AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF JOHN HANCOCK EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST 601 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210 November 24, 2009
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
XXXX XXXXXXX EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST
OF
XXXX XXXXXXX EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
November 24, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
Section 1.1. Name |
1 | |||
Section 1.2. Definitions |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II TRUSTEES |
4 | |||
Section 2.1. General Powers |
4 | |||
Section 2.2. Investments |
4 | |||
Section 2.3. Legal Title |
6 | |||
Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares |
7 | |||
Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees |
7 | |||
Section 2.6. Collection and Payment |
7 | |||
Section 2.7. Expenses |
7 | |||
Section 2.8. Manner of Acting; By-laws |
7 | |||
Section 2.9. Miscellaneous Powers |
8 | |||
Section 2.10. Principal Transactions |
8 | |||
Section 2.11. Litigation |
8 | |||
Section 2.12. Number of Trustees |
9 | |||
Section 2.13. Election and Term |
9 | |||
Section 2.14. Resignation and Removal |
9 | |||
Section 2.15. Vacancies |
9 | |||
Section 2.16. Delegation of Power to Other Trustees |
10 | |||
ARTICLE III CONTRACTS |
10 | |||
Section 3.1. Distribution Contract |
10 | |||
Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract |
10 | |||
Section 3.3. Administration Agreement |
11 | |||
Section 3.4. Service Agreement |
11 | |||
Section 3.5. Transfer Agent |
11 | |||
Section 3.6. Custodian |
11 | |||
Section 3.7. Other Contracts |
12 | |||
Section 3.8. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. |
12 | |||
Section 3.9. Compliance with 1940 Act |
12 | |||
ARTICLE IV LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS |
13 | |||
Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. |
13 | |||
Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. |
13 | |||
Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification |
13 | |||
Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees |
15 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments,
Etc. |
15 | |||
Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc. |
16 | |||
ARTICLE V SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST |
16 | |||
Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest |
16 | |||
Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders |
16 | |||
Section 5.3. Trust Only |
17 | |||
Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares |
17 | |||
Section 5.5. Register of Shares |
17 | |||
Section 5.6. Transfer of Shares |
18 | |||
Section 5.7. Notices |
18 | |||
Section 5.8. Treasury Shares |
18 | |||
Section 5.9. Voting Powers |
18 | |||
Section 5.10. Meetings of Shareholders |
19 | |||
Section 5.11. Series or Class Designation |
19 | |||
ARTICLE VI REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES |
22 | |||
Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares |
22 | |||
Section 6.2. Price |
23 | |||
Section 6.3. Payment |
23 | |||
Section 6.4. Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net Asset Value |
24 | |||
Section 6.5. Repurchase by Agreement |
24 | |||
Section 6.6. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest |
24 | |||
Section 6.7. Redemption of Shares in Order to Qualify as Regulated Investment Company; Disclosure of Holdings |
24 | |||
Section 6.8. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula |
25 | |||
Section 6.9. Suspension of Right of Redemption |
25 | |||
ARTICLE VII DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET
INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
26 | |||
Section 7.1. Net Asset Value |
26 | |||
Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders |
26 | |||
Section 7.3. Determination of Net Income; Constant Net Asset Value; Reduction of Outstanding Shares |
27 | |||
Section 7.4. Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures |
28 | |||
ARTICLE VIII DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST OR A SERIES OR
CLASS; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC. |
28 | |||
Section 8.1. Duration |
28 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
Section 8.2. Termination of the Trust or a Series or a Class |
28 | |||
Section 8.3. Amendment Procedure |
29 | |||
Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets |
30 | |||
Section 8.5. Incorporation |
31 | |||
ARTICLE IX REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS |
31 | |||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
31 | |||
Section 10.1. Execution and Filing |
31 | |||
Section 10.2. Governing Law |
32 | |||
Section 10.3. Counterparts |
32 | |||
Section 10.4. Reliance by Third Parties |
32 | |||
Section 10.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations |
32 |
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Agreement and Declaration of Trust
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (the “Trust”)
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (the “Trust”)
Dated November 24, 2009
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts this 24th day of November,
2009 by the Trustees whose signatures are affixed hereto and the holders of shares of beneficial
interest issued hereunder and to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided;
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, the Trustees establish this Trust for the investment and reinvestment of funds
contributed thereto;
WHEREAS, the Trustees establish the Series of the Trust identified on Attachment A hereto in
accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trustees establish, in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth, the
Classes identified on Attachment B hereto for each Series of the Trust herein established;
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in accordance with the
provisions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all money and property coming into their hands as
trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable shares in accordance with 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 in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is “Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust” and the Trustees shall administer the business of the Trust under that
name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 1.2. Definitions. Wherever they are used herein, the following terms have the
following respective meanings:
(a) “Administrator” means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract described in
Section 3.3 hereof.
(b) “By-laws” means the By-laws of the Trust referred to in Section 2.8 hereof, as amended
from time to time.
(c) “Class” means any division of Shares within a Series as may be established and designated
from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Article V hereof.
(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) The terms “Commission” and “Interested Person” have the meanings given them in the 1940
Act. Except as such term may be otherwise defined by the Trustees in conjunction with the
establishment of any Series, the term “vote of a majority of the Outstanding Shares entitled to
vote” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to the term “vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities” in the 1940 Act.
(f) “Custodian” means any Person other than the Trust who has custody of any Trust Property as
required by Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act, but does not include a system for the central handling
of securities described in said Section 17(f).
(g) “Declaration” means this Declaration of Trust as amended from time to time. References in
this Declaration of Trust to “Declaration,” “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to
refer to this Declaration rather than exclusively to the article or section in which such words
appear.
(h) “Distributor” means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract described in Section
3.1 hereof.
(i) “Fund” or “Funds” individually or collectively, means the separate Series of the Trust,
together with the assets and liabilities assigned thereto.
(j) “Fundamental Restrictions” means the investment restrictions set forth in the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information for any Series and designated as fundamental restrictions
therein with respect to such Series.
(k) “His” shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the masculine, genders.
(l) “Investment Adviser” means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract described in
Section 3.2 hereof.
(m) The “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
(n) “Non-interested Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 hereof.
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(o) “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.
(p) “Prospectus” means the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information included in
the Registration Statement of the Trust under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such
Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information may be amended or supplemented and filed with
the Commission from time to time.
(q) “Series” individually or collectively means the separately managed component(s) of the
Trust (or, if the Trust shall have only one such component, then that one) as may be established
and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Article V hereof.
(r) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares.
(s) “Shares” means the equal proportionate units of interest into which the beneficial
interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the Shares of any and all
Series or of any Class within any Series (as the context may require) which may be established by
the Trustees, and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. “Outstanding Shares” means
those Shares shown from time to time on the books of the Trust or its Transfer Agent as then issued
and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust
and which are at the time held in the treasury of the Trust.
