EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB 7 agrmntandplanofreorg.htm AGREEMENT & PLAN OF REORGANIZATION agrmntandplanofreorg.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

            THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Plan”) is made this 19th day of December, 2008, by John Hancock Trust (“JHT”), a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of each “Acquired Fund” and its corresponding “Acquiring Fund” listed below, all of which are separate series or funds of  JHT, and, for purposes of Sections 1(a)(ii) and 9 of the Plan only, by John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (“JHIMS”), the investment adviser to JHT:

 

Acquired Fund

 

Corresponding Acquiring Fund

Core Equity Trust

 

Fundamental Value Trust

U.S. Large Cap Trust

 

American Growth-Income Trust

Income & Value Trust

 

American Asset Allocation Trust

Mid Cap Value Trust

 

Mid Value Trust

Small Company Trust

 

Small Company Value Trust

Classic Value Trust

 

Equity Income Trust

 

This Plan shall be deemed to be a separate agreement by JHT on behalf of each Acquired Fund and its corresponding Acquiring Fund.  As used herein, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, each Acquired Fund and its corresponding Acquiring Fund are, respectively, the “Acquired Fund” and the “Acquiring Fund.”

 

            WHEREAS, JHT intends to provide for the reorganization of the Acquired Fund through the acquisition by the Acquiring Fund of all or substantially all of the assets, subject to all of the liabilities, of the Acquired Fund in exchange for Series I, Series II and NAV (as applicable) voting shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), the liquidation of the Acquired Fund and the distribution to Acquired Fund shareholders of the Acquiring Fund Shares (the “Reorganization”); and

 

            WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of JHT has determined that the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets and all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund is in the best interests of each such Fund, as well as the best interests of shareholders and owners of variable life and annuity contracts funded by shares of such Funds (“contract owners”), and that the interests of existing shareholders and contract owners will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization;

           

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, JHT on behalf of, respectively, the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, hereto agrees as follows:

 

1. TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR ACQUIRING FUND SHARES AND LIQUIDATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND

 

     (a) Plan of Reorganization.


  

     (i) JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund, will convey, transfer and deliver to the Acquiring Fund all of the then existing assets of the Acquired Fund (consisting, without limitation, of portfolio securities and instruments, dividend and interest receivables, cash and other assets). In consideration thereof, JHT on behalf of the Acquiring Fund will (A) assume and pay, to the extent that they exist on or after the Effective Time of the Reorganization (as defined in Section 1(b)(i) hereof), all of the obligations and liabilities of the Acquired Fund and (B) issue and deliver to the Acquired Fund that number of full and fractional Series I, Series II and NAV shares (as applicable) of the Acquiring Fund as determined in Section 1(c) hereof.  Any Series I, Series II and NAV shares of capital stock (if any), par value $.01 per share, of the Acquired Fund (“Acquired Fund Shares”) held in the treasury of JHT at the Effective Time of the Reorganization shall thereupon be retired. Such transactions shall take place on the date provided for in Section 1(b)(i) hereof (the “Exchange Date”). All computations for the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall be performed by State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”), as custodian and pricing agent for the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund. The determination of the Custodian shall be conclusive and binding on all parties in interest. 

 

      (ii) JHIMS has advised JHT that: (A) because of significant differences between the investment strategies and portfolio securities of each of the U.S. Large Cap Trust and the Income & Value Trust (Acquired Funds), which invest directly in equity and other portfolio securities, and their respective, corresponding Acquiring Funds, the American Growth-Income Trust and American Asset Allocation Trust, which are “feeder funds” that invest principally in shares of their respective “master funds,” substantially all of the portfolio securities of the U.S. Large Cap Trust and the Income & Value Trust will be sold in connection with the Reorganization; and (B) in connection with the Reorganization, and prior to the Effective Time of the Reorganization (as defined in Section 1(b)(i) hereof), certain unregistered separate accounts of one or more John Hancock life insurance companies are expected to redeem from the Classic Value Trust (an Acquired Fund) approximately $7.3 million of their investments in that Acquired Fund, representing approximately 28% of the net assets of that Acquired Fund.

