Exhibit (a)
iSHARES TRUST
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED DECEMBER 16, 1999
iSHARES TRUST
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Dated December 16, 1999
This AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST (hereinafter "Trust
Instrument") is made December 16, 1999 (together with all other persons from
time to time duly elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with
Article III hereof, the "Trustees").
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to establish a business trust for the
investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property
contributed to the trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this
Trust Instrument as herein set forth below.
ARTICLE I
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NAME AND DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.01. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is the "iShares
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Trust."
Section 1.02. Definitions. Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by
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the context or specifically provided:
(a) The term "By-Laws" means the By-Laws referred to in Article IV,
Section 4.01(e) hereof, as from time to time amended;
(b) The term "Commission" has the meaning given it in the 1940 Act (as
defined below). The terms "Affiliated Person," "Assignment," "Interested
Person," and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meanings given them in the
1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the
Commission or any rules or regulations adopted by or interpretive releases of
the Commission thereunder;
(c) The term "Delaware Act" refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code entitled "Treatment of Delaware Business Trusts," as it may be
amended from time to time;
(d) The term "Net Asset Value" means the net asset value of each
Series (as defined below) of the Trust (as defined below) determined in the
manner provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof;
(e) The term "Outstanding Shares" means those Shares (as defined
below) shown from time to time in 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;
(f) The term "Series" means a series of Shares of the Trust
established in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 2.06
hereof;
(g) The term "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares
of the Trust;
(h) The term "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units
of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest of each Series of the
Trust or class thereof shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares as
well as whole Shares;
(i) The term "Trust" refers to the iShares Trust and all Series of the
iShares Trust, and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or more Series
of the Trust, shall refer to any such Series;
(j) The term "Trustee" or "Trustees" means the person or persons who
has or have signed this Trust Instrument, so long as he, she or they shall
continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons
who may from time to time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in
accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof and reference herein to a
Trustee or to the Trustees shall refer to the individual Trustees in their
capacity as Trustees hereunder;
(k) The term "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account
of one or more of the Trust or any Series, or the Trustees on behalf of the
Trust or any Series.
(l) The term "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
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BENEFICIAL INTEREST
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Section 2.01. Shares of Beneficial Ownership Interest. The beneficial interest
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in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more
separate and distinct Series or classes of a Series as the Trustees shall from
time to time create and establish. The number of Shares of each Series, and
class thereof, authorized hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have no par
value. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation Shares issued
in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares,
shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 2.02. Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from
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time to time, without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the
then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such
party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, subject to
applicable law, including cash or securities, at such time or times and on such
terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, 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. In connection with any issuance of
Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the
treasury. The Trustees from time to time may divide or combine the Shares into a
greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interests in the Trust. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and
Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or 1/1,000th of a Share or
integral multiples thereof.
Section 2.03. Ownership and Transfer of Shares. The Trust or a transfer agent
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for the Trust shall maintain a register containing the names and addresses of
the Shareholders of each Series and class thereof, the number of Shares of each
Series and class held by such Shareholders, and a record of all Share transfers.
The register shall be conclusive as to the identity of Shareholders of record
and the number of Shares held by them from time to time. The Trustees may
authorize the issuance of certificates representing Shares and adopt rules
governing their use. The Trustees may make rules governing the transfer of
Shares, whether or not represented by certificates. Except as otherwise
provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust
only by the record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon delivery
to the Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of
transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such
evidence or the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such
other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and
subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees or contained in
the By-laws, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the Trust. Until a
transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of record of Shares shall be deemed to
be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees
nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar or any officer, employee or
agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.
Section 2.04. Treasury Shares. Shares held in the treasury shall, until
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reissued pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, 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 2.05. Establishment of Series. The Trust created hereby shall consist
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of one or more Series and separate and distinct records shall be maintained by
the Trust of each Series and the assets associated with any such Series shall be
held and accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other
Series. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole
discretion, and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the
Shareholders of any Series of the Trust, to establish and designate and to
change in any manner such Series of Shares or any classes of initial or
additional Series and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights and
privileges of such Series or classes thereof as the Trustees may from time to
time determine, to divide and combine the Shares or any Series or classes
thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued
Shares or any Series or classes thereof into one or more Series or classes of
Shares, to abolish any one or more Series or classes of Shares or to take such
other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. The
establishment and designation of any Series shall be effective upon the adoption
of a resolution by a majority of the Trustees setting forth such establishment
and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such
Series. A Series may issue any number of Shares and need not issue shares.
All references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to
be Shares of any or all Series, or classes thereof, as the context may require.
All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series
of the Trust, and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.
Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal
beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of
a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of
income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon
redemption of his Shares, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds
and property of such Series of the Trust.
