ZIEGLER EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST AMENDED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED DECEMBER 15, 2006
Exhibit
(A)(2)
XXXXXXX
EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
DATED
DECEMBER 15, 2006
1
XXXXXXX
EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
Dated
December 15, 2006
This
AMENDED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST (hereinafter “Trust Instrument”) is
made December 15, 2006 (together with all other persons from time to time duly
elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with Article III
hereof, the “Trustees”).
WHEREAS,
the Trustees desire to establish a business trust for the investment and
reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property contributed to
the
trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this Trust Instrument
as herein set forth below.
ARTICLE
I
NAME
AND
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01.
NAME.
The name of the trust created hereby is “XXXXXXX EXCHANGE TRADED
TRUST.”
SECTION
1.02.
DEFINITIONS. Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context
or
specifically provided:
(a) The
term
“By-Laws” means the Amended By-Laws referred to in Article IV, Section 4.01(e)
hereof, as from time to time amended;
(b) The
term
“Commission” has the meaning given it in the 1940 Act (as defined below). The
terms “Affiliated Person,” “Assignment,” “Interested Person,” and “Principal
Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act, as modified by
or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules
or regulations adopted by or interpretive releases of the Commission
thereunder;
(c) The
term
“Delaware Act” refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled
“Treatment of Delaware Business Trusts,” as it may be amended from time to
time;
(d) The
term
“Independent Trustee” means a Trustee (as defined below) who is not an
Interested Person of the Trust (as defined below).
(e) The
term
“Net Asset Value” means the net asset value of each Series (as defined below) of
the Trust (as defined below) determined in the manner provided in Article IX,
Section 9.03 hereof;
(f) The
term
“Outstanding Shares” means those Shares (as defined below) shown from time to
time in the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and
outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or
repurchased by the Trust and which are at the time held in the treasury of
the
Trust;
2
(g) “Person”
means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, foundations,
plans, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or
not
legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof,
whether domestic or foreign;
(h) The
term
“Series” means a series of Shares of the Trust established in accordance with
the provisions of Article II, Section 2.05 hereof;
(i) The
term
“Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the
Trust;
(j) The
term
“Shares” means the equal proportionate transferable units of beneficial interest
into which the beneficial interest of each Series of the Trust or class thereof
shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares as well as whole
Shares;
(k) The
term
“Trust” refers to the Xxxxxxx Exchange Traded Trust and all Series of the
Xxxxxxx Exchange Traded Trust, and reference to the Trust, when applicable
to
one or more Series of the Trust, shall refer to any such Series;
(l) The
term
“Trustee” or “Trustees” means the person or persons who has or have signed this
Trust Instrument, so long as he, she or they shall continue in office in
accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to
time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions
of Article III hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees
shall
refer to the individual Trustees in their capacity as Trustees
hereunder;
(m) The
term
“Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of one or more of
the
Trust or any Series, or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series;
(n) The
“1940
Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations
thereunder, all as amended from time to time. References herein to specific
sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such Rules and Regulations
as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their
designees.
ARTICLE
II
BENEFICIAL
INTEREST
SECTION
2.01.
SHARES
OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTEREST. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall
be
divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct
Series or classes of a Series as the Trustees shall from time to time create
and
establish. The number of Shares of each Series, and class thereof, authorized
hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have no par value. All Shares issued
hereunder, including without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a
dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid
and nonassesable.
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SECTION
2.02.
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 and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties
and
for such amount and type of consideration, subject to applicable law, including
cash or securities, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees
may
deem appropriate, 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. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the
Trustees may issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury. The
Trustees from time to time may divide or combine the Shares into a greater
or
lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests
in
the Trust. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and Shares shall
be
redeemed as, whole Shares and/or 1/1,000th
of a
Share or integral multiples thereof.
SECTION
2.03.
OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF SHARES. The Trust or a transfer agent for the Trust
shall maintain a register containing the name and addresses of the Shareholders
of each Series and class thereof, the number of Shares of each Series and class
held by such Shareholders, and a record of all Share transfers. The register
shall be conclusive as to the identity of Shareholders of record and the number
of Shares held by them from time to time. The Trustees may, but are not required
to, authorize the issuance of certificates representing Shares and adopt rules
governing their use. The Trustees may make rules governing the transfer of
Shares, whether or not represented by certificates. Except as otherwise provided
by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only
by
the record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon delivery to
the
Trustees or the Trust’s transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of
transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such
evidence on the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of
such
other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and
subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees or contained
in
the By-laws, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the Trust. Until
a
transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of record of Shares shall be deemed
to
be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees
nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar or any officer, employee
or
agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.
SECTION
2.04.
TREASURY
SHARES. Shares held in the treasury shall, until reissued pursuant to Section
2.02 hereof, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares
be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to
the
Shares.
SECTION
2.05.
ESTABLISHMENT OF SERIES. The Trust created hereby shall consist of one or more
Series and separate and distinct records shall be maintained by the Trust of
each Series and the assets associated with any such Series shall be held and
accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other Series.
The
Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and
without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the Shareholders of any
Series of the Trust, to establish and designate and to change in any manner
such
Series of Shares or any classes of initial or additional Series and to fix
such
preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Series or classes
thereof as the Trustees may from time to time determine, to divide and combine
the Shares or any Series or classes thereof into a greater or lesser number,
to
classify or reclassify any issued Shares or any Series or classes thereof into
one or more Series or classes of Shares, to abolish any one or more Series
or
classes of Shares or to take such other actions with respect to the Shares
as
the Trustees may deem desirable. The establishment and designation of any Series
shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the
Trustees setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative
rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series. A Series may issue any
number of Shares and need not issue Shares.
