ALPINE GLOBAL DYNAMIC DIVIDEND FUND AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I The Trust
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
Name
|
1
|
1.2
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.3
|
Purpose
and Powers of Trust
|
2
|
ARTICLE
II Trustees
|
2
|
|
2.1
|
Number
and Qualification
|
2
|
2.2
|
Term
and Election
|
3
|
2.3
|
Resignation
and Removal
|
3
|
2.4
|
Vacancies
|
3
|
2.5
|
Meetings
|
4
|
2.6
|
Officers
|
4
|
ARTICLE
III Powers and Duties of Trustees
|
4
|
|
3.1
|
General
|
4
|
3.2
|
Investments
|
5
|
3.3
|
Legal
Title
|
5
|
3.4
|
Issuance
and Repurchase of Shares
|
5
|
3.5
|
Borrow
Money
|
5
|
3.6
|
Collection
and Payment
|
5
|
3.7
|
Expenses
|
6
|
3.8
|
By-Laws
|
6
|
3.9
|
Officers
and Agents
|
6
|
3.10
|
Miscellaneous
Powers
|
6
|
3.11
|
Delegation;
Committees
|
7
|
3.12
|
Further
Powers
|
7
|
ARTICLE
IV Limitations of Liability and Indemnification
|
7
|
|
4.1
|
No
Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc
|
7
|
4.2
|
Mandatory
Indemnification.
|
7
|
4.3
|
No
Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc
|
8
|
4.4
|
Reliance
on Experts, etc
|
9
|
ARTICLE
V Shares of Beneficial Interest
|
9
|
|
5.1
|
Beneficial
Interest
|
9
|
5.2
|
Classes
and Series
|
9
|
5.3
|
Issuance
of Shares
|
9
|
5.4
|
Rights
of Shareholders
|
10
|
5.5
|
Trust
Only
|
10
|
5.6
|
Register
of Shares
|
10
|
5.7
|
Transfer
Agent and Xxxxxxxxx
|
00
|
5.8
|
Transfer
of Shares
|
10
|
5.9
|
Notices
|
11
|
5.10
|
Net
Asset Value
|
11
|
5.11
|
Distributions
to Shareholders
|
11
|
i
ARTICLE
VI Shareholders
|
11
|
|
6.1
|
Meetings
of Shareholders
|
11
|
6.2
|
Voting
|
11
|
6.3
|
Notice
of Meeting, Shareholder Proposals and Record Date
|
12
|
6.4
|
Quorum
and Required Vote.
|
12
|
6.5
|
Proxies,
etc
|
13
|
6.6
|
Reports
|
13
|
6.7
|
Shareholder
Action by Written Consent
|
13
|
ARTICLE
VII Duration: Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers,
Etc.
|
13
|
|
7.1
|
Duration
|
13
|
7.2
|
Termination
|
13
|
7.3
|
Amendment
Procedure
|
14
|
7.4
|
Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets
|
15
|
7.5
|
Redemption;
Conversion of Investment Company
|
15
|
7.6
|
Certain
Transactions
|
15
|
ARTICLE
VIII Miscellaneous
|
17
|
|
8.1
|
References;
Headings; Counterparts
|
17
|
8.2
|
Filing
|
17
|
8.3
|
Resident
Agent
|
17
|
8.4
|
Governing
Law
|
18
|
8.5
|
Counterparts
|
18
|
8.6
|
Reliance
by Third Parties
|
18
|
8.7
|
Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulation
|
18
|
ii
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 11th day of May, 2006, by the Trustees
hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued
hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS,
this Trust, created by the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware on May 11, 2006, shall constitute a statutory
trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and this Agreement and Declaration
of Trust shall constitute the governing instrument of such trust;
WHEREAS,
this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly
hereinafter;
WHEREAS,
this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of
beneficial interest in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
and
WHEREAS,
the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as
Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions of
the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended from time to time, and the provisions
hereinafter set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities,
and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as
Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following
terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares
of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE
I
The
Trust
1.1 Name.
This
Trust shall be known as the “Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund”, and the
Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name or names as they may from time to time determine.
1.2 Definitions.
As used
in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
The
terms
“Affiliated Person”, “Assignment”, “Commission”, “Interested Person” and
“Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940
Act.
