Exhibit b
BY-LAWS
OF
CALAMOS CONVERTIBLE AND HIGH INCOME FUND
(as amended through December 16, 2005)
ARTICLE 1
1.1 Agreement and Declaration of Trust. These By-Laws shall be subject
to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time amended,
supplemented or restated (the "Declaration of Trust") of Calamos Convertible and
High Income Fund (the "Trust"), a Delaware statutory trust established by the
Declaration of Trust.
1.2 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms used herein
have the respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE 2
OFFICES
2.1 Principal Office. The principal office of the Trust shall be
located at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000, or such
other location as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
2.2 Other Offices. The Trust may have offices in such other places
without as well as within the State of Delaware as the Trustees may from time to
time determine.
2.3 Registered Office and Registered Agent. The registered office of
the Trust shall be located in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware or such
other location within the State of Delaware as the Trustees may from time to
time determine. The Board of Trustees shall establish a registered office in the
State of Delaware and shall appoint a registered agent for service of process in
the State of Delaware for the Trust as provided in the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act, 12 Del. C. Section 3807, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE 3
SHAREHOLDERS
3.1 Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust
or a Series or Class thereof shall be held on such date and at such place within
or without the State of Delaware as the Trustees shall designate.
3.2 Special Meetings.
(a) Special meetings of the Shareholders may be called at any
time by the Chairman, the President or the Trustees. Subject to
subsection (c) of this Section 3.2, a special meeting of Shareholders
shall also be called by the Secretary of the Trust upon
the written request of the Shareholders entitled to cast not less than
a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.
(b) Any Shareholder of record seeking to have Shareholders
request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the
Secretary (the "Record Date Request Notice") by registered mail, return
receipt requested, request the Trustees to fix a record date to
determine the Shareholders entitled to request a special meeting (the
"Requested Record Date"). The Record Date Request Notice shall set
forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted
on at it, shall be signed by one or more Shareholders of record as of
the date of signature (or their duly authorized agents), shall bear the
date of signature of each such Shareholder (or other agent) and shall
set forth all information relating to each such Shareholder that must
be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of trustees in an
election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is
otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
Rule 14a-11 thereunder. Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice,
the Trustees may fix a Requested Record Date. The Requested Record Date
shall not precede and shall not be more than ten (10) days after the
close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the
Requested Record Date is adopted by the Trustees. If the Trustees,
within thirty (30) days after the date on which a valid Record Date
Request Notice is received, fail to adopt a resolution fixing the
Requested Record Date and make a public announcement of such Requested
Record Date, the Requested Record Date shall be the close of business
on the 30th day after the first date on which the Record Date Request
Notice is received by the Secretary.
(c) In order for any Shareholder to request a special meeting,
one or more written requests for a special meeting signed by
Shareholders of record (or their duly authorized agents) as of the
Requested Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority (the
"Special Meeting Percentage") of all of the votes entitled to be cast
at such meeting (the "Special Meeting Request") shall be delivered to
the Secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall set forth
the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at
it (which shall be limited to the matters set forth in the Record Date
Request Notice received by the Secretary), shall bear the date of
signature of each such Shareholder (or other agent) signing the Special
Meeting Request, shall set forth the name and address, as they appear
in the Trust's books, of each Shareholder signing such request (or on
whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed) and the class and
number of shares of the Trust which are owned of record and
beneficially by each such Shareholder, shall be sent to the Secretary
by registered mail, return receipt requested, and shall be received by
the Secretary within sixty (60) days after the Request Record Date. Any
requesting Shareholder may revoke his, her or its request for a special
meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.
(d) The Secretary shall inform the requesting Shareholders of
the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice of
meeting (including the Trust's proxy materials). The Secretary shall
not be required to call a special meeting upon Shareholder request and
such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents
required by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3.2, the Secretary
receives
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payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the mailing of any
notice of the meeting.
(e) Except as provided in the next sentence, any special
meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated
by the President, Chairman or Trustees, whoever has called the meeting.
