MORGAN CREEK GLOBAL EQUITY LONG/SHORT FUND AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST Dated as of August 23, 2010
EXHIBIT (a)(1)
XXXXXX
CREEK GLOBAL EQUITY LONG/SHORT FUND
Dated as
of August 23, 2010
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
|||
ARTICLE
I
|
THE
TRUST
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
Name
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Definitions
|
1
|
|
1.3
|
Business
|
3
|
|
1.4
|
Contribution
|
3
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
TRUSTEES
|
4
|
|
2.1
|
Number
and Qualification
|
4
|
|
2.2
|
Term
and Election
|
4
|
|
2.3
|
Resignation
and Removal
|
4
|
|
2.4
|
Vacancies
|
4
|
|
2.5
|
Meetings
|
5
|
|
2.6
|
Trustee
Action by Written Consent
|
5
|
|
2.7
|
Officers
|
5
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
POWERS
AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES
|
6
|
|
3.1
|
General
|
6
|
|
3.2
|
Investments
|
6
|
|
3.3
|
Legal
Title
|
6
|
|
3.4
|
Issuance
and Repurchase of Shares
|
6
|
|
3.5
|
Borrow
Money or Utilize Leverage
|
7
|
|
3.6
|
Delegation;
Committees
|
7
|
|
3.7
|
Collection
and Payment
|
7
|
|
3.8
|
Expenses
|
7
|
|
3.9
|
By-Laws
|
7
|
|
3.10
|
Miscellaneous
Powers
|
8
|
|
3.11
|
Further
Powers
|
8
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
ADVISORY,
MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
|
8
|
|
4.1
|
Advisory
and Management Arrangements
|
8
|
|
4.2
|
Distribution
Arrangements
|
9
|
|
4.3
|
Parties
to Contract
|
9
|
-i-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
|||
ARTICLE
V
|
LIMITATIONS
OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
|
9
|
|
5.1
|
No
Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc
|
9
|
|
5.2
|
Mandatory
Indemnification
|
10
|
|
5.3
|
No
Bond Required of Trustees
|
11
|
|
5.4
|
No
Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc
|
11
|
|
5.5
|
Reliance
on Experts, etc
|
12
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
SHARES
OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
|
12
|
|
6.1
|
Beneficial
Interest
|
12
|
|
6.2
|
Other
Securities
|
12
|
|
6.3
|
Rights
of Shareholders
|
12
|
|
6.4
|
Trust
Only
|
12
|
|
6.5
|
Issuance
of Shares
|
13
|
|
6.6
|
Register
of Shares
|
13
|
|
6.7
|
Transfer
Agent and Xxxxxxxxx
|
00
|
|
6.8
|
Transfer
of Shares
|
13
|
|
6.9
|
Notices
|
14
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
DETERMINATION
OF NET ASSET VALUE
|
14
|
|
7.1
|
Net
Asset Value
|
14
|
|
7.2
|
Power
to Modify Foregoing Procedures
|
14
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
CUSTODIANS
|
14
|
|
8.1
|
Appointment
and Duties
|
14
|
|
8.2
|
Central
Certificate System
|
15
|
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
TRANSFERS
AND REPURCHASES
|
15
|
|
9.1
|
Transfer
of Shares
|
15
|
|
9.2
|
Repurchase
of Shares
|
16
|
|
ARTICLE
X
|
SHAREHOLDERS
|
18
|
|
10.1
|
Meetings
of Shareholders
|
18
|
|
10.2
|
Voting
|
18
|
|
10.3
|
Notice
of Meeting and Record Date
|
18
|
|
10.4
|
Quorum
and Required Vote
|
19
|
-ii-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
|||
10.5
|
Proxies,
etc
|
19
|
|
10.6
|
Inspection
of Records
|
19
|
|
10.7
|
Shareholder
Action by Written Consent
|
19
|
|
ARTICLE
XI
|
DURATION;
TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC
|
20
|
|
11.1
|
Duration
|
20
|
|
11.2
|
Termination
|
20
|
|
11.3
|
Amendment
Procedure
|
20
|
|
11.4
|
Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets
|
21
|
|
11.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
21
|
|
11.6
|
Certain
Transactions
|
22
|
|
ARTICLE
XII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
23
|
|
12.1
|
Filing
|
23
|
|
12.2
|
Resident
Agent
|
24
|
|
12.3
|
Governing
Law
|
24
|
|
12.4
|
Counterparts
|
24
|
|
12.5
|
Reliance
by Third Parties
|
24
|
|
12.6
|
Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulation
|
24
|
-iii-
XXXXXX
CREEK GLOBAL EQUITY LONG/SHORT FUND
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 23rd of
August, 2010, by the Trustees hereunder.
WHEREAS,
this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly
hereinafter;
WHEREAS,
this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of
beneficial interest all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set
forth;
WHEREAS,
the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as
Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by this declaration and the
Certificate of Trust dated August 16, 2010 and filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware
Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing
instrument of such statutory trust.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities
and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as
Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following
terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares
of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE
I
THE
TRUST
1.1 Name. This
Trust shall be known as the “Xxxxxx Creek Global Equity Long/Short 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.
1.2 Definitions. As
used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) The
“1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company
Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions
granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
(b) “Adviser” shall mean Xxxxxx Creek Capital
Management LLC and any successor entities and any entity serving as investment
adviser to this Trust in the future.
(c) The
terms “Affiliated Person,” “Assignment,” “Commission,” “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings
given them in the 1940 Act.
(d) “By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as
amended from time to time by the Trustees.
(e) “Certificate of Trust” shall mean the certificate
of trust filed by this Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware on August 16, 2010, as amended from time to time.
(f)
“Closing Date” means the initial closing
date on which the Trust accepts Capital Contributions from one or more
Shareholders (other than Xxxxxx Creek affiliates) and issues Shares in
consideration therefor.
(g) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) “Commission” shall mean the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(i)
“Declaration” shall mean this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, as amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time
to time.
(j)
“Delaware Statutory
Trust Statute” shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12
Del. C. § 3801, et. seq., as such Act may be amended from time to
time.
(k) “Delaware
General Corporation Law” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 Del. C. §
100, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
(l)
“Fiscal Year” means the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the following March 31,
and thereafter each period commencing on April 1 of each year and ending on
March 31 of that year (or on the date of a final distribution made in
accordance with Section 12.2 of this Declaration), unless the Trustees
designate another fiscal year for the Trust. The taxable year of the Trust will
end on March 31 of each year, or on any other date designated by the
Trustees that is a permitted taxable year-end for tax purposes, and need not be
the same as the Fiscal Year.
(m) “Fundamental
Policies” shall mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth from
time to time in any Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the
Commission and designated as fundamental policies therein, as they may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the 1940
Act.
(n) “Majority
Shareholder Vote” shall mean a vote of “a majority of the outstanding voting
securities” (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust with Shares
voting together as a single class.
(o) “Person”
shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited
liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or
not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions
thereof.
2
(p) “Prospectus”
shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as in effect from time to time
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(q) “Shareholders”
shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares
of the Trust, at such time.
(r)
“Shares” shall mean the transferable
units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as
whole Shares.
(s) “Transfer”
means the assignment, transfer, sale or other disposition of any Shares,
including any right to receive any allocations and distributions attributable to
Shares. Verbs, participles or adjectives such as “Transfer,” “Transferred” and
“Transferring” have correlative meanings.
(t) “Trust”
shall mean the trust established by the Certificate of Trust, as amended from
time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
(u) “Trust
Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for
the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
(v) “Trustees”
shall mean the signatories to this Declaration, so long as they shall continue
in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the
time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as
trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in
office.
1.3 Business. The
business of the Trust either directly or indirectly, as a feeder fund in a
master-feeder structure, is to purchase, sell, invest, and trade in Securities,
on margin or otherwise, to engage in any financial or derivative transactions
relating thereto or otherwise, and to invest, as a feeder fund, all of its
assets directly or indirectly in a master fund as part of a master-feeder fund
structure. The Trust may execute, deliver, and perform all contracts,
agreements, subscription documents, and other undertakings and engage in all
activities and transactions as may in the opinion of the Trustees be necessary
or advisable to carry out its objective or business. The Trust shall
operate as a closed-end, non-diversified, management investment company in
accordance with the 1940 Act and subject to any fundamental policies and
investment restrictions as may be adopted by the Board. The Trust shall
register its Shares under the Securities Act of 1933.
1.4 Contribution.
The initial contribution of capital to the Trust shall be represented by Shares,
which Shares shall have the same rights as other Shares held by
Shareholders.
3
ARTICLE
II
TRUSTEES
2.1 Number and
Qualification. Prior to a public offering of Shares there may be a sole
Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a written
instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then office, provided that the
number of Trustees shall be no less than three or more than thirteen. No
reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any
Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. An individual nominated
as a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than
72 years of age at the time of nomination and not under legal disability.
Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
2.2 Term and Election.
The term of office of a Trustee shall continue until death, resignation,
removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the
duties of the office, or removal, of a Trustee. Subject to the provisions of the
1940 Act, the Trustees at any time may elect Trustees to fill vacancies in the
number of Trustees. Each Trustee elected shall hold office until his or her
successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified.
2.3 Resignation and
Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign their trustee position (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by
such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the Chairman (if any)
the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such
delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of
the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after
such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by
Section 2.1 hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by
action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by the holders of
at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares then entitled to vote in
an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each
such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust
or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning
or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s
legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such
documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding
sentence.
2.4 Vacancies. Whenever a
vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, the remaining Trustees may fill
such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications described in
this Article by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then
in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of
Trustees; provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such reduction shall
not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof. Any
vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of
an individual having the qualifications described in this Article made by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. No
vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency
created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the
number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein,
the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the
Trustees by this Declaration.
4
2.5 Meetings. Meetings of
the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, if
any, or the President or any two Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may
be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or by
resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given by the
Secretary and shall be delivered to the Trustees orally not less than 24 hours,
or in writing not less than 72 hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in
writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a
Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except
where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly
called or convened. Any time there is more than one Trustee, a quorum for all
meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the
Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except as required
under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote
of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a
meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.
Any
committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act
with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall
be one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided
otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at
a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present)
or without a meeting by written consent of all of the members.
With
respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees
who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not
prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or
any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any
committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.6 Trustee Action by Written
Consent. Any action which may be taken by Trustees by vote may be taken
without a meeting if that number of the Trustees, or members of a committee, as
the case may be, required for approval of such action at a meeting of the
Trustees or of such committee consent to the action in writing and the written
consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Trustees. Such consent
shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Trustees.
2.7 Officers. The
Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may elect a
Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their
successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the
Chairman, if any, or President to appoint such other officers or agents with
such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the
President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not, be a
Trustee.
5
ARTICLE
III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF
TRUSTEES
3.1 General. The Trustees
shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties as owed by
directors of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders under the
Delaware General Corporation Law. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute
control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same
extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and
business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be
permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their
sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The
enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the
aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of
or resort to any court.
3.2 Investments. The
Trustees shall have power, subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from
time to time with respect to the Trust to:
(a) manage,
conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
and
(b) subscribe
for, invest in (including investing substantially all the assets of the Trust in
Global Equity Long/Short Master Fund, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise
acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise
deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible,
including but not limited to securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity
or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any person and any
other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any
and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any
and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without
limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with
power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers
and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be
limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by
fiduciaries.
3.3 Legal Title. Legal
title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trust except that the
Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held
by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of any other
Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as the Trustees may
determine, provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately
protected.
The
right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due
election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for
any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or
interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such
Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining
Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of
Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase,
redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer,
and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional denominations,
and, subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in Articles VIII and IX,
to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or
acquisition of Shares any funds or property whether capital or surplus or
otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted corporations formed
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
6
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize
Leverage. Subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time
with respect to the Trust, the Trustees shall have the power to borrow money or
otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by
law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same
by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the
Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee,
or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any
other person, firm, association or corporation.
3.6 Delegation;
Committees. The Trustees shall have the power, consistent with their
continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and the Trust
Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers,
employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things, including any matters
set forth in this Declaration, and the execution of such instruments either in
the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees
may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees which
shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of
Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time except to the extent
action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the
0000 Xxx.
3.7 Collection and
Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the
Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property or the
Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to
prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust
Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the
Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of
which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements
and other instruments. Except to the extent required for a corporation formed
under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Shareholders shall have no power
to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or
should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf
of the Trust or the Shareholders.
3.8 Expenses. The
Trustees shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the
Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or
incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the
business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the
Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all
officers, employees and Trustees. The Trustees may pay themselves such
compensation for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating
and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of the
Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine,
to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of
distribution, of the custodian or transfer, Shareholder servicing or similar
agent, a pro rata amount as defined from time to time by the Trustees, by
setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid
dividends or distributions 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.
3.9 By-Laws. The Trustees
shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time amend or
repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the Trust.
7
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers.
The Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such
Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business
of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other
combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for out of Trust
Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors, selected dealers or
independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of
holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any
such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether
or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such
liability; (d) establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees
and agents of the Trust; (e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the
Trust, for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar
purposes; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any Person with
whom the Trust has dealings, including without limitation any advisor,
administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or selected
dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the
Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual
obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the
Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; and (i) adopt a
seal for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of
any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
3.11 Further Powers. The
Trustees shall have the power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on
its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within
and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of
America, in the District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths,
territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities
of the United States of America and of foreign governments, and to do all such
other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or
desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things
are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the
interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive.
In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in
favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. The Trustees will not be required to
obtain any court order to deal with the Trust Property.
ARTICLE
IV
ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
4.1 Advisory and Management
Arrangements. Subject to the requirements of applicable law as in effect
from time to time, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in each case,
one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts)
whereby the other party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish such
advisory, administrative and management services with respect to the Trust as
the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms
and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize
any advisor, administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific
instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to exercise any of the
powers of the Trustees, including to effect investment transactions with respect
to the assets on behalf of the Trust to the full extent of the power of the
Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer, employee or
Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of any such
advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by the
Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been
authorized by all of the Trustees.
8
4.2 Distribution
Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Trustees may
retain underwriters and/or selling agents to sell Shares and other securities of
the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one
or more contracts, providing for the sale of securities of the Trust, whereby
the Trust may either agree to sell such securities to the other party to the
contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such securities. In
either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees
may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Article IV or the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase
or sale of securities of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent
of the Trust and may provide that such other party may enter into selected
dealer agreements with registered securities dealers and brokers and servicing
and similar agreements with persons who are not registered securities dealers to
further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of the securities of the
Trust.
4.3 Parties to Contract.
Any contract of the character described in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Article
IV or in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any Person, although one
or more of the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust may be an officer,
director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract,
and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the
existence of any such relationship, nor shall any Person holding such
relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or
expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any
profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract
when entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws. The same Person may be the other
party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above or
Article VIII, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise
affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned
in this Section 4.3.
ARTICLE
V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND
INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 No Personal Liability of
Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject
in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in
connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust.
Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended
to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under the
Delaware General Corporation Law. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be
subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person,
save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith,
willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such
Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look
solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in
connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or
officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to
enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on
account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification
of this Section 5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or
modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or
modification.
9
5.2 Mandatory
Indemnification.
(a) The
Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee
or officer of the Trust (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any
liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments,
in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably
incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any
action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or
administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been
involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been
threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason
of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as
to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his
action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal
proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the
conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified
hereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee
arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith,
(iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses
(i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling
conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or
other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff,
indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit
or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of
the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her
rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found
to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth
in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee
or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of
this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any
of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a Trustee or
officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in
respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment,
restatement or repeal.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been
a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other
body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to
indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by
(1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither
“interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”),
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if
such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so
directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the
indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations
to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any
proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately
succeeding paragraph (c) below.
10
(c) The
Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending
any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if
the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s
good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification
have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is
subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification
and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of
conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at
least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee shall
provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be
insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a
majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority
vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion,
shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the
indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(d) The
rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any
other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this
Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of
Shareholders or Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or any other right to which he or she may
be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject
to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust
shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance
payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to
the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full
extent corporations organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law may
indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons,
provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the
Trustees.
5.3 No Bond Required of
Trustees. No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or
other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.
5.4 No Duty of Investigation; No
Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or
other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of
the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any
transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee
or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or
delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or
agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share,
other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in
connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or
done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this
Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust.
The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property,
the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the
Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other
insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is
required by the 1940 Act.
11
5.5 Reliance on Experts,
etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the
performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with
regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith
upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of
counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or
employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected
dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with
reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless
of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE
VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL
INTEREST
6.1 Beneficial Interest.
The interest of the shareholders shall be divided into an unlimited number of
transferable Shares of beneficial par value $.001 per share. All Shares issued
in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares
issued in connection with a dividend or distribution in Shares or a split of
Shares, shall be fully paid and, except as provided in the last sentence of
Section 3.8, non-assessable when the consideration determined by the
Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
6.2 Other Securities. The
Trustees may, subject to the Fundamental Policies and the requirements of the
1940 Act, authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust 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. The
Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as
they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
6.3 Rights of
Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the
rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the Trust
Property of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore
described are vested exclusively in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and the
Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest
conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any
partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust
nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or,
subject to the right of the Trustees to charge certain expenses directly to
Shareholders, as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8, suffer an
assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall
not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or
exchange rights.