“By-Laws”
shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the
Trustees.
“Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Declaration”
shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended and restated
from
time to time, including by way of any classifying or reclassifying Shares of
any
class or any series of any such class or determining any designations, powers,
preferences, voting, conversion and other rights, limitations, qualifications
and terms and conditions thereof.
“Delaware
Statutory Trust Act” shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et. seq., as such Act may be amended from time
to
time.
“Majority
Shareholder Vote” shall mean a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust or the
applicable class or classes or series or series of such voting
securities.
“Person”
shall mean and include natural persons, corporations, partnerships, trusts,
limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities,
whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political
subdivisions thereof.
“Prospectus”
shall mean the currently effective Prospectus of the Trust, if any, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Shareholders”
shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares
of the Trust at such time.
“Shares”
shall mean the transferable units of beneficial interest in the Trust and
includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. All references to Shares
shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all or series thereof as the context
may
require.
“Trust”
shall mean the trust established by this Declaration, as amended from time
to
time, inclusive of each such amendment.
“Trustees”
shall mean the signatory to this Declaration, so long as he shall continue
in
office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the
time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as
trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in
office.
“Trust
Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or
for
the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
The
“1933
Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and exemptions therefrom covering the Trust and its
affiliated persons, as amended from time to time.
The
“1940
Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and exemptions therefrom, as amended from time to
time.
1.3 Purpose
and Powers of Trust.
The
Trust is established for the purpose of engaging in any activity not prohibited
by Delaware law and shall have the power to engage in any such activity and
in
any activity incidental or related to any such activity.
ARTICLE
II
Trustees
2.1 Number
and Qualification.
Prior
to a public offering of Shares, there may be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the
number of Trustees shall be such number, not less than three or more than
fifteen, as shall be set forth in a written instrument signed or adopted by
a
majority of the Trustees then in office. No reduction in the number of Trustees
shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the
expiration of his term. An individual nominated as a Trustee shall be at least
21 years of age and shall not be under a legal disability. Trustees need not
own
Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
2
2.2 Term
and Election.
The
Board of Trustees shall be divided into three classes. Within the limits
specified in Section 2.1, the number of the Trustees in each class shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees. The initial term of office
of
the first class shall expire on the date of the first annual meeting of
Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof. The initial term of office
of
the second class shall expire on the date of the second annual meeting of
Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof. The initial term of office
of
the third class shall expire on the date of the third annual meeting of
Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof. Upon expiration of the initial
term of office of each class as set forth above and the expiration of each
subsequent term of office of such class, the number of Trustees in such class,
as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be elected for a term expiring
on
the date of the third annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in
lieu
thereof following such expiration to succeed the Trustees whose terms of office
expire. The Trustees shall be elected at an annual meeting of the Shareholders
or special meeting in lieu thereof called for that purpose, except as provided
in Section 2.4 of this Article, and each Trustee elected shall hold office
until
his or her successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified, except
as
provided in Section 2.3.
2.3 Resignation
and Removal.
Any
Trustee may resign his trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered or mailed to the
Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall
be
effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of
the
instrument. Any Trustee may be removed (provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required
by Section 2.1 hereof), for or without cause, at any time by a written
instrument, signed or adopted by two-thirds of the remaining Trustees, or by
vote of Shares having not less than two-thirds of the aggregate number of Shares
entitled to vote in the election of such Trustee, specifying the date when
such
removal shall become effective. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee,
or
such persons otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, such persons 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, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on
such Trustee’s behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as
provided in the preceding sentence.
2.4 Vacancies.
The
term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the
event of the death, resignation, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other
incapacity to perform the duties of the office, or removal, of a Trustee.
Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, the remaining Trustees
may fill such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications
described in this Article by a written instrument signed or adopted by a
majority of the Trustees then in office or by election by the Shareholders,
or
may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of Trustees (provided
the aggregate number of Trustees after such reduction shall not be less than
the
minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof). Any vacancy created by an
increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of an individual having
the qualifications described in this Article made by a written instrument signed
by a majority of the Trustees then in office or by election by the Shareholders.
No vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy
in
the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided
herein, 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 this Declaration.
3
2.5 Meetings.
Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the
Chairman, if any, the President, the Secretary or any three Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place
fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other
meeting shall be mailed not less than 48 hours before the meeting or otherwise
actually delivered orally or in writing not less than 24 hours before the
meeting, but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either before or after
such
meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver
of
notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that
the
meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. The Trustees may act with
or
without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be a majority
of the Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration of Trust, any
action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the
Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written
consent of a majority of the Trustees or such other proportion as shall be
specified herein for action at a meeting at which all Trustees then in office
are present.
Any
committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act
with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee
shall
be a majority of the members thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this
Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by
vote
of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a
meeting by written consent of a majority of the members or such other proportion
as shall be specified herein for action at a meeting at which all committee
members are present.
With
respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees
who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not
prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All
or
any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any
committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting except as otherwise
provided by the 1940 Act.
2.6 Officers.
The
Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may elect
a
Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their
successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize
the
Chairman, if any, or President to appoint such other officers or agents with
such other titles and powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A
Chairman shall, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not,
be
a Trustee.
ARTICLE
III
Powers
and Duties of Trustees
3.1 General.
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 Declaration. The Trustees
shall
have power to engage in any activity not prohibited by Delaware law. The
enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting
the
aforesaid power. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion
are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The powers of the Trustees
may be exercised without order of or resort to any court. No Trustee shall
be
obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of
his
duties or powers hereunder.
4
3.2 Investments.
The
Trustees shall have power to:
(a) manage,
conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company, and
exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such
operations;
(b) subscribe
for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell,
assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any
and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited
to
securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer,
evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests,
instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers
and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such
investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the
right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate
one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by any
law
limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
3.3 Legal
Title.
Legal
title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trustees as joint tenants
except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust
Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in
the
name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, custodian
or
pledgee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided that the interest
of the Trust therein is appropriately protected.
The
right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due
election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee
for
any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title
or
interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of
such
Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining
Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or
not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance
and Repurchase of Shares.
Subject
to the provisions of this Declaration and applicable law, the Trustees shall
have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer and otherwise deal in, Shares,
including Shares in fractional denominations, to hold reacquired shares as
treasury shares or otherwise, or to cancel the same, and to apply to any such
repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any
funds or property, whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full extent
now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware governing
business corporations.
3.5 Borrow
Money.
The
Trustees shall have the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or
utilize leverage in connection with the activities of the Trust to the maximum
extent permitted by law, regulation or order and to secure the same by
mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the
Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee
or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any
other person, firm, association or corporation.
3.6 Collection
and Payment.
The
Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay
all
claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees
or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise
or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the
Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any
security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property
is
owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.
Except to the extent required for a Delaware business corporation, the
Shareholders shall have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action,
legal proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the
Shareholders.
5
3.7 Expenses.
The
Trustees shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the
Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or
appropriate to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the
business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of
the
Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of
all
officers, employees and Trustees. The Trustees may pay themselves such
compensation for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating
and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of the
Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine,
to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges
of
distribution, of the custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar
agent, a pro rata amount as defined from time to time by the Trustees, by
setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid
dividends or distributions 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.
3.8 By-Laws.
The
Trustees may adopt and from time to time amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct
of the business of the Trust. Such By-Laws shall be binding on the Trust and
the
Shareholders unless inconsistent with the provisions of this Declaration. The
Shareholders shall not have authority to adopt or amend By-Laws.
3.9 Officers
and Agents.
The
Trustees may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they deem appropriate, in accordance with this Declaration of Trust
and the By-Laws.
3.10 Miscellaneous
Powers.
The
Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons
as
the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the
Trust, including investment advisors, administrators, custodians, transfer
agents, shareholder services providers, accountants, counsel, brokers, dealers
and others; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other
combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property,
insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees,
agents, investment advisors, distributors, selected dealers or independent
contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any
such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person
in
such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability;
(d)
establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement,
incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents
of
the Trust; (e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for
charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes;
(f)
to the extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify any Person with whom the
Trust has dealings, including without limitation any investment adviser,
administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or selected
dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the
Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations
of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method
in which its accounts shall be kept; (i) adopt a seal for the Trust but the
absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed
on
behalf of the Trust; (j) adopt any policy of the Trust and designate the same
as
fundamental or not fundamental; and (k) set record dates in the manner provided
for herein or in the By-Laws.