(t) “Transfer Agent” means any Person other than the Trust who maintains the Shareholder
records of the Trust, such as the list of Shareholders, the number of Shares credited to each
account, and the like.
(u) “Trust” means Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust.
(v) “Trustees” means the persons who have signed this Declaration, so long as they shall
continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who now serve or may
from time to time be duly elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the
provisions of Article II hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to
such person or persons in this capacity or their capacities as trustees hereunder.
(w) “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees, including but not
limited to any and all assets allocated or belonging to any Series or Class thereof, as the context
may require.
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ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
Section 2.1. General Powers. 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 conduct the
business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain
offices both within and without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in any and all states of the
United States of America, in the District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths,
territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United
States of America and of foreign governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such
instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the
Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is
in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing
the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Trustees.
The 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 2.2. Investments. The Trustees shall have the power:
(a) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the
powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations.
(b) To invest in, hold for investment, or reinvest in, cash, including foreign currencies;
securities, including common, preferred and preference stocks; warrants; subscription rights;
profit-sharing interests or participations and all other contracts for or evidence of equity
interests; bonds, debentures, bills, time notes and all other evidences of indebtedness; negotiable
or non-negotiable instruments; government securities, including securities of any state,
municipality or other political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or quasi-governmental
agency or instrumentality; and money market instruments including bank certificates of deposit,
finance paper, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances and all kinds of repurchase agreements, of
any corporation, company, trust, association, firm or other business organization however
established, and of any country, state, municipality or other political subdivision, or any
governmental or quasi-governmental agency or instrumentality; or any other security, property,
instrument or contract and the Trustees shall be deemed to have the foregoing powers with respect
to any additional securities, properties, instruments or contracts in which the Trust may invest
should the Fundamental Restrictions be amended.
(c) To acquire (by purchase, subscription or otherwise), to hold, to trade in and deal in, to
acquire any rights or options to purchase or sell, to sell or otherwise
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dispose of, to lend and to pledge any such securities, to enter into repurchase agreements,
reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements, forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, interest rate, mortgage, total return, credit default, currency or other swaps, and
interest rate caps, floors and collars, to purchase and sell options on securities, indices,
currency, swaps or other financial assets, futures contracts and options on futures contracts of
all descriptions and to engage in all types of hedging, risk management, income, capital
appreciation, total return or performance enhancement transactions.
(d) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in all securities,
repurchase agreements and other property and instruments included in the Trust Property, including
the right to vote thereon and otherwise act with respect thereto and to do all acts for the
preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of all such securities, repurchase
agreements, and other property and instruments.
(e) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use, maintain, develop and
dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or personal, including cash or foreign
currency, and any interest therein.
(f) To borrow money or other property and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of
indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the
Trust Property; and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation or
engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property.
(g) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust, association or firm, any
obligation of or interest in which is included in the Trust Property or in the affairs of which the
Trustees have any direct or indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect,
preserve, improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest; and to guarantee or become
surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of
any such corporation, company, trust, association or firm.
(h) To enter into a plan of distribution and any related agreements whereby the Trust may
finance directly or indirectly any activity which is primarily intended to result in the
distribution and/or servicing of Shares.
(i) To adopt on behalf of the Trust or any Series thereof an alternative purchase plan
providing for the issuance of multiple Classes of Shares (as authorized herein at Section 5.11).
(j) To cause the Trust to list the Shares for trading on a securities exchange or in an
over-the-counter market.
(k) To cause the Trust, or any one or more of its Series, (i) to cease listing its Shares on a
securities exchange or over-the-counter market; (ii) to cease operating as an “exchange-traded”
open-end management investment company; or (iii) to convert from an exchange-traded open-end
management investment company operated to track a
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specified securities or investment index to an actively managed exchange-traded open-end
management investment company, and vice versa.
(l) To cause the Trust, or any one or more of its Series, to modify its investment objective
and/or strategy, including with respect to the Trust’s (or Series’) objective and/or strategy with
respect to seeking to provide an investment return that corresponds to a securities or investment
index, as applicable.
(m) In general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the
foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any
purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth,
either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or
appurtenant to or arising out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or
powers.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and the foregoing
enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general
powers of the Trustees.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Trustees shall have full power in their
discretion as contemplated in Section 8.5, without any requirement of approval by Shareholders, to
invest part or all of the Trust Property (or part or all of the assets of any Series), or to
dispose of part or all of the Trust Property (or part or all of the assets of any Series) and
invest the proceeds of such disposition, in securities issued by one or more other U.S. or non-U.S.
investment vehicles or investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. Any such other
investment vehicle or company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of any state)
which is classified as a partnership or corporation for federal income tax purposes.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible
termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any law limiting the investments
which may be made by fiduciaries.
Section 2.3. Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the
Trustees as joint tenants 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 the
Trust or 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 therein is deemed 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, resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he shall automatically cease to have any
right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such
Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and
delivered.
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Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to
issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of,
transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Articles VI and
VII and Section 5.11 hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation
or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust or of the particular Series with
respect to which such Shares are issued, whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full
extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing
business corporations.
Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have power, consistent with
their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and the Trust Property, to
delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust
the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments, either in the name of the Trust or
any Series of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem
expedient, to the same extent as such delegation is not inconsistent by the 1940 Act.
Section 2.6. Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all
property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; 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; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.
Section 2.7. Expenses. The Trustees shall have the power to incur and pay from the
funds of the Trust or the Series any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees and the officers
of the Trust are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and
to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees
shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees.
Section 2.8. Manner of Acting; By-laws. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the
By-laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present
at a meeting of Trustees, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone circuit or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other, or by written consents of a majority of Trustees then in office. The Trustees may
adopt By-laws not inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of
the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-laws to the extent such power is not reserved to the
Shareholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.8 and in addition to such
provisions or any other provision of this Declaration or of the By-laws, the Trustees may by
resolution appoint a committee consisting of less than the whole number of Trustees then in office,
which committee may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of
such committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office, with respect to the institution,
prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or
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investigation of any action, suit or proceeding which shall be pending or threatened to be brought
before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body.
Section 2.9. Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ or
contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business
of the Trust or any Series thereof; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other
combinations or associations; (c) remove Trustees, fill vacancies in, add to or subtract from their
number, elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they
consider appropriate, and appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees
which 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 or the Trust Property of the appropriate
Series of the Trust, as applicable, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, administrators, distributors, selected dealers or
independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such
position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether
or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such
Person against such liability; (e) establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the
Trust; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any person with whom the Trust or any Series
thereof has dealings, including, but not limited to, the Investment Adviser, Administrator,
Distributor, Transfer Agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees shall determine;
(g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the
fiscal year and taxable year of the Trust or any Series thereof and the method by which its or
their accounts shall be kept; and (i) adopt a seal for the Trust, but the absence of such seal
shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
Section 2.10. Principal Transactions. Except for transactions not permitted by the
1940 Act or rules and regulations adopted, or orders issued, by the Commission thereunder, the
Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend
any assets of the Trust or any Series thereof to any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of
which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with
the Investment Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent or with any Interested Person of such Person;
and the Trust or a Series thereof may employ any such Person, or firm or company in which such
Person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent or custodian upon customary terms.
