THE CUSHING ROYALTY & INCOME FUND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Exhibit 99.(a)(iii)
THE XXXXXXX ROYALTY & INCOME FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of July 19, 2011, and
amends and restates in its entirety the Declaration of Trust dated as of July 18, 2011, by Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx, as sole trustee.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, by the filing of the Certificate and the execution of the Original Declaration of
Trust, the Initial Trustee established the Trust on July 18, 2011 as a statutory trust under the
Delaware Act for the purpose of (i) operating as a closed-end management investment company in
accordance with the 1940 Act and (ii) engaging in such other activities as are necessary,
convenient or incidental thereto;
WHEREAS, the Initial Trustee desires to amend and restate in its entirety the Original
Declaration of Trust;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Initial Trustee hereby amends and restates in its entirety the Original
Declaration of Trust as provided herein and declares that all money and property hereafter
contributed to the Trust shall be held and managed in trust for the benefit of the Shareholders of
beneficial interests issued hereunder from time to time and subject to the provisions hereof, to
wit:
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.
Name. The name of the Trust continued by this Declaration of Trust is “The Xxxxxxx Royalty
& Income Fund” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any
other name or names as they may from time to time determine and the Trustees may, without
Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof. In the event of
any such change, the Trustees shall cause notice to be given to the affected Shareholders within a
reasonable time after the implementation of such change.
Section 2.
Definitions. Unless otherwise provided or required by the context:
(a) “Acquisition” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(b) “Administrator” means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract described in
Article III, Section 3 hereof.
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(c) “By-Laws” means the By-Laws of the Trust adopted by the Trustees, as amended from time to
time, which By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing
instrument” within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
(d) “Certificate” means the certificate of trust of the Trust as filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State on July 18, 2011, as amended and restated from time to time, in accordance with
the Delaware Act.
(e) “Class” means, as applicable, any class of Shares of the Trust or any class of Shares of
any Series established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article V.
(f) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor statute), as amended.
(g) “Commission,” “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” have the meanings provided
in the 1940 Act. Except as such term may be otherwise defined by the Trustees in conjunction with
the establishment of any Series of Shares, the term “vote of a majority of the Shares outstanding
and entitled to vote” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to the term “vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities” in the 1940 Act.
(h) “Covered Person” means a person so defined in Article IV, Section 3.
(i) “Custodian” means any Person other than the Trust who has custody of any Trust Property as
required by Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act, but does not include a system for the central handling
of securities described in said Section 17(f).
(j) “Declaration” means this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as
amended or restated from time to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to “Declaration,”
“Declaration of Trust,” “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this
Declaration rather than exclusively to the article or section in which such words appear.
(k) “Delaware Act” means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801
et seq., as amended from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.
(l) “Distributor” means the party or parties, other than the Trust, to the contract described
in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
(m) “Eligible Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(n) “Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation section 1.382-3(a)(1).
(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, both as amended from time to time.
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(p) “Excess Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(q) “Five Percent Shareholder” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(r) “His” shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the masculine, genders.
(s) “Initial Trustee” means Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, in his capacity as the initial trustee of the
Trust under the Original Declaration of Trust.
(t) “Intended Transferee Group” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(u) “Investment Adviser” means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract described in
Article III, Section 2 hereof.
(v) “Net Asset Value” means the net asset value of the Trust, or, if applicable, each Series
of the Trust, determined as provided in Article VI, Section 3.
(w) “Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(x) “Original Declaration of Trust” means the Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of
July 18, 2011, as in effect from time to time up to the effectiveness of this Declaration of Trust;
(y) “Other Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(z) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations,
joint ventures, estates and other Entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and
agencies and political subdivisions, thereof, whether domestic or foreign.
(aa) “Restricted Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(bb) “Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(cc) “Securities” shall mean (i) any Shares, (ii) any warrants, rights or options (including
within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v)) to purchase Shares, or (iii) any
other interests that would be treated as “stock” of the Trust pursuant to Treasury Regulation §
1.382-2T(f)(18).
(dd) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time,
including the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and any order or orders thereunder
which may from time to time be applicable to the Trust.
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(ee) “Series” means a series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with
the provisions of Article V, each of which shall be accounted for and maintained as a separate
series or portfolio of the Trust.
(ff) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares;
(gg) “Shares” means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the
beneficial interest of the Trust, each Series and/or each Class, as applicable, is divided from
time to time (including whole Shares and fractions of Shares). “Outstanding Shares” means Shares
shown in the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but does not
include Shares which have been repurchased or redeemed by the Trust and which are held in the
treasury of the Trust.
(hh) “Tax Benefits” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V, Section 4.
(ii) “Transfer Agent” means any Person other than the Trust who maintains the Shareholder
records of the Trust, such as the list of Shareholders, the number of Shares credited to each
account, and the like.
(jj) “Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
(kk) “Trust” means The Xxxxxxx Royalty & Income Fund established under the Original
Declaration of Trust and continued hereby, and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or
more Series, refers to each such Series.
(ll) “Trustee” means each Person who has signed this Declaration of Trust and all other
Persons who were or may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve as Trustees in
accordance with the provisions hereof, or the provisions of the Original Declaration of Trust, in
each case so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and
reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in his, her or
their capacities as trustee or trustees hereunder. Unless otherwise required by the context or
specifically provided, any reference herein to the Trustees shall refer to the Trustee at any time
that there is only one Trustee of the Trust.
(mm) “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
which is from time to time owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or any Series or the
Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series, each and every asset of which shall be allocated and
belong to a specific series to the exclusion of all other series.
(nn) The “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time,
including the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and any order or orders thereunder
which may from time to time be applicable to the Trust.
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ARTICLE II
THE TRUSTEES
Section 1.
Management of the Trust. The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or desirable to carry
out that responsibility. The Trustees may execute all instruments and take all action they deem
necessary or desirable to promote the interests of the Trust. Any determination made by the
Trustees in good faith as to what is in the interests of the Trust shall be conclusive. In
construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of
power to the Trustees.
Section 2.
Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, free of the control of the
Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to take or refrain from taking any
action and to execute any contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or desirable
in the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by current
or future laws or customs applicable to trust investments, but shall have full power and authority
to make any investments which they, in their sole discretion, deem proper to accomplish the
purposes of the Trust. The Trustees may exercise all of their powers without recourse to any court
or other authority. Subject to any applicable limitation herein or in the By-Laws or resolutions
of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and authority, without limitation:
(a) 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.
(b) To invest in, hold for investment, or reinvest in, cash; securities of any type,
including, but not limited to, common, preferred and preference stocks; warrants; subscription
rights; profit-sharing interests or participations and all other contracts for or evidence of
equity interests; bonds, debentures, bills, time notes and all other evidences of indebtedness;
negotiable or non-negotiable instruments; government securities, including securities of any state,
municipality or other political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or quasi-governmental
agency or instrumentality; and money market instruments including bank certificates of deposit,
finance paper, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances and all kinds of repurchase agreements, of
any corporation, company, trust, association, firm or other business organization however
established, and of any country, state, municipality or other political subdivision, or any
governmental or quasi-governmental agency or instrumentality; or any other security, property or
instrument in which the Trust or any of its Series shall be authorized to invest.
