3.3 JPMIT shall direct Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., in its capacity as transfer agent for the Acquired Fund (“Transfer Agent”), to deliver to JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the name and address of each Acquired Fund Shareholder and the number and percentage ownership of Acquired Fund Shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall deliver to the Secretary of the Acquired Fund a confirmation evidencing that (a) the appropriate number of Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.1 prior to the actions contemplated by paragraph 1.4 and (b) the appropriate number of Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the accounts of the Acquired Fund Shareholders on the books of the Acquiring Fund pursuant to paragraph 1.4. At the Closing each party shall deliver to the other party such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as the other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
3.4 In the event that at the Valuation Date (a) the New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund (each an “Exchange”) shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund is impracticable (in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of JPMIT with respect to either the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund), the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first Friday (that is also a business day) after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
4.1 Except as has been fully disclosed to JPMIT in Schedule 4.1 to this Agreement, JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants as follows
(a) The Acquired Fund is duly established as a series of JPMIT, which is a statutory trust duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with power under its Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended (the “Declaration of Trust”), to own all of its Assets and to carry on its business as it is being conducted as of the date hereof. JPMIT is not required to qualify as a foreign trust or association in any jurisdiction, except for any jurisdiction in which it has so qualified or in which a failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect. JPMIT has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to carry on its business as now being conducted
and to fulfill the terms of this Agreement, except as set forth in paragraph 4.1. The obligations of JPMIT entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, officers, employees or agents are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of JPMIT personally, but bind only the assets of JPMIT and all persons dealing with any series or funds of JPMIT must look solely to the assets of JPMIT belonging to such series or fund for the enforcement of any claims against JPMIT.
(b) JPMIT is a registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and the registration of the Acquired Fund Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“ 1933 Act”), is in full force and effect.
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as may be required under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), the 1940 Act, state securities laws and the Hart-Scott- Rodino Act.
(d) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund conforms in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and does 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) On the Closing Date, JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, will have good and marketable title to the Assets and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver such Assets hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances, and upon delivery and payment for the Assets, JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act.
(f) The Acquired Fund is not engaged currently, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in, (i) a material violation of the Declaration of Trust or bylaws of JPMIT or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any material obligation, or the imposition
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of any material penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, is a party or by which it is bound.
(g) All material contracts or other commitments of the Acquired Fund (other than this Agreement, contracts listed in Schedule 4.1 and certain investment contracts, including options, futures, and forward contracts) will terminate without liability to the Acquired Fund on or prior to the Closing Date. Each contract listed in Schedule 4.1 is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of each party thereto (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other party thereto) and the assignment by the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund of each such contract will not result in the termination of such contract, any breach or default thereunder or the imposition of any penalty thereunder.
(h) No litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to JPMIT’s knowledge, threatened against JPMIT, with respect to the Acquired Fund or any of the Acquired Fund’s properties or assets, that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business. JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated.
(i) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of the Acquired Fund at December 31, 2008, have been audited by __________________, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) consistently applied, and such statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Acquired Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent, accrued or other liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date that are not disclosed therein.
(j) Since December 31, 2008, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquired Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquired Fund of indebtedness, other than the incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the Acquired Fund’s investment restrictions. For the purposes of this subparagraph (j), a decline in net asset value per share of
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Acquired Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by the Acquired Fund, the discharge of Acquired Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquired Fund Shares by shareholders of the Acquired Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change.
(k) On the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof and, to the best of JPMIT’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns.
(l) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met (or will meet) the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company, has been (or will be) eligible to and has computed (or will compute) its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed substantially all of (i) the excess of (x) its investment income excludible from gross income under Section 103 of the Code over (y) its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171 of the Code (net tax-exempt income), (ii) its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and (iii) net capital gain (after reduction for any capital loss carryover) (as defined in the Code), if any, that has accrued through the Closing Date, and before the Closing Date will have declared dividends intended to be sufficient to distribute all of its net tax-exempt income, investment company taxable income and net capital gain for the period ending prior on Closing Date.
(m) For all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Acquired Fund from the date of its inception, the Acquired Fund has complied with the separate diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder on certain insurance company separate accounts.
(n) All issued and outstanding Acquired Fund Shares are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly and legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable by JPMIT and will have been offered and sold in every state, territory and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of all applicable federal and state securities laws. All of the issued and outstanding Acquired Fund Shares will, at the time of Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the
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Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, as provided in paragraph 3.3. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund Shares. The Acquired Fund will review its Assets to ensure that at any time prior to the Closing Date its Assets do not include any assets that the Acquiring Fund is not permitted, or reasonably believes to be unsuitable for it, to acquire, including without limitation any security that, prior to its acquisition by the Acquired Fund, is unsuitable for the Acquiring Fund to acquire.