Section 2.06. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments
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in any Series of the Trust from such persons and on such terms as they may from
time to time authorize. At the Trustees' discretion, such investments, subject
to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the
affected Series is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article IX,
Section 9.03 hereof. Investments in a Series shall be credited to each
Shareholder's account in the form of full or fractional Shares at the Net Asset
Value per Share next determined after the investment is received; provided,
however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset
Value per Share of the initial capital contribution or (b) impose a sales charge
upon investments in the Trust in such manner and at such time as determined by
the Trustees. The Trustees shall have the right to refuse to accept investments
in any Series at any time without any cause or reason therefor whatsoever.
Section 2.07. Assets and Liabilities of Series. All consideration received by
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the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with
all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the
sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived
from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of
every other Series and may be referred to herein as "assets belonging to" that
Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall belong to that Series
for all purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of
creditors of that Series. In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits or
funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the
Trustees between and among one or more of the Series in such manner as the
Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such
allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series
for all purposes, and such assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or
payments and proceeds with respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that
Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall be so recorded upon
the books of the Trust, and shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the
benefit of the holders of Shares of that Series. The assets belonging to each
particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that Series and all
expenses, costs, charges, and reserves attributable to that Series. Any general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, or reserves of the Trust which are not
readily identifiable as belonging to a particular Series shall be allocated and
charged by the Trustees between or among any one or more of the Series in such
manner as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each
such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all
Series for all purposes.
Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07,
but subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, or reserves as herein provided, the
debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for or
otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable
against the assets of the Trust generally. Notice of this contractual
limitation on inter-Series liabilities may, in the Trustee's sole discretion, be
set forth in the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by
amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such
notice in the certificate of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of
the Delaware Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the
statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the
certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any
person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any
Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any
debt, liability, obligation or expense incurred, contracted for or otherwise
existing with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of
any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or
belonging to any other Series.
Section 2.08. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or
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other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or other Series.
Section 2.09. Personal Liability of Shareholders. Each Shareholder of the
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Trust and of each Series shall not be personally liable for debts, liabilities,
obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with
respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series. The Trustees shall have
no power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for
the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the
Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for
any Shares or otherwise. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued
by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating to the Trust or to a
Series shall include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to
the Trust or to one or more Series and its or their assets (but the omission of
such a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the
Trust). Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is
extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the
State of Delaware. Every written obligation of the Trust or any Series shall
contain a statement to the effect that such obligation may only be enforced
against the assets of the appropriate Series or all Series; however, the
omission of such statement shall not operate to bind or create personal
liability for any Shareholder or Trustee.
Section 2.10. Assent to Trust Instrument. Every Shareholder, by virtue of
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having purchased a Share shall become a Shareholder and shall be held to have
expressly assented and agreed to be bound by the terms hereof.
ARTICLE III
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THE TRUSTEES
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Section 3.01. Management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and
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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 Trust Instrument. 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 State of Delaware, in
any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia,
in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or
possessions of the United States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction 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 Trust Instrument, the
presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall
not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees
may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies
pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Article III, the Trustees shall be elected by
the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting
of Shareholders. Such a meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the Trustees.
In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been
elected by Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders'
meeting for the election of Trustees.
Section 3.02. Initial Trustees. The initial Trustees shall be the persons
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named herein. On a date fixed by the Trustees, the Shareholders shall elect
additional Trustees subject to Section 3.06 of this Article III.
Section 3.03. Term of Office of Trustees. The Trustees shall hold office
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during the lifetime of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided,
except that: (a) any Trustee may resign his trust by written instrument signed
by him and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such
delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) any Trustee may be
removed at any time by a vote of at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees
prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become
effective; (c) any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has
died, becomes physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or
otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument
signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his
retirement; and (d) a Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders
of the Trust by a vote of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the
outstanding Shares.
Section 3.04. Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees. In case of the
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declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or
mental incapacity by reason of disease or otherwise, or a Trustee is otherwise
unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall
occur. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such
vacancy is filled, the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and
the certificate of the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In
the case of an existing vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy
by appointing such other person as they in their discretion shall see fit
consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act. Such appointment shall be
evidenced by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office
or by resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the
minutes of a meeting of the Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take
effect.
An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office
in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or
increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said
appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said
retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any
Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall have accepted this trust,
the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the
continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he or she shall
be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The power to appoint a Trustee pursuant to this
Section 3.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.
Section 3.05. Temporary Absence of Trustee. Any Trustee may, by power of
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attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one
time to any other Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less than
two Trustees personally exercise the other powers hereunder except as herein
otherwise expressly provided.
Section 3.06. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be set
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initially at one (1), and thereafter shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number
of Trustees shall in no event be more than fifteen (15) or less than three (3).
Section 3.07. Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc., of a Trustee. The
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declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or
inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate
the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this
Trust Instrument.