Section 2.11. 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, and out of the assets of the
Trust or any Series thereof to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in
connection therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without
limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise of their
or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or
demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any
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person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of the Trust, whether or not the
Trust 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.
Section 2.12. Number of Trustees. The initial Trustees shall be the persons signing
this Declaration. The number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time
by vote of a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no
event be less than one (1).
Section 2.13. Election and Term. Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to
fill vacancies pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof, the Trustees may succeed themselves and shall be
elected by the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of
Shareholders on a date fixed by the Trustees. Except in the event of resignations or removals
pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, each Trustee shall hold office until such time as less than a
majority of the Trustees holding office has been elected by Shareholders. In such event the
Trustees then in office shall call a Shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees. Except for
the foregoing circumstances, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor
Trustees.
Section 2.14. Resignation and Removal. Any Trustee may resign his trust (without the
need for any prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by him and
delivered to the other Trustees and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a
later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided
the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than one) with or without
cause, by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by action of two-thirds of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust (for purposes of determining the circumstances and procedures under
which any such removal by the Shareholders may take place, the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
1940 Act (or any successor provisions) shall be applicable to the same extent as if the Trust were
subject to the provisions of that Section). Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his
otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining
Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any
Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death
of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and deliver on his behalf such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
Section 2.15. Vacancies. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy
shall occur in the event of his death, retirement, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated
incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy
shall operate to annul the Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the
terms of the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy, including a vacancy existing by
reason of an increase in the number of Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the
1940 Act, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of such other person as
they in their discretion shall see fit, made by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Any
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such appointment shall not become effective, however, until the person named in the vote
approving the appointment shall have accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in writing to
be bound by the terms of the Declaration. An appointment of a Trustee may be made in anticipation
of a vacancy to occur at a later date by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in the
number of Trustees, provided that such appointment shall not become effective prior to such
retirement, resignation or increase in the number of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in this Section 2.15, the Trustees
in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall
discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by the Declaration. The vote by a majority of
the Trustees in office, fixing the number of Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence
of such vacancy.
Section 2.16. Delegation of Power to Other Trustees. Any Trustee may, by power of
attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six (6) months at any one time to any other
Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall fewer than two (2) Trustees personally exercise
the powers granted to the Trustees under this Declaration except as herein otherwise expressly
provided.
ARTICLE III
CONTRACTS
Section 3.1. Distribution Contract. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to
time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive distribution contract or contracts providing for the
sale of the Shares to net the Trust or the applicable Series of the Trust not less than the amount
provided for in Section 7.1 of Article VII hereof, whereby the Trustees may either agree to sell
the Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party as their sales agent for
the Shares, and in either case on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the
By-laws, and such further terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III or of the By-laws; and such contract may
also provide for the repurchase of the Shares by such other party as agent of the Trustees.
Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time enter into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the
Trustees establish multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management contracts with
respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties to any such contracts shall
undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series management, investment advisory, administration,
accounting, legal, statistical and research facilities and services, promotional or marketing
activities, and such other facilities and services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to time
consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the
Investment Advisers, or any of them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or specific
instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans or
exchanges of portfolio securities and other investments of the Trust on
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behalf of the Trustees or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such
purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of such Investment Advisers, or
any of them (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and
exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees. The Trustees may, in
their sole discretion, call a meeting of Shareholders in order to submit to a vote of Shareholders
at such meeting the approval or continuance of any such investment advisory or management contract.
If the Shareholders of any one or more of the Series of the Trust should fail to approve any such
investment advisory or management contract, the Investment Adviser may nonetheless serve as
Investment Adviser with respect to any Series whose Shareholders approve such contract. To the
extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act and the positions of the Commission and its staff
thereunder, the Trustees shall not be required to submit an investment advisory or management
contract to shareholders for their approval.
Section 3.3. Administration Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
to time enter into an administration agreement or, if the Trustees establish multiple Series or
Classes, separate administration agreements with respect to each Series or Class, whereby the other
party to such agreement shall undertake to manage the business affairs of the Trust or of a Series
or Class thereof and furnish the Trust or a Series or a Class thereof with office facilities, and
shall be responsible for the ordinary clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such
office facilities, and other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Section 3.4. Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to
time enter into Service Agreements with respect to one or more Series or Classes thereof whereby
the other parties to such Service Agreements will provide administration and/or support services
pursuant to administration plans and service plans, and all upon such terms and conditions as the
Trustees in their discretion may determine.
Section 3.5. Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time
enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract whereby the other party to such
contract shall undertake to furnish transfer agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The
contract shall have such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more Persons.
Section 3.6. Custodian. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one or more banks
or trust companies, each having an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits (as shown in
its last published report) of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) to serve as Custodian with
authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if
any, as may be contained in the By-laws of the Trust. The Trustees may also authorize the Custodian
to employ one or more sub-custodians, including such foreign banks and securities depositories as
meet the requirements of applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, and upon such terms and conditions
as may be agreed upon between the Custodian and such sub-custodian, to hold securities and other
assets of the Trust and to perform the acts and services of the
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Custodian, subject to applicable provisions of law and resolutions adopted by the Trustees.
Section 3.7. Other Contracts. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time and
without limiting the generality of their powers and authority otherwise set forth herein, enter
into one or more contracts with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships,
limited partnerships, other types of organizations, or individuals (“Contracting Party”), to
provide for the performance and assumption of some or all of the services in Sections 3.1 through
3.6 above, duties and responsibilities to, for or on behalf of the Trust and/or any Series, and/or
the Trustees, and to provide for the performance and assumption of such other services, duties and
responsibilities in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may determine appropriate,
and to authorize such Contracting Party to employ or retain any one or more corporations, trusts,
associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, other types of organizations, or individuals to
provide to the Trust or to the Contracting Party such services.
Section 3.8. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that:
(a) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust or any Series thereof is a
shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or
for any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization or of or for any parent
or affiliate of any organization, with which a contract of the character described in Sections 3.1,
3.2, 3.3 or 3.4 above or for services as Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for
providing accounting, legal and printing services or for related services may have been or may
hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a
Shareholder of or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(b) any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization with which a
contract of the character described in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4 above or for services as
Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for related services may have been or may
hereafter be made also has any one or more of such contracts with one or more other partnerships,
corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or
officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or
accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
Section 3.9. Compliance with 1940 Act. Any contract entered into pursuant to Sections
3.1 or 3.2 shall be consistent with and subject to the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act
(including any amendment thereof or other applicable Act of Congress hereafter enacted), as
modified by any applicable order or orders of the Commission, with respect to its continuance in
effect, its termination and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or renewal
thereof.