 

     (iii) As of the Effective Time of the Reorganization, the Acquired Fund will liquidate and distribute pro rata to its shareholders of record (“Acquired Fund shareholders”) as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Acquired Fund pursuant to Section 1(a)(i) in actual or constructive exchange for the shares of the Acquired Fund held by the Acquired Fund shareholders.  The holders of Series I, Series II and NAV shares (as applicable) of the Acquired Fund, will receive, respectively, Series I, Series II and NAV shares of the Acquiring Fund, except that holders of NAV shares of the U.S. Large Cap Trust and the Income & Value Trust will receive Series I shares of their respective, corresponding Acquiring Funds. Such liquidation and distribution will be accomplished 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 and representing the respective pro-rata number of the Acquiring Fund Shares due such shareholders. The Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such exchange.

 


     (iv) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time of the Reorganization, JHT shall take all the necessary steps under Massachusetts law, JHT’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and any other applicable law to effect a complete dissolution of the Acquired Fund.

    

     (b) Exchange Date and Effective Time of the Reorganization.

 

     (i) Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the Reorganization specified in this Plan, the Reorganization shall occur as of the close of regularly scheduled trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Effective Time of the Reorganization”) on the day (the “Exchange Date”) which is the later of (A) the final adjournment of the meeting of the holders of Acquired Fund shares at which this Plan will be considered, (B) May 1, 2009 and (C) such later day as any one or more of the officers of JHT may determine.

 

     (ii) All acts taking place on the Exchange Date shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization unless otherwise provided.

 

     (iii) In the event that on the proposed Exchange Date (A) the New York Stock Exchange shall be closed to trading or trading thereon shall be restricted, or (B) trading or the reporting of trading on said Exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that accurate valuation of the net assets of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Exchange 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.

 

     (iv) On the Exchange Date, portfolio securities of the Acquired Fund shall be transferred by the Custodian to the account of the Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer, in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof in accordance with the custom of brokers, and shall be accompanied by all necessary federal and state stock transfer stamps or a check for the appropriate purchase price thereof.

 

     (c) Valuation.

 

     (i) The net asset value per share of the Series I, Series II and NAV shares (as applicable) of the Acquiring Fund and the net value of the assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred in exchange for such Series I, Series II and NAV shares shall be determined as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization. The net asset value per share of the Series I, Series II and NAV shares of the Acquiring Fund shall be computed by the Custodian in the manner set forth in JHT’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws and then current prospectus and statement of additional information and shall be computed to not less than two decimal places. The net value of the assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred shall be computed by the Custodian by calculating the value of the assets of the Acquired Fund and by subtracting therefrom the amount of the liabilities assigned and transferred to the Acquiring Fund, said assets and liabilities to be valued in the manner set forth in JHT’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws and then current prospectus and statement of additional information.

 


     (ii) The number of Series I, Series II and NAV shares (as applicable) of the Acquiring Fund to be issued (including fractional shares, if any) by the Acquiring Fund in exchange for the Acquired Fund’s assets shall be determined by dividing the net value of the assets of the Acquired Fund attributable to shares of each class and to be transferred by the net asset value per share of the corresponding Series I, Series II and NAV shares (as applicable) of the Acquiring Fund, both as determined in accordance with Section 1(c)(i).

 

     (iii) All computations of value shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with its regular practice as pricing agent for the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund.

    

2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRING FUND

 

     JHT on behalf of the Acquiring Fund represents and warrants as follows:

 

     (a) Organization, Existence, etc.  JHT is a business trust that is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has the power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Acquiring Fund is a validly existing series of shares of such business trust representing interests in a separate portfolio thereof under the laws of Massachusetts. Each of the Acquiring Fund and JHT has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

 

     (b) Registration as Investment Company.  JHT is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as an open-end management investment company; such registration has not been revoked or rescinded and is in full force and effect.

