AIP VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST August 24, 2006
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
August
24, 2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS |
1
|
Section
1.1. Name
|
1
|
Section
1.2. Definitions
|
1
|
Section
1.3. Construction
|
4
|
ARTICLE II TRUSTEES |
4
|
Section
2.1. Number of Trustees
|
4
|
Section
2.2. Term and Election
|
4
|
Section
2.3. Resignation and Removal
|
5
|
Section
2.4. Vacancies
|
5
|
Section
2.5. Meetings
|
5
|
Section
2.6. Officers; Chairman
|
6
|
Section
2.7. By-Laws
|
6
|
ARTICLE III POWERS OF TRUSTEES |
6
|
Section
3.1. General
|
6
|
Section
3.2. Activities and Investments
|
7
|
Section
3.3. Legal Title
|
8
|
Section
3.4. Sale of Interests; Reclassification
|
8
|
Section
3.5. Borrowing Money; Pledging Trust Assets; Lending
Property
|
9
|
Section
3.6. Delegation; Committees
|
9
|
Section
3.7. Collection and Payment
|
9
|
Section
3.8. Expenses
|
9
|
Section
3.9. Common Items
|
9
|
Section
3.10. Litigation
|
10
|
Section
3.11. Tax Matters
|
10
|
Section
3.12. Miscellaneous Powers
|
10
|
Section
3.13. Manner of Acting
|
11
|
ARTICLE
IV INVESTMENT ADVISORY, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND PLACEMENT AGENT
ARRANGEMENTS; CUSTODIAN
|
11
|
Section
4.1. Investment Advisory and Other
Arrangements
|
11
|
Section
4.2. Parties to Contract
|
11
|
Section
4.3. Custodian
|
11
|
ARTICLE V INTERESTS IN THE TRUST |
12
|
Section
5.1. Interests
|
12
|
Section
5.2. Establishment and Designation of Series
|
12
|
Section
5.3. Rights of Holders
|
14
|
Section
5.4. Purchase of or Increase in Interests
|
14
|
Section
5.5. Register of Interests
|
14
|
Section
5.6. Nontransferability
|
14
|
Section
5.7. Notices
|
14
|
Section
5.8. No Liability of Holders
|
14
|
Section
5.9. Classes of Interests
|
15
|
i
ARTICLE VI DECREASES AND WITHDRAWALS |
15
|
Section
6.1. Decreases and Withdrawals
|
15
|
ARTICLE
VII DETERMINATION OF BOOK CAPITAL ACCOUNT BALANCES, NET INCOME AND
DISTRIBUTIONS
|
16
|
Section
7.1. Book Capital Account Balances
|
16
|
Section
7.2. Allocations and Distributions to
Holders
|
16
|
Section
7.3. Power to Modify Foregoing
Procedures
|
16
|
ARTICLE VIII LIABILITY FOR TRUST OBLIGATIONS |
16
|
Section
8.1. Liabilities of Series
|
16
|
Section
8.2. No Personal Liability of Trustees
|
17
|
Section
8.3. Indemnification
|
17
|
Section
8.4. No Protection Against Certain 1940 Act
Liabilities
|
18
|
Section
8.5. No Bond Required of Trustees
|
18
|
Section
8.6. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust
Instruments
|
19
|
Section
8.7. Insurance
|
19
|
Section
8.8. Reliance on Experts
|
19
|
Section
8.9. Accounting
|
19
|
ARTICLE IX HOLDERS |
19
|
Section
9.1. Meeting of Holders
|
19
|
Section
9.2. Notice of Meetings
|
20
|
Section
9.3. Record Date for Meetings
|
20
|
Section
9.4. Proxies
|
20
|
Section
9.5. Reports
|
21
|
Section
9.6. Inspection of Records
|
21
|
Section
9.7. Holder Action by Written Consent
|
21
|
ARTICLE X DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST OR SERIES; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC. |
21
|
Section
10.1. Duration
|
21
|
Section
10.2. Dissolution of Series or Trust
|
21
|
Section
10.3. Termination of Trust or Series
|
21
|
Section
10.4. Amendment of Procedure
|
22
|
Section
10.5. Merger, Consolidation, Conversion and Sale of Assets
|
23
|
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS |
23
|
Section
11.1. Certificate of Trust; Registered Agent
|
23
|
Section
11.2. Governing Law
|
24
|
Section
11.3. Counterparts
|
24
|
Section
11.4. Reliance by Third Parties
|
24
|
Section
11.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations
|
24
|
Section
11.6. Trust Only
|
24
|
ii
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
August
24, 2006
THIS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of AIP Variable Insurance Trust made as
of
this 24th
day of
August, 2006, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of
beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS
this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company;
and
WHEREAS
this Trust is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial interest in separate
Series, and to issue classes of Shares of any Series or divide Shares of any
Series into two or more classes, all in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS
the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as
trustees of a Delaware business trust in accordance with the provisions of
the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act of 2002 (12 Del.
C.§3801,
et seq.),
as
from time to time amended and including any successor statute of similar import
(the “DSTA”), and the provisions hereinafter set forth.
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 and the Series created hereunder as
hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE
I
NAME
AND
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1. Name.
The
name of the trust established hereby (the “Trust”) is “AIP Variable Insurance
Trust,” and, insofar as may be practicable, 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.
Section
1.2. Definitions.
Wherever used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings assigned
to them below:
(a) “Act”
means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del.
C.
Section
3801 et seq.,
as
amended from time to time.
(b) “Administrator”
means any party furnishing services to the Trust and any Series pursuant to
any
administrative services contract described in Section 4.1.
(c) “Affiliated
Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(d) “Assistant
Secretary” means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to
Section 2.6.
(e) “Assistant
Treasurer” means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to
Section 2.6.
(f) “Book
Capital Account” means, for any Holder at any time, the book capital account of
the Holder at such time with respect to such Holder’s interest in the Trust
Property of any Series or class, determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and the provisions of the 1940 Act, and each
Holder shall have a separate book capital account for each Series and class
in
which it holds an Interest.
(g) “By-Laws”
means the by-laws referred to in Section 2.7 hereof, as amended and in effect
from time to time.
(h) “Certificate
of Trust” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.1(a) hereof.
(i) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations
thereunder, each as amended from time to time.
(j) “Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(k) “Custodian”
means any party, other than the Trust or the Series, to any agreement described
in Section 4.3 hereof.
(l) “Declaration”
means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended and in effect from
time to time. Reference in this Agreement and Declaration of Trust to
“Declaration,” “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to
refer to this Agreement and Declaration of Trust rather than the article or
section in which such words appear.