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ARTICLE IV
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND
OTHERS
OTHERS
Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. No Shareholder
shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust
Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust or any Series thereof. No Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any Series thereof shall be subject to any personal
liability whatsoever to any Person, other than to the Trust or its Shareholders, in connection with
Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust, except to the extent arising from bad faith, willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties with respect to such Person; and
all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property, or to the Trust Property of one or more
specific Series of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such Trustee, officer,
employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for satisfaction of claims of any nature
arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee, officer,
employee, or agent, as such, of the Trust or any Series thereof, is made a party to any suit or
proceeding to enforce any such liability of the Trust or any Series thereof, he shall not, on
account thereof, be held to any personal liability. The Trust shall indemnify and hold each
Shareholder harmless from and against all claims and liabilities, to which such Shareholder may
become subject by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such
Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general
successor) out of the Trust Property for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with any such claim or liability. The indemnification and reimbursement required by the
preceding sentence shall be made only out of Trust Property of the one or more Series whose Shares
were held by said Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred which gave rise to the claim
against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section
4.1 shall not impair any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall
anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust or any Series thereof to indemnify or
reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.
Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of
the Trust or any Series thereof shall be liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or failure to act
(including without limitation the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to
redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:
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(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust
(including any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the
like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise)
shall be indemnified by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim arises from his or
her conduct with respect to only such Series (unless the Series was terminated prior to any such
liability or claim being known to the Trustees, in which case such obligations, to the extent not
satisfied out of the assets of a Series, the obligation shall be an obligation of the Trust), to
the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against all expenses reasonably
incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he
becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer
and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
(ii) the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions,
suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the
words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs,
judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or officer:
(i) against any liability to the Trust, a Series thereof or the Shareholders by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office;
(ii) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have
acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust
or a Series thereof;
(iii) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication as
provided in paragraph (b)(ii) resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has been
a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:
(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition;
(B) based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry)
by (x) vote of a majority of the Non-interested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a
majority of the Non-interested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or (y) written opinion of
independent legal counsel; or
(C) by a vote of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding Shares
owned of record or beneficially by such individual).
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies
maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to
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which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors, administrators and assigns of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any
rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust or any Series thereof other than Trustees
and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or
proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.3 may be advanced by the
Trust or a Series thereof prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or
on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not
entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.3, provided that either:
(i) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security provided
by the recipient, or the Trust or Series thereof shall be insured against losses arising out of any
such advances; or
(ii) a majority of the Non-interested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority
of the Non-interested Trustees act on the matter) or an independent legal counsel in a written
opinion shall determine, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found
entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Section 4.3, a “Non-interested Trustee” is one who (i) is not an Interested
Person of the Trust (including anyone who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any
rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (ii) is not involved in the claim, action, suit
or proceeding.
Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any
bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.
Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc. No purchaser,
lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent
of the Trust or a Series thereof shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any
transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be
liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of
the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, instrument,
certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking, and every other
act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to
have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this
Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series thereof.
Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or
a Series thereof or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees may recite that the same is executed
or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the Declaration, and that the obligations
of the Trust or a Series thereof under any such instrument are not
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binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually, but bind only the Trust
Property, or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, and may contain any further recital which
they may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to bind the Trustees
individually. The Trustees shall at all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust
Property or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort
liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust
or a Series thereof shall, in the performance of his 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 or a Series thereof, upon an opinion of counsel,
or upon reports made to the Trust or a Series thereof by any of its officers or employees or by the
Investment Adviser, the Administrator, the Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers,
accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the
Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also
be a Trustee.
ARTICLE V
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries hereunder shall be
divided into transferable Shares of beneficial interest without par value. The number of such
Shares of beneficial interest authorized hereunder is unlimited. The Trustees shall have the
exclusive authority without the requirement of Shareholder approval to establish and designate from
time to time one or more Series of Shares and one or more Classes thereof as the Trustees deem
necessary or desirable. Each Share of any Series shall represent an equal proportionate Share in
the assets of that Series with each other Share in that Series. Subject to the provisions of
Section 5.11 hereof, the Trustees may also authorize the creation of additional Series of Shares
(the proceeds of which may be invested in separate, independently managed portfolios) and
additional Classes of Shares within any Series. All Shares issued hereunder including, without
limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split in Shares, shall be
fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders. The ownership of the Trust Property of every
description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in
the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial
interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to
share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their
ownership of Shares. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set
forth in this Declaration. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive,
appraisal, conversion or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any
Series or Class of Shares.
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Section 5.3. Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the
relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to
time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership,
joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a
trust. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by
themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares.
(a) The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time without a vote of the
Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held
in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including
cash or property, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem best, except
that only Shares previously contracted to be sold may be issued during any period when the right of
redemption is suspended pursuant to Section 6.9 hereof, 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. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
Trustees may in their sole discretion determine to issue Shares of any Series or Class only in
aggregations of such number of Shares and at such times as may be determined by, or determined
pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed by or approved by, the Trustees from time to time with
respect to such Series of Class. The number of Shares comprising an aggregation for purposes of
issuance (or redemption or repurchase pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof) so determined from time to
time with respect to any Series or Class shall be referred to herein as a “Creation Unit” and
collectively, as “Creation Units.” The Trustees shall have the unrestricted power to determine and
change from time to time the number of Shares constituting a Creation Unit by resolutions adopted
at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their sole discretion
determine, in connection with the issuance of Creation Units, to charge such transaction fees or
other fees as the Trustees determine. The Trust shall have the right to refuse to issue Shares to
any Person at any time and without any reason therefore whatsoever.
(b) In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and
Shares held in the treasury. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of the
Trust or, if the Shares be divided into Series or Classes, of any Series or any Class thereof of
the Trust, into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interests in the Trust or in the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series or Class.
Contributions to the Trust or Series thereof may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as,
whole Shares and/or 1/1000ths of a Share or integral multiples thereof.
Section 5.5. Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the principal office of
the Trust or an office of the Transfer Agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers
thereof. Such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be
entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise
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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 provided herein or in
the By-laws, until he has given his address to the Transfer Agent or such other officer or agent of
the Trustees as shall keep the said 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 rules and regulations as to
their use.
Section 5.6. Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable on the records of the
Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized in writing, upon
delivery to the Trustees or the Transfer Agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together
with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters
as may reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the register of
the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of
such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar
nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed
transfer.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or
incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the
register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper evidence thereof to
the Trustees or the Transfer Agent, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall
be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder 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.
Section 5.7. Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be entitled and
any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage prepaid,
addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as recorded on the register of the
Trust.
