DeGreen Emerging Market Managers Fund AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST Dated as of July 30, 2008
Exhibit 2(a)(3)
XxXxxxx Emerging Market Managers Fund
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Dated as of July 30, 2008
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of July
30, 2008, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares issued hereunder as hereinafter
provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust is a Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to an
Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 10, 2008 (the “Initial Declaration”) and the
Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on April 10, 2008;
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth
more particularly hereinafter;
WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its
Shares all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into
their hands as Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter
set forth;
WHEREAS, this Declaration amends and restates the Initial Declaration in
its entirety; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust shall constitute a
statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute
the governing instrument of such statutory trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash,
securities and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees
hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for
the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as
hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
THE TRUST
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the “XxXxxxx
Emerging Market Managers Fund” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that
name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine; provided that the Trustees
may, without Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust. Any name change shall become
effective upon the execution and filing by a majority of the then Trustees of a certificate of
amendment or a restated certificate pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
In the event of any such change, the Trustees shall cause notice to be given to the affected
Shareholders within a reasonable time after the implementation of such change.
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
“1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and exemptions granted therefrom, all as amended from time to
time.
“Advisers Act” refers to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and exemptions granted therefrom, all as amended from
time to time.
“By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to
time by the Trustees.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“Declaration” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, as further amended, or as further amended and restated, from time to time.
“Delaware General Corporation Law” means the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, [8 Del. C.ss.100, et. seq.,] as amended from time to time.
“Delaware Statutory Trust Act” shall mean the provisions of the Delaware
Statutory Trust Act, [12 Del. C.ss.3801, et Seq.], as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Act” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and exemptions granted therefrom, all as amended from
time to time.
“Fundamental Policies” shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions as set forth from time to time in any Prospectus or contained in any current
Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the Commission or as otherwise adopted by the
Trustees and the Shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and designated as
fundamental policies therein, as they may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act.
“Interested Person” shall have the meaning given to such term in the 1940 Act.
“Investment Adviser” shall mean the person appointed by the Trustees
pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof to provide advisory services to the Trust.
“Majority Shareholder Vote” shall mean a vote of “a majority of the
outstanding voting securities” (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust.
“Manager” shall mean the person appointed by the Trustees pursuant to
Section 4.1 hereof to provide management and administrative services to the Trust.
“Person” shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships,
trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or
not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as in effect
from time to time under the Securities Act, including any statement of additional information
incorporated therein by reference.
“Securities Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and exemptions granted therefrom, all as amended from time to
time.
“Shareholders” shall mean, as of any particular time, the holders of
record of outstanding Shares at such time.
“Shares” shall mean the non-transferable units of undivided beneficial
interests into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and
includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
“Trust” shall mean the trust established by this Declaration, as amended
from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
“Trust Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all
property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for
the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
“Trustees” shall mean the signatories to this Declaration so long as they
shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the time
in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with
the provisions hereof and are then in office.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
2.1 Number and Qualification. Prior to a public offering of
Shares, there may be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office; provided that the number of
Trustees shall be no less than three. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect
of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. An individual nominated as
a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than 80 years of age at the time of
nomination and not under legal disability. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves
in office.
2.2 Resignation and Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign
their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by
such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees, the Principal Executive Officer or the
Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according
to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number
of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1
hereof) with or without cause, and only by action taken either (a) by two-thirds of the remaining
Trustees, or (b) the vote or written consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Shares
then entitled to vote in an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee,
each such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining
Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any
Trust Property held in the name of such resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death
of any Trustee, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s
behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding
sentence. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee
resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following
the effective date of his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such
removal.
2.3 Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees
shall occur, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing an individual having the
qualifications described in this Article II by a written instrument signed by a majority of the
Trustees then in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of Trustees;
provided that the aggregate number of Trustees after any such reduction shall not be less than the
minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof. Any vacancy arising pursuant to the preceding
sentence, and any vacancy created by an increase in the number of Trustees, may be filled by the
appointment of an individual having the qualifications described in this Article II made by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office; provided that, immediately
after filling
any such vacancy occurring between a meeting of Shareholders called to elect Trustees, at
least two-thirds of the Trustees then in office would have been elected by the Shareholders. No
vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant
to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until
such vacancy is filled as provided herein, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number,
shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon
the Trustees by this Declaration. The Trustees may call a meeting of Shareholders to fill any
vacancy in the Board of Trustees, and shall do so within 60 days after any date on which Trustees
who were elected by the Shareholders cease to constitute a majority of the Trustees then in office.