(m) “Fundamental
Policies” means, with respect to any Series, the investment policies and
restrictions applicable to such Series that are set forth and designated as
fundamental policies in the Registration Statement.
(n) “Holders”
means with respect to any Series or class at any particular time, all holders
of
record of Interests of any Series or class at such time.
(o) “Institutional
Investor” means any registered investment company (including a unit investment
trust), insurance company separate account, common or commingled trust fund,
group trust or similar organization or entity that is an “accredited investor”
within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended from time to
time.
2
(p) “Interested
Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000
Xxx.
(q) “Interests”
means with respect to any Series or class, the interests in the Trust Property
of such Series or class, including all rights, powers and privileges accorded
to
holders in this Declaration, which interests may be expressed as a percentage,
determined by calculating, as the Trustees shall from time to time determine,
the ratio of such holder’s Book Capital Account balance in the Trust Property of
such Series or class to the total of all holders’ Book Capital Account balances
in the Trust Property of such Series or class. Reference herein to a specific
percentage in, or fraction of, Interests of the holders with respect to any
Series or class means holders whose combined Book Capital Accounts represent
such specified percentage, or fraction of, the Book Capital Accounts of all
holders of the Trust Property of such Series or class.
(r) “Investment
Adviser” means any party, other than the Trust or the Series, to any investment
advisory contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
(s) “1940
Act” means the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
and regulations thereunder, each as amended from time to time, and any order
or
orders thereunder which may from time to time be applicable to the
Trust.
(t) “Person”
means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts,
associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities,
and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(u) “President”
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(v) “Registered
Agent” means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to Section
11.1
(w) “Registration
Statement” means the Trust’s currently effective Registration Statement under
the 1940 Act, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
(x) “Secretary”
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(y) “Series”
means each series of the Trust established and designated under or in accordance
with Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act and the provisions of Article V hereof,
each
of which shall be accounted for and maintained as a separate series of the
Trust.
(z) “Special
Meetings” means meetings of the Trustees called in accordance with Section
2.5.
3
(aa) “Treasurer”
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(bb) “Trust”
means the master trust established hereby by whatever name it may be known,
inclusive of each and every Series established hereunder.
(cc) “Trust
Property” means any and all assets, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
that are owned or held by the Trust, each and every asset of which shall be
allocated and belong to a specific Series to the exclusion of all other
Series.
(dd) “Trustees”
means the individuals who have signed this Declaration, so long as they shall
continue in office in accordance with the provisions hereof, and all other
Persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed, qualified and
serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and reference
herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such individuals or Persons
in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
Section
1.3. Construction.
The use
herein of the masculine or feminine gender or the neutral shall be construed
to
refer to the other gender or the neutral as well, and the use herein of the
singular shall be construed to include the plural and the plural to include
the
singular, as the context may require. The
word
“includes” and “including” and their syntactical variants mean “includes, but is
not limited to” and “including, without limitation,” and corresponding
syntactical variant expressions.
ARTICLE
II
TRUSTEES
Section
2.1. Number
of
Trustees. The number of Trustees shall initially be five (5) and shall
thereafter be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written
instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office, provided,
however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than three (3)
or
more than fifteen (15). Any vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may
be
filled by the appointment of any Person made by a written instrument signed
by a
majority of the Trustees then in office. Any such appointment shall not become
effective, however, until the Person named in the written instrument of
appointment shall have accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in
writing to be bound by the terms of this Declaration. No reduction in the number
of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office. Whenever
a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled
as
provided in this Section and Section 2.4 hereof, 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.
Section
2.2. Term
and
Election. Each Trustee named herein, or elected or appointed prior to the first
meeting of the Holders, shall (except in the event of resignations or removals
or vacancies pursuant to Section 2.3 or 2.4 hereof) hold office until his or
her
successor has been elected at such meeting and has qualified to serve as
Trustee, as required under the 1940 Act. Beginning with the Trustees elected
at
the first meeting of Holders, each Trustee shall hold office during the lifetime
of this Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided unless such
Trustee resigns or is removed as provided in Section 2.3 below.
4
Section
2.3. Resignation
and Removal. Any Trustee may resign (without need for prior or subsequent
accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by him or her and delivered
to
the other Trustees or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary
and
such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery or at any later date
according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed
by
the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees; provided, that if the
removal of one or more Trustees would have the effect of reducing the number
of
remaining Trustees below the minimum number prescribed by Section 2.1 hereof,
then subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, at the time of the removal of
such Trustee or Trustees, the remaining Trustees shall elect or appoint a number
of additional Trustees at least sufficient to increase the number of Trustees
holding office to the minimum number prescribed by Section 2.1 hereof. Upon
the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his or her otherwise ceasing to be
a
Trustee due to death or legal disability, he or she shall, or in the case of
death or legal disability, his or her legal representative 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
his or her name. However, the execution and delivery of such documents by a
former Trustee or his or her legal representative shall not be requisite to
the
vesting of title to the Trust Property in the remaining Trustees as provided
in
Section 3.3 hereof.
Section
2.4. Vacancies.
The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in
the
event of such Trustee’s death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated
incompetence or other legal disability to perform the duties of the office
of
Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke
any existing obligations created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration.
In
the case of a vacancy, the Holders of at least a majority of the Interests
entitled to vote, acting at any meeting of the Holders held in accordance with
Section 9.1 hereof, or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a majority
vote
of the Trustees continuing in office acting by written instrument or
instruments, may fill such vacancy, and any Trustee so elected by the Trustees
or the Holders shall hold office as provided in this Declaration.
Section
2.5. Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held on such notice at such place or
places and times as may be fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the
Trustees. Special Meetings of the Trustees shall be held upon the call of the
Chairman, if any, the President, the Secretary or any two Trustees, by oral
or
electronic or written notice duly served on or sent, mailed or sent by telecopy
or e-mail to each Trustee not less than one day before the meeting. No notice
need be given to any Trustee who attends in person or to any Trustee who, in
writing signed and filed with the records of the meeting either before or after
the holding thereof, waives notice. Notice or waiver of notice need not state
the purpose or purposes of the meeting. The Trustees may act with or without
a
meeting, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. A quorum for all meetings
of the Trustees shall be a majority of the Trustees. Unless provided otherwise
in this Declaration, 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.
5
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 a majority 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 a majority of the members.