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All
references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to be Shares
of
any or all Series, or classes thereof, as the context may require. All
provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series
of
the Trust, and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.
Each
Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest
in
the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be
entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital
gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of his Shares,
such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such
Series of the Trust.
SECTION
2.06.
INVESTMENT IN THE TRUST. The Trustees shall accept investments in any Series
of
the Trust from such persons and on such terms as they may from time to time
authorize. At the Trustees’ discretion, such investments, subject to applicable
law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the affected Series
is
authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof.
Investments in a Series shall be credited to each Shareholder’s account in the
form of full or fractional Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next
determined after the investment is received; provided, however, that the
Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset Value per Share
of
the initial capital contribution or (b) impose a sales charge upon investments
in the Trust in such manner and at such time as determined by the Trustees.
The
Trustees shall have the right to refuse to accept investments in any Series
at
any time without any cause or reason therefor whatsoever.
SECTION
2.07.
ASSETS
AND LIABILITIES OF SERIES. All consideration received by the Trust for the
issue
or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which
such
consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and
proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or
liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held
and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of every
other Series and may be referred to herein as “assets belonging to” that Series.
The assets belonging to a particular Series shall belong to that Series for
all
purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of
that Series. In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or
payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily identifiable
as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the Trustees between
and among one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees, in their
sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes,
and
such assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with
respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging
to a particular Series shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust, and
shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares
of that Series. The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged
with the liabilities of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges, and
reserves attributable to that Series. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges, or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as
belonging to a particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees
between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees,
in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall
be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
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Without
limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, but subject to
the
right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges, or reserves as herein provided, the debts,
liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise
existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the
assets of the Trust generally. Notice of this contractual limitation on
inter-Series liabilities may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, be set forth in
the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment)
as
filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in
the
certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of Delaware
Act
relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory effect
under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust)
shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending
credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look
only
to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, liability,
obligation or expense incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with
respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series
shall
have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other
Series.
SECTION
2.08.
NO
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust
or
the Trustees, whether of the same or other Series.
SECTION
2.09.
PERSONAL
LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS. Each Shareholder of the Trust and of each Series
shall not be personally liable for debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses
incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust
or
by or on behalf of any Series. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any
Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any
sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may
at
any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or
otherwise. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on
behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series shall
include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust
or
to one or more Series and its or their assets (but the omission of such a
recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust).
Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended
to Shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the State
of
Delaware. Every written obligation of the Trust or any Series shall contain
a
statement to the effect that such obligation may only be enforced against the
assets of the appropriate Series or all Series; however, the omission of such
statement shall not operate to bind or create personal liability for any
Shareholder or Trustee.
SECTION
2.10.
ASSENT
TO TRUST INSTRUMENT. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased a Share
shall become a Shareholder and shall be held to have expressly assented and
agreed to be bound by the terms hereof.
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ARTICLE
III
THE
TRUSTEES
SECTION
3.01.
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control
over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent
as
if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in
their
own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Trust
Instrument. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust
and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches 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, in any and all
commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United
States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction 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 Trust Instrument, the presumption shall
be
in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
The
enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall not be
construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees may be
exercised without order of or resort to any court.
Except
for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies pursuant to Section
3.04 of this Article III, the Trustees shall be elected by the Shareholders
owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of Shareholders.
Such a meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the Trustees. In the event
that
less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by
Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders’ meeting for
the election of Trustees.
SECTION
3.02.
INITIAL
TRUSTEES. The initial Trustees shall be the persons named herein. On a date
fixed by the Trustees, the Shareholders shall elect additional Trustees subject
to Section 3.06 of this Article III.
SECTION
3.03.
TERM OF
OFFICE OF TRUSTEES. The Trustees shall hold office during the lifetime of this
Trust, and until its termination as herein provided, except that: (a) any
Trustee may resign his position as Trustee by written instrument signed by
him
and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such delivery
or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) any Trustee may be removed
at any time by a vote of at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior
to
such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective;
(c)
any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has died, becomes
physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or otherwise, or
is
otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument signed by a
majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; and
(d) a
Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust by a
vote
of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding Shares.
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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 his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
or other payment on account of such removal.
SECTION
3.04.
VACANCIES AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES. In case of the declination to serve,
death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or mental incapacity by reason
of disease or otherwise, or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an
increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur. Whenever a vacancy
in
the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the other
Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the certificate of the other
Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing
vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such
other
person as they in their discretion shall see fit consistent with the limitations
under the 1940 Act. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a written instrument
signed by a majority of the Trustees in office or by resolution of the Trustees,
duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the
Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take effect.
An
appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in
anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or
increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said
appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said
retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any
Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall have accepted this trust,
the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the
continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he or she shall
be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The power to appoint a Trustee pursuant to this
Section 3.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940
Act.
SECTION
3.05.
TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF TRUSTEE. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate
his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one time to any other
Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less than two Trustees
personally exercise the other powers hereunder except as herein otherwise
expressly provided.
SECTION
3.06.