Section 3.08. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust and of
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each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter
held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any
successor Trustees. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the
assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be
considered as vested in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust, except that the
Trustees may cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by, or in the
name of, the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee. No Shareholder
shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the
Trust or of any Series or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each
Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate
undivided beneficial interest in the Trust or Series. The Shares shall be
personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust
Instrument. The Trust, or at the determination of the Trustees one or more of
the Trustees or a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed
to hold legal title and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities
of the
Trust issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under the
laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country. Upon the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee,
he or she 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 3.09. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
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reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may periodically fix the amount
of such compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of
any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or
other services and payment for the same by the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
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POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES
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Section 4.01. Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals,
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and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees
shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and
execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary
or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The Trustees
shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs in
regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make any
and all investments which they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to
accomplish the purpose of this Trust without recourse to any court or other
authority. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument or the
By-Laws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash
or other property uninvested, without in any event being bound or limited by any
present or future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees, and to
sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease
any or all the assets of the Trust;
(b) 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;
(c) To borrow money 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; to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of an obligation or engagement of any other Person and
to lend Trust Property;
(d) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either
through a principal underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the
Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any
kind;
(e) To adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument
providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal
them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; such
By-Laws shall be deemed incorporated and included in this Trust Instrument;
(f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they consider appropriate;
(g) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are
members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the
Commission may permit as custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to any
conditions set forth in this Trust Instrument or in the By-laws;
(h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing
agents, or both;
(i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the By-
Laws;
(j) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any
officers of the Trust and to any investment advisor, manager, custodian,
underwriter or other agent or independent contractor;
(k) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject
to the provisions of Article XI, Section 11.04(b) hereof;
(l) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver
powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustee shall deem proper,
granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to
securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(m) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which
in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(n) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any
trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or
either in the name of the Trust or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or
nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according to the usual
practice of Delaware business trusts or investment companies;
(o) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined
investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in
accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof and to establish classes of
such Series having relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide
consistent with applicable law;
(p) Subject to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to
allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series or
to apportion the same between or among two or more Series, provided that any
liabilities or expenses incurred by a
particular Series shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that
Series as provided for in Article II hereof;
(q) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern, any security of which is
held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or
sale of property by such corporation or concern, and to pay calls or
subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(r) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of
or against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not limited to,
claims for taxes;
(s) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to
Shareholders in the manner hereinafter provided;
(t) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for
Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Series or class, and to require the
redemption of the Shares of any Shareholders whose investment is less than such
minimum upon giving notice to such Shareholder;
(u) To establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers
of the Trustees to said committees and to adopt a committee charter providing
for such responsibilities, membership (including Trustees, officers or other
agents of the Trust therein) and any other characteristics of said committees as
the Trustees may deem proper. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article
IV, and in addition to such provisions or any other provision of this Trust
Instrument 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
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;
(v) To interpret the investment policies, practices, or limitations of
any Series;
(w) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in
the state of Delaware;
(x) 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 growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or
purposes, objects or powers.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and power,
and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or
restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or
more of the Trustees in their capacity as
such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the
applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing
before the possible termination of the Trust.
No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make
any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon
their order.
Section 4.02. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the
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power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell,
reissue, dispose of, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions
set forth in Article II and Article IX, to apply to any such repurchase,
redemption, retirement, cancellation, or acquisition of Shares any funds or
property of the Trust, or the particular Series of the Trust, with respect to
which such Shares are issued.
Section 4.03. Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer, or
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agent of the Trust may acquire, own, and dispose of Shares to the same extent as
if he or she were not a Trustee, officer, or agent; and the Trustees may issue
and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any
such person or any firm or company in which he or she is interested, subject
only to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of
such Shares; and all subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the
By-Laws.
Section 4.04. Action by the Trustees. The Trustees shall act by majority vote
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at a meeting duly called or by written consent of a majority of the Trustees
without a meeting or by telephone meeting provided a quorum of Trustees
participate in any such telephone meeting, unless the 1940 Act requires that a
particular action be taken only at a meeting at which the Trustees are present
in person. At any meeting of the Trustees, three (3) of the Trustees shall
constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in
writing by the Chairman or by any two (2) other Trustees. Notice of the time,
date and place of all meetings of the Trustees shall be given by the party
calling the meeting to each Trustee by telephone, telefax, or telegram sent to
his home or business address at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the
meeting or by written notice mailed to his home or business address at least
seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting. Notice need not be given to
any Trustee who attends the meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or
who executes a written waiver of notice with respect to the meeting. Any
meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed to take place at the principal
office of the Trust, as determined by the By-Laws or by the Trustees. Subject
to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees by majority vote may delegate
to any one or more of their number their authority to approve particular matters
or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Written consents or waivers
of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. Execution of a
written consent or waiver and delivery thereof to the Trust may be accomplished
by telefax.
