ENTREPRENEURSHARES SERIES TRUST AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST (Effective July 2, 2010)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF
TRUST
(Effective
July 2, 2010)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF
TRUST made by Xxxx Xxxxxxx in the City of Babson Park, the State of
Massachusetts, this 2nd day of
July, 2010.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS EntrepreneurShares
Series Trust (the “Trust”) was formed to carry on the business of an investment
company; and
WHEREAS the Trust is
authorized to issue its Shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) in separate
series, each separate series to be a Portfolio hereunder, and to issue Classes
of Shares of any Portfolio or divide Shares of any Portfolio into two or more
Classes, 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby
declare that they will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities and other assets which
the Trust may from time to time acquire and manage and dispose of the same upon
the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders of
Shares in the Trust and the Portfolios created hereunder as hereinafter set
forth.
AGREEMENT:
ARTICLE
I
NAME AND
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Name and
Location. The name of the statutory trust is
EntrepreneurShares Series Trust; and the Trustees shall conduct the business of
the Trust under that name or any other name(s) and in such location(s) as they
may from time to time determine. The Trust shall constitute a
Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act.
Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever
used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically
provided:
(a)
“Bylaws” means the Bylaws of the Trust as amended from time to
time.
(b) “Class”
means any Class of Shares of any Portfolio established and designated under or
in accordance with the provisions of Article IV;
(c) The
“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rules thereunder, all as
amended from time to time;
(d)
“Portfolio” means a series of Shares of the Trust established and designated
under or in accordance with the provisions of Article IV hereof;
(e) “Prospectus”
means a current prospectus under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, including any “statement of additional information” that is
incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
(f) “Shareholder”
means a record owner of Shares;
(g) “Shares”
means the transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in
the Trust and each Portfolio of the Trust and/or any Class of any Portfolio (as
the context may require) shall be divided from time to time;
(h) “Trust”
means the EntrepreneurShares Series Trust, the Delaware statutory trust
established by this Trust Agreement;
(i) “Trust
Agreement” means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended or restated
from time to time;
(j) “Trustees”
means the Trustees of the Trust named herein or appointed or elected in
accordance with Article III; and
(k) “Trust
Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or any Portfolio, or
by the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Portfolio.
ARTICLE
II
PURPOSE AND CERTIFICATE OF
TRUST
2.1 Purpose of
Trust. The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate, and
carry on the business of an open-end management investment company registered
under the 1940 Act through one or more Portfolios investing primarily in
securities, and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to
time determine pursuant to their authority under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
THE
TRUSTEES
Section
3.1 Number,
Designation, Election, Term, etc.
(a) Number. The
initial number of Trustees shall be four (4). The Trustees may
thereafter increase or decrease the number of Trustees to a number other than
the number theretofore determined. No decrease in the number of
Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the
expiration of his term, but the number of Trustees may be decreased in
conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to subsection (d) of this
Section 3.1.
(b) Term of Office of
Trustees. Each Trustee shall serve during the life of the
Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided, except as such Trustee
sooner dies, resigns, retires, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of
appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed. Subject to Section 16(a) of
the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their own successors and may, pursuant to
Section 3.1(e) hereof, appoint Trustees to fill vacancies.
(c) Resignation and
Retirement. Any Trustee may resign or retire, by written
instrument signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees or to any officer
of the Trust, and such resignation or retirement shall take effect upon such
delivery or upon such later date as is specified in such instrument and shall be
effective as to the Trust and each Portfolio hereunder.
(d) Removal. Any
Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time (i) by vote of
Shareholders holding not less than a majority of the Shares then outstanding,
cast in person or by proxy at any meeting called for the purpose; or (ii) by a
written declaration signed by Shareholders holding not less than a majority of
the Shares then outstanding and filed with the Trust’s custodian. Any
removal pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be effective as to the Trust and
each Portfolio hereunder.
(e) Vacancies. In
the case, of any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from any reason,
including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement, removal or
incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in the number
of Trustees by the other Trustees, the other Trustees shall have all the powers
hereunder and the certification of the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be
conclusive. Any vacancy may be filled by a majority of the remaining
Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, through
the appointment in writing of such other person as such remaining Trustees in
their discretion shall determine. Such appointment shall be effective
upon the written acceptance of the person named therein to serve as a Trustee
and agreement by such person to be bound by the provisions of this Trust
Agreement, except that any such appointment in anticipation of a vacancy to
occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees, to
be effective at a later date, 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 so appointed shall have accepted
such appointment and shall have agreed in writing to be bound by this Trust
Agreement and the appointment is effective, the Trust estate shall vest in the
new Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or
conveyance. Unless required by any applicable provisions of the 1940
Act, no vacancy need be filled so long as there are at least two remaining
trustees.