Section 5.8. Treasury Shares. Shares held in the treasury shall, until resold pursuant
to Section 5.4, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to
any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.
Section 5.9. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the
election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.13; (ii) with respect to any investment advisory
contract entered into pursuant to Section 3.2 submitted to shareholders for their approval; (iii)
with respect to termination of the Trust or a Series or Class thereof as provided in Section 8.2;
(iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration to the limited extent and as provided in
Section 8.3; (v) with respect to a merger, consolidation or sale of assets as provided in Section
8.4; (vi) with respect to incorporation of the Trust to the extent and as provided in Section 8.5;
(vii) to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether
or not a
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court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively
or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or a Series thereof or the Shareholders of either;
(viii) with respect to any plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or any successor rule) under the
1940 Act, and related matters; and (ix) with respect to such additional matters relating to the
Trust as may be required by this Declaration, the By-laws or any registration of the Trust as an
investment company under the 1940 Act with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the
Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. As determined by the Trustees without the vote or
consent of shareholders, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders either (i) each whole
Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each
fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote or (ii) each dollar of net
asset value (number of Shares owned times net asset value per share of such Series or Class, as
applicable) shall be entitled to one vote on any matter on which such Shares are entitled to vote
and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. The
Trustees may, in conjunction with the establishment of any further Series or any Classes of Shares,
establish conditions under which the several Series or Classes of Shares shall have separate voting
rights or no voting rights. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Until
Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action
required by law, this Declaration or the By-laws to be taken by Shareholders. The By-laws may
include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters.
Section 5.10. Meetings of Shareholders. No annual or regular meetings of Shareholders
are required. Special meetings of the Shareholders, including meetings involving only the holders
of Shares of one or more but less than all Series or Classes thereof, may be called at any time by
the Chairman of the Board, President, or any Vice-President of the Trust, and shall be called by
the President or the Secretary at the request, in writing or by resolution, of a majority of the
Trustees, or at the written request of the holder or holders of ten percent (10%) or more of the
total number of Outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote at such meeting. Meetings of the
Shareholders of any Series shall be called by the President or the Secretary at the written request
of the holder or holders of ten percent (10%) or more of the total number of Outstanding Shares of
such Series of the Trust entitled to vote at such meeting. Any such request shall state the purpose
of the proposed meeting.
Section 5.11. Series or Class Designation.
(a) Without limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 5.1 to establish and
designate any further Series or Classes, the Trustees hereby establish the Series identified on
Attachment A hereto, each of which consists of the Classes identified on Attachment B hereto (the
“Existing Series”).
(b) The Shares of the Existing Series and Classes thereof herein established and designated
and any Shares of any further Series and Classes thereof that may from time to time be established
and designated by the Trustees have been or shall be established and designated, and the variations
in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series shall be fixed and
determined, by the Trustees (unless the
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Trustees otherwise determine with respect to further Series or Classes at the time of
establishing and designating the same) as set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information of the Series or Class included in the Trust’s Registration Statement, as amended from
time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and/or the 1940 Act; provided, that all
Shares shall be identical except that there may be variations so fixed and determined between
different Series or Classes thereof as to investment objective, policies and restrictions, purchase
price, payment obligations, distribution expenses, right of redemption, special and relative rights
as to dividends and on liquidation, conversion rights, exchange rights, and conditions under which
the several Series or Classes shall have separate voting rights, all of which are subject to the
limitations set forth below. All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to be
Shares of any or all Series or Classes as the context may require.
(c) As to any Existing Series and Classes herein established and designated and any further
division of Shares of the Trust into additional Series or Classes, the following provisions shall
be applicable:
(i) The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Series or Class thereof
that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares
or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any Series or Class into one or more Series or
one or more Classes that may be established and designated from time to time. The Trustees may hold
as treasury shares (of the same or some other Series or Class), reissue for such consideration and
on such terms as they may determine, or cancel any Shares of any Series or Class reacquired by the
Trust at their discretion from time to time.
(ii) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular
Series or Class thereof, 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 irrevocably belong to that
Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of such Series and except as may
otherwise be required by applicable tax laws, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of
the Trust. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series, the
Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series established and designated from
time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and
equitable. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. No holder of Shares of any Series shall have any claim
on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.
(iii) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of
the Trust in respect of that Series or the appropriate Class or Classes thereof and all expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series or Class or Classes thereof, and any
general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the
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Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be
allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series established and
designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole
discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and
reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series and
Classes for all purposes. The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent
with the 1940 Act, to determine which items are capital; and each such determination and allocation
shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders. The assets of a particular Series of the
Trust shall under no circumstances be charged with liabilities attributable to any other Series or
Class thereof of the Trust. All persons extending credit to, or contracting with or having any
claim against a particular Series or Class of the Trust shall look only to the assets of that
particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or claim.
(iv) The power of the Trustees to pay dividends and make distributions shall be governed by
Section 7.2 of this Declaration. With respect to any Series or Class, dividends and distributions
on Shares of a particular Series or Class may be paid with such frequency as the Trustees may
determine, which may be daily or otherwise, pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions
adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine, to the holders of Shares of
that Series or Class, from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the
assets belonging to that Series, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and
accrued liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and distributions on Shares of
a particular Series or Class shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of that Series or
Class in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series or Class held by such Shareholders at
the time of record established for the payment of such dividends or distribution.
(v) Each Share of a Series of the Trust or Class thereof shall represent a beneficial interest
in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series or Class thereof shall be
entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains made with
respect to such Series or Class thereof net of expenses. Upon redemption of his Shares or
indemnification for liabilities incurred by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of a
Series or Class thereof, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of
such Series of the Trust. Upon liquidation or termination of a Series or Class thereof of the
Trust, Shareholders of such Series or Class thereof shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share
of the net assets of such Series. A Shareholder of a particular Series of the Trust shall not be
entitled to participate in a derivative or class action on behalf of any other Series or the
Shareholders of any other Series of the Trust.
(vi) On each matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of all Series and Classes
shall vote as a single class; provided, however, that (1) as to any matter with respect to which a
separate vote of any Series or Class is required by the 1940 Act or is required by attributes
applicable to any Series or Class or is required by any Rule 12b-1 plan, such requirements as to a
separate vote by that Series or Class shall apply, (2) to the extent that a matter referred to in
clause (1) above, affects more than one Class or Series and the interests of each such Class or
Series in the matter are identical,
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then, subject to clause (3) below, the Shares of all such affected Classes or Series shall
vote as a single Class; (3) as to any matter which does not affect the interests of a particular
Series or Class, only the holders of Shares of the one or more affected Series or Classes shall be
entitled to vote; and (4) the provisions of the following sentence shall apply. On any matter that
pertains to any particular Class of a particular Series or to any Class expenses with respect to
any Series which matter may be submitted to a vote of Shareholders, only Shares of the affected
Class or that Series, as the case may be, shall be entitled to vote except that: (i) to the extent
said matter affects Shares of another Class or Series, such other Shares shall also be entitled to
vote, and in such cases Shares of the affected Class, as the case may be, of such Series shall be
voted in the aggregate together with such other Shares; and (ii) to the extent that said matter
does not affect Shares of a particular Class of such Series, said Shares shall not be entitled to
vote (except where otherwise required by law or permitted by the Trustees acting in their sole
discretion) even though the matter is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of any other Class or
Series.