Section 4.05. Chairman of the Trustees. The Trustees shall appoint one of
------------ ------------------------
their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside
at all meetings of the Trustees,
shall be responsible for the execution of policies established by the Trustees
and the administration of the Trust, and may be (but is not required to be) the
chief executive, financial, and/or accounting officer of the Trust.
Section 4.06. Principal Transactions. Except to the extent prohibited by
------------ ----------------------
applicable law, the Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may, in a manner
consistent with applicable legal requirements, buy any securities from or sell
any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustees or officer
of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting
as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment advisor, distributor
or transfer agent for the Trust or with any interested Person of such person;
and the Trust may employ any such person, or firm or company in which such
person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment
advisor, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, or custodian,
or in any other capacity upon customary terms.
ARTICLE V
---------
EXPENSES OF THE TRUST
---------------------
Section 5.01. Payment of Expenses By The Trust. Subject to the provisions of
------------ --------------------------------
Article II, Section 2.07 hereof, the Trust or a particular Series shall pay, or
shall reimburse the Trustees from the assets belonging to all Series or the
appropriate Series for their expenses (or the expenses of a Class of such
Series) and disbursements, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of
Trustees, interest expense, taxes, fees and commissions of every kind, expenses
of pricing Trust portfolio securities, expenses of issue, repurchase and
redemption of shares, including expenses attributable to a program of periodic
repurchases or redemptions, expenses of registering and qualifying the Trust and
its Shares under Federal and State laws and regulations or under the laws of any
foreign jurisdiction, charges of third parties, including investment advisors,
managers, custodians, transfer agents, portfolio accounting and/or pricing
agents, and registrars, expenses of preparing and setting up in type
prospectuses and statements of additional information and other related Trust
documents, expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses sent to existing
Shareholders, auditing and legal expenses, reports to Shareholders, expenses of
meetings of Shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor, insurance expenses,
association membership dues and for such non-recurring items as may arise,
including litigation to which the Trust (or a Trustee acting as such) is a
party, and for all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the
Trust, and for the payment of such expenses, disbursements, losses and
liabilities the Trustees shall have a lien on the assets belonging to the
appropriate Series, on the assets of each such Series, prior to any rights or
interests of the Shareholders thereto. This section shall not preclude the
Trust from directly paying any of the aforementioned fees and expenses.
Section 5.02. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustee shall have the
------------ -----------------------------------
power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each
Shareholder of any particular Series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears,
for charges of the Trust's custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or
similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off
such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid
dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the
account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares
which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such
Shareholder.
ARTICLE VI
----------
CONTRACTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
--------------------------------
Section 6.01. Investment Advisor. The Trustees may in their discretion, from
------------- ------------------
time to time, enter into an investment advisory or management contract or
contracts with respect to the Trust or any Series; provided, however, that the
initial approval and entering into of such contract or contracts shall be
subject to a "majority shareholder vote," as defined by the 1940 Act.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may
authorize any investment advisor (subject to such general or specific
instructions as the Trustees from time to time may adopt) to effect purchases,
sales or exchanges of portfolio securities, other investment instruments of the
Trust, or other Trust Property on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any
officer, agent, or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, or exchanges
pursuant to recommendations of the investment advisor (and all without further
action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, and exchanges shall be
deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
The Trustees may authorize, subject to applicable requirements of the
1940 Act, including those relating to Shareholder approval, the investment
advisor to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisors to perform such
of the acts and services of the investment advisor, and upon such terms and
conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment advisor and sub-
advisor. Any reference in this Trust Instrument to the investment advisor shall
be deemed to include such sub-advisors, unless the context otherwise requires.
Section 6.02. Principal Underwriter. The Trustees may in their discretion from
------------ ---------------------
time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or
contracts providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree
to sell Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party
its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be 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 VI, or of the By-Laws; and
such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such
other party as principal or as agent of the Trust.
Section 6.03. Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
------------ --------------
to time enter into one or more transfer agency and shareholder service contracts
whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with
transfer agency and shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on
such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the By-Laws.
Section 6.04. Administration Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion
------------ ------------------------
from time to time enter into an administration agreement or, if the Trustees
establish multiple Series or
classes, separate administration agreements with respect to each Series or
class, whereby the other party to such agreement shall undertake to manage the
business affairs of the Trust or of a Series or class thereof of the Trust and
furnish the Trust or a Series or a class thereof with office facilities, and
shall be responsible for the ordinary clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping
services at such office facilities, and other facilities and services, if any,
and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine.
Section 6.05. Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from
------------ -----------------
time to time enter into service agreements with respect to one or more Series or
Classes of Shares whereby the other parties to such Service Agreements will
provide administration and/or support services pursuant to administration plans
and service plans, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees in
their discretion may determine.