(f) Effect of Death,
Resignation, etc. The death, resignation, retirement, removal
or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul or
terminate the Trust or any Portfolio hereunder or to revoke or terminate any
existing agency or contract created or entered into pursuant to the terms of
this Trust Agreement.
(g) No
Accounting. Except to the extent required by any applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act or under circumstances that would justify his removal
for cause, no person ceasing to be a Trustee as a result of his death,
resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity (nor the estate of any such
person) shall be required to make an accounting to the Shareholders or remaining
Trustees upon such cessation.
Section
3.2 Powers of
Trustees. Subject to the provisions of this Trust Agreement,
the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have
all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility and the
purpose of the Trust. 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 and operation of the Trust. Trustees shall have full
authority and absolute power and control over the assets of the Trust and the
business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners
of the assets of the Trust and the business in their own right, including such
authority, power and control to do all acts and things as they, in their
discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this
Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, and to the extent not
inconsistent with the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Trustees shall have
power and authority:
(a) Bylaws. To
adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement providing for the
conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to
the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that right to the
Shareholders;
(b) Portfolios. To
establish Portfolios, each such Portfolio to operate as a separate and distinct
investment medium and with separately defined investment objectives and policies
and distinct investment purposes, and to establish Classes of Shares of any
Portfolio or divide the Shares of any Portfolio into Classes;
(c) Officers, Employees, Agents,
and Consultants. To hire and terminate elect and remove such
officers and employees and appoint and terminate such agents and consultants as
they consider appropriate and to provide for the compensation of all of the
foregoing;
(d) Committees. To
appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees
consisting of two or more Trustees, including without implied limitation an
executive committee, which may, when the Trustees are not in session and subject
to any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, exercise some or all of the power
and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine;
(e) Service
Providers. To employ one or more advisers, administrators,
depositories and custodians and authorize any depository or custodian to employ
subcustodians or agents and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a
system or systems for the central handling of securities and debt instruments,
retain transfer, dividend disbursing, accounting or Shareholder servicing agents
or any of the foregoing, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust
through one or more distributors, principal underwriters or otherwise, and set
record dates or times for the determination of Shareholders with respect to
various matters;
(f) Compensation. To
compensate or provide for the compensation of the Trustees, officers, advisers,
administrators, custodians, other agents, consultants and employees of the Trust
or the Trustees on such terms as they deem appropriate;
(g) Delegation. To
delegate to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to
any employee, adviser, administrator, distributor, depository, custodian,
transfer and dividend disbursing agent, or any other agent or consultant of the
Trust such authority, powers, functions and duties as they consider desirable or
appropriate for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust, including
without implied limitation the power and authority to act in the name of the
Trust and any Portfolio and of the Trustees, to sign documents and to act as
attorney-in-fact for the Trustees;
(h) Investments. To
invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property
uninvested in accordance with the investment policies and restrictions of each
Portfolio as set out from time to time in the prospectus for the
Portfolio;
(i) Disposition of
Assets. To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, hypothecate, write
options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(j) Ownership
Powers. To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of
ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, debt instruments or
property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such
person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or
persons such power and discretion with relation to securities, debt instruments
or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(k) Subscription. To
exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner
arise out of ownership of securities or debt instruments;
(l) Form of
Holding. To hold any security, debt instrument or property in
a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other
negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or of any
Portfolio or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depository or a
nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(m) Reorganization,
etc. To consent to or participate in any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any
security or debt instrument of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any
contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or
issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or debt
instrument held in the Trust;
(n) Voting Trusts,
etc. To join with other holders of any securities or debt
instruments in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or
otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or debt instrument
with, or transfer any security or debt instrument to, any such committee,
depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with
relation to any security or debt instrument (whether or not so deposited or
transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay,
such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depository or
trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(o) Compromise. To
compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the
Trust or any Portfolio or any matter in controversy, including but not limited
to claims for taxes;
(p) Partnerships,
etc. To enter into joint ventures, general or limited
partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(q) Borrowing and
Security. To borrow funds or other property in the name of the
Trust exclusively for Trust purposes, and in connection therewith, to issue
notes or other evidence of indebtedness, and to mortgage and pledge the assets
of the Trust or any part thereof to secure any or all of such
indebtedness;
(r) Guarantees,
etc. To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the
Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such
obligations;
(s) Insurance. To
purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as the
Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business,
including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the
Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its Portfolio investments,
and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees,
agents, consultants, investment advisers, managers, administrators,
distributors, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust
individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by
reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by
reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person in
any such capacity, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined
to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability;
(t) Pensions
etc. To adopt, establish and carry out pension,
profit-sharing, Share bonus, Share purchase, savings, thrift and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trust and provisions, including the
purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such
retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust; and
(u) Distribution
Plans. To adopt on behalf of the Trust or any Portfolio or any
Class thereof a plan of distribution and related agreements thereto pursuant to
the terms of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and to make payments from the assets
of the Trust or the relevant Portfolio or Portfolios pursuant to said Rule 12b-1
Plan.