(o) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated herein, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Board of Trustees of JPMIT, and by the approval of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders, as described in paragraph 8.1, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(p) The combined proxy statement and prospectus (“Proxy Statement”) to be included in the Registration Statement (as defined in paragraph 5.6), insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund and JPMIT, will from the effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of the meeting of shareholders of the Acquired Fund contemplated therein and on the Closing Date (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading (provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use therein) and (ii) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in registration statements and other documents filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto.
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4.2 Except as has been fully disclosed to JPMIT in Schedule 4.2 to this Agreement, JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is duly established as a series of JPMIT, which is a business trust duly organized, existing, and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the power under JPMIT’s Declaration of Trust to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as contemplated by this Agreement. JPMIT is not required to qualify as a foreign trust or association in any jurisdiction, except for any jurisdiction in which it has so qualified or in which a failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect. JPMIT has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to carry on its business as now being conducted and to fulfill the terms of this Agreement, except as set forth in paragraph 4.2(c). The obligations of JPMIT entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, officers, employees or agents are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of JPMIT personally, but bind only the assets of JPMIT and all persons dealing with any series or funds of JPMIT must look solely to the assets of JPMIT belonging to such series or fund for the enforcement of any claims against JPMIT.
(b) JPMIT is a registered investment company classified as a management company of the open-end type, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of the Acquiring Fund Shares under the 1933 Act will be in full force and effect as of the Closing Date.
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, state securities laws and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
(d) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund conforms in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and does 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 Acquiring Fund is not engaged currently, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in (i) a material violation of JPMIT’s Declaration of Trust or bylaws or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which
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JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it is bound, or (ii) the acceleration of any material obligation, or the imposition of any material penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it is bound.
(f) No litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to JPMIT’s knowledge, threatened against JPMIT, with respect to the Acquiring Fund or any of the Acquiring Fund’s properties or assets, that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition or the conduct of its business. Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.2 to this Agreement, JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects the Acquiring Fund’s business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated.
(g) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of the Acquiring Fund at December 31, 2008, have been audited by __________________, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) consistently applied, and such statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent, accrued or other liabilities of the Acquiring Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date that are not disclosed therein.
(h) Since December 31, 2008, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness, other than the incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the Acquiring Fund’s investment restrictions. For the purposes of this subparagraph (h), a decline in net asset value per share of Acquiring Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by the Acquiring Fund, the discharge of Acquiring Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquiring Fund Shares by shareholders of the Acquiring Fund shall not constitute a material adverse change.
(i) On the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions) shall
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have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof and, to the best of JPMIT’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns.
(j) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year that includes the Closing Date), the Acquiring Fund has met (or will meet) the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company, has been (or will be) eligible to and has computed (or will compute) its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed substantially all of its (i) investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and (ii) net capital gain (after reduction for any capital loss carryover) (as defined in the Code), if any, for the period ending on the Closing Date.
(k) For all taxable years and all applicable quarters of the Acquiring Fund from the date of its inception, the Acquiring Fund has complied with the separate diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder on certain insurance company separate accounts.
(l) All of the issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly and legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable by JPMIT and will have been offered and sold in every state, territory and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of all applicable federal and state securities laws. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Shares. All of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to this Agreement will on the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly and legally issued Acquiring Fund Shares and be fully paid and non-assessable by JPMIT.
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated herein, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Board of Trustees of JPMIT and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
12
and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(n) The Proxy Statement to be included in the Registration Statement, insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund Shares, will from the effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of the meeting of shareholders of the Acquired Fund contemplated therein and on the Closing Date (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading (provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished by the Acquired Fund for use therein) and (ii) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in registration statements and other documents filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including FINRA), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations thereunder applicable thereto.
JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, hereby further covenant as follows:
5.1 Each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include the declaration and payment of customary dividends and distributions, and any other distribution that may be advisable.
5.2 JPMIT will call a meeting of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein.
5.3 The Acquired Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof, other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.4 The Acquired Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund Shares.
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5.5 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund covenant to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.6 JPMIT shall prepare and file a Registration Statement on Form N-14 in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the Reorganization (“Registration Statement”). The Acquired Fund will provide to the Acquiring Fund such information regarding the Acquired Fund as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Registration Statement.
5.7 Each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund covenant to use its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
5.8 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, covenants that it will execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments and will take or cause to be taken such further action as may be necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) JPMIT’s title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) JPMIT’s title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.9 The Acquiring Fund covenants to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state blue sky or securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
5.10 The Acquiring Fund shall not change its Declaration of Trust, prospectus or statement of additional information prior to closing so as to restrict permitted investments for the Acquiring Fund prior to the closing, except as required by the Commission.
6. | | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND |
The obligations of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject to the performance by JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the
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transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
6.2 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, on or before the Closing Date.
6.3 JPMIT shall have executed and delivered an assumption of the Liabilities (the “Assumption Instrument”) and all such other agreements and instruments as may be necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) JPMIT’s title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) JPMIT’s assumption of all of the Liabilities and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
6.4 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a certificate executed in the name of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, by JPMIT’s President or Vice President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 and as to such other matters as JPMIT may deem necessary.
6.5 The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganization after such number has been calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.1.
7. | | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND |
The obligations of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, to consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject to the performance by JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, of all of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
7.2 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, on or before the Closing Date.
7.3 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Assets and Liabilities, as of the Closing Date, including a schedule of investments, certified by the Treasurer or Assistant
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Treasurer of JPMIT. JPMIT shall have executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments of transfer (the “Transfer Instruments”) as may be necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) JPMIT’s title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder and (b) JPMIT’s title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
7.4 JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall have delivered to JPMIT a certificate executed in the name of JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, by JPMIT’s President or Vice President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and as to such other matters as JPMIT may deem necessary.
7.5 The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganization after such number has been calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.1.
8. | | FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND |
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been satisfied on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, JPMIT shall be entitled, at its option, to refuse to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1 This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund in accordance with the provision of the Declaration of Trust and bylaws of JPMIT, applicable state law and the 1940 Act, and certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, JPMIT may not waive the condition set forth in this paragraph 8.1.
8.2 On the Closing Date no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending or, to JPMIT’s knowledge, threatened before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
8.3 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by JPMIT to permit consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, provided that either party hereto may for itself waive any of such conditions.
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8.4 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act.
8.5 With respect to each Reorganization, the parties shall have received an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that for federal income tax purposes: (i) the transfer of the Acquired Fund’s assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption of the Acquired Fund’s liabilities, followed by a distribution of those shares to the insurance company separate accounts, as shareholders of the Acquired Fund, and the termination of the Acquired Fund will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund each will be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) under Section 1032 of the Code, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund; (iii) under Section 362(b) of the Code, the Acquiring Fund’s tax basis in the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization will be the same as the tax basis of such assets in the hands of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization; (iv) under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding periods in the hands of the Acquiring Fund of the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization will include the periods during which those assets were held by the Acquired Fund; (v) under Section 361 of the Code, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of Acquiring Fund Shares by the Acquired Fund to the insurance company separate accounts, as shareholders of the Acquired Fund, in exchange for their shares of the Acquired Fund; (vi) under Section 354 of the Code, the insurance company separate accounts, as shareholders of the Acquired Fund, will not recognize a gain or loss upon the exchange of their shares of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares in liquidation of the Acquired Fund; (vii) under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate tax basis for Acquiring Fund Shares that the insurance company separate accounts, as shareholders of the Acquired Fund, receive in connection with the Reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of their respective shares in the Acquired Fund exchanged therefor; (viii) under Section 1223(1) of the Code, the holding period for the shares of the Acquiring Fund that an insurance company separate account, as a shareholder of the Acquired Fund, receives in the Reorganization will include the period during which the Acquired Fund
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Shares exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder, provided that on the date of the exchange it held such Acquired Fund Shares as capital assets; and (ix) the Acquiring Fund will succeed to and take into account the items of the Acquired Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and Regulations thereunder. Ropes & Gray LLP will express no view with respect to the effect of the transaction on any transferred asset as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized under federal income tax principles (i) at the end of a taxable year or upon the termination thereof, or (ii) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such a transfer would otherwise be a non-taxable transaction. The opinion will be subject to receipt of and based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund and will also be based on customary assumptions. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could disagree with Ropes & Gray LLP’s opinion. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, JPMIT may not waive the condition set forth in this paragraph 8.5.
