LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, AND SHAREHOLDERS A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the respective Fund.
Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust or any Series thereof is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or for any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which a contract of the character described in this Article III or for services as Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization with which a contract of the character described in Sections 1, 2, 3 or 4 of this Article III or for services as Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made also has any one or more of such contracts with one or more other partnerships, corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
Delegation by Trustees Subject only to any limitations required by federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees may delegate any and all powers and authority hereunder as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees, any committee composed of Trustees and other persons and any committee composed only of persons other than Trustees and to any agent, independent contractor or employee of the Trust or to any custodian, administrator, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Manager, investment advisor or sub-advisor, Principal Underwriter or other service provider, provided that such delegation of power or authority by the Trustees shall not cause any Trustee to cease to be a Trustee of the Trust or cause such person, officer, agent, employee, custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Manager, Principal Underwriter or other service provider to whom any power or authority has been delegated to be a Trustee of the Trust. The reference in this Declaration of Trust to the right of the Trustees to, or circumstances under which they may, delegate any power or authority, or the reference in this Declaration of Trust to the authorized agents of the Trustees or any other Person to whom any power or authority has been or may be delegated pursuant to any specific provision of this Declaration of Trust, shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to delegate any other power or authority under this Declaration of Trust to any Person, subject only to any limitations under federal law including the 1940 Act.
Action by the Trustees and Committees Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time within or without the State of Delaware upon the call of the Chairman, if any, the Vice Chairman, if any, the President, the Principal Executive Officer, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or any two Trustees. No annual meeting of Trustees shall be required.
(a) Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-laws or by resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given not later than 48 hours preceding the meeting by United States mail or by electronic mail or other electronic transmission to each Trustee at his residence or business address or email address as set forth in the records of the Trust or otherwise given personally not less than 24 hours before the meeting but may be waived in writing, including by electronic mail, by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.
(b) A quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be one third of the total number of Trustees, but no less than two Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Trust Instrument or otherwise required by the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees, which written consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Trustees. Written consent may be evidenced by electronic mail or other electronic transmission from the Trustee giving such consent. If there be less than a quorum present at any meeting of the Trustees, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum shall have been obtained.
(c) Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall be two or more of the members thereof, unless the Trustees shall provide otherwise or if the committee consists of only one member. Unless provided otherwise in this Trust Instrument, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the members, which written consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee. Written consent may be evidenced by electronic mail or other electronic transmission from the Trustee giving such consent.
(d) With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons of the Trust or are otherwise interested in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section 4.3 and shall be entitled to vote to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
(e) All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, unless the 1940 Act specifically requires the Trustees to act “in person,” in which case such term shall be construed consistent with Commission or staff releases or interpretations.
Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc Subject to the limitations, if applicable, hereinafter set forth in this Section 4, the Trust shall indemnify (from the assets of one or more Series to which the conduct in question relates) each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents (including Persons who serve at the Trust's request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter, together with such Person's heirs, executors, administrators or personal representative, referred to as a "Covered Person")) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants' and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person's action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; or (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person's office; and (iii) for a criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful (the conduct described in (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to hereafter as "Disabling Conduct"). A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of the Trustees who are neither "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act nor parties to the proceeding (the "Disinterested Trustees"), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants' and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by one or more Series to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to such Series if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VII and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Trustees and Officers as Shareholders Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if such person were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm or company in which such person invested, subject to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares.
Reliance by Trustee Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel, auditors or other experts to be selected by it, including firms with which the Trustee may be an affiliate, and the advice or opinion of such counsel, accountants, auditors or other experts shall be full and complete protection to the Trustee, the employees and the agents of the Trustee in respect of any action taken or omitted or suffered by them in good faith and in reliance on, or in accordance with, such advice or opinion.
(c) Persons dealing with the Trustee shall look only to the Trust Assets to satisfy any liability relating to the Trust Assets incurred by the Trustee to such Person in carrying out the terms of this Trust, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to satisfy any such liability.
(d) As far as practicable and except as expressly permitted above, the Trustee shall cause any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust to include a reference to this Agreement and to provide that neither the Beneficiaries, the Trustee nor their agents shall be liable thereunder and that the other parties to such instrument shall look solely to the Trust Assets for the payment of any claim thereunder or the performance thereof; provided, however, that the omission of such provision from any such instrument shall not render the Beneficiaries, the Trustee, or their agents liable, nor shall the Trustee be liable to anyone for such omission.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
Separate Trustees and Co-Trustees The Trustee shall have the power from time to time to appoint one or more persons or corporations to act either as co-trustees jointly with the Trustee, or as separate trustees, for the purpose of holding title to, foreclosing or otherwise taking action with respect to any Mortgage Loan outside the state where the Trustee has its principal place of business, where such separate trustee or co-trustee is necessary or advisable (or the Trustee is advised by the Master Servicer that such separate trustee or co-trustee is necessary or advisable) under the laws of any state in which a Mortgaged Property is located or for the purpose of otherwise conforming to any legal requirement, restriction or condition in any state in which a Mortgaged Property is located or in any state in which any portion of the Trust Estate is located. The Master Servicer shall advise the Trustee when, in its good faith opinion, a separate trustee or co-trustee is necessary or advisable as aforesaid. The separate trustees or co-trustees so appointed shall be trustees for the benefit of all of the Certificateholders and shall have such powers, rights and remedies as shall be specified in the instrument of appointment; provided, however, that no such appointment shall, or shall be deemed to, constitute the appointee an agent of the Trustee. The Seller and the Master Servicer shall join in any such appointment, but such joining shall not be necessary for the effectiveness of such appointment. Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:
(i) all powers, duties, obligations and rights conferred upon the Trustee, in respect of the receipt, custody and payment of moneys shall be exercised solely by the Trustee;
(ii) all other rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed (whether as Trustee hereunder or as successor to the Master Servicer hereunder) the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the Trust Estate or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed by such separate trustee or co-trustee;
(iii) no separate trustee or co-trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other separate trustee or co-trustee hereunder; and
(iv) the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee so appointed by it, if such resignation or removal does not violate the other terms of this Agreement. Any notice, request or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee, co-trustee, or custodian shall refer to this Agreement and the conditions of this Article. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Trustee, or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Agreement, specifically including every provision of this Agreement relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee. Every such instrument shall be furnished to the Trustee. Any separate trustee, co-trustee, or custodian may, at any time, constitute the Trustee, its agent or attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee. No separate trustee or co-trustee hereunder shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 8.07 hereunder and no notice to Certificateholders of the appointment thereof shall be required under Section 8.09 hereof. The Trustee agrees to instruct its co-trustees, if any, to the extent necessary to fulfill such entity's obligations hereunder. The Master Servicer shall pay the reasonable compensation of the co-trustees to the extent, and in accordance with the standards, specified in Section 8.06 hereof.
Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Shareholders The Adviser acknowledges the following limitation of liability:
