RIVERPARK FUNDS TRUST AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST June 22, 2010
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
June 22,
2010
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I NAME AND DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
Section
1.1.
|
Name
|
1
|
Section
1.2.
|
Definitions
|
1
|
Section
1.3.
|
Construction
|
4
|
ARTICLE
II TRUSTEES
|
4
|
|
Section
2.1.
|
Number
of Trustees
|
4
|
Section
2.2.
|
Term
and Election
|
4
|
Section
2.3.
|
Resignation
and Removal
|
4
|
Section
2.4.
|
Vacancies
|
5
|
Section
2.5.
|
Meetings
|
5
|
Section
2.6.
|
Officers;
Chairman
|
6
|
Section
2.7.
|
By-Laws
|
6
|
ARTICLE
III POWERS OF TRUSTEES
|
6
|
|
Section
3.1.
|
General
|
6
|
Section
3.2.
|
Activities
and Investments
|
6
|
Section
3.3.
|
Legal
Title
|
8
|
Section
3.4.
|
Sale
of Interests; Reclassification
|
8
|
Section
3.5.
|
Borrowing
Money; Pledging Trust Assets; Lending Property
|
8
|
Section
3.6.
|
Delegation;
Committees
|
8
|
Section
3.7.
|
Collection
and Payment
|
9
|
Section
3.8.
|
Expenses
|
9
|
Section
3.9.
|
Common
Items
|
9
|
Section
3.10.
|
Litigation
|
9
|
Section
3.11.
|
Tax
Matters
|
10
|
Section
3.12.
|
Miscellaneous
Powers
|
10
|
Section
3.13.
|
Manner
of Acting
|
10
|
Section
3.14.
|
Expenses
|
10
|
ARTICLE
IV INVESTMENT ADVISORY, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND PLACEMENT
AGENT ARRANGEMENTS; CUSTODIAN
|
11
|
|
Section
4.1.
|
Investment
Advisory and Other Arrangements
|
11
|
Section
4.2.
|
Parties
to Contract
|
11
|
Section
4.3.
|
Custodian
|
11
|
ARTICLE
V INTERESTS IN THE TRUST
|
12
|
|
Section
5.1.
|
Interests
|
12
|
Section
5.2.
|
Establishment
and Designation of Series
|
12
|
Section
5.3.
|
Rights
of Holders
|
13
|
Section
5.4.
|
Purchase
of or Increase in Interests
|
14
|
Section
5.5.
|
Register
of Interests
|
14
|
Section
5.6.
|
Transferability
of Interests
|
14
|
Section
5.7.
|
Notices
|
14
|
Section
5.8.
|
No
Liability of Holders
|
14
|
Section
5.9.
|
Classes
of Interests
|
15
|
i
ARTICLE
VI DECREASES AND WITHDRAWALS
|
15
|
|
Section
6.1.
|
Decreases
and Withdrawals
|
15
|
ARTICLE
VII DETERMINATION OF BOOK CAPITAL ACCOUNT BALANCES, NET INCOME
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
|
15
|
|
Section
7.1.
|
Determination
of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions
|
15
|
Section
7.2.
|
Redemptions
and Repurchases
|
16
|
Section
7.3.
|
Redemptions
at the Option of the Trust
|
16
|
ARTICLE
VIII LIABILITY FOR TRUST OBLIGATIONS
|
16
|
|
Section
8.1.
|
Liabilities
of Series
|
16
|
Section
8.2.
|
No
Personal Liability of Trustees.
|
17
|
Section
8.3.
|
Indemnification
|
17
|
Section
8.4.
|
No
Protection Against Certain 1940 Act Liabilities
|
18
|
Section
8.5.
|
No
Bond Required of Trustees
|
18
|
Section
8.6.
|
No
Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments
|
18
|
Section
8.7.
|
Insurance
|
19
|
Section
8.8.
|
Reliance
on Experts
|
19
|
Section
8.9.
|
Accounting
|
19
|
ARTICLE
IX HOLDERS
|
19
|
|
Section
9.1.
|
Meetings
of Holders
|
19
|
Section
9.2.
|
Notice
of Meetings
|
20
|
Section
9.3.