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 Portfolio, 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
3.3 Certain
Contracts. Subject to compliance with any applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time
and without limiting the generality of their powers and authority otherwise set
forth herein, enter into one or more contracts with any one or more
corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, other
type of organizations, or individuals (a “Contracting Party”), to provide for
the performance and assumption of some or all of the following services, duties
and responsibilities to, for or on behalf of the Trust and/or any Portfolio,
and/or any Class of Shares, and/or the Trustees, and to provide for the
performance and assumption of such other services, duties and responsibilities
in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may determine
appropriate:
(a) Advisory. Subject
to any directions of the Trustees and in accordance with the investment policies
and restrictions of each Portfolio as set out from time to time in the
prospectus for the Portfolio, with respect to the investments of the Trust or
the assets belonging to any Portfolio of the Trust (as that phrase is defined in
subsection (a) of Section 4.3 hereof), to manage such investments and assets,
make investment decisions with respect thereto, and to place purchase and sale
orders for Portfolio transactions relating to such investments and
assets;
(b) Administration. Subject
to any directions of the Trustees and in conformity with any policies of the
Trustees with respect to the operations of the Trust and each Portfolio
(including each Class thereof), to supervise all or any part of the operations
of the Trust and each Portfolio, and to provide all or any part of the
administrative and clerical personnel, office space and office equipment and
services appropriate for the efficient administration and operations of the
Trust and each Portfolio;
(c) Distribution. To
distribute the Shares of the Trust and each Portfolio (including any Classes
thereof), through a principal underwriter of such Shares or
otherwise;
(d) Custodian and
Depository. To act as depository for and to maintain custody
of the property of the Trust and each Portfolio and accounting records in
connection therewith;
(e) Transfer and Dividend
Disbursing Agent. To maintain records of the ownership of
outstanding Shares, the issuance and redemption and the transfer thereof, and to
disburse any dividends declared by the Trustees and in accordance with the
policies of the Trustees and/or the instructions of any particular Shareholder
to reinvest any such dividends;
(f) Shareholder
Servicing. To provide services with respect to the
relationship of the Trust and its Shareholders, records with respect to
Shareholders and their Shares, and similar matters; and
(g) Accounting. To
handle all or any part of the accounting and auditing responsibilities, whether
with respect to the Trust’s Property, Shareholders or otherwise.
The same
person may be the Contracting Party for some or all of the services, duties and
responsibilities to, for and of the Trust and/or the Trustees, and the contracts
with respect thereto may contain such terms interpretive of or in addition to
the delineation of the services, duties and responsibilities provided for in
this Section 3.3, including provisions that are not inconsistent with any
applicable requirement of the 1940 Act relating to the standard of duty of and
the rights to indemnification of the Contracting Party and others, as the
Trustees may determine. Nothing herein shall preclude, prevent or
limit the Trust or a Contracting Party from entering into sub-contractual
arrangements relative to any of the matters referred to in Sections 3.3(a)
through (g) hereof.
The fact
that:
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(i)
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any
of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a Shareholder,
director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, investment
adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any
Contracting Party, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Contracting
Party or that the Contracting Party or any parent or affiliate thereof is
a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust or any Portfolio, or
that
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(ii)
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any
Contracting Party may have a contract providing for the rendering of any
similar services to one or more other corporations, trusts, associations,
partnerships, limited partnerships or other organizations, or have other
business or interests,
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shall not
affect the validity of any contract for the performance and assumption of
services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the Trust or any Portfolio
and/or the Trustees or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the
Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or
accountability to the Trust, any Portfolio or its Shareholders, provided that,
in the case of any relationship or interest referred to in the preceding clause
(i) on the part of any Trustee or officer of the Trust either (x) the material
facts as to such relationship or interest and the contract involved is approved
in good faith by a majority of such Trustees not having any such relationship or
interest (even though such unrelated or disinterested Trustees are less than a
quorum of all of the Trustees), (y) the material facts as to such relationship
or interest and as to the contract have been disclosed to or are known by the
Shareholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract involved is specifically
approved in good faith by vote of the Shareholders or, (z) the specific contract
involved is fair to the Trust as of the time it is authorized, approved or
ratified by the Trustees or by the Shareholders.
Section
3.4 Payment of Trust
Expenses and Compensation of Trustees. The Trustees are
authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the
Trust or any Portfolio, or partly out of principal and partly out of income, and
to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the
Portfolios and/or one or more Classes of Shares thereof that may be established
and designated pursuant to Article IV, as the Trustees deem fair, all expenses,
fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the
Trust, any Portfolio and/or any Class of Shares thereof, or in connection with
the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’
compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s
officers, employees, investment adviser, administrator, distributor, principal
underwriter, auditors, counsel, depository, custodian, transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, accounting agent, Shareholder servicing agent, and such other
agents, consultants, and independent contractors and such other expenses and
charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to
incur. Without limiting the generality of any other provision hereof,
the Trustees shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust for
their services as Trustees and may fix the amount of such
compensation.