8.6 JPMIT shall have received the opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP dated the Closing Date (subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and limitations and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to JPMIT) substantially to the effect that, based upon certain facts and certifications made by JPMIT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund, and its authorized officers, (a) JPMIT is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, and each Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund is a separate series thereof duly constituted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Declaration of Trust and bylaws of JPMIT; each Acquiring Fund has the power to assume the liabilities to be assumed by it hereunder and, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the execution and delivery to each Acquired Fund by and on behalf of the respective Acquiring Fund of the Assumption Instrument, the Acquiring Fund will have duly assumed such liabilities; and each Acquired Fund has the power to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the assets to be transferred by it hereunder, and, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the execution and delivery to each Acquiring Fund by and on behalf of the respective Acquired Fund of the Transfer Instruments, the Acquired Fund will have duly transferred such assets to the respective Acquiring Fund; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of each Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund, and, assuming the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement comply with applicable federal securities laws, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each Acquiring Fund and
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Acquired Fund, enforceable against an Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued for transfer to each Acquired Fund’s shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered by each Acquiring Fund against delivery of all of the assets of the respective Acquired Fund as set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable shares in the applicable Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any preemptive right of subscription or purchase in respect thereof; (d) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, violate the Declaration of Trust or bylaws of JPMIT or result in a violation of the terms and provision of the agreements to which JPMIT or an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund is a party or by which JPMIT or an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund is bound that are listed in an annex to such opinion and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any United States federal or Massachusetts state court or governmental body is required for the consummation by JPMIT, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except such as have been obtained; (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of JPMIT but without other independent investigation, there is no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body presently pending or threatened as to JPMIT or any Acquiring Fund or any Acquired Fund or any of their respective properties or assets; to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of JPMIT but without other independent investigation, not JPMIT nor any Acquiring Fund nor any Acquired Fund is a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body, which materially and adversely affects either of their respective businesses; and, to the knowledge of such counsel, based on discussions with officers of JPMIT but without other independent investigation, there is no legal or governmental proceeding relating to JPMIT or any Acquiring Fund or any Acquired Fund pending on or before the date of mailing of the Proxy Statement or the date hereof which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not disclosed therein; (f) JPMIT is registered with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act; and (g) the Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and, to the knowledge of such counsel, (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and (ii) no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
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8.7 The Assets of the Acquired Fund will include no assets which the Acquiring Fund, by reason of limitations contained in its Declaration of Trust or of investment restrictions disclosed in its current prospectus and statement of additional information, as supplemented, in effect on the Closing Date, may not properly acquire.
9. | | BROKERAGE FEES AND EXPENSES |
9.1 JPMIT represents and warrants that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein.
9.2 JPMorgan Investment Advisors Inc., and JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. will waive their fees and/or reimburse each Fund in an amount sufficient to offset the costs incurred by the Fund relating to its Reorganization. The costs of the Reorganization shall include, but not be limited to, costs associated with obtaining any necessary order of exemption from the 1940 Act, preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and printing and distribution of the Proxy Statement, legal fees, accounting fees, securities registration fees, and expenses of holding a shareholders’ meeting pursuant to paragraph 5.2. The costs of the Reorganizations will not include brokerage fees and expenses related to the disposition and acquisition of portfolio assets. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, expenses will in any event be paid by the party directly incurring such expenses if and to the extent that the payment by another person of such expenses would result in the disqualification of such party as a “regulated investment company” within the meaning of Section 851 of the Code.
10. | | ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES |
10.1 JPMIT has not made any representation, warranty or covenant, on behalf of either the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund not set forth herein and this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement by JPMIT.
10.2 The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder. The covenants to be performed after the Closing shall survive the Closing.
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by resolution of the Board of Trustees of JPMIT, at any time prior to the Closing Date, if circumstances should develop that, in the opinion of the Board, make proceeding with the Agreement inadvisable with respect to the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund.
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This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the authorized officers of JPMIT.
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by facsimile, electronic delivery (i.e., e-mail) personal service or prepaid or certified mail addressed as follows:
If to JPMIT, at 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43240, in each case to the attention of __________ and with a copy to Ropes & Gray LLP, One Metro Center, 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005, attn: Alan G. Priest;
14. | | HEADINGS; GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; RULE 145 |
14.1 The Article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
14.2 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
14.3 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
14.4 Pursuant to Rule 145 under the 1933 Act, the Acquiring Fund will, in connection with the issuance of any Acquiring Fund Shares to any person who at the time of the transaction contemplated hereby is deemed to be an affiliate of a party to the transaction pursuant to Rule 145(c), cause to be affixed upon the certificates issued to such person (if any) such legends as may be reasonably believed by counsel to the Acquiring Fund to be required by law, and, further, the Acquiring Fund will issue stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to such Acquiring Fund Shares. The Acquired Fund shall provide the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date with the name of any Acquired Fund shareholder who is to the knowledge of the Acquired Fund an affiliate of the Acquired Fund on such date.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date and year first above written.
JPMORGAN INSURANCE TRUST, on behalf of the JPMorgan Insurance Trust Government Bond Portfolio | | | | JPMORGAN INSURANCE TRUST, on behalf of the JPMorgan Insurance Trust Core Bond Portfolio |
By: | | | | By: |
Name: | | | | Name: |
Title: | | | | Title: |
With respect to paragraph 9.2 of this Agreement, Accepted and Acknowledged by:
JPMorgan Investment Advisors Inc. | | | | | | |
By: | | | | | | |
Name: | | | | | | |
Title: | | | | | | |
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