|
Record
Date for Meetings
|
20
|
Section
9.4.
|
Proxies
|
20
|
Section
9.5.
|
Reports
|
20
|
Section
9.6.
|
Inspection
of Records
|
21
|
Section
9.7.
|
Holder
Action by Written Consent
|
21
|
ARTICLE
X DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST OR SERIES; AMENDMENT; MERGERS;
ETC.
|
21
|
|
Section
10.1.
|
Duration
|
21
|
Section
10.2.
|
Dissolution
of Series or Trust
|
21
|
Section
10.3.
|
Termination
of Trust or Series.
|
21
|
Section
10.4.
|
Amendment
Procedure.
|
22
|
Section
10.5.
|
Merger,
Consolidation, Conversion and Sale of Assets.
|
22
|
ARTICLE
XI MISCELLANEOUS
|
23
|
|
Section
11.1.
|
Certificate
of Trust; Registered Agent.
|
23
|
Section
11.2.
|
Governing
Law
|
24
|
Section
11.3.
|
Counterparts
|
24
|
Section
11.4.
|
Reliance
by Third Parties
|
24
|
Section
11.5.
|
Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
|
24
|
Section
11.6.
|
Trust
Only
|
24
|
ii
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
June
22, 2010
THIS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of RiverPark Funds Trust is made as of the
22nd day of June, 2010.
WHEREAS,
the Trustees desire to establish a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act, 12 Del.
C. Section 3801, et seq. consisting of
one or more Series (as defined below) for the investment and reinvestment of
funds contributed thereto;
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby direct that the Certificate of Trust (as defined
below) be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and do hereby declare that all money and property hereafter contributed
to any Series (as defined below) established hereby shall be held and managed in
trust for the benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of beneficial interests
issued hereunder with respect to such Series from time to time and subject to
the provisions hereof.
ARTICLE
I
Section
1.1. Name. The
name of the trust established hereby (the βTrustβ) is βRiverPark Funds Trust,β
and, insofar as may be practicable, 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.
(a) βActβ
means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. Section 3801
et seq., as amended from
time to time.
(b) βAdministratorβ
means any party furnishing services to the Trust and any Series pursuant to any
administrative services contract described in Section 4.1.
(c) βAffiliated
Personβ has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940
Act.
(d) βAssistant
Secretaryβ means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to
Section 2.6.
(e) βAssistant
Treasurerβ means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to
Section 2.6.
(f) βBook
Capital Accountβ means, for any Holder at any time, the book capital account of
the Holder at such time with respect to such Holderβs interest in the Trust
Property of any Series or class, determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and the provisions of the 1940 Act, and each
Holder shall have a separate book capital account for each Series and class in
which it holds an Interest.
(g) βBy-Lawsβ
means the by-laws referred to in Section 2.7 hereof, as amended and in effect
from time to time.
(h) βCertificate
of Trustβ has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.1(a) hereof.
(i) βCodeβ
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations
thereunder, each as amended from time to time.
(j) βCommissionβ
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(k) βCustodianβ
means any party, other than the Trust or the Series, to any agreement described
in Section 4.3 hereof.
(l) βDeclarationβ
means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended and in effect from
time to time. Reference in this Agreement and Declaration of Trust to
βDeclaration,β βhereof,β βherein,β βherebyβ and βhereunderβ shall be deemed to
refer to this Agreement and Declaration of Trust rather than the
article or section in which such words appear.
(m) βFundamental
Policiesβ means, with respect to any Series, the investment policies and
restrictions applicable to such Series that are set forth and designated as
fundamental policies in the Registration Statement.
(n) βHoldersβ
means with respect to any Series or class at any particular time, all holders of
record of Interests of any Series or class at such time.
(o) βInstitutional
Investorβ means any registered investment company (including a unit investment
trust), insurance company separate account, common or commingled trust fund,
group trust or similar organization or entity that is an βaccredited investorβ
within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended from time to
time.
(p) βInterested
Personβ has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000
Xxx.
(q) βInterestsβ
means with respect to any Series or class, the interests in the Trust Property
of such Series or class, including all rights, powers and privileges accorded to
holders in this Declaration, which interests may be expressed as a percentage,
determined by calculating, as the Trustees shall from time to time determine,
the ratio of such holderβs Book Capital Account balance in the Trust Property of
such Series or class to the total of all holdersβ Book Capital Account balances
in the Trust Property of such Series or class. Reference herein to a
specific percentage in, or fraction of, Interests of the holders with respect to
any Series or class means holders whose combined Book Capital Accounts represent
such specified percentage, or fraction of, the Book Capital Accounts of all
holders of the Trust Property of such Series or class.
2
(r) βInvestment
Adviserβ means any party, other than the Trust or the Series, to any investment
advisory contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
(s) β1940
Actβ means the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
and regulations thereunder, each as amended from time to time, and any order or
orders thereunder which may from time to time be applicable to the
Trust.
(t) βPersonβ
means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts,
associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities,
and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(u) βPresidentβ
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(v) βRegistered
Agentβ means the Person appointed from time to time as such pursuant to Section
11.1
(w) βRegistration
Statementβ means the Trustβs currently effective Registration Statement under
the 1940 Act, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
(x) βSecretaryβ
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(y) βSeriesβ
means each series of the Trust established and designated under or in accordance
with Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act and the provisions of Article V hereof, each
of which shall be accounted for and maintained as a separate series of the
Trust.
(z) βSpecial
Meetingsβ means meetings of the Trustees called in accordance with Section
2.5.
(aa) βTreasurerβ
means the Person elected from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
2.6.
(bb) βTrustβ
means the master trust established hereby by whatever name it may be known,
inclusive of each and every Series established hereunder.
(cc) βTrust
Propertyβ means any and all assets, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
that are owned or held by the Trust, each and every asset of which shall be
allocated and belong to a specific Series to the exclusion of all other
Series.
3
(dd) βTrusteesβ
means the Persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed,
qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such individuals or
Persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE
II
4
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.
With
respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees
who are Interested Persons of the Trust within the meaning of Section 1.2 hereof
or otherwise interested in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section 2.5 and shall be entitled to vote to the extent
permitted 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, and participation in a meeting pursuant to such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
5
ARTICLE
III
Section
3.1. General. The
Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and
over the activities of the Trust and each Series to the fullest extent permitted
by Section 3806(a) of the Act and other applicable law, but with such powers of
delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees
shall have power to conduct the activities of the Trust and any Series and to
carry on their operations and maintain offices both within and outside of the
State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, and in
the District of Columbia, in any foreign country, 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
and each Series although such things are not herein specifically
mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the
Trust or any Series 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. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court
order to deal with Trust Property.
The
enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the
aforesaid powers. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised
without order of or resort to any court.
6
(a) to
conduct, operate and carry on the activities of an investment company, and, in
connection therewith:
(i) to
subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire and invest and reinvest in, to hold
for investment or otherwise, to sell, transfer, assign, negotiate, exchange,
lend or otherwise dispose of, and to turn to account or realize upon and
generally deal in and with, domestic or foreign securities (which term,
βsecurities,β shall include any and all bills, notes, bonds, debentures or other
obligations or evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit, bankers
acceptances, commercial paper, repurchase agreements or other money market
instruments; stocks, shares or other equity ownership interests, including
non-publicly traded or illiquid securities and those securities the disposition
of which is restricted under the Federal securities laws); convertible
securities; mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities; and warrants,
options or other instruments representing rights to subscribe for, purchase,
receive or otherwise acquire or to sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose
of, and scrip, certificates, receipts or other instruments evidencing any
ownership rights or interests in, any of the foregoing; and βforward
commitment,β βwhen issuedβ and βdelayed deliveryβ contracts for securities,
issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any governments, political subdivisions or
governmental authorities, agencies or instrumentalities, by any individuals,
firms, companies, corporations, syndicates, associations or trusts, or by any
other organizations or entities whatsoever, irrespective of their forms or the
names by which they may be described, whether or not they be organized and
operated for profit, and whether they be domestic or foreign with respect to the
State of Delaware or the United States of America); and
(ii) to
acquire and become the owner of or interested in any securities by delivering or
issuing in exchange or payment therefor, in any lawful manner, any of the Trust
Property; and
(iii) to
exercise while the owner of any securities or interests therein any and all of
the rights, powers and privileges of ownership of such securities or interests,
including any and all voting rights and rights of assent, consent or dissent
pertaining thereto, and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation,
protection, improvement and enhancement in value thereof; and
(iv) to
purchase, sell and hold currencies and enter into contracts for the future
purchase or sale of currencies, including forward foreign currency exchange
contracts; and
(v) to
enter into futures and forward contracts, and to purchase and write put and call
options on futures contracts, securities, currencies and securities indexes;
and
(vi) to
make loans to the extent provided in the Registration Statement from time to
time; and
(vii) to
engage in such other activities as may be disclosed in the Registration
Statement from time to time; and
7
(b) to
conduct, operate and carry on any other lawful activities which the Trustees, in
their sole and absolute discretion, consider to be (i) incidental to the
activities of the Trust and each Series as an investment company, (ii) conducive
to or expedient for the benefit or protection of the Trust or any Series or the
Holders, or (iii) calculated in any other manner to promote the interests of the
Trust or any Series or the Holders.
The
Trustees shall not be limited to investing in securities maturing before the
possible termination of the Trust or any Series, nor shall the Trustees be
limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by
fiduciaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
contained but consistent with the applicable investment objectives, the Trust
and each Series shall be managed in compliance with the requirements of the Code
applicable to regulated investment companies as though such requirements were
applied at the Series level.
8
Section
3.9. Common
Items. All expenses and other items of the Trust that are common to
more than one Series shall be borne by or allocated to such Series
proportionately based upon the relative net asset values of
each. Such common items shall include Trusteesβ fees; 1940 Act
registration expenses; organizational expenses of the Trust, exclusive of
organizational expenses attributable to any specific Series; and accounting
expenses relating to the Trust that are not attributable to any specific
Series.
9
10
ARTICLE
IV
INVESTMENT
ADVISORY, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND PLACEMENT AGENT ARRANGEMENTS;
CUSTODIAN
Section
4.1. Investment
Advisory and Other Arrangements. The Trustees may in their
discretion, from time to time, cause any Series to separately enter into
investment advisory and administrative services contracts or placement agent
agreements whereby the other party to such contract or agreement shall undertake
to furnish to such Series specified therein such investment advisory,
administrative, placement agent and/or other services as the Trustees shall,
from time to time, consider desirable with respect to such Series and all upon
such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration,
the Trustees may authorize any Investment Adviser (subject to such general or
specific instructions as the Trustees may, from time to time, adopt) to effect
purchases, sales, loans or exchanges of Trust Property on behalf of any Series
or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such purchases,
sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of any such Investment
Adviser (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such
purchase, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by
all of the Trustees.
Section
4.2. Parties
to Contract. Any contract of the character described in Section 4.1
of this Article IV or in the By-Laws of the Trust may be entered into with any
corporation, firm, trust or 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; and no such contract shall be
invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such
relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by
reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust or any Series
under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized
directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into
was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article
IV or the By-Laws. The same Person may be the other party to
contracts entered into pursuant to Section 4.1 above or the By-Laws of the
Trust, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated
with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this
Section 4.2.
Section
4.3. Custodian. The
Trustees may appoint one or more banks or trust companies as custodian of the
securities and cash belonging to any Series. The agreement providing
for such appointment shall contain such terms and conditions as the Trustees in
their discretion determine to be not inconsistent with this Declaration, the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any applicable provisions of the
By-Laws of the Trust. One or more subcustodians may be appointed in a
manner not inconsistent with this Declaration, the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act and any applicable provisions of the By-Laws of the Trust.
11
ARTICLE
V
Pursuant
to Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act, the Trustees shall have authority, from time
to time, to establish Interests of a Series, each of which shall be separate and
distinct from the Interests in any other Series. The Series shall
include those Series specifically established and designated in Section 5.2
hereof, and such other Series as the Trustees may deem necessary or
desirable. The Trustees shall have exclusive power without the
requirement of Holder approval to establish and designate such separate and
distinct Series, and, subject to the provisions of this Declaration and the 1940
Act, to fix and determine the rights of Holders of Interests in such Series,
including with respect to the price, terms and manner of purchase and
redemption, dividends and other distributions, rights on liquidation, sinking or
purchase fund provisions, conversion rights and conditions under which the
Holders of the several Series shall have separate voting rights or no voting
rights.