2.4 Meetings. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from
time to time upon the call of the Principal Executive Officer or the Principal Accounting Officer
or any two Trustees. 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 by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the
meeting and shall be delivered to the Trustees orally not less than 24 hours, or in writing not
less than 72 hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in writing 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 where 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 properly called or
convened. A quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third of the Trustees then in
office Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except as required under 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.
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
one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this
Declaration, 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 as set forth in Section 2.5.
With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the
Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940
Act.
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 other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other;
participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in
person at such meeting for all purposes of the Trust, except to the extent that participation in
such a meeting would not satisfy any requirement under the 1940 Act with respect to any matter that
requires the in personam approval of the Trustees.
2.5 Trustee Action by Written Consent. Any action which may
be taken by Trustees by vote may be authorized or taken without a meeting if the Trustees, or
members of a committee, as the case may be, having not less than the minimum number of votes that
would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Trustees, or members
of a committee, as the case may be, entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, consent to the
action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Trustees,
except to the extent that such action would not satisfy any requirement
under the 1940 Act with respect to any matter that requires the in personam approval of the
Trustees. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Trustees.
Unless consented to in writing by all Trustees, no action by the Trustees, or members of any
committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, or on less than five (5) business days’ notice
to all trustees, if such action relates, in whole or in part, to Xxxxx X. XxXxxxx, XxXxxxx Capital
Management, LLC, or the then acting investment advisor to the Trust.
2.6 Officers. The Trustees may elect a Principal Executive
Officer, Secretary, Principal Accounting Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and one or more other
officers or assistant officers who shall each serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their
successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the Principal Executive
Officer to appoint such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be
advisable. The Principal Executive Officer, Secretary, Principal Accounting Officer and any
assistant officer may, but need not, be a Trustee.
ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES
3.1 General. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration,
the business of the Trust shall be under the exclusive and absolute control of the Trustees and
shall be managed by the Trustees (but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this
Declaration, the By-Laws and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act), and the Trustees shall have all
powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in
securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. The Trustees may perform such acts as
they, in their sole discretion, determine to be proper for conducting the business of the Trust.
The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid
power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
3.2 Investments. The Trustees shall have power, subject to
the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, and except to the
extent otherwise delegated to the Investment Adviser, to:
(a) manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company; and
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or
otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in
or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to
securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of
indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and
to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any
and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to
consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to
exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The
Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
3.3 Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property
shall be vested in the Trust except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any
Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the
Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as the
Trustees may determine; provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected.
The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall
vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due election and
qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall
automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the
right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the
remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall
have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue,
dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional denominations,
and, subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in Articles VIII and IX, to apply to any
such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares, any funds or
property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted
under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, the Trustees shall have
the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent
permitted by law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by
mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, including the
lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any
obligation, contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or corporation.
3.6 Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have the
power, consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and
the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to the Investment Adviser, or to such of their
number or to officers, employees or other agents of the Trust the doing of such things and the
execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or
otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to at least the same extent as such delegation is
permitted under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and is permitted by the 1940 Act, as well as any
further delegations the Trustees may determine to be desirable, expedient or necessary in order to
effect the purpose hereof.
3.7 Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power
to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust
Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute,
defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the
Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security interest
securing any obligations owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Shareholders shall have no
power to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or should not
be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the
Shareholders.
3.8 Expenses. The Trustees shall have power to incur and
pay out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are
necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the business of
the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as
Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees.
3.9 By-Laws. The Trustees shall have the exclusive
authority to adopt and from time to time amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of
the Trust.