6.4 Trust Only. It is the
intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and
beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is
not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited
partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal
relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed
to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or
members of a joint stock association.
12
6.5 Issuance of Shares.
The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time without vote of the
Shareholders issue Shares in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares
and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount
and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times,
and on such terms as the Trustees may determine, and may in such manner acquire
other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection
with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time
to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without
thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances
and redemptions of Shares may be made in whole Shares and/or 1/1,000ths of a
Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may determine.
6.6 Register of Shares. A
register shall be kept at the offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly
appointed by the Trustees under the direction of the Trustees which shall
contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares
held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Each such
register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who
shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise
or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive
payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as
herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such
other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry
thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares;
however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share
certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and regulations
as to their use.
6.7 Transfer Agent and
Registrar. The Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer agent or
transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to the Shares. The
transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record
therein, the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such
transfer agents and/or registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by
transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, as
modified by the Trustees.
6.8 Transfer of Shares.
Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only in accordance with
Section 9.1 herein and by the record holder thereof or by its agent thereto
duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or a transfer agent of
the Trust of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence
of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters
(including compliance with any securities laws and contractual restrictions) as
may reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on
the applicable register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder
of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes
hereof and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the
proposed transfer.
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 register 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.
13
6.9 Notices. Any and all
notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and all
communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage prepaid,
addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as recorded on
the applicable register of the Trust.
ARTICLE
VII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET
VALUE
7.1 Net Asset Value. The
net asset value of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at
such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine, in accordance
with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value shall be
determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the Prospectus or as may
otherwise be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make the net
asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees and shall be as
generally set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the
Trustees.
7.2 Power to Modify Foregoing
Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this
Article VII, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion
except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for
determining the net asset value of the Trust’s Shares or net income, or the
declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem
necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply
with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange or association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified.
ARTICLE
VIII
CUSTODIANS
8.1 Appointment and
Duties. The Trustees shall at all times employ a custodian or custodians,
meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio securities of investment
companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to the assets of
the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the Trust as
determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such
restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in
the By-Laws of the Trust and the 1940 Act, including without limitation
authority:
(a) to
hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written
order;
(b) to
receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its
own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(c) to
disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
(d) if
authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and
furnish clerical and accounting services; and
(e) if
authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net asset
value of the Trust;
14
all upon
such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the
custodian.
The
Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians
from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and
upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and
such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case
such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the
1940 Act.
8.2 Central Certificate
System. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission
may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of
the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of
securities established by a national securities exchange or a national
securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, or such other Person as may be permitted by the
Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which
system all securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the
system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping
entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such
deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the
Trust.
ARTICLE
IX
TRANSFERS AND
REPURCHASES
9.1 Transfer of
Shares.
(a) Any
Shares held by a Shareholder may be Transferred only (1) by operation of
law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated incompetence, or
dissolution of the Shareholder or (2) under certain limited instances set
out in this Declaration, with the consent of the Trustees (which may be withheld
in the Trustees’ sole and absolute discretion). If a Shareholder Transfers
Shares with the approval of the Trustees, the Trustees will promptly take all
necessary actions so that each transferee or successor to whom or to which the
Shares are Transferred is admitted to the Trust as a Shareholder. The admission
of any transferee as a substituted Shareholder will be effective upon the
execution and delivery by, or on behalf of, the substituted Shareholder of an
Investor Certification Form. Each Shareholder and transferee agrees to pay all
expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Trust in
connection with any Transfer. In connection with any request to Transfer Shares,
the Trust may require the Shareholder requesting the Transfer to obtain, at the
Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the Trustees as to such
matters as the Trustees may reasonably request. If a Shareholder Transfers all
of its Shares, it will not cease to be a Shareholder unless and until the
transferee is admitted to the Trust as a substituted Shareholder in accordance
with this Section 9.1(a). Any Transfer of Shares permitted under this
Section 9.1(a) will be effected in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.8 hereof. Pursuant to Section 3.6 hereof, the Trustees
hereby delegate to the officers of the Trust all power and authority to approve
and effect Transfers of Shares pursuant to this
Section 9.1(a).