In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the
request of Shareholders (a "Shareholder Requested Meeting"), such
meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated
by the Trustees; PROVIDED, however, that the date of any Shareholder
Requested Meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) days after the
record date for such meeting (the "Meeting Record Date"); and PROVIDED
FURTHER that if the Trustees fail to designate, within thirty (30) days
after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually
received by the Secretary (the "Delivery Date"), a date and time for a
Shareholder Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00
p.m. Central Time on the 90th day after the date the request for such
meeting is actually received by the Trust or, if such 90th day is not a
Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day;
and PROVIDED FURTHER that in the event that the Trustees fail to
designate a place for a Shareholder Requested Meeting within thirty
(30) days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at
the principal office of the Trust. In fixing a date for any special
meeting, the President, Chairman or Trustees may consider such factors
as he, she, or they deem(s) relevant within the good faith exercise of
business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the
matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any
request for a meeting and any plan of the Trustees to call an annual
meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Shareholder Requested
Meeting, if the Trustees fail to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a
date within thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date, then the close of
business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting
Record Date.
(f) If at any time as a result of written revocations of
requests for the special meeting, Shareholders of record (or their duly
authorized agents) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast less
than the Special Meeting Percentage shall have delivered and not
revoked requests for a special meeting, the Secretary may refrain from
mailing the notice of the meeting or, if the notice of the meeting has
been mailed, the Secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any
time before ten (10) days prior to the meeting if the Secretary has
first sent to all other requesting Shareholders written notice of such
revocation and of intention to revoke the notice of the meeting. Any
request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the
Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a
new special meeting.
(g) The Chairman, the President or the Trustees may appoint
regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections
to act as the agent of the Trust for the purpose of promptly performing
a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting
Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the
inspectors to perform such review, no such purported request shall be
deemed to have been delivered to the Secretary until the earlier of (i)
five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Secretary of such purported
request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the
Trust that the valid requests received by the
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Secretary represent at least a majority of the issued and outstanding
shares of stock that would be entitled to vote at such meeting. Nothing
contained in this paragraph (g) shall in any way be construed to
suggest or imply that the Trust or any Shareholder shall not be
entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or
after such five (5) Business Day period, or to take any other action
(including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or
defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of
injunctive relief in such litigation).
3.3 Business Day. For purposes of these By-Laws, "Business Day" shall
mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.
3.4 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Shareholders,
stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the
Trustees by mail or telegraphic or electronic means to each Shareholder at the
Shareholder's address as recorded on the register of the Trust mailed at least
ten (10) days and not more than ninety (90) days before the meeting, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that notice of a meeting need not be given to a Shareholder to whom
such notice need not be given under the proxy rules of the Commission under the
1940 Act and the Exchange Act; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that notice of any
Shareholder Requested Meeting shall be provided in a manner and time consistent
with Section 3.2(e). Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall
be considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held and adjourned
without further notice. No notice need be given to any Shareholder who shall
have failed to inform the Trust of his current address or if a written waiver of
notice, executed before or after the meeting by the Shareholder who shall have
failed to inform the Trust of his current address or if a written waiver of
notice, executed before or after the meeting by the Shareholder or his attorney
thereunto authorized, is filed with the records of the meeting.
3.5 Record Date for Meetings and Other Purposes. Except as provided in
Section 3.2, for the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to
notice of and to vote at any meeting, or to participate in any distribution, or
for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close
the transfer books for such period, not exceeding thirty (30) days, as the
Trustees may determine; or without closing the transfer books the Trustees may
fix a date not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of
Shareholders or distribution or other action as a record date for the
determination of the persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such
purposes, except for dividend payments which shall be governed by the
Declaration of Trust.
3.6 Proxies. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares
entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be
voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the
Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may
direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. A
proxy shall be deemed signed if the Shareholder's name is placed on the proxy,
(whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission, facsimile,
other electronic means or otherwise) by the Shareholder or the Shareholder's
attorney-in-fact. Proxies may be recorded by any electronic, telephonic,
internet or other telecommunication device except as otherwise provided in the
Declaration of Trust. The placing of a Shareholder's name on a proxy pursuant
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to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions pursuant to procedures
reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by the
Shareholder shall constitute execution of the proxy by or on behalf of the
Shareholder. Proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one
or more of the officers of the Trust. Only Shareholders of record shall be
entitled to vote. As determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of
Shareholders, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders each whole Share
shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote
and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.