6
3.11 Delegation;
Committees.
The
Trustees shall have the power, consistent with their continuing exclusive
authority over the management of the Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate
from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or agents
of
the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either
in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the
Trustees may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees
each of which shall have all or such lesser portion of the power and authority
of the entire Board of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to
time, except to the extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular
Trustees is required by the 0000 Xxx.
3.12 Further
Powers.
The
Trustees shall have the 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, and in any and all commonwealths,
territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities
of the United States of America and of foreign governments, 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 Declaration, the presumption shall be
in
favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
ARTICLE
IV
Limitations
of Liability and Indemnification
4.1 No
Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc.
No
Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal
liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the
acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same
limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private
corporation for profit incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such
capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with
Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust, save only liability to the Trust
or
its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence
or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing
exception, all Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction
of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust.
If
any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust, as such, is made a party
to
any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing
exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal
liability.
4.2 Mandatory
Indemnification.
(a) The
Trust
shall indemnify the Trustees and officers of the Trust (each such person being
an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in
satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and
reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection
with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether
civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body
in
which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise (other than,
except as authorized by the Trustees, as the plaintiff or complainant) or with
which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set
forth above in this Section 4.2 by reason of his having acted in any such
capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted
in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest
of the Trust or, in the ease of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall
have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided,
however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability
to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful
misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence (negligence in the ease
of
Affiliated Indemnitees), or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved
in
the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through
(iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily
prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory
only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such
indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the Trustees.
7
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has
been
a determination (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body
of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to
indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i)
a
majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons
of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”),
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) if such
quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs,
independent legal counsel in a written opinion conclude that the indemnitee
should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make
advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding
shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding
paragraph (e) below.
(c) The
Trust
shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any
action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the
Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good
faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have
been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is
subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification and if
a
majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct
necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least
one
of the following conditions must be met: (1) the indemnitee shall provide
adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be insured against
losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a quorum
of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum
so
direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based
on
a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry),
that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately
will
be found entitled to indemnification.
(d) The
rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude
any
other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this
Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify Persons
providing services to the Trust to the full extent provided by law provided
that
such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the
Trustees.
4.3 No
Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc.
No
purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees
or
with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust 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,
undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and
every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall
be conclusively taken 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. The Trustees may maintain
insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem
adequate to cover possible liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees
in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940
Act.
8
4.4 Reliance
on Experts, etc.
Each
Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its
duties, 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, upon an opinion of counsel or upon
reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or employees or by any
advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant,
appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the
Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel
or other person may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE
V
Shares
of Beneficial Interest
5.1 Beneficial
Interest.
The
beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into an unlimited number
of
transferable shares, and each share shall have no par value per share or such
other amount as the Trustees may establish. All Shares issued in accordance
with
the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection
with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and
nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any)
therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
5.2 Classes
and Series.
The
Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the holders of any
Shares of the Trust, to classify and reclassify issued and unissued Shares
into
one or more classes and one or more series of any or all of such classes, each
of which classes and series thereof shall have such designations, powers,
preferences, voting, conversion and other rights, limitations, qualifications
and terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine from time to time
with
respect to each such class or series; provided, however, that no
reclassification of any issued and outstanding Shares and no modifications
of
any of the designations, powers, preferences, voting, conversion or other
rights, limitations, qualifications and terms and conditions of any issued
and
outstanding Shares may be made by the Trustees without the affirmative vote
of
the holders of Shares specified in Section 7.3(a) to the extent required
thereby. The initial class of Shares of the Trust is hereby designated as
“Common Shares”, subject to redesignation as aforesaid. To the extent expressly
determined by the Trustees as aforesaid, all consideration received by the
Trust
for the issue or sale of Shares of a class, together with all income, earnings,
profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale,
exchange or liquidation thereof, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably belong to such class subject only to the rights of the creditors,
and all liabilities allocable to such class shall be charged
thereto.
