AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of ALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST a Delaware Statutory Trust Principal Place of Business: 5701 Golden Hills Drive Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416 Agent for Service of Process in Delaware:...
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
of
ALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
a Delaware Statutory Trust
Principal Place of Business:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Agent for Service of
Process in Delaware:
The Corporation Trust Company
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
ARTICLE I |
Name and Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1. |
Name | 1 | ||||
Section 2. |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
Purpose of Trust | 3 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
Shares | 4 | ||||
Section 1. |
Division of Beneficial Interest | 4 | ||||
Section 2. |
Ownership of Shares | 5 | ||||
Section 3. |
Transfer of Shares | 5 | ||||
Section 4. |
Investments in the Trust | 6 | ||||
Section 5. |
Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability | 6 | ||||
Section 6. |
Establishment, Designation, Abolition or Termination etc. of Series or Class | 6 | ||||
Section 7. |
Constant Net Asset Value | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
Trustees | 9 | ||||
Section 1. |
Number, Election and Tenure | 9 | ||||
Section 2. |
Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee | 9 | ||||
Section 3. |
Powers | 10 | ||||
Section 4. |
Payment of Expenses by the Trust | 13 | ||||
Section 5. |
Payment of Expenses by Shareholders | 13 | ||||
Section 6. |
Ownership of Assets of the Trust | 13 | ||||
Section 7. |
Service Contracts | 14 | ||||
Section 8. |
Trustees and Officers as Shareholders | 15 | ||||
Section 9. |
Compensation | 15 | ||||
Section 10 |
Small Accounts | 16 | ||||
Section 11 |
Determinations by Trustees | 16 | ||||
Section 12 |
Delegation by Trustees | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings | 17 | ||||
Section 1. |
Voting Powers. Meetings. Notice. and Record Dates | 17 | ||||
Section 2. |
Quorum and Required Vote | 17 | ||||
Section 3. |
Record Dates | 17 | ||||
Section 4. |
Additional Provisions | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions | 18 | ||||
Section 1. |
Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions | 18 | ||||
Section 2. |
Redemptions and Repurchases | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
Limitation of Liability; Indemnification | 20 | ||||
Section 1. |
Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice | 20 | ||||
Section 2. |
Trustees’ Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety | 20 |
i
Section 3. |
Indemnification of Shareholders | 21 | ||||
Section 4. |
Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. | 21 | ||||
Section 5. |
Compromise Payment | 22 | ||||
Section 6. |
Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. | 22 | ||||
Section 7. |
Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees | 22 | ||||
Section 8. |
Insurance | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
Miscellaneous | 23 | ||||
Section 1. |
Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class | 23 | ||||
Section 2. |
Reorganization | 24 | ||||
Section 3. |
Amendments | 24 | ||||
Section 4. |
Filing of Copies; References; Headings; Rules of Construction | 25 | ||||
Section 5. |
Applicable Law | 25 | ||||
Section 6. |
Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations | 26 | ||||
Section 7. |
Statutory Trust Only | 26 | ||||
Section 8. |
Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial | 26 | ||||
Section 9. |
Derivative Actions | 27 |
ii
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
ALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into on December 1, 2021 for the purpose of continuing the Trust as a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.
WHEREAS, the Trust was formed under the Delaware Act upon the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the adoption of the Initial Declaration; and
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as Allianz Variable Insurance Products Trust and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof and adopt such other name as they deem proper. Any name change of any Series or Class shall become effective upon approval by the Trustees of such change or any document (including any Registration Statement) reflecting such change. Any name change of the Trust shall become effective upon the effectiveness of the filing of a certificate of amendment under the Delaware Act reflecting such change. Any such action shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust. In the event of any name change, the Trustees shall cause notice to be given to the affected Shareholders within a reasonable time after the implementation of such change, which notice will be deemed given if the changed name is reflected in any Registration Statement.