NUMBER
OF TRUSTEES. The number of Trustees shall be set initially at one (1), and
thereafter shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a
majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall
in no event be more than fifteen (15) or less than three (3) and shall be
composed to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable
laws.
SECTION
3.07.
EFFECT
OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC., OF A TRUSTEE. The declination to serve, death,
resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees,
or
any one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any
existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Trust
Instrument.
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SECTION
3.08.
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST. The assets of the Trust and of each Series
shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any
capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any successor
Trustees. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the assets of the
Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be considered
as
vested in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust, except that the Trustees may
cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of, the
Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee. No Shareholder shall be deemed
to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or of any
Series or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder
shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate undivided
beneficial interest in the Trust or Series. The Shares shall be personal
property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust Instrument.
The Trust, or at the determination of the Trustees one or more of the Trustees
or a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold
legal title and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of
the
Trust issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under
the
laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country. Upon the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee,
he or she 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 the resigning or removed
Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative
shall execute and deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees
shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
SECTION
3.09.
COMPENSATION. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation
from the Trust, and they may periodically fix the amount of such compensation.
Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for
advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services
and payment for the same by the Trust.
ARTICLE
IV
POWERS
OF
THE TRUSTEES
SECTION
4.01.
POWERS.
The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, and are and shall be
free
from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and
authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts
and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection
with the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be bound
or
limited by present or future laws or customs in regard to trust investments,
but
shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments which they,
in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purpose of this
Trust without recourse to any court or other authority. Subject to any
applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument or the By-Laws of the Trust,
the
Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To
invest
and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property
uninvested, without in any event being bound or limited by any present or future
law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees, and to sell, exchange,
lend,
pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all the assets
of the Trust;
(b) To
operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise
all
the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such
operations;
9
(c) To
borrow
money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness;
to
secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security
the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of
an
obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust
Property;
(d) To
provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a
principal underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust
itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any
kind;
(e) To
adopt
By-Laws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument providing for the conduct
of
the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they
do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; such By-Laws shall be deemed
incorporated and included in this Trust Instrument;
(f) To
elect
and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider
appropriate;
(g) To
employ
one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national
securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as
custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in
this Trust Instrument or in the By-laws;
(h) To
retain
one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or
both;
(i) To
set
record dates in the manner provided herein or in the By-Laws;
(j) To
delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust
and to any investment advisor, manager, custodian, underwriter or other agent
or
independent contractor;
(k) To
sell
or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the provisions
of
Article XI, Section 11.04(b) hereof;
(l) To
vote
or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock
or
other securities or property; and to execute and deliver powers of attorney
to
such person or persons as the Trustee shall deem proper, granting to such person
or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property
as
the Trustees shall deem proper;
(m) To
exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner
arise out of ownership of securities;
(n) To
hold
any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer,
book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of
the
Trust or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject in either
case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of Delaware business
trusts or investment companies;
(o) To
establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment
objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in accordance with
the
provisions of Article II hereof and to establish classes of such Series having
relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide consistent with
applicable law;
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(p) Subject
to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets,
liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series or to apportion
the
same between or among two or more Series, provided that any liabilities or
expenses incurred by a particular Series shall be payable solely out of the
assets belonging to that Series as provided for in Article II
hereof;
(q) To
consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation
or
merger of any corporation or concern, any security of which is held in the
Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of
property by such corporation or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions
with
respect to any security held in the Trust;
(r) To
litigate, compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not limited to,
claims for taxes;
(s) To
make
distributions of income and of capital gains to Shareholders in the manner
hereinafter provided;
(t) To
establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the
Trust
or in one or more Series or class, and to require the redemption of the Shares
of any Shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving
notice to such Shareholder;
(u) To
establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees
to said committees and to adopt a committee charter providing for such
responsibilities, membership (including Trustees, officers or other agents
of
the Trust therein) and any other characteristics of said committees as the
Trustees may deem proper. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IV,
and
in addition to such provisions or any other provision of this Trust Instrument
or of the By-Laws, the Trustees may by resolution appoint a committee consisting
of less than the whole number of Trustees then in office, which committee may
be
empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of
such
committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office, with respect to
the
institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of
any
action, suit or proceeding which shall be pending or threatened to be brought
before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body;
(v) To
interpret the investment policies, practices, or limitations of any
Series;
(w) To
establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the state of
Delaware;
(x) In
general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to
any
of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable, or proper for
the
accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance
of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others,
and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing
out
of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or
powers.
11
The
foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and power, and the
foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict
in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more
of
the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action
on
behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual
capacity.
The
Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the
possible termination of the Trust.
No
one
dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry
concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any
payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their
order.
SECTION
4.02.
ISSUANCE
AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell,
repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose
of,
and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Article
II and Article IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement,
cancellation, or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust,
or
the particular Series of the Trust, with respect to which such Shares are
issued.
SECTION
4.03.
TRUSTEES
AND OFFICERS AS SHAREHOLDERS. Any Trustee, officer, or agent of the Trust may
acquire, own, and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he or she were
not
a Trustee, officer, or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause
to be
issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm
or company in which he or she is interested, subject only to the general
limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares; and
all
subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the By-Laws.
SECTION
4.04.