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power
to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction
of the business of the Trust; (b) remove officers of the Trust; (c) enter into joint ventures,
partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (d) purchase, and pay for out of Trust
Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against
all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or
omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or
not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (e) establish
pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any
Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (f) make donations, irrespective of benefit
to the Trust, for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (g) to
the extent permitted by law, indemnify any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including
without limitation any adviser, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or
selling agent, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the Trustees shall
determine; (h) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (i) determine and
change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; and (j)
adopt a seal for the Trust, but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any
instrument executed on behalf of the Trust. Additionally, the Trustees who are not Interested
Persons of the Trust may hire employees and retain experts and advisers, including independent
legal counsel, at the expense of the Trust (provided such expenses are approved in advance by a
majority of the Trustees including the Trustee or Trustees requesting that said expenses be borne
by the trust), to the extent such Trustees deem necessary to carry out their duties as Trustees.
3.11 Further Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to
conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations and maintain offices both within and
without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the
District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies,
possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign
governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem
necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things
are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the
Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this
Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. The Trustees
will not be required to obtain any court order to deal with the Trust Property.
3.12 Litigation. The Trustees shall have the power to engage
in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration or otherwise, any
actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands relating to the Trust or the Trust
Property, and, out of the Trust Property, to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses
incurred in connection therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include
without limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the
exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to consent to dismiss any action, suit,
proceeding, dispute, claim or demand, brought by any Person, including, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, a Shareholder in such Shareholder’s own name or in the name of the Trust, whether
or not the Trust, or any of the Trustees may be named individually therein or the subject matter
arises by reason of business for or on behalf of the Trust.
3.13 Tax Matters. The Trustees shall have the exclusive
power, authority and responsibility with respect to the Trust regarding (i) preparation and filing
of tax returns; (ii) providing reports to the Shareholders regarding tax information necessary to
the filing of their respective tax returns; (iii) making any and all available elections with
respect to the tax treatment of the Trust and its investments; (iv) representing the Trust before
the Internal Revenue Service and/or any state taxing authority; (v) exercising such responsibility
as may be imposed by law with respect to withholding from a Shareholder’s share of income or
distributions; (vi) providing to the accountants of the Trust such instructions regarding
allocations of realized income, gains and losses as may be necessary or appropriate to assure
compliance by the Trust with applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations; and (vii)
any and all other tax matters.
ARTICLE IV
ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
4.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements. Subject to the
requirements of applicable law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time enter into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in each
case, one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby the other
party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish the Trustees such advisory, administrative
and management services, with respect to the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider
desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may, to the extent permitted by
the 1940 Act, authorize any adviser, administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific
instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect investment transactions with
respect to the assets on behalf of the Trustees to the full extent of the power of the Trustees to
effect such transactions or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such
transactions pursuant to recommendations of any such adviser, administrator or manager (and all
without further action by the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have
been authorized by all of the Trustees.
4.2 Distribution Arrangements. Subject to compliance with
the 1940 Act, the Trustees may retain distributors and/or selling agents to sell Shares. The
Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for
the sale of the Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such Shares to the other party
to the contract or appoint such other party its distributor or selling agent for such Shares. In
either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their
discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV, the By-Laws or the
1940 Act; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such other
party as principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may enter into
selling and servicing (and similar) agreements with registered securities dealers and brokers to
further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of the Shares of the Trust.
4.3 Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character
described in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Article IV or in Article VII hereof may be entered into
with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust may be an
officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such
contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such
relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such
relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or
accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom; provided that the contract
when entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article
IV, the By-Laws or the 1940 Act. The same Person may be the other party to contracts entered into
pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above or Article VII, and any individual may be financially
interested or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts
mentioned in this Section 4.3.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders. No Shareholder
of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders
shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private
corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
5.2 No Personal Liability of Trustees. The Trustees shall
be entitled to the protection against personal liability for the obligations of the Trust under
Section 3803(b) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. No Trustee shall be liable to the Trust, its
Shareholders, or to any Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or failure to
act (including, without limitation, the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee
to redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of his duties. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event
for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager, adviser, sub-adviser or
principal underwriter of the Trust. Any repeal or modification of this Section 5.2 shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time
of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or
modification.
5.3 Officers, Employees or Agents of the Trust. The officers,
employees and agents of the Trust shall be entitled to the protection against
personal liability for the obligations of the Trust under Section 3803(c) of the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act. No officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be
liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any Trustee, officer, employee, or
agent thereof for any action or failure to act (including, without limitation,
the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any
breach of trust) except for his own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of his duties.
