0000891554-01-505055.txt : 20011009 0000891554-01-505055.hdr.sgml : 20011009 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000891554-01-505055 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 485BPOS PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20010925 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20010925 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TIP FUNDS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001006783 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 485BPOS SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-64502 FILM NUMBER: 1744515 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: CT CORP STREET 2: 2 OLIVER STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 530 E SWEDESFORD ROAD CITY: WAYNE STATE: PA ZIP: 19087-1693 485BPOS 1 d26807_485bpos.txt AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 File No. 333-64502 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-14 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/ POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TIP FUNDS (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) c/o The CT Corporation System 2 Oliver Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code) Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code (610) 251-0268 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) JOHN H. GRADY, JR. TURNER INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC. 1235 WESTLAKES DR., SUITE 350 BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA 19312-2414 Copies to: JAMES W. JENNINGS, ESQUIRE W. JOHN MCGUIRE, ESQUIRE MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP 1701 MARKET STREET 1800 M STREET NW PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19103 WASHINGTON, DC 20036 It is proposed that this filing will become effective immediately upon filing, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485. No filing fee is required because an indefinite number of shares have previously been registered pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-64502) is being filed solely for the purpose of filing Exhibit 4, the Plan of Reorganization, and Exhibit 12, the Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as to tax matters and consequences. The Cross-Reference sheet, the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and the Statement of Additional Information along with its required attachments are herein incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed on July 3, 2001 (Accession No. 0001135428-01-500090). TIP FUNDS REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FORM N-14 PART C OTHER INFORMATION Item 15. INDEMNIFICATION. Article VIII of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit 1 to the Registration Statement is incorporated by reference. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues. Item 16. Exhibits (1)(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated January 26, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on February 1, 1996. (1)(b) Certificate of Amendment of Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 28, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on April 10, 1997. (2) By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on February 1, 1996. (3) Inapplicable. (4) Form of Plan of Reorganization dated September 13, 2001, is filed herewith. (5) Inapplicable. (6)(a) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (6)(b) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clover Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on October 15, 1997. (6)(c) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Penn Capital Management Company, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(d) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(e) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc., and Clover Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(f) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc. and Penn Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(g) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc. and Chartwell Investment Partners, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (6)(h) Amended Schedule to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit d(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (7)(a) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (7)(b) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and CCM Securities Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6(b) of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 23, 1998. (8) Inapplicable. (9) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and CoreStates Bank, N.A., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (10) Inapplicable. (11) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP that shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed July 3, 2001. (12) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as to tax matters and consequences is filed herewith. (13)(a) Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Management Corporation (formerly, SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (13)(b) Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Management Corporation (formerly, SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (13)(c) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(b) of the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 23, 1998. (13)(d) Amended Schedule to the Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investment Management Corporation (formerly SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit h(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (14) Consent of Independent Auditors, Ernst & Young, is incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed on July 3, 2001. (15) Inapplicable. (16) Inapplicable. (17)(a) Prospectus for TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund dated January 31, 2001 as revised May 1, 2001 and July 3, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the TIP Funds 497(c) filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500054] (17)(b) Statement of Additional Information for TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund dated January 31, 2001 as revised May 1, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the TIP Funds 497(c) filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500054]. (17)(c) Audited Financial Statements dated September 30, 2000 for the TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund are incorporated herein by reference to Form N-30D filed on December 5, 2000 [SEC Accession Number 0001082416-00-000161]. (17)(d) Semi-Annual Unaudited Financial Statements dated March 31, 2001 for the TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund are incorporated herein by reference to the Form N-30D filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500053]. Item 17. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form. The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them. The Registrant undertakes to file, by post-effective amendment, the opinion of counsel as to certain tax matters, within a reasonable time after execution of such opinion. SIGNATURES As required by the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on behalf of the Registrant in the city of Oaks, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 25th day of September, 2001. TIP FUNDS Registrant By: /S/ STEPHEN J. KNEELEY -------------------------- Stephen J. Kneeley President Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity on the dates indicated. * Trustee September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- Robert E. Turner * Trustee September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- Janet F. Sansone * Trustee September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- Alfred C. Salvato * Trustee September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- John T. Wholihan /S/ STEPHEN J. KNEELEY President and Chief September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- Executive Officer Stephen J. Kneeley /S/ PETER GOLDEN Controller and Chief September 25, 2001 ----------------------------- Financial Officer Peter Golden By: /S/ STEPHEN J. KNEELEY September 25, 2001 ------------------------ *Stephen J. Kneeley Attorney-in-Fact Exhibit Index (1)(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated January 26, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on February 1, 1996. (1)(b) Certificate of Amendment of Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 28, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on April 10, 1997. (2) By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on February 1, 1996. (3) Inapplicable. (4) Plan of Reorganization dated September 13, 2001, is filed herewith. (5) Inapplicable. (6)(a) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (6)(b) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clover Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on October 15, 1997. (6)(c) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Penn Capital Management Company, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(d) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(e) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc., and Clover Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(f) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc. and Penn Capital Management, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on November 17, 1998. (6)(g) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Turner Investment Partners, Inc. and Chartwell Investment Partners, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit d(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (6)(h) Amended Schedule to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Turner Investment Partners, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit d(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (7)(a) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (7)(b) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and CCM Securities Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6(b) of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 23, 1998. (8) Inapplicable. (9) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and CoreStates Bank, N.A., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (10) Inapplicable. (11) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP that shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 11 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed on July 3, 2001. (12) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as to tax matters and consequences is filed herewith. (13)(a) Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Management Corporation (formerly, SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (13)(b) Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments Management Corporation (formerly, SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 28, 1997. (13)(c) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 9(b) of the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on January 23, 1998. (13)(d) Amended Schedule to the Administration Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investment Management Corporation (formerly SEI Financial Management Corporation), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit h(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on March 31, 1999. (14) Consent of Independent Auditors, Ernst & Young, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed on July 3, 2001. (15) Inapplicable. (16) Inapplicable. (17)(a) Prospectus for TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund dated January 31, 2001 as revised May 1, 2001 and July 3, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the TIP Funds 497(c) filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500054] (17)(b) Statement of Additional Information for TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund dated January 31, 2001 as revised and July 3, 2001 May 1, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the TIP Funds 497(c) filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500054]. (17)(c) Audited Financial Statements dated September 30, 2000 for the TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund are incorporated herein by reference to Form N-30D filed on December 5, 2000 [SEC Accession Number 0001082416-00-000161]. (17)(d) Semi-Annual Unaudited Financial Statements dated March 31, 2001 for the TIP Funds Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund are incorporated herein by reference to the Form N-30D filed on June 1, 2001 [SEC Accession Number 0001135428-01-500053]. EX-4 4 d26807_ex4.txt Exhibit (4) PLAN OF REORGANIZATION THIS PLAN OF REORGANIZATION is dated as of September 13, 2001 ("Plan"), and has been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the TIP Funds, a Massachusetts business trust ("Trust") to provide for the reorganization of its Turner Wireless & Communications Fund ("Selling Fund") into its Turner B2B E-Commerce Fund ("Acquiring Fund"). The Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund are sometimes referred to collectively, as the "Funds" and individually, as a "Fund." PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS 1. The Selling Fund and the Acquiring Fund are each series of the Trust, which is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). 2. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has determined that the Reorganization (as defined below) is in the best interests of each Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of each Fund would not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization. 