Section 6.06. Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character described in
------------ -------------------
Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04 and 6.05 of this Article VI or any contract of
the character described in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any
corporation, firm, partnership, trust, or association, although one or more of
the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee,
shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract
shall be invalidated or rendered void or voidable by reason of the existence of
any such relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be
disqualified from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder
and/or Trustee, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely
by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by
reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or
indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI or Article VIII hereof or of
the By-Laws. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust
or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to
Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04 and 6.05 of this Article VI or pursuant to
Article VIII hereof, and any individual may be financially interested or
otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts
mentioned in this Section 6.06.
Section 6.07. Provisions and Amendments. Any contract entered into pursuant to
------------ -------------------------
Sections 6.01 or 6.02 of this Article VI shall be consistent with and subject to
the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act or other applicable Act of
Congress hereafter enacted with respect to its continuance in effect, its
termination, and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or
renewal thereof, and no amendment to any contract, entered into pursuant to
Section 6.01 of this Article VI shall be effective unless assented to in a
manner consistent with the requirements of said Section 15, as modified by any
applicable rule, regulation or order of the Commission.
ARTICLE VII
-----------
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
----------------------------------------
Section 7.01. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
------------ -------------
(i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.01 and
3.02 hereof, (ii) for the removal
of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.03(d) hereof, (iii) with
respect to any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article
VI, Sections 6.01 and 6.07 hereof, and (iv) with respect to such additional
matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, by this Trust
Instrument, or the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission
or any State, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares
shall be voted separately by individual Series, except: (i) when required by
the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual
Series; and (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the
interests of more than one Series, then the Shareholders of all such affected
Series shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees also may determine that
a matter affects only the interests of one (1) or more classes of a Series, in
which case any such matter shall be voted on by such class or classes. Each
whole share shall be entitled to one (1) vote as to any matter on which it is
entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate
fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of
Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided
for in the By-Laws. A proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws may provide
that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or
telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else
herein or in the By-Laws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the
officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of
one or more Series or of the Trust, or in the event of any proxy contest or
proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or
Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy.
Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders
and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Trust Instrument or
any of the By-Laws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders. Meetings of
shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor shall
be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.
Section 7.02. Quorum and Required Vote. One-third of Shares entitled to vote in
------------ ------------------------
person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a
Shareholders' meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Trust
Instrument permits or requests that holders of any Series shall vote as a Series
(or that holders of a class shall vote as a class), then one-third of the
aggregate number of Shares of that Series (or that class) entitled to vote shall
be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transactions of business by that
Series (or that class). Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments.
Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after
the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice.
Except when a larger vote is required by law or by any provision of this Trust
Instrument of the By-Laws, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy
shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that
where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that
the holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that the holders of any
class shall vote as a class), then a majority of the Shares present in person or
by proxy of that Series or, if required by law, subject to a "majority
shareholder vote", as defined by the 1940 Act, of that Series (or class), voted
on the matter in person or by proxy shall decide matter insofar as that Series
(or class) is concerned. Shareholders may act by unanimous written consent.
Actions taken by Series (or class) may be consented to unanimously in writing by
Shareholders of that Series.
ARTICLE VIII
------------
CUSTODIAN
---------
Section 8.01. Appointment and Duties. The Trustees at all times shall employ a
------------ ----------------------
bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust
company, each having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two
million dollars ($2,000,000), or any other entity satisfying the requirements of
the 1940 Act, 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:
(1) to hold the securities and other assets of the Trust and deliver
the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and
deposit the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as
the Trustees may direct; and
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
and the Trust also may employ such custodian as its agent:
(4) to keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any Series or
class and furnish clerical and accounting services; and
(5) to compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset
Value of any Series, or class thereof, in accordance with the
provisions hereof; all upon such basis of compensation as may be
agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees also may authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the
custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the
custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in
every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank, a company that is a member of a
national securities exchange, a trust company or any other entity satisfying the
requirements of the 1940 Act.
Section 8.02. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules, regulations,
------------ --------------------------
and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to
deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the
central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or
a national securities association registered with the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other person as may be
permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act,
pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or series of any
issuer deposited within the system are
treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry
without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits
shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust or its
custodians, sub-custodians or other agents.
ARTICLE IX
----------
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
-----------------------------
Section 9.01. Distributions.
------------ -------------
(a) The Trustees from time to time may declare and pay dividends or
other distributions with respect to any Series. No dividend or distribution,
including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the
Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or
repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or class) shall be effected by the
Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any
Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against
the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such
Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other
Series. The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall
be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and
allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders. The amount of
such dividends or distributions and the payment of them and whether they are in
cash or any other Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the
Trustees.
(b) Dividends and other distributions may be paid or made to the
Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a dividend or other distribution
or among the Shareholders of record at such other date or time or dates or times
as the Trustees shall determine, which dividends or distributions, at the
election of the Trustees, may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or
resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may
determine. 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.