 

     (c) Current Offering Documents.  The current prospectus of JHT dated May 1, 2008, as supplemented, and the current statement of additional information of JHT dated May 1, 2008, as supplemented, and as each may be further supplemented or amended, included in JHT’s registration statement on Form N-1A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Act and do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

     (d) Capitalization.  JHT has an unlimited number of authorized shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share.  All of the outstanding shares of JHT have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (except as disclosed in JHT’s prospectus and recognizing that under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Fund of JHT could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of such Fund). All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund have been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 


     (e) Financial Statements.  The Financial Statements of the Acquiring Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm retained by JHT, fairly present the financial position of the Acquiring Fund as of the dates thereof and its results of operations and changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

    

     (f) Shares to be Issued Upon Reorganization.  The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganization will be duly authorized and upon consummation of the Reorganization will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (except as disclosed in the Acquiring Fund’s prospectus and recognizing that under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Fund of JHT could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of such Fund).

 

     (g) Authority Relative to this Plan.  JHT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, has the power to enter into this Plan and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by JHT’s Board of Trustees and no other proceedings by JHT other than those contemplated under this Plan are necessary to authorize its officers to effectuate this Plan and the transactions contemplated hereby. JHT is not a party to or obligated under any provision of its Declaration of Trust or By-laws, or under any indenture or contract provision or any other commitment or obligation, or subject to any order or decree, which would be violated by or which would prevent its execution and performance of this Plan in accordance with its terms.

   

     (h) Liabilities.  There are no liabilities of the Acquiring Fund, whether actual or contingent and whether or not determined or determinable, other than liabilities disclosed or provided for in the Acquiring Fund’s Financial Statements and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to December 31, 2007 or otherwise previously disclosed to the Acquiring Fund, none of which has been materially adverse to the business, assets or results of operations of the Acquiring Fund.

 

     (i) No Material Adverse Change.  Since December 31, 2007, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties or assets of the Acquiring Fund, other than those occurring in the ordinary course of business (for these purposes, a decline in net asset value and a decline in net assets due to redemptions do not constitute a material adverse change).

   

     (j) Litigation.  There are no claims, actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of JHT, threatened which would adversely affect the Acquiring Fund’s assets or business or which would prevent or hinder consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, there are no facts which would form the basis for the institution of administrative proceedings against the Acquiring Fund and, to the knowledge of JHT, there are no regulatory investigations of the Acquiring Fund, pending or threatened, other than routine inspections and audits.

 

     (k) Contracts.  No default exists under any material contract or other commitment on behalf of the Acquiring Fund to which JHT is subject.

 


     (l) Taxes.  All federal and other income tax returns of the Acquiring Fund required to be filed by JHT have been filed for all taxable years to and including December 31, 2007, and all taxes payable pursuant to such returns have been paid. To the knowledge of JHT, no such return is under audit and no assessment has been asserted in respect of any such return.  All federal and other taxes owed by the Acquiring Fund have been paid so far as due.  The Acquiring Fund currently is, at all times since its inception has been, and will continue to be up until and at the Exchange Date, in compliance with Section 817(h)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5, as if those provisions applied directly to the Acquiring Fund, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment and life insurance contracts.  The Acquiring Fund’s shares are (and since its inception have been) held only by (a) insurance company “segregated asset accounts” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(e) and (b) other purchasers of the kind specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(f)(3) as from time to time in effect.  The Acquiring Fund is, and at all times since its inception has been, qualified as a “regulated investment company” under subchapter M of the Code.

 

     (m) No Approvals Required.  Except for the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof) and the approval of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders (referred to in Section 6(a) hereof), no consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or exemptions under federal or state laws are necessary for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the Reorganization, except such as have been obtained as of the date hereof.

 

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRED FUND

 

     JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund represents and warrants as follows:

 

     (a) Organization, Existence, etc.  JHT is a business trust that is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has the power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.  The Acquired Fund is a validly existing series of shares of such business trust representing interests in a separate portfolio thereof under the laws of Massachusetts. Each of the Acquired Fund and JHT has all necessary federal, state and local authorization to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

 

     (b) Registration as Investment Company.  JHT is registered under the Act as an open-end management investment company; such registration has not been revoked or rescinded and is in full force and effect.

 

     (c) Current Offering Documents. The current prospectus of JHT dated May 1, 2008, as supplemented, and the current statement of additional information of JHT dated May 1, 2008, as supplemented, and as each may be further supplemented or amended, included in JHT’s registration statement on Form N-1A filed with the Commission, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Act and do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.