5.4 Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee
has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the
Shareholders or to any other Person, a Trustee acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to
the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of
this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate
the duties and liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity are agreed by the
parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Trustees.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest
exists or arises between any Trustee or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand,
and the Trust or any Shareholder or any other Person, on the other hand; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any
other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that the Trustees shall
act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the
Trust, any Shareholders or any other Person,
the Trustees shall resolve such conflict of interest, take
such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party
(including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits
and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any
applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by
the Trustees, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Trustees shall not
constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty
or obligation of the Trustees at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration or otherwise
applicable law, whenever in this Declaration the Trustees are permitted or required to make a
decision (i) in their “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority, the Trustees shall be
entitled to consider such interests and factors as they desire, including their own interests, and,
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have no duty or obligation to give any
consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust, the Shareholders or any other
Person; or (ii) in “good faith” or under another express standard, the Trustees shall act under
such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.
(d) Any Trustee and any Affiliate of any Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in
other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with
others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust and the doctrine of corporate
opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Trustee. No Trustee who acquires
knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an
opportunity for the Trust shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the
Trust, and such Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Shareholders for breach of any
fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Trustee
pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to another Person or does not
communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Shareholders
shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Declaration or the trust relationship
created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived
therefrom, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust,
shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Any Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial
or other transaction with the Trust, the Shareholders or any Affiliate of the Trust or the
Shareholders.
5.5 Mandatory Indemnification.
(a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person
who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such person being an
“Indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of
judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred
by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in
which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may
have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his
having acted in any such capacity; provided, however, that no Indemnitee shall be indemnified
hereunder (i) with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the
reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any
criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was
unlawful, or (ii) against any liability to any person or any expense of such Indemnitee arising by
reason of (A) willful misfeasance, (B) bad faith, (C) gross negligence, or (D) reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i)
and (ii) being sometimes referred to herein as “Disabling Conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as
plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other
proceeding by such Indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was
instituted by the Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in
which the Indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification
set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee or
officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and
legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its
provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is
or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in
respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal. In any
event, an Indemnitee shall be afforded a rebuttable presumption that such Indemnitee has not
engaged in Disabling Conduct.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification
shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits
by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to
indemnification hereunder was brought that such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder
or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees
who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested
Non-Party Trustees”), that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such
quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal
counsel in a written opinion concludes that the Indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification
hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending
any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph
(c) below.
(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection
with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought
hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good
faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a
written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the Indemnitee
is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable
standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least
one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the Indemnitee shall provide adequate security for
his 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 Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority
vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude,
based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there
is substantial reason to believe that the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these
provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under
this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or persons
that are not Interested Persons or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act
and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the
advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust
or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full extent statutory trusts
established pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act may indemnify or provide for the advance
payment of expenses for such Persons; provided that such indemnification has been approved by a
majority of the Trustees.
5.6 No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall, as
such, be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
5.7 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments,
etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity
of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or
be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of
the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking,
instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing
whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed
or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in
their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. Every written obligation, contract,
undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust made or issued by the
Trustees or by any officers, employees or agents of the Trust in their capacity as such, shall
contain an appropriate recital to the effect that the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees
or agents of the Trust shall not personally be bound by or liable thereunder, nor shall resort be
had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim thereunder, and
appropriate references shall be made therein to this Declaration, and may contain any further
recital which they may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to
impose personal liability on any of the Trustees, Shareholders, officers, employees or agents of
the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance, including a fidelity bond, for the protection of
the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as
the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the
Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem
advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.
5.8 Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, shall be fully and completely
justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in
good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or
upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or employees or by any advisor,
administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or
consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust,
regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
5.9 Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or
former Shareholder shall be held personally liable solely by reason of its being or having been a
Shareholder and not because of its acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or
former Shareholder (or its heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in
the case of any entity, its general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the
Trust to be held harmless from and indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all
loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust shall, upon request by such Shareholder,
assume the defense of any claim made against such Shareholder for any act or obligation of the
Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Trust. Nothing herein shall be
construed as to indemnify shareholders with respect to matters pertaining to the taxation of their
allocable gains and losses from the trust, or with respect to other matters as may be required of
them by law.