(a) “Adviser(s)”
means a party or parties furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
(b) “By-laws”
1
shall mean the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time, which Amended and Restated By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing instrument” within the meaning of the Delaware Act;
(c) “Certificate of Trust”
means the certificate of trust, as amended or restated from time to time, filed by the Trustees in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act;
(d) “Class”
means a class of Shares of a Series of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;
(e) “Commission”
shall have the meaning given such term in the 1940 Act;
(f) “Declaration of Trust”
means this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as further amended and/or restated from time to time;
(g) “Delaware Act”
means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801 et seq., as amended from time to time;
(h) “Initial Declaration” means the Agreement and Declaration of Trust entered into on July 13, 1999, as amended and restated on May 1, 2006;
(i) “Interested Person”
shall have the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;
(j) “1940 Act”
means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder and interpretations thereunder, and any order or orders thereunder which may from time to time be applicable to the Trust, all as amended from time to time. References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such rules and regulations as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees;
(k) “Person”
means and includes individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates, and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;
2
(l) “Principal Underwriter”
shall have the meaning given such term in the 1940 Act;
(m) “Registration Statement” means the Trust’s registration statement or statements as filed with the Commission, as from time to time in effect, and shall include any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part thereof;
(n) “Series”
means each Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof; and where the context requires or where appropriate, shall be deemed to include “Class” or “Classes” of such Series;
(o) “Shareholder”
means a record owner of outstanding Shares;
(p) “Shares”
means the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(q) “Trust”
means the Delaware statutory trust established under the Delaware Act pursuant to the Initial Declaration and the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and continued pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust;
(r) “Trust Property”
means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is from time to time owned or held by or for the account of the Trust; and
(s) “Trustees”
means the Persons serving as Trustees of the Trust on the date hereof and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, in each case so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in his or her or their capacity as Trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Trustees shall not be limited by
3
any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Trust shall have the power and authority to do everything necessary, suitable, convenient or proper for the conduct, promotion and attainment of any businesses and purposes which at any time may be incidental or may appear conducive or expedient for the accomplishment of the business of an investment company registered under the 1940 Act and which may be engaged in or carried on by a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act, and in connection therewith the Trust shall have and may exercise all of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware upon a Delaware statutory trust.
ARTICLE III
Subject to the distinctions permitted among Classes of any Series as established by the Trustees, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, each Share of a Series shall represent
4
an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series, and each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive such Shareholder’s pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series and upon redemption of the Shares of any Series, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust.
All references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust 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. The Trustees are authorized to cause the Trust to issue Shares in the Trust and, upon any such issuance, to the extent applicable, all references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust (including all provisions relating to the issuance of Shares) shall apply to Shares of the Trust and all references to Series in this Declaration of Trust shall apply to the Trust.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, including Article IV, Section 5 hereof, all Shares issued hereunder, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend or other distribution in Shares or a split or reverse split or Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust. Shares held in the Trust’s treasury shall not confer any voting rights on the Trust or Trustees and shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.
5
notice of a proposed transfer. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Person entitled to any Shares as a consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of such evidence thereof as the Trust or its transfer or similar agent may require, but until such transfer is recorded, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof, and neither the Trustees, any transfer or similar agent 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.
Shares of each Series or Class of the Trust established pursuant to this Article III, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or Class (whether directly in such resolution or by reference to another document, including, without limitation, any Registration Statement), shall have the following relative rights and preferences:
6
7
shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.
8
liabilities held with respect to an additional one or more Series or Classes and in connection therewith to cause some or all of the Shareholders of such Series or Class to be admitted as Shareholders of such additional one or more Series or Classes.
Section 7. Constant Net Asset Value. If any Series or Class holds itself out as a money market or stable value fund, the Trustees shall have the power to reduce the number of outstanding Shares of such Series or Class by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder on a pro rata basis, or to take such other measures as are not prohibited by the 1940 Act, so as to maintain the net asset value per Share of such Series or Class at a constant dollar amount.
