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FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the "Agreement") is made as
of this 25th day of May, 2006, by and between ING Equity Trust, a Massachusetts
business trust with its principal place of business at 7337 East Doubletree
Ranch Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-2034 (the "Trust"), on behalf of ING
Fundamental Research Fund (the "Acquiring Fund"), a separate series of the
Trust, and the Trust, on behalf of ING Disciplined LargeCap Fund (the "Acquired
Fund"), another separate series of the Trust.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of
reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The
reorganization (the "Reorganization") will consist of the transfer of all of the
assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Class
A, Class B and Class C voting shares of beneficial interest of the Acquiring
Fund (the "Acquiring Fund Shares"), the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the
liabilities of the Acquired Fund described in paragraph 1.3, and the
distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund are each a series of
an open-end, registered investment company of the management type and the
Acquired Fund owns securities which generally are assets of the character in
which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust has determined that the
exchange of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and
the assumption of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as described in
paragraph 1.3 herein, by the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of the
Acquiring Fund and its shareholders and that the interests of the existing
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund would not be diluted as a result of this
transaction; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust has determined that the
exchange of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares and
the assumption of the liabilities, as described in paragraph 1.3 herein, of the
Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of the Acquired
Fund and its shareholders and that the interests of the existing shareholders of
the Acquired Fund would not be diluted as a result of this transaction.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants
and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as
follows:
1. TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND TO THE ACQUIRING FUND IN
EXCHANGE FOR THE ACQUIRING FUND SHARES, THE ASSUMPTION OF ALL KNOWN
ACQUIRED FUND LIABILITIES AND THE LIQUIDATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
1.1. Subject to the requisite approval of the Acquired Fund
shareholders and the other terms and conditions herein set forth and on the
basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund
agrees to transfer all of the Acquired Fund's assets, as set forth in paragraph
1.2, to the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquiring Fund agrees in exchange therefor:
(i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund the number of full and fractional Class A,
Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund Shares determined by dividing the value of
the Acquired Fund's net assets with respect to each class, computed in the
manner and as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 2.1, by the net asset
value of one Acquiring Fund Share of the same class, computed in the manner and
as of the time and date set forth in paragraph 2.2; and (ii) to assume the
liabilities of the Acquired Fund, as set forth in paragraph 1.3. Such
transactions shall take place at the closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 (the
"Closing").
1.2. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring
Fund shall consist of all assets and property, including, without limitation,
all cash, securities, commodities and futures interests and
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dividends or interests receivable that are owned by the Acquired Fund and any
deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund
on the closing date provided for in paragraph 3.1 (the "Closing Date")
(collectively, "Assets").
1.3. The Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known
liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund shall
assume the liabilities of the Acquired Fund set forth in the Acquired Fund's
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of the Closing Date delivered by the
Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to the Acquiring Fund, pursuant to
paragraph 7.2 hereof. On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date,
the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders of record one or more
dividends and/or other distributions so that it will have distributed
substantially all (and in no event less than 98%) of its investment company
taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and
realized net capital gain, if any, for the current taxable year, after reduction
for any available capital loss carryovers, through the Closing Date.
1.4. Immediately after the transfer of assets provided for in
paragraph 1.1, the Acquired Fund will distribute to the Acquired Fund's
shareholders of record with respect to each class of its shares, determined as
of immediately after the close of business on the Closing Date (the "Acquired
Fund Shareholders"), on a PRO RATA basis within that class, the Acquiring Fund
Shares of the same class received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to paragraph
1.1, and will completely liquidate. Such distribution and liquidation will be
accomplished, with respect to each class of the Acquired Fund's shares, by the
transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the
Acquired Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share
records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders.
The aggregate net asset value of Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund
Shares to be so credited to Class A, Class B and Class C Acquired Fund
Shareholders shall, with respect to each class, be equal to the aggregate net
asset value of the Acquired Fund shares of that same class owned by such
shareholders on the Closing Date. All issued and outstanding shares of the
Acquired Fund will simultaneously be canceled on the books of the Acquired Fund,
although share certificates representing interests in Class A, Class B and Class
C shares of the Acquired Fund will represent a number of the same class of
Acquiring Fund Shares after the Closing Date, as determined in accordance with
Section 2.3. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue certificates representing the
Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such
exchange.
1.5. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of
the Acquiring Fund's transfer agent, as defined in paragraph 3.3.
1.6. Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including, but
not limited to, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax
returns, or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"), any state securities commission, and any federal, state or
local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall
remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund.
2. VALUATION
2.1. The value of the Assets shall be the value computed as of
immediately after the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange and after
the declaration of any dividends on the Closing Date (such time and date being
hereinafter called the "Valuation Date"), using the valuation procedures in the
then-current prospectus and statement of additional information with respect to
the Acquiring Fund, and valuation procedures established by the Acquiring Fund's
Board of Trustees.