Section
3.5 Ownership of
Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust
and each Portfolio shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees on
behalf of the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal
title to any Trust property to be held in the name of the Trust, or in the name
of any other person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may
determine. 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 the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee, he or
she 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.
Section
3.6 Series
Trustees. In connection with the establishment of one or more
Series or Classes, the Trustees establishing such Series or Class may appoint,
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, separate Trustees with respect to such
Series or Classes (the “Series Trustees”). Series Trustees may, but
are not required to, serve as Trustees of the Trust of any other Series or Class
of the Trust. To the extent provided by the Trustees in the
appointment of Series Trustees, the Series Trustees may have, to the exclusion
of any other Trustee of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees
hereunder with respect to such Series or Class, but may have no power or
authority with respect to any other Series or Class (unless the Trustees permit
such Series Trustees to create new Classes within such Series). Any
provision of this Trust Instrument relating to election of Trustees by
Shareholders shall entitle only the Shareholders of a Series or Class for which
Series Trustees have been appointed to vote with respect to the election of such
Trustees and the Shareholders of any other Series or Class shall not be entitled
to participate in such vote. If Series Trustees are appointed, the
Trustees initially appointing such Series Trustees may, without the approval of
any outstanding Shares, amend either this Trust Instrument or the By-laws to
provide for the respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Series
Trustees in circumstances where an action of the Trustees or Series Trustees
affects all Series and Classes of the Trust or two or more Series or Classes
represented by different Trustees.
Section
3.7 Action by
Trustees. Except as otherwise provided by applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act or other applicable law, this Trust Agreement or the
Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees on behalf of or with respect to
the Trust or any Portfolio or Class thereof may be taken by (a) a majority
vote of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum, consisting of
at least one-half of the Trustees then in office, being present), within or
without Delaware, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone
or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and participation by such
means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents
of a majority of the Trustees then in office; or (b) without a vote if a consent
or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by a
majority of the Trustees.
ARTICLE
IV
SHARES
Section
4.1 Beneficial
Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be
divided into an unlimited number of Shares, all without par value.
Section
4.2 Portfolios and
Classes.
(a) The
Trustees shall have the authority from time to time to issue Shares in one or
more series (each of which series of Shares shall represent the beneficial
interest in a separate and distinct Portfolio of the Trust, including without
limitation each Portfolio specifically established and designated in Schedule A,
as they deem necessary or desirable. The Trustees shall have
exclusive power without the requirement of Shareholder approval to establish and
designate all terms and conditions of such separate and distinct Portfolios,
including as to fees and charges, right of redemption and the price, terms and
manner of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and other
distributions and on liquidation, sinking or purchase fund provisions,
conversion rights, conditions under which the several Portfolios shall have
separate voting rights or no voting rights, and arrangements for distribution
and administration.
(b) The
Trustees shall have exclusive power, without the requirement of Shareholder
approval, to issue Classes of Shares of any Portfolio or divide the Shares of
any Portfolio into Classes, and to establish all terms and conditions of each
Class, including as to fees, charges, right of redemption and the price terms
and manner of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and other
distributions and on liquidation, sinking or purchase fund provisions,
conversion rights, conditions under which several Portfolios shall have separate
voting rights or no voting rights, and arrangements for distribution or
administration. The fact that a Portfolio shall have initially been
established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of
Classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Portfolio are initially of a single
Class), or that a Portfolio shall have more than one established and designated
Class, shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to establish and designate
or redesignate separate Classes, or one or more further Classes, of said
Portfolio without approval of the holders of the initial Class
thereof.
(c) The
number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Portfolio or Class
thereof that may be issued is unlimited, and the Trustees may issue Shares of
any Portfolio or Class thereof for such consideration and on such terms as they
may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share dividend or
split-up), all without action or approval of the Shareholders. All
Shares when so issued on the terms determined by the Trustees shall be full paid
and non-assessable (but may be subject to any deemed contribution of capital as
described in Section 4.3(h) below). The Trustees may classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired by
any Portfolio or Class thereof into one or more Portfolios or Classes thereof
that may be established and designated from time to time. The
Trustees may hold as treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such
terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time,
any Shares of any Portfolio or Class thereof reacquired by the
Trust.
(d) The
Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books or establish record
dates and times for the purpose of determining the holders of Shares entitled to
be treated as such, in accordance with the provisions of the Trust’s
Bylaws.