(c) To acquire (by purchase, subscription or otherwise), to hold, to trade in and deal in, to
acquire any rights or options to purchase or sell, to sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend and to
pledge any such securities, to enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements,
firm commitment agreements, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate mortgage or
currency swaps and interest rate caps, floors and collars, to purchase and sell options on
securities, securities indices, currency, swaps and other financial assets, futures
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contracts and options on futures contracts of all descriptions and to engage in all types of
hedging, risk-management or income enhancement transactions.
(d) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in all securities,
repurchase agreements and other assets included in the Trust Property, including the right to vote
thereon and otherwise act with respect thereto and to do all acts for the preservation, protection,
improvement and enhancement in value of all such securities, repurchase agreements and other
assets.
(e) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use, maintain, develop and
dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or personal, including cash or foreign
currency, and any interest therein.
(f) To borrow money or other property in the name of the Trust exclusively for Trust purposes
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; and to endorse,
guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation or engagement of any other Person and to
lend Trust Property.
(g) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust, association or firm, any
obligation of or interest in which is included in the Trust Property or in the affairs of which the
Trustees have any direct or indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect,
preserve, improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest; and to guarantee or become
surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of
any such corporation, company, trust, association or firm.
(h) To adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration providing for the conduct of the
business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent such right is not reserved to the
Shareholders.
(i) To elect and remove with or without cause such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they deem appropriate.
(j) To employ as custodian of any assets of the Trust, subject to any provisions herein or in
the By-Laws, one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national
securities exchange, or other entities permitted by the Commission to serve as such.
(k) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or both.
(l) To provide for the distribution of Shares either through a Principal Underwriter as
provided herein or by the Trust itself, or both, or pursuant to a distribution plan of any kind.
(m) To set record dates in the manner provided for herein or in the By-Laws.
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(n) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to
any agent, independent contractor, manager, investment adviser, custodian or underwriter.
(o) To hold any security or other property (i) in a form not indicating any trust, whether in
bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form, or (ii) either in the Trust’s or
Trustees’ own name or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject to safeguards
according to the usual practice of statutory trusts or investment companies.
(p) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives
and policies and distinct investment purposes, and with separate Shares representing beneficial
interests in such Series, and to establish separate Classes, all in accordance with the provisions
of Article V.
(q) To the full extent permitted by Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets,
liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series and assets, liabilities and expenses
to a particular Class or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series or Classes,
provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Series or Class shall be payable
solely out of the assets belonging to that Series or Class as provided for in Article V, Section 5.
(r) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger
of any corporation or concern whose securities are held by 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.
(s) To 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.
(t) To make distributions of income, capital gains, returns of capital (if any) and redemption
proceeds to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter provided for.
(u) To establish committees for such purposes, with such membership, and with such
responsibilities as the Trustees may consider proper, including a committee consisting of fewer
than all of the Trustees then in office, which may act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust with
respect to the institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any
action, suit or proceeding, pending or threatened to be brought before any court, administrative
agency or other adjudicatory body.
(v) To issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, cancel, retire, acquire, hold, resell, reissue,
dispose of and otherwise deal in Shares; to establish terms and conditions regarding the issuance,
sale, repurchase, redemption, cancellation, retirement, acquisition, holding, resale, reissuance,
disposition of or dealing in Shares; and, subject to Articles V and VI, to apply to any such
repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of
the Trust or, if applicable, of the particular Series with respect to which such Shares are issued.
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(w) To invest part or all of the Trust Property (or part or all of the assets of any Series),
or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property (or part or all of the assets of any Series) and
invest the proceeds of such disposition, in securities issued by one or more other investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act (including investment by means of transfer of part or all
of the Trust Property in exchange for an interest or interest in such one or more investment
companies) all without any requirement of approval by Shareholders. Any such other investment
company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of any state) which is classified as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(x) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to Article IX, Sections
4, 6 and 7.
(y) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations and associations.
(z) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting
trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security
to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority
with relation to any security (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, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper.
(aa) 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 or payment of distributions and principal on
its portfolio investments, and, subject to applicable law and any restrictions set out in the
By-Laws, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually,
against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, 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 as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser,
Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, 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 liability.
(bb) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, Share bonus, Share purchase,
savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans and trusts, 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.
(cc) 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 proxies or powers of attorneys 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 and property as the Trustees shall deem proper.
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(dd) To enter into contracts of any kind and description.
(ee) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any Series or Class.
(ff) To guarantee indebtedness and contractual obligations of others.
(gg) To carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing
powers, to do everything necessary or desirable to accomplish any purpose or to further any of the
foregoing powers, and to take every other action incidental to the foregoing business or purposes,
objects or powers.
The clauses above shall be construed as objects and powers, and the enumeration of specific
powers shall not limit in any way 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 any applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity. 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. In construing this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant
of power to the Trustees.
Section 3.
Certain Transactions. Except as prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf
of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust
to, any Trustee 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 adviser, administrator,
distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such Person. The
Trust may employ any such Person or entity in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker,
legal counsel, registrar, investment adviser, administrator, distributor, transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.
Section 4.
Current Trustee(s); Election and Number of Trustees. The Trustees as of the date hereof
shall be the persons initially signing this Declaration. The number of Trustees shall be equal to
the number of Persons initially signing this Declaration and, hereafter, may be fixed from time to
time by a majority of the Trustees then in office; provided, that there shall be at least
one (1) Trustee.
Section 5.
Term of Office of Trustees; Classes.
(a) Subject to the voting rights established with respect to a particular Series or Class,
each Trustee shall hold office for life or until his successor is elected and duly qualified or the
Trust terminates. Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to the voting rights established with
respect to a particular Series or Class, (1) any Trustee may resign by delivering to the other
Trustees or to any Trust officer a written resignation effective upon such delivery or a later date
specified therein; (2) any Trustee may be removed with cause at any time by a written instrument
signed by at least three-quarters of the then Trustees, specifying the effective date of removal;
(3) any Trustee who requests to be retired, or who is declared bankrupt or has become physically or
mentally incapacitated or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by a written instrument
signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the effective date of
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retirement; and (4) any Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of at least a
majority of the then Trustees if such removal is approved by the holders of at least three-quarters
of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote with respect to the election of such Trustee and present
in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Shareholders called for such purpose.
(b) The Board of Trustees shall be divided into two classes, designated Class I and Class II.
Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-half of the total number of
trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees. Within the limits above specified, the number
of the Trustees in each class shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees. The term
of office of the 1st class shall expire on the date of the 1st annual meeting of Shareholders or
special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date of the Registration Statement relating
to the Shares under the Securities Act. The term of the 2nd class shall expire on the date of the
2nd annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date
of the Registration Statement relating to the Shares under the Securities Act. Upon expiration of
the term of office of each class as set out above, the number of Trustees in such class, as
determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the 2nd
annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following such expiration to
succeed the Trustees whose terms of office expire. The Trustees shall be elected at an annual
meeting of the Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof called for that purpose.
Section 6.