5.3 Issuance
of Shares.
The
Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time without vote of the
Shareholders issue Shares of any class or any series of any such class to such
party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash
or property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may
determine, 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. The Trustees may from time to time divide or
combine the Shares of any class or any series of any such class into a greater
or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest
in such Shares. Issuances and repurchases of Shares may be made in whole Shares
and/or 1/1,000ths of a Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may
determine.
9
5.4 Rights
of Shareholders.
The
Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights in this Declaration
specifically set forth. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description
and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested
exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein
other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall
have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits,
rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume
any losses of the Trust or, subject to the right of the Trustees to charge
certain expenses directly to Shareholders, as provided in the last sentence
of
Section 3.7, suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership
of
Shares. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive,
appraisal, conversion or exchange rights (except as specified in this Section
5.4, in Section 7.4 or as specified by the Trustees in the designation or
redesignation of any class or series thereof of the Shares).
5.5 Trust
Only.
It is
the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and
beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It
is
not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited
partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of
legal
relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed
to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners
or
members of a joint stock association.
5.6 Register
of Shares.
A
register shall be kept at the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by
the
Trustees under the direction of the Trustees which shall contain the names
and
addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively
and a record of all transfers thereof. Separate registers shall be established
and maintained for each class and each series of each class. Each such register
shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares of the applicable
class and series and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions
or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder
shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to
have notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address
to a
transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep
the
register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be
issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize
the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore
and
rules and regulations as to their use.
5.7 Transfer
Agent and Registrar.
The
Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and
a
registrar or registrars, with respect to the Shares. The transfer agent or
transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record therein, the
original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer
agent and registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer
agents and registrars of stock in a corporation, as modified by the
Trustees.
5.8 Transfer
of Shares.
Shares
shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only by the record holder
thereof or by its agent thereto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to
the
Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust of a duly executed instrument of
transfer, together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution
and authorization and of other matters as may reasonably be required. Upon
such
delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.
Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be
the
holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor
any
transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust
shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.
10
Any
person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy
or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall
be
recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares
upon
production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent
of
the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be
deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the
Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence
or other operation of law.
5.9 Notices.
Any and
all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and
all
communications to any Shareholder shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last
known address as recorded on the applicable register of the Trust and may be
sent together with any such notice or other communication to another Shareholder
at the same address.
5.10 Net
Asset Value.
The
value of the assets of the Trust, the amount of liabilities of the Trust and
the
net asset value of each outstanding Common Share of the Trust shall be
determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine,
in
accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value
shall be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make net asset value
determinations and calculations may be delegated by the Trustees.
5.11 Distributions
to Shareholders.
(a) The
Trustees shall from time to time distribute among the Shares such proportion
of
the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital or assets held
by
the Trustees as they may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in the
instrument setting forth the terms of such Shares such class or series of
Shares, which need not be ratable with respect to distributions in respect
of
Shares of any other class or series thereof of the Trust. Such distributions
may
be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of
obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or any combination
thereof.
(b) Distributions
may be made to the Shareholders of record entitled to such distribution at
the
time such distribution is declared or at such later date as shall be determined
by the Trust prior to the date of payment.
(c) The
Trustees may always retain from any source such amount as they may deem
necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations
of
the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of
its
affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business
of
the Trust.
ARTICLE
VI
Shareholders
6.1 Meetings
of Shareholders.
The
Trust may, but shall not be required to, hold annual meetings of the holders
of
any class or series of Shares. Any meeting of Shareholders shall be held within
or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees
shall designate.
6.2 Voting.
Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which
a
vote of Shares is required by applicable law, this Declaration or resolution
of
the Trustees. Any matter required to be submitted for approval of any of the
Shares and affecting one or more classes or series shall require approval by
the
required vote of Shares of the affected class or classes and series voting
together as a single class and, if such matter affects one or more classes
or
series thereof differently from one or more other classes or series thereof
or
from one or more series of the same class, approval by the required vote of
Shares of such other class or classes or series or series voting as a separate
class shall be required in order to be approved with respect to such other
class
or classes or series or series; provided, however, that except to the extent
required by the 1940 Act, there shall be no separate class votes on the election
or removal of Trustees or the selection of auditors for the Trust. Shareholders
of a particular class or series thereof shall not be entitled to vote on any
matter that affects the rights or interests of only one or more other classes
or
series of such other class or classes or only one or more other series of the
same class. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal
of
Trustees.
11
6.3 Notice
of Meeting, Shareholder Proposals and Record Date.
Notice
of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the
meeting, shall be given by the Trustees to each Shareholder of record entitled
to vote thereat at its registered address, sent at least 10 days before the
meeting or otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Except with respect
to
an annual meeting, at which any business required by the 1940 Act may be
conducted, only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be
considered at the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned one
or
more times without further notice not later than 130 days after the record
date.
For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice
of
and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may, without closing the transfer books,
fix a date not more than 120 days prior to the date of such meeting of
Shareholders as a record date for the determination of the Persons to be treated
as Shareholders of record for such purposes.
6.4 Quorum
and Required Vote.
(a) The
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Trust on the record
date
present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the
Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of all
Shareholders of the Trust is being taken. The holders of a majority of the
outstanding Shares of a class or classes on the record date present in person
or
by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders of such
class or classes for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of
Shareholders of such class or classes is being taken. The holders of a majority
of the outstanding Shares of a series or series on the record date present
in
person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders
of such series or series for purposes of conducting business on which a vote
of
Shareholders of such series or series is being taken. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will be included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is
present. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as votes present
at a
Shareholders’ meeting, but will not be treated as votes cast. Abstentions and
broker non-votes, therefore, will have no effect on proposals which require
a
plurality or majority of votes cast for approval, but will have the same effect
as a vote “against” on proposals requiring any percentage of the outstanding
voting securities of the Trust for approval.
(b) Subject
to any provision of applicable law, this Declaration or resolution of the
Trustees specifying or requiring a greater or lesser vote requirement for the
transaction of any matter of business at any meeting of Shareholders, (i) the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the Shares entitled to vote for the election
of any Trustee or Trustees shall be the act of such Shareholders with respect
to
the election of such Trustee or Trustees, (ii) the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled
to
vote on any other matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect
to
such matter, and (iii) where a separate vote of one or more classes or series
is
required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of
such
class or classes or series or series present in person or represented by proxy
and entitled to vote on such matter shall be the act of the Shareholders of
such
class or classes or series or series with respect to such matter.
12
6.5 Proxies,
etc.
At any
meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may
vote
by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall
have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or
agent
of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time
at
which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the
Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one
or
more of the officers or employees of the Trust. Only Shareholders of record
shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and
each fractional Share shall be entitled to a vote equal to its fraction of
a
full Share. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them
may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but
if
more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy,
and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to
be
east, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy
purporting to be given by or on behalf of a Shareholder of record on the record
date for a meeting shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its
exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
If
the holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject
to guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the
charge or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other
person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person
or
by proxy. The Trustees shall have the authority to make and modify from time
to
time regulations regarding the validity of proxies. In addition to signed
proxies, such regulations may authorize facsimile, telephonic, Internet and
other methods of appointing a proxy that are subject to such supervision by
or
under the direction of the Trustees as the Trustees shall
determine.
6.6 Reports.
The
Trustees shall cause to be prepared and sent to Shareholders at least annually
and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law, regulation
or
any exchange on which Shares are listed, a report of operations containing
financial statements of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and applicable law.
6.7 Shareholder
Action by Written Consent.
Any
action which may be taken by Shareholders by vote may be taken without a meeting
if the holders of all of the Shares entitled to vote thereon consent to the
action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the
meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as
a
vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
ARTICLE
VII
Duration:
Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers, Etc.
7.1 Duration.
Subject
to termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 hereof, the
Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence.
7.2 Termination.
(a) The
Trust
may be dissolved, after two thirds of the Trustees have approved a resolution
therefor, upon approval by Shares having at least 75% of the votes of all of
the
Shares outstanding on the record date for such meeting, voting as a single
class, except to the extent required by the 1940 Act. Upon the dissolution
of
the Trust:
13
(i) The
Trust
shall carry on no further business except for the purpose of winding up its
affairs.