Without limiting their power to designate otherwise in accordance with the
preceding sentence, the Trustees have established in the Declaration of Trust
that each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it
is entitled by the Declaration of Trust to vote and fractional shares shall be
entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. When any Share is held jointly by
several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy
in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such
meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present
disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect
of such Share. A proxy, including a photographic or similar reproduction thereof
and a telegram, cablegram, wireless or similar transmission thereof, purporting
to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger. If the holder of any such share is a minor or a
person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or the legal control of any
other person as regards the charge or management of such Share, he may vote by
his guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such
vote may be given in person or by proxy. Except as otherwise provided herein or
in the Declaration of Trust or the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C.
Sections 3801 et seq., all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of
proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the
Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Shareholders were shareholders of a
Delaware corporation.
3.7 Inspection of Books. The Trustees shall from time to time determine
whether and to what extent, and at what times and places, and under what
conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Trust or any of them
shall be open to the inspection of the Shareholders; and no Shareholder shall
have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Trust except as
conferred by law or otherwise by the Trustees or by resolution of the
Shareholders.
3.8 Application of This Article. Meetings of Shareholders shall consist
of Shareholders of any Series (or Class thereof) or of all Shareholders, as
determined pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, and this Article 3 shall be
construed accordingly.
3.9 Nominations and Proposals by Shareholders.
(a) Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election as a Trustee
and the proposal of business to be considered by the
Shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of Shareholders
(i) pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at
the direction of the Trustees or (iii) by any Shareholder of
the Trust who was a
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Shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice
provided for in this Section 3.9(a) and at the time of the
annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
3.9(a).
(2) For nominations for election to the Trustees or
other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
by a Shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1)
of this Section 3.9, the Shareholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Trust and
such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for
action by Shareholders. To be timely, a Shareholder's notice
must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive
office of the Trust by not later than the close of business on
the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of
mailing of the notice for the preceding year's annual meeting
nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior
to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice
for the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that the date of the mailing of the notice
for the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than
thirty (30) days from the anniversary date of the mailing of
the notice for the preceding year's annual meeting, notice by
the Shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier
than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date
of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior
to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting
or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement
of the date of mailing of the notice for such meeting is first
made by the Trust. In no event shall the public announcement
of a postponement of the mailing of the notice for such annual
meeting or of an adjournment or postponement of an annual
meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for
the giving of a Shareholder's notice as described above. A
Shareholder's notice to be proper must set forth (i) as to
each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for
election or reelection as a trustee (A) the name, age,
business address and residence address of such person, (B) the
class and number of shares of stock of the Trust that are
beneficially owned or owned of record by such person and (C)
all other information relating to such person that is required
to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of
trustees in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor
provision) under the Exchange Act (including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a
nominee and to serving as a trustee if elected); (ii) as to
any other business that the Shareholder proposes to bring
before the meeting, a description of the business desired to
be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such
business at the meeting and any material interest in such
business of such Shareholder (including any anticipated
benefit to the Shareholder therefrom) and of each beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iii)
as to the Shareholder giving the notice and each beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is
made, (x) the name and address of such Shareholder, as they
appear on the Trust's stock ledger and current name and
address, if different, and of such beneficial owner, and (y)
the class and number of
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shares of stock of the Trust which are owned beneficially and
of record by such Shareholder and such beneficial owner.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence
of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 3.9 to the contrary, in
the event that the number of trustees to be elected to the
Board of Trustees is increased and there is no public
announcement by the Trust of such action or specifying the
size of the increased Trustees at least one hundred (100) days
prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the
notice for the preceding year's annual meeting, a
Shareholder's notice required by this Section 3.9(a) shall
also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees
for any new positions created by such increase, if the notice
is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive
offices of the Trust not later than the close of business on
the 10th day immediately following the day on which such
public announcement is first made by the Trust.
(b) Special Meetings of Shareholders. Only such business shall
be conducted at a special meeting of Shareholders as shall have been
brought before the meeting pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting.
Nominations of persons for election to the Trustees may be made at a
special meeting of Shareholders at which trustees are to be elected (i)
pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction
of the Trustees or (iii) provided that the Trustees have determined
that trustees shall be elected at such special meeting, by any
Shareholder of the Trust who is a Shareholder of record both at the
time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 3.9(b) and at the
time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
3.9(b). In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of Shareholders
for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees, any such Shareholder
may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to
such position as specified in the Trust's notice of meeting, if the
Shareholder's notice containing the information required by paragraph
(a)(2) of this Section 3.9 shall have been delivered to the Secretary
at the principal offices of the Trust not earlier than the close of
business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such
special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and the
nominees proposed by the Trustees to be elected at such meeting. In no
event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of
a special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period
for the giving of a Shareholder's notice as described above.