(e) The
establishment and designation of any Portfolio or of any Class of Shares of any
Portfolio in addition to those established and designated in Section 4.2 shall
be effective (i) upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an
instrument setting forth such establishment and designation of the relative
rights and preferences of the Shares of such Portfolio or Class, (ii) upon the
execution of an instrument in writing by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the
vote of a majority of the Trustees, or (iii) as otherwise provided in either
such instrument. At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of
any particular Portfolio or Class previously established and designated, the
Trustees may by an instrument executed by a majority of their number (or by an
instrument executed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a
majority of the Trustees) abolish that Portfolio or Class and the establishment
and designation thereof. Each instrument establishing and designating
any Portfolio shall have the status of an amendment to this Trust
Agreement.
(f) Any
Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any
such person is interested may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of any
Portfolio (including any Classes thereof) of the Trust to the same extent as if
such person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the
Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may purchase Shares
of any Portfolio (including any Classes thereof) from any such person or any
such organization subject only to the general limitations, restrictions or other
provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of Shares of such Portfolio
(including any Classes thereof) generally.
Section
4.3 Relative Rights
and Preferences Among Portfolios. The Shares of such Portfolios and any
Shares of any further Portfolio that may from time to time be established and
designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise with respect to
some further Portfolio at the time of establishing and designating the same)
have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets Belonging to
Portfolios. All net consideration received by the Trust for
the issuance or sale of Shares of a particular Portfolio or any Classes thereof,
together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested,
all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including, without
limitation, 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 by the Trustees in trust for the
benefit of the holders of Shares of that Portfolio and shall irrevocably belong
to the Portfolio for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of
such Portfolio, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the
Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits, and
proceeds thereof, including, without limitation, 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,
together with any General Items (as hereinafter defined) allocated to that
Portfolio as provided in the following sentence, are herein referred to as
“assets belonging to” that Portfolio. In the event that there are any
assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments
which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Portfolio
(collectively “General Items”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Items
to, between or among any one or more of the Portfolios established and
designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their
sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Any General Items so
allocated to a particular Portfolio shall belong to that
Portfolio. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive
and binding upon the holders of all Shares of all Portfolios for all
purposes.
(b) Liabilities Belonging to
Portfolios. The assets belonging to each particular Portfolio
shall be charged with the liabilities in respect of that Portfolio and all
expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that
Portfolio. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or
reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Portfolio shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to, between
or among any one or more of the Portfolios established and designated from time
to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole
discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges and reserves so allocated by the Trustees shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders, creditors and any other persons dealing with the
Trust or any Portfolio (including any Classes thereof) for all
purposes. Any creditor of any Portfolio may look only to the assets
of that Portfolio to satisfy such creditor’s debt.
(c) Dividends. Dividends
and distributions on Shares of a particular Portfolio may be paid with such
frequency as the Trustees may determine, which may be daily or otherwise
pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such
frequency as the Trustees may determine to the holders of Shares of that
Portfolio, from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from
the assets belonging to that Portfolio, as the Trustees may determine, after
providing for actual and accrued liabilities belonging to that
Portfolio. All dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular
Portfolio thereof shall be distributed pro rata to each holder of Shares of that
Portfolio in proportion to the total net asset value of Shares of that Portfolio
held by such holder at the date and time of record established for the payment
of such dividends or distributions, except that, in connection with any dividend
or distribution program or procedure, the Trustees may determine that no
dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to which the
Shareholder’s purchase order and/or payments have not been received by the time
or times established by the Trustees under such program or
procedure. Such dividends and distributions may be made in cash or
Shares of that Portfolio or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees
or pursuant to any program that the Trustees may have in effect at the time for
the election by each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such dividend or
distribution to that Shareholder. Any such dividend or distribution
paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in
accordance with subsection (h) of this Section 4.3.
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.
(d) Liquidation. In
the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or any Portfolio
thereof, the holders of Shares of each affected Portfolio shall be entitled to
receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets
belonging to that Portfolio over the liabilities belonging to that
Portfolio. The assets so distributable to the holders of Shares of
any particular Portfolio shall be distributed among such holders in proportion
to the aggregate net asset value of all the Shares of that Portfolio held by
them and recorded on the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any
particular Portfolio or Class thereof may be authorized at any time by vote of a
majority of the Trustees then in office.
(e) Voting. On
each matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, each holder of a Share
shall be entitled to one vote for each whole Share standing in his name on the
books of the Trust irrespective of the Portfolio, and all Shares of all
Portfolios shall vote together; provided, however, that (i) as to any matter
with respect to which a separate vote of one or more Portfolios or Classes is
required by any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, such requirement shall
apply in lieu of all Shares of all Portfolios voting together; and (ii) in any
event, as to any matter which affects only the interests of one or more
particular Portfolios or Classes, only the holders of Shares of the one or more
affected Portfolios or Classes shall be entitled to vote, and each such
Portfolio or Class shall vote as a separate class.