15
(b) Each
Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Trustees, each other
Shareholder and any Affiliate of the Trust, the Trustees, the Special
Shareholder and each of the other Shareholders against all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal or other expenses
incurred in investigating or defending against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement), joint or several, to which these Persons may become subject by
reason of or arising from (1) any Transfer made by the Shareholder in
violation of this Section 9.1 and (2) any misrepresentation by the
Transferring Shareholder or substituted Shareholder in connection with the
Transfer. Pursuant to Section 3.8 hereof, a Shareholder Transferring Shares
may be charged reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees,
incurred by the Trust in connection with the Transfer.
9.2 Repurchase of
Shares.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Declaration, no Shareholder or other Person
holding Shares will have the right to withdraw or tender Shares to the Trust for
repurchase. The Trustees may, from time to time, in their complete and exclusive
discretion and on terms and conditions as they may determine, cause the Trust to
repurchase Shares in accordance with written tenders. In determining whether to
cause the Trust to repurchase Shares, pursuant to written tenders, the Trustees
will consider the following factors, among others:
(1) whether
any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares;
(2) the
liquidity of the Trust’s assets (including fees and costs associated with
withdrawing from Investment Funds (as defined in the Trust’s prospectus) and/or
disposing of assets managed by Subadvisers) (as defined in the Trust’s
prospectus);
(3) the
investment plans and working capital and reserve requirements of the
Trust;
(4) the
relative economies of scale with respect to the size of the Trust;
(5) the
history of the Trust in repurchasing Shares;
(6) the
availability of information as to the value of the Trust’s interests in the
Investment Funds;
(7) existing
conditions of the securities markets and the economy generally, as well as
political, national or international developments or current
affairs;
(8) the
anticipated tax consequences to the Trust of any proposed repurchases of Shares;
and
(9) the
recommendations of the Trustees and/or the Adviser.
The
Trustees will cause the Trust to repurchase Shares in accordance with written
tenders only on terms fair to the Trust and to all
Shareholders.
16
(b) The
Trustees may cause the Trust to repurchase Shares of a Shareholder or any Person
acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder, on terms fair to the Trust and
to the Shareholder or Person acquiring Shares from or through such Shareholder,
in the event that the Trustees, in their sole discretion, determine or have
reason to believe that:
(1) the
Shares have been Transferred in violation of Section 9.1 of this
Declaration, or the Shares have vested in any Person other than by operation of
law as the result of the death, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or
adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder;
(2) ownership
of the Shares by a Shareholder or other Person is likely to cause the Trust
to be in violation of, or require registration of any Shares under, or subject
the Trust to additional registration or regulation under, the securities,
commodities or other laws of the United States or any other relevant
jurisdiction;
(3) continued
ownership of the Shares may be harmful or injurious to the business or
reputation of the Trust, the Trustees or the Adviser or any of their Affiliated
Persons, or may subject the Trust or any of the Shareholders to an undue risk of
adverse tax or other fiscal or regulatory consequences;
(4) any
of the representations and warranties made by a Shareholder or other Person in
connection with the acquisition of the Shares was not true when made or has
ceased to be true;
(5) with
respect to a Shareholder subject to special regulatory or compliance
requirements, such as those imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, the Bank Holding Company Act or certain Federal
Communication Commission regulations (collectively, “Special Laws or
Regulations”), such Shareholder will likely be subject to additional regulatory
or compliance requirements under these Special Laws or Regulations by virtue of
continuing to hold Shares; or
(6) it
would be in the best interests of the Trust, as determined by the Trustees, for
the Trust to repurchase the Shares.