ACTION
BY THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees shall act by majority vote at a meeting duly
called or by written consent of a majority of the Trustees without a meeting
or
by telephone meeting provided a quorum of Trustees participate in any such
telephone meeting, unless the 1940 Act requires that a particular action be
taken only at a meeting at which the Trustees are present in person. At any
meeting of the Trustees, one-third of the total number of Trustees then in
office (but not less than two Trustees) shall constitute a quorum. Meetings
of
the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman or by any two
(2) other Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all meetings of the
Trustees shall be given by the party calling the meeting to each Trustee by
telephone, telefax, or telegram sent to his home or business address at least
twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting or by written notice mailed
to
his home or business address at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of
the
meeting. Notice need not be given to any Trustee who attends the meeting without
objecting to the lack of notice or who executes a written waiver of notice
with
respect to the meeting. Any meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed
to
take place at the principal office of the Trust, as determined by the By-Laws
or
by the Trustees. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees
by
majority vote may delegate to any one or more of their number their authority
to
approve particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust.
Written consents or waivers of the Trustees may be executed in one or more
counterparts. Execution of a written consent or waiver and delivery thereof
to
the Trust may be accomplished by telefax.
12
SECTION
4.05.
CHAIRMAN
OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees shall appoint from among their number a Chairman
who shall serve as such at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Chairman shall
serve in such capacity only as long as he or she remains a Trustee and shall
not
be considered an officer of the Trust. The Chairman shall be appointed and
serve
in accordance with the requirement of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”). The Chairman
shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees and may confer with the President
or any other officer of the Trust or investment advisor to a Series of the
Trust
for purposes of determining the matters to be discussed and considered at the
meeting of the Trustees and shall have such powers and perform such other duties
as may be required by the 1940 Act or assigned to him or her from time to time
by the Board of Trustees.
SECTION
4.06.
PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law,
the
Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may, in a manner consistent with applicable
legal requirements, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend
any assets of the Trust to, any Trustees or officer of the Trust or any firm
of
which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have
any
such dealings with any investment advisor, distributor or transfer agent for
the
Trust or with any Interested Person of such person; and the Trust may employ
any
such person, or firm or company in which such person is an Interested Person,
as
broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment advisor, distributor, transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent, or custodian, or in any other capacity upon
customary terms.
ARTICLE
V
EXPENSES
OF THE TRUST
SECTION
5.01.
PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES BY THE TRUST. Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section
2.07
hereof, the Trust or a particular Series shall pay, or shall reimburse the
Trustees from the assets belonging to all Series or the appropriate Series
for
their expenses (or the expenses of a class of such Series) and disbursements,
including, without limitation, fees and expenses of Trustees, interest expense,
taxes, fees and commissions of every kind, expenses of pricing Trust portfolio
securities, expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of shares, including
expenses attributable to a program of periodic repurchases or redemptions,
expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust and its Shares under Federal
and State laws and regulations or under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction,
charges of third parties, including investment advisors, managers, custodians,
transfer agents, portfolio accounting and/or pricing agents, and registrars,
expenses of preparing and setting up in type prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other related Trust documents, expenses of printing
and distributing prospectuses sent to existing Shareholders, auditing and legal
expenses, reports to Shareholders, expenses of meetings of Shareholders and
proxy solicitations therefor, insurance expenses, association membership dues
and for such non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to which
the
Trust (or a Trustee acting as such) is a party, and for all losses and
liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust, and for the payment
of
such expenses, disbursements, losses and liabilities the Trustees shall have
a
lien on the assets belonging to the appropriate Series, on the assets of each
such Series, prior to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto.
This
section shall not preclude the Trust from directly paying any of the
aforementioned fees and expenses.
13
SECTION
5.02.
PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES BY SHAREHOLDERS. The Trustee shall have the power, as frequently
as
they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any
particular Series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the
Trust’s custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount
fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from
such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or
by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that
number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount
of such charges due from such Shareholder.
ARTICLE
VI
CONTRACTS
WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
SECTION
6.01.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR. The Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time,
enter into an investment advisory or management contract or contracts with
respect to the Trust or any Series; provided, however, that the initial approval
and entering into of such contract or contracts shall be subject to a majority
shareholder vote, in accordance with the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may authorize any investment
advisor (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees from
time to time may adopt) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio
securities, other investment instruments of the Trust, or other Trust Property
on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any officer, agent, or Trustee
to
effect such purchases, sales, or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the
investment advisor (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such
purchases, sales, and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by
all
of the Trustees.
The
Trustees may authorize, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act,
including those relating to Shareholder approval, the investment advisor to
employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisors to perform such of the
acts
and services of the investment advisor, and upon such terms and conditions,
as
may be agreed upon between the investment advisor and sub-advisor. Any reference
in this Trust Instrument to the investment advisor shall be deemed to include
such sub-advisors, unless the context otherwise requires.
SECTION
6.02.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time
enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or contracts
providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell
Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales
agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms
and
conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-Laws and shall be in
accordance with the 1940 Act, and the contract shall be on such further terms
and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI, of 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.
SECTION
6.03.
TRANSFER
AGENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one
or
more transfer agency and shareholder service contracts whereby the other party
or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with transfer agency and
shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Trust Instrument, of the By-Laws or of other
applicable laws.
14
SECTION
6.04.
