MERLIN FUNDS GROUP Exhibit a(2)
AGREEMENT AND
DECLARATION OF TRUST
This AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made on February 3, 1999 by
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxx (together with all other persons from
time to time duly elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with
the provisions of Article II hereof, the "Trustees");
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property
contributed to the Trust shall be held and managed in trust pursuant to this
Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Name. The name of the Trust created by this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust is Merlin Funds Group.
Section 2. Definitions. Unless otherwise provided or required by the
context:
(a) "Administrator" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Article III, Section 3 hereof.
(b) "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.
(c) "Class" means the class of Shares of a Series established pursuant to
Article V.
(d) "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.
(e) "Covered Person" means a person so defined in Article IV, Section 3.
(f) 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).
(g) Declaration" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as
amended or restated from time to time. Reference in this Declaration of
Trust to "Declaration," "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.
(h) "Delaware Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code
entitled "Treatment of Delaware Business Trusts," as amended from time to
time.
(i) "Distributor" means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract
described in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
(j) "His" shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the
masculine, genders.
(k) "Investment Adviser" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Article III, Section 2 hereof.
(l) "Net Asset Value" means the net asset value of each Series of the
Trust, determined as provided in Article VI, Section 3.
(m) "Person" means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships,
trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, and
governments and agencies and political subdivisions, thereof, whether
domestic or foreign.
(n) "Series" means a series of Shares established pursuant to Article V.
(o) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares;
(p) "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest
into which the beneficial interest of each Series or Class 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.
(q) "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.
(r) "Trust" means Merlin Funds Group established hereby, and reference to
the Trust, when applicable to one or more Series, refers to that Series.
(s) "Trustees" means the persons who have signed this Declaration of
Trust, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the
terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly
qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with Article II, in all
cases in their capacities as Trustees hereunder.
(t) "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the Trust or any
Series or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series.
(u) The "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time.
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,
including 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 and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, to
purchase and sell options on securities, securities indices, currency and
other financial assets, futures contracts and options on futures contracts
of all descriptions and to engage in all types of hedging and
risk-management transactions.
(d) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or
interest in all securities and repurchase agreements 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 and repurchase
agreements.
(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 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.
(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 business 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, debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses to a
particular Class or to apportion the same between or among two or more
Series or Classes, provided that any debts, liabilities, obligations 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 4.
(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 legal action, suit or proceeding, pending or threatened.
(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 of the
particular Series with respect to which such Shares are issued.
(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 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 the State of Delaware or of any
other state) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes.
(x) 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.
(y) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to
Article IX, Section 4.
(z) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and other combinations and
associations.
(aa)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;
(bb)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 forth 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;
(cc)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;
(dd)To enter into contracts of any kind and description;
(ee)To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of
any Series or Class; and
(ff)To guarantee indebtedness and contractual obligations of others.
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 the
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. Initial Trustees; Election and Number of Trustees. The initial
Trustees shall be the persons initially signing this Declaration. The number of
Trustees (other than the initial Trustees) shall be fixed from time to time by a
majority of the Trustees; provided, that there shall be at least one (1) Trustee
and no more than fifteen (15). The Shareholders shall elect the Trustees (other
than the initial Trustees) on such dates as the Trustees may fix from time to
time.
Section 5. Term of Office of Trustees. Each Trustee shall hold office for
life or until his successor is elected or the Trust terminates; except that (a)
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; (b) any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any
time by a written instrument signed by at least a majority of the then Trustees,
specifying the effective date of removal; (c) 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 retirement; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the
Shareholders by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares.
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. 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. Temporary Vacancy or Absence. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, or while any Trustee is
absent from his domicile (unless that Trustee has made arrangements to be
informed about, and to participate in, the affairs of the Trust during such
absence), or is physically or mentally incapacitated, the remaining Trustees
shall have all the powers hereunder and their certificate as to such vacancy,
absence, or incapacity shall be conclusive. Any Trustee may, by power of
attorney, delegate his powers as Trustee for a period not exceeding six (6)
months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees.