2.2. The net asset value of a Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring
Fund Share shall be the net asset value per share computed with respect to that
class as of the Valuation Date, using the valuation procedures set forth in the
Acquiring Fund's then-current prospectus and statement of additional information
and valuation procedures established by the Acquiring Fund's Board of Trustees.
2.3. The number of the Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund
Shares to be issued (including fractional shares, if any) in exchange for the
Acquired Fund's assets shall be determined with
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respect to each such class by dividing the value of the net assets with respect
to the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Acquired Fund, as the case may
be, determined using the same valuation procedures referred to in paragraph 2.1,
by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share, determined in accordance with
paragraph 2.2.
2.4. All computations of value shall be made by the Acquired Fund's
designated record keeping agent and shall be subject to review by Acquiring
Fund's record keeping agent and by each Fund's respective independent
accountants.
3. CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1. The Closing Date shall be January 13, 2007, or such other date as
the parties may agree. All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to
take place simultaneously as of immediately after the close of business on the
Closing Date unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The close of business on
the Closing Date shall be as of 4:00p.m., Eastern Time. The Closing shall be
held at the offices of the Acquiring Fund or at such other time and/or place as
the parties may agree.
3.2. The Acquired Fund shall direct The Bank of New York, as custodian
for the Acquired Fund (the "Custodian"), to deliver, at the Closing, a
certificate of an authorized officer stating that (i) the Assets shall have been
delivered in proper form to the Acquiring Fund within two business days prior to
or on the Closing Date, and (ii) all necessary taxes in connection with the
delivery of the Assets, including all applicable federal and state stock
transfer stamps, if any, have been paid or provision for payment has been made.
The Acquired Fund's portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other
written instrument shall be presented for examination by the Custodian to the
custodian for the Acquiring Fund no later than five business days preceding the
Closing Date, and shall be transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of
the Closing Date for the account of the Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper
form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. The
Custodian shall deliver as of the Closing Date by book entry, in accordance with
the customary practices of the Custodian and any securities depository (as
defined in Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act")) in which the Acquired Fund's Assets are deposited, the Acquired
Fund's portfolio securities and instruments deposited with such depositories.
The cash to be transferred by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire
transfer of federal funds on the Closing Date.
3.3. The Acquired Fund shall direct DST Systems, Inc. (the "Transfer
Agent"), on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to deliver at the Closing a certificate
of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and
addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage
ownership of outstanding Class A, Class B and Class C shares owned by each such
shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and
deliver a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on
the Closing Date to the Secretary of the Acquiring Fund, or provide evidence
satisfactory to the Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been
credited to the Acquired Fund's account on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At
the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such bills of sale, checks,
assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as such
other party or its counsel may reasonably request.
3.4. In the event that on 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 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, in the judgment of the
Board of Trustees, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the
Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be
postponed until the first business day after the day when trading shall have
been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
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4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1. Except as has been disclosed to the Acquiring Fund in a written
instrument executed by an officer of the Trust, the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquired Fund is duly organized as a series of the Trust,
which is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with power under the
Trust's Declaration of Trust to own all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Trust 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
shares of the Acquired Fund 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 have been obtained under
the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")
and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities laws;
(d) The current prospectus and statement of additional
information of the Acquired Fund and each prospectus and statement of additional
information of the Acquired Fund used during the three years previous to the
date of this Agreement conforms or conformed at the time of its use 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, or
did not at the time of its use, 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, the Acquired Fund will have good and
marketable title to the Assets and full right, power, and authority to sell,
assign, transfer and deliver such Assets hereunder free of any liens or other
encumbrances, and upon delivery and payment for such Assets, 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, other than as disclosed to the Acquiring Fund;
(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 Trust's Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or of any
agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, is a party or by which it is bound;
or (ii) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty,
under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree
to which the Trust, 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 and certain investment contracts including
options, futures and forward contracts) will terminate without liability to the
Acquired Fund prior to the Closing Date;
(h) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is
presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Acquired Fund or
any of its properties or assets that, if adversely determined, would materially
and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business. The
Trust, 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;
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(i) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of
Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Schedule of Investments of the
Acquired Fund at May 31, 2006 have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accountants, and are in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently applied, and such statements (copies
of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) 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 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 not disclosed therein;
(j) Since May 31, 2006, 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 maturing more than one year
from the date such indebtedness was incurred, except as otherwise disclosed to
and accepted by the Acquiring Fund (For the purposes of this subparagraph (j), a
decline in net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund due to declines in
market values of securities in the Acquired Fund's portfolio, 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 the Acquired Fund'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 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 all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain
(as defined in the Code) that has accrued through the Closing Date, and before
the Closing Date will have declared dividends sufficient to distribute all of
its investment company taxable income and net capital gain ( after reduction for
any available capital loss carryover), for the period ending on the Closing
Date;
(m) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund are,
and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully
paid and non-assessable (recognizing that, under Massachusetts law, it is
theoretically possible that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund could, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable for obligations of the
Acquiring Fund) and have been offered and sold in every state and the District
of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration
requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will, at the time of Closing, be held by
the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the 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 shares of the Acquired Fund, nor is there outstanding any
security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund shares;
(n) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary
action, if any, on the part of the Trustees of the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, and, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund, this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation 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;
(o) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use
in registration statements, proxy materials and other documents filed or to be
filed with any federal, state or local
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regulatory authority (including the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.), 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; and
(p) The proxy statement of the Acquired Fund (the "Proxy
Statement") to be included in the Registration Statement referred to in
paragraph 5.6, insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund, will, on the
effective date of the Registration Statement 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, however, that the representations and warranties in this
subparagraph (p) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy
Statement and the Registration 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.