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to
time
enter into an administration agreement or, if the Trustees establish multiple
Series or classes, separate administration agreements with respect to each
Series or class, whereby the other party to such agreement shall undertake
to
manage the business affairs of the Trust or of a Series or class thereof of
the
Trust and furnish the Trust or a Series or a class thereof with office
facilities, and shall be responsible for the ordinary clerical, bookkeeping
and
recordkeeping services at such office facilities, and other facilities and
services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may
in
their discretion determine.
SECTION
6.05.
SERVICE
AGREEMENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into
service agreements with respect to one or more Series or classes of Shares
whereby the other parties to such Service Agreements will provide administration
and/or support services pursuant to administration plans and service plans,
and
all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees in their discretion may
determine.
SECTION
6.06.
PARTIES
TO CONTRACT. Any contract of the character described in Sections 6.01, 6.02,
6.03, 6.04 and 6.05 of this Article VI or any contract of the character
described in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any corporation,
firm,
partnership, trust, or association, although one or more of the Trustees or
officers 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 void or voidable by reason of the existence of any
such
relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be disqualified
from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder and/or
Trustee, 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 not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI or Article VIII hereof
or of
the By-Laws and provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to
the
applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. The same person (including a firm,
corporation, partnership, trust or association) may be the other party to
contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04 and 6.05
of
this Article VI or pursuant to Article VIII hereof, 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 6.06.
SECTION
6.07.
PROVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS. Any contract entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01
or 6.02 of this Article VI shall be consistent with and subject to the
requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act or other applicable Act of Congress
hereafter enacted with respect to its continuance in effect, its termination,
and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or renewal
thereof, and no amendment to any contract, entered into pursuant to Section
6.01
of this Article VI shall be effective unless assented to in a manner consistent
with the requirements of said Section 15, as modified by any applicable rule,
regulation or order of the Commission.
15
ARTICLE
VII
SHAREHOLDERS’
VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
SECTION
7.01.
VOTING
POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election
of
Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.01 and 3.02 hereof, (ii) for
the
removal of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.03(d) hereof, (iii)
with respect to any investment advisory or management contract as provided
in
Article VI, Sections 6.01 and 6.07 hereof, and (iv) with respect to such
additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, by this
Trust Instrument, or the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the
Commission or any State, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or
desirable.
On
any
matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted
separately by individual Series, except: (i) when required by the 1940 Act,
Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series; and (ii)
when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the interests of
more
than one Series, then the Shareholders of all such affected Series shall be
entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees also may determine that a matter affects
only the interests of one (1) or more classes of a Series, in which case any
such matter shall be voted on by such class or classes. Each whole share shall
be entitled to one (1) vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote,
and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.
There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may
be
voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided for in the By-Laws. A
proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws may provide that proxies may also,
or
may instead, be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in
any
other manner. Notwithstanding anything else herein or in the By-Laws, in the
event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust
is
submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of one or more Series or of the Trust,
or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in
opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares
may
be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until Shares are issued, the
Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action
required or permitted by law, this Trust Instrument or any of the By-Laws of
the
Trust to be taken by Shareholders. Meetings of Shareholders shall be called
and
notice thereof and record dates therefor shall be given and set as provided
in
this Trust Instrument and in the By-Laws.
SECTION
7.02.
QUORUM
AND REQUIRED VOTE. One-third of Shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy
shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting,
except that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits
or
requests that holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that holders
of a
class shall vote as a class), then one-third of the aggregate number of Shares
of that Series (or that class) entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute
a quorum for the transactions of business by that Series (or that class). Any
lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or
sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the
original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. Except when a larger
vote is required by law or by any provision of this Trust Instrument or the
By-Laws, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy shall decide
any
questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any
provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that the
holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that the holders of any class
shall vote as a class), then a majority of the Shares present in person or
by
proxy of that Series or, if required by law, subject to a majority shareholder
vote, in accordance with the 1940 Act, of that Series (or class), voted on
the
matter in person or by proxy shall decide the matter insofar as that Series
(or
class) is concerned. Shareholders may act by unanimous written consent. Actions
taken by Series (or class) may be consented to unanimously in writing by
Shareholders of that Series.
16
ARTICLE
VIII
CUSTODIAN
SECTION
8.01.
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trustees at all times shall employ a bank, a company
that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, each
having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars
($2,000,000), or any other entity satisfying the requirements of the 1940 Act,
as custodian with authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions,
limitations, and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws
of the Trust:
(1)
|
to
hold the securities and other assets of the Trust and deliver the
same
upon written order or oral order confirmed in
writing;
|
(2)
|
to
receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the
same
in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;
and
|
(3)
|
to
disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers; and the Trust also may
employ
such custodian as its agent:
|
(4)
|
to
keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any Series or class
and
furnish clerical and accounting services;
and
|
(5)
|
to
compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset Value
of
any Series, or class thereof, in accordance with the provisions hereof;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between
the
Trustees and the custodian.
|
The
Trustees also may authorize the 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 be a bank, a company that is a member of a national
securities exchange, a trust company or any other entity satisfying the
requirements of the 1940 Act.
SECTION
8.02.
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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 or series 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 or its custodians, sub-custodians or other
agents.
17
ARTICLE
IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
AND REDEMPTIONS
SECTION
9.01.
DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) The
Trustees from time to time may declare and pay dividends or other distributions
with respect to any Series. No dividend or distribution, including, without
limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series
(or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares
of
any Series (or class) shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets
held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular
Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect
to
any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right
or
claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have
full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which
items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Shareholders. The amount of such dividends or distributions
and the payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property
shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees.