ARTICLE IV
9
removal, or incapacity of all the then Trustees and without at least one Trustee appointing additional Trustees to replace those no longer serving, the Trust’s Adviser(s) are empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have the power and authority to cause the Trust (or to act on behalf of the Trust):
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness,
10
commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the United States Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options (including, options on futures contracts) with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;
(c) 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 proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees 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;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To engage in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, settle, abandon, or adjust by arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims and demands, including claims for taxes, relating to the Trust or arising out of or relating to the Trustees’ service to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to satisfy any liabilities, losses, debts, claims or
11
expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, including those of litigation;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust exclusively for Trust purposes and in connection therewith to issue notes or other evidences of indebtedness; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability;
(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans and trusts, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(n) To operate as and carry out the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of such operations;
(o) To enter into contracts of any kind and description;
(p) To employ as custodian of any assets of the Trust 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 the Trust, subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;
(q) To employ auditors, counsel or other agents of the Trust, subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;
(r) To interpret the investment policies, practices, or limitations of any Series or Class;
12
(s) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes, and with separate Shares representing beneficial interests in such Series, and to establish separate Classes of such Series, all in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(t) To the full extent permitted by the Delaware Act, to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series and Class or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series or Classes, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Series or Class shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Series or Class as provided for in Article III;
(u) To invest all of the assets of the Trust, or any Series or any Class thereof in a single investment company; and
(v) Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or activity in which a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
13
the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, in accordance with applicable law. The right, title and interest, if any, of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee, he or she shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest, if any, 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. No creditor of any Trustee shall have any right to obtain possession, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, any Trust Property with respect to any claim against, or obligation of, such Trustee in its individual capacity and not related to the Trust or any Series or Class of the Trust. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust, or belonging to any Series, or allocable to any Class thereof, 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 in assets belonging to the Series (or allocable to the Class) in which the Shareholder holds Shares. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Declaration of Trust or the Delaware Act.
(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws, including, without limitation, the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or for any Series (or Class thereof) with any Person and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for the Adviser(s) or administrator to delegate certain or all of its duties under such contracts to other qualified investment advisers and administrators and to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.
(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any Person, appointing such Person exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series (or Classes) or other securities to be issued by the Trust.
(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contact with any Person, appointing such Person or Persons the custodian, transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series.
(d) The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Person to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.
14
(e) | The fact that: |
(i) | any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any Person, or for any parent or affiliate of any Person with which an advisory, management, or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust; or that |
(ii) | any Person with which an advisory, management, or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, management, or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s or other service contract with one or more other Persons, 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.
(f) The authority of the Trustees hereunder to authorize the Trust to enter into contracts or other agreements or arrangements shall include the authority of the Trustees to modify, amend, waive any provision of, supplement, assign all or a portion of, novate, or terminate such contracts, agreements or arrangements. The enumeration of any specific contracts in this Section 7 shall in no way be deemed to limit the power and authority of the Trustees as otherwise set forth in this Declaration of Trust to authorize the Trust to employ, contract with or make payments to such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust.
15
16
ARTICLE V
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings
17
the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or Classes) at 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).
ARTICLE VI
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe (or delegate to any officer of the Trust or any other Person the right to prescribe) such bases and time (including any methodology or plan) for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class or net income attributable to the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, and the method of determining the Shareholders to whom dividends and distributions are payable, as they may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, any dividend or distribution may be paid in cash and/or securities or other property, and the composition of any such distribution shall be determined by the Trustees (or by any officer of the Trust or any other Person or Persons to whom such authority has been delegated by the Trustees) and may be different among Shareholders including differences among Shareholders of the same Series or Class.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases.
(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust, or a Person designated by the Trust, that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof as determined by the Trustees (or by such Person or Persons to whom such determination has been delegated), in accordance with any applicable provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, any Registration Statement, the 1940 Act and other applicable law. Unless extraordinary circumstances exist, payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder in accordance with the 1940 Act and any rules and regulations thereunder or as otherwise required by the Commission. The obligation set forth in this Section 2(a) is subject to the provision that, during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such Series, such obligation may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption as provided herein, a Shareholder may either withdraw the request for redemption or receive payment based on the net asset value per share next determined after the termination of such suspension.