4.2. Except as has been disclosed to the Acquired Fund in a written
instrument executed by an officer of the Trust, the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund, represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is duly organized as a series of the
Trust, which is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with power under
the Trust's Declaration of Trust to own all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Trust 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 shares of the Acquiring Fund under the 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 Acquiring Fund of
the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state
securities laws;
(d) The current prospectus and statement of additional
information of the Acquiring Fund and each prospectus and statement of
additional information of the Acquiring Fund used during the three years
previous to the date of this Agreement conforms or conformed at the time of its
use 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 or did not at the time of its use 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, the Acquiring Fund will have good and
marketable title to the Acquiring Fund's assets, free of any liens of other
encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquired Fund
has received notice and necessary documentation at or prior to the Closing;
(f) 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 the Trust's Declaration of Trust or By-Laws or of any
agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it is bound;
or (ii) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty,
under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree
to which the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, is a party or by which it
is bound;
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(g) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by
the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is
presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Trust, on behalf
of 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 the Acquiring Fund's business. The
Trust, 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 its business or its ability to
consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(h) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of
Operations and Changes in Net Assets and Schedule of Investments of the
Acquiring Fund at May 31, 2006 have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accountants, and are in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the
Acquired Fund) 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 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 not disclosed therein;
(i) Since May 31, 2006, 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 maturing more than one year
from the date such indebtedness was incurred, except as otherwise disclosed to
and accepted by the Acquired Fund (For purposes of this subparagraph (i), a
decline in net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund due to declines in
market values of securities in the Acquiring Fund's portfolio, 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);
(j) 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
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 the Acquiring Fund's knowledge no such
return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect
to such returns;
(k) 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 eligible to (or will be eligible to) and has
computed (or will compute) its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code,
and has distributed all of its investment company taxable income and net capital
gain (as defined in the Code) for periods ending prior to the Closing Date;
(l) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund are,
and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully
paid and non-assessable by the Trust and have been offered and sold in every
state and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with
applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act 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;
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
will have been fully authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary
action, if any, on the part of the Trustees of the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund, and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles;
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(n) The Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund Shares to be
issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund
Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will on the Closing Date
have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and
validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable;
(o) The information to be furnished by the Trust for use in the
registration statements, proxy materials and other documents that may be
necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material
respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable
thereto; and
(p) That insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund, the
Registration Statement relating to the Acquiring Fund Shares issuable hereunder,
and the proxy materials of the Acquired Fund to be included in the Registration
Statement, and any amendment or supplement to the foregoing, will, from the
effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of the meeting of
shareholders of the Acquired Fund contemplated therein (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 misleading, provided,
however, that the representations and warranties in this subparagraph (p) shall
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration 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.
5. COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND
5.1. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each 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. The Acquired Fund 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 Class A, Class B and Class C
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.
5.5. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund
and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do
or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.6. The Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring Fund with
information reasonably necessary for the preparation of a prospectus (the
"Prospectus"), which will include the Proxy Statement referred to in paragraph
4.1(p), all to be included in a Registration Statement on Form N-14 of the
Acquiring Fund (the "Registration Statement"), in compliance with the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, in connection with the meeting of the
shareholders of the Acquired Fund to consider approval of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated herein.
5.7. As soon as is reasonably practicable after the Closing, the
Acquired Fund will make a liquidating distribution to its shareholders
consisting of the Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund Shares received at
the Closing.
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5.8. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each use its
reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions
precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly
as practicable.
5.9. The Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, covenants that the
Trust will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by the Acquiring
Fund, 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 the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, may reasonably
deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm (a) the Trust's, on
behalf of the Acquired Fund's, title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund's
Shares to be delivered hereunder, and (b) the Trust's, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund's, title to and possession of all the assets and otherwise to
carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.10. The Acquiring Fund will 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.