(b) Dividends
and other distributions may be paid or made to the Shareholders of record at
the
time of declaring a dividend or other distribution or among the Shareholders
of
record at such other date or time or dates or times as the Trustees shall
determine, which dividends or distributions, at the election of the Trustees,
may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once
or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees may adopt
and
offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout
plans, or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate.
(c) Anything
in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees at any
time may declare and distribute a stock dividend pro rata among the Shareholders
of a particular Series, or class thereof, as of the record date of that Series
fixed as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.01.
SECTION
9.02.
REDEMPTIONS. The Trustees may specify conditions, prices, and places of
redemption, may specify binding requirements for the proper form or forms of
requests for redemption and may specify the amount of any deferred sales charge
to be withheld from redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption price may
be
wholly or partly in securities or other assets in accordance with Rule 18f-1
under the 1940 Act, at the value of such securities or assets used in such
determination of Net Asset Value, or may be in cash. Upon redemption, Shares
may
be reissued from time to time. The Trustees may require Shareholders to redeem
Shares for any reason under terms set by the Trustees, including, but not
limited to, the failure of a Shareholder to supply a taxpayer identification
number if required to do so, or to have the minimum investment required, or
to
pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to him. To the extent permitted
by law, the Trustees may retain the proceeds of any redemption of Shares
required by them for payment of amounts due and owing by a Shareholder to the
Trust or any Series or class or any governmental authority. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, the Trustees may postpone payment of the redemption price and may
suspend the right of the Shareholders to require any Series or class to redeem
Shares during any period of time when and to the extent permissible under the
1940 Act. All authorized Shares shall be subject to redemption and redeemable
in
accordance with and pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed by or approved
by the Trustees. The Shares of any Series, if so determined by the Trustees,
shall be redeemable only in aggregations of such number of Shares and on such
days as may be determined by or determined pursuant to procedures or methods
prescribed by or approved by the Trustees from time to time with respect to
such
Series. The number of Shares comprising an aggregation for purposes of
redemption or repurchase shall be referred to as a “Creation Unit.” The Trustees
shall have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares constituting
a
Creation Unit by resolution adopted by the Trustees, at any time including
prior
to the time the Trust commences operations. Each holder of a Creation Unit
aggregation of shares of a Series, upon request to the Trust in accordance
with
procedures established by the Trustees, shall be entitled to require the Trust
to redeem all or any number of such holder’s Shares standing in the name of such
holder on the books of the Trust, but in the case of the Shares of any Series
as
to which the Trustees have determined that such Shares shall be redeemable
only
in Creation Unit aggregations, only in such Creation Unit aggregations of shares
of such Series as the Trustees may determine from time to time in accordance
with this Article IX, at a redemption price per share equal to an amount
determined by the Trustees in accordance with applicable laws.
18
SECTION
9.03.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS. The term
“Net Asset Value” of any Series shall mean that amount by which the assets of
that Series exceed its liabilities, all as determined by or under the direction
of the Trustees. Such value shall be determined separately for each Series
and
shall be determined on such days and at such times as the Trustees may
determine. The Trustees may delegate any of their powers and duties under this
Section 9.03 with respect to valuation of assets and liabilities. The resulting
amount, which shall represent the total Net Asset Value of the particular
Series, shall be divided by the total number of shares of that Series
outstanding at the time and the quotient so obtained shall be the Net Asset
Value per Share of that Series. At any time the Trustees may cause the Net
Asset
Value per Share last determined to be determined again in similar manner and
may
fix the time when such redetermined value shall become effective. If, for any
reason, the net income of any Series, determined at any time, is a negative
amount, the Trustees shall have the power with respect to that Series: (i)
to
offset each Shareholder’s pro rata share of such negative amount from the
accrued dividend account of such Shareholder; (ii) to reduce the number of
Outstanding Shares of such Series by reducing the number of Shares in the
account of each Shareholder by a pro rata portion of the number of full and
fractional Shares which represents the amount of such excess negative net
income; (iii) to cause to be recorded on the books of such Series an asset
account in the amount of such negative net income (provided that the same shall
thereupon become the property of such Series with respect to such Series and
shall not be paid to any Shareholder), which account may be reduced by the
amount, of dividends declared thereafter upon the Outstanding Shares of such
Series on the day such negative net income is experienced, until such asset
account is reduced to zero; (iv) to combine the methods described in clauses
(i)
and (ii) and (iii) of the sentence; or (v) to take any other action they deem
appropriate, in order to cause (or in order to assist in causing) the Net Asset
Value per Share of such Series to remain at a constant amount per Outstanding
Share immediately after each such determination and declaration. The Trustees
also shall have the power not to declare a dividend out of net income for the
purpose of causing the Net Asset Value per share to be increased. The Trustees
shall not be required to adopt, but at any time may adopt, discontinue, or
amend
the practice of maintaining the Net Asset Value per Share of the Series at
a
constant amount. In the event that any Series are divided into classes, the
provisions of this Section 9.03, to the extent applicable as determined in
the
discretion of the Trustees and consistent with applicable law, may be equally
applied to each such class.
19
SECTION
9.04.
SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. The Trustees may declare a suspension
of
the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment as permitted under
the
1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trustees shall
specify but not later than the close of business on the business day next
following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right
of redemption or payment until the Trustees shall declare the suspension at
an
end. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder
may
either withdraw his request for redemption or receive payment based on the
Net
Asset Value per Share next determined after the termination of the
suspension.