18
(b) The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series or Class thereof for which the Shares are being redeemed. Subject to the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. 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. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any Adviser or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment-in-kind.
(c) If the Trustees shall, at any time and in good faith, determine that direct or indirect ownership of Shares of any Series or Class thereof has or may become concentrated in any Person to an extent that would disqualify any Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereof), then the Trustees shall have the power (but not the obligation) by such means as they deem equitable (i) to call for the redemption by any such Person of a number, or principal amount, of Shares sufficient to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of Shares into conformity with the requirements for such qualification, (ii) to refuse to transfer or issue Shares of any Series or Class thereof to such Person whose acquisition of the Shares in question would result in such disqualification, or (iii) to take such other action as they deem necessary and appropriate to avoid such disqualification. Any such redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article VI.
(d) The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto), or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing authority.
(e) The Trustees may require any Shareholder or group of Shareholders (including some or all of the Shareholders of any Series or Class) to redeem Shares for any reason as determined by the Trustees, including (i) the failure of a Shareholder to provide the information required by Section 2(d) above, (ii) the failure of a Shareholder to have any minimum investment required by the Trustees (which may vary by Series or Class), (iii) if the Share activity of the account or ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is deemed by the Trustees either to affect adversely the management of the Trust or any Series or Class or not to be in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class, or (iv) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to such Shareholder. Any such redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article VI.
(f) Subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, and except as otherwise determined by the Trustees, upon redemption, Shares shall no longer be deemed outstanding or carry any voting rights irrespective of whether a record date for any matter on which such Shares were entitled to vote had been set on a date prior to the date on which such Shares were redeemed. In making a determination as to whether redeemed Shares shall be deemed outstanding and carry any voting rights with respect to any matter on which such Shares were entitled to vote prior to redemption, subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, among other things, determine that Shares redeemed either before or after a date specified by the Trustees between the record date for such matter and the meeting date for such matter shall be deemed
19
outstanding and retain voting rights, which determination may be made for any reason including that it would not be reasonably practicable to obtain a quorum if all of the Shares redeemed after the record date for such matter and before the voting date no longer were deemed outstanding and carried any voting rights.
ARTICLE VII
Limitation of Liability; Indemnification
The Trustees may provide that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that a Certificate of Trust in respect of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and may recite to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers, and not individually, and that the obligations of any instrument made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers of the Trust are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, or the particular Series in question, as the case may be. The omission of any statement to such effect from such instrument shall not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or Shareholders individually, or to subject the assets of any Series to the obligations of any other Series.
20
administrator, distributor or Principal Underwriter, custodian or transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee; (ii) the Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as Trustees, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice; and (iii) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by them, any independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a contracting party employed by the Trust. The Trustees as such shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other security for the performance of their duties.
21
proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (the “Disinterested Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by one or more Series to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to such Series if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VII and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
22
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1. Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class.
(a) Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees (without Shareholder approval). Any Series of Shares may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees (without Shareholder approval). Any Class of any Series of Shares may be terminated at any time by the Trustees (without Shareholder approval). Any action to dissolve the Trust shall be deemed to also be an action to terminate each Series and each Class thereof. Any action to terminate any Series shall be deemed to also be an action to terminate each Class thereof.
(b) In accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Act, upon the requisite action by the Trustees to dissolve the Trust or terminate any one or more Series of Shares, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular Series as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets of the Trust or of the affected Series to distributable form in cash or Shares (if any Series remain) or other securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Series involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of such Series held by the several Shareholders of such Series on the date of distribution. Thereupon, any affected Series shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to such Series shall be cancelled and discharged. Upon the requisite action by the Trustees to terminate any Class of any Series of Shares, the Trustees may, to the extent they deem it appropriate, follow the procedures set forth in this Section 1(b) with respect to such Class that are specified in connection with the dissolution and winding up of the Trust or termination of any Series. Alternatively, in connection with the termination of any Class of any Series, the Trustees may treat such termination as a redemption of the Shareholders of such Class effected pursuant to Article VI, Section 2 of this Declaration of Trust provided that the costs relating to the termination of such Class shall be included in the determination of the net asset value of the Shares of such Class for purposes of determining the redemption price to be paid to the Shareholders of such Class (to the extent not otherwise included in such determination). In connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Trust or the termination of any Series or Class, the Trustees may provide for the establishment of a liquidating trust or similar vehicle.
(c) 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. Upon the
23
filing of such certificate of cancellation, the Trust shall terminate, the Trustees shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust shall be cancelled and discharged.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by applicable law, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into or transfer its assets and any liabilities to one or more trusts (or series thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such merger or consolidation or transfer of assets and any liabilities) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that is formed, organized, or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, unless otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, (ii) cause any one or more Series (or Classes) of the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into or transfer its assets and any liabilities to any one or more other Series (or Classes) of the Trust, one or more trusts (or series or classes thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, limited liability companies, association, corporations, (iii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law or (iv) cause the Trust to reorganize as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership under the laws of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction.
(b) 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 Declaration of Trust, an agreement of merger or consolidation or exchange or transfer of assets and liabilities approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 2 may (i) effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the Trust or (ii) effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
(c) The Trustees may create one or more statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits, or losses of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust or any Series or Class thereof into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series of classes thereof.
24
the rights to insurance provided by Article VII hereof with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification referenced in Article VII hereof as provided in the By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment. The Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the Certificate of Trust as they deem necessary or desirable.
(a) The Trust was created and is continued under, and this Declaration of Trust is to be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust was created as and shall continue to be of the type commonly called a statutory trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to statutory trusts or actions that may be engaged in by statutory 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.
(b) Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 5(a) of this Article VIII, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, or this Declaration of Trust either the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that 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 a court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition of real or personal property; (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust; (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to titling, storage, or other manner of holding of trust assets; or (vii) the
25
establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts of powers of liabilities or authorities and powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust; or (viii) activities similar to those referenced in the foregoing items (i) through (vii).
Section 6. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations
(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any such provision is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto), and the regulations thereunder, the Delaware Act or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such decision shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration of Trust 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 of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 8. Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial. Any suit, action or proceeding brought by or in the right of any Shareholder or any person claiming any interest in any Shares seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Declaration of Trust or the Trust, any Series or Class or any Shares, including any claim of any nature against the Trust, any Series or Class, the Trustees or officers of the Trust, shall be brought exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to the extent there is subject matter jurisdiction in such court for the claims asserted or, if not, in the Superior Court of Delaware, and all Shareholders and other such Persons hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of such courts (and the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection they may make now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in such courts or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and further, in connection with any such suit, action, or proceeding brought in such courts, all Shareholders and all other such Persons irrevocably waive the right to a trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by law. All Shareholders and other such Persons agree that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any proceedings may be made by registered or certified mail or by overnight courier addressed to such Person at the address shown on the books and records of the Trust for such Person or at the address of the Person shown on the books and records of the Trust with respect to the Shares that such Person claims an interest
26
in. Service of process in any such suit, action or proceeding against the Trust or any Trustee or officer of the Trust may be made at the address of the Trust’s registered agent in the State of Delaware. Any service so made shall be effective as if personally made in the State of Delaware.
(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 9(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act).
(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 9, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who collectively hold Shares representing ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined net asset value of all Shares issued and outstanding or of the Series or Classes to which such action relates if it does not relate to all Series and Classes, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 9, 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 may 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.
In addition to all suits, claims or other actions (collectively, “claims”) that under applicable law must be brought as derivative claims, each Shareholder of the Trust or any Series or Class agrees that any claim that affects all Shareholders of a Series or Class equally, that is, proportionately based on their number of Shares in such Series or Class, must be brought as a derivative claim subject to this Section 9 irrespective of whether such claim involves a violation of the Shareholders’ rights under this Declaration of Trust or any other alleged violation of contractual or individual rights that might otherwise give rise to a direct claim. For purposes of this Section 9, the Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who are “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act).
THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
OF THE TRUST IS:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
27