6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
The obligations of the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, to
consummate the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at the Trust's
election, to the performance by the Trust, 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 the Trust, 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 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. The Trust shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a certificate
executed in its name by its President or Vice President and its Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and
dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and
warranties of the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, made in this Agreement
are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be
affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as to such other
matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request;
6.3. The Trust, 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 the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund, on or before the Closing Date; and
6.4. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the
number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares of each Class 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 the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, to
complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject, at the Trust's
election, to the performance by the Trust, 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 conditions:
7.1. All representations and warranties of the Trust, 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;
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7.2. The Trust shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement
of the Acquired Fund's assets and liabilities, as of the Closing Date, certified
by the Treasurer of the Trust;
7.3. The Trust shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the
Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by its President or Vice
President and its Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the
effect that the representations and warranties of the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the
Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Trust shall reasonably
request;
7.4. The Trust, 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 the Trust, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, on or before the Closing Date;
7.5. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall have agreed on the
number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares of each class to be issued
in connection with the Reorganization after such number has been calculated in
accordance with paragraph 1.1; and
7.6. The Acquired Fund shall have declared and paid a distribution or
distributions prior to the Closing that, together with all previous
distributions, shall have the effect of distributing to its shareholders (i) all
of its investment company taxable income and all of its net realized capital
gains, if any, for the period from the close of its last fiscal year to 4:00
p.m. Eastern time on the Closing; and (ii) any undistributed investment company
taxable income and net realized capital gains from any period to the extent not
otherwise already distributed.
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 Trust, on behalf of the Acquired
Fund, or the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this
Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1. The 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 provisions of the Trust's Declaration
of Trust, By-Laws, applicable Massachusetts 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, neither the
Acquired Fund nor the Acquiring Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this
paragraph 8.1;
8.2. On the Closing Date no action, suit or other proceeding shall be
pending or, to its 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
the Trust 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;
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
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hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been
instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act; and
8.5. The parties shall have received the opinion of Dechert LLP
addressed to the Trust substantially to the effect that, based upon certain
facts, assumptions, and representations, the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement shall constitute a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax
purposes. The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt by Dechert
LLP of representations it shall request of the Trust. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, neither the Acquired Fund nor the Acquiring Fund may
waive the condition set forth in this paragraph 8.5.
9. BROKERAGE FEES AND EXPENSES
9.1. The Acquired Fund, and the Acquiring Fund, represent and warrant
to each other that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any
payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein.
9.2 The expenses relating to the proposed Reorganization will be
shared so that (1) half of such costs are borne by the investment adviser to the
Acquiring Fund, or its affiliate, and (2) half are borne by the Acquired Fund.
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 of the Registration Statement, printing and distributing the
Acquiring Fund's prospectus and the Acquired Fund's proxy materials, legal fees,
accounting fees, securities registration fees, and expenses of holding
shareholders' meetings. 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. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund agree that neither
party has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and
that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
10.2. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder. The
covenants to be performed after the Closing shall survive the Closing.
11. TERMINATION
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be abandoned by either party by (i) mutual agreement of the parties;
or (ii) by either party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
February 1, 2007, unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the
parties; or (iii) by either party if the other party shall have materially
breached its obligations under this Agreement or made a material and intentional
misrepresentation herein or in connection herewith. In the event of any such
termination, this Agreement shall become void and there shall be no liability
hereunder on the part of any party or their respective Trustees or officers,
except for any such material breach or intentional misrepresentation, as to each
of which all remedies at law or in equity of the party adversely affected shall
survive.
12. AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner
as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the authorized officers of the Trust;
provided, however, that following the meeting of the shareholders of the
Acquired Fund called by the Trust pursuant to paragraph 5.2 of this
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Agreement, no such amendment may have the effect of changing the provisions for
determining the number of the Class A, Class B and Class C Acquiring Fund Shares
to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders under this Agreement to the
detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
13. NOTICES
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any
provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by
facsimile, personal service or prepaid or certified mail addressed to the Trust,
on behalf of the Acquired Fund, or the Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund,
at 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-2034, attn: Huey
P. Falgout Jr., in each case with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1775 I Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006, attn: Jeffrey S. Puretz.
14. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF
LIABILITY
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 may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original.
14.3. 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.
14.4. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or
transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any
party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed
or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person,
firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this
Agreement.
14.5. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees,
officers, agents, or employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the
trust property of the Acquired Fund, as provided in the Declaration of Trust of
the Trust. The execution and delivery by such officers shall not be deemed to
have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of
them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of such party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be
executed by its President or Vice President.
ING EQUITY TRUST on behalf of its
ING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH FUND series
By:
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Title:
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ING EQUITY TRUST on behalf of its
ING DISCIPLINED LARGECAP FUND series
By:
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Title:
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