5.10 Conflict with the 0000 Xxx. The provisions of this
Article V shall be applicable only to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions
of the 1940 Act. Nothing contained in this Article V shall protect any Trustee or officer of the
Trust from any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Trustee would otherwise be
subject by reason of the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
6.1 Beneficial Interest. The interest of the Shareholders
hereunder shall be divided into an unlimited number of transferable shares of undivided beneficial
interest, without par value. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including,
without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares,
shall be fully paid and nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any)
therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
6.2 Other Securities. The Trustees may authorize and issue
such other securities as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, including
preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities subject to the Fundamental Policies
and the requirements of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue other
securities, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration as is
necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act relating to such
securities or as required to issue such securities, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any
such supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. The Trustees are also authorized to
take such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
6.3 Rights of Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal
property giving only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the
Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business herein before described
are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other
than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for
any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they
be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by
virtue of their ownership of Shares. Shares shall not entitle the holder thereof to preference,
preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights (except as specified in this Section 6.3, in
Section 11.4 or as specified by the Trustees when creating the Shares).
6.4 Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to
create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder
from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form
of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make
the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
6.5 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion,
may from time to time without vote of the Shareholders issue Shares in addition to the then issued
and outstanding Shares to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration,
including cash or property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may determine,
and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in
connection with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time to time
divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and redemptions of Shares may be made
in whole Shares and/or, as the Trustees may determine, in such fractions thereof.
6.6 Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the
offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under the direction of
the Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of
Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. No Shareholder shall be
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as
herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent
of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that
certificates will be issued for the Shares; provided, however, that the Trustees, in their
discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees
therefore and rules and regulations as to their use.
6.7 Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trustees shall have
power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to
the Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record
therein the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer agents
and/or registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of
certificates of stock in a corporation, as modified by the Trustees.
6.8 Transfer of Shares. (a) Shares shall be subject to
restrictions on transfer as set forth herein.
(i) Shares may not be transferred except (A) by
operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution
of a Shareholder, or (B) with the written consent of the Trustees (which may be
withheld by them in their sole and absolute discretion); and
(ii) Shares may not be transferred, except to any
person or entity who meets the standard as a “qualified client” within the
meaning of paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act.
(b) Any transfer of Shares that, if effective, would not
comply with Section 6.8(a) shall be void ab initio , and the purported transferee shall acquire no
rights in such Shares. If the Trustees or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time
determine in good faith that a transfer has taken place that results in a violation of this Section
6.8 or that a person or entity intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire any Shares in
violation of this Section 6.8 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Trustees or a
committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to
prevent such transfer, including without limitation refusing to give effect to such transfer on the
books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such transfer or other event, provided
that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees or any committee thereof shall have the right,
but not the obligation, to repurchase such Shares from such purported transferee in accordance with
Section 8.2 hereof; provided further that any transfers or attempted transfers in violation of this
Section 6.8 shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by
the Trustees or committee thereof.
(c) In the event of an involuntary transfer (or
purported transfer) of Shares that occurs by law, including without limitation pursuant to any
jurisdiction’s laws of descent and distribution, that does not comply with paragraph (a) of this
Section 6.8, the Trustees shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase such Shares
in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof.
6.9 Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder
hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as
recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.
ARTICLE VII
CUSTODIANS
7.1 Appointment and Duties. The Trustees shall at all times
employ a custodian or custodians, meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio
securities of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to the
assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the Trust with respect to which
it is acting as determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such
restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws of the
Trust and the 1940 Act:
(a) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and
deliver the same upon written order;
(b) to receive any receipt for any moneys due to the
Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees
may direct;
(c) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
(d) if authorized by the Trustees or their authorized
agent(s), to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and accounting services;
and
(e) if authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute
the net income or net asset value of the Trust;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and upon
such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and
approved by the Trustees; provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the
qualifications for custodians contained in the 1940 Act.
7.2 Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to
deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling
of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association
registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act or such other Person as may be permitted by
the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all
securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as
fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such
securities; provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of
the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
REDEMPTIONS; REPURCHASES, ETC.