(c) Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Trustees at any time may declare and distribute a stock dividend pro rata
among the Shareholders of a particular Series, or class thereof, as of the
record date of that Series fixed as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section
9.01.
Section 9.02. Redemptions. The Trustees may specify conditions, prices, and
------------ -----------
places of redemption, may specify binding requirements for the proper form or
forms of requests for redemption and may specify the amount of any deferred
sales charge to be withheld from redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption
price may be wholly or partly in securities or other assets at the value of such
securities or assets used in such determination of Net Asset Value, or may be in
cash. Upon redemption, Shares may be reissued from time to time. The Trustees
may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the
Trustees, including, but not limited to, the failure of a Shareholder to supply
a taxpayer identification number if required to do so, or to have the minimum
investment required, or to pay
when due for the purchase of Shares issued to him. To the extent permitted by
law, the Trustees may retain the proceeds of any redemption of Shares required
by them for payment of amounts due and owing by a Shareholder to the Trust or
any Series or class or any governmental authority. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Trustees may postpone payment of the redemption price and may
suspend the right of the Shareholders to require any Series or class to redeem
Shares during any period of time when and to the extent permissible under the
1940 Act. All authorized Shares shall be subject to redemption and redeemable in
accordance with and pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed or approved by
the Trustees. The Shares of any Series, if so determined by the Trustees, shall
be redeemable only in aggregations of such number of Shares and on such days 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.
The number of Shares comprising an aggregation for purposes of redemption or
repurchase shall be referred to as a "Creation Unit." The Trustees shall have
the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares constituting a Creation
Unit by resolution adopted by the Trustees, at any time including prior to the
time the Trust commences operations. Each holder of a Creation Unit aggregation
of shares of a Series, upon request to the Trust in accordance with procedures
established by the Trustees, 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 the Shares of any Series as to which
the Trustees have determined that such Shares shall be redeemable only in
Creation Unit aggregations, only in such Creation Unit aggregations of shares of
such Series as the Trustees may determine from time to time in accordance with
this Article IX, at a redemption price per share equal to an amount determined
by the Trustees in accordance with applicable laws.
Section 9.03. Determination of Net Asset Value and Valuation of Portfolio
------------ -----------------------------------------------------------
Assets. The term "Net Asset Value" of any Series shall mean that amount by
------
which the assets of that Series exceed its liabilities, all as determined by or
under the direction of the Trustees. Such value shall be determined separately
for each Series and shall be determined on such days and at such times as the
Trustees may determine. The Trustees may delegate any of their powers and
duties under this Section 9.03 with respect to valuation of assets and
liabilities. The resulting amount, which shall represent the total Net Asset
Value of the particular Series, shall be divided by the total number of shares
of that Series outstanding at the time and the quotient so obtained shall be the
Net Asset Value per Share of that Series. At any time the trustees may cause
the Net Asset Value per Share last determined to be determined again in similar
manner and may fix the time when such redetermined value shall become effective.
If, for any reason, the net income of any Series, determined at any time, is a
negative amount, the Trustees shall have the power with respect to that Series:
(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 by reducing the number of Shares in the
account of each Shareholder by a pro rata portion of the 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 such Series an asset
account in the amount of such negative net income (provided that the same shall
thereupon become the property of such Series with respect to such Series and
shall not be paid to any Shareholder), which account may be reduced by the
amount, of dividends declared thereafter upon the Outstanding Shares of such
Series on the day such negative net income is experienced, until such asset
account is reduced to zero; or (iv) to combine the methods described in clauses
(i) and (ii) and (iii) of the sentence; or (v) to take any other action they
deem appropriate, in order to cause (or in order to assist in causing) the Net
Asset Value per Share of such Series to remain at a constant amount per
Outstanding Share immediately after each such determination and declaration.
The Trustees also shall have the power not to declare a dividend out of net
income for the purpose of causing the Net Asset Value per share to be increased.
The Trustees shall not be required to adopt, but at any time may adopt,
discontinue, or amend the practice of maintaining the Net Asset value per Share
of the Series at a constant amount. In the event that any Series are divided
into classes, the provisions of this Section 9.03, to the extent applicable as
determined in the discretion of the Trustees and consistent with applicable law,
may be equally applied to each such class.
Section 9.04. Suspension of the Right of Redemption. The Trustees may declare
------------ -------------------------------------
a suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment as
permitted under the 1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as
the Trustees 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 until the Trustees shall declare the
suspension at an end. 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 per Share next determined after the termination of
the suspension.