3. This Plan is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"). PROVISIONS 1. PLAN OF REORGANIZATION. At the Effective Time (as that term is defined in Section 5 herein), the Selling Fund will assign, deliver and otherwise transfer all of its assets and good and marketable title to the assets, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and adverse claims except as provided in this Plan, and assign all liabilities to the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund shall acquire all these assets, and shall assume all these liabilities of the Selling Fund, in exchange for the issuance of shares (both full and fractional) of the Acquiring Fund to the shareholders of the Selling Fund, equivalent in value to the shares of the Selling Fund outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. These transactions are collectively referred to as the "Reorganization." The shares of the Acquiring Fund that are issued in exchange for the assets of the Selling Fund are referred to as the "Acquiring Fund Shares," and the shares of the Selling Fund that are held by the holders of such shares at the Effective Time are referred to as the "Selling Fund Shares." The assets and stated liabilities of the Selling Fund shall be exclusively assigned to and assumed by the Acquiring Fund. All debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the Selling Fund, to the extent that they exist at or after the Effective Time, shall after the Effective Time, attach to the Acquiring Fund and may be enforced against the Acquiring Fund to the same extent as if the same had been incurred by the Acquiring Fund. 2. TRANSFER OF ASSETS. The assets of the Selling Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall include, without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, receivables (including interest and dividends receivable), goodwill and intangible property, and deferred or prepaid expenses as set forth in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as any claims or rights of action or rights to register shares under applicable securities laws, any books or records of the Selling Fund and other property owned by the Selling Fund at the Effective Time. 3. LIQUIDATION OF THE SELLING FUND. At the Effective Time, the Selling Fund will liquidate. Each Selling Fund shareholder shall also have the right to receive any dividends or other distributions that were declared prior to the Effective Time, but unpaid at that time, with respect to the Selling Fund Shares that are held by such Selling Fund shareholders at the Effective Time. Contemporaneous with the liquidation of the Selling Fund, each shareholder of the Selling Fund will be issued a number of Acquiring Fund Shares equal in value to the Selling Fund Shares held by that shareholder. This liquidation will be accompanied by the establishment of an open account on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the name of each shareholder of record of the Selling Fund and representing the respective number of Acquiring Fund Shares due that shareholder. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Trust shall take all steps necessary and proper to effect a complete termination of the Selling Fund. 4. CONDITIONS OF THE REORGANIZATION. Consummation of this Plan is subject to the following conditions: (a) SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON REORGANIZATION. The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganization (i) have been duly authorized and upon consummation of the Reorganization will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and (ii) will be duly registered in conformity with applicable federal and state securities laws, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund shall have any option, warrant, or preemptive right of subscription or purchase with respect to the Acquiring Fund's Shares. (b) MARKETABLE TITLE TO ASSETS. The Selling Fund will have, at the Effective Time, good and marketable title to, and full right, power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver, the assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund. Upon delivery and payment for these assets, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable title to the assets without restriction on the transfer of the assets free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and adverse claims. (c) TAXES. As of the Effective Time, all federal and other tax returns and reports of each Fund required by law to have been filed shall have been filed, and all other taxes shall have been paid so far as due, or provision shall have been made for the payment of them, and to the best of the Trust's knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any of those returns. (d) OPINION OF COUNSEL. The Trust shall have received an opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP based upon customary representations and assumptions, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trust and dated as of the Effective Time, to the effect that: (1) the shares of the Acquiring Fund issued and outstanding at the Effective Time are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust; (2) the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Selling Fund, as provided for by this Plan, are duly authorized and upon delivery pursuant to the terms of this Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable by the Trust, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any option, warrant or preemptive right to the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and otherwise to such counsel's knowledge; (3) the Selling Fund Shares issued and outstanding, at the Effective Time are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Selling Fund; (4) the Acquiring Fund and Selling Fund are each duly organized and validly existing series of the Trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (5) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Plan will not, violate any material agreement known to such counsel to which the Trust, on behalf of either the Acquiring Fund or Selling Fund, is a party or by which it is bound; (6) to the knowledge of such counsel no consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated by this Plan, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), state securities laws, the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations under those statutes and such as may be required under state securities laws, rules and regulations; and (7) the Acquiring Fund and the Selling Fund are each registered as a series of an investment company under the 1940 Act and such registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an investment company or series thereof under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect. Such opinion: (a) shall state that while such counsel has not verified, and are not passing upon and do not assume responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of any portion of the Form N-14 Registration Statement relating to the Reorganization or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, they have generally reviewed and discussed certain information included therein with respect to the Selling Fund with certain officers of the Trust and that in the course of such review and discussion no facts came to the attention of such counsel which caused them to believe that, on the respective effective or clearance dates of the Form N-14 Registration Statement, and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, the Form N-14 Registration Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (b) shall state that such counsel does not express any opinion or belief as to the financial statements, other financial data, statistical data, or any information relating to the Selling Fund contained or incorporated by reference in the Form N-14 Registration Statement; and (c) shall state that such opinion is solely for the benefit of the Trust and its Board of Trustees and officers. In giving such opinion, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP may rely upon officers' certificates and certificates of public officials. (e) TAX OPINION. The Trust shall have received on or before the Effective Time an opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP satisfactory to the Trust, based upon customary representations and assumptions, substantially to the effect that the Reorganization, as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, will have the following federal income tax consequences for Selling Fund shareholders, the Selling Fund, and the Acquiring Fund: (1) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Selling Fund upon the transfer of its assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the Selling Fund's stated liabilities; (2) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund on its receipt of the Selling Fund's assets in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the Selling Fund's liabilities; (3) The basis of the Selling Fund's assets in the Acquiring Fund's hands will be the same as the basis of those assets in the Selling Fund's hands immediately before the Reorganization; (4) The Acquiring Fund's holding period for the assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund by the Selling Fund will include the holding period of those assets in the Selling Fund's hands immediately before the Reorganization; (5) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Selling Fund on the issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares to the Selling Fund's shareholders in exchange for Selling Fund Shares; (6) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Selling Fund's shareholders as a result of the Selling Fund's distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares to the Selling Fund's shareholders in exchange for the Selling Fund's shareholders' Selling Fund Shares; (7) The basis of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Selling Fund's shareholders will be the same as the adjusted basis of that Selling Fund's shareholders' Selling Fund Shares surrendered in exchange therefor; and (8) The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the Selling Fund's shareholders will include the Selling Fund's shareholders' holding period for the Selling Fund's shareholders' Selling Fund Shares surrendered in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares, provided that the Selling Fund Shares were held as capital assets on the date of the Reorganization. (f) SHAREHOLDER MEETING. This Plan and the Reorganization contemplated by this Plan shall have been adopted by at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Selling Fund entitled to vote at an annual or special meeting of shareholders. (g) BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING. The Board of Trustees of the Trust, at a meeting duly called for such purpose, shall have authorized the issuance by the Acquiring Fund of Acquiring Fund Shares at the Effective Time in exchange for the assets of the Selling Fund pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Plan. (h) TAX TREATMENT. The Trust will not take any action or cause any action to be taken that is inconsistent with the treatment of the Reorganization as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or results in the failure of the transaction to qualify as a reorganization with the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Trust will take such action, or cause such action to be taken, as is reasonably necessary to enable Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP to deliver the tax opinion contemplated in this Plan. 5. EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE REORGANIZATION. The exchange of the Selling Fund's assets for the corresponding issuance Acquiring Fund Shares shall be effective at the close of business on September 14, 2001, or at such other time and date as fixed by the Board of Trustees or any duly authorized officer of the Trust ("Effective Time"). 6. TERMINATION. This Plan and the transactions contemplated by this Plan may be terminated and abandoned by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or at the discretion of any duly authorized officer of the Trust, at any time prior to the Effective Time, if circumstances should develop that, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees or such officer, make proceeding with the Plan inadvisable. In the event of any such termination, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund, the Selling Fund or the Trust, or the Trust's Board of Trustees or officers. 7. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. This Plan may be amended, modified or supplemented at any time (to the fullest extent permitted by law) upon authorization by the Board of Trustees, with or without shareholder approval; PROVIDED, THAT no amendment may have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number or value of Acquiring Fund Shares to be paid to the Selling Fund's shareholders under this Plan to the detriment of the Selling Fund's shareholders without further shareholder approval. The Board of Trustees or any duly authorized officer of the Trust, may waive any condition to the consummation of this Plan if, in its or such officer's judgment, such waiver will not have a material adverse effect on the interests of the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund or the shareholders of the Selling Fund. 8. FEES AND EXPENSES. Each Fund shall be solely liable for its own expenses incurred in connection with entering into and carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Plan, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. 