PIONEER EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND
AGREEMENT AND
DECLARATION OF TRUST
This AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made on August 3, 2004 by
the undersigned trustees (together with all other persons from time to time duly
elected, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of
Article II hereof, the "Trustees");
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees declare that all money and property
contributed to the Trust shall be held and managed in trust pursuant to this
Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Name. The name of the Trust created by this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust is "Pioneer Equity
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Opportunity Fund."
Section 2. Definitions. Unless otherwise provided or required by the context:
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(a) "Administrator" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Article III, Section 3 hereof.
(b) "By-laws" means the By-laws of the Trust adopted by the Trustees,
as amended from time to time, which By-laws are expressly herein incorporated by
reference as part of the "governing instrument" within the meaning of the
Delaware Act.
(c) "Class" means the class of Shares of a Series established pursuant
to Article V.
(d) "Commission," "Interested Person" and "Principal Underwriter" have
the meanings provided in the 1940 Act. Except as such term may be otherwise
defined by the Trustees in conjunction with the establishment of any Series of
Shares, the term "vote of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to
vote" shall have the same meaning as is assigned to the term "vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities" in the 1940 Act.
(e) "Covered Person" means a person so defined in Article IV, Section
3.
(f) "Custodian" means any Person other than the Trust who has custody
of any Trust Property as required by Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act, but does not
include a system for the central handling of securities described in said
Section 17(f).
(g) "Declaration" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
as amended or restated from time to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust
to "Declaration," "hereof," "herein," and "hereunder" shall be deemed to refer
to this Declaration rather than exclusively to the article or section in which
such words appear.
(h) "Delaware Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code
entitled "Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts," as amended from time to time.
(i) "Distributor" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
(j) "His" shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the
masculine, genders.
(k) "Investment Adviser" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Article III, Section 2 hereof.
(l) "Net Asset Value" means the net asset value of each Series of the
Trust, determined as provided in Article VI, Section 3.
(m) "Person" means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities,
and governments and agencies and political subdivisions, thereof, whether
domestic or foreign.
(n) "Series" means a series of Shares established pursuant to Article
V.
(o) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares;
(p) "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units of
interest into which the beneficial interest of each Series or Class is divided
from time to time (including whole Shares and fractions of Shares). "Outstanding
Shares" means Shares shown in the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as
then issued and outstanding, but does not include Shares which have been
repurchased or redeemed by the Trust and which are held in the treasury of the
Trust.
(q) "Transfer Agent" means any Person other than the Trust who
maintains the Shareholder records of the Trust, such as the list of
Shareholders, the number of Shares credited to each account, and the like.
(r) "Trust" means Pioneer Equity Opportunity Fund established hereby,
and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or more Series, refers to
that Series.
(s) "Trustees" means the person who has signed this Declaration of
Trust, so long as he shall continue in office in accordance with the terms
hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly qualified and
serving as Trustees in accordance with Article II, in all cases in their
capacities as Trustees hereunder.
(t) "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the Trust or any Series
or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series.
(u) The "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time.
ARTICLE II
THE TRUSTEES
Section 1. Management of the Trust. The business and affairs of the
Trust shall be managed by or under the direction of the Trustees, and they shall
have all powers necessary or desirable to carry out that responsibility. The
Trustees may execute all instruments and take all action they deem necessary or
desirable to promote the interests of the Trust. Any determination made by the
Trustees in good faith as to what is in the interests of the Trust shall be
conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption
shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
Section 2. Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as
principals, free of the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have
full power and authority to take or refrain from taking any action and to
execute any contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or
desirable in the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be
bound or limited by current or future laws or customs applicable to trust
investments, but shall have full power and authority to make any investments
which they, in their sole discretion, deem proper to accomplish the purposes of
the Trust. The Trustees may exercise all of their powers without recourse to any
court or other authority. Subject to any applicable limitation herein or in the
By-laws or resolutions of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and
authority, without limitation:
(a) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company,
and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such
operations.
(b) To invest in, hold for investment, or reinvest in, cash;
securities, including common, preferred and preference stocks; warrants;
subscription rights; profit-sharing interests or participations and all other
contracts for or evidence of equity interests; bonds, debentures, bills, time
notes and all other evidences of indebtedness; negotiable or non-negotiable
instruments; government securities, including securities of any state,
municipality or other political subdivision thereof, or any governmental or
quasi-governmental agency or instrumentality; and money market instruments
including bank certificates of deposit, finance paper, commercial paper,
bankers' acceptances and all kinds of repurchase agreements, of any corporation,
company, trust, association, firm or other business organization however
established, and of any country, state, municipality or other political
subdivision, or any governmental or quasi-governmental agency or
instrumentality; or any other security, property or instrument in which the
Trust or any of its Series shall be authorized to invest.
(c) To acquire (by purchase, subscription or otherwise), to hold, to
trade in and deal in, to acquire any rights or options to purchase or sell, to
sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend and to pledge any such securities, to
enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment
agreements and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, to purchase and sell
options on securities, securities indices, currency and other financial assets,
futures contracts and options on futures contracts of all descriptions and to
engage in all types of hedging and risk-management transactions.
(d) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or
interest in all securities and repurchase agreements included in the Trust
Property, including the right to vote thereon and otherwise act with respect
thereto and to do all acts for the preservation, protection, improvement and
enhancement in value of all such securities and repurchase agreements.
(e) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use,
maintain, develop and dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or
personal, including cash or foreign currency, and any interest therein.
(f) To borrow money or other property in the name of the Trust
exclusively for Trust purposes and in this connection issue notes or other
evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or
otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; and to endorse, guarantee,
or undertake the performance of any obligation or engagement of any other Person
and to lend Trust Property.
(g) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust,
association or firm, any obligation of or interest in which is included in the
Trust Property or in the affairs of which the Trustees have any direct or
indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect, preserve,
improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest; and to guarantee or
become surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures
and other obligations of any such corporation, company, trust, association or
firm.
(h) To adopt By-laws not inconsistent with this Declaration providing
for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the
extent such right is not reserved to the Shareholders.
(i) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they deem appropriate.
(j) To employ as custodian of any assets of the Trust, subject to any
provisions herein or in the By-laws, one or more banks, trust companies or
companies that are members of a national securities exchange, or other entities
permitted by the Commission to serve as such.
(k) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing
agents, or both.
(l) To provide for the distribution of Shares either through a
Principal Underwriter as provided herein or by the Trust itself, or both, or
pursuant to a distribution plan of any kind.
(m) To set record dates in the manner provided for herein or in the
By-laws.
(n) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any
officers of the Trust and to any agent, independent contractor, manager,
investment adviser, custodian or underwriter.
(o) To hold any security or other property (i) in a form not indicating
any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form,
or (ii) either in the Trust's or Trustees' own name or in the name of a
custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject to safeguards according to the usual
practice of statutory trusts or investment companies.
(p) 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, all in accordance with the provisions of Article V.
(q) To the full extent permitted by Section 3804 of the Delaware Act,
to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series
and assets, liabilities and expenses to a particular Class or to apportion the
same between or among two (2) 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 V, Section 4.
(r) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern whose securities are held
by the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of
property by such corporation or concern; and to pay calls or subscriptions with
respect to any security held in the Trust.
(s) 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.
(t) To make distributions of income, capital gains, returns of capital
(if any) and redemption proceeds to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter
provided for.
(u) To establish committees for such purposes, with such membership,
and with such responsibilities as the Trustees may consider proper, including a
committee consisting of fewer than all of the Trustees then in office, which may
act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust with respect to the institution,
prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any legal action,
suit or proceeding, pending or threatened.
(v) To issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, cancel, retire, acquire, hold,
resell, reissue, dispose of and otherwise deal in Shares; to establish terms and
conditions regarding the issuance, sale, repurchase, redemption, cancellation,
retirement, acquisition, holding, resale, reissuance, disposition of or dealing
in Shares; and, subject to Articles V and VI, to apply to any such repurchase,
redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or
property of the Trust or of the particular Series with respect to which such
Shares are issued.
(w) To invest part or all of the Trust Property (or part or all of the
assets of any Series), or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property (or
part or all of the assets of any Series) and invest the proceeds of such
disposition, in securities issued by one or more other investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act all without any requirement of approval by
Shareholders. Any such other investment company may (but need not) be a trust
(formed under the laws of the State of New York or of any other state) which is
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(x) To carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to
any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary or desirable to
accomplish any purpose or to further any of the foregoing powers, and to take
every other action incidental to the foregoing business or purposes, objects or
powers.
(y) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject
to Article IX, Section 4.
(z) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and other combinations
and associations.
(aa) 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.
(bb) 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, subject to applicable law and any restrictions set forth in
the By-laws, 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 Shares, 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.
(cc) 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.
(dd) To enter into contracts of any kind and description.
(ee) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of
any Series or Class.
(ff) To guarantee indebtedness and contractual obligations of others.
The clauses above shall be construed as objects and powers, and the
enumeration of specific powers shall not limit in any way the general powers of
the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as
such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the
applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity. No one dealing
with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning
the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any payments made
or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order. In construing this
Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Trustees.
Section 3. Certain Transactions. Except as prohibited by applicable
law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell
any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of
the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as
principal, or have any such dealings with any investment adviser, administrator,
distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of
such person. The Trust may employ any such person or entity in which such person
is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment
adviser, administrator, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent,
custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.
Section 4. Initial Trustees; Election and Number of Trustees. The
initial Trustees shall be the persons initially signing this Declaration. The
number of Trustees (other than the initial Trustees) shall be fixed from time to
time by a majority of the Trustees; provided, that there shall be at least one
(1) Trustee and no more than fifteen (15). The Shareholders shall elect the
Trustees (other than the initial Trustees) on such dates as the Trustees may fix
from time to time.
Section 5. Term of Office of Trustees. Each Trustee shall hold office
for life or until his successor is elected or the Trust terminates; except that
(a) any Trustee may resign by delivering to the other Trustees or to any Trust
officer a written resignation effective upon such delivery or a later date
specified therein; (b) any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any
time by a written instrument signed by at least a majority of the then Trustees,
specifying the effective date of removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be
retired, or who is declared bankrupt or has become physically or mentally
incapacitated or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by a written
instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the effective
date of retirement; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the
Shareholders by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares.
Section 6. Vacancies; Appointment of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy shall
exist in the Board of Trustees, regardless of the reason for such vacancy, the
remaining Trustees shall appoint any person as they determine in their sole
discretion to fill that vacancy, consistent with the limitations under the 1940
Act. Such appointment shall be made by a written instrument signed by a majority
of the Trustees or by a resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted and recorded in
the records of the Trust, specifying the effective date of the appointment. The
Trustees may appoint a new Trustee as provided above in anticipation of a
vacancy expected to occur because of the retirement, resignation or removal of a
Trustee, or an increase in number of Trustees, provided that such appointment
shall become effective only at or after the expected vacancy occurs. As soon as
any such Trustee has accepted his appointment in writing, the trust estate shall
vest in the new Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any
further act or conveyance, and he shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. The
Trustees' power of appointment is subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.
Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is
filled as provided in this Article II, the Trustees in office, regardless of
their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall
discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by the Declaration. The
death, declination to serve, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of
one or more Trustees, or all 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.
Section 7. Temporary Vacancy or Absence. Whenever a vacancy in the
Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, or while any
Trustee is absent from his domicile (unless that Trustee has made arrangements
to be informed about, and to participate in, the affairs of the Trust during
such absence), or is physically or mentally incapacitated, the remaining
Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and their certificate as to such
vacancy, absence, or incapacity shall be conclusive. Any Trustee may, by power
of attorney, delegate his powers as Trustee for a period not exceeding six (6)
months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees.
Section 8. Chairman. The Trustees shall appoint one of their number to
be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings
of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the execution of policies established
by the Trustees and the administration of the Trust, and may be the chief
executive, financial and/or accounting officer of the Trust.
Section 9. Action by the Trustees. (a) The Trustees shall act by
majority vote at a meeting duly called at which a quorum is present, including a
meeting held by conference telephone, teleconference or other electronic media
or communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can communicate with each other; or by written consent of a majority of
Trustees (or such greater number as may be required by applicable law) without a
meeting. A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
Meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the President or
by any one of the Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all Trustees'
meetings shall be given to each Trustee as set forth in the By-laws; provided,
however, that no notice is required if the Trustees provide for regular or
stated meetings. Notice need not be given to any Trustee who attends the meeting
without objecting to the lack of notice or who signs a waiver of notice either
before or after the meeting. The Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any
Trustee or Trustees or committee authority to approve particular matters or take
particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Any written consent or waiver may be
provided and delivered to the Trust by facsimile or other similar electronic
mechanism.
(b) A Trustee who with respect to the Trust is not an Interested Person
shall be deemed to be independent and disinterested when making any
determinations or taking any action as a Trustee, whether pursuant to the 1940
Act, the Delaware Act or otherwise.
Section 10. Ownership of Trust Property. The Trust Property of the
Trust and of each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or
hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees
or any successor Trustees. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the
assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust,
except that the Trustees may cause legal title in and beneficial ownership of
any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of one or more of the Trustees
acting for and on behalf of the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee
acting for and on behalf of the Trust. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a
severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or of any Series or any
right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, as
provided in Article V, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the
Trust or Series or Class thereof represented by Shares. The Shares shall be
personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this trust
instrument. The Trust, or at the determination of one or more of the Trustees or
a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold legal
title and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of the Trust
issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under the laws of
any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country. Upon the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee,
he shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall
require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any
Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the
incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and
deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as
provided in the preceding sentence.
Section 11. Effect of Trustees Not Serving. The death, resignation,
retirement, removal, incapacity or inability or refusal to serve 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.
Section 12. Trustees, etc. as Shareholders. Subject to any restrictions
in the By-laws, any Trustee, officer, agent or independent contractor of the
Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as any other
Shareholder; the Trustees may issue and sell Shares to and buy Shares from any
such person or any firm or company in which such person is interested, subject
only to any general limitations herein.
Section 13. Series Trustees. In connection with the establishment of
one or more Series or Classes, the Trustees establishing such Series or Class
may appoint, to the extent permitted by the Delaware Act, separate Trustees with
respect to such Series or Classes (the "Series Trustees"). Series Trustees may,
but are not required to, serve as Trustees of the Trust or any other Series or
Class of the Trust. The Series Trustees shall have, to the exclusion of any
other Trustee of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees hereunder
with respect to such Series or Class, but shall have no power or authority with
respect to any other Series or Class. Any provision of this Declaration relating
to election of Trustees by Shareholders only shall entitle the Shareholders of a
Series or Class for which Series Trustees have been appointed to vote with
respect to the election of such Series Trustees and the Shareholders of any
other Series or Class shall not be entitled to participate in such vote. In the
event that Series Trustees are appointed, the Trustees initially appointing such
Series Trustees shall, without the approval of any Outstanding Shares, amend
either the Declaration or the By-laws to provide for the respective
responsibilities of the Trustees and the Series Trustees in circumstances where
an action of the Trustees or Series Trustees affects all Series of the Trust or
two (2) or more Series represented by different Trustees.
ARTICLE III
CONTRACTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
Section 1. Underwriting Contract. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive distribution contract
or contracts providing for the sale of the Shares whereby the Trustees may
either agree to sell the Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint
such other party as their sales agent for the Shares, and in either case on such
terms and conditions, if any, as may be prescribed in the By-laws, and such
further terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III or of the By-laws; and
such contract may also provide for the repurchase of the Shares by such other
party as agent of the Trustees.
Section 2. Advisory or Management Contract. The Trustees may in their
discretion from time to time enter into one or more investment advisory or
management contracts or, if the Trustees establish multiple Series, separate
investment advisory or management contracts with respect to one or more Series
whereby the other party or parties to any such contracts shall undertake to
furnish the Trust or such Series management, investment advisory,
administration, accounting, legal, statistical and research facilities and
services, promotional or marketing activities, and such other facilities and
services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and
all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Declaration, the Trustees may
authorize the Investment Advisers or persons to whom the Investment Adviser
delegates certain or all of their duties, or any of them, under any such
contracts (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may
from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans or exchanges of
portfolio securities and other investments of the Trust on behalf of the
Trustees or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such
purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of such
Investment Advisers, or any of them (and all without further action by the
Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed to
have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
Section 3. Administration Agreement. The Trustees may in their
discretion from time to time enter into an administration agreement or, if the
Trustees establish multiple Series or Classes, separate administration
agreements with respect to each Series or Class, whereby the other party to such
agreement shall undertake to manage the business affairs of the Trust or of a
Series or Class thereof of the Trust and furnish the Trust or a Series or a
Class thereof with office facilities, and shall be responsible for the ordinary
clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities, and
other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions as
the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
Section 4. Service Agreement. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into service agreements with respect to one or more Series or
Classes of Shares whereby the other parties to such Service Agreements will
provide administration and/or support services pursuant to administration plans
and service plans, and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees in
their discretion may determine.
Section 5. Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract
whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish transfer
agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall have such terms
and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more
Persons.
Section 6. Custodian. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one
or more banks or trust companies, each having aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least two
million dollars ($2,000,000), or any other entity satisfying the requirements of
the 1940 Act, to serve as Custodian with authority as its agent, but subject to
such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be
contained in the By-laws of the Trust. The Trustees may also authorize the
Custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians, including such foreign banks and
securities depositories as meet the requirements of applicable provisions of the
1940 Act, and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the
Custodian and such sub-custodian, to hold securities and other assets of the
Trust and to perform the acts and services of the Custodian, subject to
applicable provisions of law and resolutions adopted by the Trustees.
Section 7. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that:
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(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust
or any Series thereof is a shareholder, director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of
or for any partnership, corporation, trust, association or
other organization or of or for any parent or affiliate of any
organization, with which a contract of the character described
in this Article III or for services as Custodian, Transfer
Agent or disbursing agent or for related services may have
been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization,
or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has
an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other
organization with which a contract of the character described
in Sections 1, 2, 3 or 4 of this Article III or for services
as Custodian, Transfer Agent or disbursing agent or for
related services may have been or may hereafter be made also
has any one or more of such contracts with one or more other
partnerships, corporations, trusts, associations or other
organizations, or has other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may fix the amount of such
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. All persons contracting with or
having any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look
only to the assets of all Series or such particular Series for payment
under such contract or claim; and neither the Trustees nor, when acting
in such capacity, any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents,
whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Every written instrument or obligation on behalf of the Trust or any
Series shall contain a statement to the foregoing effect, but the
absence of such statement shall not operate to make any Trustee or
officer of the Trust liable thereunder. Provided they have exercised
reasonable care and have acted under the reasonable belief that their
actions are in the best interest of the Trust, the Trustees and
officers of the Trust shall not be responsible or liable for any act or
omission or for neglect or wrongdoing of them or any officer, agent,
employee, investment adviser or independent contractor of the Trust,
but nothing contained in this Declaration or in the Delaware Act shall
protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against liability to the
Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Section 3. Indemnification. (a) Subject to the exceptions and
limitations contained in subsection (b) below:
(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee
or agent of the Trust (including any individual who serves at its
request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another
organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or
otherwise) ("Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the Trust or the
appropriate Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against
liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him
in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he
becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or
having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by
him in the settlement thereof; and
(ii) as used herein, the words "claim," "action," "suit," or
"proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings
(civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened,
and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the
proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its
Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct
of his office, or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable
belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a
determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his office; (A) by the court or other
body approving the settlement; (B) by at least a majority of those
Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are
parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts
(as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); (C) by written opinion of
independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) or (D) by a vote of a
majority of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote (excluding any
Outstanding Shares owned of record or beneficially by such individual).
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured
against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall
not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered
Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit
of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in
connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any
claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described in
subsection (a) of this Section may be paid by the Trust or applicable
Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that
such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series
if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to
indemnification under this Section; provided, however, that either (i)
such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such
undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of
any such advance payments or (iii) either a majority of the Trustees
who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the
matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have
determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed
to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such
Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this
Section.
(e) Any repeal or modification of this Article IV by the Shareholders,
or adoption or modification of any other provision of the Declaration
or By-laws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only,
to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied
retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of
any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person
with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such
repeal, modification or adoption.
Section 4. Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or
former Shareholder of any Series shall be held personally liable solely
by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder and not because of
his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or
former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other
legal representatives or in the case of any entity, its general
successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the
applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all
loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of
the affected Series, shall, upon request by such Shareholder, assume
the defense of any claim made against such Shareholder for any act or
obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the
assets of the Series.
Section 5. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated
to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
Section 6. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc.
No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees
or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof shall be
bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting
to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable
for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the
order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation,
contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a
Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed
in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been
executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees
under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of
the Trust or a Series thereof. Every written obligation, contract, instrument,
certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof or
undertaking made or issued by the Trustees may recite that the same is executed
or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the Declaration, and
that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof under any such instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually, but bind
only the Trust Property or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, and may
contain any further recital which they may deem appropriate, but the omission of
such recital shall not operate to bind the Trustees individually. The Trustees
shall at all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property
or the Trust Property of the applicable Series, its Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem
adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the
Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 7. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee, officer or employee
of the Trust or a Series thereof shall, in the performance of his duties, powers
and discretions hereunder be fully and completely justified and protected with
regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith
upon the books of account or other records of the Trust or a Series thereof,
upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust or a Series
thereof by any of its officers or employees or by the Investment Adviser, the
Administrator, the Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants,
appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the
Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel
or expert may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE V
SERIES; CLASSES; SHARES
Section 1. Establishment of Series or Class. The Trust shall consist of
one or more Series. Without limiting the authority of the Trustees to establish
and designate any further Series, the Trustees hereby establish one Series which
shall be designated Pioneer Equity Opportunity Fund. Each additional Series
shall be established and is effective upon the adoption of a resolution of a
majority of the Trustees or any alternative date specified in such resolution.
The Trustees may designate the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of
each Series. The Trustees may divide the Shares of any Series into Classes.
Without limiting the authority of the Trustees to establish and designate any
further Classes, the Trustees hereby establish five (5) Classes of Shares which
shall be designated Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class Y Shares. The
Classes of Shares of the existing Series herein established and designated and
any Shares of any further Series and Classes that may from time to time be
established and designated by the Trustees shall be established and designated,
and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the
different Series shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees; provided, that
all Shares shall be identical except for such variations as shall be fixed and
determined between different Series or Classes by the Trustees in establishing
and designating such Class or Series. In connection therewith with respect to
the existing Classes, the purchase price, the method of determining the net
asset value, and the relative dividend rights of holders shall be as set forth
in the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of
1933 and/or the 1940 Act and as in effect at the time of issuing Shares of the
existing Classes.
All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to be
Shares of any or all Series or Classes as the context may require. The Trust
shall maintain separate and distinct records for each Series and hold and
account for the assets thereof separately from the other assets of the Trust or
of any other Series. A Series may issue any number of Shares or any Class
thereof and need not issue Shares. Each Share of a Series shall represent an
equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of
Shares of a Series or a Class thereof shall be entitled to receive his pro rata
share of all distributions made with respect to such Series or Class. Upon
redemption of his Shares, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds
and property of such Series. The Trustees may adopt and change the name of any
Series or Class.
Section 2. Shares. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be
divided into transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series or
Classes established by the Trustees. The number of Shares of each Series and
Class is unlimited and each Share shall have no par value per Share or such
other amount as the Trustees may establish. All Shares issued hereunder shall be
fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole
discretion and without obtaining Shareholder approval, to issue original or
additional Shares at such times and on such terms and conditions as they deem
appropriate; to issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury; to
establish and to change in any manner Shares of any Series or Classes with such
preferences, terms of conversion, voting powers, rights and privileges as the
Trustees may determine (but the Trustees may not change Outstanding Shares in a
manner materially adverse to the Shareholders of such Shares); to divide or
combine the Shares of any Series or Classes into a greater or lesser number; to
classify or reclassify any unissued Shares of any Series or Classes into one or
more Series or Classes of Shares; to abolish any one or more Series or Classes
of Shares; to issue Shares to acquire other assets (including assets subject to,
and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses; and to
take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem
desirable. Shares held in the treasury shall not confer any voting rights on the
Trustees and shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions
declared with respect to the Shares.
Section 3. Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept
investments in any Series or Class from such persons and on such terms as they
may from time to time authorize. At the Trustees' discretion, such investments,
subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which
that Series is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article VI, Section
3. Investments in a Series shall be credited to each Shareholder's account in
the form of full Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after
the investment is received or accepted as may be determined by the Trustees;
provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) impose a
sales charge upon investments in any Series or Class, (b) issue fractional
Shares, (c) determine the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital
contribution or (d) authorize the issuance of Shares at a price other than Net
Asset Value to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, order or
interpretation of the Commission thereunder. The Trustees shall have the right
to refuse to accept investments in any Series at any time without any cause or
reason therefor whatsoever.
Section 4. Assets and Liabilities of Series. All consideration received
by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together
with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all
income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof (including any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may
be), shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets of every other
Series and are referred to as "assets belonging to" that Series. The assets
belonging to a Series shall belong only to that Series for all purposes, and to
no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series. Any
assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments
which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall
be allocated by the Trustees between and among one or more Series as the
Trustees deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes, and such assets,
earnings, income, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds thereof shall be
referred to as assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a Series
shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust, and shall be held by the
Trustees in trust for the benefit of the Shareholders of that Series. The assets
belonging to a Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that Series and
all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, except
that liabilities and expenses allocated solely to a particular Class shall be
borne by that Class. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or
reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series or Class shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees
between or among any one or more of the Series or Classes in such manner as the
Trustees deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders of all Series or Classes for all purposes.
Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the right of the
Trustees to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves
as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred,
contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall
be enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not against the
assets of any other Series. Notice of this contractual limitation on liabilities
among Series may, in the Trustees' discretion, be set forth in the certificate
of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be
filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant
to the Delaware Act, and upon the giving of such notice in the certificate of
trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to
limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory effect under Section
3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become
applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to,
contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the
assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, with respect to that
Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on
or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.
Section 5. Ownership and Transfer of Shares. The Trust or a Transfer
Agent or similar agent for the Trust shall maintain a register containing the
names and addresses of the Shareholders of each Series and Class thereof, the
number of Shares of each Series and Class held by such Shareholders, and a
record of all Share transfers. The register shall be conclusive as to the
identity of Shareholders of record and the number of Shares held by them from
time to time. The Trustees may authorize the issuance of certificates
representing Shares and adopt rules governing their use. The Trustees may make
rules governing the transfer of Shares, whether or not represented by
certificates. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be
transferable on the books of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by
his duly authorized agent upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust's Transfer
Agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share
certificate if one is outstanding, and such evidence or the genuineness of each
such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by
the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and subject to any further requirements
specified by the Trustees or contained in the By-laws, the transfer shall be
recorded on the books of the Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the
Shareholder of record of Shares shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares
for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any
transfer agent or registrar or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust,
shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.
Section 6. Status of Shares; Limitation of Shareholder Liability.
Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving Shareholders only the
rights provided in this Declaration. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having
acquired a Share, shall be held expressly to have assented to and agreed to be
bound by the terms of this Declaration and to have become a party hereto. No
Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations
and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to,
the Trust or any Series. The death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or
bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate
to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such Shareholder
to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust
or the Trustees, but entitles such representative only to the rights of such
Shareholder 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 partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor
shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners. Neither
the Trust nor the Trustees shall have any power to bind any Shareholder
personally or to demand payment from any Shareholder for anything, other than as
agreed by the Shareholder. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of
personal liability as is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for
profit incorporated in the State of Delaware. Every written obligation of the
Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the effect that such obligation
may only be enforced against the assets of the appropriate Series or all Series;
however, the omission of such statement shall not operate to bind or create
personal liability for any Shareholder or Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees or a committee of one or more
Trustees and one or more officers may declare and pay dividends and other
distributions, including dividends on Shares of a particular Series and other
distributions from the assets belonging to that Series. No dividend or
distribution, including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon
termination of the Trust or of any Series (or Class) with respect to, nor any
redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or Class) shall be
effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such
Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any
right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except
to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a
Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have full discretion to
determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and
each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders. The amount and payment of dividends or distributions and their
form, whether they are in cash, Shares or other Trust Property, shall be
determined by the Trustees. Dividends and other distributions may be paid
pursuant to a standing resolution adopted once or more often as the Trustees
determine. All dividends and other distributions on Shares of a particular
Series shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of that Series in
proportion to the number of Shares of that Series they held on the record date
established for such payment, except that such dividends and distributions shall
appropriately reflect expenses allocated to a particular Class of such Series.
The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment
plans, cash dividend payout plans or similar plans as the Trustees deem
appropriate.
Section 2. Redemptions. Each Shareholder of a Series shall have the
right at such times as may be permitted by the Trustees to require the Series to
redeem all or any part of his Shares at a redemption price per Share equal to
the Net Asset Value per Share at such time as the Trustees shall have prescribed
by resolution, or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, at such other
redemption price and at such times as the Trustees shall prescribe by
resolution. In the absence of such resolution, the redemption price per Share
shall be the Net Asset Value next determined after receipt by the Series of a
request for redemption in proper form less such charges as are determined by the
Trustees and described in the Trust's Registration Statement for that Series
under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trustees may specify conditions, prices,
and places of redemption, may specify binding requirements for the proper form
or forms of requests for redemption and may specify the amount of any deferred
sales charge to be withheld from redemption proceeds. Payment of the redemption
price may be wholly or partly in securities or other assets at the value of such
securities or assets used in such determination of Net Asset Value, or may be in
cash. Upon redemption, Shares may be reissued from time to time. The Trustees
may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the
Trustees, including, but not limited to, the failure of a Shareholder to supply
a taxpayer identification number if required to do so, or to have the minimum
investment required, or to pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to
him. To the extent permitted by law, the Trustees may retain the proceeds of any
redemption of Shares required by them for payment of amounts due and owing by a
Shareholder to the Trust or any Series or Class or any governmental authority.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may postpone payment of the
redemption price and may suspend the right of the Shareholders to require any
Series or Class to redeem Shares during any period of time when and to the
extent permissible under the 1940 Act.
Section 3. Determination of Net Asset Value. The Trustees shall cause
the Net Asset Value of Shares of each Series or Class to be determined from time
to time in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations. The
Trustees may delegate the power and duty to determine Net Asset Value per Share
to one or more Trustees or officers of the Trust or to a Custodian, depository
or other agent appointed for such purpose. The Net Asset Value of Shares shall
be determined separately for each Series or Class at such times as may be
prescribed by the Trustees or, in the absence of action by the Trustees, as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day for all
or part of which such Exchange is open for unrestricted trading.
Section 4. Suspension of Right of Redemption. If, as referred to in
Section 2 of this Article, the Trustees postpone payment of the redemption price
and suspend the right of Shareholders to redeem their Shares, such suspension
shall take effect at the time the Trustees shall specify, but not later than the
close of business on the business day next following the declaration of
suspension. Thereafter Shareholders shall have no right of redemption or payment
until the Trustees declare the end of the suspension. If the right of redemption
is suspended, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or
receive payment based on the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the
suspension terminates.
Section 5. Repurchase by Agreement. The Trust may repurchase Shares
directly, or through the Distributor or another agent designated for the
purpose, by agreement with the owner thereof at a price not exceeding the Net
Asset Value per Share determined as of the time when the purchase or contract of
purchase is made or the Net Asset Value as of any time which may be later
determined, provided payment is not made for the Shares prior to the time as of
which such Net Asset Value is determined.
ARTICLE VII
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 1. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote
only with respect to (a) the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2 of
this Article; (b) the removal of Trustees as provided in Article II, Section
5(d); (c) any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article
III, Section 2; (d) any termination of the Trust as provided in Article IX,
Section 4; (e) the amendment of this Declaration to the extent and as provided
in Article IX, Section 8; and (f) such additional matters relating to the Trust
as may be required or authorized by law, this Declaration, or the By-laws or any
registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or as the Trustees
may consider desirable.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall
be voted by individual Series or Class, except (a) when required by the 1940
Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series or
Class, and (b) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the
interests of more than one Series or Class, then the Shareholders of all such
Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. As determined by the
Trustees without the vote or consent of shareholders, on any matter submitted to
a vote of Shareholders either (i) each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote
as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall
be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote or (ii) each dollar of Net Asset
Value (number of Shares owned times Net Asset Value per share of such Series or
Class, as applicable) shall be entitled to one vote on any matter on which such
Shares are entitled to vote and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled
to a proportionate fractional vote. Without limiting the power of the Trustees
in any way to designate otherwise in accordance with the preceding sentence, the
Trustees hereby establish that 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. There shall be no cumulative voting
in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any
manner provided for in the By-laws. The By-laws may provide that proxies may be
given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner, but
if a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees is submitted to a
vote of the Shareholders of any Series or Class, or if there is a proxy contest
or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers
or Trustees, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until
Shares of a Series are issued, as to that Series the Trustees may exercise all
rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted to be taken
by Shareholders by law, this Declaration or the By-laws. Meetings of
Shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor shall
be given and set as provided in the By-laws.
Section 2. Quorum; Required Vote. One-third of the Outstanding Shares
of each Series or Class, or one-third of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust,
entitled to vote in person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of
business at a Shareholders' meeting with respect to such Series or Class, or
with respect to the entire Trust, respectively. Any lesser number shall be
sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session of a Shareholders' meeting
may be held within a reasonable time without further notice. Except when a
larger vote is required by law, this Declaration or the By-laws, a majority of
the Shares voting at a Shareholders' meeting in person or by proxy shall decide
any matters to be voted upon with respect to the entire Trust and a plurality of
such Shares shall elect a Trustee; provided, that if this Declaration or
applicable law permits or requires that Shares be voted on any matter by
individual Series or Classes, then a majority of the Shares of that Series or
Class (or, if required by law, a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled
to vote of that Series or Class) voting at a Shareholders' meeting in person or
by proxy on the matter shall decide that matter insofar as that Series or Class
is concerned. Shareholders may act as to the Trust or any Series or Class by the
written consent of a majority (or such other amount as may be required by
applicable law) of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust or of such Series or
Class, as the case may be.
Section 3. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the
Shareholders of any Series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a
date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such
other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such
Series (or Class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution.
Without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close
the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or Classes) any time
prior to the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be
construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for
different Series (or Classes).
Section 4. Additional Provisions. The By-laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VIII
EXPENSES OF THE TRUST AND SERIES
Section 1. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to Article V,
Section 4, the Trust or a particular Series shall pay, or shall reimburse the
Trustees from the assets belonging to all Series or the particular Series, for
their expenses (or the expenses of a Class of such Series) and disbursements,
including, but not limited to, interest charges, taxes, brokerage fees and
commissions; expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of Shares; certain
insurance premiums; applicable fees, interest charges and expenses of third
parties, including the Trust's investment advisers, managers, administrators,
distributors, custodians, transfer agents and fund accountants; fees of pricing,
interest, dividend, credit and other reporting services; costs of membership in
trade associations; telecommunications expenses; funds transmission expenses;
auditing, legal and compliance expenses; costs of forming the Trust and its
Series and maintaining its existence; costs of preparing and printing the
prospectuses of the Trust and each Series, statements of additional information
and Shareholder reports and delivering them to Shareholders; expenses of
meetings of Shareholders and proxy solicitations therefor; costs of maintaining
books and accounts; costs of reproduction, stationery and supplies; fees and
expenses of the Trustees; compensation of the Trust's officers and employees and
costs of other personnel performing services for the Trust or any Series; costs
of Trustee meetings; Commission registration fees and related expenses; state or
foreign securities laws registration fees and related expenses; and for such
non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to which the Trust or a
Series (or a Trustee or officer of the Trust acting as such) is a party, and for
all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust. The
Trustees shall have a lien on the assets belonging to the appropriate Series, or
in the case of an expense allocable to more than one Series, on the assets of
each such Series, prior to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto,
for the reimbursement to them of such expenses, disbursements, losses and
liabilities.
Section 2. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have
the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or
each Shareholder of any particular Series, to pay directly, in advance or
arrears, for charges of the Trust's Custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing
or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting
off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends
owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of
such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which
represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Trust Not a Partnership. This Declaration creates a trust
and not a partnership. No Trustee shall have any power to bind
personally either the Trust's officers or any Shareholder.
Section 2. Trustee Action. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers
and discretion hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care under
the circumstances then prevailing shall be binding upon everyone
interested. Subject to the provisions of Article IV, the Trustees shall
not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
Section 3. Record Dates. The Trustees may fix in advance a date up to
ninety (90) days before the date of any Shareholders' meeting, or the
date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the
date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or
conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect as a record date
for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of such
dividend or other distribution, or to receive any such allotment of
rights, or to exercise such rights in respect of any such change,
conversion or exchange of Shares.
Section 4. Termination of the Trust. (a) This Trust shall have
perpetual existence. Subject to the vote of a majority of the Shares
outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or of each Series to be
affected, the Trustees may
(i) sell and convey all or substantially all of the assets of all
Series or any affected Series to another Series or to another entity
which is an open-end investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or
is a series thereof, for adequate consideration, which may include the
assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities,
accrued or contingent, of the Trust or any affected Series, and which
may include shares of or interests in such Series, entity, or series
thereof; or
(ii) at any time sell and convert into money all or substantially all
of the assets of all Series or any affected Series.
Upon making reasonable provision for the payment of all known liabilities of all
Series or any affected Series in either (i) or (ii), by such assumption or
otherwise, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining proceeds or assets (as
the case may be) ratably among the Shareholders of all Series or any affected
Series; however, the payment to any particular Class of such Series may be
reduced by any fees, expenses or charges allocated to that Class.
(b) The Trustees may take any of the actions specified in subsection
(a) (i) and (ii) above without obtaining the vote of a majority of the Shares
Outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or any Series if a majority of the
Trustees determines that the continuation of the Trust or Series is not in the
best interests of the Trust, such Series, or their respective Shareholders as a
result of factors or events adversely affecting the ability of the Trust or such
Series to conduct its business and operations in an economically viable manner.
Such factors and events may include the inability of the Trust or a Series to
maintain its assets at an appropriate size, changes in laws or regulations
governing the Trust or the Series or affecting assets of the type in which the
Trust or Series invests, or economic developments or trends having a significant
adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or such Series.
(c) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or
assets pursuant to subsection (a), the Trust or affected Series shall terminate
and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further
liabilities and duties hereunder with respect thereto and the right, title and
interest of all parties therein shall be canceled and discharged. Upon
termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its business,
the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust's
certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which
certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
Section 5. Reorganization. (a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, to
change the Trust's form or place of organization 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 one or more entities, if
the surviving or resulting entity is the Trust or another open-end management
investment company under the 1940 Act, or a series thereof, that will succeed to
or assume the Trust's registration under the 1940 Act, (ii) cause the Shares to
be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent
permitted by law, or (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of
Delaware or any other U.S. jurisdiction. Any agreement of merger or
consolidation or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of Trustees
and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall
be valid.
(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section
3815(f) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by
the Trustees in accordance with this Section 5 may effect any amendment to the
Declaration or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if it
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 or classes thereof.
Section 6. Declaration of Trust. The original or a copy of this
Declaration of Trust and of each amendment hereto or Declaration of Trust
supplemental shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected
by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by a
Trustee or an officer of the Trust as to the authenticity of the Declaration of
Trust or any such amendments or supplements and as to any matters in connection
with the Trust. The masculine gender herein shall include the feminine and
neuter genders. Headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction of this Declaration of Trust. This Declaration of Trust may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration and the Trust created
hereunder are governed by and construed and administered according to the
Delaware Act and the applicable laws of the State of Delaware; provided,
however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this
Declaration of Trust (a) the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code, or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the
State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts which
relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or
agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii)
affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or
employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other
governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real
or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers,
agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures
to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible
nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to
the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the
establishment of fiduciary or other standards of responsibilities or limitations
on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations
or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced
in this Declaration. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Delaware
statutory trust, and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may
exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under
Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the
powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by
trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to
any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not
exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
Section 8. Amendments. The Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote,
amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration by making an amendment, a
Declaration of Trust supplemental hereto or an amended and restated trust
instrument; provided, that Shareholders shall have the right to vote on any
amendment (a) which would affect the voting rights of Shareholders granted in
Article VII, Section l, (b) to this Section 8, (c) required to be approved by
Shareholders by law or by the Trust's registration statement(s) filed with the
Commission, and (d) submitted to them by the Trustees in their discretion. Any
amendment submitted to Shareholders which the Trustees determine would affect
the Shareholders of any Series shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders
of such Series and no vote shall be required of Shareholders of a Series not
affected. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article IV
which would have the effect of reducing the indemnification and other rights
provided thereby to Trustees, officers, employees, and agents of the Trust or to
Shareholders or former Shareholders, and any repeal or amendment of this
sentence shall each require the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of
the Outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote thereon and no such
amendment shall affect the right to indemnification of any person who is no
longer a Trustee, Officer or employee or agent at the time of such amendment.
Section 9. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set
forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative
action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
(a) Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the
Delaware Act who hold at least 10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust, or
10% of the Outstanding Shares of the Series or Class to which such action
relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and
(b) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to
consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim.
The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in
considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the
Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any
such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
Section 10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a
specified date as set forth in the By-laws. The Trustees may change the fiscal
year of the Trust without Shareholder approval.
Section 11. Severability. The provisions of this Declaration are
severable. If the Trustees determine, with the advice of counsel, that any
provision hereof conflicts with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and
regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted
a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not
affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or
improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any
provision hereof shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction,
such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision only in
such jurisdiction and shall not affect any other provision of this Declaration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being all the Trustees of the Trust
have executed this instrument as of this 3rd day of August, 2004.
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.D. /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.D. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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The address of each
Trustee is:
c/o Pioneer Investment Management, Inc
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