(c) General. Only such persons who are nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.9 shall be eligible to
serve as trustee, and only such business shall be conducted at a
meeting of Shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.9. The
chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine
whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought
before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.9 and, if
any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with
this Section 3.9, to declare that such nomination or proposal shall be
disregarded.
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For purposes of this Section 3.9, (a) the "date of mailing of
the notice" shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the
solicitation of proxies for election of trustees and (b) "public
announcement" shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release either
transmitted to the principal securities exchange on which Shares of the
Trust's common stock are traded or reported by a recognized news
service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the
Commission.
(d) Compliance With State and Federal Law. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.9, a Shareholder shall also
comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to
the matters set forth in this Section 3.9. Nothing in this Section 3.9
shall be deemed to affect any right of a Shareholder to request
inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Trust to omit a
proposal from, the Trust's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or
any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.
3.10 Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes. Outstanding Shares represented
in person or by proxy (including Shares which abstain or do not vote with
respect to one or more of any proposals presented for Shareholder approval) will
be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting.
Abstentions will be treated as Shares that are present and entitled to vote for
purposes of determining the number of Shares that are present and entitled to
vote with respect to any particular proposal, but will not be counted as a vote
in favor of such proposal. If a broker or nominee holding Shares in "street
name" indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary authority to
vote as to a particular proposal, those Shares will not be considered as present
and entitled to vote with respect to such proposal.
3.11 Action without Meeting. Any action which may be taken by
Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of Outstanding Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by law, the Declaration of Trust or these By-laws) consent to the
action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the
meetings of Shareholders. Such consents shall be treated for all purposes as a
vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
ARTICLE 4
TRUSTEES
4.1 Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their discretion
provide for regular or stated meetings of the Trustees. Notice of regular or
stated meetings need not be given. Meetings of the Trustees other than regular
or stated meetings shall be held whenever called by the President, the Chairman
or by any two of the Trustees, at the time then in office. Notice of the time
and place of each meeting other than regular or stated meetings shall be given
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or Trustee calling
the meeting and shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to each Trustee at least three
(3) days before the meeting, or shall be given by telephone, cable, wireless,
facsimile or other electronic mechanism by which receipt thereof can be
confirmed to each Trustee at his business address, or personally delivered to
him at least one (1) day before the meeting. Such notice may, however, be waived
by any Trustee. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a
written waiver of notice, executed by
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him before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to
any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its
commencement the lack of notice to him. A notice or waiver of notice need not
specify the purpose of any meeting. The Trustees may meet by means of a
telephone conference circuit or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same
time and participation by such means shall be deemed to have been held at a
place designated by the Trustees at the meeting. Participation in a telephone
conference meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees may be
taken by the Trustees without a meeting if a majority of the Trustees then in
office (or such higher number of Trustees as would be required to act on the
matter under the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws or applicable law if a
meeting were held) consent to the action in writing and the written consents are
filed with the records of the Trustees' meetings. Such consents shall be treated
as a vote for all purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all actions of the
Trustees shall be taken in compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act.
4.2 Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the Trustees then in
office shall be present in person at any regular or special meeting of the
Trustees in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such
meeting and (except as otherwise required by law, the Declaration of Trust or
these By-Laws) the act of a majority of the Trustees present at any such
meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be the act of the Trustees. In the
absence of a quorum, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting
from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of an adjourned
meeting need not be given.
4.3 Eligibility to Serve. Each Trustee who is not an interested person
of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, shall retire as a
Trustee as of the end of the calendar year in which the Trustee attains the age
of 72 years.