The Trust
is a series trust pursuant to Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act, and each Series
shall be a separate series of the Trust within the meaning of Section 3806(b)(2)
of the Act. As such, in accordance with Section 3804(a) of the Act,
separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets
of the Trust associated with each Series shall be held and accounted for
separately from the other assets of the Trust or any other
Series. The debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred,
contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to each Series shall be
enforceable against the assets of such Series only, and not against the assets
of the Trust generally or the assets of any other Series, nor shall the assets
of any Series be charged with the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses
incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to another Series
or, except as otherwise provided herein, the Trust generally.
Without
limiting the authority set forth above of the Trustees to establish and
designate further Series, the Trustees hereby establish and designate five (5)
Series, as set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto, which Schedule may be
amended from time to time. The Interests of each of these Series and
any Interests of any subsequent Series that may from time to time be established
and designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise determine
with respect to some further Series at the time of establishing and designating
the same) have the following relative rights and preferences:
12
Such
consideration, assets, 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, are herein referred to as βassets belonging toβ
that Series. No Series shall have any right to or interest in the
assets belonging to any other Series, and no Holder shall have any right or
interest with respect to the assets belonging to any Series in which it does not
hold an Interest.
Section
5.3. Rights
of Holders. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description
and the right to conduct any activities hereinbefore described shall be vested
exclusively in the Trust, and the Holders shall have no interest therein other
than the beneficial interest conferred by their Interests, and they shall have
no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights
or interests of the Trust or any Series. No Holder shall have any
interest in or rights with respect to any Series in which it does not hold an
Interest. The Interests shall be personal property giving only the
rights specifically set forth in this Declaration. The Holders shall
have no right to demand payment for their Interests or any other rights of
dissenting shareholders in the event the Trust participates in any transaction
that would give rise to appraisal or dissenterβs rights by a shareholder of a
corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
or otherwise. Holders shall have no preemptive or other rights to
subscribe for additional Interests or other securities issued by the
Trust. No action may be brought by a Holder on behalf of the Trust or
any Series thereof unless Holders owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25% of
the then-outstanding Interests of the Trust or such Series join in the bringing
of such action. All Persons, by virtue of acquiring an Interest in
the Trust and being registered as a Holder in accordance with Section 5.5
hereof, shall be deemed to have assented to, and shall be bound by, this
Declaration to the same extent as if such Person was a party
hereto.
13
14
The
establishment and designation of any class of Interests shall be effective upon
the execution by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust, pursuant
to authorization by a majority of the Trustees, of an instrument setting forth
such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of
such class. The Trustees may amend the By-Laws providing for class
votes and meetings and related matters. Notwithstanding anything set
forth in Section 5.9, classes of Interests within a Series shall not be required
to vote or receive distributions on a pro rata basis unless required by
applicable law or the terms of the instrument establishing such
class.
ARTICLE
VI
ARTICLE
VII
DETERMINATION
OF BOOK CAPITAL ACCOUNT BALANCES, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
7.1. Determination
of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. The Trustees, in
their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By-Laws or
in a duly adopted vote of the Trustees such bases and time for determining the
per share net asset value of the Interests of any Series or net income
attributable to the Interests of any Series, or the declaration and payment of
dividends and distributions on the Interests of any Series, as they may deem
necessary or desirable.
15
ARTICLE
VIII
Section
8.1. Liabilities
of Series. Without limitation of the provisions of Section 5.2(b)
hereof, but subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate
general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or services as herein provided,
the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or
otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable
against the assets of such Series only, and not against the assets of any other
Series or the Trust generally. Notice of this limitation on
liabilities among Series shall be set forth in the Certificate of Trust (whether
originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 3810 of the Act,
and upon the giving of such notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory
provisions of Section 3804(a) of the Act relating to such limitations (and the
statutory effect under Section 3804(a) of setting forth such notice in the
certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each
Series. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or
on behalf of a particular Series shall include a recitation limiting the
obligation represented thereby to that Series and its assets.