ARTICLE
X
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
10.01.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. All persons contracting with or having any claim
against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets of all
Series or such particular Series for payment under such contract or claim;
and
neither the Trustees nor, when acting in such capacity, any of the Trust’s
officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be
personally liable therefor. Every written instrument or obligation on behalf
of
the Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the foregoing effect,
but
the absence of such statement shall not operate to make any Trustee or officer
of the Trust liable thereunder. Provided they have exercised reasonable care
and
have acted under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best
interest of the Trust, the Trustees and officers of the Trust shall not be
responsible or liable for any act or omission or for neglect or wrongdoing
of
them or any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or independent
contractor of the Trust, but nothing contained in this Declaration or in the
Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against liability
to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
SECTION
10.02.
INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject
to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:
(i) every
Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter
referred to as a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust to the
fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses
reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit,
or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by
virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts
paid
or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and
20
(ii) the
words
“claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions,
suits, or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including appeals), actual
or
threatened, while in office or thereafter, and the words “liability” and
“expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorney’s fees, costs, judgments,
amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties, and other
liabilities.
(b) No
indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
(i) who
shall
have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought
(A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith
in
the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust;
or
(ii) in
the
event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee
or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
office:
A. by
the
court or other body approving the settlement;
B. by
at
least a majority of those Trustees who neither are Interested Persons of the
Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily-available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or
C. by
written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of
readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); provided,
however, that any Shareholder, by appropriate legal proceedings, may challenge
any such determination by the Trustees or by independent counsel.
(c) The
rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies
maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect
any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled,
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a
person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification
to
which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other persons may be
entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) To
the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in connection with the
preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or
proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.02
may
be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition
thereof upon receipt of any undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person
that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it
ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification
under
this Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person
shall
have provided appropriate security for such undertaking; (b) the Trust is
insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments; or (c) either
a
majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor
parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall
have determined, based upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed
to a
trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is a reason to believe
that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this
Section 10.02.
21
SECTION
10.03.
SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall
be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been
a
Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or omissions or for
some
other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors,
administrators, or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation
or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled
out
of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and
indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust,
on behalf of the affected Series, shall assume, upon request by the Shareholder,
the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation
of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the
Series.
SECTION
10.04.
NO BOND
REQUIRED OF TRUSTEES. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other
security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.
SECTION
10.05.
NO DUTY
OF INVESTIGATION; NOTICE IN TRUST INSTRUMENTS, ETC. No purchaser, lender,
transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof 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,
instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof
or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection
with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed 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 or a Series
thereof.
Every
written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security
of
the Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees
may
recite that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as
Trustees under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a
Series thereof under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the
Trustees or Shareholders individually, but bind only the Trust Property or
the
Trust Property of the applicable Series, and may contain any further recital
which they may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not
operate to bind the Trustees individually. The Trustees shall at all times
maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property or the Trust
Property of the applicable Series, 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.
SECTION
10.06.
RELIANCE
ON EXPERTS, ETC. Each Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust or a Series
thereof shall, in the performance of his duties, powers and discretions
hereunder 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 or a Series thereof, upon an opinion
of
counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust or a Series thereof by any of its
officers or employees or by the Investment Adviser, the Administrator, the
Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other
experts or consultants 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.
22
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
11.01.
TRUST
NOT A PARTNERSHIP. It is hereby expressly declared that a trust and not a
partnership is created hereby. No Trustee hereunder shall have any power to
bind
personally either the Trust’s officers or any Shareholder. All persons extending
credit to, contracting with, or having any claim against the Trust or the
Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series or (if the
Trustees shall have yet to have established the Series) the Trust for payment
under such credit, contract, or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the
Trustees, nor any of their agents, whether past, present, or future, shall
be
personally liable therefore. Nothing in this Trust Instrument shall protect
a
Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee otherwise would be subject
by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee
hereunder.
SECTION
11.02.
TRUSTEE
ACTION. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder
in good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances then prevailing
shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of Article
X hereof and to Section 11.01 of this Article XI, the Trustees shall not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
SECTION
11.03.
ESTABLISHMENT OF RECORD DATES. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders
of any Series (or class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend
or
of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which
shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment,
as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series (or class)
having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a
record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register
or
transfer books for one or more Series (or classes) any time prior to the payment
of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding
the
Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or classes).
The Trustees may fix in advance a date, to be determined by the Trustees and
no
longer than that permitted by applicable law, before the date of any
Shareholders’ meeting, or the date for the payment of any dividends or other
distributions, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any
change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect as a record
date
for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote
at,
any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of such dividend or other
distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise such
rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of
Shares.
23
SECTION
11.04.
TERMINATION OF TRUST.
(a) This
Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions
of
paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04.
(b) The
Trustees, subject to a majority shareholder vote of each Series affected by
the
matter, or, if applicable, to a majority shareholder vote of the Trust, and
subject to a vote of a majority of the Trustees, may:
(i) sell
and
convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any affected
Series to another trust, partnership, association, or corporation, or to a
separate series of shares thereof, organized under the laws of any state, which
trust, partnership, association, or corporation is an open-end management
investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, for
adequate consideration which may include the assumption of all outstanding
obligations, taxes, and other liabilities, accrued or contingent, of the Trust
or any affected Series, and which may include shares of beneficial interest,
stock, or other ownership interests of such trust, partnership, association,
or
corporation or of a series thereof; or
(ii) at
any
time, sell and convert into money all of the assets of the Trust or any affected
series.