Section 8. Chairman. The Trustees may appoint one of their number to be
Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman or the President 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 Trust, and
may be the chief executive, financial and accounting officer of the Trust.
Section 9. Action by the Trustees. 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. Notice of the time, date and place of all Trustees'
meetings shall be given to each Trustee as set forth 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. 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.
Section 10. Ownership of Trust Property. The Trust Property of the Trust
and of each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or
hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees
or any successor Trustees. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the
assets of the Trust 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 such Shareholder's Shares. The
Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth
in this Trust Instrument. The Trust, or at the determination of the Trustees one
or more of the Trustees or a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust,
shall be deemed to hold legal title and beneficial ownership of any income
earned on securities of the Trust issued by any business entities formed,
organized, or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of
any foreign country. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his
otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he shall execute and deliver such documents
as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the
Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of the
resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, his
legal representative shall execute and deliver on his behalf such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
Section 11. 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 12. 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 13. 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 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 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 Advisers or persons to whom the Investment Advisers
delegate certain or all of their 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 Advisers, 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 multiple Series or Classes, separate administration agreements with
respect to each Series or Class, whereby the other party to such agreement shall
undertake to manage the business affairs of the Trust or of a Series or Class
thereof of the Trust and furnish the Trust or a Series or a Class thereof with
office facilities, and shall be responsible for the ordinary clerical,
bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities, and other
facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions as the
Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Section 4. Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into service agreements with respect to one or more Series or
Classes of Shares whereby the other parties to such Service Agreements will
provide administration and/or support services pursuant to administration plans
and service plans, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees in
their discretion may determine.
Section 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, each having aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least two
million dollars ($2,000,000), or any other entity satisfying the requirements of
the 1940 Act, to serve as Custodian with authority as the Trust's 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.
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, member, director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee, manager, investment 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 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, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another
organization in which the Trust 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
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 in the reasonable belief that his action was
in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii)in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination
that such 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 arising out of any such advance payments or (iii) either a
majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust
nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to
believe that such Covered Person will not be disqualified from
indemnification under this Section.
(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.
Section 4. Indemnification of Shareholders. 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.
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
shall at all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property
or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, its Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem
adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the
Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 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, 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
Section 1. Establishment of Series or Class. The Trust shall consist of one
or more Series. Without limiting the authority of the Trustees to establish and
designate any further Series, the Trustees hereby establish one Series which
shall be designated Merlin US Community Bank Stock Fund. Each additional Series
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.
The Trustees may designate the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of
each Series. The Trustees may divide the Shares of any Series into Classes.
Without limiting the authority of the Trustees to establish and designate any
further Classes, the Trustees hereby establish a single Class of Shares. The
Classes of Shares of the existing Series herein established and designated and
any Shares of any further 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 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. In connection therewith with respect to
the existing Classes, the purchase price, the method of determining the net
asset value, and the relative dividend rights of holders shall be as set forth
in the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of
1933 and/or the 1940 Act and as in effect at the time of issuing Shares of the
existing Classes.
All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to be Shares
of 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 Share of a Series shall represent an equal beneficial
interest in the net assets of such Series. 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 his
Shares, 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.
Section 2. Shares. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided
into transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series or Classes
established by the Trustees. The number of Shares of each Series and Class is
unlimited and each Share shall have no par value per Share or such other amount
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 any Series or Classes with such preferences,
terms of conversion, voting powers, 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 any Series or Classes into a greater or lesser number; to classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares 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.
Section 3. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments
in 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 form of cash or securities in which that Series is
authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article VI, Section 3. Investments
in a 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 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 any Series at any time without any cause or reason therefor
whatsoever.