With
respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees
who are Interested Persons of the Trust within the meaning of Section 1.2 hereof
or otherwise interested in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section 2.5 and shall be entitled to vote to the extent
permitted 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, and participation in a meeting pursuant to such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section
2.6. Officers;
Chairman. The Trustees shall, from time to time, elect a President, a Secretary,
and a Treasurer, who shall be deemed officers of the Trust in accordance with
this Declaration. The Trustees may appoint an Assistant Secretary and an
Assistant Treasurer as the Trustees deem advisable. The Trustees may elect
or
appoint, from time to time, a Chairman who shall preside at all meetings of
the
Trustees and carry out such other duties as the Trustees shall designate. The
Trustees may elect or appoint or authorize the President to appoint such other
officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable.
The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer may, but need not, be Trustees,
and shall be agents of the Trust within the meaning of Section 3806(b)(7) of
the
Act.
Section
2.7. By-Laws.
The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration for the
conduct of activities of the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-laws to
the
extent such power is not reserved to the Holders by express provision of such
By-laws. This Declaration and the By-Laws shall together constitute the
“governing instrument” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 3801(f) of the
Act.
ARTICLE
III
POWERS
OF
TRUSTEES
Section
3.1. General.
The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property
and over the activities of the Trust and each Series to the fullest extent
permitted by Section 3806(a) of the Act and other applicable law, but with
such
powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees
shall
have power to conduct the activities of the Trust and any Series and to carry
on
their operations and maintain offices both within and outside of the State
of
Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, and in the
District of Columbia, in any foreign country, 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 and each Series
although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination
as
to what is in the interests of the Trust or any Series 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 shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal
with Trust Property.
6
The
enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting
the
aforesaid powers. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order
of
or resort to any court.
Section
3.2. Activities
and Investments. The Trustees shall have the power with respect to the Trust
and
each Series:
(a) to
conduct, operate and carry on the activities of an investment company, and,
in
connection therewith:
(i) to
subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire and invest and reinvest in, to
hold
for investment or otherwise, to sell, transfer, assign, negotiate, exchange,
lend or otherwise dispose of, and to turn to account or realize upon and
generally deal in and with, domestic or foreign securities (which term,
“securities,” shall include any and all bills, notes, bonds, debentures or other
obligations or evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit, bankers
acceptances, commercial paper, repurchase agreements or other money market
instruments; stocks, shares or other equity ownership interests, including
non-publicly traded or illiquid securities and those securities the disposition
of which is restricted under the Federal securities laws); convertible
securities; mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities; and warrants,
options or other instruments representing rights to subscribe for, purchase,
receive or otherwise acquire or to sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose
of, and scrip, certificates, receipts or other instruments evidencing any
ownership rights or interests in, any of the foregoing; and “forward
commitment,” “when issued” and “delayed delivery” contracts for securities,
issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any governments, political subdivisions
or
governmental authorities, agencies or instrumentalities, by any individuals,
firms, companies, corporations, syndicates, associations or trusts, or by any
other organizations or entities whatsoever, irrespective of their forms or
the
names by which they may be described, whether or not they be organized and
operated for profit, and whether they be domestic or foreign with respect to
the
State of Delaware or the United States of America); and
(ii) to
acquire and become the owner of or interested in any securities by delivering
or
issuing in exchange or payment therefor, in any lawful manner, any of the Trust
Property; and
(iii) to
exercise while the owner of any securities or interests therein any and all
of
the rights, powers and privileges of ownership of such securities or interests,
including any and all voting rights and rights of assent, consent or dissent
pertaining thereto, and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation,
protection, improvement and enhancement in value thereof; and
7
(iv) to
purchase, sell and hold currencies and enter into contracts for the future
purchase or sale of currencies, including forward foreign currency exchange
contracts; and
(v) to
enter
into futures and forward contracts, and to purchase and write put and call
options on futures contracts, securities, currencies and securities indexes;
and
(vi) to
make
loans to the extent provided in the Registration Statement from time to time;
and
(vii) to
engage
in such other activities as may be disclosed in the Registration Statement
from
time to time; and
(b) to
conduct, operate and carry on any other lawful activities which the Trustees,
in
their sole and absolute discretion, consider to be (i) incidental to the
activities of the Trust and each Series as an investment company, (ii) conducive
to or expedient for the benefit or protection of the Trust or any Series or
the
Holders, or (iii) calculated in any other manner to promote the interests of
the
Trust or any Series or the Holders.
The
Trustees shall not be limited to investing in securities maturing before the
possible termination of the Trust or any Series, nor shall the Trustees be
limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by
fiduciaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained but
consistent with the applicable investment objectives, the Trust and each Series
shall be managed in compliance with the requirements of the Code applicable
to
regulated investment companies as though such requirements were applied at
the
Series level.
Section
3.3. Legal
Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trust as
a
separate legal entity, 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 Series of the Trust, or in the name of any other
Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided, that
the interest of the Trust or any Series 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 the
termination of the term of office of a Trustee as provided in Section 2.2 or 2.4
hereof, such Trustee shall automatically cease to have any right, title or
interest in any of the Trust Property, and all 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 as provided in Section
2.3 hereof.
Section
3.4. Sale
of
Interests; Reclassification. Subject to more detailed provisions set forth
in
Article V and the Trustees’ duty of impartiality to the Holders, the Trustees
shall have the power to permit Persons to purchase Interests and to add to
or
reduce, in whole or in part, their Interests in any Series or class, provided
that from and after the commencement of the private placement of Interests,
Interests shall be sold only to eligible investors as set forth in each Series’
Prospectus (“Eligible Investors”). The Trustees shall also have the power to
acquire, hold, resell, dispose of, transfer, classify, reclassify and otherwise
deal in Interests of the Trust or any Series or class. The Trustees may hold
as
treasury Interests (without such Interests being deemed to be canceled),
re-issue for such consideration and on such terms as they determine, or cancel,
in their discretion from time to time, any Interests of any Series or class
reacquired by the Trust.
8
Section
3.5. Borrowing
Money; Pledging Trust Assets; Lending Property. Subject to any applicable
Fundamental Policies of the Trust or any Series or any applicable provision
of
the By-Laws, the Trustees shall have the power, on behalf of the Trust or any
Series, to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit and to secure the same by
mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security any of the Trust
Property, to endorse, guarantee or undertake the performance of any obligation,
contract or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property; provided
that Trust Property belonging to a Series shall not be pledged, encumbered
or
subject to liabilities belonging to any other Series.
Section
3.6. Delegation;
Committees. The Trustees shall have the power, consistent with their continuing
exclusive authority over the management of the Trust, each Series and the Trust
Property, to delegate from time to time to such committee or committees as
they
may from time to time appoint from among their own number or to such officers,
employees or agents of the Trust as they may from time to time designate the
doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name
of
the Trust or any Series or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the
Trustees may deem expedient.