8.1 Redemptions. The Shares of the Trust are not redeemable by the Shareholders.
8.2 Repurchases and Tender Offers. Subject to the
requirements of the 1940 Act and the Exchange Act, the Trustees are empowered to authorize the
repurchase by the Trust from time to time of all or any portion of the Shares, whether now or
hereafter authorized, or securities convertible into Shares , whether now or hereafter authorized,
upon such time, at such prices (which may be determined by formula) and subject to such conditions
(which may include prorating shares tendered for repurchase) as the Trustees
may determine. In determining whether to cause the Trust to repurchase Shares pursuant to written
tenders, the Trustees shall consider the following factors, among others:
(a) whether any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares to the Trust;
(b) the liquidity of the Trust’s assets;
(c) the investment plans and working capital requirements of the Trust;
(d) the relative economies of scale with respect to the size of the Trust;
(e) the history of the Trust in repurchasing Shares;
(f) the condition of the securities markets; and
(g) the anticipated tax consequences of any proposed repurchases of Shares.
The Trustees shall cause the Trust to repurchase Shares pursuant to
written tenders only on terms fair to the Trust and to all Shareholders (including persons holding
Shares acquired from Shareholders), as applicable.
8.3 Involuntary Repurchases. The Trust may repurchase all
or any portion of a Shareholder’s Shares, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities
convertible into Shares, whether now or hereafter authorized, if the Trustees determine, or have
reason to believe that:
(a) such Shares have been transferred in violation of
Section 6.8 hereof, or such Shares have vested in any person by operation of law as the result of
the death, dissolution, bankruptcy or incompetency of a Shareholder;
(b) ownership of such Shares by such Shareholder other
person will cause the Trust to be in violation of, or require registration of any Shares under, or
subject the Trust to additional registration or regulation under, the securities, commodities or
other laws of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction;
(c) continued ownership of such Shares may be harmful
or injurious to the business or reputation of the Trust, or may subject the Trust or any of its
Shareholders to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal consequences; or
(d) it would be in the best interests of the Trust, as
determined by the Trustees, for
the Trust to repurchase such Shares.
8.4 Disclosure of Holding. The holders of Shares or other
securities of the Trust shall, upon demand, disclose to the Trustees in writing such information
with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the
Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code, the 1940 Act or other applicable
laws or regulations, or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory
authority.
ARTICLE IX
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
9.1 Net Asset Value. The net asset value of the Trust and
of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as
the Trustees may determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net
asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the Prospectus or as
may otherwise be determined by the Trustees. In determining the value of the assets of the Trust,
no value shall be placed on the goodwill or name of the Trust, or the office records, files,
statistical data or any similar intangible assets of the Trust not normally reflected in the
Trust’s accounting records, but there shall be taken into consideration any items of income earned
but not received, expenses incurred but not yet paid, liabilities, fixed or contingent, and any
other prepaid expenses to the extent not otherwise reflected in the books of account, and the value
of options or commitments to purchase or sell securities or commodities pursuant to agreements
entered into prior to such valuation date. The power and duty to make the net asset value
calculations may be delegated by the Trustees and shall be as generally set forth in the Prospectus
or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees.
9.2 Distributions to Shareholders.
(a) The Trustees shall from time to time distribute
ratably among the Shareholders such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in
surplus), capital or assets held by the Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be
made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any
assets thereof) or any combination thereof, and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the
Shareholders additional Shares in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may
deem proper.
(b) Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be
among the Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders
of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify at the time of
declaration.
(c) The Trustees may always retain from the net profits
such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet
obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its
affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.
(d) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains
for federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above
provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute
for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively,
additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
9.3 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding
any of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute
discretion except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for determining
the per share asset value of the Trust’s Shares or net income, or the declaration and payment of
dividends and distributions as they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to
enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or the Exchange Act, or any order of
exemption issued by the Commission, or the Code, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified.
ARTICLE X
SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Meetings of Shareholders. The Trust shall not hold
annual meetings of the Shareholders. A special meeting of Shareholders may be called at any time by
a majority of the Trustees or the Principal Executive Officer or the Principal Accounting Officer
and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders of
the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than 51% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust having
voting rights, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be
called. Any Shareholder meeting shall be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day
and at such time as the Trustees shall designate.
10.2 Voting. Shareholders shall have no power to vote on
any matter except matters on which a vote of Shareholders is required by applicable law, this
Declaration or resolution of the Trustees. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or
removal of Trustees.