(f) Redemption by
Shareholder. Each holder of Shares of a particular Portfolio
shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust, consistent
with the requirements of the 1940 Act, to require the Trust to redeem all or any
part of his Shares of that Portfolio on terms consistent with any applicable
requirements of the 1940 Act and at a redemption price equal to the net asset
value per Share of that Portfolio or Class thereof determined in accordance with
subsection (h) of this Section 4.3 after the Shares are properly tendered for
redemption, subject to any contingent deferred sales charge or redemption charge
in effect at the time of redemption. Payment of the redemption price
shall be in cash; provided that, if the Trustees determine (which determination
shall be conclusive) that conditions exist that make payment wholly in cash
unwise or undesirable, the Trust may, subject to requirements of the 1940 Act,
make payment wholly or partly in securities or other assets belonging to the
Portfolio of which the Shares being redeemed are part at the value of such
securities or other assets used in such determination of net asset
value.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the redemption price and may
suspend the right of the holders of Shares of any Portfolio to require the Trust
to redeem Shares of that Portfolio during any period or at any time when (and to
the extent) permissible under the 1940 Act.
(g) Redemption by
Trust. Each Share of each Portfolio is subject to redemption
by and at the option of the Trust at the redemption price that would be
applicable if such Share was then being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to
subsection (f) of this Section 4.3: (i) at any time, if the Trustees
determine in their sole discretion that failure to so redeem may have materially
adverse consequences to the Trust or any Portfolio or to the holders of the
Shares of the Trust or any Portfolio thereof or Class thereof, or (ii) upon such
other conditions as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set
forth in the then current Prospectus of the Trust. Upon such
redemption, the holders of the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right
with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such redemption
price.
(h) Net Asset
Value. The net asset value per Share of any Portfolio that has
only one Class of Shares outstanding shall be (i) the quotient obtained by
dividing the value of the net assets of that Portfolio (being the value of the
assets belonging to that Portfolio less the liabilities belonging to that
Portfolio) by the total number of Shares of that Portfolio outstanding; all
determined in accordance with the methods and procedures, including without
limitation those with respect to rounding, established by the Trustees from time
to time.
The
Trustees may determine to maintain the net asset value per Share of any
Portfolio at a designated constant dollar amount and in connection therewith may
adopt procedures not inconsistent with any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act
for the continuing declarations of income attributable to that Portfolio as
dividends payable in additional Shares of that Portfolio at the designated
constant dollar amount and for the handling of any losses attributable to that
Portfolio. Such procedures may provide that in the event of any loss
each Shareholder shall be deemed to have contributed to the capital of the Trust
attributable to that Portfolio his pro rata portion of the total number of
Shares required to be canceled in order to permit the net asset value per Share
of that Portfolio to be maintained, after reflecting such loss, at the
designated constant dollar amount. Each Shareholder of the Trust
shall be deemed to have agreed, by his investment in any Portfolio with respect
to which the Trustees shall have adopted any such procedure, to make the
contribution referred to in the preceding sentence in the event of any such
loss.
(i) Transfer. All
Shares of each Portfolio shall be transferable, but transfers of Shares will be
recorded on the Share transfer records of the Trust applicable to a Portfolio
only at such times as Shareholders shall have the right to require the Trust to
redeem Shares of that Portfolio and of the same Class and at such other times as
may be permitted by the Trustees.
(j) Equality. Except
as provided herein or in the instrument designating and establishing any
Portfolio or Class thereof, all Shares of each particular Portfolio shall
represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that
Portfolio, subject to the liabilities belonging to that Portfolio, and each
Share of any Portfolio shall be equal to each other Share of that Portfolio or
Class; but the provisions of this sentence shall not restrict any distinctions
permissible under subsection (c) of this Section 4.2 that may exist with respect
to dividends and distributions on Shares of the same Portfolio or
Class. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the
Shares of any Portfolio into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that
Portfolio without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the
assets belonging to that Portfolio or those Shares or in any way affecting the
rights of any Shares of any Portfolio.
(k) Fractions. Any
fractional Share of any Portfolio shall carry proportionately all the rights and
obligations of a whole Share of that Portfolio, including rights and obligations
with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of
Shares, and liquidation of the Trust.
Section
4.4 Conversion
Rights. Subject to compliance with any applicable requirements
of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide that holders
of Shares of any Portfolio or Class thereof shall have the right to convert said
Shares into Shares of one or more other Portfolios or Classes thereof in
accordance with such requirements and procedures as may established by the
Trustees.
Section
4.5 Class
Differences. The relative rights and preferences of the
Classes of any Portfolio may differ in such respects as the Trustees may
determine to be appropriate in their sole discretion. Except as so
set forth, all Classes of the same Portfolio’s Shares shall have equal rights
and preferences.
