SAI is an Urban Corporation organized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ("ANCSA"). ANCSA, as amended, authorizes the conveyance of assets by a Native corporation to a settlement trust.
SAFE's voting trust units were issued to SAI's shareholders in direct proportion to their shares of voting common stock. Nonvoting trust units were issued to any person who had acquired SAI's shares and who is not a "Native" or a "Descendant of a Native" within the meaning of ANCSA in direct proportion to their shares of nonvoting common stock. The trust units are not generally transferable. Currently there are 185,200 trust units held by over 2,800 unit holders.
The Settlement Trust Agreement requires that 75% of the estimated net cash income, as defined, be distributed to the unit holders semi-annually. Distributions are pro rata based on the number of trust units owned.
After the fifteenth anniversary of SAFE, the trustees may modify the terms of the trust agreement. The modifications may include changing the percentage of net cash income that is distributed, modifying the principal distribution provisions or even terminating SAFE and distributing all principal and accrued income to the beneficiaries.