 

     (d) Capitalization.  JHT has an unlimited number of authorized shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share.  All of the outstanding shares of JHT have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (except as disclosed in JHT’s prospectus and recognizing that under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Fund of JHT could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of such Fund). All such shares of the Acquired Fund will, at the Effective Time of the Reorganization, be held by the shareholders of record of the Acquired Fund as set forth on the books and records of JHT in the amounts set forth therein, and as set forth in any list of shareholders of record provided to the Acquiring Fund for purposes of the Reorganization, and no such shareholders of record will have any preemptive rights to purchase any Acquired Fund shares, and the Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquired Fund shares (other than any existing dividend reinvestment plans of the Acquired Fund or as set forth in this Plan), nor are there outstanding any securities convertible into any shares of the Acquired Fund (except pursuant to any existing exchange privileges described in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of JHT). All of the Acquired Fund’s issued and outstanding shares have been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

     (e) Financial Statements.  The Financial Statements of the Acquired Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm retained by JHT, fairly present the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of the dates thereof and its results of operations and changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated in accordance with GAAP.

 

     (f) Authority Relative to this Plan.  JHT, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, has the power to enter into this Plan and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by JHT’s Board of Trustees and no other proceedings by JHT other than those contemplated under this Plan are necessary to authorize its officers to effectuate this Plan and the transactions contemplated hereby. JHT is not a party to or obligated under any provision of its Declaration of Trust or By-laws, or under any indenture or contract provision or any other commitment or obligation, or subject to any order or decree, which would be violated by or which would prevent its execution and performance of this Plan in accordance with its terms.

 

     (g) Liabilities.  There are no liabilities of the Acquired Fund, whether actual or contingent and whether or not determined or determinable, other than liabilities disclosed or provided for in the Acquired Fund’s Financial Statements and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to December 31, 2007 or otherwise previously disclosed to the Acquired Fund, none of which has been materially adverse to the business, assets or results of operations of the Acquired Fund.

      

     (h) No Material Adverse Change.  Since December 31, 2007, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties or assets of the Acquired Fund, other than those occurring in the ordinary course of business (for these purposes, a decline in net asset value and a decline in net assets due to redemptions do not constitute a material adverse change).

   

     (i) Litigation.  There are no claims, actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of JHT, threatened which would adversely affect the Acquired Fund’s assets or business or which would prevent or hinder consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, there are no facts which would form the basis for the institution of administrative proceedings against the Acquired Fund and, to the knowledge of JHT, there are no regulatory investigations of the Acquired Fund, pending or threatened, other than routine inspections and audits.

 

     (j) Contracts.  JHT is not subject to any contracts or other commitments on behalf of the Acquired Fund (other than this Plan) which will not be terminated with respect to the Acquired Fund without liability to JHT or the Acquired Fund as of or prior to the Effective Time of the Reorganization.

 

     (k) Taxes.  All federal and other income tax returns of the Acquired Fund required to be filed by JHT with respect to the Acquired Fund have been filed for all taxable years to and including December 31, 2007, and all taxes payable pursuant to such returns have been paid.  To the knowledge of JHT, no such return is under audit and no assessment has been asserted in respect of any such return.  All federal and other taxes owed by the Acquired Fund have been paid so far as due.  The Acquired Fund currently is, at all times since its inception has been, and will continue to be up until and at the Exchange Date, in compliance with Section 817(h)(1) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5, as if those provisions applied directly to the Acquired Fund, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment and life insurance contracts.  The Acquired Fund’s shares are (and since its inception have been) held only by (a) insurance company “segregated asset accounts” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(e) and (b) other purchasers of the kind specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(f)(3) as from time to time in effect.  The Acquired Fund is, and at all times since its inception has been, qualified as a “regulated investment company” under subchapter M of the Code.

 

     (l) No Approvals Required.  Except for the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof) and the approval of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders referred to in Section 6(a) hereof, no consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or exemptions under federal or state laws are necessary for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the Reorganization, except such as have been obtained as of the date hereof.