Section
3.7. Collection
and Payment. The Trustees shall have the power to collect all property due
to
the Trust or any Series; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust
Property; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to
the
Trust Property; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations
by
virtue of which any property is owed to the Trust or any Series; and to enter
into releases, agreements and other instruments.
Section
3.8. Expenses.
The Trustees shall have the power to incur and pay, out of the income or the
principal of the Trust Property of the Series, any expenses which, in the
opinion of the Trustees, are necessary or incidental to carrying out any of
the
purposes of this Declaration, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds
of the Trust to themselves as Trustees; provided that no Series will be liable
for the debts and obligations of any other Series, and expenses, fees, charges,
taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with a particular
Series, or in connection with the management thereof, shall be paid out of
the
Trust Property belonging to that Series and not out of the Trust Property
belonging to any other Series. The Trustees shall not be obligated to account
to
the Holders for the retention of compensation, and each Holder agrees that
compliance with the accounting requirements of the 1940 Act and of this
Declaration shall constitute satisfactory accounting with respect to all acts
of
the Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees
and Trustees of the Trust and may pay such compensation out of the Trust
Property without reduction of the Trustees’ compensation.
Section
3.9. Common
Items. All expenses and other items of the Trust that are common to more than
one Series shall be borne by or allocated to such Series proportionately based
upon the relative net asset values of each. Such common items shall include
Trustees’ fees; 1940 Act registration expenses; organizational expenses of the
Trust, exclusive of organizational expenses attributable to any specific Series;
and accounting expenses relating to the Trust that are not attributable to
any
specific Series.
9
Section
3.10. Litigation.
The Trustees shall have the power to engage in and to prosecute, defend,
compromise, abandon or adjust, by arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits,
proceedings, disputes, claims and demands relating to the Trust or any Series
or
the Trust Property, and, out of the Trust Property, to pay or to satisfy any
debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith, including those
of
litigation, and such power shall include the power of the Trustees or any
appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise of their or its good faith
business judgment, consenting to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute,
claim or demand, brought by any Person, including, to the extent permitted
by
applicable law, a Holder in such Holder’s own name or in the name of the Trust
or any Series, whether or not the Trust, a Series or any of the Trustees may
be
named individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business
for or on behalf of the Trust or any Series.
Section
3.11. Tax
Matters. The Trustees shall have the exclusive power, authority and
responsibility with respect to the Trust and the Series regarding (i)
preparation and filing of tax returns; (ii) providing reports to the Holders
regarding tax information necessary to the filing of their respective tax
returns; (iii) making any and all available elections with respect to the tax
treatment of the Series and their investments; (iv) representing the Series
before the Internal Revenue Service or any state taxing authority and exercising
the powers and authorities of a tax matters partner under the Code with respect
to the Series’ tax returns; (v) exercising such responsibility as may be imposed
by law with respect to withholding from a Holder’s share of income or
distributions; (vi) providing to the accountants of the Series such instructions
regarding allocations of realized income, gains and losses as may be necessary
or appropriate to assure compliance with applicable provisions of the Code
and
Treasury Regulations; and (vii) any and all other tax matters.
Section
3.12. 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 activities
of the Trust or any Series and eliminate such employees or contractual
relationships as they consider appropriate; (b) enter into joint ventures,
partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) remove Trustees
or
fill vacancies in or add to their number, subject to and in accordance with
Sections 2.3 and 2.4 hereof; elect and remove at will such officers and appoint
and terminate such agents or employees as they consider appropriate; and appoint
from their own number and terminate at will any one or more committees that
may
exercise some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees
may determine; (d) purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property, insurance
policies insuring the Trust Property, and, to the extent permitted by law and
not inconsistent with any applicable provision of this Declaration or the
By-Laws, insuring the Investment Adviser, Administrator, placement agent,
Holders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents or independent contractors of
the
Trust or any Series against all claims arising by reason of holding any such
position or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any such
Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether
or
not the Trust or any Series would have the power to indemnify such Person
against such liability; (e) indemnify any person with whom the Trust or any
Series has dealings, including the Holders, Trustees, officers, employees,
agents, Investment Adviser, Administrator, placement agent and independent
contractors of the Trust or any Series, to such extent permitted by law and
not
inconsistent with the applicable provisions of this Declaration; (f) subject
to
applicable Fundamental Policies, guarantee indebtedness or contractual
obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust
or
any Series and the method by which its accounts shall be kept; and (g) adopt
a
seal for the Trust or any Series, but the absence of such seal shall not impair
the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust or
Series.
10
Section
3.13. Manner
of
Acting. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the By-laws, in the 1940 Act
or
in any other applicable provision of law, any action to be taken by the Trustees
may be taken in the manner set forth in Section 2.5 hereof.
ARTICLE
IV
INVESTMENT
ADVISORY, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND PLACEMENT AGENT ARRANGEMENTS;
CUSTODIAN
Section
4.1. Investment
Advisory and Other Arrangements. The Trustees may in their discretion, from
time
to time, cause any Series to separately enter into investment advisory and
administrative services contracts or placement agent agreements whereby the
other party to such contract or agreement shall undertake to furnish to such
Series specified therein such investment advisory, administrative, placement
agent and/or other services as the Trustees shall, from time to time, consider
desirable with respect to such Series and all upon such terms and conditions
as
the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any Investment
Adviser (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may,
from time to time, adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans or exchanges of
Trust Property on behalf of any Series or may authorize any officer, employee
or
Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to
recommendations of any such Investment Adviser (and all without further action
by the Trustees). Any such purchase, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed
to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
Section
4.2. Parties
to Contract. Any contract of the character described in Section 4.1 of this
Article IV or in the By-Laws of the Trust may be entered into with any
corporation, firm, trust or association, although one or more of the Trustees
or
officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder or
member of such other party to the contract; and no such contract shall be
invalidated or rendered 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 or any Series
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 Section 4.1 above or the By-Laws of the Trust, 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
4.2.
Section
4.3. Custodian.
The Trustees may appoint one or more banks or trust companies as custodian
of
the securities and cash belonging to any Series. The agreement providing for
such appointment shall contain such terms and conditions as the Trustees in
their discretion determine to be not inconsistent with this Declaration, the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any applicable provisions of the
By-Laws of the Trust. One or more subcustodians may be appointed in a manner
not
inconsistent with this Declaration, the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act
and any applicable provisions of the By-Laws of the Trust.