17
(c) Repurchases
of Shares by the Trust will be payable promptly after the date of each
repurchase or, in the case of an offer by the Trust to repurchase Shares,
promptly after the expiration date of the repurchase offer in accordance with
the terms of the repurchase offer. Payment of the purchase price for Shares will
consist of: (1) cash or a promissory note, which will be non-transferable
and need not bear interest, in an amount equal to the percentage, as may be
determined by the Trustees, of the estimated unaudited net asset value of the
Shares repurchased by the Trust determined as of the date of the repurchase (the
“Initial Payment”); and (2) if determined to be appropriate by the Trustees
or if the Initial Payment is less than 100% of the estimated unaudited net asset
value, a promissory note, which may or may not be incorporated into the note
applicable to the Initial Payment, entitling its holder to a contingent payment
(the “Post-Audit Payment”) equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the net
asset value of the Shares repurchased by the Trust as of the date of the
repurchase, determined based on the audited financial statements of the Trust
for the Fiscal Year in which the repurchase was effective, over (B) the
Initial Payment. Any obligation under such a promissory note with respect to the
Initial Payment will be due and payable not more than 30 days after the date of
repurchase or, if the Trust has requested withdrawal of its capital from any
Investment Funds in funding the repurchase of Shares, ten Business Days after
the Trust has received at least 90% of the aggregate amount withdrawn by the
Trust from the Investment Funds. Any obligation under such a promissory note
with respect to the Post-Audit Payment will be due and payable promptly
following the preparation of the applicable audited financial statements.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2(c), the
Trustees, in their discretion, may cause the Trust to pay all or any portion of
the repurchase price in Securities in kind (or any combination of Securities in
kind and cash) having a value, determined as of the date of repurchase, equal to
the amount to be repurchased. All repurchases of Shares will be subject to any
and all conditions as the Trustees may impose in their sole discretion. The
Trustees may, in their discretion, cause the Trust to repurchase all of a
Shareholder’s Shares, if the net asset value of the Shareholder’s Shares, as a
result of repurchase or Transfer requests by the Shareholder, is less than
$100,000 or such other minimum amount established by the Trustees from time to
time in their sole discretion. Subject to the procedures of this
Section 9.2(c), the amount due to any Shareholder whose Shares are
repurchased will be equal to the net asset value of the Shareholder’s Shares, as
of the effective date of repurchase. If all of a Shareholder’s Shares are
repurchased, that Shareholder will cease to be a Shareholder.
ARTICLE
X
SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Meetings of
Shareholders. The Trust will not hold annual Shareholder meetings unless
required by the 1940 Act, the provisions of this Declaration, the By-Laws
or any other applicable law. A Special Meeting of Shareholders may be called at
any time by a majority of the Trustees or the President and shall be called by
any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders of the
Trust holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the outstanding Shares of
the Trust, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such
meeting is to be called. Any shareholder meeting, including a Special Meeting,
shall be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such
time as the Trustees hall designate.
10.2 Voting. Shareholders
shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of
Shareholders is required by applicable law, this Declaration or resolution of
the Trustees. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of
Trustees.
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record
Date. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and
purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees by mail to each
Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at its registered address, mailed
at least 10 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting or otherwise in
compliance with applicable law. Only the business stated in the notice of the
meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held
as adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than 120 days
after the record date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who are
entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may, without
closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 nor less than 10 days
prior to the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the
determination of the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such
purposes.
18
10.4 Quorum and Required
Vote.
(a) The
holders of one-third (1/3) or more of the Shares entitled to vote on any matter
at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such
meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on such matter.
The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders
for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon
any other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there
shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in
respect of such other matters.
(b) Subject
to any provision of applicable law, this Declaration or a resolution of the
Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the transaction
of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, the affirmative vote of
a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled
to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect
to such matter.
10.5 Proxies, etc. At any
meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote
by properly executed proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting
unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other
officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification
prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of
a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more
Trustees or one or more of the officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy
shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof,
unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only Shareholders of record shall be
entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and fractional
Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such fraction. When any Share is held
jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or
by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present
at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so
present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in
respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise,
and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. If the holder
of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to
guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge
or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other person
appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by
proxy.
10.6 Inspection of
Records. The records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by
Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted shareholders of a corporation
formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
10.7 Shareholder Action by
Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Shareholders by vote
may be taken without a meeting if the holders, entitled to vote thereon, of the
proportion of Shares required for approval of such action at a meeting of
Shareholders pursuant to Section 10.4 consent to the action in writing and
the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.
19
ARTICLE
XI
DURATION; TERMINATION OF
TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC.
11.1 Duration. Subject to
possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof,
the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence.
11.2 Termination.
(a) The
Trust may be dissolved, only upon approval of not less than 80% of the
Trustees. Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(1) The
Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its
affairs.
(2) The
Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers
of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the
Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the
contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange,
merge where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all
or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public or
private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash,
securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and
do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale,
conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property of
the Trust shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and
the nature and amount of the consideration by Shareholders.
(3) After
paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon
receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem
necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust
Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to
their respective rights.
(b) After
the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders
as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the
records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such
termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the
Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties
hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon
cease.
11.3 Amendment
Procedure.