(vii) Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, the Trustees shall have the power to
determine the designations, preferences, privileges, payment obligations, limitations and rights,
including voting and dividend rights, of each Class and Series of Shares. Subject to compliance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the
holders of Shares of any Series or Class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares
into Shares of one or more Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with such requirements,
conditions and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(viii) At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series or Class
previously established and designated, the Trustees may abolish that Series or Class and the
establishment and designation thereof.
Assent to Declaration of Trust. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having become a Shareholder,
shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party
hereto.
ARTICLE VI
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES
Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares.
(a) All Shares of the Trust shall be redeemable, at the redemption price determined in the
manner set out in this Declaration. Redeemed or repurchased Shares may be resold by the Trust. The
Trust may require any Shareholder to pay a sales charge to the Trust, the underwriter, or any other
person designated by the Trustees upon redemption or repurchase of Shares in such amount and upon
such conditions as shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees.
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(b) The Trust shall redeem the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof at the price
determined as hereinafter set forth, upon the appropriately verified written application of the
record holder thereof (or upon such other form of request as the Trustees may determine) at such
office or agency as may be designated from time to time for that purpose by the Trustees. The
Trustees may from time to time specify additional conditions, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act,
regarding the redemption of Shares in the Trust’s then effective Prospectus.
Section 6.2. Price. Shares shall be redeemed at a price based on their net asset value
determined as set forth in Section 7.1 hereof as of such time as the Trustees shall have
theretofore prescribed by resolution. In the absence of such resolution, the redemption price of
Shares deposited shall be based on the net asset value of such Shares next determined as set forth
in Section 7.1 hereof after receipt of such application. The amount of any contingent deferred
sales charge or redemption fee payable upon redemption of Shares may be deducted from the proceeds
of such redemption.
Section 6.3. Payment. Payment of the redemption price of Shares of the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof shall be made in cash and/or wholly or partly in securities or other assets
or property belonging to the Series of which the Shares being redeemed are a part, less any
applicable sales charges or fees, to the Shareholder at such time and in the manner, not
inconsistent with the 1940 Act or other applicable laws, as may be specified from time to time in
the Trust’s then effective Prospectus(es), subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof.
The composition of any such payment may be different among Shareholders (including differences
among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). In no event shall the Trust be liable for any
delay of any other person in transferring securities and/or other property selected for delivery as
all or part of any such payment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may specify conditions, prices, and places of
redemption or repurchase, and may specify binding requirements for the proper form or forms of
requests for redemption or repurchase of any Shares of a Series or Class, and, in the case of any
Series or Class now or hereafter authorized, if so determined by the Trustees, Shares of such a
Series or Class shall be redeemable only in Creation Units at such times as may be determined by,
or determined pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed by or approved by, the Trustees from
time to time with respect to such Series or Class. The Trustees may in their sole discretion
determine, in connection with the redemption or repurchase of Creation Units, to charge such
transaction fees or other fees as the Trustees determine. Each holder of a Creation Unit
aggregation of Shares of a Series or Class, upon proper request to the Trust and in accordance with
the appropriate Prospectus and subject to the conditions and procedures specified by the Trustees
pursuant to this Section 6.3, accompanied by surrender of the appropriate stock certificate or
certificates in proper form for transfer if certificates have been issued to such holder, or in
accordance with such other procedures as may from time to time be in effect if certificates have
not been issued, shall be entitled to require the Trust to redeem all or any number of such
holder’s Shares standing in the name of such holder on the books of the Trust, but in the case of
Shares of any Series or Class as to
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which the Trustees have determined that such Shares be redeemable in Creation Unit
aggregations, only in such Creation Unit aggregations of Shares of such Series or Class as the
Trustees may determine from time to time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may withhold from such redemption proceeds any
amount arising (i) from a liability of the redeeming Shareholder to the Trust or (ii) in connection
with any Federal or state tax withholding requirements.
Section 6.4. Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net Asset Value. If, pursuant to
Section 7.1 hereof, the Trustees shall declare a suspension of the determination of net asset value
with respect to Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class thereof, the rights of Shareholders
(including those who shall have applied for redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof but who shall
not yet have received payment) to have Shares redeemed and paid for by the Trust or a Series or
Class thereof shall be suspended until the termination of such suspension is declared. Any record
holder who shall have his redemption right so suspended may, during the period of such suspension,
by appropriate written notice of revocation at the office or agency where application was made,
revoke any application for redemption not honored and withdraw any Share certificates on deposit.
The redemption price of Shares for which redemption applications have not been revoked shall be
based on the net asset value of such Shares next determined as set forth in Section 7.1 after the
termination of such suspension, and payment shall be made within seven (7) days after the date upon
which the application was made plus the period after such application during which the
determination of net asset value was suspended.
Section 6.5. Repurchase by Agreement. The Trust may repurchase Shares directly, or
through the Distributor or another agent designated for the purpose, by agreement with the owner
thereof at a price not exceeding the net asset value per share determined as of the time when the
purchase or contract of purchase is made or the net asset value as of any time which may be later
determined pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof, provided payment is not made for the Shares prior to the
time as of which such net asset value is determined.
Section 6.6. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest. The Trustees, in their sole
discretion, may cause the Trust to redeem all of the Shares of one or more Series or Class thereof
held by any Shareholder if the value of such Shares held by such Shareholder is less than the
minimum amount established from time to time by the Trustees, or, to the extent consistent with the
1940 Act, the Trustees determine that redemption of a Shareholder’s interest in the Trust or a
Series is in the best interests of the applicable Series.
Section 6.7. Redemption of Shares in Order to Qualify as Regulated Investment Company;
Disclosure of Holdings.
(a) If the Trustees shall, at any time and in good faith, be of the opinion that direct or
indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust has or may become concentrated in any
Person to an extent which would disqualify the Trust or any Series of
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the Trust as a regulated investment company under the Code, then the Trustees shall have the
power by lot or other means deemed equitable by them (i) to call for redemption by any such Person
a number, or principal amount, of Shares or other securities of the Trust or any Series of the
Trust sufficient to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of Shares or other
securities of the Trust or any Series of the Trust into conformity with the requirements for such
qualification and (ii) to refuse to transfer or issue Shares or other securities of the Trust or
any Series of the Trust to any Person whose acquisition of the Shares or other securities of the
Trust or any Series of the Trust in question would result in such disqualification. The redemption
shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in Section 6.1.