16
(b) Officers,
Employees or Agents of the Trust. The officers, employees and agents
of the Trust shall be entitled to the protection against personal liability for
the obligations of the Trust under Section 3803(c) of the Act without limiting
the foregoing, no officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the
Trust, its Holders or to any Trustee, officer, employee or agent thereof for any
action or failure to act (including the failure to compel in any way any former
or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for his or her own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her
duties.
(c) The
provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they expand or restrict the
duties and liabilities of the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the
Trust otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Holders to
modify to that extent such other duties and liabilities.
17
(i) the
Trustee, officer, employee or agent to be indemnified provides a security for
such Personβs undertaking;
(ii) the
Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances;
or
(iii) there
is a determination, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is
reason to believe that the Trustee, officer, employee or agent to be indemnified
ultimately will be entitled to indemnification, which determination shall be
made by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of
the Trust nor parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or by written opinion
from independent legal counsel approved by such Trustees.
18
ARTICLE
IX
Section
9.1. Meetings
of Holders. Meetings of the Holders may be called at any time by a
majority of the Trustees and shall be called by any Trustee upon written request
of Holders holding, in the aggregate, not less than one-third of the Interests
of a Series (if the meeting relates solely to that Series), or not less than
one-third of the
Interests of the Trust (if the meeting relates to the Trust and not solely to a
particular Series), such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which
such meeting is to be called; provided, however, that if a
purpose of such meeting is to remove and/or elect a Trustee or Trustees, then
such meeting shall be called by any Trustee upon written request of Holders
holding, in the aggregate, not less than ten percent (10%) of the Interests of
the Trust. Any such meeting shall be held within or outside of the
State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall
designate. Holders of at least one-third of the
Interests of the Series (if the meeting relates solely to that Series) or
Holders of at least one-third of the Interests of the Trust (if the meeting
relates to the Trust and not solely to a particular Series), present in person
or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business,
except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law or
by this Declaration or the By-Laws. If a quorum is present at a
meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders present, in person or by proxy,
holding a majority Interests of the Holders present, either in person or by
proxy, at such meeting constitutes the action of the Holders, unless the 1940
Act, other applicable law, this Declaration or the By-Laws require a greater
number of affirmative votes.
19
20
ARTICLE
X
DURATION;
TERMINATION OF TRUST OR SERIES; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC.
Section
10.1. Duration. Subject
to possible dissolution or termination in accordance with Sections 10.2 and
10.3, respectively, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual
existence.
Section
10.2. Dissolution
of Series or Trust. Any Series shall be dissolved by unanimous
consent/resolution adopted by a majority of the Trustees by notice of
dissolution to the Holders of the Interests of the Series. The Trust
shall be dissolved upon the dissolution of the last remaining
Series.
Section
10.3. Termination
of Trust or Series.
(a) Upon
an event of dissolution of the Trust or a Series, the Trust or Series shall be
terminated in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The
Trust or Series, as applicable shall thereafter carry on no business except for
the purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The
Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or Series, as
applicable in accordance with Section 3808 of the Act, and all of the powers of
the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the
Trust or Series, as applicable shall have been wound up, including the power to
fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or Series, as applicable,
collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or assets belonging
to the Series, as applicable 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, discharge or pay its liabilities, and to do all
other acts appropriate to liquidate its business.
21
(iii) After
paying or adequately providing for the payment of the Trust or all liabilities
belonging to the Series subject of termination 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 or assets
belonging to such Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Holders
of the Trust or such Series, as applicable, according to their Book Capital
Accounts in the Trust or such Series, as applicable. In all cases, as
herein provided, the rights of Holders of Interests in a Series upon termination
and liquidation of that Series shall be limited to the assets belonging to that
Series.
(b) After
termination of the Trust or Series, as applicable, and distribution to the
Holders 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. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees
shall file a certificate of cancellation in accordance with Section 3810 of the
Act and such Trustees shall, subject to Section 3808 of the Act, thereupon be
discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and
interests of all Holders shall thereupon cease.
Section
10.4. Amendment
Procedure.