ARTICLE 5
COMMITTEES
5.1 Executive and Other Committees. The Trustees by vote of a majority
of all the Trustees may elect from their own number an Executive Committee to
consist of not less than two members to hold office at the pleasure of the
Trustees, which shall have the power to conduct the current and ordinary
business of the Trust while the Trustees are not in session, including the
purchase and sale of securities and the designation of securities to be
delivered upon redemption of Shares of the Trust or a Series thereof, and such
other powers of the Trustees as the Trustees may delegate to them, from time to
time, except those powers which by law, the Declaration of Trust or these
By-Laws they are prohibited from delegating. The Trustees may also elect from
their own number other Committees from time to time; the number composing such
Committees, the powers conferred upon the same (subject to the same limitations
as with respect to the Executive Committee) and the term of membership on such
Committees to be determined by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate a
chairman of any such Committee. In the absence of such designation the Committee
may elect its own Chairman.
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5.2 Other Committees. The Trustees by vote of a majority of all the
Trustees may elect from their own number other Committees from time to time to
consist of one or more Trustees to hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees,
which Committees shall have such power and duties as the Board of Trustees may,
by resolution, prescribe, subject to the same limitations as with respect to the
Executive Committee. The terms of membership on such Committees and the
termination or circumstances giving rise to the termination of such Committees
shall be determined by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate a chairman of
any such Committee. In the absence of such designation the Committee may elect
its own chairman.
5.3 Meetings Quorum and Manner of Acting. The Trustees may (1) provide
for stated meetings of any Committee, (2) specify the manner of calling and
notice required for special meetings of any Committee, (3) specify the number of
members of a Committee required to constitute a quorum and the number of members
of a Committee required to exercise specified powers delegated to such
Committee, (4) authorize the making of decisions to exercise specified powers by
written assent of the requisite number of members of a Committee without a
meeting, and (5) authorize the members of a Committee to meet by means of a
telephone conference circuit. Unless otherwise provided by the Trustees, (1) any
Committee meeting may be held by conference telephone, teleconference or other
electronic media or communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can communicate with each other and (2) each
Committee may make decisions to exercise specified powers by written assent of
the requisite number of members of a Committee without a meeting. Each Committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and records of decisions taken
without a meeting and cause them to be recorded in a book designated for that
purpose and kept at the principal executive office of the Trust.
ARTICLE 6
OFFICERS
6.1 General Provisions. The officers of the Trust shall be a President,
a Treasurer and a Secretary, who shall be elected by the Trustees. The Trustees
may elect such other officers or agents as the business of the Trust may
require, including a Chairman of the Board ("Chairman") one or more Vice
Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, and one or more Assistant
Treasurers. The Trustees may delegate to any officer or Committee the power to
appoint any subordinate officers or agents.
6.2 Term of Office and Qualifications. Except as otherwise provided by
law, the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws, the President, the Treasurer,
the Secretary and all other officers shall each hold office at the pleasure of
the Board of Trustees or until his successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified. The Secretary and the Treasurer may be the same person. A Vice
President and the Treasurer or a Vice President and the Secretary may be the
same person, but the offices of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall
not be held by the same person. The President shall hold no other office,
however, the President may also serve as Chairman. The Chairman, if there be
one, shall be a Trustee and may but need not be a shareholder. Except as above
provided, any two offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may be but
none need be a Trustee or Shareholder.
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6.3 Removal. The Trustees, at any regular or special meeting of the
Trustees, may remove any officer with or without cause, by a vote of a majority
of the Trustees then in office. Any officer or agent appointed by an officer or
committee may be removed with or without cause by such appointing officer or
committee.
6.4 Powers and Duties of the Chairman. The Trustees may, but need not,
appoint from among their number a Chairman. When present the Chairman shall
preside at the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees. The Chairman
may call meetings of the Trustees and of any committee thereof whenever he deems
it necessary. The Chairman shall have, with the President, general supervision
over the business and policies of the Trust, subject to the limitations imposed
upon the President, as provided in Section 6.5.
6.5 Powers and Duties of the President. Subject to the powers of the
Chairman, if there be such an officer, the President shall be the principal
executive officer of the Trust. The President may call meetings of the Trustees
and of any Committee thereof when he deems it necessary and, in the absence of
the Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and the
Trustees. Subject to the control of the Trustees, the Chairman and any
Committees of the Trustees, within their respective spheres, as provided by the
Trustees, the President shall at all times exercise a general supervision and
direction over the affairs of the Trust. The President shall have the power to
employ attorneys and counsel for the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, and
other advisers and agents for the Trust and to employ such subordinate officers,
agents, clerks and employees as the President may find necessary to transact the
business of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof. The President shall also
have the power to grant, issue, execute or sign such powers of attorney, proxies
or other documents as may be deemed advisable or necessary in furtherance of the
interests of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof. The President shall have
such other powers and duties, as from time to time may be conferred upon or
assigned to him by the Trustees.