(b) The holders of Shares or other securities of the Trust or any Series of the Trust shall
upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and
indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust or any Series of the Trust as the
Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code or to comply with the
requirements of any other taxing authority.
Section 6.8. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value
Formula. The Trust may also reduce the number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any
Series of the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3.
Section 6.9. Suspension of Right of Redemption. The Trust may declare a suspension of
the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or redemption for the whole or any part of
any period (i) during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and
holiday closings, (ii) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted, (iii)
during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust or a Series thereof of
securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the
Trust or a Series thereof fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (iv) during any other
period when the Commission may for the protection of Shareholders of the Trust by order permit
suspension of the right of redemption or postponement of the date of payment or redemption;
provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission shall govern as to whether the
conditions prescribed in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) exist. Such suspension shall take effect at
such time as the Trust shall specify but not later than the close of business on the business day
next following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right of redemption
or payment on redemption until the Trust shall declare the suspension at an end, except that the
suspension shall terminate in any event on the first day on which said stock exchange shall have
reopened or the period specified in (ii) or (iii) shall have expired (as to which in the absence of
an official ruling by the Commission, the determination of the Trust shall be conclusive). In the
case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for
redemption or receive payment based on the net asset value existing after the termination of the
suspension.
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ARTICLE VII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND
DISTRIBUTIONS
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 7.1. Net Asset Value. The net asset value of each outstanding Share of the
Trust or of each Series or Class thereof shall be determined on such days and at such time or times
as the Trustees may determine. The value of the assets of the Trust or any Series thereof may be
determined (i) by a pricing service which utilizes electronic pricing techniques based on general
institutional trading, (ii) by appraisal of the securities owned by the Trust or any Series of the
Trust, (iii) in certain cases, at amortized cost, or (iv) by such other method as shall be deemed
to reflect the fair value thereof, determined in good faith by or under the direction of the
Trustees. From the total value of said assets, there shall be deducted all indebtedness, interest,
taxes, payable or accrued, including estimated taxes on unrealized book profits, expenses and
management charges accrued to the appraisal date, net income determined and declared as a
distribution and all other items in the nature of liabilities which shall be deemed appropriate, as
incurred by or allocated to the Trust or any Series or Class of the Trust. The resulting amount
which shall represent the total net assets of the Trust or Series or Class thereof shall be divided
by the number of Shares of the Trust or Series or Class thereof outstanding at the time and the
quotient so obtained shall be deemed to be the net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or Series
or Class thereof. The net asset value of the Shares shall be determined at least once on each
business day, as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange or as of such other
time or times as the Trustees shall determine. The power and duty to make the daily calculations
may be delegated by the Trustees to the Investment Adviser, the Administrator, the Custodian, the
Transfer Agent or such other Person as the Trustees by resolution may determine. The Trustees may
suspend the daily determination of net asset value to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. It
shall not be a violation of any provision of this Declaration if Shares are sold, redeemed or
repurchased by the Trust at a price other than one based on net asset value if the net asset value
is affected by one or more errors inadvertently made in the pricing of portfolio securities or in
accruing income, expenses or liabilities.
Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders.
(a) The Trustees shall from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the
Trust or of a Series or Class thereof such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including
paid-in surplus), capital, or assets of the Trust or such Series held by the Trustees as they may
deem proper. Such distributions may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any
type of obligations of the Trust or Series or Class or any assets thereof), and the Trustees may
distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or Series or Class thereof additional Shares
of the Trust or Series or Class thereof issuable hereunder in such manner, at such times, and on
such terms as the Trustees may deem proper. Such distributions may be among the Shareholders of the
Trust or Series or Class thereof at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders
of the Trust or Series or Class thereof at such other date or time or dates or times as the
Trustees shall determine. The Trustees may in their
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discretion determine that, solely for the purposes of such distributions, Outstanding Shares
shall exclude Shares for which orders have been placed subsequent to a specified time on the date
the distribution is declared or on the next preceding day if the distribution is declared as of a
day on which Boston banks are not open for business, all as described in the then effective
Prospectus under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trustees may always retain from the net profits
such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or a Series or
Class thereof or to meet obligations of the Trust or a Series or Class thereof, or as they may deem
desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions
of the business. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans,
cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate. The Trustees
may in their discretion determine that an account administration fee or other similar charge may be
deducted directly from the income and other distributions paid on Shares to a Shareholder’s account
in each Series or Class.
(b) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax purposes may
vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give
the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends
and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust
or a Series or Class thereof to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
Section 7.3. Determination of Net Income; Constant Net Asset Value; Reduction of
Outstanding Shares. Subject to Section 5.11 hereof, the net income of the Series and Classes
thereof of the Trust shall be determined in such manner as the Trustees shall provide by
resolution. Expenses of the Trust or of a Series or Class thereof, including the advisory or
management fee, shall be accrued each day. Each Class shall bear only expenses relating to its
Shares and an allocable share of Series expenses in accordance with such policies as may be
established by the Trustees from time to time and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Declaration or of any applicable document filed by the Trust with the Commission or of the
Code. Such net income may be determined by or under the direction of the Trustees as of the close
of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day on which such market is open or as of
such other time or times as the Trustees shall determine, and, except as provided herein, all the
net income of any Series or Class, as so determined, may be declared as a dividend on the
Outstanding Shares of such Series or Class. If, for any reason, the net income of any Series or
Class determined at any time is a negative amount, or for any other reason, the Trustees shall have
the power with respect to such Series or Class (i) to offset each Shareholder’s pro rata share of
such negative amount from the accrued dividend account of such Shareholder, or (ii) to reduce the
number of Outstanding Shares of such Series or Class by reducing the number of Shares in the
account of such Shareholder by that number of full and fractional Shares which represents the
amount of such excess negative net income, or (iii) to cause to be recorded on the books of the
Trust an asset account in the amount of such negative net income, which account may be reduced by
the amount, provided that the same shall thereupon become the property of the Trust with respect to
such Series or Class and shall not be paid to any Shareholder, of dividends declared thereafter
upon the Outstanding Shares of such Series or Class on the day such negative
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net income is experienced, until such asset account is reduced to zero. The Trustees shall
have full discretion to determine whether any cash or property received shall be treated as income
or as principal and whether any item of expense shall be charged to the income or the principal
account, and their determination made in good faith shall be conclusive upon the Shareholders. In
the case of stock dividends received, the Trustees shall have full discretion to determine, in the
light of the particular circumstances, how much if any of the value thereof shall be treated as
income, the balance, if any, to be treated as principal.
Section 7.4. Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions of this Article VII, but subject to Section 5.11 hereof, the Trustees may
prescribe, in their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the per Share
net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or a Series or Class thereof or net income of the Trust
or a Series or Class thereof, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they
may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may
establish several Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with Section 5.11, and declare
dividends thereon in accordance with Section 5.11(c)(iv).
