel may request and rely upon representations contained in
certificates of officers of Seller, Buyer and others, and the officers of Seller
and Buyer shall use their best efforts to make available such truthful
certificates.
SECTION 6.3. Conditions Precedent of Seller. The obligation of Seller to
consummate the Reorganization is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the
Closing Date, of all of the following conditions, any one or more of which may
be waived in writing by Seller.
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(a) The representations and warranties of Buyer on behalf of Buying Fund
set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect
as though all such representations and warranties had been made as of the
Closing Date.
(b) Buyer shall have complied with and satisfied in all material respects
all agreements and conditions relating to Buying Fund set forth herein on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Seller shall have received on the Closing Date (i) a certificate, dated
as of the Closing Date, from an officer of Buyer, in such individual's capacity
as an officer of Buyer and not as an individual, to the effect that the
conditions specified in Sections 6.3(a) and (b) have been satisfied and (ii) a
certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, from the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of Buyer (in such capacity) certifying as to the accuracy and
completeness of the attached Governing Documents of Buyer and resolutions,
consents and authorizations of or regarding Buyer with respect to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
SECTION 7.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated on or prior to
the Closing Date as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of Seller and Buyer; or
(b) at the election of Seller or Buyer, to be effectuated by the
delivery by the terminating party to the other party of a written notice of
such termination:
(i) if the Closing Date shall not be on or before the Termination
Date, unless the failure to consummate the Reorganization is the result
of a willful and material breach of this Agreement by the party seeking
to terminate this Agreement;
(ii) if, upon a vote at the Shareholders Meeting or any final
adjournment thereof, the Required Shareholder Vote shall not have been
obtained as contemplated by Section 5.8; or
(iii) if any Governmental Authority shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Reorganization and such order,
decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and
nonappealable.
SECTION 7.2. Survival After Termination. If this Agreement is terminated
in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof and the Reorganization of Selling Fund is
not consummated, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force and
effect with respect to the Reorganization and Selling Fund, except for the
provisions of Section 5.3.
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The
representations and warranties in this Agreement, and the covenants in this
Agreement that are required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date,
shall terminate upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereunder. The covenants in this Agreement that are required to be performed in
whole or in part subsequent to the Closing Date shall survive the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereunder for a period of one (1) year
following the Closing Date.
SECTION 8.2. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and
interpreted according to the laws of the State of
Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed wholly within such state.
SECTION 8.3. Binding Effect, Persons Benefiting, No Assignment. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto
and the respective successors and assigns of the parties and
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such Persons. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to
confer upon any entity or Person other than the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns any right, remedy or claim under or
by reason of this Agreement or any part hereof. Without the prior written
consent of the parties hereto, this Agreement may not be assigned by any of the
parties hereto.
SECTION 8.4. Obligations of Buyer and Seller.
(a) Seller and Buyer hereby acknowledge and agree that Buying Fund is a
separate investment portfolio of Buyer, that Buyer is executing this Agreement
on behalf of Buying Fund, and that any amounts payable by Buyer under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be payable solely from the revenues and
assets of Buying Fund. Seller further acknowledges and agrees that this
Agreement has been executed by a duly authorized officer of Buyer in his or her
capacity as an officer of Buyer intending to bind Buyer as provided herein, and
that no officer, trustee or shareholder of Buyer shall be personally liable for
the liabilities or obligations of Buyer incurred hereunder. Finally, Seller
acknowledges and agrees that the liabilities and obligations of Buying Fund
pursuant to this Agreement shall be enforceable against the assets of Buying
Fund only and not against the assets of Buyer generally or assets belonging to
any other series of Buyer.
(b) Seller and Buyer hereby acknowledge and agree that Selling Fund is a
separate investment portfolio of Seller, that Seller is executing this Agreement
on behalf of Selling Fund and that any amounts payable by Seller under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be payable solely from the revenues and
assets of Selling Fund. Buyer further acknowledges and agrees that this
Agreement has been executed by a duly authorized officer of Seller in his or her
capacity as an officer of Seller intending to bind Seller as provided herein,
and that no officer, trustee or shareholder of Seller shall be personally liable
for the liabilities or obligations of Seller incurred hereunder. Finally, Buyer
acknowledges and agrees that the liabilities and obligations of Selling Fund
pursuant to this Agreement shall be enforceable against the assets of Selling
Fund only and not against the assets of Seller generally or assets belonging to
any other series of Seller.
SECTION 8.5. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, altered or
modified except by a written instrument executed by Seller and Buyer.
SECTION 8.6. Enforcement. The parties agree irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States or
any state having jurisdiction, in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity.
SECTION 8.7. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, or
an Exhibit or a Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The
table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used
in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." Each representation and warranty contained in Article 3 or 4 that
relates to a general category of a subject matter shall be deemed superseded by
a specific representation and warranty relating to a subcategory thereof to the
extent of such specific representation or warranty.
SECTION 8.8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and each of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
SECTION 8.9. Entire Agreement; Exhibits and Schedules. This Agreement,
including the Exhibits, Schedules, certificates and lists referred to herein,
and any documents executed by the parties simultaneously herewith or pursuant
thereto, constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior
agreements and understandings, written or oral, between the parties with respect
to such subject matter.