Upon
making reasonable provision, in the determination of the Trustees, for the
payment of all such liabilities in either (i) or (ii) of this Section 11.04(b),
by such assumption or otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining
proceeds or assets (as the case may be) of each Series (or class) ratably among
the holders of Shares of that Series then outstanding.
(c) The
Trustees may take any of the actions specified in this Section 11.04(b)(i)
and
(ii) above without obtaining the approval of shareholders if a majority of
the
Trustees determines that the continuation of the Trust or Series (or class)
is
not in the best interests of the Trust, such Series (or class), or their
respective Shareholders as a result of factors or events adversely affecting
the
ability of the Trust or such Series (or class) to conduct its business and
operations in an economically viable manner. Such factors and events may include
the inability of the Trust or a Series (or class) to maintain its assets at
an
appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust or the
Series (or class) or affecting assets of the type in which the Trust or Series
(or class) invests, or economic developments or trends having a significant
adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or such Series (or
class).
(d) Upon
completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the remaining assets
as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04, the Trust or any affected
Series shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of
any
and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the right, title, and
interest of all parties with respect to the Trust or Series shall be canceled
and discharged.
Upon
termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of the Trust’s
business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust’s
certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which
certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
24
SECTION
11.05.
REORGANIZATION. Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees, in order
to
change the form of organization of the Trust, may, without prior Shareholder
approval, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one (1)
or
more trusts, partnerships, associations, or corporations so long as the
surviving or resulting entity is an open-end management investment company
under
the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or assume the Trust’s
registration under that Act and which is formed, organized, or existing under
the laws of a state, commonwealth, territory, possession, or colony of the
United States or (ii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of State
of
Delaware. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or certificate of merger
may
be signed by a majority of Trustees and facsimile signature conveyed by
electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
Pursuant
to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware
Act,
and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument,
an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance
with this Section 11.05 may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument or
effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if the Trust is
the
surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
SECTION
11.06.
FILING
OF COPIES; REFERENCES; HEADINGS. The original or a copy of this Trust Instrument
and the original or a copy of each amendment hereof or Trust Instrument
supplemental hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be
inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a
certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any
such
amendments or supplements have been made and as to any matters in connection
with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if it were the original,
may rely on a copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to be a
copy
of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental Trust
Instrument, and references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions such
as
or similar to “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to
this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental Trust
Instrument. All expressions such as or similar to “his,” “hers,” “he,” “she,”
“him” and “her” shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as
masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference
only
and, in case of any conflict, the text of this Trust Instrument, rather than
the
headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may be executed in any number
of
counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
SECTION
11.07.
APPLICABLE LAW. The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State
of
Delaware, and the Trust and this Trust Instrument, and the rights and
obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed
by
and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the laws of
said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust,
the Trustee or this Trust Instrument (a) the provisions of Section 3540 of
Title
12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common)
of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts
which 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 court or other
governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition of
real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees,
officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and
expenditures to income and 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, which are
inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers
of
the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Trust Instrument. The Trust shall
be of the type commonly called a “Delaware business trust,” and, without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers or privileges
afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the
Delaware 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.
25
SECTION
11.08.
AMENDMENTS. Except as specifically provided herein, a majority of the Trustees,
without shareholder vote, may amend or otherwise supplement this Trust
Instrument by making an amendment, a Trust Instrument supplemental hereto,
or an
amended and restated trust instrument. Shareholders shall have the right to
vote
(i) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in Section
7.01 of the Article VII hereof, (ii) on any amendment to this Section 11.08,
(iii) on any amendment as may be required by law or by the Trust’s registration
statement filed with the Commission, and (iv) on any amendment submitted to
the
Shareholders by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be
submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the
Shareholders of one or more Series shall be authorized by vote of the
Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series
not
affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment
to Article X hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification or insurance
provided therein with respect to action or omission of Covered Persons prior
to
such amendment. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective
immediately upon execution and approval. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust
may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, and any such restatement
and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office
of
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as
may
be stated therein.
SECTION
11.09.
DERIVATIVE ACTIONS. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816
of
the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of
the
Trust only if the following conditions are met:
(a) Shareholders
eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who hold at
least 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust, or 10% of the Outstanding
Shares of the Series or class to which such action relates, shall join in the
request for the Trustees to commence such action; and
(b) 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 advisers 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 advisers in the
event
that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
26
SECTION
11.10.
FISCAL
YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set forth
in
the By-Laws, provided, however, that the Trustees, without Shareholder approval,
may change the fiscal year of the Trust.
SECTION
11.11.
PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW. The provisions of this Trust Instrument 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, with the regulated
investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other
applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed
never
to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however, that
such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this
Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted
prior
to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument shall be held
invalid or improper, unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in
such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any
other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any
jurisdiction.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the Trustees of the Trust, have
executed this instrument this 15th
day of
December, 2006.
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
as
Trustee and not individually
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. XxXxxx
|
||
Xxxxx
X. XxXxxx
as
Trustee and not individually
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
as
Trustee and not individually
|
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
||
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
as
Trustee and not individually
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
as
Trustee and not individually
|
27