Vacancies; Appointment of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy shall exist in the Board of
Trustees, regardless of the reason for such vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall appoint any
person as they determine in their sole discretion to fill that vacancy, consistent with the
limitations under the 1940 Act, provided, that if the Shareholders of any Class or Series
of Shares are entitled separately to elect one or more Trustees, a majority of the remaining
Trustees or the sole remaining Trustee elected by that Class or Series may fill any vacancy among
the number of Trustees elected by that Class or Series. Such appointment shall be made by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees or by a resolution of the Trustees, duly
adopted and recorded in the records of the Trust, specifying the effective date of the appointment.
The Trustees may appoint a new Trustee as provided above in anticipation of a vacancy expected to
occur because of the retirement, resignation or removal of a Trustee, or an increase in number of
Trustees, provided that such appointment shall become effective only at or after the expected
vacancy occurs. As soon as any such Trustee has accepted his appointment in writing, the trust
estate shall vest in the new Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further
act or conveyance, and he shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The Trustees’ power of appointment
is subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall
occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in this Article II, the Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge
all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by the Declaration. The death, declination to serve,
resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of them, shall not
operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration of Trust.
Section 7.
Chairman. The Trustees may appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of
Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the
execution of policies established by the Trustees and the administration of the
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Trust, and may be the chief executive, financial and/or accounting officer of the Trust. If the
Trustees do not appoint a Chairman, the President shall perform the duties and have the
responsibilities hereunder.
Section 8.
Action by the Trustees.
(a) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Trustees shall act by majority vote at
a meeting duly called at which a quorum is present, including a meeting held by conference
telephone, teleconference or other electronic media or communication equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other; or by written consent of
a majority of Trustees (or such greater number as may be required by applicable law) without a
meeting. A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Meetings of the
Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the President or by any one of the Trustees or as
set out in the By-Laws. Notice of the time, date and place of all Trustees’ meetings shall be
given to each Trustee as set out in the By-Laws; provided, however, that no notice
is required if the Trustees provide for regular or stated meetings. Notice need not be given to
any Trustee who attends the meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who signs a waiver
of notice either before or after the meeting. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the
Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any Trustee or Trustees or committee authority to approve
particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Any written consent or
waiver may be provided and delivered to the Trust by facsimile or other similar electronic
mechanism.
(b) A Trustee who with respect to the Trust is not an Interested Person shall be deemed to be
independent and disinterested when making any determinations or taking any action as a Trustee,
whether pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Delaware Act or otherwise.
Section 9.
Ownership of Trust Property. The Trust Property of the Trust and, if applicable, 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 shall at all times be considered as vested in the
Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal title in and beneficial ownership of any Trust
Property to be held by, or in the name of one or more of the Trustees acting for and on behalf of
the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust. 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, as
provided in Article V, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust or Series or
Class thereof represented by Shares. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set out in this Declaration. 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 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
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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 10.
Effect of Trustees Not Serving. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity or
inability or refusal to serve of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul the
Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration.
Section 11.
Trustees, Etc. as Shareholders. Subject to any restrictions in the By-Laws, any Trustee,
officer, agent or independent contractor of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the
same extent as any other Shareholder; the Trustees may issue and sell Shares to and buy Shares from
any such person or any firm or company in which such Person is interested, subject only to any
general limitations herein.
Section 12.
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 Delaware
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 or any other Series or Class
of the Trust. The Series Trustees shall 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
shall have no power or authority with respect to any other Series or Class. Any provision of this
Declaration relating to election of Trustees by Shareholders only shall entitle the Shareholders of
a Series or Class for which Series Trustees have been appointed to vote with respect to the
election of such Series Trustees and the Shareholders of any other Series or Class shall not be
entitled to participate in such vote. In the event that Series Trustees are appointed, the
Trustees initially appointing such Series Trustees shall, without the approval of any Outstanding
Shares, amend either the Declaration 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 of the Trust or two or more Series represented by different Trustees.
ARTICLE III
CONTRACTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
Section 1.
Underwriting Contract. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into
an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting or distribution contract or contracts providing for the
sale of the Shares whereby the Trustees may either agree to sell the Shares to the other party to
the contract or appoint such other party as their sales agent for the Shares, and in either case on
such terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-Laws, and such further terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Article III or of the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase of the
Shares by such other party as agent of the Trustees.
Section 2.
Advisory or Management Contract. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time
enter into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the Trustees establish
multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management contracts with
12
respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties to any such contracts shall
undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series management, investment advisory, administration,
accounting, legal, statistical and research facilities and services, promotional or marketing
activities, and such other facilities and services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to time
consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the
Investment Adviser(s) or persons to whom the Investment Adviser(s) delegates certain or all of its
duties, or any of them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or specific instructions
as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans or exchanges of
portfolio securities and other investments of the Trust on behalf of the Trustees or may authorize
any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to
recommendations of such Investment Adviser(s), or any of them (and all without further action by
the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed to have been
authorized by all of the Trustees.
Section 3.
Administration Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into an administration agreement or, if the Trustees establish one or more 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 4.
Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into
service agreements with respect to the Trust or 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 5.
Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into a
transfer agency and shareholder service contract whereby the other party to such contract shall
undertake to furnish transfer agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall
have such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent
with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more Persons.
Section 6.
Custodian. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one or more banks or trust
companies or any other entity satisfying the requirements of the 1940 Act, to serve 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. The Trustees may also authorize the
Custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians, including such foreign banks and securities
depositories as meet the requirements of applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, and upon such terms
and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Custodian and such sub-custodian, to hold
securities and other assets of the Trust and to perform the acts and services of the Custodian,
subject to applicable provisions of law and resolutions adopted by the Trustees.
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Section 7.
Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that: (i) any of the Shareholders,
Trustees or officers of the Trust or any Series thereof is a shareholder, director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or for any partnership, corporation,
trust, association or other organization or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization,
with which a contract of the character described in this Article III or for services as Custodian,
Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made,
or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has an
interest in the Trust, or that (ii) any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other
organization with which a contract of the character described in Sections 1, 2, 3 or 4 of this
Article III or for services as Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for related
services may have been or may hereafter be made also has any one or more of such contracts with one
or more other partnerships, corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other
business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any
liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1.
Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the
Trust, and they may 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.
Section 2.
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 the Trust or, as applicable, 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 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 3.
Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in subsection (b) below:
(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee or agent of the
Trust (including any individual who serves at its request as director,
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officer, partner, employee, trustee, agent or the like of another organization in which
it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Person”) shall be
indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series 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 becomes involved as a party or
otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or
incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and
(ii) as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply
to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative, arbitration or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words
“liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys’ 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 and in a manner the person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such
Covered Person 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 are
neither 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); (C) by written opinion of
independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
full trial-type inquiry) or (D) by a vote of a majority of the Outstanding Shares entitled
to vote (excluding any Outstanding Shares owned of record or beneficially by such
individual).
(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, and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.
(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 subsection (a) of this Section may be paid by the Trust or applicable Series from time
to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series if it is
ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section;
provided, however, that either (i) such Covered Person shall
have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against
losses
15
arising out of any such advance payments or (iii) either a majority of a quorum 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 full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered
Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section. Independent counsel
retained for the purpose of rendering an opinion regarding advancement of expenses and/or a
majority of a quorum of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to
the matter, may proceed under a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Covered Person’s
duties to the Trust and were based on the Covered Person’s determination that those actions were in
the best interests of the Trust and its Shareholders; provided that the Covered Person is
not an Interested Person (or is an Interested Person solely by reason of being an officer of the
Trust).
(e) Any repeal or modification of this Article IV by the Shareholders, or adoption or
modification of any other provision of the Declaration or By-Laws inconsistent with this Article,
shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied
retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or
indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred
prior to such repeal, modification or adoption. Any such repeal or modification by the
Shareholders shall require a vote of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote
and present in person or by proxy at any meeting of the Shareholders.
Section 4. Indemnification of Shareholders.
(a) If any Shareholder or former Shareholder of the Trust (as opposed to a Shareholder or
former Shareholder of any Series) shall be held personally liable solely by reason of his being or
having been a Shareholder 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 any entity, its general successor) shall be entitled out of the
assets belonging to the Trust to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense
arising from such liability. The Trust shall, upon request by such Shareholder, assume the defense
of any claim made against such Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any
judgment thereon from the assets of the Series.
(b) If any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall be held personally liable
solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder 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 any entity, its 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, upon request by such Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made
against such Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon
from the assets of the Series.
Section 5. 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.
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Section 6. 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 may
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 7. 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, the
Principal Underwriter, 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.
ARTICLE V
SERIES; CLASSES; SHARES; OTHER SECURITIES
Section 1. Establishment of Series or Class. One or more Series may be established by the Trustees.
Each Series or Class shall be established and is effective upon the adoption of a resolution of a
majority of the Trustees or any alternative date specified in such resolution. Such resolution may
establish such Series or Classes directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of,
another document that sets out such Series or Classes, including any registration statement of the
Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. The Trustees may designate the relative rights
and preferences of the Shares of each Series. Any Shares of any Series and Classes that may from
time to time be established and designated by the Trustees shall be
established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between
the different Series shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees; provided, that all
Shares shall
17
be identical except for such variations as shall be fixed and determined between
different Series or Classes by the Trustees in establishing and designating such Class or Series.
All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to be Shares of the Trust or any
or all Series or Classes as the context may require. The Trust shall maintain separate and
distinct records for each Series and hold and account for the assets thereof separately from the
other assets of the Trust or of any other Series. A Series may issue any number of Shares or any
Class thereof and need not issue Shares. Each holder of Shares of a Series or a Class thereof
shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of all distributions made with respect to such
Series or Class. Upon redemption of a Shareholder’s Shares of a Series, such Shareholder shall be
paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series. The Trustees may adopt and change the
name of any Series or Class without Shareholder approval.
Section 2. Shares. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into transferable Shares of
the Trust, subject to the limitations on transferability set forth in Section 4 of this Article V,
or of one or more separate and distinct Series or Classes established by the Trustees. The
Trustees may divide the Shares of the Trust or any Series into Classes. The number of Shares of
the Trust and of each Series and Class is unlimited and each Share shall have no par value per
Share or such other amount of par value as the Trustees may establish. All Shares issued hereunder
shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust. The Trustees shall
have full power and authority, in their sole discretion and without obtaining Shareholder approval,
to issue original or additional Shares at such times and on such terms and conditions as they deem
appropriate; to issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury; to establish and to change
in any manner Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Classes with such preferences, rights upon
liquidation, redemption rights, terms of conversion, voting powers, and other rights and privileges
as the Trustees may determine (but the Trustees may not change Outstanding Shares in a manner
materially adverse to the Shareholders of such Shares); to divide or combine the Shares of the
Trust or of any Series or Classes into a greater or lesser number; to classify or reclassify any
unissued Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Classes into one or more Series or Classes of
Shares; to abolish any one or more Series or Classes of Shares; to issue Shares to acquire other
assets (including assets subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and
businesses; and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem
desirable. Shares held in the treasury shall not confer any voting rights on the Trustees and
shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.
Unless otherwise designated by the Trustees in the By-Laws or resolutions establishing a Series or
Class, the purchase price, the method of determining the net asset value, and the relative
liquidation, voting, dividend and other rights and preferences of holders of Shares of the Trust or
any Series or Class shall be as set out in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933 and/or the 1940 Act relating to the issuance of such Shares. Except as
otherwise provided with respect to a specific Series or Class, each Share of the Trust or any
Series shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust or such Series.
Section 3. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust or any Series
or Class 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
18
form of cash or
securities in which the Trust or that Series, as applicable, is authorized to invest, valued as
provided in Article VI, Section 3. Investments in the Trust or any Series shall be credited to
each Shareholder’s account in the form of full Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next
determined after the investment is received or accepted as may be determined by the Trustees;
provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) impose a
sales charge upon investments in the Trust or any Series or Class, (b) issue fractional Shares, (c)
determine the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital contribution or (d) authorize the
issuance of Shares at a price other than Net Asset Value to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or
any rule, order or interpretation of the Commission thereunder. The Trustees shall have the right
to refuse to accept investments in the Trust or any Series at any time without any cause or reason
therefor whatsoever.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares; Limitations on Ownership. (a) Except as otherwise
provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the record books of the Trust only by the
record holder thereof or by his or her duly authorized agent upon delivery to the Trustees or the
Trust’s transfer or similar agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer (together with a Share
certificate if one is outstanding), and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and
authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees, including compliance
with any securities laws and contractual restrictions as may reasonably be required. 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 record 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.
(b) Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or
incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the
applicable record books of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper
evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust, but until such record is made,
the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and
neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust
shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence, or other operation of
law.
(c) Certain Acquisitions Prohibited
(i) Restrictions on Certain Acquisitions of Securities. If a Person shall attempt to purchase
or acquire in any manner whatsoever, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law or
otherwise, any Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Securities, or any
interest in any other Entity that directly, indirectly or constructively owns any Securities (any
such purchase or acquisition being an “Acquisition”), in each case, whether of record,
beneficially, by operation of law or otherwise (provided, however, that a transaction that is a
pledge (and not an acquisition of tax ownership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall not be
deemed an Acquisition but a foreclosure pursuant thereto shall be deemed to be an
Acquisition), and such Acquisition shall cause such Person to become an owner of greater than 4.99
percent of the Securities within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the Trust (a “Five Percent Shareholder”) or
19
increase the percentage of Securities owned by a Five Percent Shareholder, then such Person shall
be a “Restricted Holder” and such Securities shall be “Excess Securities,” and such Acquisition of
Excess Securities shall not be permitted and such transfer of Excess Securities to the Restricted
Holder shall be void ab initio except as authorized pursuant to this Article V, Section 4;
provided, however, that for purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount
of Securities owned by, any Five Percent Shareholders or Restricted Holders, the Trust is entitled
to rely conclusively on (a) the existence and absence of filings of Schedules 13D and 13G under the
Exchange Act (or any similar schedules) as of any date and (b) the Trust’s actual knowledge of the
ownership of the Securities.
(ii) Requests for Exceptions. The restrictions contained in this Article V, Section 4, are for
the purpose of reducing the risk that any change in the ownership of Securities may jeopardize the
preservation of the Trust’s U.S. federal, state and local income tax attributes under Code Section
382 or equivalent provisions of state or local law (collectively, the “Tax Benefits”). In
connection therewith, and to provide for the effective policing of these provisions, a Restricted
Holder who proposes to effect an Acquisition of Excess Securities, prior to the date of the
proposed Acquisition, shall request in writing (a “Request”) that the Board of Trustees review the
proposed Acquisition of Excess Securities and authorize or not authorize the proposed Acquisition
pursuant to this Subsection (c)(ii). A Request shall be mailed or delivered to the Secretary of the
Trust at the Trust’s principal place of business. Such Request shall be deemed to have been
delivered only when actually received by the Secretary of the Trust. A Request shall include: (1)
the name, address and telephone number of the Restricted Holder; (2) a description of the interest
proposed to be acquired by the Restricted Holder; (3) the date on which the proposed Acquisition is
expected to take place; (4) the name of the intended transferor of the interest to be acquired by
the Restricted Holder; and (5) a Request that the Board of Trustees authorize, if appropriate, the
Acquisition of Excess Securities pursuant to this Subsection (c)(ii) and inform the Restricted
Holder of its determination regarding the proposed Acquisition. If a Restricted Holder duly submits
a proper and complete Request to the Secretary of the Trust, at the next regularly scheduled
meeting of the Board of Trustees following the tenth business day after receipt by the Secretary of
the Trust of the Request, the Board of Trustees will act to determine whether to authorize the
proposed Acquisition described in the Request, in accordance with this Subsection (c)(ii) and
Article V, Section 4, Subsection (e). The Board of Trustees shall conclusively determine whether to
authorize the proposed Acquisition, in its sole discretion and judgment, and shall cause the
Restricted Holder making the Request to be informed of such determination as soon as practicable
thereafter.
(d) Effect of Unauthorized Acquisition. Any Acquisition of Excess Securities attempted or
purported to be made in violation of this Article V, Section 4, shall be null and void ab initio to
the fullest extent permitted by law. In the event of an attempted or purported Acquisition of
Excess Securities by a Restricted Holder in violation of this Article V, Section 4, the Trust shall
be deemed to be the agent for the transferor of the Excess Securities. The Trust shall be such
agent for the limited purpose of consummating one or more sales of the Excess Securities (including
over the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange on which the Securities may
be traded) to a Person or Persons who are not Restricted Holders (each, an
“Eligible Transferee”), which may include, without limitation, the transferor. The record ownership
of the Excess Securities shall remain in the name of the transferor until the Excess Securities
have been sold by the Trust or its assignee, as agent, to an Eligible Transferee. Neither
20
the
Trust, as agent, nor any assignee of its agency hereunder, shall be deemed to be a Shareholder nor
be entitled to any rights of a Shareholder, including, but not limited to, any right to vote the
Excess Securities or to receive dividends or liquidating distributions in respect thereof, if any,
but the Trust or its assignee shall only have the right to sell and transfer the Excess Securities
on behalf of and as agent for the transferor to another Person or Entity; provided, however, that
an Acquisition by such other Person or Entity does not violate the provisions of this Article V,
Section 4. Until the Excess Securities are acquired by an Eligible Transferee, the rights to vote
and to receive dividends and liquidating distributions with respect to the Excess Securities shall
remain with the transferor. The intended transferee of the Excess Securities and the Restricted
Holder with respect to any Excess Securities shall not be entitled to any rights of Shareholders,
including, but not limited to, the rights to vote or to receive dividends and liquidating
distributions with respect to the Excess Securities. If the Restricted Holder has resold the Excess
Securities, the Restricted Holder shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for the Trust
in its capacity as agent, and shall be required to transfer to the Trust in its capacity as agent
any proceeds of such sale and any dividends or liquidating distributions received in respect of
such Excess Securities. In the event of a permitted sale and transfer, whether by the Trust or its
assignee, as agent, the proceeds of such sale shall be applied first, to reimburse the Trust or its
assignee for any expenses incurred by the Trust acting in its role as the agent for the sale of the
Excess Securities, second, to the extent of any remaining proceeds, to reimburse the intended
transferee for any payments made to the transferor by such intended transferee for such shares, and
the remainder, if any, to one or more organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code
selected by the Board of Trustees.
(e) Authorization of Acquisition of Securities by a Restricted Holder. The Board of Trustees
may authorize an Acquisition of Excess Securities by a Restricted Holder, if, in its sole
discretion and judgment it determines that the Acquisition is in the best interests of the Trust
and its Shareholders. In deciding whether to approve any proposed Acquisition of Excess Securities
by a Restricted Holder, the Board of Trustees may seek the advice of counsel (including with
respect to the Trust’s preservation of the Tax Benefits) and may request all relevant information
from the Restricted Holder with respect to all Securities directly or indirectly owned by such
Restricted Holder. Any Person who makes a Request of the Board of Trustees pursuant to Article V,
Section 4, to effect an Acquisition of Excess Securities shall reimburse the Trust, on demand, for
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Trust with respect to any proposed Acquisition,
including, without limitation, the Trust’s reasonable costs and expenses incurred in determining
whether to authorize that proposed Acquisition.
(f) Certain Indirect Prohibited Acquisitions. In the event any Acquisition which does not
involve a transfer of Securities within the meaning of Delaware law but which would cause a Five
Percent Shareholder to violate a restriction of this Article V, Section 4, the application of
subsections (c) and (d) shall be modified as described in this subsection (f). In such case, no
such Five Percent Shareholder shall be required to dispose of any interest that is not a Security,
but such Five Percent Shareholder and/or any Person whose ownership of Securities is attributed to
such Five Percent Shareholder shall be deemed to have disposed of and shall be required to dispose
of sufficient Securities (which Securities shall be disposed of in the inverse order in
which they were acquired) to cause such Five-Percent Shareholder, following such disposition, not
to be in violation of this Article V, Section 4. Such disposition shall be deemed to occur
simultaneously with the Acquisition giving rise to the application of this provision, and such
21
number of Securities that are deemed to be disposed of shall be considered Excess Securities and
shall be disposed of by the Trust acting as agent as provided in subsection (d), except that the
maximum aggregate amount payable either to such Five-Percent Shareholder, or to such other Person
that was the direct holder of such Excess Securities, in connection with such sale shall be the
fair market value of such Excess Securities at the time of the purported Acquisition. All expenses
incurred by the Trust in disposing of such Excess Securities shall be paid out of any amounts due
such Five-Percent Shareholder or such other Person. The purpose of this subsection (f) is to extend
the provisions of subsection (d) to situations in which there is an Acquisition of Excess
Securities without a direct transfer of Securities, and this subsection (f), along with the other
provisions contained in this Article V, Section 4, shall be interpreted to produce the same
results, with differences as the context requires, as in the case of a direct transfer of
Securities.
(g) Prompt Enforcement; Further Actions. After obtaining actual knowledge of an Acquisition of
Excess Securities by a Restricted Holder, the Trust shall demand the surrender of, or cause to be
surrendered, to it, the Excess Securities, or any proceeds received upon a sale of the Excess
Securities, and any dividends or other distributions made with respect to the Excess Securities. If
such surrender is not made within 30 business days from the date of such demand, the Trust may
institute legal proceedings to compel such transfer; provided, however, that nothing in this
Subsection (g) shall: (i) be deemed inconsistent with the Acquisition of the Excess Securities
being deemed null and void pursuant to subsection (d) hereof; (ii) preclude the Trust in its
discretion from immediately bringing legal proceedings without a prior demand; or (iii) cause any
failure of the Trust to act within the time periods set forth in this subsection (g) to constitute
a waiver or loss of any right of the Trust under this Article V, Section 4.
(h) Damages. Any Restricted Holder who knowingly violates the provisions of this Article V,
Section 4, and any Persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with such a
Restricted Holder, shall be jointly and severally liable to the Trust for, and shall indemnify and
hold the Trust harmless against, any and all damages suffered as a result of such violation,
including but not limited to damages resulting from a reduction in or elimination of the Trust’s
ability to utilize its Tax Benefits, and attorneys’ and auditors’ fees incurred in connection with
such violation.
(i) Conditions to Acquisition; Responsibilities of Transfer Agent. The Trust may require, as a
condition to the registration of the Acquisition of any Securities or the payment of any
distribution on any of its Securities, that the intended transferee or payee furnish to the Trust
all information reasonably requested by the Trust with respect to all the direct or indirect
ownership interests in such Securities. The Trust may make such arrangements or issue such
instructions to its transfer agent as may be determined by the Board of Trustees to be necessary or
advisable to implement this Article V, Section 4, including, without limitation, instructing the
transfer agent not to register any Acquisition of Securities on the Trust’s record books if the
transfer agent has knowledge that such Acquisition would be prohibited by this Article V, Section
4, and/or authorizing such transfer agent to require an affidavit from an intended transferee
regarding such Person’s actual and constructive ownership of Securities and other
evidence that an Acquisition will not be prohibited by this Article V, Section 4, as a condition to
registering any Acquisition.
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(j) Authority of Board of Trustees to Interpret. Nothing contained in this Article V, Section
4, shall limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to take such other action to the extent
permitted by law as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Trust and to preserve the Tax
Benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in law or
other event or situation making one or more of the following actions necessary or desirable, the
Board of Trustees may, by adopting a written resolution and without Shareholder approval, modify or
interpret the definitions of any terms or conditions set forth in this Article V, Section 4 as
appropriate to prevent an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of the Code; provided,
however, that the Board of Trustees shall not cause there to be such modification or interpretation
unless it concludes in writing that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve
the Tax Benefits or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary
for the preservation of the Tax Benefits, and its conclusion is based upon a written opinion of
legal and/or tax counsel to the Trust. The Trust and the members of the Board of Trustees shall be
fully protected in relying in good faith upon the information, opinions, reports or statements of
the President, a Secretary, Treasurer, other officers of the Trust, the Person or Persons
performing the functions of such officers, or of the Trust’s legal counsel, independent auditors,
transfer agent, or other employees or agents in making the determinations and findings contemplated
by this Article V, Section 4, and the members of the Board of Trustees shall not be responsible for
any good faith errors made in connection therewith.
(k) NYSE Transactions. Nothing in this Article V, Section 4 shall preclude the settlement of
any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or any other
national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the
settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this
Article V, Section 4 and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the
provisions and limitations set forth in this Article V, Section 4.
(l) Severability. If any part of the provisions of this Article V, Section 4, are judicially
determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the remainder of the provisions of this Article V, Section 4, which shall be thereafter
interpreted as if the invalid or unenforceable part were not contained herein, and, to the maximum
extent possible, in a manner consistent with preserving the ability of the Trust to utilize to the
greatest extent possible the Tax Benefit.
(m) Expiration. Each provision of this Article V, Section 4, shall apply until such time as
the Board of Trustees determines in its sole discretion that such provision is no longer necessary
for the preservation of the Trust’s Tax Benefits or otherwise necessary or advisable.
(n) Legend on Certificates. All certificates evidencing ownership of Securities that are
subject to the restrictions on transfer contained in the Article V, Section 4 shall bear a
conspicuous legend referencing the restrictions set forth in this Article V, Section 4.
Section 5. 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
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may be),
shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets of every other Series and are referred
to as “assets belonging to” that Series. The assets belonging to a Series shall belong only to
that Series for all purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of
that Series. Any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which
are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the
Trustees between and among one or more Series as the Trustees deem fair and equitable. Each such
allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes,
and such assets, earnings, income, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds thereof shall be
referred to as assets belonging to that Series. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained
for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series shall be held and accounted for
separately from the assets held with respect to all other Series and from any assets, income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as
belonging to any particular Series that are not allocated to such Series by the Trustees in
accordance with this Section 5. The assets belonging to a 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 Shareholders
of that Series. The assets belonging to a Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that
Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, except that
liabilities and expenses allocated solely to a particular Class shall be borne by that Class. Any
general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class shall be allocated and charged by the
Trustees between or among any one or more of the Series or Classes in such manner as the Trustees
deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders of all Series or Classes for all purposes.
Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the right of the Trustees to allocate general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as herein provided, (a) 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 such Series only, and not against the
assets of any other Series or against the assets of the Trust generally, and (b) none of the debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect
to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such
Series. Notice of this contractual limitation on liabilities among Series has been set out in the
Certificate, and upon the giving of such notice in the Certificate, the statutory provisions of
Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the
statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting out such notice in the Certificate) became
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, 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 6. Status of Shares; Limitation of Shareholder Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be
personal property giving Shareholders only the rights provided in this Declaration. Every
Shareholder, by virtue of having acquired a Share, shall be held expressly to have assented to and
agreed to be bound by the terms of this Declaration and to have become a party hereto.
No Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses
incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or any Series. The
death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of
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the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such
Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the
Trustees, but entitles such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Trust.
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 as partners. Neither the
Trust nor the Trustees shall have any power to bind any Shareholder personally or to demand payment
from any Shareholder for anything, other than as agreed by the Shareholder. 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 7. Other Securities. The Trustees may authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust
other than Shares as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms,
rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including
preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees
authorized and issue preferred shares of the Trust or any Class or Series, they are hereby
authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration as they deem necessary or
appropriate, including to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act or requirements imposed by
the rating agencies or other Persons, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any such
supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. The Trustees are also authorized to take
such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees or a committee of one or more Trustees may declare and pay
dividends and other distributions, including dividends on Shares of a particular Series and other
distributions from the assets belonging to that 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 and
payment of dividends or distributions and their form, whether they are in cash, Shares or other
Trust Property, shall be determined by the Trustees. Dividends and other distributions may be paid
pursuant to a standing resolution adopted once or more often
as the Trustees determine. Except as provided with respect to a particular Class in the By-Laws or
the resolutions establishing such Class, all dividends and other distributions on Shares of the
Trust or a particular Series shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of the Trust or that
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Series in proportion to the number of Shares of the Trust or that
Series they held on the record
date established for such payment. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend
reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or similar plans as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Section 2. Redemptions. Except as provided with respect to a particular Class in the By-Laws or the
resolutions establishing such Class, Shares of the Trust or any Series will not be redeemed or
repurchased by the Trust, except as the Trustees shall determine from time to time and the Trust
shall be under no obligation to redeem or repurchase Shares. 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 redemption fee to be withheld from
redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption price may be wholly or partly in securities or
other assets 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 the Trust or any Series or Class to redeem Shares during any period of
time when and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.
Section 3. Determination of Net Asset Value. The Trustees shall cause the Net Asset Value of Shares
of the Trust or, as applicable, each Series or Class to be determined from time to time in a manner
consistent with applicable laws and regulations. The Trustees may delegate the power and duty to
determine Net Asset Value per Share to one or more Trustees or officers of the Trust or to a
custodian, depository or other agent appointed for such purpose. The Net Asset Value of Shares
shall be determined for the Trust or, as applicable, separately for each Series or Class at such
times as may be prescribed by the Trustees or, in the absence of action by the Trustees, as of the
close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the last day of each week.
Section 4. Suspension of Right of Redemption. If, as referred to in Section 2 of this Article, the
Trustees postpone payment of the redemption price and suspend the right of Shareholders to redeem
their Shares, such suspension shall take effect at the time the Trustees shall specify, but not
later than the close of business on the business day next following the declaration of suspension.
Thereafter Shareholders shall have no right of redemption or payment until the Trustees declare the
end of the suspension. If the right of redemption is suspended, a Shareholder may withdraw his
request for redemption.
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ARTICLE VII
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the voting rights established with respect to a particular Class
in the By-Laws or the resolutions establishing such Class, the Shareholders shall have power to
vote only with respect to (a) the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2 of this Article;
(b) the removal of Trustees as provided in Article II, Section 5(a); (c) any investment advisory or
management contract to the extent required by the 1940 Act; (d) the amendment of this Declaration
to the extent and as provided in Article X, Section 10; (e) the conversion of the Trust to an
open-end investment company to the extent provided in Article IX, Section 5; (f) the reorganization
of the Trust to the extent provided in Article IX, Section 6; (g) to approve a transaction subject
to Article IX, Section 7, and (h) such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required
by the 1940 Act or any registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or as the
Trustees may consider desirable.
In the event there are any Outstanding Shares of any Series or Classes, on any matter
submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class,
except (a) as provided with respect to a particular Class in the By-Laws or the resolutions
establishing such Class, (b) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate
and not by individual Series or Class, and (c) when the Trustees have determined that the matter
affects the interests of more than one Series or Class, then the Shareholders of all such Series or
Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. As determined by the Trustees without the vote or
consent of Shareholders and except as provided with respect to a particular Class in the By-Laws or
the resolutions establishing such Class, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders either
(i) each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote
and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote or (ii) each dollar
of net asset value (number of Shares owned times net asset value per Share of such Series or Class,
as applicable) shall be entitled to one vote on any matter on which such Shares are entitled to
vote and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.
Without limiting the power of the Trustees in any way to designate otherwise in accordance with the
preceding sentence, the Trustees hereby establish that each whole Share shall be entitled to one
vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall, be entitled
to a proportionate fractional vote. 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.
The By-Laws may provide that proxies may be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or
in any other manner, but if a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees is submitted
to a vote of the Shareholders, or if there is a proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in
opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees, Shares may be voted only in person or by
written proxy. Until Shares of a Series are issued, as to that Series the Trustees may exercise
all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted to be taken by
Shareholders by law, this Declaration or the By-Laws. Meetings of Shareholders shall be called and
notice thereof and record dates therefor shall be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.
Section 2. Quorum; Required Vote. One-third of the Outstanding Shares of each Series or Class, or
one-third of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust, entitled to vote in person or
27
by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting with respect
to such Series or Class, or with respect to the entire Trust, respectively. Any lesser number
shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session of a Shareholders’ meeting may be held
within a reasonable time without further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by the 1940
Act, this Declaration or the By-Laws, a majority of the Shares voting at a Shareholders’ meeting in
person or by proxy shall decide any matters to be voted upon with respect to the entire Trust and a
plurality of such Shares shall elect a Trustee; provided, that if this Declaration or
applicable law permits or requires that Shares be voted on any matter by individual Series or
Classes, then a majority of the Shares of that Series or Class (or, if required by law, a majority
of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote of that Series or Class) voting at a Shareholders’
meeting in person or by proxy on the matter shall decide that matter insofar as that Series or
Class is concerned.
Section 3. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of the Trust or 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 the Trust or
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
the Trust or 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).
Section 4. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes
and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VIII
EXPENSES OF THE TRUST AND SERIES
Section 1. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to Article V, Section 5, the Trust or a
particular Series shall pay, or shall reimburse the Trustees from the assets belonging to the Trust
or, as applicable, all Series or the particular Series, for their expenses (or the expenses of a
Class) and disbursements, including, but not limited to, interest charges, taxes, brokerage fees
and commissions; expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of Shares; insurance premiums;
applicable fees, interest charges and expenses of third parties, including the Trust’s investment
advisers, managers, administrators, distributors, custodians, transfer agents and fund accountants;
fees of pricing, interest, dividend, credit and other reporting services; costs of membership in
trade associations; telecommunications expenses; funds transmission expenses; auditing, legal and
compliance expenses; costs of forming the Trust and each Series (if any) and maintaining its
existence; costs of preparing and printing the prospectuses of the Trust and each Series (if any),
statements of additional information and Shareholder reports and delivering them to Shareholders;
expenses of meetings of Shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor; costs of maintaining books
and accounts; costs of reproduction, stationery and supplies; fees and expenses of the Trustees;
compensation of the Trust’s officers and employees and costs of other personnel performing services
for the Trust or any Series; costs of Trustee meetings; Commission registration fees and related
expenses; state or foreign securities laws registration
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fees and related expenses; and for such non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to
which the Trust or a Series (or a Trustee or officer of the Trust acting as such) is a party, and
for all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust. The Trustees shall
have a lien on the assets belonging to the Trust or, as applicable, the appropriate Series, or in
the case of an expense allocable to more than one Series, on the assets of each such Series, prior
to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto, for the reimbursement to them of such
expenses, disbursements, losses and liabilities.
Section 2. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as
they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or
Class, 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 IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Trust Not a Partnership. This Declaration creates a trust and not a partnership. No
Trustee shall have any power to bind personally either the Trust’s officers or any Shareholder.
Section 2. Trustee Action. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretion 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 IV, the Trustees shall not be liable for
errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
Section 3. Shareholder Meeting Record Dates. The Trustees may fix in advance a date up to ninety (90)
days 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.
Section 4. Termination of the Trust.
(a) This Trust shall have perpetual existence subject to the provisions of this Section 4.
(b) The Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be dissolved and terminated by the
affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the Trustees then in office by written notice
to the Shareholders.
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(c) In connection with subsection (b) or to the extent appropriate in connection with a
reorganization as provided in Article IX, Section 6, upon making reasonable provision for the
payment of all known liabilities of the Trust or, as applicable, all Series or any affected Series
or Classes, by such assumption or otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining proceeds
or assets (as the case may be) ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or, as applicable, all
Series or any affected Series or Classes; however, the payment to any particular Class may be
reduced by any fees, expenses or charges allocated to that Class.
(d) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or assets pursuant to
subsection (c) above, the Trust or affected Series or Classes shall terminate and the Trustees and
the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder with respect
thereto and the right, title and interest of all parties therein shall be canceled and discharged.