(ii) The
Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers
of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of
the
Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge
the
contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange,
merger where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of
all
or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public
or
private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash,
securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities
and
do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any
sale,
conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property
of
the Trust shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction
and
the nature and amount of the consideration with the same vote as required for
dissolution pursuant to paragraph (a) above.
(iii) 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 may distribute the remaining Trust
Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according
to
their respective rights.
(b) After
the
winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders
as
herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the
records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such
termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust,
the
Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties
hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon
cease.
7.3 Amendment
Procedure.
(a) Other
than Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.8, 6.1, 6.7, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6 and other
than
as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 7.3(a), this Declaration
may
be amended, after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution
therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority
of
the affected Shares outstanding on the record date and present and voting on
such amendment. Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.8, 6.1, 6.7, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6
may
be amended, after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor
by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the affected
Shares outstanding on the record date. The Trustees also may amend this
Declaration without any vote of Shareholders for any of the purposes set forth
in Section 6.2, to change the name of the Trust or any class or series, to
make
any change that does not adversely affect the relative rights or preferences
of
any class or series of Shares or to conform this Declaration to the requirements
of the 1940 Act or any other applicable law, but the Trustees shall not be
liable for failing to do so.
(b) Nothing
contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration
to
impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon
Shareholders.
14
(c) An
amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and,
if
required, Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of
such
adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees
or
Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification signed by a majority of the
Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by
the
Trustees and, if required, Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the
Declaration, as amended, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall
be
conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the
Trust
or at such other time designated by the Board.
Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, until such time as Shares are issued and
outstanding, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by
the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by
a
majority of the Trustees.
7.4 Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets.
Subject
to Section 7.6, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other corporation,
association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all
or
substantially all of the Trust Property or the property, including its goodwill,
upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized
by two-thirds of the Trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of the
holders of not less than 75% of the affected Shares outstanding on the record
date for the meeting of Shareholders to approve such transaction, and any such
merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be determined for all
purposes to have been accomplished under and pursuant to the statutes of the
State of Delaware.
7.5 Redemption;
Conversion of Investment Company.
No
holder of Shares of any class or series, other than in accordance with the
provisions of Section 23(c) (excluding Rule 23c-3 thereunder) of the 1940 Act
and other than to the extent expressly determined by the Trustees with respect
to Shares qualifying as preferred stock pursuant to Section 18(a) of the 1940
Act, shall have any right to require the Trust or any person controlled by
the
Trust to purchase any of such holder’s Shares. The Trust may be converted at any
time from a “closed-end investment company” to an “open-end investment company”
as those terms are defined by the 1940 Act or a company obligated to repurchase
shares under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act (and “interval company”), upon the
approval of such a proposal, together with the necessary amendments to this
Declaration to permit such a conversion, by a majority of the Trustees then
in
office, by the holders of not less than 75% of the Trust’s outstanding Shares
entitled to vote thereon and by such vote or votes of the holders of any class
or classes or series of Shares as may be required by the 1940 Act. From time
to
time, the Trustees may consider recommending to the Shareholders a proposal
to
convert the Trust from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” or
“interval company.” Upon the recommendation and subsequent adoption of such a
proposal and the necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a
conversion of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall,
upon complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become
an
“open-end investment company.”
7.6 Certain
Transactions.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions provided
in paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions described in
paragraph (c) of this Section shall require the affirmative vote or consent
of
the holders of eighty percent (80%) of the Shares of each class outstanding
and
entitled to vote, voting as a class, when a Principal Shareholder (as defined
in
paragraph (b) of this Section) is a party to the transaction. Such affirmative
vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders
of
Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class or series of
preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any agreement between
the Trust and any national securities exchange.