ARTICLE VIII
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST OR A SERIES OR CLASS; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
Section 8.1. Duration. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject
to the provisions of this Article VIII.
Section 8.2. Termination of the Trust or a Series or a Class.
(a) The Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be terminated by (i) the affirmative vote of
the holders of not less than two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote and present in
person or by proxy at any meeting of Shareholders of the Trust or the appropriate Series or Class
thereof, (ii) by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by the
holders of two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust or a Series or Class thereof;
provided, however, that, if such termination as described in clauses (i) and (ii) is recommended by
the Trustees, the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Shares of
the Trust or a Series or Class thereof entitled to vote shall be sufficient authorization, or (iii)
written notice to Shareholders stating that a majority of the Trustees has determined that the
continuation of the Trust or a Series or a Class thereof is not in the best interest of such Series
or a Class, the Trust or their respective shareholders. In making such determination, the Trustees
may rely on factors including but not limited to the inability of a Series or Class or the Trust to
maintain its assets at an appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations governing the Series or
Class or the Trust or affecting assets of the type in which such Series or Class or the Trust
invests or economic developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on the business or
operations of such Series or Class or the Trust. Upon the termination of the Trust or the Series or
Class,
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(i) The Trust, Series or Class 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, Series or Class and all
of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust,
Series or Class shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts
of the Trust, Series or Class, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or Trust Property of such
Series or Class, as applicable, to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration
which may consist in whole or in part of 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, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all the Trust Property or Trust Property of such Series or Class, as applicable, that requires
Shareholder approval in accordance with Section 8.4 hereof shall receive the approval so required.
(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 or the remaining Trust
Property of the terminated Series or Class, as applicable, in cash or in kind or partly each, among
the Shareholders of the Trust or the Series or Class according to their respective rights.
(b) After termination of the Trust, Series or Class and distribution to the Shareholders as
herein provided, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties
with respect to the Trust or the terminated Series or Class, and the rights and interests of all
Shareholders of the Trust or the terminated Series or Class shall thereupon cease. Following the
termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall lodge among the records of the Trust and file with the
Office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in such other places as may be
required under the laws of Massachusetts an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such
termination.
Section 8.3. Amendment Procedure.
(a) This Declaration may be amended by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
outstanding and entitled to vote or by any instrument in writing, without a meeting, signed by a
majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders of a majority of the Shares outstanding
and entitled to vote.
(b) This Declaration may be amended by a vote of a majority of Trustees, without approval or
consent of the Shareholders, except that no amendment can be made by the Trustees to materially and
adversely affect any voting or other rights of shareholders prescribed by Federal or state law.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may amend this Declaration without the approval or
consent of Shareholders (i) to change the name of the Trust or any Series, (ii) to add to their
duties or obligations or surrender any rights or powers granted to them herein; (iii) to cure any
ambiguity, to
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correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision
herein or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this
Declaration which will not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Declaration; and (iv) to
eliminate or modify any provision of this Declaration which (a) incorporates, memorializes or sets
forth an existing requirement imposed by or under any Federal or state statute or any rule,
regulation or interpretation thereof or thereunder or (b) any rule, regulation, interpretation or
guideline of any Federal or state agency, now or hereafter in effect, including without limitation,
requirements set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (and
interpretations thereof), to the extent any change in applicable law liberalizes, eliminates or
modifies any such requirements, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failure to do so.
(c) The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the approval or consent of
Shareholders if they deem it necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of
applicable Federal or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the regulated investment
company provisions of the Code, or if requested or required to do so by any Federal agency or by a
state Blue Sky commissioner or similar official, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing
so to do.
(d) 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.
(e) A certificate signed by an officer of the Trust setting forth an amendment and reciting
that it was duly adopted by the Trustees or by the 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.
Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. The Trust or any Series thereof
may merge, convert or consolidate into any other corporation, association, trust, limited liability
company or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust
Property or Trust Property of such Series, as applicable, including its good will, upon such terms
and conditions and for such consideration: (a) when and as authorized at any meeting of
Shareholders called for the purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the
Shares of the Trust or such Series outstanding and entitled to vote and present in person or by
proxy at a meeting of Shareholders, or by an instrument or instruments in writing without a
meeting, consented to by the holders of two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or such Series;
provided, however, that, if such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange is
recommended by the Trustees, the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the
Outstanding Shares of the Trust or such Series entitled to vote shall be sufficient authorization;
or (b) if deemed appropriate by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the independent
Trustees, without action or approval of the Shareholders, to the extent consistent with applicable
laws and regulations; and any such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall
be deemed for all purposes to have been accomplished under and pursuant to Massachusetts law.
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Section 8.5. Incorporation. 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 or any portion of the Trust
Property or the Trust Property of one or more Series or to carry on any business in which the Trust
shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer all or any portion
of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of such Series, as applicable, to any such corporation,
trust, association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof or otherwise,
and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with
any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation,
partnership, trust, association or organization in which the Trust or such Series holds or is about
to acquire shares or any other interest. 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 Shareholders
for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts,
partnerships, associations or other organizations and selling, conveying or transferring all or a
portion of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of such Series, as applicable, to such
organization or entities.
ARTICLE IX
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit to the Shareholders of each Series a written
financial report of the transactions of the Trust and Series thereof, including financial
statements which shall at least annually be certified by independent public accountants.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Execution and Filing. This Declaration and any amendment hereto shall be
filed in the office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in such other places
as may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may also be filed or recorded in such other
places as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment so filed shall be accompanied by a
certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a
manner provided herein, and unless such amendment or such certificate sets forth some later time
for the effectiveness of such amendment, such amendment shall be effective upon its execution. A
restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions of the Declaration
which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the
Trustees and filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and such other places as
may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may also be filed in such other places as the
Trustees deem appropriate. A restated Declaration shall, upon execution, be conclusive evidence of
all amendments contained therein and may
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thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments
thereto.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees and
delivered in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with reference to the laws thereof, and the
rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be subject
to and construed according to the laws of said Commonwealth.
Section 10.3. Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together,
shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such
original counterpart.
Section 10.4. Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual
who, according to the records of the Trust appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying (a) the
number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (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 Shareholders,
(d) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders 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 which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence
as to the matters so certified in favor of any Person dealing with the Trustees and their
successors.
Section 10.5. 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 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;
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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument as of the 24th
day of November, 2009.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
||||
Trustee | ||||
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Trustee | ||||
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 | ||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Trustee | ||||
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 |
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Agreement and Declaration of Trust
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
Attachment A — Series
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Global Infrastructure ETF Fund
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Global Balanced ETF Fund
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Agreement and Declaration of Trust
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
of
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
Attachment B — Classes
None.
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