(a) Except
as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 11.3, this Declaration
may be amended, after a majority of the Trustees (including a majority of the
independent Trustees if such a vote is required under the 0000 Xxx) have
approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote required by
Section 10.4 of this Declaration. The Trustees also may amend this
Declaration without any vote of Shareholders to change the name of the Trust, to
change the U.S. federal income tax classification of the Trust from an
association taxable as a corporation to a partnership if the Trust elects to
cease qualifying as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the
Code, to make any other change that does not adversely affect the relative
rights or preferences of any Shareholder, as they may deem necessary, or to
conform this Declaration to the requirements of the 1940 Act or any other
applicable federal laws or regulations including pursuant to Section 6.2
or, if applicable, the requirements of the regulated investment company
provisions of the Code, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do
so.
20
(b) No
amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 2.3,
Section 3.9, Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 11.2(a), this
Section 11.3, Section 11.4 or Section 11.6 of this Declaration
and no amendment may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights
with respect to any Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon
upon liquidation of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights
pertaining thereto (except that this provision shall not limit the ability of
the Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to issue, other securities
pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees have
approved a resolution therefor, and such amendment has been approved by the
affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent
(75%) of the Shares, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the
Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be
required. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of
this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit
assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) An
amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if
required under the 1940 Act or otherwise under this Declaration, the
Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption
or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or
Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a
majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was
duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or
a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable form, and executed by a
majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when
lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the
Board.
11.4 Merger, Consolidation and
Sale of Assets. Except as provided in Section 11.6, 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 goodwill, upon such terms and
conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by two-thirds of
the Trustees and approved by a Majority Shareholder Vote and any such merger,
consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be determined for all purposes to
have been accomplished under and pursuant to the statutes of the State of
Delaware.
11.5 Subsidiaries. Without
approval by Shareholders, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing one or more corporations, trusts, limited liability companies,
partnerships, associations or other organizations to take over all of the Trust
Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer all or a portion
of the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited liability company,
association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof, or
otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and
enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, limited liability
company, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation,
partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in
which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other
interests.
21
11.6 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 of
the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares
outstanding, excluding the Shares of a Principal Shareholder (as defined in
paragraph (b) of this Section) when any such Principal Shareholder 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
1aw.
(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 all outstanding classes or series and shall include any affiliate or
associate, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of a Principal
Shareholder. For the purposes 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, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as
those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (b) the outstanding 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:
(1) The
merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into
any Principal Shareholder.
(2) The
issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash
(other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(3) The
sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the
Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair
market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating for
the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any
series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.)
22
(4) 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 2% of the total assets
of the Trust, 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 80% 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 a Majority Shareholder 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 owned 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 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 2% of the total assets of the
Trust, 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.
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Filing.
(a) This
Declaration and any amendment or supplement hereto shall be filed in such places
as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment or
supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a
Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein and
shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all
amendments contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original
Declaration and all amendments and supplements theretofore made, may be executed
from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the
Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments and supplements
contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original
Declaration and the various amendments and supplements thereto.
(b) The Trustees hereby authorize and
direct a Certificate of Trust, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to be
executed and filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust
Statute.
23
12.2 Resident Agent. The
Trust shall maintain a resident agent in the State of Delaware, which agent
shall initially be Corporation Service Company, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Trustees may designate a successor resident
agent, provided, however, that such appointment shall not become effective until
written notice thereof and any required filing is delivered to the office of the
Secretary of the State.
12.3 Governing Law. This
Declaration is executed by the Trustees and delivered in the State of Delaware
and with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the
validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be subject to and
construed according to laws of said State, and reference shall be specifically
made to the Delaware General Corporation Law as to the construction of matters
not specifically covered herein or as to which an ambiguity exists, although
such law shall not be viewed as limiting the powers otherwise granted to the
Trustees hereunder and any ambiguity shall be viewed in favor of such
powers.
12.4 Counterparts. This
Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by
any such original counterpart.
12.5 Reliance by Third
Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual who, according to the
records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration may
be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the
number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust,
(c) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing,
(d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders,
(e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any
meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this
Declaration, (f) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any
officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the existence of any fact or facts
which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive
evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any person dealing with the
Trustees and their successors.
12.6 Provisions in Conflict with
Law or Regulation.
(a) The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, if applicable, the regulated investment company
provisions of the Code (if applicable) or with other applicable laws and
regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted
a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not
affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or
improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If
any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such
provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision
in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any
jurisdiction.
24
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed as of
the day and year first above written.
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Trustee
|
25