 

4. COVENANTS OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRING FUND

 

     JHT on behalf of the Acquiring Fund covenants to the following:

 

     (a) Registration Statement.  On behalf of the Acquiring Fund, JHT shall file with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act relating to the Acquiring Fund Shares issuable hereunder and the proxy statement of the Acquired Fund relating to the meeting of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders referred to in Section 5(a) herein. At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Registration Statement (i) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Regulations”) and (ii) will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, at the time of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders meeting referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, and at the Effective Time of the Reorganization, the proxy statement/prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (the “Statement of Additional Information”) included therein, as amended or supplemented by any amendments or supplements filed by JHT, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

     (b) Cooperation in Effecting Reorganization.  JHT on behalf of the Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to effectuate the Reorganization, to continue in operation thereafter, and to obtain any necessary regulatory approvals for the Reorganization.

 

     (c) Operations in the Ordinary Course.  Except as otherwise contemplated by this Plan, JHT with respect to the Acquiring Fund shall conduct its business in the ordinary course until the consummation of the Reorganization, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include the declaration and payment of customary dividends and distributions.

 

 

5. COVENANTS OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRED FUND

 

     JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund covenants to the following:

 

     (a) Meeting of the Acquired Fund’s Shareholders.  JHT shall call and hold a meeting of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund for the purpose of acting upon this Plan and the transactions contemplated herein.  

 

     (b) Portfolio Securities.  With respect to the assets to be transferred in accordance with Section 1(a), the Acquired Fund’s assets shall consist of all property and assets of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, claims and receivables (including dividend and interest receivables) owned, and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the Acquired Fund’s books. At least five (5) business days prior to the Exchange Date, the Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring Fund with a list of its assets and a list of its stated liabilities. The Acquired Fund shall have the right to sell any of the securities or other assets shown on the list of assets prior to the Exchange Date but will not, without the prior approval of JHT, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, acquire any additional securities other than securities which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to purchase, pursuant to its investment objective and policies or otherwise (taking into consideration its own portfolio composition as of such date). In the event that the Acquired Fund holds any investments that the Acquiring Fund would not be permitted to hold, the Acquired Fund will dispose of such securities prior to the Exchange Date to the extent practicable and to the extent that its shareholders would not be materially affected in an adverse manner by such a disposition. In addition, JHT will prepare and deliver, on the Exchange Date, immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Reorganization, a Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Acquired Fund as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization and prepared in accordance with GAAP (the “Schedule”). All securities to be listed in the Schedule for the Acquired Fund as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization will be owned by the Acquired Fund free and clear of any liens, claims, charges, options and encumbrances, except as indicated in the Schedule, and, except as so indicated, none of such securities is or, after the Reorganization as contemplated hereby, will be subject to any restrictions, legal or contractual, on the disposition thereof (including restrictions as to the public offering or sale thereof under the Securities Act) and, except as so indicated, all such securities are or will be readily marketable.

 

     (c) Registration Statement.  In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund will furnish the information relating to the Acquired Fund required by the Securities Act and the Regulations to be set forth in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information). At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Registration Statement, insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund, (i) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Regulations and (ii) will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, at the time of the Acquired Fund’s shareholders meeting referred to in Section 5(a) and at the Effective Time of the Reorganization, the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as amended or supplemented by any amendments or supplements filed by JHT, insofar as they relate to the Acquired Fund, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection shall apply only to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished by JHT with respect to the Acquired Fund for use in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information as provided in this Section 5(c). 

 

     (d) Cooperation in Effecting Reorganization.  JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to effectuate the Reorganization and to obtain any necessary regulatory approvals for the Reorganization.

 

     (e) Operations in the Ordinary Course.  Except as otherwise contemplated by this Plan, JHT with respect to the Acquired Fund shall conduct its business in the ordinary course until the consummation of the Reorganization, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include the declaration and payment of customary dividends and distributions.

 

     (f) Statement of Earnings and Profits.  As promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Exchange Date, JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund shall prepare a statement of the earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes, and of any capital loss carryovers and other items that the Acquiring Fund will succeed to and take into account as a result of Section 381 of the Code.

 

6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRED FUND


 

The obligations of JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund with respect to the consummation of the Reorganization are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

     (a) Approval by the Acquired Fund’s Shareholders.  This Plan and the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shares of the Acquired Fund entitled to vote on the matter (“Acquired Shareholder Approval”).

   

     (b) Covenants, Warranties and Representations.  With respect to the Acquiring Fund, JHT shall have complied with each of its covenants contained herein, each of the representations and warranties contained herein shall be true in all material respects as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization (except as otherwise contemplated herein), and there shall have been no material adverse change (as described in Section 2(i)) in the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties or assets of the Acquiring Fund since December 31, 2007.

   

     (c) Regulatory Approval.  The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission and no stop orders under the Securities Act pertaining thereto shall have been issued and all other approvals, registrations, and exemptions under federal and state laws considered to be necessary shall have been obtained (collectively, the “Regulatory Approvals”).

 

     (d) Tax Opinions.  JHT shall have received one or more opinions of Dykema Gossett PLLC, dated on or before the Effective Time of the Reorganization, addressed to and in form and substance satisfactory to JHT, as to certain of the federal income tax consequences under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) of the Reorganization insofar as it relates each Acquired Fund and its corresponding Acquiring Fund (the “Tax Opinions’).  For purposes of rendering its opinion, Dykema Gossett PLLC may rely exclusively and without independent verification, as to factual matters, on the statements made in the Plan, the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and on such other written representations as a senior officer of JHT will have verified as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization.  The opinion(s) will be to the effect that, based on the facts and assumptions stated therein, for federal income tax purposes:

 

            (A) with respect to each of the three transactions involving, respectively, (i) the Core Equity Trust (Acquired Fund) and the Fundamental Value Trust (Acquiring Fund), (ii) the Mid Cap Value Trust (Acquired Fund) and the Mid Value Trust (Acquiring Fund) and (iii) the Small Company Trust (Acquired Fund) and the Small Company Value Trust (Acquiring Fund): (1) the Reorganization will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code with respect to the Acquired and Acquiring Funds; (2) no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired or the Acquiring Fund upon the transfer of all of the assets and liabilities, if any, of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund; (3) no gain or loss will be recognized by shareholders of the Acquired Fund upon the exchange of such Fund’s shares solely for shares of the Acquiring Fund; (4) the tax basis of the shares of the Acquiring Fund received by each holder of shares of the Acquired Fund pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same as the tax basis of the shares of the Acquired Fund held by the shareholder immediately prior to the Reorganization; (5) the holding period of the shares of the Acquiring Fund received by each holder of shares of the Acquired Fund pursuant to the Reorganization will be the same as the holding period of the shares of the Acquired Fund held by the shareholder (provided the shares of the Acquired Fund were held as a capital asset on the date of the Reorganization) immediately prior to the Reorganization; (6) the tax basis of the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of those assets of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization; and (7) the holding period of the assets of the Acquired Fund acquired by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the holding period of those assets of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the Reorganization; and

 

            (B) with respect to each of the three transactions involving, respectively, (i) the U.S. Large Cap Trust (Acquired Fund) and the American Growth-Income Trust (Acquiring Fund), (ii) the Income & Value Trust (Acquired Fund) and the American Asset Allocation Trust (Acquiring Fund) and (iii) the Classic Value Trust (Acquired Fund) and the Equity Income Trust (Acquiring Fund): (1) the transaction does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368 of the Code, and will be treated as a taxable transaction; (2) the Acquired Fund will recognize gain or loss on each of its assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of such assets and (ii) the adjusted basis of such assets; (3) the Acquired Fund will be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders in an amount sufficient to offset its regulated investment company taxable income and its capital gains and therefore will not incur any federal income tax liability for its last complete year ending on the date of the Reorganization; (4) the Acquiring Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the receipt of the assets of the Acquired Fund; (5) the basis of each of the assets acquired by the Acquiring Fund will be the fair market value of such assets as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization; (6) the Acquiring Fund’s holding period for the assets acquired from the Acquired Fund will start as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization; (7) the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will recognize any gain or loss upon the exchange of shares of the Acquired Fund for shares of the Acquiring Fund they received pursuant to the Reorganization; (8)  the basis of the shares of the Acquiring Fund received by the former shareholders of the Acquired Fund will be the fair market value of the shares of the Acquiring Fund as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization; (9) the holding period of the former shareholders of the Acquired Fund for their shares of the Acquiring Fund will start as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization; and (10) if the variable contracts and the insurance companies issuing them are properly structured under the insurance company provisions of the Code, the Reorganization will not be a taxable event for contract owners whose contract values are determined by investment in shares of the Acquired Fund.

 

7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF JHT ON BEHALF OF THE ACQUIRING FUND

 

       The obligations of JHT on behalf of the Acquiring Fund with respect to the consummation of the Reorganization are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

     (a) Approval by the Acquired Fund’s Shareholders.  The Acquired Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained with respect to the Acquired Fund.

 

     (b) Covenants, Warranties and Representations.  With respect to the Acquired Fund, JHT shall have complied with each of its covenants contained herein, each of the representations and warranties contained herein shall be true in all material respects as of the Effective Time of the Reorganization (except as otherwise contemplated herein), and there shall have been no material adverse change (as described in Section 3(h)) in the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties or assets of the Acquired Fund since December 31, 2007.

 

     (c)  Portfolio Securities. All securities to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganization shall have been approved for acquisition by JHIMS (or, at its discretion, by the subadviser for the Acquiring Fund) as consistent with the investment policies of the Acquiring Fund.

     

     (d) Regulatory Approval.  The Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained.

      

     (e) Distribution of Income and Gains.  JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund shall have distributed to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund all of the Acquired Fund’s investment company taxable income (without regard to the deductions for dividends paid) as defined in Section 852(b)(2) of the Code for its taxable year ending on the Exchange Date and all of its net capital gain as such term is used in Section 852(b)(3) of the Code, after reduction by any capital loss carry forward, for its taxable year ending on the Exchange Date.

 

     (f) Tax Opinions.  JHT shall have received the Tax Opinions.

 

     (g) Financial Statements.  The Financial Statements of JHT for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 shall have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm retained by JHT.  In addition, as of the Exchange Date and except as may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Plan: (i) the representations and warranties of JHT on behalf of the Acquired Fund set forth in Sections 3(e) and (g) of this Plan are true and correct as to the financial statements referred to in the first sentence of this Section 7(g); and (ii) the representation and warranty set forth in the first sentence of Section 3(k) of this Plan are true and correct as to all taxable years to and including December 31, 2008.

 

8. AMENDMENTS; TERMINATIONS; NO SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS, WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS

 

     (a) Amendments.  JHT may, by an instrument in writing authorized by the Board of Trustees, amend this Plan at any time before or after approval hereof by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, but after such approval, no amendment shall be made which substantially changes the terms hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be deemed to be amended as provided in Section 12 hereof.

 

     (b) Waivers.  At any time prior to the Effective Time of the Reorganization, JHT, on behalf of either or both of the Acquired and Acquiring Funds, may by written instrument signed by it (i) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to it or such Fund or Funds contained herein and (ii) waive compliance with any of the covenants or conditions made for its benefit or the benefit of such Fund or Funds contained herein, except that conditions set forth in Sections 6(c) and 7(d) may not be waived.

 


     (c) Termination.  This Plan may be terminated by JHT at any time prior to the Effective Time of the Reorganization, whether before or after approval of this Plan by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, without liability on the part of any party hereto, its Trustees, officers or shareholders, in the event that the Board of Trustees or the officers of JHT determine that proceeding with this Plan is not in the best interests of the shareholders or contract owners of either or both of the Acquired and Acquiring Funds or for any other reason.

 

     (d) Unless JHT shall otherwise determine by written instrument, this Plan shall terminate without liability as of the close of business on September 30, 2009 if the Effective Time of the Reorganization is not on or prior to such date.

 

     (e) Survival.  No representations, warranties or covenants in or pursuant to this Plan, except for the provisions of Section 5(f) and Section 9 of this Plan, shall survive the Reorganization.