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date. Notice of all
meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by
the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at its registered
address, mailed at least 30 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting or otherwise in
compliance with applicable law. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be
considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned one or more times
without further notice not later than 120 days after the record date. For the purposes of
determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting, the Trustees
may, without closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 nor less than 30 days prior to
the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the determination of the Persons to
be treated as Shareholders of record for such purposes.
10.4 Quorum and Required Vote.
(a) The holders of not less than 51% of the Shares
entitled to vote at the meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of Shareholders of
the Trust is being taken. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of
Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any
other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present
thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matter.
(b) Subject to any provision of applicable law
requiring greater or lesser votes, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees specifying a
greater or lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of
Shareholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by
proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect
to such matter.
10.5 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Shareholders, any
holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed 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. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the
Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the
officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from
the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only Shareholders of record shall be
entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be
entitled to a vote of such fraction. 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 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 to 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.
10.6 Reports. The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at
least annually, and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law or regulation, a
report of operations containing a statement of assets and liabilities or balance sheet, a statement
of income and undistributed income of the Trust and a statement of changes in net assets, in each
case, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an opinion of an
independent public accountant on such financial statements. Copies of such reports shall be mailed
to all Shareholders of record within the time required by the 1940 Act. The Trustees shall, in
addition, furnish to the Shareholders at least semi-annually OR to the extent required by law,
interim reports containing an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities or balance sheet of the
Trust as of the end of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus and a statement
of changes in net assets, in each case, for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal
year to the end of such period.
10.7 Inspection of Records. The records of the Trust shall
be open to inspection by Shareholders only to the extent provided in the By-Laws and Section 3819
of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
10.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by
Shareholders by vote may be taken without a meeting if the holders entitled to vote thereon of the
proportion of Shares required for approval of such action at a meeting of Shareholders pursuant to
Section 10.4 consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records
of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at
a meeting of Shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent mandatorily required
by the 1940 Act, no action may be taken by Shareholders without a meeting unless the notice
requirements of section 10.3 are fully met, such notice adequately disclosing the action to be
taken, and the date it is to be taken, without a meeting. Such notice shall provide all
shareholders the opportunity to object to the taking of the proposed action without a meeting.
Should shareholders representing at least 33 1/3% of the shares eligible to vote object to the
proposed action without a meeting, then no action shall be taken without a meeting of Shareholders.
ARTICLE XI
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
11.1 Duration. Subject to possible termination in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2 hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have
perpetual existence.
11.2 Termination.
(a) The Trust shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of
any of the following events:
(i) upon the affirmative vote to
dissolve the Trust by both (a) the Trustees and (b) the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust;
(ii) upon the expiration of any
three-year period which commences on the date after January 1, 2011 on which
any Shareholder has submitted a written notice to the Trust requesting to
tender all of such Shareholder’s Shares for repurchase by the Trust if such
Shareholder has not been permitted to do so at any time during such period;
(iii) upon the determination by the
Investment Adviser to dissolve the Trust;
(iv) upon termination of the
investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Investment Adviser; or
(v) as required by operation of law.
(b) Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(i) the Trust shall carry on no
business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs;
(ii) the Trustees, acting directly or
through a liquidator they select, shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the
Trust, and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall
continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the
power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets,
sell, convey, assign, exchange, merge where the Trust is not the survivor,
transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust
Property to one or more Persons at public or private sale for consideration
which may consist in whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of
any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate
to liquidate its business; if the Trustees are unable to perform the foregoing
functions, a liquidator elected by Shareholders holding a majority of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust shall perform the duties required by this
Section 11.2(b); and
(iii) after paying or adequately
providing for the payment of all liabilities pursuant to Section 3808(e) of the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities
and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the
Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or
partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(c) After the winding up and termination of the Trust
and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute
and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such
termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged
from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders
shall thereupon cease.
11.3 Amendment Procedure.
(a) Except as specifically provided in this Section,
the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration
of Trust. Shareholders shall have the right to vote (i) on any amendment that is required to be
approved by Shareholders by the 1940 Act or by the Registration Statement and (ii) on any amendment
submitted to them by the Trustees. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment hereof shall
limit the rights to insurance provided by Section 5.7 of this Declaration with respect to any acts
or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit
the rights to indemnification referenced in Sections 5.5 and 5.9 of this Declaration or as provided
in the By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such
amendment. The Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the
By-Laws and the Certificate of Trust as the Trustees deem necessary or desirable.
