THE GABELLI GLOBAL SMALL AND MID CAP VALUE TRUST AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Exhibit 2(a)
THE GABELLI GLOBAL SMALL AND MID CAP VALUE TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I | ||||||
The Trust | ||||||
1.1 |
Name | 1 | ||||
1.2 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
Trustees | ||||||
2.1 |
Number and Qualification | 3 | ||||
2.2 |
Term and Election | 3 | ||||
2.3 |
Resignation and Removal | 3 | ||||
2.4 |
Vacancies | 4 | ||||
2.5 |
Meetings | 4 | ||||
2.6 |
Officers | 5 | ||||
ARTICLE III | ||||||
Powers and Duties of Trustees | ||||||
3.1 |
General | 5 | ||||
3.2 |
Investments | 5 | ||||
3.3 |
Legal Title | 6 | ||||
3.4 |
Issuance and Repurchase of Shares | 6 | ||||
3.5 |
Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage | 6 | ||||
3.6 |
Collection and Payment | 6 | ||||
3.7 |
Expenses | 7 | ||||
3.8 |
By-Laws | 7 | ||||
3.9 |
Miscellaneous Powers | 7 | ||||
3.10 |
Delegation; Committees | 7 | ||||
3.11 |
Further Powers | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification | ||||||
4.1 |
No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. | 8 | ||||
4.2 |
Mandatory Indemnification | 8 |
Exhibit 2(a)
4.3 |
No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. | 10 | ||||
4.4 |
Reliance on Experts, etc. | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
Shares of Beneficial Interest | ||||||
5.1 |
Beneficial Interest | 10 | ||||
5.2 |
Classes and Series | 10 | ||||
5.3 |
Issuance of Shares | 11 | ||||
5.4 |
Rights of Shareholders | 11 | ||||
5.5 |
Trust Only | 11 | ||||
5.6 |
Register of Shares | 11 | ||||
5.7 |
Transfer Agent and Xxxxxxxxx | 00 | ||||
5.8 |
Transfer of Shares | 12 | ||||
5.9 |
Notices | 12 | ||||
5.10 |
Net Asset Value | 13 | ||||
5.11 |
Distributions to Shareholders | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
Shareholders | ||||||
6.1 |
Meetings of Shareholders | 13 | ||||
6.2 |
Voting | 13 | ||||
6.3 |
Notice of Meeting, Shareholder Proposals and Record Date | 14 | ||||
6.4 |
Quorum and Required Vote | 14 | ||||
6.5 |
Proxies, etc. | 15 | ||||
6.6 |
Reports | 16 | ||||
6.7 |
Inspection of Records | 16 | ||||
6.8 |
Shareholder Action by Written Consent | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
Duration: Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers, Etc. | ||||||
7.1 |
Duration | 16 | ||||
7.2 |
Termination | 16 | ||||
7.3 |
Amendment Procedure | 17 | ||||
7.4 |
Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets | 18 |
ii
Exhibit 2(a)
7.5 |
Redemption; Conversion | 18 | ||||
7.6 |
Certain Transactions | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
Miscellaneous | ||||||
8.1 |
Filing | 20 | ||||
8.2 |
Resident Agent | 20 | ||||
8.3 |
Governing Law | 20 | ||||
8.4 |
Counterparts | 21 | ||||
8.5 |
Reliance by Third Parties | 21 | ||||
8.6 |
Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation | 21 |
iii
THE GABELLI GLOBAL SMALL AND MID CAP VALUE TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 21st day of August 2013, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly hereinafter;
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by this Declaration and the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 19, 2013, shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of such statutory trust.
ARTICLE I
The Trust
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the “The Gabelli Global Small and Mid Cap Value Trust” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine.
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
The terms “Affiliated Person”, “Assignment”, “Commission”, “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.
“By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the Trustees.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exhibit 2(a)
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Declaration” shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or amended and restated from time to time, including by way of any classifying or reclassifying Shares of any class or any series of any such class or determining any designations, powers, preferences, voting, conversion and other rights, limitations, qualifications and terms and conditions thereof.
“Delaware Statutory Trust Statute” shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §3801, et. seq., as such Act may be amended from time to time.
“Delaware General Corporation Law” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 Del. C. §100, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
“Person” shall mean and include natural persons, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the currently effective Prospectus of the Trust, if any, under the 1933 Act, as amended.
“Shareholders” shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust at such time.
“Shares” shall mean the transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. All references to Shares shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all classes, including common shares and preferred shares, or series thereof as the context may require.