Section 4. Assets and Liabilities of Series. All consideration received by
the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with
all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof (including any proceeds derived from the
sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived
from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be), shall
be held and accounted for separately from the 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. 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 debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses allocated solely to a particular Class
shall be borne by that Class. Any general debts, liabilities, obligations,
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 debts, liabilities, obligations, expenses, costs, charges or
reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses
incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular
Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not
against the assets of any other Series. Notice of this contractual limitation on
liabilities among Series may, in the Trustees' discretion, be set forth in the
certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed
or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in the
certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware
Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory
effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of
trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person
extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may
look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, 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 5. Ownership and Transfer of Shares. The Trust or a transfer or
similar agent for the Trust shall maintain a register containing the names and
addresses of the Shareholders of each Series and Class thereof, the number of
Shares of each Series and Class held by such Shareholders, and a record of all
Share transfers. The register shall be conclusive as to the identity of
Shareholders of record and the number of Shares held by them from time to time.
The Trustees may authorize the issuance of certificates representing Shares and
adopt rules governing their use. The Trustees may make rules governing the
transfer of Shares, whether or not represented by certificates. Except as
otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of
the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon
delivery to the Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed
instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding,
and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization
and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such
delivery, and subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees or
contained in the By-laws, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the
Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of record of Shares
shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and
neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar or any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a
proposed transfer.
Section 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 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.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees or a committee of one or more
Trustees and one or more officers 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. All dividends and other distributions on Shares of a particular
Series shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of that Series in
proportion to the number of Shares of that Series they held on the record date
established for such payment, except that such dividends and distributions shall
appropriately reflect expenses allocated to a particular Class of such Series.
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. Each Shareholder of a Series shall have the right
at such times as may be permitted by the Trustees to require the Series to
redeem all or any part of his Shares at a redemption price per Share equal to
the Net Asset Value per Share at such time as the Trustees shall have prescribed
by resolution, or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, at such other
redemption price and at such times as the Trustees shall prescribe by
resolution. In the absence of such resolution, the redemption price per Share
shall be the Net Asset Value next determined after receipt by the Series of a
request for redemption in proper form less such charges as are determined by the
Trustees and described in the Trust's Registration Statement for that Series
under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trustees may specify conditions, prices,
and places of redemption, may specify binding requirements for the proper form
or forms of requests for redemption and may specify the amount of any deferred
sales charge to be withheld from redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption
price may be wholly or partly in securities or other assets at the value of such
securities or assets used in such determination of Net Asset Value, or may be in
cash. Redeemed Shares may be reissued by the Trust from time to time. The
Trustees may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms
set by the Trustees, including, but not limited to, the failure of a Shareholder
to supply a taxpayer identification number if required to do so, or to have the
minimum investment required, or to pay when due for the purchase of Shares
issued to him. To the extent permitted by law, the Trustees may retain the
proceeds of any redemption of Shares required by them for payment of amounts due
and owing by a Shareholder to the Trust or any Series or Class or any
governmental authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may postpone
payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of the Shareholders to
require any Series or Class to redeem Shares during any period of time when and
to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.
Section 3. Determination of Net Asset Value. The Trustees shall cause the
Net Asset Value of Shares of 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 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 regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day for all
or part of which such Exchange is open for unrestricted trading.
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 either withdraw his request for redemption or
receive payment based on the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the
suspension terminates.
Section 5. Repurchase by Agreement. The Trust may repurchase Shares
directly, or through the Distributor or another agent designated for the
purpose, by agreement with the owner thereof at a price not exceeding the Net
Asset Value per Share determined as of the time when the purchase or contract of
purchase is made or the Net Asset Value as of any time which may be later
determined, provided payment is not made for the Shares prior to the time as of
which such Net Asset Value is determined.
ARTICLE VII
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 1. Voting Powers. 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; (c)
any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article VIII,
Section 1; (d) any termination of the Trust as provided in Article IX, Section
4; (e) the amendment of this Declaration to the extent and as provided in
Article IX, Section 8; and (f) such additional matters relating to the Trust as
may be required or authorized by law, this Declaration, or the By-laws or any
registration statement of the Trust filed with the Commission or any State, or
as the Trustees may consider desirable.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be
voted by individual Series or Class, except (a) when required by the 1940 Act,
Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series or Class,
and (b) 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, 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 of any Series or Class, 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 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 law, 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. Shareholders may act as to the Trust or any Series or Class by the
written consent of a majority (or such other amount as may be required by
applicable law) of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust or of such Series or
Class, as the case may be.
Section 3. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of
any Series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of
any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which
shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment,
as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series (or Class)
having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a
record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or
transfer books for one or more Series (or Classes) any time prior to the payment
of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the
Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or Classes).
Section 4. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders may be called by the Trustees
or such other person or persons as may be specified in the By-Laws and shall be
called by the Trustees upon the written request of shareholders owning at least
10% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for the purpose of voting upon
the question of removal of a trustee or trustees. Shareholders shall be entitled
to at least ten (10) days prior notice of any meeting.
Section 5. 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
4, the Trust or a particular Series shall pay, or shall reimburse the Trustees
from the assets belonging to all Series or the particular Series, for their
expenses (or the expenses of a Class of such Series) and disbursements,
including, but not limited to, interest charges, taxes, brokerage fees and
commissions; expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of Shares; certain
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 its
Series and maintaining its existence; costs of preparing and printing the
prospectuses of the Trust and each Series, 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 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 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, 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. 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 vote of a
majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or of
each Series to be affected, the Trustees may
(i) sell and convey all or substantially all of the assets of all Series
or any affected Series to another Series or to another entity which is an
open-end investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series
thereof, for adequate consideration, which may include the assumption of
all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or
contingent, of the Trust or any affected Series, and which may include
shares of or interests in such Series, entity, or series thereof; or
(ii)at any time sell and convert into money all or substantially all of
the assets of all Series or any affected Series.
Upon making reasonable provision for the payment of all known liabilities
of all Series or any affected Series in either (i) or (ii), by such
assumption or otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining
proceeds or assets (as the case may be) ratably among the Shareholders of
all Series or any affected Series; however, the payment to any particular
Class of such Series may be reduced by any fees, expenses or charges
allocated to that Class.
(b) The Trustees may take any of the actions specified in subsection
(a)(i) and (ii) above without obtaining the vote of a majority of the
Shares Outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or any Series if a
majority of the Trustees determines that the continuation of the Trust or
Series is not in the best interests of the Trust, such Series, or their
respective Shareholders as a result of factors or events adversely
affecting the ability of the Trust or such Series to conduct its business
and operations in an economically viable manner. Such factors and events
may include, without limitation, the inability of the Trust or a Series to
maintain its assets at an appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations
governing the Trust or the Series or affecting assets of the type in which
the Trust or Series invests, or economic developments or trends having a
significant adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or
such Series.
(c) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or
assets pursuant to subsection (a), the Trust or affected Series 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 of trust to be filed in accordance with the
Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one
Trustee.
Section 5. Reorganization.
(a) 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 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 another open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act, or a series thereof, that will succeed to or
assume the Trust's registration under the 1940 Act, (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 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.
(b) 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 in accordance with this Section 5 may effect any amendment to
the Declaration or effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the
Trust if it is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or
consolidation.
(c) The Trustees may create one or more business 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 6. 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 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 7. 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 forth or referenced in this
Declaration. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Delaware business
trust, and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all
powers 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 8. Amendments. 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 l, (b) to this Section 8, (c) required to be approved by
Shareholders by law or by the Trust's registration statement(s) filed with the
Commission, 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 shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders
of such Series and no vote shall be required of Shareholders of a Series 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.
Section 9. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth in
Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on
behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
(a) Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the
Delaware Act who hold at least 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust,
or 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Series or Class to which such
action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such
action; and
(b) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider
such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The
Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in
considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by
the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense
of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring
such action.
Section 10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a
specified date as set forth in the By-laws. The Trustees may change the fiscal
year of the Trust without Shareholder approval.
Section 11. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of the
date first written above.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Trustee and not
Individually; 0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
/s/ Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxx
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxx, as Trustee and not
Individually; 0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