(b) No amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section
2.2, Section 3.9, Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.3 or Section 11.4 of
this Declaration and no amendment may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights
with respect to any Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of
the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto (except that this
provision shall not limit the ability of the Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to
issue, other securities pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees have
approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each class outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as
separate classes, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case
approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Nothing contained in this Declaration
shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of
the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments
upon Shareholders.
(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of
the Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at
the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or
Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the
Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if
required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable
form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment
when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Board.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until
such time as a Registration Statement under the Securities Act covering the first public offering
of Shares of the Trust shall have become effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended
in any respect by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by
a majority of the Trustees.
11.4 Reorganization.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees
may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, (i) cause the
Trust to convert into or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts,
partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities
(or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts,
partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities
created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger or consolidation) so long as the
surviving or resulting entity is a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, or
is a
series thereof to the extent permitted by law, and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited
liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to
accomplish such conversion, merger or consolidation, succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration
under the 1940 Act, provided that, in any case, such trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association, corporation or other business entity is formed, organized or existing under the laws
of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (ii)
cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent
permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth,
possession or colony of the United States, (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the
assets of the Trust to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association,
corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted
by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or
other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance) organized
under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the
United States, so long as such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association,
corporation or other business entity is a closed-end management investment company under the 1940
Act and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation
or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance, succeed to
or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act, for adequate consideration as determined by
the Trustees which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other
liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust, and which may include shares of beneficial
interest, stock or other ownership interest of such trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association, corporation or other business entity (or series thereof), or (v) at any time sell or
convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust. Any agreement of merger,
reorganization, consolidation, exchange or conversion or certificate of merger, certificate of
conversion or other applicable certificate may be signed by a majority of the Trustees or an
authorized officer of the Trust and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or
telecommunication means shall be valid.
(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions
of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Declaration, an agreement of merger, reorganization or consolidation
approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.4 may effect any amendment to the
governing instrument of the Trust or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust or
change the name of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or
consolidation.
(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees
may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, create one or
more statutory or business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or
losses of the Trust may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust
into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or classes
thereof.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Filing. This Declaration and any amendment hereto
shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each
amendment shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that
such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein,
and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments
contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all amendments
theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon
insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein
and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments
thereto.
12.2 Resident Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident
agent in the State of Delaware, which agent shall initially be The Corporation Trust Company whose
address is Corporation Trust Center, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000. The Trustees may designate a successor resident agent; provided, however, that such
appointment shall not become effective until written notice thereof is delivered to the office of
the Secretary of the State.
12.3 Governing Law. The Trust is created under, and this
Declaration is to be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a statutory trust, and without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the
powers or privileges afforded to statutory trusts or actions that may be engaged in by statutory
trusts under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to
any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or
privilege or take such actions. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 12.3, there
shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration, the provisions of Sections
3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common)
of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Statutory Trust Act) pertaining to trusts that
relate to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee
accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for
trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or
other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal
property, (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust,
(v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or
limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements
relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the
establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or
powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and
powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration.
12.4 Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously
executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such
counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently
evidenced by any such original counterpart.
12.5 Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by
an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this
Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or
identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the
execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or
Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or
executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of
any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the
existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be
conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any person dealing with the Trustees
and their successors.
12.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable,
and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code or with other
applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have
constituted a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect
any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken
or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration shall be held
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only
to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any
other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
12.7 Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements
set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative
action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a
pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the
Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 12.7, a
demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a
majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such
action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act).
(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a)
of this Section 12.7, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware
Statutory Trust Act who collectively hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust shall
join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action;
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a)
of this Section 12.7, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such
shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to
retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an
undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any
such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action; and
(d) For purposes of this Section 12.7, the Trustees may
designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a
committee with a majority of Trustees who do not have a personal financial interest in the
transaction at issue. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in
considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making
such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the
Trustees determine not to bring such action.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of
the day and year first above written.
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxxx
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Xxxxx X. XxXxxxx, Trustee |