ARTICLE X
---------
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
-------------------------------------------
Section 10.01. Limitation of Liability. All persons contracting with or having
------------- -----------------------
any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets
of all Series or such particular Series for payment under such contract or
claim; and neither the Trustees nor, when acting in such capacity, any of the
Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be
personally liable therefor. Every written instrument or obligation on behalf of
the Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the foregoing effect, but
the absence of such statement shall not operate to make any Trustee or officer
of the Trust liable thereunder. Provided they have exercised reasonable care
and have acted under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best
interest of the Trust, the Trustees and officers of the Trust shall not be
responsible or liable for any act or omission or for neglect or wrongdoing of
them or any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser or independent
contractor of the Trust, but nothing contained in this Declaration or in the
Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against liability
to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Section 10.02. Indemnification.
------------- ---------------
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph
(b) below:
(i) every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the
Trust (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") shall be indemnified
by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and
against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with
any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he or she 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; and
(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, while in office or thereafter,
and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation,
attorney's fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines,
penalties, and other liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered
Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which
the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its
Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office
or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his
action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a
determination that such 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;
(B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who neither are
Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based
upon a review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-
type inquiry); or
(C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a
review of readily-available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type
inquiry); provided, however, that any Shareholder, by appropriate
legal proceedings, may challenge any such determination by the
Trustees or by independent counsel.
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against
by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive
of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter
be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person
and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of
such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights
to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and
other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in
connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim,
action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this
Section 10.02 may be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to
final disposition thereof upon receipt of any undertaking by or on behalf of
such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or
Series if it ultimately is determined that he or she is not entitled to
indemnification under this Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (a)
such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such
undertaking; (b) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such
advance payments, or (c) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither
Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of
readily-available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full
investigation), that there is a reason to believe that such Covered Person will
be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02.
Section 10.03. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of
------------- ------------
any Series shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being
or having been a Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or
omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or
his heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives, or, in the
case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor)
shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be
held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from
such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall assume, upon
request by the Shareholder, the defense of any claim made against the
Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment
thereon from the assets of the Series.
Section 10.04. 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 10.05. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc No
------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or
any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof shall be bound
to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be
made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the
application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order
of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation,
contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a
Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed
in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been
executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees
under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of
the Trust or a Series thereof. Every written obligation, contract, instrument,
certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof or
undertaking made or issued by the Trustees may recite that the same is executed
or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the Declaration, and
that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof under any such instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually, but bind
only the Trust Property or the Trust Property of
the applicable Series, and may contain any further recital which they may deem
appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to bind the
Trustees individually. The Trustees shall at all times maintain insurance for
the protection of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of the applicable
Series, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such
amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and
such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem
advisable.
Section 10.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee, officer or employee of
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the Trust or a Series thereof shall, in the performance of his duties, powers
and discretions hereunder be fully and completely justified and protected with
regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith
upon the books of account or other records of the Trust or a Series thereof,
upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust or a Series
thereof by any of its officers or employees or by the Investment Adviser, the
Administrator, the Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants,
appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the
Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel
or expert may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE XI
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 11.01. Trust Not a Partnership. It is hereby expressly declared that a
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trust and not a partnership is created hereby. No Trustee hereunder shall have
any power to bind personally either the Trust's officers or any Shareholder.
All persons extending credit to, contracting with, or having any claim against
the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate
Series or (If the Trustees shall have yet to have established the Series) the
Trust for payment under such credit, contract, or claim; and neither the
Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of their agents, whether past, present,
or future, shall be personally liable therefore. Nothing in this Trust
Instrument shall protect a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee
otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the
office of Trustee hereunder.
Section 11.02. Trustee Action. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and
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discretions hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care under the
circumstances then prevailing shall be binding upon everyone interested.
Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and to Section 11.01 of this
Article XI, the Trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes
of fact or law.
Section 11.03. Establishment of Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the
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Shareholders of any Series (or class) who are entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a
date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such
other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such
Series (or class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution.
Without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close
the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or classes) any time
prior to the payment of a distribution.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from
setting different record dates for different Series (or classes). The Trustees
may fix in advance a date, to be determined by the Trustees and no longer than
that permitted by applicable law, before the date of any Shareholders' meeting,
or the date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the date
for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or
exchange of Shares shall go into effect as a record date for the determination
of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or
entitled to receive payment of such dividend or other distribution, or to
receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights in respect of
any such change, conversion or exchange of Shares.
Section 11.04. Termination of Trust.
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(a) This Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject
to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04.
(b) The Trustees, subject to a majority shareholder vote of each
Series affected by the matter, or, if applicable, to a majority shareholder vote
of the Trust, and subject to a vote of a majority of the Trustees, may:
(i) sell and convey all or substantially all of the assets of
the Trust or any affected Series to another trust, partnership,
association, or corporation, or to a separate series of shares
thereof, organized under the laws of any state, which trust,
partnership, association, or corporation is an open-end management
investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof,
for adequate consideration which may include the assumption of all
outstanding obligations, taxes, and other liabilities, accrued or
contingent, of the Trust or any affected Series, and which may include
shares of beneficial interest, stock, or other ownership interests of
such trust, partnership, association, or corporation or of a series
thereof; or
(ii) at any time, sell and convert into money all of the assets
of the Trust or any affected series.