“Trust” shall mean the trust established by this Declaration, as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
“Trustees” shall mean the signatory to this Declaration, so long as he shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in office.
“Trust Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
The “1933 Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable exemptions therefrom covering the Trust and its affiliated persons, as amended from time to time.
2
Exhibit 2(a)
The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
3
Exhibit 2(a)
Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
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 or such other proportion as shall be specified herein for action at a meeting at which all committee members are present.
4
Exhibit 2(a)
With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act.
The Trustees may elect a Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who shall not, in his or her capacity as such, be an officer of the Trust and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees.
ARTICLE III
3.1 General. The Trustees shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties as owed by directors of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to engage in any activity not prohibited by Delaware law. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties or powers hereunder.
3.2 Investments. The Trustees shall have power to:
(a) manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to securities of any type
5
Exhibit 2(a)
whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration and applicable law, the Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares of any class or classes or series thereof, including Shares in fractional denominations, and to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter not prohibited by the laws of the State of Delaware governing statutory trusts.
6
Exhibit 2(a)
corporation, the Shareholders shall have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders.
7
Exhibit 2(a)
the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees each of which shall have all or such lesser portion of the power and authority of the entire Board of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time, except to the extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the 0000 Xxx.
ARTICLE IV
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification
8
Exhibit 2(a)
except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence (negligence in the case of Affiliated Indemnitees), or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the Trustees.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion conclude that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.
(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify Persons providing services to the Trust to the full extent provided by law as if the Trust were a
9
Exhibit 2(a)
corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law provided that such indemnification (or contractual provision therefor) has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.
ARTICLE V
10
Exhibit 2(a)
designations, powers, preferences, voting, conversion or other rights, limitations, qualifications and terms and conditions of any issued and outstanding Shares may be made by the Trustees without the affirmative vote of the holders of Shares specified in Section 7.3(a) to the extent required thereby. The initial class of Shares of the Trust shall be designated as “Common Shares”, subject to redesignation as aforesaid. To the extent expressly determined by the Trustees as aforesaid, all consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a class, together with all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation thereof, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to such class subject only to the rights of the creditors, and all liabilities allocable to such class shall be charged thereto.
11
Exhibit 2(a)
holders of the Shares of the applicable class and series and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and regulations as to their use.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence, or other operation of law.
12
Exhibit 2(a)
5.11 Distributions to Shareholders.
(a) The Trust shall from time to time distribute among the Shares (or one or more classes or series thereof) such portion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets held by the Trustees or the Trust as the Trustees or any officer may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in the instrument setting forth the terms of such Shares or such class or series of Shares, which need not be ratable with respect to distributions in respect of Shares of any other class or series thereof of the Trust. Such distributions may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or any combination thereof.
(b) Distributions may be made to the Shareholders of record entitled to such distribution at the time such distribution is declared or at such later date as shall be determined by the Trust prior to the date of payment.
(c) The Trustees may always retain from any source such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business of the Trust.
ARTICLE VI
13
Exhibit 2(a)
Declaration that Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any such matter except as described herein) except matters on which a vote of Shares is required by or pursuant to the 1940 Act, this Declaration, the By-Laws or resolution of the Trustees. Any matter required to be submitted for approval of any of the Shares and affecting one or more classes or series shall require approval by the required vote of Shares of the affected class or classes and series voting together as a single class and, if such matter affects one or more classes or series thereof differently from one or more other classes or series thereof or from one or more series of the same class, approval by the required vote of Shares of such other class or classes or series or series voting as a separate class shall be required in order to be approved with respect to such other class or classes or series or series; provided, however, that except to the extent required by the 1940 Act, there shall be no separate class votes on the election or removal of Trustees or the selection of auditors for the Trust. Shareholders of a particular class or series thereof shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects the rights or interests of only one or more other classes or series of such other class or classes or only one or more other series of the same class. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of Trustees. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, any Shareholder wishing to include a proposal to be considered at an annual meeting must submit such proposal to the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws.
(a) The holders of one-third of the outstanding Shares of the Trust on the record date present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of all Shareholders of the Trust is being taken. The holders of one-third of the outstanding Shares of a class or classes on the record date present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders of such class or classes for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of Shareholders of such class or classes is being taken. The holders of one-third of the outstanding Shares of a series or series on the record date present in person or by proxy shall constitute a
14
Exhibit 2(a)
quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders of such series or series for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of Shareholders of such series or series is being taken. Shares underlying a proxy as to which a broker or other intermediary states its absence of authority to vote with respect to one or more matters shall be treated as present for purposes of establishing a quorum for taking action on any such matter only to the extent so determined by the Trustees at or prior to the meeting of Shareholders at which such matter is to be considered.