15
(b) The
term
“Principal Shareholder” shall mean any Person which is the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares
and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in
clause (ii) below, of such Person. For the purposes of this Section, in addition
to the Shares which a Person beneficially owns directly, (a) any Person shall
be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the right
to
acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or
warrants, or otherwise (but excluding share options granted by the Trust) or
(ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares
deemed owned through application of clause (i) above), by any other Person
with
which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
or
disposing of Shares, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as those terms
are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date of initial adoption
of
this Declaration, and (b) the outstanding Shares shall include Shares deemed
owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not include
any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon
exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise.
(c) This
Section shall apply to the following transactions:
(i) The
merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or
into
any Principal Shareholder.
(ii) The
issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash
(other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan or pursuant
to
any offering in which such Principal Shareholder acquires securities that
represent no greater a percentage of any class or series of securities being
offered than the percentage of any class of Shares beneficially owned by such
Principal Shareholder immediately prior to such offering or, in the case of
securities, offered in respect of another class or series, the percentage of
such other class or series beneficially owned by such Principal Shareholder
immediately prior to such offering).
(iii) The
sale,
lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust
to
any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value
of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all
assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within
a
twelve-month period.)
(iv) The
sale,
lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for
securities of the Trust of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except
assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000,
aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or
exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month
period).
(v) The
purchase by the Trust or any Person controlled by the Trust of any Common Shares
of the Trust from such Principal Shareholder or any person to whom such
Principal Shareholder shall have transferred such Common Shares.
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(d) The
provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the
transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if two-thirds of the
Board of Trustees of the Trust shall by resolution have approved a memorandum
of
understanding with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and substantially
consistent with such transaction prior to the time such Person shall have become
a Principal Shareholder, or (ii) any such transaction with any corporation
of
which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of a stock normally
entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of record or beneficially
by
the Trust and its subsidiaries and of which such Person is not a Principal
Shareholder.
(e) The
Board
of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of
this
Section on the basis of information known to the Trust whether (i) a Person
beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares, (ii)
a
Person is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the
assets being acquired or leased to or by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof
constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have an aggregate
fair market value of less than $1,000,000, and (iv) the memorandum of
understanding referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is substantially consistent
with the transaction covered thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes of this Section.
ARTICLE
VIII
Miscellaneous
8.1 References;
Headings; Counterparts.
In this
Declaration of Trust and in any restatements and/or amendments, references
to
this instrument and all expressions of similar effect to “herein,” “hereof’ and
“hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected
by any such restatements an/or amendments. Headings are placed herein for
convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control
or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. Whenever
the
singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the
neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable.
Any references herein to specific sections of the Delaware Statutory Trust
Act,
the Code or the 1940 Act shall refer to such sections as amended from time
to
time or any successor sections thereof.
8.2 Filing.
This
Declaration and any amendment (including any supplement) hereto shall be filed
in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each
amendment shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by
a
Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein,
and
shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all
amendments contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original
Declaration and all amendments theretofore made, may be executed from time
to
time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s
minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and
may
thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various
amendments thereto.
8.3 Resident
Agent.
The
Trust shall maintain a resident agent in the State of Delaware, which agent
shall initially be named in the Trust’s Certificate of Trust. The Trustees may
designate a successor resident agent, provided, however, that such appointment
shall not become effective until an amendment or other necessary document is
delivered to the office of the Secretary of State.
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8.4 Governing
Law.
This
Declaration is executed by a majority of the Trustees and delivered in the
State
of Delaware and with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all
parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be
subject to and construed according to the laws of said State and reference
shall
be specifically made to the business corporation law of the State of Delaware
as
to the construction of matters not specifically covered herein or as to which
an
ambiguity exists, although such law shall not be viewed as limiting the powers
otherwise granted to the Trustees hereunder and any ambiguity shall be viewed
in
favor of such powers.
8.5 Counterparts.
This
Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced
by
any such original counterpart.
8.6 Reliance
by Third Parties.
Any
certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the
Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration may be recorded,
appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity
of
Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization
of the execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed
at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of
Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written
instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of
any
By Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees,
or
(g) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs
of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in
favor of any person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
8.7 Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulation.
(a) The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of
the
Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision
shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration to the
extent of such conflict; 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.
(b) If
any
provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such
provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision
in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any
jurisdiction.
*
*
*
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed as
of
the day and year first above written.
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Title:
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Initial
Trustee
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