Section
4.6 Ownership of
Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books
of the Trust or of a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall
be maintained separately for the Shares of each Portfolio and each Class thereof
that has been established and designated. No certificates certifying
the ownership of Shares need be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise
determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they
consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the use of
facsimile signatures, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The
record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent,
as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders and as to
the number of Shares of each Portfolio and Class thereof held from time to time
by each such Shareholder.
Section
4.7 Investments in the
Trust. The Trustees may accept investments in the Trust and
each Portfolio from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration,
not inconsistent with any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, as they from
time to time authorize. The Trustees may authorize any distributor,
principal underwriter, custodian, transfer agent or other person to accept
orders for the purchase of Shares that conform to such authorized terms and to
reject any purchase orders for Shares whether or not conforming to such
authorized terms.
Section
4.8 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
any Portfolio.
Section
4.9 Status of Shares
and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed
to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Trust
Agreement. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder
shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to
have become a party hereto. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the
Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or
right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor
shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders to be
partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any
Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein 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.
Section
4.10 No Appraisal
Rights. Shareholders shall have no right to demand payment for
their Shares or any other rights of dissenting Shareholders in the event the
Trust participates in any transaction which would give rise to appraisal or
dissenters’ rights by a Shareholder of a corporation organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise.
ARTICLE
V
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS
AND MEETING
Section
5.1 Voting
Powers. Shareholders shall have power to vote
only: (i) to elect Trustees, provided that a meeting of Shareholders
has been called for that purpose; (ii) to remove Trustees, provided that a
meeting of Shareholders has been called for that purpose; (iii) with respect to
the matters covered in Section 5.2 below; and (iv) approve such additional
matters as may be required by law or as the Trustees, in their sole discretion,
shall determine.
Until
Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may
take any action required or permitted by law, this Trust Agreement or any of the
Bylaws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.
The vote
necessary to approve any matter shall be set forth in the Bylaws, except as set
forth in Section 5.2.
Section
5.2 Additional Voting
Powers and Voting Requirements for Certain
Actions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust
Agreement, the Shareholder approval shall be required to approve any amendment
to Article VI of this Trust Agreement that would have the effect of increasing
the liability (or potential liability) or reducing the indemnification available
to Shareholders or former Shareholders. Any such action, as well as
any repeal or amendment of this Section 5.2 shall require the affirmative vote
or consent of Shareholders owning at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Shares
entitled to vote thereon.
Section
5.3 Non
Exclusivity. The voting requirements set forth in this Section
5.2 shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any vote or consent of the
Shareholders otherwise required by applicable law (including, without
limitation, any separate vote by Portfolio (or Class) that may be required by
the 1940 Act or by other applicable law) or by this Trust
Agreement.
ARTICLE
VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY;
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
6.1 Trustees. Shareholders,
etc. Not Personally Liable: Notice. All
persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the
Trust shall look only to the assets of the Portfolio with which such person
dealt for payment under such credit, contract or claim. Neither the
Shareholders of any Portfolio, nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s
officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be
personally liable therefor. Every note, bond, contract, instrument,
certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or
done by or on behalf of the Trust, any Portfolio or the Trustees or any of them
in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed
or done only by or for the Trust (or the Portfolio) or by or for the Trustees in
their official capacity with the Trust and not personally. Nothing in
this Trust Agreement shall protect any Trustee, officer, employee or agent
against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders to which such Trustee or
officer would otherwise 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 or of such officer.
Every
note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by
the Trustees or by any duly authorized officer shall give notice that the same
was executed or made by or on behalf of the relevant Portfolio or Portfolios of
the Trust or by them as Trustees or as officers and not individually and that
the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the
Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of
such Portfolio or Portfolios, as the case may be. However, the
omission of any such notice shall not operate to bind any Trustee, officer or
Shareholder individually or otherwise invalidate any such note, bond, contract,
instrument, certificate or undertaking.
Section
6.2 Trustees’ Good
Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond Surety. The exercise by
the Trustees of their powers and discretion hereunder shall be binding upon all
interested persons and entities. A Trustee shall be liable for his
own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing
else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or
law. Subject to the foregoing, (a) no Trustee shall be
responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any other
officer, agent, employee, consultant, investment adviser, administrator,
distributor or principal underwriter, custodian or transfer, dividend
disbursing, Shareholder servicing or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall
any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee; (b) the
Trustees may take advice of counsel or other qualified persons with respect to
the meaning and operation of this Trust Agreement and their duties as Trustees,
and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such
advice or for failing to follow such advice; and (c) in discharging their
duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon
the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees
by any officer appointed by them, any independent public accountant, and (with
respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or
responsible employee of a Contracting Party appointed by the Trustees pursuant
to Section 3.3 The Trustees as such shall not be required to give any bond or
surety or any other security for the performance of their duties.
Section
6.3 Indemnification of
Shareholders. In case any Shareholder (or former Shareholder)
of any Portfolio of the Trust or Class shall be charged or held to be personally
liable for any obligation or liability of the Trust solely by reason of being or
having been a Shareholder and not because of such Shareholder’s acts or
omissions or for some other reason, said Portfolio (upon proper and timely
request by the Shareholder) shall assume the defense against such charge and
satisfy any judgment thereon, and the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or in
the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general
successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of said Portfolio to be held
harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such
liability.
Section
6.4 Indemnification of
Trustees, Officers, etc. The Trust shall indemnify (from the
assets of the Portfolio or Portfolios in question) each of its Trustees and
officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors,
officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest
as a Shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as “Covered
Persons”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in
satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and
expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any
Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit
or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or
administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may
have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or
may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or
having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect
to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered Person had
acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office
(such conduct referred to hereinafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A
determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made
by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the
proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified was not liable by
reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an
administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence
of Disabling Conduct, (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of
the facts, that the Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct
by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested
persons” of the Trust as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties
to the proceeding (“disinterested Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) as otherwise permitted by the 1940
Act. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by
any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of
judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to
time by the Portfolio(s) in question in advance of the final disposition of any
such action, suit or proceeding, provided that the Covered Person shall have
undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to the Portfolio(s) in question if it is
ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized
under this Article V and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for
such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by
reason of any lawful advances, (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested
Trustees who are not a party to the proceeding, or an independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason
to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification; or (iv) as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
7.1 Duration and
Termination of Trust.
(a) Unless
terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of
time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority
of the Shares of each Portfolio entitled to vote, or by the Trustees by written
notice to the Shareholders. Any Portfolio or Class of Shares thereof
may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of such
Portfolio or Class entitled to vote or by the Trustees by written notice to the
Shareholders of such Portfolio or Class.
(b) Upon
the requisite Shareholder vote or action by the Trustees to terminate the Trust
or any one or more Portfolios or Classes of Shares thereof, after paying or
otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses, and liabilities, whether
due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular Portfolio or
any Class thereof as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in
accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the
remaining assets of the Trust or of the affected Portfolio or Class to
distributable form in cash or Shares (if any Portfolio remain) or other
securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the
Shareholders of the Portfolios or Classes involved, ratably according to the
total net asset value of Shares of such Portfolios or Classes held by each
affected Shareholder on the date of distribution. Thereupon, the
Trust or any affected Portfolio or Class shall terminate and the Trustees and
the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties
relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title, and interest of all
parties with respect to the Trust or such Portfolio or Class shall be canceled
and discharged.
(c) Upon
termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its business,
the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust’s
Certificate of Trust to be filed in accordance with Section 3810(d) of the
Delaware General Corporation, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by
any one Trustee.
Section
7.2 Reorganization. Notwithstanding
anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such
approval is required by applicable law, (i) cause the Trust to merge or
consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, associations,
corporations or other business entities (including trusts, partnerships,
associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to
accomplish such merger or consolidation), or with or into any separate Portfolio
or Portfolios of any thereof, 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 the 1940
Act and that is formed, organized, or existing under the laws of the United
States or of a state, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, (ii)
cause any one or more Portfolio of the Trust to merge or consolidate with or
into any one or more of the other Portfolios of the Trust, one or more trusts
(or series thereof), partnerships, associations, corporations (iii) cause the
Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute, (iv)
cause a sale of all, or substantially all, assets of the Trust or any one or
more of its Portfolios or (v) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of
any jurisdiction. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or
exchange or certificate or merger may be signed by a majority of the Trustees
and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall
be valid.
Section
7.3 Amendments.
This Trust Agreement may be restated and/or amended at any time by an instrument
in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees then holding office. 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. No amendment shall impair the limitations on personal
liability of any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
or permit assessments upon Shareholders.
Section
7.4 Filing of
Copies. References: Headings. The
original or a copy of this instrument and of each restatement or amendment
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 of the Trust as to whether or not any such restatements or
amendments have been made, as to the identities of the Trustees and officers,
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 of
the Trust to be a copy of this instrument, and all expressions like “herein,”
“hereof’ and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as a whole
as the same may be amended or affected by any such restatements or
amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference
only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning,
construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section
7.5 Applicable
Law. This Trust Agreement is created under and is to be
governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of
Delaware. The Trust shall be of the type referred to in Section 3801
of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and of the type commonly called a statutory
trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all
powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Section
7.6 Resident
Agent. Corporation Trust Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx xx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Newcastle, Delaware was designated as the initial resident
agent of the Trust in Delaware.
*
* *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Trustee named below does hereby make and enter into this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust effective as of the date first above written.
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Trustee