(b) Subject to any provision of the 1940 Act or this Declaration specifying or requiring a greater or lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any matter of business at any meeting of Shareholders or, in the absence of any such provision of the 1940 Act or this Declaration, subject to any provision of the By-Laws or resolution of the Trustees specifying or requiring a greater or lesser vote requirement, (i) the affirmative vote of a plurality (or, if provided by the By-Laws, a majority) of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote for the election of any Trustee or Trustees shall be the act of such Shareholders with respect to the election of such Trustee or Trustees, (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on any other matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such matter, and (iii) where a separate vote of one or more classes or series is required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of such class or classes or series or series present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter shall be the act of the Shareholders of such class or classes or series or series with respect to such matter. Except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act, a majority of the Shares of any series or class shall mean the lesser of a majority of the outstanding Shares of such class or series and at least 67% of a quorum of at least 50% of the Shares held of record on the relevant record date present in person or by proxy.
15
Exhibit 2(a)
ARTICLE VII
Duration: Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers, Etc.
(a) The Trust may be dissolved, after two thirds of the Trustees then in office have approved a resolution therefor, upon approval by Shares having at least 75% of the votes of all of the Shares outstanding on the record date for such meeting, voting as a single class except to the extent required by the 1940 Act. Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(i) The Trust shall 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 and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, merger where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange,
16
Exhibit 2(a)
merger in which the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property of the Trust shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and amount of the consideration with the same vote as required for dissolution pursuant to paragraph (a) above.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(b) After the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
(a) Except as required by applicable law or this Declaration, the Trustees may amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders, including to change the name of the Trust or any class or series, to make any change that does not adversely affect the relative rights or preferences of any class or series of Shares or to conform this Declaration to the requirements of the 1940 Act or any other applicable law, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do so. If a vote of Shareholders is required by applicable law or this Declaration, or if the Trustees determine to submit an amendment to a vote of Shareholders, then, other than with respect to amendments of Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.8, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.7, 6.8, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6, this Declaration may be amended, after a majority of the Trustees then in office have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote set forth in Section 6.4(b)(ii). Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.8, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.7, 6.8, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6 may only be amended, after a majority of the Trustees then in office have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the affected Shares outstanding on the record date.
(b) Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if required, Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Trustees.
17
Exhibit 2(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as Shares are issued and outstanding, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office.
18
Exhibit 2(a)
(b) The term “Principal Shareholder” shall mean any Person which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of such Person. For the purposes of this Section, in addition to the Shares which a Person beneficially owns directly, (a) any Person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise (but excluding share options granted by the Trust) or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed owned through application of clause (i) above), by any other Person with which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Shares, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date of initial adoption of this Declaration, and (b) the outstanding Shares shall include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not include any other Shares which may be assumable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise.
(c) This Section shall apply to the following transactions:
(i) The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder.
(ii) The issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan or pursuant to any offering in which such Principal Shareholder acquires securities that represent no greater a percentage of any class or series of securities being offered than the percentage of the same class or series of securities beneficially owned by such Principal Shareholder immediately prior to such offering or, in the case of a class or series not then owned beneficially by such Principal Shareholder, the percentage of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Principal Shareholder immediately prior to such offering).
(iii) The sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
(iv) The sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
(v) The purchase by the Trust or any Person controlled by the Trust of any Common Shares of the Trust from such Principal Shareholder or any person to whom such Principal Shareholder shall have knowingly transferred such Common Shares other than pursuant to a tender offer available to all Shareholders of the same class or series in which such Principal Shareholder or transferee tenders no greater percentage of the Shares of such class or series than are tendered by all other Shareholders of such class or series in the aggregate.
19
Exhibit 2(a)
(d) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if two-thirds of the Board of Trustees then in office shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding or agreement with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and substantially consistent with such transaction prior to the time such Person shall have become a Principal Shareholder, or (ii) any such transaction with any corporation of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries and of which such Person is not a Principal Shareholder.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Section on the basis of information known to the Trust whether (i) a Person beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares, (ii) a Person is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets being acquired or leased to or by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000, and (iv) the memorandum of understanding or agreement referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section.
ARTICLE VIII
20
Exhibit 2(a)
specifically covered herein or as to which an ambiguity exists, although such law shall not be viewed as limiting the powers otherwise granted to the Trustees hereunder and any ambiguity shall be viewed in favor of such powers.
8.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration to the extent of 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 attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
21
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Sole Trustee |