TRUSTFUNDS EQUITY INDEX FUNDS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts, this 6th
day of March, 1985, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares of
beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their
hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable
Shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash,
securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any
manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the
following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders from time
to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
NAME
SECTION 1. This Trust shall be known as the "TrustFunds Equity Index
Funds" 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.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 2. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the
context or specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts voluntary association
established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to
time;
(b) "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein or
elected in accordance with Article IV and then in office;
(c) "Shares" mean the equal proportionate transferable units of
interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from
time to time or, if more than one series of Shares is authorized by the
Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series of
Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms "Affiliated Person" , "Assignment" , "Commission" ,
"Interested Person" , "Principal Underwriter" and "Majority Shareholder Vote"
(the 67% or 50% requirement of the third sentence of Section 2(a) (42) of the
1940 Act, whichever may be applicable) shall have the meanings given them in the
1940 Act;
(g) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration
of Trust as amended or restated from time to time; and
(h) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors one or more investment
portfolios consisting primarily of securities, including debt instruments or
obligations.
ARTICLE III
SHARES
DIVISION OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
SECTION 1. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more
series as the Trustees may, without shareholder approval, authorize. Each
series shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets
allocated to that series. The beneficial interest in each series shall at all
times be divided into Shares, with or without par value as the Trustee may
specify, each of which shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the
series with each other Share of the same series, none having priority or
preference over another. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited,
and the Shares so authorized may be represented in part by fractional Shares.
The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any series
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into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate
beneficial interests in the series.
OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
SECTION 2. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of
the Trust or its transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the
ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise
determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider
appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares and
similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any
transfer or similar agent of the Trust, as the case may be, shall be conclusive
as to who are the Shareholders of each series and as to the number of Shares of
each series held from time to time by each Shareholder.
INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST; ASSETS OF THE SERIES
SECTION 3. The Trustees may accept investments in the Trust from such
persons and on such terms and, subject to any requirements of law, for such
consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a
combination thereof, as they may from time to time authorize.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of
each series, together with all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation thereof,
and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in
whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to the series of Shares
with respect to which the same were received by the Trust for all purposes,
subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so handled upon the books
of account of the Trust and are herein referred to as "assets of" such series.
NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
SECTION 4. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
receive, purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or other securities
issued by the Trust.
STATUS OF SHARES AND LIMITATION OF PERSONAL LIABILITY
SECTION 5. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only
the rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having
become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the
terms of this Declaration of Trust and to have become a party thereto. The
death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to
terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to
an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or
the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust.
Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the
whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a
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partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership
of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the
Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power
to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein
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.
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEES
ELECTION
SECTION 1. In each year beginning 1987, at the annual meeting of
Shareholders or at any special meeting held in lieu thereof, or at any special
meeting held before 1987, the Shareholders shall elect a Board of not less than
three nor more than fifteen Trustees, each of whom shall serve until the next
annual meeting or special meeting in lieu thereof and until the election and
qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns
or is removed. The number of Trustees to be so elected each year shall be fixed
by the Trustees in advance of the giving of notice of the meeting at which
Trustees are to be elected for such year, or if not so fixed, by vote of the
Shareholders at such meeting. The number of Trustees so fixed may be increased
either by the Shareholders or by the Trustees by a vote of a majority of the
Trustees then in office. The number of Trustees so fixed may be decreased
either by the Shareholders or by the Trustees by vote of a majority of the
Trustees then in office, but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of
the death, resignation or removal of one or more Trustees. The initial
Trustees, each of whom shall serve until the first meeting of Shareholders at
which Trustees are elected and until his or her successor is elected and
qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns or is removed, shall be
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and such other persons as the Trustee or Trustees then in
office shall, prior to any sale of Shares pursuant to public offering, appoint.
By vote of the Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote,
the Shareholders may remove a Trustee with or without cause. By vote of a
majority of the trustees then in office, the Trustees may remove a Trustee for
cause. Any Trustee may, but need not, be a Shareholder.
EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC., OF A TRUSTEE
SECTION 2. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or
incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul the
Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration of Trust.
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POWERS
SECTION 3. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all
powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with
this Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust
and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve
that right to the Shareholders; they may fill vacancies in their number,
including vacancies resulting from increases in their number, and may elect and
remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider
appropriate; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or
more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, including an executive
committee which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all
of the powers and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they
may appoint an advisory board, the members of which shall not be Trustees and
need not be shareholders; they may employ one or more investment advisers or
managers as provided in Section 7 of this Article IV; they may employ one or
more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to
employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system
or systems for the central handling of securities, retain a transfer agent or a
Shareholder services agent, or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by
the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record
dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and
in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of
the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the
Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write
options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(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 the name
of the Trustees or of the Trust or
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in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depositary or a nominee or
nominees or otherwise;
(f) To allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a
particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more series,
provided that any liability or expense incurred by a particular series of Shares
shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series;
(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or property
of which is or was 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;
(h) 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;
(i) 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;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and
any other combinations or associations;
(k) To borrow funds;
(l) 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 such obligations;
(m) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such
insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the
business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets
of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio
investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees, agents, investment advisers or managers, 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 Shareholder, Trustee, officer,
employee, agent, investment adviser or manager, principal underwriter, or
independent
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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 such liability; and
(n) To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by
the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing,
share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans, trusts and provisions, 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.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or
future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees. Except as otherwise
provided herein or from time to time in the By-Laws, any action to be taken by
the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of
Trustees (if a quorum be present), within or without Massachusetts, including
any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
communicate with each other simultaneously and participation by such means shall
constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority
of the Trustees then in office.
PAYMENT OF EXPENSES BY TRUST
SECTION 4. The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid
out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of principal and
partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection
with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees'
compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust's
officers, employees, investment adviser or manager, principal underwriter,
auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder services agent, and
such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges
as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in
connection with a particular series of Shares as determined by the Trustees,
shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series.
SECTION 5. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may
determine, to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for
any and all expenses of the Trust, 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.
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OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST
SECTION 6. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and of
the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION
SECTION 7. Subject to a favorable Majority Shareholder Vote, the
Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or
nonexclusive advisory and/or management services with SEI Financial Services
Company (the "Advisor" ), a Pennsylvania corporation, and/or any other
corporation, trust, association or other organization, every such contract to
comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the
By-Laws; and any such contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or
in addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine,
including, without limitation, authority to determine from time to time 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. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to
time, contract with the Advisor and/or any other corporation, trust, association
or other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or
principal underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws; and any such
contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said
requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a
shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager,
advisor, principal underwriter, or distributor or agent of or for any
corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or of or for any
parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or
management or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract, or
transfer, Shareholder services or other agency 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 corporation, trust, association or other organization with
which an advisory or management or principal underwriter's or distributor's
contract, or transfer, Shareholder services or other agency contract may
have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or management
contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract, or
transfer, Shareholder services or other agency contract with one or more
other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has
other businesses or interests
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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.
ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
VOTING POWERS
SECTION 1. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the
election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) with
respect to any investment advisor or manager as provided in Article IV, Section
7, (iii) with respect to any termination of the Trust or any series to the
extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4, (iv) with respect to any
amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article
IX, Section 7, (v) to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts
business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim
should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action
on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, and (vi) with respect to such
additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, this
Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the
Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may
consider necessary or desirable.
Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it
is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a
proportionate fractional vote. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Declaration of Trust, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all
Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote, shall be voted by individual series;
except (1) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate
and not by individual series; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the
matter affects only the interests of one or more series, then only Shareholders
of such series shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative
voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy.
A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons
shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to the exercise
of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from
any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise
and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of
Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust
or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders.
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VOTING POWER AND MEETINGS
SECTION 2. There shall be an annual meeting of the Shareholders on the
date fixed in the By-Laws at the principal office of the Trust, or at any such
other place within the United States as may be designated in the call thereof,
which call shall be made by the Trustees or the president of the Trust. In the
event that such meeting is not held in any year on the date fixed in the
By-Laws, whether the omission be by oversight or otherwise, a subsequent special
meeting may be called and held in lieu of the annual meeting with the same force
and effect as though held on such date.
Special meetings may also be called and held from time to time for the
purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the
Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees
to be necessary or desirable. Special meetings may be called by the Trustees or
such other person or persons as may be specified in the By-Laws and shall be
called by the Trustees or such other person or persons as may be specified in
the By-Laws upon written application by Shareholders holding at least 25% of the
Shares then outstanding requesting that a meeting be called for a purpose
requiring action by the Shareholders as provided herein or in the By-Laws.
Shareholders shall be entitled to at least seven days' written notice of
any meeting of the Shareholders.
QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE
SECTION 3. A majority of the Shares entitled to vote shall be a quorum
for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting, except that where
any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust permits or requires that
holders of any series shall vote as a series, then a majority of the aggregate
number of Shares of that series entitled to vote shall be necessary to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series. Any lesser
number, however, 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 any provisions of this Declaration
of Trust or the By-Laws, a majority of the Shares voted on any matter shall
decide such matter and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where
any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust permits or requires that
the holders of any series shall vote as a series, then a majority of the Shares
of that series voted on the matter shall decide that matter insofar as that
series is concerned.
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
SECTION 4. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a
meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter (or such
larger vote as shall be required by
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any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws) consent to the action
in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings
of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken
at a meeting of Shareholders.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 5. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders'
votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES,
AND DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 1. The Trustees may, but need not, each year distribute to the
Shareholders of each series such income and gains, accrued or realized, as the
Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and
liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish) determined
in accordance with good accounting practices. The Trustees shall have full
discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items
as capital and their determination shall be binding upon the Shareholders.
Distributions of each year's income of each series, if any be made, may be made
in one or more payments, which shall be in Shares, in cash or otherwise and on a
date or dates determined by the Trustees. At any time and from time to time in
their discretion, the Trustees may distribute to the Shareholders of any one or
more series as of a record date or dates determined by the Trustees, in Shares,
in cash or otherwise, all or part of any gains realized on the sale or
disposition of property of the series or otherwise, or all or part of any other
principal of the Trust attributable to the series. Each distribution pursuant
to this Section 1 shall be made ratably according to the number of Shares of the
series held by the several Shareholders on the applicable record date thereof,
provided that no distributions need be made on Shares purchased pursuant to
orders received, or for which payment is made, after such time or times as the
Trustees may determine. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at
the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with this Declaration of
Trust.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
SECTION 2. Any holder of Shares of the Trust may by presentation of a
written request, together with his certificates, if any, for such Shares, in
proper form for transfer, at the office of the Trust, the Advisor, the
underwriter or the distributors, or at a principal office of a transfer or
Shareholder services agent appointed by the Trust (as the Trustees may
determine), redeem his Shares for the net asset value thereof determined and
computed in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2 and the provisions
of Section 5 of Article VI of this Declaration of Trust, less any redemption
charge which the Trustees may establish.
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Upon receipt by the Trust, the Advisor, the underwriter or the distributor,
or the Trust's transfer or Shareholder services agent of such written request
for redemption of Shares, such Shares shall be redeemed at the net asset value
per share of the particular series next determined after such Shares are
tendered in proper form for transfer to the Trust or determined as of such other
time fixed by the Trustees as may be permitted or required by the 1940 Act,
provided that no such tender shall be required in the case of Shares for which a
certificate or certificates have not been issued, and in such case such Shares
shall be redeemed at the net asset value per share of the particular series next
determined after such demand has been received or determined at such other time
fixed by the Trustees as may be permitted or required by the 0000 Xxx.
The obligation of the Trust to redeem its Shares of each series as set
forth above in this Section 2 shall be subject to the conditions that during any
time of emergency, as hereinafter defined, such obligation may be suspended by
the Trust by or under authority of the Trustees for such period or periods
during such time of emergency as shall be determined by or under authority of
the Trustees. If there is such a suspension, any Shareholder may withdraw any
demand for redemption and any tender of Shares which has been received by the
Trust during any such period and any tender of Shares the applicable net asset
value of which would but for such suspension be calculated as of a time during
such period. Upon such withdrawal, the Trust shall return to the Shareholder
the certificates therefor, if any. For the purposes of any such suspension
"time of emergency" shall mean, either with respect to all Shares or any series
of Shares, any period during which:
a. the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than for customary
weekend and holiday closings; or
b. the Trustees or authorized officers of the Trust shall have
determined, in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, either that trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
restricted, or that an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal
by the Trust of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or
(ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the
current value of its net assets; or
c. the suspension or postponement of such obligations is permitted
by order of the Commission.
The Trust may also purchase, repurchase or redeem shares in accordance with
such other methods, upon such other terms and subject to such other conditions
as the Trustees may from time to time authorize at a price not exceeding the net
asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any
contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
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PAYMENT IN KIND
SECTION 3. Subject to any generally applicable limitation imposed by
the Trustees, any payment on redemption, purchase or repurchase by the Trust of
Shares may, if authorized by the Trustees, be made wholly or partly in kind,
instead of in cash. Such payment in kind shall be made by distributing
securities or other property, constituting, in the opinion of the Trustees, a
fair representation of the various types of securities and other property then
held by the series of Shares being redeemed, purchased or repurchased (but not
necessarily involving a portion of each of the series' holdings) and taken at
their value used in determining the net asset value of the Shares in respect of
which payment is made.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
SECTION 4. The completion of redemption, purchase or repurchase of
Shares shall constitute a full discharge of the Trust and the Trustees with
respect to such Shares and the Trustees may require that any certificate or
certificates issued by the Trust to evidence the ownership of such Shares shall
be surrendered to the Trustees for cancellation or notation.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
SECTION 5. The term "net asset value" of the Shares of each series
shall mean: (i) the value of all the assets of such series; (ii) less total
liabilities of such series; (iii) divided by the number of Shares of such series
outstanding, in each case at the time of each determination. The "number of
Shares of such series outstanding" for the purposes of such computation shall
be exclusive of any Shares of such series to be redeemed, purchased or
repurchased by the Trust and not then redeemed, purchased or repurchased as to
which the price has been determined, but shall include Shares of such series
presented for redemption, purchase or repurchase by the Trust and not then
redeemed, purchased or repurchased as to which the price has not been determined
and Shares of such series the sale of which has been confirmed. Any fractions
involved in the computation of net asset value per share shall be adjusted to
the nearer cent unless the Trustees shall determine to adjust such fractions to
a fraction of a cent.
The Trustees, or any officer, or officers or agent of the Trust designated
for the purpose by the Trustees shall determine the net asset value of the
Shares of each series, and the Trustees shall fix the times as of which the net
asset value of the Shares of each series shall be determined and shall fix the
periods during which any such net asset value shall be effective as to sales,
redemptions and repurchases of, and other transactions in, the Shares of such
series, except as such times and periods for any such transaction may be fixed
by other provisions of this Declaration of Trust or by the By-Laws.
In valuing the portfolio investments of any series for determination of net
asset value per Share of such series, securities for which market quotations are
readily available shall be valued at
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prices which, in the opinion of the Trustees or any officer, or officers or
agent of the Trust designated for the purpose by the Trustees, most nearly
represent the market value of such securities which may, but need not, be the
most recent bid price obtained from one or more of the market makers for such
securities; other securities and assets shall be valued at fair value as
determined by or pursuant to the direction of the Trustees. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, short-term debt obligations, commercial paper, and repurchase
agreements may be, but need not be, valued on the basis of quoted yields for
securities of comparable maturity, quality and type, or on the basis of
amortized cost. In the determination of net asset value of any series,
dividends receivable and accounts receivable for investments sold and for Shares
sold shall be stated at the amounts to be received therefor; and income
receivable accrued daily on bonds and notes owned shall be stated at the amount
to be received. Any other assets shall be stated at fair value as determined by
the Trustees or such officer, officers or agent pursuant to the Trustees'
authority, except that no value shall be assigned to good will, furniture,
lists, reports, statistics or other noncurrent assets other than real estate.
Liabilities of any series for accounts payable, for investments purchased and
for Shares tendered for redemption, purchase or repurchase by the Trust and not
then redeemed, purchased or repurchased as to which the price has been
determined shall be stated at the amounts payable therefor. In determining net
asset value of any series, the person or persons making such determination on
behalf of the Trust may include in liabilities such reserves, estimated accrued
expenses and contingencies as such person or persons may in its, his or their
best judgment deem fair and reasonable under the circumstances. Any income
dividends and gains distributions payable by the Trust shall be deducted as of
such time or times on the record date therefor as the Trustees shall determine.
The manner of determining the net assets of any series or of determining
the net asset value of the Shares of any series may from time to time be altered
as necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Trustees to conform to any
other method prescribed or permitted by any applicable law or regulation or
generally accepted accounting practice.
Determinations in accordance with Section 5 made in good faith shall be
binding on all parties concerned.
REDEMPTIONS AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST
SECTION 6. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time
to redeem Shares at the net asset value thereof (i) if such Shares are not held
in an account of a customer of the Advisor or an affiliated person of the
Advisor or in such other account as the Trustees may determine from time to
time; (ii) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer Shares than, or Shares
having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time
to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares
of a particular series of Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the
outstanding Shares of that series determined from time to time by the Trustees;
or (iv) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust
representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the
aggregate number
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of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust
determined from time to time by the Trustees.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
SECTION 7. No dividend or distribution (including, without limitation,
any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any series) with
respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any series shall
be effected by the Trust other than from the assets of such series.
ARTICLE VII
COMPENSATION AND LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES
COMPENSATION
SECTION 1. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their 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.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
SECTION 2. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event
for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, investment
advisor or manager, principal underwriter or custodian, nor shall any Trustee be
responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein
contained shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or
her office.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate, Share or undertaking
and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the
Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to
their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or
Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Article, every
person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be
indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent
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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 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
settlement thereof.
No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or officer:
(a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason
of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the
proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved
in the conduct of his office;
(b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally
adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that his action was in the best interests of the Trust;
(c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a
final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting
in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has been either 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 by the court or other
body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable
determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that he did not engage in such
conduct:
(i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting
on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested
Trustees then in office act on the matter); or
(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.
The rights of indemnification hereinafter provided may be insured against
by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any
other rights to which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled,
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to
which Trust personnel other than Trustees and officers may be entitled by
contract or otherwise under law.
Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action,
suit or proceeding of the character described in the next to the last paragraph
of this Article shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition
thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay
such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to
indemnification under this Article, provided that either:
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(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other
appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses
arising out of any such advances; or
(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter
(provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office
act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion
shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts
(as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to
believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
As used in this Article, a "Disinterested Trustee" is one (i) who is not
an "interested person" of the Trust (as defined by the 0000 Xxx) (including
anyone who has been exempted from being an "interested person" by any rule,
regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission), and (ii) against
whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or
other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.
As used in this Article, the words "claim" , "action" , "suit" or
"proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil,
criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words
"liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees,
costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other
liabilities.
In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be
personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a
Shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or
other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be
held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from
such liability, but only out of the assets of the particular series of Shares of
which he or she is or was a Shareholder.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
TRUSTEES, SHAREHOLDERS, ETC., NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE; NOTICE
SECTION 1. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having
any claim against the Trust or a particular series of Shares shall look only to
the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular series of Shares for
payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor
the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether
past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this
Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which
such Trustee would otherwise be
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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.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that this
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on
behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or officer
and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding
upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the
assets and property of the Trust, and may contain such further recital as he or
she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to
bind any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or
Shareholder individually.
TRUSTEES' GOOD FAITH ACTION, EXPERT ADVICE, NO BOND OR SURETY
SECTION 2. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions
hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable
for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and
for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of
fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with
respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be
under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for
failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any
bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
LIABILITY OF THIRD PERSONS DEALING WITH TRUSTEES
SECTION 3. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make
any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the
Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property
transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
SECTION 4. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall
continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by
vote of Shareholders holding at least a majority of the Shares entitled to vote
or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any series of Shares
may be terminated at any time by vote of Shareholders holding at least a
majority of the Shares of such series entitled to vote or by the Trustees by
written notice to the Shareholders of such series.
Upon termination of the Trust or of 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
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remaining assets to distributable form in cash or Shares 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 termination.
FILING OF COPIES, REFERENCES, HEADINGS
SECTION 5. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each
amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be
inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment
hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental
office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with
the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or
not any such amendments 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 of the Trust to be a copy of this
instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such
amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like "herein" ,
"hereof" , and "hereunder" , shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as
amended from time to time. Headings are placed herein for convenience of
reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the
meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be
executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an
original.
APPLICABLE LAW
SECTION 6. This Declaration of Trust is made in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed
and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be
of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting
the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily
exercised by such a trust.
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 7. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an
instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized
so to do by vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to
vote, except that an amendment which shall affect the holders of one or more
series of Shares but not the holders of all outstanding series shall be
authorized by vote of the Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled
to vote of each series affected and no vote of Shareholders of a series not
affected shall be required. Amendments having the purpose of changing the name
of the Trust or of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing,
correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained
herein shall not require authorization by Shareholder vote.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal in
the City of Boston, Massachusetts for himself and his assigns, as of the day
and year first above written.
/s/X. X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss. Boston March 6, 1985
Then personally appeared the above-named Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, and acknowledged
the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed, before me,
/s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Notary Public
My commission expires: November 7, 1988
(Notary's Seal)
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