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 to be filed in accordance with
the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
Section 5. Conversion to an Open-End Investment Company. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Declaration or the By-Laws of the Trust, a favorable vote of a majority of the Trustees then in
office followed by the favorable vote of the holders of not less than three-quarters of the Shares
of the Trust or, as applicable, each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate
classes or series, shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this
Declaration that makes the Shares a “redeemable security” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act,
unless such amendment has been approved by three-quarters of the Trustees, in which case approval
by a vote of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote shall be required. Upon the
adoption of a proposal to convert the Trust from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” as
those terms are defined by the 1940 Act and the necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit
such a conversion of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall, upon
complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become an “open-end” investment
company. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the
holders of the Shares otherwise required by law, or any agreement between the Trust and any
national securities exchange.
Section 6. Reorganization.
(a) Except as provided in clause (b) of this Section 6 or in Section 7 of this Article IX,
subject to the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the Outstanding Shares entitled
to vote of the Trust or any affected Series, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other
corporation, association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or
substantially all of the Trust Property or the property, including its good will, upon such terms
and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by a majority of the Trustees;
provided however, if at least three-quarters of the Trustees then in office have
approved such transaction, then the actions may be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the Trust or the affected Series.
(b) Notwithstanding anything else herein, to change the Trust’s form or place of organization
the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required
30
by applicable law, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one or more
entities, if the surviving or resulting entity is the Trust or any other corporation, association,
trust or other organization, or a series thereof, (ii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or
pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, or (iii) cause the Trust
to incorporate, organize or form under the laws of Delaware or any other U.S. jurisdiction. Any
agreement of merger or consolidation or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of
Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
(c) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act,
an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees, and if applicable, Shareholders
in accordance with this Section 6 may effect any amendment to the Declaration or effect the
adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if it is the surviving or resulting trust in the
merger or consolidation.
(d) The Trustees may create one or more statutory trusts to which all or any part of the
assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be
transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust or any Series or Class
thereof into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or
classes thereof.
Section 7. Certain Transactions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions
provided in paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions described in paragraph (c) of
this Section shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in
office followed by the affirmative vote or consent of holders of not less than three-quarters of
the Shares of the Trust or, as applicable, each affected class or series outstanding, votes voting
as separate classes or series, when a Principal Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (b) of this
Section) is a party to the transaction. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to
the vote or consent of the holders of Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class
or series of preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any agreement between the
Trust and any national securities exchange.
(b) The term “Principal Shareholder” shall mean any corporation, Person or other Entity which
is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding
Shares of the Trust or, as applicable, any class or series and shall include any affiliate or
associates, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the
purpose of this Section, in addition to the Shares which a corporation, Person or other Entity
beneficially owns directly, (a) any corporation, Person or other Entity shall be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or
upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise (but excluding Share options granted
by the Trust) or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed
owned through application of clause (i) above, by any other corporation, Person or Entity with
which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Shares, of which is its
“affiliate” or “associate” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (b) the outstanding
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Shares shall include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but
shall not include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon
exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise.
(c) This Section shall apply to the following transactions:
(i) The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or
into any Principal Shareholder.
(ii) The issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (other
than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(iii) The sale, lease or exchange by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, of any assets
to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less
than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or
exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.)
(iv) The sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange
for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets
having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purposes
of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar
transactions within a twelve-month period).
(d) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the transactions
described in paragraph (c) of this Section if three-quarters of the Trustees shall by resolution
have approved a memorandum of understanding with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and
substantially consistent with such transaction, in which case approval by the vote of a majority of
the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote shall be the only vote of Shareholders required by this
Section, or (ii) any such transaction with any Entity of which a majority of the outstanding Shares
of all classes and series of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owner
of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this
Section on the basis of information known to the Trust whether (i) a corporation, Person or Entity
beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or, as
applicable, any class or series, (ii) a corporation, Person or Entity is an “affiliate” or
“associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets being acquired or leased to or by the
Trust or any subsidiary thereof constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have
an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, and (iv) the memorandum of understanding
referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered
thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section.
Section 8. Declaration of Trust. The original or a copy of this Declaration of Trust and of each
amendment hereto or Declaration of Trust supplemental 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 a Trustee or an officer of the Trust as to the authenticity of the Declaration of
Trust or any such amendments or supplements and as to any matters in connection
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with the Trust. The masculine gender herein shall include the feminine and neuter genders.
Headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Declaration
of Trust. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original.
Section 9. Applicable Law. This Declaration and the Trust created hereunder are governed by and
construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the applicable laws of the State of
Delaware; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the
Trustees or this Declaration of Trust (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 or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature,
amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or
other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards
of 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 out or referenced in
this Declaration. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Delaware statutory trust, and,
without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily
exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to
exercise any of the 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.
Section 10. Amendments.
(a) The Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this
Declaration by making an amendment, a Declaration of Trust supplemental hereto or an amended and
restated trust instrument; provided, that Shareholders shall have the right to vote on any
amendment (a) which would affect the voting rights of Shareholders granted in Article VII, Section
1, (b) to this Section 10, (c) required to be approved by Shareholders by the 1940 Act or by the
Trust’s registration statement(s) filed with the Commission or any State, and (d) submitted to them
by the Trustees in their discretion. Any amendment submitted to Shareholders which the Trustees
determine would affect the Shareholders of any Series or Class shall be authorized by vote of the
Shareholders of such Series or such Class and no vote shall be required of Shareholders of a Series
or Class not affected. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article IV which
would have the effect of reducing the indemnification and other rights provided thereby to
Trustees, officers, employees, and agents of the Trust or to Shareholders or former Shareholders,
and any repeal or amendment of this sentence shall each require the affirmative vote of the holders
of two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote thereon and no such amendment
shall effect the right to indemnification of any person who is no longer a Trustee, Officer or
employee or agent at the time of such amendment
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or of any person with respect to any act or omission taken or omitted prior to the adoption or
enactment of such amendment or repeal.
(b) The Trustees may not amend this Declaration of Trust to eliminate the rights of
Shareholders of the Trust or of any Class or Series as set out in this Section 10(b) to vote on any
amendment of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or alter or amend the percentage of voting
Shares required to approve any amendment or action which requires a specific Shareholder vote under
this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws unless an equivalent vote has authorized such an amendment
of the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws. Any amendment which adversely affects the holders of one
or more Classes or Series of Shares shall require a vote of the Shareholders holding a majority of
the Shares of each Class or Series so adversely affected and entitled to vote thereon and no vote
of Shareholders of any Class or Series not so adversely affected shall be required, except that any
amendment of any provision of Article IX, Sections 5, 6 or 7 shall require the vote of the
Shareholders holding three-quarters of the Shares of each Class and Series entitled to vote
thereon, regardless of the percentage of Trustees recommending such amendment.
Section 11. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set out 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) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the
subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to
succeed. For purposes of this Section 11(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not
likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of
any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are
not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act).
(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 11, 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
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 11, 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.
For purposes of this Section 11, the Board of Trustees may designate a committee of one
Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of
Trustees who are independent trustees.
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Section 12. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set out in the
By-Laws. The Trustees may change the fiscal year of the Trust without Shareholder approval.
Section 13. Severability. The provisions of this Declaration are severable. If the Trustees
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any provision hereof conflicts with the 1940 Act, 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
Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the
remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted
prior to such determination. If any provision hereof shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision only in such
jurisdiction and shall not affect any other provision of this Declaration.
{ REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. }
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust as of the date first written above.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
Sole Trustee, as Trustee and not individually |
||||
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