9. GOVERNING LAW. This Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EX-12 5 d26807_ex12.txt 1701 Market Street MORGAN, LEWIS Philadelphia, PA, 19103-2921 & BOCKIUS LLP 215-963-5000 C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W Fax: 215-963-5299 September 21, 2001 Board of Trustees TIP Funds c/o Turner Investment Partners, Inc. 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 350 Berwyn, Pennsylvania Re: Plan of Reorganization, dated as of September 13, 2001 (the "Plan"), of TIP Funds Inc., a Massachusetts business trust, to provide for the reorganization of its Turner Wireless & Communications Fund (the "Target Fund") into its Turner New Enterprise Fund (formerly the B2B E-Commerce Fund) (the "Acquiring Fund") Ladies and Gentlemen: You have requested our opinion as to certain federal income tax consequences of the reorganization of the Target Fund which will consist of (i) the transfer of all of the assets of the Target Fund to the Acquiring Fund, in exchange solely for shares of the Acquiring Fund (collectively, the "Acquiring Fund Shares"), (ii) the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all liabilities of the Target Fund, and (iii) the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Target Fund in complete liquidation of the Target Fund, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan (the "Reorganization"). In rendering our opinion, we have reviewed and relied upon (a) the Plan, (b) the proxy materials provided to shareholders of the Target Fund in connection with the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Target Fund held on September 13, 2001, (c) certain representations concerning the Reorganization made to us by the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund in a letter dated September 21, 2001(the "Representation Letter"), (d) all other documents, financial and other reports and corporate minutes which we deemed relevant or appropriate, and (e) such statutes, regulations, rulings and decisions as we deemed material to the rendition of this opinion. All terms used in this letter, unless otherwise defined, are used as defined in the Plan. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed that the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund at the Effective Time of the Reorganization each satisfy, and following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will continue to satisfy, the requirements of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification as a regulated investment company ("RIC"). Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Treasury under Section 1276(d) of the Code, certain transfers of market discount bonds will be excepted from the requirement that accrued market discount be recognized on disposition of a market discount bond under Section 1276(a) of the Code. Such regulations are to provide, in part, that accrued market discount will not be included in income if no gain is recognized under Section 361(a) of the Code where a bond is transferred in an exchange qualifying as a tax-free reorganization. As of the date hereof, the Secretary has not issued any regulations under Section 1276 of the Code. Based on the foregoing and provided the Reorganization is carried out in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Plan, and the Representation Letter, it is our opinion that: 1. The Reorganization will constitute a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund will each be a "party to the reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. 2. No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Target Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Target Fund pursuant to Section 1032(a) of the Code. 3. No gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund upon the transfer of all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Target Fund or upon the distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares to shareholders of the Target Fund pursuant to Sections 361(a) and (c) and 357(a) of the Code. We express no opinion as to whether any accrued market discount will be required to be recognized as ordinary income pursuant to Section 1276 of the Code. 4. No gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the Target Fund upon the exchange of their shares of the Target Fund for Acquiring Fund Shares (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled) pursuant to Section 354(a) of the Code. 5. The aggregate tax basis of Acquiring Fund Shares received by each shareholder of the Target Fund (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled) will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Target Fund Shares exchanged therefor pursuant to Section 358(a)(1) of the Code. 6. The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by the shareholders of the Target Fund (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled) will include the holding period of the Target Fund Shares surrendered in exchange therefor, provided that the Target Fund Shares were held as a capital asset at the Effective Time of the Reorganization, pursuant to Section 1223(1) of the Code. 7. The tax basis of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to the Target Fund immediately prior to the exchange pursuant to Section 362(b) of the Code. 8. The holding period of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which such assets were held by the Target Fund pursuant to Section 1223(2) of the Code. 9. The Acquiring Fund will succeed to and take into account as of the date of the transfer (as defined in Section 1.381(b)-1(b) of the Income Tax Regulations) the items of the Target Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381(b) and (c), 382, 383 and 384 of the Code. This opinion letter expresses our views only as to U.S. federal income tax laws in effect as of the date hereof. It represents our best legal judgment as to the matters addressed herein, but is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the opinions and analysis expressed herein, if contested, would be sustained by a court. Our opinion is based upon the Code, the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the present position of the Internal Revenue Service as set forth in published revenue rulings and revenue procedures, present administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service, and existing judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. We do not undertake to make any continuing analysis of the facts or relevant law following the date of this letter. Our opinion is conditioned upon the performance by the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund of their undertakings in the Plan and the Representation Letter. This opinion is being rendered to the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund and may be relied upon only by the Funds and their Board of Trustees and shareholders. Very truly yours, /s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP