Exhibit a
Agreement and Declaration of Trust
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
PHOENIX STRATEGIC EQUITY SERIES FUND
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into as of
the date set forth below by the Trustees named hereunder for the purpose of
forming a Delaware business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter
set forth,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Initial Trustee hereby directs that the Certificate
of Trust be filed with Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, and the Initial Trustee does hereby declare that the Trustees will
hold in trust all cash, securities and other assets that the Trust now possesses
or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose
of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the
holders of Shares in the Trust.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
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Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as "Phoenix Strategic
Equity Series Fund" and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust
under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise
required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended
from time to time, which By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference
as part of the "governing instrument" within the meaning of the Delaware Act;
(b) "Certificate of Trust" means the certificate of trust, as
amended or restated from time to time, filed by the Trustees in the Office of
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware
Act;
(c) "Class" means a class of Shares of a Series of the Trust
established in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;
(d) Commission" and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the
meanings given them in the 1940 Act;
(e) "Declaration of Trust" means this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(f) "Delaware Act" means the Delaware Business Trust Act, 12
Del. C. Sections 3801 et seq., as amended from time to time;
(g) "Initial Trustee" means the person or persons who have
signed this Declaration of Trust;
(h) "Manager" means a party furnishing services to the Trust
pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 9(a) hereof;
(i) "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(j) "Person" means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities,
whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political
subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;
(k) "Series" means each Series of Shares established and
designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(l) "Shareholder" means a record owner of outstanding Shares;
(m) "Shares" means the Shares of beneficial interest into
which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time
and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(n) "Trust" means the Delaware business trust established
under the Delaware Act by this Declaration of Trust and the filing of the
Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
(o) "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, that is from time to time owned or held by or
for the account of the Trust; and
(p) "Trustees" means the Initial Trustee, and all other
Persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve as
Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, in each case so long as such
Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms of this Declaration
of Trust, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such
Person or Persons in her or his or their capacity as trustees hereunder.
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ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
----------------
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the
business of a management investment company registered under the 1940 Act
through one or more Series investing primarily in securities, and to carry on
such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to
their authority under this Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE III
Shares
------
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in
the Trust may be divided into one or more Series. Each Series may be divided
into one or more Classes. Subject to the further provisions of this Article III
and any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have full
power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining the
approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, (i) to divide the
beneficial interest in the Trust or in each Series or Class thereof into Shares,
with or without par value as the Trustees shall determine, (ii) to issue Shares
without limitation as to number (including fractional Shares), to such Persons
and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or securities, at
such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, (iii)
to establish and designate and to change in any manner any Series or Class
thereof and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and
privileges and business purpose of each Series or Class thereof as the Trustees
may from time to time determine, which preferences, voting powers, rights,
duties and privileges may be senior or subordinate to (or in the case of
business purpose, different from) any existing Series or Class thereof and may
be limited to specified property or obligations of the Trust or profits and
losses associated with specified property or obligations of the Trust, (iv) to
divide or combine the Shares of any Series or Class thereof into a greater or
lesser number, or issue dividends in Shares with respect to Shares of any Series
or Class, without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial
interest of the Shares of such Series or Class in the assets held with respect
to that Series or Class thereof, (v) to classify or reclassify any issued Shares
of any Series or Class thereof into Shares of one or more Series or Classes
thereof and (vi) to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the
Trustees may deem desirable.
Except as provided in this Declaration of Trust or in the resolution
establishing a Class or Series consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act,
each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest
in the net assets of such Series, and each holder of Shares of a Series shall be
entitled to receive such holder's pro rata share of distributions of income and
capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of the
Shares of any Series or Class thereof, the applicable Shareholder shall be
entitled to be paid solely out of, the funds and property of such Series of the
Trust.
All references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed
to be Shares of any or all Series or Classes thereof, except as the context
otherwise requires. All provisions herein
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relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust and each
Class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.
All Shares issued hereunder, including, without limitation, Shares
issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of
Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable. Except as otherwise provided by
the Trustees, Shareholders shall have no appraisal, preemptive or other right to
subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The Ownership of Shares of each Series
and Class shall be recorded separately on the books of the Trust or by one or
more transfer, sub-transfer or similar agents on behalf of the Trust. No
certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the
Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such
rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the
transfer of Shares of each Series (or Class) and similar matters. The record
books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or by one or more transfer, sub-transfer
or similar agents, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of
the Shareholders of each Series (or Class) and as to the number of Shares of
each Series (or Class) held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Section 3. Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the
Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only by the
record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon delivery to the
Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of
transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such
evidence of the genuineness of the execution and authorization thereof as may be
required by the Trustees and of such other matters as may be required by the
Trustees. Upon such delivery, and subject to any further requirements specified
by the Trustees or contained in the By-Laws, the transfer shall be recorded on
the books of the Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of
record of Shares shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all
purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer
agent, Shareholder servicing agent or similar agent, any officer, employee or
agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.
Section 4. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the
Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such
consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize.
Section 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability.
Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided
in this instrument. Every shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder
shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The
death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder
during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor
entitle the representative of any such Shareholder to an accounting or to take
any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles
such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Trust.
Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the
whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or
division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares
constitute the Shareholders as
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partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent
of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor,
except as specifically provided herein, to call upon any Shareholder for the
payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the
Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay. Except as specifically
provided herein, no Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts,
liabilities, obligations or expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise
existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series or Class.
Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the
Trust or Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series or Class may include a
recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust or to one or
more Series and its respective assets (but the omission of such a recitation
shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust).
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series (or Class). The
Trustees may establish and designate one or more Series or Classes in their sole
discretion without obtaining the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or
Class thereof (except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act). The establishment
and designation of any Series (or Class) of Shares shall be effective upon the
adoption by a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution that sets forth such
establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such
Series (or Class), whether directly in such resolution or by reference to
another document including, without limitation, any registration statement of
the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution.
Shares of each Series (or Class) established pursuant to this Article
III, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series, shall
have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series or Class.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a
particular Series or Class thereof, together with all assets in which such
consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and
proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation,
any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and
any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever
form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series (or
Class) for all purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of
the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, 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 "assets held with respect to"
that Series (or Class thereof). In the event that there are any assets, income,
earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments that are not readily
identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively
"General Assets"), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between
or among any one or more of the Series (and the Classes thereof) in such manner
and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and
equitable, and any General Assets so allocated to a particular Series (and the
Classes thereof) shall be assets held with respect to that Series and such
Classes. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all Series and Classes for all purposes. Separate and
distinct records shall be
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maintained for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series shall
be held and accounted for separately from the assets held with respect to all
other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series.
(b) Liabilities Attributable to a Particular Series (or
Class). The assets of the Trust held with respect to each particular Series (or
Class thereof) shall be charged exclusively with the liabilities of the Trust
attributable to that Series or Class and all expenses, costs, charges and
reserves attributable to that Series or Class. Any general liabilities of the
Trust that are not readily identifiable as being attributable to any particular
Series (and the Classes thereof) shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees
to and among any one or more of the Series (and the Classes thereof) in such
manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and
equitable. All liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to
a Series (and the Classes thereof) are herein referred to as "liabilities
attributable to" that Series (or Class thereof). Each allocation of liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders of all Series and Classes for all purposes. All
liabilities attributable to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the
assets held with respect to such Series only and not against the assets of the
Trust generally or against the assets held with respect to any other Series.
Notice of this limitation on the liability of each Series shall be set forth in
the Certificate of Trust or in an amendment thereto prior to the issuance of any
Shares of a Series. To the extent that the Trustees, pursuant to Section 2 of
Article VII hereof, include a Class limitation on liability in any note, bond,
contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made with respect to any Class,
the parties to such note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking
shall look only to the assets attributable to such Class in satisfaction of the
liabilities arising thereunder and not to the assets attributable to any other
Class of the applicable Series.
(c) Dividends. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a
particular Series or any class thereof may be paid with such frequency as the
Trustees in their sole discretion may determine, which may be daily or otherwise
pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such
frequency as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine, to the holders
of Shares of that Series or Class, from such of the income and capital gains,
accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series, or in the case of
a Class, belonging to that Series and allocable to that Class, as the Trustees
in their sole discretion may determine, after providing for actual and accrued
liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and distributions
on Shares of a particular Series or Class thereof shall be distributed pro rata
to the holders of Shares of that Series or Class in proportion to the number of
Shares of that Series or Class held by such holders at the date and time of
record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions, except
that in connection with any dividend or distribution program or procedure and
when consistent with applicable law, the Trustees in their sole discretion may
determine that no dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to
which the Shareholder's purchase order and/or payment have not been received by
the time or times established by the Trustees under such program or procedure.
Such dividends and distributions may be made in cash or Shares of that Series or
Class or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees in their sole
discretion or pursuant to any program that the Trustees may have in effect at
the time for the election by each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such
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dividend or distribution to that Shareholder. The Trustees shall have full
discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which
items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such
determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders.
(d) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series (or Class
thereof) shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole
Share of that Series or Class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt
of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the
Trust.
(e) Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the
authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series (or Class
thereof), unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and
liabilities attributable to any two or more Series (or Classes) into assets and
liabilities attributable to a single Series or Class.
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or
former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand
relating to such Person being or having been a Shareholder, and not because of
such Person's acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or such
Person's heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in
the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general
successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the
assets of the Trust against all cost and expense reasonably incurred in
connection with such claim or demand, but only out of the assets held with
respect to the particular Series of Shares of which such Person is or was a
Shareholder and from or in relation to which such liability arose. The Trust
may, at its option and shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the
defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of
the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets held with respect to
the particular series.
ARTICLE IV
Trustees
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Section 1. Election of Trustees. Upon the issuance of beneficial
interests of the Trust, the initial shareholder of the Trust shall elect
Trustees of the Trust; to the extent that persons so elected are different from
the Initial Trustee, such persons shall replace the Initial Trustee as Trustees
of the Trust.
Section 2. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees shall
initially be one (1), who shall be Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx. After the initial
election of Trustees, the number of Trustees shall be eleven (11) or such other
number as shall, from time to time, be determined by the Trustees. Except as
described above with respect to the Initial Trustee, each Trustee shall serve
during the continued term of the Trust until she or he dies, resigns, is
declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or,
if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of
electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of
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her or his successor. In the event that less than the majority of the Trustees
holding office have been elected by the Shareholders, to the extent required by
the 1940 Act, the Trustees then in office shall call a Shareholders' meeting for
the election of Trustees. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written
instrument signed by her or him and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to
the Secretary of any meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be
effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time.
Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust,
no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any
compensation for any period following her or his resignation or removal, or any
right to damages on account of such removal. Any Trustee may be removed with or
without cause at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust or by a vote of two-thirds of the number of
Trustees prior to such removal.
Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from
any reason, including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement,
removal or incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in
the number of Trustees by the other Trustees may (but so long as there are at
least two remaining Trustees, need not unless required by the 0000 Xxx) be
filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject to the provisions of
Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, through the appointment in writing of such other
person as such remaining Trustees in their discretion shall determine and such
appointment shall be effective upon the written acceptance of the person named
therein to serve as a Trustee and agreement by such person to be bound by the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust, except to the extent that such
appointment or such acceptance provides that it shall be effective at a later
date or upon the occurrence of a later event.
Section 4. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination to serve, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or
more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke
any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Whenever there shall be fewer than the designated number of Trustees, until
additional Trustees are elected or appointed as provided herein to bring the
total number of Trustees equal to the designated number, 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
of Trust. As conclusive evidence of such vacancy, a written instrument
certifying the existence of such vacancy may be executed by an officer of the
Trust or by a majority of the Trustees then in office. In the event of the
death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of all the
then Trustees within a short period of time and without the opportunity for at
least one Trustee being able to appoint additional Trustees to replace those no
longer serving, the Trust's Managers are empowered to appoint new Trustees
subject to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
Section 5. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of
Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees; the Trustees
shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and
execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary
or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust, including the
power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may:
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(a) adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of
Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust
and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve
that right to the Shareholders;
(b) elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers
and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;
(c) appoint from their own number and establish and terminate
one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees which may exercise the
powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Board of
Trustees determine;
(d) provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the
Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise;
(e) redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to
applicable law;
(f) operate as and carry out the business of an investment
company, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of
such operations;
(g) invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to
subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold,
pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, purchase or write options
on, lend, enter into contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of, or
otherwise deal in or dispose of, securities, indices, currencies, commodities or
other property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all
types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments,
obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness,
commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances, and other
securities, commodities or contracts of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed,
or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states,
territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia
and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, the U.S.
Government or any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S.
Government or any foreign government, or any domestic or international
instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or
organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state,
territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization
organized under any foreign law, or in "when issued" contracts for any such
securities; to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; 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 instruments;
(h) sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate,
lease, or write options (including options on futures contracts) with respect to
or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of
the Trust or any Series or Class thereof;
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(i) vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership,
with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and
deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees
shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion
with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(j) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders
with respect to various matters, which, for purposes of determining the
Shareholders of any Series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or of any other distribution shall be on or before the date for the
payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for
determining the Shareholders of such Series (or Class) having the right to
receive such dividend or distribution; without fixing a record date, the
Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for
one or more Series (or Classes) at any time prior to the payment of a
distribution; nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the
Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or Classes);
(k) exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise
which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other property;
(l) hold any security or property in a form not indicating any
trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own
name or in the name of one or more custodians, sub-custodians, depositories,
nominees or otherwise;
(m) consent to or participate in any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any
security or property which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract,
lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and
to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or property held in
the Trust;
(n) join with other security or property holders in acting
through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that
connection to deposit any security or property with, or transfer any security or
property to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them
such power and authority with relation to any security or property (whether or
not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree
to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such
committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(o) compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor
of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including, but not limited
to, claims for taxes;
(p) enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnership
and any other combinations or associations;
(q) borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust
for the benefit of one or more Series and in connection therewith issue notes or
other evidences of indebtedness;
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and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property allocable to such Series or any
part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness;
(r) endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the
Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;
(s) purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such
insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of
the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the
assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio
investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or
independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and
liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being
in or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action
alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer,
employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent
contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to
constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to
indemnify such Person against liability;
(t) adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing,
Share bonus, Share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans and trusts, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity
contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or
all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(u) enter into contracts of any kind and description;
(v) interpret the investment policies, practices or
limitations of any Series;
(w) establish a registered office and have a registered agent
in the State of Delaware;
(x) invest all or any portion of the assets of any Series in
one or more other investment companies, including investment by means of
transfer of such assets in exchange for an interest or interests in such
investment company;
(y) subject to the 1940 Act, engage in any other lawful act o
activity in which a business trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage;
and
(z) in general, carry on any other business in connection with
or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, do everything necessary, suitable
or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object
or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone, through
their committees, officers and agents, or in association with others, and to do
every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or
connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.
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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 of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power
to the Trustees. Unless otherwise specified herein or in the By-Laws or required
by law, any action by the Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or
taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees at which a
quorum of Trustees is present, within or without the State of Delaware or in a
writing signed by a majority of Trustees then in office.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed as objects and powers, and the
foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict
in any manner the general power of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of
the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on
behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual
capacity.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing
before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series or
Classes thereof. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any
present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The
Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of
the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
Section 6. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are
authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the
Trust, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, as they deem
fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in
connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof,
including, but not limited to, the Trustees compensation and such expenses and
charges for the services of the Trust's officers, employees, Manager, Principal
Underwriters, auditors, counsel, custodians, transfer agents, Shareholder
servicing agents, and such other agents or independent contractors and such
other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to
incur, which expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities shall be allocated
in accordance with Article III, Section 6 hereof.
Section 7. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have
the power to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular
Series or Class, to pay directly, at such intervals as the Trustees may
determine, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust's transfer agent,
Shareholder servicing or similar agent, in an amount or at a rate fixed from
time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such
Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by
reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number
of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such
charges due from such Shareholder.
Section 8. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust
shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any
capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees. Title to all of the
assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust,
except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust
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Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the
name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may
determine. 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
the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee, she or he 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.
Section 9. Service Contracts.
-----------------
(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be
set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws, including, without
limitation, at the date hereof the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act,
or any successor provision, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time,
contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or
administrative services for the Trust or for any Series (or Class thereof) with
any corporation, trust, association or other organization; and any such contract
may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without
limitation, authority for the Manager to delegate certain or all of its duties
under such contracts to qualified investment advisers and administrators and to
determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what
investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if
any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in
the Trust's investments, or such other activities as may specifically be
delegated to such party.
(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time,
contract with any corporation, trust, association or other organization,
appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for
the Shares of one or more of the Series (or Classes thereof) or other securities
to be issued by the Trust. Every such contract shall comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law
and in the By-Laws, including, without limitation, at the date hereof the
requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, or any successor provision; and any
such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time
to time, to contract with any corporations, trusts, associations or other
organizations, appointing it or them the custodian, transfer agent and/or
Shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series (or
Classes). Every such contract shall comply with such requirements and
restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the
By-Laws or stipulated by resolution of the Trustees. The Trustees are empowered,
at any time and from time to time, to retain subagents (foreign or domestic) in
connection with any service provider to the Trust or one or more of its Series
(or Classes).
(d) Subject to applicable law, the Trustees are further
empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any entity to
provide such other services, including without limitation accounting and pricing
services, to the Trust or one or more of the Series (or
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Classes thereof), as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the
Trust and the applicable Series (or Class).
(e) The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the
Trust is a Shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Manager,
adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any
corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or
affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory, management or
administration contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract,
or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have
been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or
affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other
organization with which an advisory, management or administration contract or
principal underwriter's or distributor's contract, or transfer, Shareholder
servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be
made also has an advisory, management or administration contract, or principal
underwriter's or distributor's contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or
other service contract with one or more other corporations, trusts,
associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall
not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder,
Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or
create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders,
provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the requirements of
the 1940 Act.
Section 10. Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer
or agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent
as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and
sell and cause to be issued and sold Shares to, and redeem such Shares from, any
such Person or any firm or company in which such Person is interested, subject
only to the general limitations contained herein or in the By-Laws relating to
the sale and redemption of such Shares.
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ARTICLE V
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
----------------------------------------
Section 1. Voting Powers, Meetings, Notice and Record Dates. The
Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or removal of
Trustees to the extent and as provided in Article IV, Section 2, and (ii) with
respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by
applicable law, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of
the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the Trustees may
consider necessary or desirable. Each Shareholder shall be entitled to one vote
for each dollar of net asset value (determined as of the applicable record date)
of each Share owned by such Shareholder (number of Shares owned times net asset
value per Share) on any matter on which such Shareholder is entitled to vote and
each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional
vote. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, on any
matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then
entitled to vote shall be voted in aggregate, except (i) when required by the
1940 Act, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class; and (ii) when the
matter affects the interests of one or more Series or Classes, only holders of
Shares of the one or more affected Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote
thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares
may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws
may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or
telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else
contained herein or in the By-Laws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than
the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders
of one or more Series or Classes thereof or of the Trust, or in the event of any
proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by
the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by
written proxy at a meeting. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise
all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by the Shareholders. Meetings of
the Shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor
shall be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is
required by applicable law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, (i)
thirty-three and one-third percent (33_%) of the Shares entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting and (ii) when any one or more
Series (or Classes) is to vote as a single class separate from any other Shares,
thirty-three and one-third percent (33_%) of the Shares of each such Series (or
Class) entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting of
that Series (or Class). Except when a larger vote is required by any provision
of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by applicable law, when a quorum
is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any
questions and a plurality of the Shares voted shall elect a Trustee, provided
that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust requires that
the holders of one or more Series (or Classes) shall vote separately, then a
majority of the Shares of
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such Series (or Classes) voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the
election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter with respect to such Series (or
Classes).
Section 3. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions
----------------------------------------------
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and
Distributions. Subject to applicable law and Article III, Section 6 hereof, the
Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the
By-Laws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and time or
times for determining the net asset value of the Shares of any Series or Class,
the net income attributable to the Shares of any Series or Class, or the
declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any
Series or Class, as they may deem necessary or desirable from time to time.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases.
---------------------------
(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any
Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of
transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated by
the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other
procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and
the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof (minus any applicable
redemption or service fee or deferred sales load) as determined by the Trustees
(or on their behalf), in accordance with any applicable provisions of the
By-Laws and applicable law.
(b) The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid
wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is
advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series or Class
for which the Shares are being redeemed or if such payment is made in accordance
with procedures established by the Trustees. The fair value, selection and
quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of
the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In
no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any Person in transferring
securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
(c) The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the
Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect
ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute
thereto), or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory
authority.
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(d) Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board of
Trustees may cause the Trust to redeem, at the price and in the manner provided
in this Article VI, Shares of any Series or Class held by any Person (i) if such
Person is no longer qualified to hold such Shares in accordance with such
qualifications as may be established by the Trustees, (ii) if the net asset
value of such Shares is below the minimum investment amount determined by the
Trustees or (iii) if otherwise deemed by the Trustees to be in the best interest
of the Trust or any Series (or Class) thereof.
(e) Shares redeemed shall, upon redemption, be deemed to be
retired and restored to the status of unissued shares.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
----------------------------------------------------
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may fix the amount of such
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. A Trustee, when
acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any Person, other
than the Trust or a Shareholder to the extent provided in this Article VII, for
any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, of such Trustee or of any other
Trustee. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any
neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or Principal
Underwriter of the Trust. The Trust (i) may indemnify an agent of the Trust or
any Person who is serving or has served at the Trust's request as an agent of
another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder,
creditor or otherwise and (ii) shall indemnify each Person who is, or has been,
a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust and any Person who is serving or has
served at the Trust's request as a director, officer, trustee, or employee of
another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder,
creditor or otherwise, in the case of (i) and (ii), to the fullest extent
consistent with the 1940 Act and in the manner provided in the By-Laws; provided
that such indemnification shall not be available to any of the foregoing Persons
in connection with a claim, suit or other proceeding by any such Person against
the Trust or a Series (or Class) thereof.
All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim
against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the
appropriate Series (or Class thereof if the Trustees have included a Class
limitation on liability in the agreement with such person as provided below),
or, if the Trustees have yet to establish Series, of the Trust for payment under
such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Trustees nor the Shareholders,
nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or
future, shall be personally liable therefor.
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Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the
Trust or the Trustees by any of them in connection with the Trust shall
conclusively be deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to
his or their capacity as Trustee or Trustees, and such Trustee or Trustees shall
not be personally liable thereon. At the Trustees' discretion, any note, bond,
contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees
or by any officer or officers may give notice that the Certificate of Trust is
on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
that a statutory limitation on liability of Series exists and such note, bond,
contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking may, if the Trustees so
determine, recite that the same was executed or made on behalf of the Trust by a
Trustee or Trustees in such capacity and not individually or by an officer or
officers in such capacity and not individually and that the obligations of such
instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but
are binding only on the assets and property of the Trust or a Series thereof,
and may contain such further recital as such Person or Persons may deem
appropriate including, without limitation, a requirement, in any note, bond,
contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made with respect to one or
more Classes of any Series that the parties thereto look only to the assets of
such Class or Classes in satisfaction of the liabilities arising thereunder. The
omission of any such notice or recital shall in no way operate to bind any
Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually.
Section 3. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or
Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder
shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable to the
Trust and to any Shareholder solely for her or his own willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment
or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other
experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust,
and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such
advice nor for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required
to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 4. Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to
the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for
liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be
paid by a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust in connection with
any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which she or he becomes involved by
virtue of her or his capacity or former capacity with the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
-------------
Section 1. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No Person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon
its order.
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Section 2. Termination of Trust or Series.
------------------------------
(a) Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall
continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by
vote of a majority of the Shares of each Series entitled to vote, voting
separately by Series, or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders.
Any Series of Shares or Class thereof may be terminated at any time by vote of a
majority of the Shares of such Series or Class entitled to vote or by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such Series or Class. At any
time following such termination the Trustees may thereafter establish a new
Series or Class with the same designation.
(b) Upon the requisite Shareholder vote or action by the
Trustees to terminate the Trust or any one or more Series of Shares or any Class
thereof, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses
and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the
particular Series or any Class thereof as may be determined by the Trustees, the
Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider
appropriate reduce the remaining assets of the Trust or of the affected Series
or Class to distributable form in cash or Shares (if any Series remain) or other
securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the
Shareholders of the Series or Classes involved, ratably according to the dollar
value of Shares of such Series or Class held by the several Shareholders of such
Series or Class on the date of distribution. Thereupon, the Trust or any
affected Series or Class shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be
discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or
arising therefrom, and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect
to the Trust or such Series or Class shall be canceled and discharged.
(c) Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of
winding up of its business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of
cancellation of the Trust's Certificate of Trust to be filed in accordance with
the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one
Trustee.
Section 3. Reorganization.
--------------
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may,
without the approval of Shareholders unless such approval is required by
applicable law, in order to change the form or jurisdiction of organization of
the Trust or for any other purpose (i) cause the Trust or any Series to merge or
consolidate with or into, or sell substantially all of its assets to, one or
more trusts (or series thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships,
associations, corporations or other business entities (including trusts,
partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities created by
the Trustees to accomplish such merger or consolidation), (ii) cause the Shares
(or any portion thereof) to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or
federal statute to the extent permitted by law or (iii) cause the Trust to
reorganize under the laws of any state or other political subdivision of the
United States, if such action is determined by the Trustees to be in the best
interests of the Trust. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or exchange or
certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of the Trustees and facsimile
signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
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(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Declaration of Trust, an agreement of merger or
consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 3 may
effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the Trust or effect the
adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or
resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
(c) The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders
unless such approval or vote is required by applicable law, create one or more
business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or
losses of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be transferred and may
provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust or any Series or Class thereof
into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any
series or classes thereof.
Section 4. Amendments. Except as specifically provided in this section,
the Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, restate, amend or
otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust. Shareholders shall have the
right to vote (i) on any amendment to their right to indemnity under Article
III, Section 7 hereof, (ii) on any amendment to the limitation on personal
liability under Article III, Section 5 hereof, (iii) on any amendment that would
affect their right to vote granted in Article V, Section 1 hereof, (iv) on any
amendment to this Section 4 of Article VIII, (v) on any amendment that may be
required to be approved by Shareholders by applicable law or by the Trust's
registration statement filed with the Commission, and (vi) on any amendment
submitted to them by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be
submitted to the Shareholders that, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the
Shareholders of one or more Series (or Classes thereof) in a manner different
from other Series (or Classes) shall be authorized by a vote of the Shareholders
of each Series or Class affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series or
Class not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no
amendment hereof shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Article VII,
Section 4 with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior
to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to
indemnification referenced in Article VII, Section 2 hereof as provided in the
By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby
prior to such amendment. The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders,
restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the Certificate of Trust as they deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 5. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a
copy of this instrument and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be
kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder.
Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the
Trust as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been
made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the
same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an
officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements
and/or amendments. In this instrument and in any such restatements and/or
amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions such as "herein",
"hereof" and "hereunder", shall be deemed to refer to this
20
instrument as amended or affected by any such restatements and/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. This instrument may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 6. Applicable Law.
--------------
(a) The Trust is created under, and this Declaration of Trust
is to be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of
the state of Delaware. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a business
trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically
reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to
business trusts or actions that may be engaged in by business trusts under the
Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power,
privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power
or privilege or take such actions.
(b) Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 6(a) of this
Article VIII, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this
Declaration of Trust (x) the provisions of section 3540 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code or (y) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the
state of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that relate
to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of
trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative
requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a
trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or other governmental approval
concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property,
(iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of
a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal,
(vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or
concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling,
storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment
of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts
or powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities
or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this
Declaration of Trust.
Section 7. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
----------------------------------------------
(a) The provisions of the Declaration of Trust 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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any
successor statute thereto), and the regulations thereunder, with the Delaware
Act or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision
shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust;
provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining
provisions of the Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action
taken or omitted prior to such determination.
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(b) If any provision of the Declaration of Trust 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 the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 8. Business Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to
create a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. 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 business trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. Nothing in this Declaration of
Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with
the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee named below does hereby make and enter
into this Declaration of Trust as of June 23, 2000.
TRUSTEE
------------------
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
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