 

9. EXPENSES

 

     With respect to each Acquired Fund and its corresponding Acquiring Fund, the expenses of the Reorganization will be borne by the Acquired Fund except that such expenses: (i) will be allocated between the Acquired and Acquiring Funds on a relative net asset basis in the case of the Reorganization as to the Mid Cap Value Trust; and (ii) will be borne by JHIMS in the case of the Reorganization as to the Core Equity Trust and the Small Company Trust.  If the Reorganization is not consummated as to a Fund, the expenses of the Reorganization as to that Fund will be paid by JHIMS.  Such expenses include, without limitation, (i) expenses incurred in connection with the entering into and the carrying out of the provisions of this Plan; (ii) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (other than registration fees payable to the Commission in respect of the registration of the Acquiring Fund shares registered thereby, which shall be payable by the Acquiring Fund); (iii) fees and expenses of preparing and filing such forms as are necessary under any applicable state securities laws in connection with the Reorganization; (iv) postage; (v) printing; (vi) accounting fees; (vii) legal fees and (viii) solicitation costs relating to the Reorganization. 

 

10. RELIANCE

 

     All covenants and agreements made under this Plan shall be deemed to have been material and relied upon by the Acquired Funds, the Acquiring Funds and JHT notwithstanding any investigation made by such party or on its behalf.

 

11. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT

 

     (a) The section and paragraph headings contained in this Plan are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Plan.

 

     (b) This Plan may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

 


     (c) This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

     (d) This Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of JHT, the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund 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 parties. 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 Plan.

 

     (e) The name “John Hancock Trust” is the designation of the Trustees under an Agreement and  Declaration of Trust dated September 29, 1988, as amended, and all persons dealing with JHT must look solely to JHT’s property for the enforcement of any claims against JHT, as neither the Trustees, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of JHT. No Fund of JHT shall be liable for claims against any other Fund of JHT.

 

12.  CONVERSION TO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.  In the event that, prior to the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission, the effective date thereof or the Effective Time of the Reorganization, JHT converts from a Massachusetts business trust to a Delaware limited liability company, to be known as John Hancock Variable Insurance Portfolios, LLC (“JHVIP”), pursuant to a Plan of Conversion approved by shareholders of JHT and in accordance with the provisions of Section 18-214 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, then this Plan shall be deemed to be the Plan of JHVIP and to be amended as necessary or appropriate for such purpose, including as follows:

 

     (a) References to, representations by and covenants of JHT (including representations by JHT that it is a Massachusetts business trust that is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) shall be deemed to be, respectively, references to, representations by and covenants of JHVIP (including representations by JHVIP that it is a Delaware limited liability company that is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware);

 

     (b)  The Acquired Funds and their corresponding Acquiring Funds shall be deemed to be the following:

 

Acquired Fund

 

Corresponding Acquiring Fund

Core Equity Fund

 

Fundamental Value Fund

U.S. Large Cap Fund

 

American Growth-Income Fund

Income & Value Fund

 

American Asset Allocation Fund

Mid Cap Value Fund

 

Mid Value Fund

Small Company Fund

 

Small Company Value Fund

Classic Value Fund

 

Equity Income Fund

 

     (c) References to the “shares” or “shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share,” of JHT or the Acquired or Acquiring Funds shall be deemed to be references to “shares” or “shares of limited liability company interest, without par value,” of JHVIP or the Acquired or Acquiring Funds;

 

     (d)  References to the Board of Trustees and officers of JHT shall be deemed to be references to, respectively, the Board of Directors and officers of JHVIP;

 

     (e) References to the Declaration of Trust and By laws of JHT and to the “laws of Massachusetts” (or the “laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts”) or “Massachusetts law” shall be deemed to be, respectively, references to the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of JHVIP and to the “laws of Delaware” (or the “laws of the State of Delaware”) or “Delaware law,” including for purposes of Section 11(c) of the Plan;

 

     (f)  Section 11(e) of the Plan shall be deemed to be deleted; and

 

     (g)  the individuals executing this Plan in their capacities as authorized officers of JHT shall be deemed to have executed this Plan in their capacities as authorized officers of JHVIP. 


 

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Plan as of the date first above written.

 

JOHN HANCOCK TRUST,

on behalf of each Acquired Fund

 

 

BY: 

---------------------------------------------------

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

JOHN HANCOCK TRUST,

on behalf of each Acquiring Fund

 

 

BY:  

---------------------------------------------------

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

For purposes of Sections 1(a)(ii) and 9 of this Agreement only:

 

JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC

 

BY:

 ---------------------------------------------------

Name:

Title: