AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST |
OF |
XXXXX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS |
THIS AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of Xxxxx Capital Management Mutual Funds (“Trust”),
effective as of July 13, 2011, is among Xxxxx X. Xxx (the “Initial Trustee”),
as Trustee, and each person who becomes a Shareholder in accordance with the terms
hereinafter set forth. |
NOW, THEREFORE,
the Trustees do hereby declare that all money and property contributed to the Trust
hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this Agreement for the benefit
of the Shareholders as herein set forth below. |
ARTICLE I |
NAME, DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE AND CERTIFICATE OF TRUST |
Section 1.1 Name. The name of the statutory trust established hereby is Xxxxx Capital Management Mutual Funds, and the Trustees may transact the Trust’s affairs in that name. The Trust shall constitute a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (“Delaware Act”). | |
Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided: | |
a) “Affiliated
Person,” “Company,” “Person,” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the Investment Company Act of 1940
(“1940 Act”), as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders
of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of
the Commission thereunder. The term “Commission” shall have the meaning
given it in the 1940 Act; |
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b) “Agreement” means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time; | |
c) “allocable” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(d); | |
d) “allocated” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(d); | |
e) “Bylaws” means the By laws referred to in Section 4.1(e), as from time to time amended; | |
f) “Class” means a portion of Shares of a Portfolio of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(b); | |
g) “Class
Expenses” means expenses incurred by a particular Class in connection with
a shareholder services arrangement or a distribution plan that is specific to such
Class or any other differing share of expenses or differing fees, in each case pursuant
to a plan adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, as such
plan or Rule may be amended from time to time; |
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h) “Covered Person” means a person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, or is or was serving at the request of the Trustees as a director, trustee, partner, officer, employee or agent of a corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise; |
i) The “Delaware Act” refers to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq., as such Act may be amended from time to time; |
j) “fund complex” has the meaning specified in Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time; |
k) “Governing
Instrument” means collectively this Agreement, the Bylaws, all Amendments to
this Agreement and the Bylaws, all written committee and sub-committee charters
adopted by the Trustees, and every resolution of the Trustees or any committee or
sub-committee of the Trustees that by its terms is incorporated by reference into
this Agreement or stated to constitute part of the Trust’s Governing Instrument
or that is incorporated herein by Section 2.3 of this Agreement; |
l) “Initial Trustee” has the meaning specified in the Preamble |
m) “Majority Trustee Vote” means the vote of a majority of the Trustees; |
n) The
“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time
to time, and the rules promulgated thereunder; |
o) “Outstanding
Shares” means Shares shown on the books of the Trust or any Portfolio or the
Trust’s transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, and includes Shares
of one Portfolio that the Trust has purchased on behalf of another Portfolio, but
excludes Shares of a Portfolio that the Trust has redeemed or repurchased; |
p) “Portfolio” means a series of Shares of the Trust within the meaning of Section 3804(a) of the Delaware Act, established in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(a); |
q) “Proportionate Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(d); |
r) “Purchasing Portfolio” has the meaning specified in Section 2.9; |
s) “Schedule A” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a); |
t) “Selling Portfolio” has the meaning specified in Section 2.9; |
u) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the Trust; |
v) “Shares”
means, as to a Portfolio or any Class thereof, the equal proportionate transferable
units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest of such Portfolio
or such Class thereof shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares in 1/1000th
of a Share or integral multiples thereof as well as whole Shares; |
w) The
“Trust” means Xxxxx Capital Management Mutual Funds, the Delaware statutory
trust established hereby, and reference to the Trust, when applicable to one or
more Portfolios, shall refer to each such Portfolio; |
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x) The
“Trustees” means the Persons who have signed this Agreement as trustees
so long as they shall continue to serve as trustees of the Trust in accordance with
the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed
as Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4, or elected as Trustee
by the Shareholders, and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees shall
refer to such Persons in their capacity as Trustees hereunder; and |
y) “Trust
Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or any Portfolio, or by
the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Portfolio. |
Section
1.3 Purpose. The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business
of an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through
one or more Portfolios investing primarily in securities and to carry on such other
business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to their authority
under this Agreement. |
Section
1.4 Certificate of Trust. Unless otherwise filed prior to execution of this Agreement,
immediately upon the execution of this Agreement, the Trustees shall file a Certificate
of Trust with respect to the Trust in the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act. |
ARTICLE II |
BENEFICIAL INTEREST |
Section
2.1 Shares of Beneficial Interest. The Trust is authorized (A) to issue one or more
series of beneficial interests within the meaning of Section 3804(a) of the Delaware
Act, which shall constitute the Trust’s Portfolio(s), and (B) to divide the
shares of any Portfolio into one or more separate and distinct Classes. The beneficial
interests of the Trust shall be divided into an unlimited number of Shares with
no par value. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation, Shares
issued in connection with a dividend or other distribution in Shares or a split
or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable. |
Section
2.2 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time,
without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and
Outstanding Shares, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration,
subject to applicable law, including cash or securities, at such time or times and
on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire
other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection
with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance
of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. The Trustees may from time
to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby
changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Contributions to the
Trust may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or
1/1,000th of a Share or integral multiples thereof. |
Section 2.3 Establishment of Portfolios and Classes. |
a) The Trust shall consist of one or more separate and distinct Portfolios, each with an unlimited number of Shares unless otherwise specified. The Trustees hereby establish and |
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designate
the Portfolios listed on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof (“Schedule
A”). Each additional Portfolio shall be established by the adoption of one
or more resolutions by the Trustees. Each such resolution is hereby incorporated
herein by this reference and made a part of the Governing Instrument whether or
not expressly stated in such resolution and may be amended by a further resolution,
and shall be effective upon the occurrence of both (i) the date stated herein (or,
if no such date is stated, upon the date of such adoption) and (ii) the execution
of an amendment either to this Agreement or to Schedule A hereto establishing and
designating such additional Portfolio or Portfolios. The Shares of each Portfolio
shall have the relative rights and preferences provided for herein and such rights
and preferences as may be designated by the Trustees in any amendment or modification
to the Trust’s Governing Instrument. The Trust shall maintain separate and
distinct records of each Portfolio and shall hold and account for the assets belonging
thereto separately from the other Trust Property and the assets belonging to any
other Portfolio. Each Share of a Portfolio shall represent an equal beneficial interest
in the net assets belonging to that Portfolio, except to the extent of Class Expenses
and other expenses separately allocated to Classes thereof (if any Classes have
been established) as permitted herein. |
b) The
Trustees may establish one or more Classes of Shares of any Portfolio, each with
an unlimited number of Shares unless otherwise specified. Each Class so established
and designated shall represent a Proportionate Interest (as defined in Section 2.5(d))
in the net assets belonging to that Portfolio and shall have identical voting, dividend,
liquidation, and other rights and be subject to the same terms and conditions, except
that (1) Class Expenses allocated to a Class for which such expenses were incurred
shall be borne solely by that Class, (2) other expenses, costs, charges, and reserves
allocated to a Class in accordance with Section 2.5(e) may be borne solely by that
Class, provided that the allocation of such other expenses, costs, charges, and
reserves is not specifically required to be set forth in a plan adopted by the Trust
pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Act, (3) dividends declared and payable to a Class
pursuant to Section 7.1 shall reflect the items separately allocated thereto pursuant
to the preceding clauses, (4) each Class may have separate rights to convert to
another Class, exchange rights, and similar rights, each as determined by the Trustees,
and (5) each Class may have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters affecting
only that Class. The Trustees hereby establish for each Portfolio listed on Schedule
A the Classes listed thereon. Each additional Class for any or all Portfolios shall
be established by the adoption of one or more resolutions by the Trustees. Each
such resolution is hereby incorporated herein by this reference and made a part
of the Governing Instrument whether or not expressly stated in such resolution,
and shall be effective upon the occurrence of both (i) the date stated therein (or,
if no such date is stated, upon the date of such adoption) and (ii) the execution
of an amendment to this Agreement establishing and designating such additional Class
or Classes. |
Section
2.4 Actions Affecting Portfolios and Classes. Subject to the right of Shareholders,
if any, to vote pursuant to Section 6.1, the Trustees shall have full power and
authority, in their sole discretion without obtaining any prior authorization or
vote of the Shareholders of any Portfolio, or Class thereof, to establish and designate
and to change in any manner any Portfolio of Shares, or any Class or Classes thereof;
to fix or change such preferences, voting powers, rights, and privileges of any
Portfolio, or Classes thereof, as the Trustees may from time to time determine,
including any change that may adversely affect a Shareholder; to divide or combine
the Shares of any Portfolio, or Classes thereof, into a greater or lesser number;
to classify or reclassify or convert any issued Shares of any Portfolio, or Classes
thereof, into one or more Portfolios or |
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Classes
of Shares of a Portfolio; to terminate any Portfolio, or Class thereof, pursuant
to Section 9.3; and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the
Trustees may deem desirable. A Portfolio and any Class thereof may issue any number
of Shares but need not issue any Shares. |
Section
2.5 Relative Rights and Preferences. Unless the establishing resolution or any other
resolution adopted pursuant to Section 2.3 otherwise provides, Shares of each Portfolio
or Class thereof established hereunder shall have the following relative rights
and preferences: |
a) Except
as set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section 2.5, each Share of a Portfolio, regardless
of Class, shall represent an equal pro rata interest in the assets belonging to
such Portfolio and shall have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other
rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications and designations
and terms and conditions with each other Share of such Portfolio. |
b) Shareholders
shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or
other securities issued by the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or other
Portfolio (or Class). |
c) All
consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular
Portfolio, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested,
all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange, or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be,
shall be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and
of every other Portfolio and may be referred to herein as “assets belonging
to” that Portfolio. The assets belonging to a particular Portfolio shall belong
to that Portfolio for all purposes, and to no other Portfolio, subject only to the
rights of creditors of that Portfolio. In addition, any assets, income, earnings,
profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Portfolio shall be allocated by the
Trustees between and among one or more of the Portfolios in such manner as the Trustees,
in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Portfolios thereof for all purposes,
and such assets, income, earnings, profits, or funds, or payments and proceeds with
respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that Portfolio. |
d) Each Class
of a Portfolio shall have a proportionate undivided interest (as
determined by or at the direction of, or pursuant to authority granted by, the Trustees, consistent
with industry practice) (“Proportionate Interest”) in the net assets belonging to that
Portfolio. References herein to assets, expenses, charges, costs, and reserves “allocable” or
“allocated” to a particular Class of a Portfolio shall mean the aggregate amount of such item(s) of the Portfolio
multiplied by the Class’s Proportionate Interest. |
e) A particular
Portfolio shall be charged with the liabilities of that Portfolio, and all expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to any particular Portfolio shall be borne
by such Portfolio; provided that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, allocate
or authorize the allocation of particular expenses, costs, charges, and/or reserves
of a Portfolio to fewer than all the Classes thereof. Class Expenses shall, in all
cases, be allocated to the Class for which such Class Expenses were incurred. Any
general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust (or any Portfolio)
that are not readily identifiable as chargeable to or bearable by any particular
Portfolio (or any particular Class) shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees
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between
or among any one or more of the Portfolios (or Classes) in such manner as the Trustees
in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Portfolios (or Classes) for
all purposes. Without limitation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5(e),
(i) the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or
otherwise existing with respect to a particular Portfolio shall be enforceable against
the assets of such Portfolio only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally
or assets belonging to any other Portfolio, and (ii) none of the debts, liabilities,
obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect
to the Trust generally that have not been allocated to a specified Portfolio, or
with respect to any other Portfolio, shall be enforceable against the assets of
such specified Portfolio. Notice of this contractual limitation on inter-Portfolio
liabilities is set forth in the Trust’s Certificate of Trust described in Section
1.4, and, accordingly, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware
Act relating to limitations on inter-Portfolio liabilities (and the statutory effect
under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the Certificate of Trust) are
applicable to the Trust and each Portfolio. |
f) Except
as provided for in Section 2.9, shares redeemed or repurchased by a Portfolio or
the Trust shall be deemed to be canceled. |
g) The
Trust may issue Shares in fractional denominations of 1/1000th of a Share
or integral multiples thereof to the same extent as its whole Shares, and Shares
in fractional denominations shall be Shares having proportionately to the respective
fractions represented thereby all the rights of whole Shares of the same Portfolio
(or Class), including without limitation, the right to vote, the right to receive
dividends and distributions and the right to participate upon termination of the
Trust or any Portfolio, but excluding the right to receive a certificate representing
fractional Shares. |
All references
to Shares in this Agreement shall be deemed to be shares of any or all Portfolios,
or Classes thereof, as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to
the Trust shall apply equally to each Portfolio of the Trust, and each Class thereof,
except as the context otherwise requires. |
Section
2.6 Investment in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such
Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration, which may consist
of cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as the Trustees
from time to time may authorize. At the Trustees’ sole discretion, such investments,
subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the
affected Portfolio is authorized to invest, valued as provided in applicable law.
Each such investment shall be recorded in the individual Shareholder’s account
in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Portfolio (or Class)
as the Shareholder shall select. |
Section
2.7 Personal Liability of Shareholders. As provided by applicable law, no Shareholder
of the Trust 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 Portfolio (or Class) thereof. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees,
nor any officer, employee, or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally
any Shareholder or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money
or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally
agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares |
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or otherwise.
The Shareholders shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, to the same limitation of personal liability as is extended under the Delaware
General Corporation Law to stockholders of private corporations for profit. Every
note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or
the Trustees relating to the Trust or to any Portfolio shall include a recitation
limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust and its assets or to one
or more Portfolios and the assets belonging thereto (but the omission of such a
recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust or
otherwise limit any benefits set forth in the Delaware Act that may be applicable
to such Persons). |
Section
2.8 Assent to Agreement. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased a Share,
shall be held to have expressly assented to, and agreed to be bound by, the terms
hereof. 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 rights of said decedent under the Governing Instrument.
|
Section
2.9 Purchases of Shares Among Portfolios. The Trust may purchase, on behalf of any
Portfolio (the “Purchasing Portfolio”), Shares of another Portfolio (the
“Selling Portfolio”) or any Class thereof. Shares of the Selling Portfolio
so purchased on behalf of the Purchasing Portfolio shall be Outstanding Shares,
and shall have all preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges established
for such Shares. |
Section
2.10 No Appraisal Rights. Shareholders shall have no right to demand payment for
their Shares or to any other rights of dissenting Shareholders in the event the
Trust participates in any transaction which would give rise to appraisal or dissenters’ rights by a stockholder of a corporation organized under the General Corporation
Law of Delaware, or otherwise. |
ARTICLE III |
THE TRUSTEES |
Section
3.1 Management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control
over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as
if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their
own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Agreement.
The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on
its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and
without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America,
in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies,
colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in any and all foreign
jurisdictions and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as
they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the
Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination
as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall
be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Agreement, the presumption shall
be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. |
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The enumeration
of any specific power in this Agreement shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid
power. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to
any court or other authority. |
Section
3.2 Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a majority of the Trustees. The entire Board of Trustees may be
comprised of only the Initial Trustee prior to the effective date of the registration
statement on Form N-1A registering the Trust and Shares under the federal securities
laws. |
Section
3.3 Terms of Office of Trustees. The Trustees shall hold office during the lifetime
of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided; except that (A) any
Trustee may resign his trusteeship or may retire by written instrument signed by
him and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such delivery
or upon such later date as is specified therein; (B) any Trustee may be removed
at any time by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of
Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become
effective; (C) any Trustee who has died, become physically or mentally incapacitated
by reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired
by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the
date of his retirement; (D) a Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders
by a vote of the holders of Shares that represent at least two-thirds of the voting
power of the Shares entitled to be voted at the meeting; and (E) a Trustee shall
be retired in accordance with the terms of any retirement policy adopted by the
Trustees and in effect from time to time. |
Section
3.4 Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees. In case of the declination to serve,
death, resignation, retirement or removal of a Trustee, or a Trustee is otherwise
unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur.
Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled,
the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the determination of
the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing
vacancy, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing such other person
as they in their discretion shall see fit, or may leave such vacancy unfilled or
may reduce the number of Trustees. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a written
instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office or by resolution of the
Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the
Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take effect. |
An appointment
of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy
to occur by reason of retirement, resignation, or removal of a Trustee, or an increase
in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said appointment
shall become effective only at the time or after the expected vacancy occurs. As
soon as any Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.4 or elected by the Shareholders
shall have accepted the Trust and agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of
the Agreement in the form set forth in Schedule B, the Trust estate shall vest in
the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the continuing Trustees, without any
further act or conveyance, and he shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. |
Section
3.5 Temporary Absence of Trustee. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate
his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one time to any other Trustee
or Trustees, provided that the power of attorney specifies the matter or matters
on which the |
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delegee
may vote and the vote or votes to be cast, provided further, however, that a Trustee
may not delegate his power to vote on any matter which requires an in-person vote
of the Trustees. |
Section
3.6 Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The declination to serve, death,
resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees, or any
one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. |
Section
3.7 Ownership of Assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust and of each Portfolio
thereof 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 all of the assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business
shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust,
except that the Trustees may cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held
by or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any Person as nominee. No Shareholder
shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust,
or belonging to any Portfolio, or allocable to any Class thereof, or any right of
partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise
provided for herein, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust
or in assets belonging to the Portfolio (or allocable to the Class) in which the
Shareholder holds Shares. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the
rights specifically set forth in this Agreement or the Delaware Act. |
Section
3.8 Qualification to Act of Initial Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement, during the period that the Initial Trustee remains the sole Trustee
of the Trust, he shall have the power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry
on its operations to the fullest extent permitted by this Agreement and to take
any action required to be taken by the Trustees on behalf of the Trust. |
ARTICLE IV |
POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES |
Section
4.1 Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, and are and shall
be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power
and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts
and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with
the management of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing and subject to any applicable
limitation in this Agreement or the Bylaws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have
power and authority: |
a) To invest
and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested,
without in any event being bound or limited by any present or future law or custom
in regard to investments by Trustees, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage,
hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust; |
b) To operate
as, and to carry on the business of, an investment company, and to exercise all
the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations; |
c) To borrow
money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure
borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security |
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the Trust
Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation or
engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property; |
d) To provide
for the distribution of Shares either through a principal underwriter in the manner
hereafter provided for or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to
a plan of distribution of any kind; |
e) To adopt
Bylaws not inconsistent with this Agreement providing for the conduct of the business
of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve
such right to the Shareholders; such Bylaws shall be deemed incorporated and included
in this Agreement; |
f) To elect
and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider
appropriate; |
g) To employ
one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities
exchange or such other domestic or foreign entities as custodians of any assets
of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in this Agreement or in the Bylaws;
|
h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents; |
i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the Bylaws; |
j) To delegate
such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any
investment adviser, manager, administrator, custodian, underwriter or other agent
or independent contractor; |
k) To sell
or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the right of Shareholders,
if any, to vote on such transaction pursuant to Section 6.1; |
l) To vote
or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other
securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies and 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 Trustee shall deem proper; |
m) To exercise
powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of
ownership of securities; |
n) To hold
any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book
entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of the Trust
or of a Portfolio
or a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according
to the usual practice of Delaware statutory trusts or investment companies; |
o) To establish
and/or terminate separate and distinct Portfolios with separately defined investment
objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in accordance with the
provisions of Article II hereof and to establish and/or terminate Classes of such
Portfolios having relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide consistent
with this Agreement and applicable law; |
p) Subject
to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets, liabilities
and expenses of the Trust to a particular Portfolio or to apportion the same between
or |
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among two
or more Portfolios, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular
Portfolio shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Portfolio
as provided for in Article II hereof; |
q) To consent
to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of
any corporation or concern, any security of which is held in the Trust; to consent
to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation
or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held
in the Trust; |
r) To compromise,
arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter
in controversy including, but not limited to, claims for taxes; |
s) To declare
and pay dividends and make distributions of income and of capital gains and capital
to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter provided; |
t) To establish,
from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the Trust or in one
or more Portfolios or Classes, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any
Shareholder whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving notice to such
Shareholder; |
u) To redeem or repurchase Shares as provided for in this Agreement, upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall establish; |
v) To establish
one or more committees or sub-committees, to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees
to said committees or sub-committees and to adopt a written charter for one or more
of such committees or sub-committees governing its membership, duties and operations
and any other characteristics as the Trustees may deem proper, each of which committees
and sub-committees may consist of less than the whole number of Trustees then in
office, and may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees, the Trust and the
Portfolios, as if the acts of such committee or sub-committee were the acts of all
the Trustees then in office; |
w) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any Portfolios; |
x) To establish
a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Delaware; and |
y) In general,
to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing
powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of
any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore
set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act
or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid
business or purposes, objects or powers. |
The foregoing
clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration
of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general
powers of the Trustees. 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
Portfolio, and not an action in an individual capacity. |
11 |
The Trustees
shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination
of the Trust.
No one dealing
with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning the
authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any payments made or
property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order.
Section 4.2
Issuance, Redemption and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power
to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue,
dispose of, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth
in Articles II and VII hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement,
cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or any
assets belonging to the particular Portfolio or any assets allocable to the particular
Class, with respect to which such Shares are issued.
Section 4.3
Action by the Trustees. The Board of Trustees or any committee or subcommittee thereof
shall act by majority vote of those present at a meeting duly called as set forth
in the Bylaws at which a quorum required by the Bylaws is present. Any action that
may be taken by the Board of Trustees or any committee or sub-committee thereof
by majority vote at a meeting duly called and at which a quorum required by the
Bylaws is present, may also be taken without a meeting by written consent signed
by the Trustees or members of the committee or sub-committee, as the case may be,
having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all Trustees or members of the committee
or sub-committee, as the case may be, entitled to vote thereon were present, provided
that the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
or committee or sub-committee. Written consents or waivers of the Trustees may be
executed in one or more counterparts. Any written consent or waiver may be provided
and delivered to the Trust by any means by which notice may be given to a Trustee.
Subject to the requirements of this Agreement and the 1940 Act, the Trustees by
Majority Trustee Vote may delegate to any Trustee or Trustees or committee or sub-committee
authority to approve particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of
the Trust or any Portfolio.
Section 4.4
Principal Transactions. 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, distributor,
or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Affiliated Person of such Person; and
the Trust may employ any such Person, or firm or Company in which such Person is
an Affiliated Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment adviser, distributor,
administrator, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian, or in any capacity
upon customary terms, subject in all cases to applicable laws, rules, and regulations
and orders of regulatory authorities.
Section 4.5 Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any Portfolio, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to charge or allocate to, between or among such one or more of the Portfolios (or Classes), as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or Portfolio (or Class), 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,
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investment manager, administrator, principal underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 4.6 Trustee Compensation. 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, administrative, legal, accounting, investment banking, underwriting, brokerage, or investment dealer or other services and the payment for the same by the Trust, subject in all cases to applicable laws, rules, and regulations and orders of regulatory authorities.
ARTICLE V
INVESTMENT ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
AND
TRANSFER AGENT
Section 5.1
Investment Adviser. The Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time, enter
into an investment advisory or management contract or contracts with respect to
the Trust or any Portfolio whereby the other party or parties to such contract or
contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with such management, investment
advisory, statistical and research facilities and services and such other facilities
and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions, as the Trustees may
in their discretion determine.
The Trustees may authorize the investment
adviser to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisers to perform such of
the acts and services of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions,
as may be agreed upon among the Trustees, the investment adviser and sub-adviser.
Any references in this Agreement to an investment adviser shall be deemed to include
such sub-advisers, unless the context otherwise requires.
Section 5.2 Other
Service Contracts. The Trustees may authorize the engagement of a principal underwriter
and one or more distributors, transfer agents, administrators, custodians, and similar
service providers.
Section 5.3 Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character
described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 may be entered into with any corporation, firm,
partnership, trust or other association, although one or more of the Trustees or
officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member
of such other party to the contract.
Section 5.4 Miscellaneous. The fact
that (i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder,
director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, principal underwriter
or distributor or agent of or for any Company or of or for any parent or affiliate
of any Company, with which an advisory or administration contract, or principal
underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing,
custodian or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that
any such Company, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an
interest in the Trust, or that (ii) any Company with which an advisory or administration
contract or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer,
shareholder servicing, custodian, or other agency contract may have been or may
hereafter be made also has an advisory or administration contract, or principal
underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing,
custodian or other
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agency contract with one or more other companies, 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 VI
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS
Section 6.1
Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have the right to vote only: (i) for the election
or removal of Trustees; (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to
the Trust as may be required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including
Section 16(a) thereof; and (iii) on such other matters 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. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election
of Trustees. Votes may be made in person or by proxy. 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.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted
together, except when required by applicable law or when the Trustees have determined
that the matter affects the interests of one or more Portfolios (or Classes), then
only the Shareholders of all such affected Portfolios (or Classes) shall be entitled
to vote thereon.
Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights
of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Agreement
or any of the Bylaws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.
Section 6.2
Additional Voting Powers and Voting Requirements for Certain Actions. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Shareholders shall have power to vote
to approve any amendment to Article VIII of this Agreement that would have the effect
of reducing the indemnification provided thereby to Covered Persons or to Shareholders
or former Shareholders, and any repeal or amendment of this sentence, and any such
action shall require the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of Shares that
represent at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Shares entitled to be voted
thereon. In addition, the removal of one or more Trustees by the Shareholders shall
require the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of Shares that represent
at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Shares entitled to be voted thereon.
The voting requirements set forth in this Section 6.2 shall be in addition
to, and not in lieu of, any vote or consent of the Shareholders otherwise required
by applicable law (including, without limitation, any separate vote by Portfolio
(or Class) that may be required by the 1940 Act or by other applicable law) or by
this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTIONS AND
REDEMPTIONS
Section 7.1 Distributions. The Trustees may from time to time declare and pay dividends and make other distributions with respect to any Portfolio, or Class thereof, which may be from income, capital gains or capital. The amount of such dividends or distributions and the
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payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees, although the Trustees pursuant to Section 4.1(j) may delegate the authority to set record, declaration, payment and ex-dividend dates, determine the amount of dividends and distributions and pay such dividends and distributions. 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 Portfolio or Class, including without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of any Portfolio or Class shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of that Portfolio or Class, as the case may be, in proportion to the number of Shares of that Portfolio or Class they held on the record date established for such payment, provided that such dividends and other distributions on Shares of a Class shall appropriately reflect Class Expenses and other expenses allocated to that Class. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash distribution payment plans, or similar plans as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Section 7.2
Redemptions. Any holder of record of Shares of a particular Portfolio, or Class
thereof, shall have the right to require the Trust to redeem his Shares, or any
portion thereof, subject to such terms and conditions as are set forth in the registration
statement of the Trust in effect from time to time. The redemption price may in
any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that
such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Portfolio
or Class thereof for which the Shares are being redeemed. Subject to the foregoing,
the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or
delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority
of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any Person
in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in
kind.
Section 7.3 Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall
have the right, at its option, upon no less than 30 days notice to the affected
Shareholder at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value
of such Shares: (A) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Portfolio
having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time
to time by the Trustees; or (B) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares
equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or
of any Portfolio, as such percentage may be determined from time to time, in each
case subject to such terms and conditions as are set forth in the registration statement
of the Trust in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability. A Trustee or officer of the Trust, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any person for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided, however, that nothing contained herein or in the Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or officer against any 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 with the Trust.
15
Section 8.2 Indemnification of Covered Persons. Every Covered Person shall be indemnified by
the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, the Bylaws and other
applicable law.
Section 8.3 Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any
Shareholder or former Shareholder of the Trust shall be held to be personally liable
solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or any Portfolio
or Class and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the
Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other
legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate
or general successor) shall be entitled, out of the assets belonging to the applicable
Portfolio (or allocable to the applicable Class), to be held harmless from and indemnified
against all loss and expense arising from such liability in accordance with the
Bylaws and applicable law. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Portfolio (or Class),
shall upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any such claim made
against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of that Portfolio (or Class).
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1
Trust Not a Partnership; Taxation. It is hereby expressly declared that a trust
and not a partnership is created hereby. No Trustee hereunder shall have any power
to bind personally either the Trust’s officers or any Shareholder. All persons
extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or the
Trustees in their capacity as such shall look only to the assets of the appropriate
Portfolio or, until the Trustees shall have established any separate Portfolio,
of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders,
the Trustees, nor the Trust’s officers nor any of the agents of the Trustees
whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
It is intended
that the Trust, or each Portfolio if there is more than one Portfolio, be classified
for income tax purposes as an association taxable as a corporation, and the Trustees
shall do all things that they, in their sole discretion, determine are necessary
to achieve that objective, including (if they so determine), electing such classifications
on Internal Revenue Form 8832. The Trustees, in their sole discretion and without
the vote or consent of the Shareholders, may amend this Agreement to ensure that
this objective is achieved.
Section 9.2 Trustee’s Good Faith Action,
Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. 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 VIII and to Section 9.1, the Trustees 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 Agreement, and
subject to the provisions of Article VIII and Section 9.1, 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 obtained.
Section 9.3 Termination of Trust or Portfolio
or Class.
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a) Unless
terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time.
The Trust may be terminated at any time by an instrument executed by a majority
of the Trustees then in office upon prior written notice to the Shareholders. Any
Portfolio or Class (and the establishment and designation thereof) may be terminated
at any time by an instrument executed by a majority of the Trustees upon prior written
notice to the Shareholders of that Portfolio or Class).
b) On termination
of the Trust or any Portfolio pursuant to paragraph (a) above,
1. the Trust
or that Portfolio thereafter shall carry on no business except for the purpose of
winding up its affairs,
2. the Trustees shall (i) proceed to wind up the
affairs of the Trust or that Portfolio, and all powers of the Trustees under this
Agreement with respect thereto shall continue until such affairs have been wound
up, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or that
Portfolio, (ii) collect its assets or the assets belonging thereto, (iii) sell,
convey, assign, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of those assets
to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration that may consist
in whole or in part of cash, securities, or other property of any kind, (iv) discharge
or pay its liabilities, and (v) do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business,
and
3. after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities,
and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities, and refunding agreements as they
deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining
assets ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or that Portfolio.
c)
On termination of any Class pursuant to paragraph (a) above,
1. the Trust
thereafter shall no longer issue Shares of that Class,
2. the Trustees shall
do all other acts appropriate to terminate the Class, and
3. the Trustees
shall distribute ratably among the Shareholders of that Class, in cash or in kind,
an amount equal to the Proportionate Interest of that Class in the net assets of
the Portfolio (after taking into account any Class Expenses or other fees, expenses,
or charges allocable thereto), and in connection with any such distribution in cash
the Trustees are authorized to sell, convey, assign, exchange or otherwise dispose
of such assets of the Portfolio of which that Class is a part as they deem necessary.
d) On completion of distribution of the remaining assets pursuant to paragraph
(b)(3) above (or the Proportionate Interest of the Class in the net assets of the
Portfolio pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) above), the Trust or the affected Portfolio
(or Class) shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged from
all further liabilities and duties hereunder with respect thereto and the rights
and interests of all parties therein shall be cancelled and discharged. On 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 may be signed by
any one Trustee.
17
Section 9.4
Sale of Assets; Merger and Consolidation. Subject to right of Shareholders, if any,
to vote pursuant to Section 6.1, the Trustees may cause (i) the Trust or one or
more of its Portfolios to the extent consistent with applicable law to sell all
or substantially all of its assets to, or be merged into or consolidated with, another
Portfolio, statutory trust (or series thereof) or Company (or series thereof), (ii)
the Shares of the Trust or any Portfolio (or Class) to be converted into beneficial
interests in another statutory trust (or series thereof) created pursuant to this
Section 9.4, (iii) the Shares of any Class to be converted into another Class of
the same Portfolio, or (iv) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any
state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law. In all respects not governed
by statute or applicable law, the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure
necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation
including the power to create one or more separate statutory trusts to which all
or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred
and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust or any Portfolio (or Class)
into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts (or series
or class thereof).
Section 9.5 Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The
original or a copy of this Agreement or any amendment hereto or any supplemental
agreement shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by
any Shareholder. In this Agreement or in any such amendment or supplemental agreement,
references to this Agreement, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof,”
and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement as amended
or affected by any such supplemental agreement. All expressions like “his,”
“he,” and “him,” shall be deemed to include the feminine
and neuter, as well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience
of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of this Agreement, rather
than the headings, shall control. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 9.6 Governing
Law. The Trust and this Agreement, and the rights, obligations and remedies of the
Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered
according to the Delaware Act and the other laws of the State of Delaware; provided,
however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, the Shareholders
or this Trust Agreement (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 or responsibilities or limitations
on the indemnification, acts or powers of trustees or other Persons, which are inconsistent
with the limitations of liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees or
officers of the Trust set forth or referenced in this Agreement.
The Trust
shall be of the type commonly called a “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
18
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; provided, however, that the exercise of any such power, privilege or action shall not otherwise violate applicable law.
Section 9.7
Amendments. Except as specifically provided in Article VI hereof, the Trustees may,
without any Shareholder vote, amend this Agreement by making an amendment to this
Agreement or to Schedule A, an agreement supplemental hereto, or an amended and
restated trust instrument. Any such amendment, having been approved by a Majority
Trustee Vote, shall become effective, unless otherwise provided by such Trustees,
upon being executed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust. A certification signed
by a duly authorized officer of the Trust setting forth an amendment to this Agreement
and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Shareholders or by the Trustees as
aforesaid, or a copy of this Agreement, as amended, executed by a majority of the
Trustees, or a duly authorized officer of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence
of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust.
Section 9.8
Provisions in Conflict with Law. The provisions of this Agreement are severable,
and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such
provisions is in conflict with applicable law, the conflicting provision shall be
deemed never to have constituted a part of this Agreement; provided, however, that
such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision
in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other
jurisdiction or any other provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction.
Section 9.9 Shareholders’ Right to Inspect Shareholder List. Except as may be
permitted by Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time, no Shareholder shall have the right to obtain from
the Trust a list of the Trust’s Shareholders; provided, however, that one or
more Persons who together and for at least six months have been Shareholders of
at least five percent (5%) of the Outstanding Shares of any Class may present to
any officer of the Trust a written request for a list of its Shareholders, stating
that they wish to communicate with other Shareholders with a view to requesting
in writing that the Trustees call a special meeting of the Shareholders solely for
the purpose of removing one or more Trustees. Within twenty (20) days after such
request is made, the Trust shall prepare and have available on file at its principal
office a list verified under oath by one of its officers or its transfer agent or
registrar which sets forth the name and address of each Shareholder. The rights
provided for herein shall not extend to any Person who is a beneficial owner but
not also a record owner of Shares of the Trust.
Section 9.10 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of each Portfolio of the Trust shall end on a specified date
as determined from time to time by the Trustees, which may be the same or different
than the fiscal year of each of the other Portfolios.
Section 9.11 Information
Regarding the Business and Financial Condition and Affairs of the Trust. No Shareholder
shall have the right to obtain from the Trust information regarding the business
and financial condition of the Trust or other information regarding the affairs
of the
19
Trust; provided, however, that the Trust may, in its sole discretion, provide such information to the Shareholders.
[Signature page follows]
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole Trustee of the Trust, has executed this instrument as of the date first above written.
/s/ | Xxxxx X. Xxx | |
Initial Trustee |
21
SCHEDULE A | |
XXXXX CAPITAL MANAGMETN MUTUAL FUNDS | |
PORTFOLIOS AND CLASSES THEREOF | |
PORTFOLIO | CLASSES |
Xxxxx Capital Management Mid- | Investor Class |
Cap Fund | Institutional Class |
Xxxxx Capital Management Small | Investor Class |
Company Fund | Institutional Class |
Xxxxx Capital Management | Investor Class |
International Equity Fund | Institutional Class |
A-1
SCHEDULE B | |
XXXXX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS | |
TRUSTEE ACCEPTANCE OF TRUST | |
As contemplated
in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Xxxxx Capital Management Mutual Funds
as it may be amended or revised from time to time, the undersigned hereby accepts
his appointment as a Trustee of said Trust and agrees to the provisions of said
Agreement and Declaration of Trust. |
|
Name: |
B-1