Upon making reasonable provision, in the determination of the
Trustees, for the payment of all such liabilities in either (i) or (ii) of this
Section 11.04(b), by such assumption or otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute
the remaining proceeds or assets (as the case may be) of each Series (or class)
ratably among the holders of Shares of that Series then outstanding.
(c) The Trustees may take any of the actions specified in this
Section 11.04(b)(i) and (ii) above without obtaining the approval of
shareholders if a majority of the Trustees determines that the continuation of
the Trust or Series (or class) is not in the best interests of the Trust, such
Series (or class), or their respective Shareholders as a result of factors or
events adversely affecting the ability of the Trust or such Series (or class) to
conduct its business and operations in an economically viable manner. Such
factors and events may include the inability of the Trust or a Series (or class)
to maintain its assets at an appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations
governing the Trust or the Series (or class) or affecting assets of
the type in which the Trust or Series (or class) invests, or economic
developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on the business or
operations of the Trust or such Series (or class).
(d) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or
the remaining assets as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 11.04, the
Trust or any affected Series shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust
shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and
the right, title, and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust or
Series shall be canceled and discharged.
Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of
the Trust's business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of
the Trust's certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware
Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
Section 11.05. Reorganization. Notwithstanding anything else herein, the
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Trustees, in order to change the form of organization of the Trust, may, without
prior Shareholder approval, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or
into one (1) or more trusts, partnerships, associations, or corporations so long
as the surviving or resulting entity is an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or
assume the Trust's registration under that Act and which is formed, organized,
or existing under the laws of a state, commonwealth, territory, possession, or
colony of the United States or (ii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the
laws of State of Delaware. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or
certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of Trustees and facsimile
signature conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f)
of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Trust Instrument, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the
Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.05 may effect any amendment to the
Trust Instrument or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust
if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
Section 11.06. Filing of Copies; References; Headings. The original or a copy
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of this Trust Instrument and the original or a copy of each amendment hereof or
Trust Instrument supplemental hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust
where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may
rely on a certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not
any such amendments or supplements have been made and as to any matters in
connection with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if it were the
original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to
be a copy of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental
Trust Instrument, and references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions
such as or similar to "herein," "hereof," and "hereunder" shall be deemed to
refer to this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental
Trust Instrument. All expressions such as or similar to "his," "he," and "him"
shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as masculine,
genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and, in
case of any conflict, the text of this Trust
Instrument, rather than the headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may
be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section 11.07. Applicable Law. The trust set forth in this instrument is made
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in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Trust Instrument, and the
rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be
governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the
laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the
trust, the Trust, the Trustee or this Trust Instrument (a) the provisions of
Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws
(statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act)
pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court
or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees
and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers,
agents, or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or
other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition
of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees,
officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and
expenditures to income and principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the
permissible nature, amount, or concentration of trust investments or
requirements relating to the titling, storage, or other manner of holding of
trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or
responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are
inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of
the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Trust Instrument. The Trust shall
be of the type commonly called a "Delaware business trust," and, without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers or privileges
afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the
Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power,
privilege, or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power
or privilege or take such actions.
Section 11.08. Amendments. Except as specifically provided herein, the
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Trustees, without shareholder vote, may amend or otherwise supplement this Trust
Instrument by making an amendment, a Trust Instrument supplemental hereto, or an
amended and restated trust instrument. Shareholders shall have the right to
vote (i) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in
Section 7.01 of the Article VII hereof, (ii) on any amendment to this Section
11.08, (iii) on any amendment as may be required by law or by the Trust's
registration statement filed with the Commission, and (iv) on any amendment
submitted to the Shareholders by the Trustees. Any amendment required or
permitted to be submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine,
shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series shall be authorized by vote
of the Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of Shareholders of a
Series not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein,
any amendment to Article X hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification
or insurance provided therein with respect to action or omission of Covered
Persons prior to such amendment.
Section 11.09. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth
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in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action
on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
(a) Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the
Delaware Act who hold at least 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust, or
10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Series or class to which such action
relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and
(b) The Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to
consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim.
The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in
considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the
Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any
such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
Section 11.10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a
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specified date as set forth in the By-Laws, provided, however, that the
Trustees, without Shareholder approval, may change the fiscal year of the Trust.
Section 11.11. Provisions in Conflict With Law. The provisions of this Trust
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Instrument 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, with
the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with
other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed
never to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however,
that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this
Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior
to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument shall be held
invalid or improper, unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in
such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any
other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any
jurisdiction.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the initial Trustee of the
Trust, has executed this instrument this 16th day of December, 1999.
/s/ Xxxxxx Most
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as Trustee and not individually