(a) Two-thirds
(2/3) or more of the Trustees then in office may amend this Declaration at any
time for any purpose without the approval of the Holders of Interests; provided,
that the vote or a written or other legally permissible form of consent of
Holders holding, in the aggregate, a majority of the outstanding Interests or of
Holders of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the Interests voting or consenting, if
Holders of at least a majority of such Interests vote or consent, shall be
necessary to approve any amendment whenever such vote or consent is required
under the 1940 Act.
(b) Nothing
contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to
impair any exemption from personal liability of Holders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust set forth in the Act, this Declaration or the
By-Laws of the Trust.
(c) A
certificate signed by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary
of the Trust, setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted
by the Holders or by the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, as
amended, certified by a Trustee or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of
the Trust, certifying that such Declaration is a true and correct copy of the
Declaration as amended, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when
lodged among the records of the Trust.
Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, until such time as Interests are first sold to an
Institutional Investor, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any
respect by vote or written consent of the Trustees.
Section
10.5. Merger,
Consolidation, Conversion and Sale of Assets.
22
(a) The
Trust may convert or merge into or consolidate with any corporation,
association, other trust or other organization or the Trust or any Series
thereof may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust
Property or assets, as applicable, belonging to such Series, including its good
will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as
authorized by vote or written or other legally permissible form of consent of
two-thirds (2/3) or more of the Trustees then in office; provided that any sale,
conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Trust Property or all or substantially all
of the assets belonging to a particular Series other than for cash, shall
require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and
amount of the consideration by the vote at a meeting, or by written consent, of
Holders holding, in the aggregate, a majority of the outstanding Interests of
the Trust or Series, as the case may be, entitled to vote. In
accordance with Section 3815(f) of the Act, an agreement of merger or
consolidation may effect any amendment to this Declaration or the By-Laws or
effect the adoption of a new declaration or by-laws of the Trust if the Trust is
the surviving or resulting entity.
(b) The
Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or
corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or any other trust, partnership,
association or other organization to take over all of the Trust Property, or
Series thereof, or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust
Property or Series thereof to any such corporation, trust, association or
organization in exchange for the equity interests thereof or otherwise, and to
lend money to, subscribe for the equity interests of, and enter into any
contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or
organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, association or
organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire equity
interests. The Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation
between the Trust or any successor thereto and any such corporation, trust,
partnership, association or other organization if and to the extent permitted by
law, as provided under the law then in effect. Nothing contained
herein shall be construed as requiring approval of the Holders for the Trustees
to organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts,
partnerships, associations or other organizations and selling, conveying or
transferring a portion of the Trust Property to such organizations or
entities.
ARTICLE
XI
(a) The
Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver, and shall
file a certificate of trust in accordance with Section 3810 of the Act (the
βCertificate of Trustβ).
(b) The
Trust shall comply with Section 3807(b) of the Act by having and maintaining a
registered office in Delaware and by designating a registered agent for service
of process on the Trust, which agent shall have the same business office as the
Trustβs registered office. The Trust initially appoints National
Corporate Research, Ltd. as the Registered Agent of the Trust.
23
Section
11.2. Governing
Law. This Declaration is executed by all of the Trustees and
delivered with reference to the Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, and
the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision
hereof shall be governed by, subject to and construed according to the Act and
the laws of the State of Delaware (unless and to the extent otherwise provided
for and/or preempted by the 1940 Act or other applicable Federal
securities laws); provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the
Trust, the Trustees, the Holders or this Declaration (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 Act) pertaining
to trusts that are inconsistent with the rights, duties, powers, limitations or
liabilities of the Trustees or the Holders set forth or referenced in this
Declaration.
Section
11.5. Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions are in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Code, the Act or, consistent with Section 11.2, any other applicable Delaware
law regarding administration of trusts, or with other applicable laws and
regulations, the conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such law
or regulation to the extent necessary to eliminate 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 pertain 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.
24
Schedule
I
Series
RiverPark Large Growth
Fund
RiverPark/Wedgewood Fund
RiverPark Small Cap Growth
Fund
RiverPark Short Term High Yield
Fund
RiverPark/Gravity Long-Biased Fund