6.6 Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents. In the absence or disability
of the President, the Vice Presidents, and in the order designated by the
Trustees, shall perform all the duties and may exercise any of the powers of the
President, subject to the control of the Trustees. Each Vice President shall
perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by
the Trustees or the President. Any Vice President may be designated the chief
financial officer of the Trust.
6.7 Powers and Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the
chief accounting officer of the Trust. The Treasurer shall deliver all funds of
the Trust or any Series or Class thereof which may come into the Treasurer's
hands to such Custodian as the Trustees may employ. The Treasurer shall render a
statement of condition of the finances of the Trust or any Series or Class
thereof to the Trustees as often as the Trustees shall require the same and the
Treasurer shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of a
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the
Treasurer by the Trustees. The Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful
discharge of the Treasurer's duties, if required so to do by the Trustees, in
such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Trustees shall require. The
Treasurer may be designated the chief financial officer of the Trust.
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6.8 Powers and Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all
meetings of the Trustees and Shareholders; the Secretary shall keep the minutes
of all meetings of the Trustees and of the Shareholders in proper books provided
for that purpose; the Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Trust; the
Secretary shall have charge of the Share transfer books, lists and records
unless the same are in the charge of a transfer agent. The Secretary shall
attend to the giving and serving of all notices by the Trust in accordance with
the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law; and subject to these
By-Laws, the Secretary shall in general perform all duties incident to the
office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to the Secretary by the Trustees.
6.9 Powers and Duties of Assistant Treasurers. In the absence or
disability of the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer designated by the Trustees
shall perform all the duties, and may exercise any of the powers, of the
Treasurer. Each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other duties as from time
to time may be assigned to such Assistant Treasurer by the Trustees. Each
Assistant Treasurer performing the duties and exercising the powers of the
Treasurer, if any, shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties,
if required so to do by the Trustees, in such sum and with such surety or
sureties as the Trustees shall require.
6.10 Powers and Duties of Assistant Secretaries. In the absence or
disability of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary designated by the Trustees
shall perform all the duties, and may exercise any of the powers, of the
Secretary. Each Assistant Secretary shall perform such other duties as from time
to time may be assigned to such officer by the Trustees.
6.11 Compensation of Officers and Trustees and Members of the Advisory
Board. Subject to any applicable provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the
compensation of the officers and Trustees and members of any advisory board
shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees or, in the case of officers, by
any Committee or officer upon whom such power may be conferred by the Trustees.
No officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation as such officer
by reason of the fact that the officer is also a Trustee.
ARTICLE 7
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such date as the Trustees shall from
time to time determine.
ARTICLE 8
SEAL
The Trustees may, but shall not be required to, adopt a seal which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from time
to time prescribe.
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ARTICLE 9
SUFFICIENCY AND WAIVERS OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given by law, the Declaration of
Trust or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or
persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated
therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. A notice shall be deemed to have
been sent by mail, telegraph or cable when it has been delivered to a
representative of any company holding itself out as capable of sending notice by
such means with instructions that it be so sent, or at the time of confirmation
if sent by wireless, facsimile or other electronic means.
ARTICLE 10
CERTIFICATES
If so determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees, each Shareholder of the
Trust shall be entitled upon request to have a certificate or certificates, in
such form as shall be approved by the Board of Trustees, representing the number
of Shares of the Trust owned by the Shareholder, provided, however, that
certificates for fractional shares will not be delivered in any case.
Certificates representing Shares shall be signed by or in the name of the Trust
by the President or a Vice President or the Chairman and by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Any or all of
the signatures may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar
before such certificate shall be issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the
same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still in the
office at the date of issue.
ARTICLE 11
AMENDMENT
These By-Laws, or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed, or new
By-Laws may be adopted by the Trustees, provided, however, that no By-law may be
amended, adopted or repealed by the Trustees if such amendment, adoption or
repeal requires, pursuant to law, the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws, a
vote of the Shareholders.
END OF BY-LAWS
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