11
ARTICLE
V
INTERESTS
IN THE TRUST
Section
5.1. Interests.
The beneficial interests in the Trust Property shall consist of an unlimited
number of nontransferable Interests that shall be denominated in dollars
corresponding to the value of such Interests determined by reference to the
corresponding Book Capital Accounts. All Interests shall be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable when issued for such consideration as the Trustees
shall determine. The Trustees may permit the purchase of Interests (for cash
or
other consideration acceptable to the Trustees, subject to the requirements
of
the 0000 Xxx) but only if the purchaser is an Institutional Investor, except
as
set forth in each Series’ Prospectus. Subject to applicable law, the provisions
hereof and such restrictions as may be adopted by the Trustees, a Holder may
increase its Interest by contributions or decrease its Interest by withdrawals
without limitation.
Pursuant
to Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act, the Trustees shall have authority, from time
to time, to establish Interests of a Series, each of which shall be separate
and
distinct from the Interests in any other Series. The Series shall include those
Series specifically established and designated in Section 5.2 hereof, and such
other Series as the Trustees may deem necessary or desirable. The Trustees
shall
have exclusive power without the requirement of Holder approval to establish
and
designate such separate and distinct Series, and, subject to the provisions
of
this Declaration and the 1940 Act, to fix and determine the rights of Holders
of
Interests in such Series, including with respect to the price, terms and manner
of purchase and redemption, dividends and other distributions, rights on
liquidation, sinking or purchase fund provisions, conversion rights and
conditions under which the Holders of the several Series shall have separate
voting rights or no voting rights.
The
Trust
is a series trust pursuant to Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act, and each Series
shall be a separate series of the Trust within the meaning of Section 3806(b)(2)
of the Act. As such, in accordance with Section 3804(a) of the Act, separate
and
distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets of the
Trust
associated with each Series shall be held and accounted for separately from
the
other assets of the Trust or any other Series. The debts, liabilities,
obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with
respect to each Series shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series
only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or the assets of any
other Series, nor shall the assets of any Series be charged with the debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise
existing with respect to another Series or, except as otherwise provided herein,
the Trust generally.
Section
5.2. Establishment
and Designation of Series. The establishment and designation of any Series
shall
be effective upon the execution by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of
the Trust, pursuant to authorization by a majority of the Trustees, of an
instrument setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative
rights and preferences of the Interests of such Series, or as otherwise provided
in such instrument. At any time the Trustees may by resolution adopted by a
majority of their number, and evidenced by an instrument executed by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust, abolish that Series and the
establishment and designation thereof and redeem the Interests therein. Each
instrument referred to in this paragraph shall have the status of an amendment
to this Declaration of Trust.
12
Without
limiting the authority set forth above of the Trustees to establish and
designate further Series, the Trustees hereby establish and designate two (2)
Series, as set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto, which Schedule may be
amended from time to time. The Interests of each of these Series and any
Interests of any subsequent Series that may from time to time be established
and
designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise determine with
respect to some further Series at the time of establishing and designating
the
same) have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets
Belonging to Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue
or
sale of Interests 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
by
the Trustees in a separate account for the benefit of the Holders of Interests
of that Series and shall irrevocably belong to that Series for all purposes,
and
shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust.
Such
consideration, assets, 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, are herein referred to as “assets belonging to”
that Series. No Series shall have any right to or interest in the assets
belonging to any other Series, and no Holder shall have any right or interest
with respect to the assets belonging to any Series in which it does not hold
an
Interest.
(b) Liabilities
Belonging to Series. The assets belonging to each Series shall be charged with
the liabilities in respect of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges
and
reserves attributable to that Series. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges
and reserves so charged to a Series are herein referred to as “liabilities
belonging to” that Series. Subject to Section 8.1 hereof, no Series shall be
liable for or charged with the liabilities belonging to any other
Series.
(c) Voting.
On each matter submitted to a vote of the Holders, each Holder of an Interest
in
each Series shall be entitled to a vote proportionate to its Interest in such
Series as recorded on the books of the Trust and all Holders of Interests in
each Series shall vote as a separate class except as to voting for Trustees
and
as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, in which case all Holders shall vote
together as a single class. As to any matter that does not affect the interest
of a particular Series or class, only the Holders of the one or more affected
Series or class shall be entitled to vote.
13
Section
5.3. Rights
of
Holders. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right
to conduct any activities hereinbefore described shall be vested exclusively
in
the Trust, and the Holders shall have no interest therein other than the
beneficial interest conferred by their Interests, and they shall have no right
to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or
interests of the Trust or any Series. No Holder shall have any interest in
or
rights with respect to any Series in which it does not hold an Interest. The
Interests shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set
forth in this Declaration. The Holders shall have no right to demand payment
for
their Interests or any other rights of dissenting shareholders in the event
the
Trust participates in any transaction that would give rise to appraisal or
dissenter’s rights by a shareholder of a corporation organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise. Holders shall have no
preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional Interests or other
securities issued by the Trust. No action may be brought by a Holder on behalf
of the Trust or any Series thereof unless Holders owning, in the aggregate,
not
less than 25% of the then-outstanding Interests of the Trust or such Series
join
in the bringing of such action. All Persons, by virtue of acquiring an Interest
in the Trust and being registered as a Holder in accordance with Section 5.5
hereof, shall be deemed to have assented to, and shall be bound by, this
Declaration to the same extent as if such Person was a party
hereto.
Section
5.4. Purchase
of or Increase in Interests. The Trustees, in their discretion, may, from time
to time, without a vote of the Holders, permit the purchase of additional
Interests of any Series by such Person or Persons (including existing Holders),
subject to the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof, and for such type of
consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times (including
each
business day), and on such terms as the Trustees may deem best, 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.
Section
5.5. Register
of Interests. A register shall be kept by the Trustees or an officer of the
Trust, on behalf of the Trust, that shall contain the names and addresses of
the
Holders and the Book Capital Account balances of each Holder in each Series.
Each such register shall be conclusive as to who the Holders are and who shall
be entitled to payments of distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy
the
rights of Holders. No Holder shall be entitled to receive payment of any
distribution, nor to have notice given to it as herein provided, until it has
given its address to such officer or agent of the Trust as shall keep the said
register for entry thereon.
Section
5.6. Nontransferability.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Interests shall not be transferable
and
no transferee shall be recognized as a Holder except with the prior written
consent of all of the Trustees and all remaining Holders.
Section
5.7. Notices.
Any and all notices to which any Holder hereunder may be entitled and any and
all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage
prepaid, addressed to any Holder of record at its last known address as recorded
on the register of the Trust or transmitted to the Holders by any other method
permitted by law.
Section
5.8. No
Liability of Holders. All Interests, when issued in accordance with this
Declaration, shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Holders shall be entitled
to
the full protection against personal liability for the obligations of the Trust
under Section 3803(a) of the Act. The Trust shall indemnify and hold each Holder
harmless from and against any claim or liability to which such Holder may become
subject solely by reason of its being or having been a Holder and not because
of
such Holder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, and shall reimburse
such Holder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by it in
connection with any such claim or liability (upon proper and timely request
by
the Holder); provided, however, that no Holder shall be entitled to
indemnification by any Series unless such Holder is a Holder of Interests of
such Series.
14
Section
5.9. Classes
of Interests. The Trustees may, without approval of the Holders of any
Interests, establish and designate classes of Interests of any Series or divide
Interests of any previously established Series into two or more classes,
Interests of each class having such preferences and special or relative rights
and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may
determine in their sole discretion. The fact that a Series shall have initially
been established without classes (i.e., that all Interests of such Series are
initially of a single class), or that a Series shall have more than one
established class, shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to establish
separate classes, or one or more further classes, of such Series without
approval of the Holders of the initial class thereof, or previously established
class or classes thereof.
The
establishment and designation of any class of Interests shall be effective
upon
the execution by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust, pursuant
to authorization by a majority of the Trustees, of an instrument setting forth
such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences
of
such class. The Trustees may amend the By-laws providing for class votes and
meetings and related matters. Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section
5.9,
classes of Interests within a Series shall not be required to vote or receive
distributions on a pro rata basis unless required by applicable law or the
terms
of the instrument establishing such class.
ARTICLE
VI
DECREASES
AND WITHDRAWALS
Section
6.1. Decreases
and Withdrawals. A Holder shall have the right on any day the New York Stock
Exchange is open to decrease its Interest in any Series, and to withdraw
completely from any Series, at the next determined net asset value attributable
to the Interest (or portion thereof) being withdrawn, and an appropriate
adjustment therefor shall be made to such Holder’s Book Capital Account. The
rights of a Holder upon withdrawal from a Series shall be limited to the assets
belonging to the Series from which the withdrawal is made. The Trust may,
subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, charge fees for effecting such decrease
or withdrawal, at such rates as the Trustees may establish, and may at any
time
and from time to time, suspend such right of decrease or withdrawal. The
procedures for effecting decreases or withdrawals shall be as determined by
the
Trustees from time to time, subject to the requirements of the 1940
Act.
15
ARTICLE
VII
DETERMINATION
OF BOOK CAPITAL ACCOUNT BALANCES, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
7.1. Book
Capital Account Balances. The Book Capital Account balances of Holders of the
Trust with respect to each Series shall be determined on such days and at such
time or times as the Trustees may determine, consistent with the requirements
of
the 1940 Act, with income, gains and losses of each Series or class thereof
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to be
allocated among the Holders of such Series or class thereof in accordance with
their Interests. The power and duty to make calculations of the Book Capital
Account balances of the Holders may be delegated by the Trustees to the
Investment Adviser, Administrator, Custodian or such other person as the
Trustees may determine.
Section
7.2. Allocations
and Distributions to Holders. In compliance with the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under applicable provisions of the Code, the Trustees shall (i)
allocate items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to
each
Series to Holders of the Interests in such Series, provided that, except as
may
otherwise be specifically provided in the Treasury Regulations, in all cases
allocations of specific types of income shall be proportionate to the Interests
of the Holders in that Series or class; and (ii) upon liquidation of a Series,
make final distribution of the net assets of such Series among the Holders
of
the Interests in such Series in accordance with their respective Book Capital
Accounts. The Trustees shall provide each Holder of Interests in a Series that
is a regulated investment company, as defined in Section 851(a) of the Code,
information that will enable it to take into account its share of items of
taxable income, gain, loss and deduction as they are taken into account by
such
Series in order to facilitate compliance with Code Section 4982. Any income
tax
withholding or other withholding of taxes required by law with respect to the
allocable share of income of, or distributions to, a Holder shall be accounted
for as a distribution to and charged to the Book Capital Account of such Holder
at the time of payment of such taxes to the applicable taxing authority. The
Trustees may always retain from the assets belonging to a Series such amount
as
they may deem necessary to pay the liabilities belonging to that
Series.
Section
7.3. Power
to
Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions
of
this Article VII, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion,
such
other bases and times for determining the net income and net assets of the
Trust
and of each Series as they may deem necessary or desirable to enable the Trust
to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, any rule or regulation thereunder,
or any order of exemption issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or
hereafter amended or modified.
ARTICLE
VIII
LIABILITY
FOR TRUST OBLIGATIONS
Section
8.1. Liabilities
of Series. Without limitation of the provisions of Section 5.2(b) hereof, but
subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or services 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
or
the Trust generally. Notice of this limitation on liabilities among Series
shall
be set forth in the Certificate of 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 Section 3810 of the Act, and upon the giving of such notice
in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804(a) of
the
Act relating to such limitations (and the statutory effect under Section 3804(a)
of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become
applicable to the Trust and each Series. Every note, bond, contract or other
undertaking issued by or on behalf of a particular Series shall include a
recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to that Series and its
assets.
16
Section
8.2. No
Personal Liability of Trustees.
(a) Trustees.
The Trustees shall be entitled to the protection against personal liability
for
the obligations of the Trust under Section 3803(b) of the Act. No Trustee shall
be liable to the Trust, its Holders or to any Trustee, officer, employee or
agent thereof for any action or failure to act (including the failure to compel
in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except
for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of his or her duties.
(b) Officers,
Employees or Agents of the Trust. The officers, employees and agents of the
Trust shall be entitled to the protection against personal liability for the
obligations of the Trust under Section 3803(c) of the Act without limiting
the
foregoing, no officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the
Trust, its Holders or to any Trustee, officer, employee or agent thereof for
any
action or failure to act (including the failure to compel in any way any former
or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for his or her own
bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or
her
duties.
(c) The
provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they expand or restrict
the
duties and liabilities of the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the
Trust otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Holders to
modify to that extent such other duties and liabilities.
Section
8.3. Indemnification.
The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents
(including Persons who serve at its request as directors, officers or trustees
of another organization in which it has any interest, as a shareholder, creditor
or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid
in
satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and as counsel
fees) reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the defense or
disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal,
in which such Person may be involved or with which such Person may be
threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of such Person being or
having been such a Trustee, officer, employee or agent, except with respect
to
any matter as to which such Person shall have been adjudicated, by the final
and
unappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction, to have acted in bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such
Person’s duties, such liabilities and expenses being liabilities belonging to
the Series out of which such claim for indemnification arises; provided,
however, that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such
Person, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either
for
said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless there has been
a
determination that such Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct
of
his or her office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other
disposition or, in the absence of a judicial determination, by a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to
a
full trial-type inquiry), that such Person did not engage in such conduct,
which
determination shall be made by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are
neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or by written opinion from independent legal counsel approved by
such Trustees. The rights accruing to any Person under these provisions shall
not exclude any other right to which such Person may be lawfully entitled;
provided that no Person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement
granted herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the Trust
Property. The Trustees may make advance payments in connection with
indemnification under this Section 8.3; provided that any advance payment of
expenses by the Trust to any Trustee, officer, employee or agent shall be made
only upon the undertaking by such Trustee, officer, employee or agent to repay
the advance unless it is ultimately determined that he is entitled to
indemnification as above provided, and only if one of the following conditions
is met:
17
(i) the
Trustee, officer, employee or agent to be indemnified provides a security for
such Person’s undertaking;
(ii) the
Trust
shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances;
or
(iii) there
is
a determination, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is
reason to believe that the Trustee, officer, employee or agent to be indemnified
ultimately will be entitled to indemnification, which determination shall be
made by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither Interested Persons
of
the Trust nor parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or by written opinion
from independent legal counsel approved by such Trustees.
Section
8.4. No
Protection Against Certain 1940 Act Liabilities. Nothing contained in Sections
8.1, 8.2 or 8.3 hereof shall give rise to any right to indemnification or
abatement of expenses, or protect any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of
the
Trust from any liability to the Trust or its Holders to which he or she would
otherwise be subject, by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
or
her office. Nothing contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2 or 8.3 hereof or in any
agreement of the character described in Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof shall give
rise to any right to indemnification or abatement of expenses, or protect any
Investment Adviser to the Trust or any Series against any liability to the
Trust
or any Series to which he, she or it would otherwise be subject, by reason
of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of his,
her or its duties to the Trust or Series, or by reason of his, her or its
reckless disregard to his, her or its obligations and duties under the agreement
pursuant to which he, she or it serves as Investment Adviser to the Trust or
any
Series.
Section
8.5. No
Bond
Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other
security for the performance of any of his or her duties hereunder.
18
Section
8.6. No
Duty
of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments. No purchaser, lender, seller 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, lent or
delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or
agent. Every contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, interest or
obligation or other security of the Trust, 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. Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate
or other interest or undertaking of the Trust made or sold by the Trustees
or by
any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, in his or her capacity as such,
may
contain an appropriate recital to the effect that the Holders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust shall not personally be bound by
or
liable thereunder, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim thereunder, and appropriate references
shall be made therein to the Declaration, and may contain any further recital
that they may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not
operate to impose personal liability on any of the Holders, Trustees, officers,
employees or agents of the Trust.
Section
8.7. Insurance.
The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property,
its Holders, 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
8.8. Reliance
on Experts. Each Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the
performance of his or her 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 its officers
or
employees or by any Investment Adviser, the Administrator, 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; provided that nothing in this Section shall be deemed
to
exonerate the Trustees from their duties of reasonable care, diligence and
prudence or any other duties imposed by the 1940 Act.
Section
8.9. Accounting.
The Trustees shall not be required to file any inventory or accounting with
any
court or officer of any court, unless specifically ordered to do so on the
application of the Trustees or on the application of the Holders of Interests
of
the Trust, or on the court’s own motion.
ARTICLE
IX
HOLDERS
Section
9.1. Meetings
of Holders. Meetings of the Holders may be called at any time by a majority
of
the Trustees and shall be called by any Trustee upon written request of Holders
holding, in the aggregate, not less than 10% of
the
Interests of a Series (if the meeting relates solely to that Series), or not
less than 10% of
the
Interests of the Trust (if the meeting relates to the Trust and not solely
to a
particular Series), such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which
such meeting is to be called. Any such meeting shall be held within or outside
of the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall
designate. Holders of at least one-third
of the Interests of the Series (if the meeting relates solely to that Series)
or
Holders of at least one-third of the Interests of the Trust (if the meeting
relates to the Trust and not solely to a particular Series), present in person
or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business,
except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law
or
by this Declaration or the By-Laws. If a quorum is present at a meeting, an
affirmative vote by the Holders present, in person or by proxy, holding a
majority Interests of the Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at
such
meeting constitutes the action of the Holders, unless the 1940 Act, other
applicable law, this Declaration or the By-Laws require a greater number of
affirmative votes.
19
Section
9.2. Notice
of
Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Holders stating the time, place and
purposes of the meeting shall be given by the Trustees by mail to each Holder
of
the Series or class thereof or the Trust, as the case may be, at his or her
registered address or transmitted to the Holders by any other method permitted
by law, sent at least 10 days and not more than 90 days
before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the
meeting may be considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting.
Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further
notice.
Section
9.3. Record
Date for Meetings. For the purpose of determining Holders who are entitled
to
notice of and to vote at any meeting, or to participate in any distribution,
or
for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time fix
a
date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of the Holders
or
payment of distributions or other action, as the case may be, as a record date
for the determination of the Persons to be treated as Holders of record of
a
particular Series or the Trust for such purposes.
Section
9.4. Proxies.
At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote by
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 of the Trust. Only Holders of record shall be entitled
to
vote. Each Holder shall be entitled to vote proportionate to his or her Interest
in the Trust or in any Series (as the context may require). When Interests
are
held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in
person or by proxy in respect of such Interest, 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 Interest. A proxy purporting to be executed
by or
on behalf of a Holder 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 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 his or her Interest, he may vote by his or her guardian or such other person
appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by
proxy.
20
Section
9.5. Reports.
The Trustees shall cause to be prepared, at least annually, a report of
operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed
income of each Series prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and an opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial
statements. The Trustees shall, in addition, furnish to the Holders at least
semiannually interim reports containing an unaudited balance sheet as of the
end
of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus for the period
from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such
period.
Section
9.6. Inspection
of Records. Subject to such restrictions as the Trustees may reasonably impose,
the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Holders during normal
business hours for any purpose not harmful to the Trust.
Section
9.7. Holder
Action by Written Consent. Any action that may be taken by Holders may be taken
without a meeting if Holders holding, in the aggregate, a majority of
the
Interests entitled to vote (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by any provision of this Declaration or the By-laws of the Trust)
shall
consent to the action in writing or by any other method permitted by law and
evidence of the consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Holders.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting
of
Holders.
ARTICLE
X
DURATION;
TERMINATION OF TRUST OR SERIES; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC.
Section
10.1. Duration.
Subject to possible dissolution or termination in accordance with Sections
10.2
and 10.3, respectively, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual
existence.
Section
10.2. Dissolution
of Series or Trust. Any Series shall be dissolved by unanimous
consent/resolution adopted by a majority of the Trustees by notice of
dissolution to the Holders of the Interests of the Series. The Trust shall
be
dissolved upon the dissolution of the last remaining Series.
Section
10.3. Termination
of Trust or Series.
(a) Upon
an
event of dissolution of the Trust or a Series, the Trust or Series shall be
terminated in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The
Trust
or Series, as applicable shall thereafter carry on no business except for the
purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The
Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or Series, as
applicable in accordance with Section 3808 of the Act, and all of the powers
of
the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the
Trust or Series, as applicable shall have been wound up, including the power
to
fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or Series, as applicable,
collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or assets belonging
to the Series, as applicable to one or more persons at public or private sale
for consideration that may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities
or
other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and to do all
other acts appropriate to liquidate its business.
21
(iii) After
paying or adequately providing for the payment of the Trust or all liabilities
belonging to the Series subject of termination 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 or assets
belonging to such Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Holders
of the Trust or such Series, as applicable, according to their Book Capital
Accounts in the Trust or such Series, as applicable. In all cases, as herein
provided, the rights of Holders of Interests in a Series upon termination and
liquidation of that Series shall be limited to the assets belonging to that
Series.
(b) After
termination of the Trust or Series, as applicable, and distribution to the
Holders 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. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall file
a
certificate of cancellation in accordance with Section 3810 of the Act and
such
Trustees shall, subject to Section 3808 of the Act, thereupon be discharged
from
all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests
of
all Holders shall thereupon cease.
Section
10.4. Amendment
Procedure.
(a) Two-thirds
(2/3) or more of the Trustees then in office may amend this Declaration at
any
time for any purpose without the approval of the Holders of Interests; provided,
that the vote or a written or other legally permissible form of consent of
Holders holding, in the aggregate, a majority of the outstanding Interests
or of
Holders of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the Interests voting or consenting,
if
Holders of at least a majority of such Interests vote or consent, shall be
necessary to approve any amendment whenever such vote or consent is required
under the 1940 Act.
(b) Nothing
contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration
to
impair any exemption from personal liability of Holders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust set forth in the Act, this Declaration or
the
By-laws of the Trust.
(c) A
certificate signed by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary
of the Trust, setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted
by the Holders or by the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration,
as
amended, certified by a Trustee or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary
of
the Trust, certifying that such Declaration is a true and correct copy of the
Declaration as amended, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when
lodged among the records of the Trust.
Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, until such time as Interests are first sold to
an
Institutional Investor, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any
respect by vote or written consent of the Trustees.
22
Section
10.5. Merger,
Consolidation, Conversion and Sale of Assets.
(a) The
Trust
may convert or merge into or consolidate with any corporation, association,
other trust or other organization or the Trust or any Series thereof may sell,
lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or assets,
as
applicable, belonging to such Series, including its good will, upon such terms
and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by vote or
written or other legally permissible form of consent of two-thirds (2/3) or
more
of the Trustees then in office; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment,
exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Trust
Property or all or substantially all of the assets belonging to a particular
Series other than for cash, shall require approval of the principal terms of
the
transaction and the nature and amount of the consideration by the vote at a
meeting, or by written consent, of Holders holding, in the aggregate, a majority
of the outstanding Interests of the Trust or Series, as the case may be,
entitled to vote. In accordance with Section 3815(f) of the Act, an agreement
of
merger or consolidation may effect any amendment to this Declaration or the
By-Laws or effect the adoption of a new declaration or by-laws of the Trust
if
the Trust is the surviving or resulting entity.
(b) The
Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or
corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or any other trust, partnership,
association or other organization to take over all of the Trust Property, or
Series thereof, or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly
or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust
Property or Series thereof to any such corporation, trust, association or
organization in exchange for the equity interests thereof or otherwise, and
to
lend money to, subscribe for the equity interests of, and enter into any
contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or
organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, association or
organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire equity interests.
The Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust or
any
successor thereto and any such corporation, trust, partnership, association
or
other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as provided under
the
law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring
approval of the Holders for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing
one
or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations
and selling, conveying or transferring a portion of the Trust Property to such
organizations or entities.
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
11.1. Certificate
of Trust; Registered Agent.
(a) The
Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver, and shall
file a certificate of trust in accordance with Section 3810 of the Act (the
“Certificate of Trust”).
(b) The
Trust
shall comply with Section 3807(b) of the Act by having and maintaining a
registered office in Delaware and by designating a registered agent for service
of process on the Trust, which agent shall have the same business office as
the
Trust’s registered office. The Trust initially appoints Corporation Service
Company as the Registered Agent of the Trust.
23
Section
11.2. Governing
Law. This Declaration is executed by all of the Trustees and delivered with
reference to the Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, and the rights
of
all parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall
be
governed by, subject to and construed according to the Act and the laws of
the
State of Delaware (unless and to the extent otherwise provided for and/or
preempted by the 1940 Act or other applicable Federal
securities laws); provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to
the
Trust, the Trustees, the Holders or this Declaration (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 Act) pertaining
to trusts that are inconsistent with the rights, duties, powers, limitations
or
liabilities of the Trustees or the Holders set forth or referenced in this
Declaration.
Section
11.3. Counterparts.
The 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.
Section
11.4. Reliance
by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual who, according
to
the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, or Secretary,
Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Trust, certifying
to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Holders, (b) the due authorization
of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed
at a meeting of Trustees or Holders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees
or
Holders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies
the
requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or
the
identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (f) the existence of any
fact or facts that 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.
Section
11.5. Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions are in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of
the
Code, the Act or, consistent with Section 11.2, any other applicable Delaware
law regarding administration of trusts, or with other applicable laws and
regulations, the conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such
law
or regulation to the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict; 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 pertain 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.
Section
11.6. Trust
Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only a statutory trust
under
the Act with the relationship of trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees
and each Holder 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 Delaware
statutory trust except to the extent such trust is deemed to constitute a
partnership under the Code and applicable state tax laws. Nothing in this
Declaration shall be construed to make the Holders, either by themselves or
with
the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
24
Schedule
I
Series
Alpha
Hedged Strategies V/I Fund
Beta
Hedged Strategies V/I Fund