SECTION 8.10. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand or by overnight courier, two
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days after being sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, or when sent
by telecopier (with receipt confirmed), provided, in the case of a telecopied
notice, a copy is also sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by
courier, addressed as follows (or to such other address as a party may designate
by notice to the other):
(a) If to Seller:
AIM Funds Group
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Ingersoll, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
(b) If to Buyer:
AIM Equity Funds
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Ingersoll, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
SECTION 8.11. Representations by Investment Adviser.
(a) In its capacity as investment adviser to Seller, the Investment Adviser
represents to Buyer that to the best of its knowledge the representations and
warranties of Seller and Selling Fund contained in this Agreement are true and
correct as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 8.11(a),
the best knowledge standard shall be deemed to mean that the officers of the
Investment Adviser who have substantive responsibility for the provision of
investment advisory services to Seller do not have actual knowledge to the
contrary after due inquiry.
(b) In its capacity as investment adviser to Buyer, the Investment Adviser
represents to Seller that to the best of its knowledge the representations and
warranties of Buyer and Buying Fund contained in this Agreement are true and
correct as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 8.11(b),
the best knowledge standard shall be deemed to mean that the officers of the
Investment Adviser who have substantive responsibility for the provision of
investment advisory services to Buyer do not have actual knowledge to the
contrary after due inquiry.
SECTION 8.12. Successors and Assigns; Assignment. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of Seller, on behalf of Selling Fund, and
Buyer, on behalf of Buying Fund, and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. The parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of those
Delaware statutory
trusts that are the resulting entities in the permitted reorganizations of funds
set forth on Schedule 4.14(b).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
AIM FUNDS GROUP, acting on behalf of
AIM PREMIER EQUITY FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
AIM EQUITY FUNDS, acting on behalf of
AIM CHARTER FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
A I M ADVISORS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: President
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EXHIBIT A
EXCLUDED LIABILITIES OF SELLING FUND
None.
SCHEDULE 2.1
CLASSES OF SHARES OF SELLING FUND AND CORRESPONDING CLASSES OF SHARES OF BUYING
FUND
CORRESPONDING CLASSES OF
CLASSES OF SHARES OF SELLING FUND SHARES OF BUYING FUND
--------------------------------- ------------------------
AIM Premier Equity Fund AIM Charter Fund
Class A Shares Class A Shares
Class B Shares Class B Shares
Class C Shares Class C Shares
Class R Shares Class R Shares
Institutional Class Shares Institutional Class Shares
SCHEDULE 3.4
CERTAIN CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF SELLING FUND
None.
SCHEDULE 4.4
CERTAIN CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF BUYING FUND
None.
SCHEDULE 4.5(A)
CLASSES OF SHARES OF BUYING FUND
CLASSES OF SHARES OF BUYING FUND
--------------------------------
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class R Shares
Institutional Shares
SCHEDULE 4.14(B)
PERMITTED REORGANIZATIONS OF FUNDS
AIM Aggressive Growth Fund into AIM Constellation Fund
AIM Xxxxxxxxxx Fund into AIM Constellation Fund
AIM Blue Chip Fund into AIM Large Cap Growth Fund
AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund into AIM Dynamics Fund
AIM Small Company Growth Fund into AIM Small Cap Growth Fund
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund into AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
AIM V.I. Growth Fund into AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
AIM V.I. Blue Chip Fund into AIM V.I. Large Cap Growth Fund
AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund into AIM V.I. Core Equity Fund
SCHEDULE 6.2(F)
TAX OPINIONS
(i) The transfer of the assets of Selling Fund to Buying Fund in exchange
solely for Buying Fund Shares distributed directly to Selling Fund Shareholders
and Buying Fund's assumption of the Liabilities, as provided in the Agreement,
will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code and Selling Fund and Buying Fund will be "a party to a reorganization"
within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
(ii) In accordance with Section 361(a) and Section 361(c)(1) of the Code,
no gain or loss will be recognized by Selling Fund on the transfer of its assets
to Buying Fund solely in exchange for Buying Fund Shares and Buying Fund's
assumption of the Liabilities or on the distribution of Buying Fund Shares to
Selling Fund Shareholders.
(iii) In accordance with Section 1032 of the Code, no gain or loss will be
recognized by Buying Fund upon the receipt of assets of Selling Fund in exchange
for Buying Fund Shares issued directly to Selling Fund Shareholders.
(iv) In accordance with Section 354(a)(1) of the Code, no gain or loss will
be recognized by Selling Fund Shareholders on the receipt of Buying Fund Shares
in exchange for Selling Fund Shares.
(v) In accordance with Section 362(b) of the Code, the basis to Buying Fund
of the assets of Selling Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets in
the hands of Selling Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization.
(vi) In accordance with Section 358(a) of the Code, a Selling Fund
Shareholder's basis for Buying Fund Shares received by the Selling Fund
Shareholder will be the same as his or her basis for Selling Fund Shares
exchanged therefor.
(vii) In accordance with Section 1223(1) of the Code, a Selling Fund
Shareholder's holding period for Buying Fund Shares will be determined by
including such Selling Fund Shareholder's holding period for Selling Fund Shares
exchanged therefor, provided that such Selling Fund Shareholder held such
Selling Fund Shares as a capital asset.
(viii) In accordance with Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding period
with respect to the assets of Selling Fund transferred to Buying Fund in the
Reorganization will include the holding period for such assets in the hands of
Selling Fund.
(ix) In accordance with Section 381(a)(2) of the Code, Buying Fund will
succeed to and take into account the items of Selling Fund described in Section
381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in
Sections 381 through 384 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
