Exhibit No. EX-99.a.2
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
of
DELAWARE ENHANCED GLOBAL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
a Delaware Statutory Trust
(Adopted April 12, 2007.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I.
NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS...............................1
Section 1. Name...........................................................1
Section 2. Offices of the Trust...........................................2
Section 3. Registered Agent and Registered Office.........................2
Section 4. Definitions....................................................2
ARTICLE II.
PURPOSE OF TRUST...........................................................4
ARTICLE III.
SHARES.....................................................................7
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest................................7
Section 2. Ownership of Shares............................................9
Section 3. Sale of Shares.................................................9
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability..........9
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election........10
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes...........10
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders...............................14
ARTICLE IV.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.....................................................14
Section 1. Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation...............14
Section 2. Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting...........15
Section 3. Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote....15
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust..............................17
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders...........................17
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property...................................18
Section 7. Service Contracts.............................................18
ARTICLE V.
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS..................................19
Section 1. Voting Powers.................................................19
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote......................................19
Section 3. Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting.......20
Section 4. Record Dates..................................................20
Section 5. Additional Provisions.........................................22
ARTICLE VI.
NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS; REPURCHASES; TRANSFERS....................22
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and
Distributions.................................................22
Section 2. Repurchase of Shares With Shareholder Consent.................24
Section 3. Repurchase of Shares Without Shareholder Consent..............24
Section 4. Transfer of Shares............................................24
Section 5. Redemptions...................................................24
ARTICLE VII.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT......................24
Section 1. Limitation of Liability.......................................24
Section 2. Indemnification...............................................26
Section 3. Insurance.....................................................27
Section 4. Derivative Actions............................................27
ARTICLE VIII.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS......................................................27
Section 1. Vote Required.................................................27
Section 2. Dissolution of Trust or Series................................28
Section 3. Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization...........29
Section 4. Reclassification of the Trust.................................30
Section 5. Principal Shareholder Transactions............................31
Section 6. Master Feeder Structure.......................................32
Section 7. Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters' Rights....................32
ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS................................................................32
Section 1. Amendments Generally..........................................32
Section 2. Special Amendments............................................33
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS.............................................................33
Section 1. References; Headings; Counterparts............................33
Section 2. Applicable Law................................................33
Section 3. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations................33
Section 4. Statutory Trust Only..........................................34
Section 5. Use of the Names "Delaware Group" and "Delaware Investments"..34
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
DELAWARE ENHANCED GLOBAL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of this 12th day of
April, 2007, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares issued or
to be issued by Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and Income Fund (the "Trust")
hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS the Trust was formed on April 12, 2007 by the filing of a
Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware pursuant to this Agreement and Declaration of Trust;
WHEREAS the Trust was formed to carry on the business of a closed-end
management investment company as defined in the 1940 Act;
WHEREAS the Trust is authorized to divide its Shares into two or more
Classes, to issue its Shares in separate Series, to divide Shares of any Series
into two or more Classes and to issue Classes of the Trust or the Series, if
any, all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their
hands as trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the
provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended from time to time,
and the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that:
(i) the Trustees will hold all cash, securities and other assets that they
may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST and
will manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for
the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares created hereunder as
hereinafter set forth; and
(ii) this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws shall be binding in
accordance with their terms on every Trustee, by virtue of having become a
Trustee of the Trust, and on every Shareholder, by virtue of having become a
Shareholder of the Trust, pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and
the By-Laws.
ARTICLE I. NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as "Delaware Enhanced Global
Dividend and Income Fund" and the Board of Trustees shall conduct the business
of the Trust under that name, or any other name as it may from time to time
designate.
Section 2. Offices of the Trust. The Board may at any time establish
offices of the Trust at any place or places where the Trust intends to do
business.
Section 3. Registered Agent and Registered Office. The name of the
registered agent of the Trust and the address of the registered office of the
Trust are as set forth in the Trust's Certificate of Trust.
Section 4. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by
the context or specifically provided:
(a) "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
(b) "Affiliate" shall have the same meaning as "affiliated person" as such
term is defined in the 1940 Act when used with reference to a specified Person,
as defined below.
(c) "Board of Trustees" or "Board" shall mean the governing body of the
Trust, that is comprised of the number of Trustees of the Trust fixed from time
to time pursuant to Article IV hereof, having the powers and duties set forth
herein;
(d) "By-Laws" shall mean By-Laws of the Trust, as amended or restated from
time to time in accordance with Article VIII therein. Such By-Laws may contain
any provision not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration of Trust,
relating to the governance of the Trust;
(e) "Certificate of Trust" shall mean the certificate of trust of the Trust
filed on April 12, 2007 with the office of the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware as required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as such
certificate may be amended or restated from time to time;
(f) "Class" shall mean each class of Shares of the Trust or of a Series of
the Trust established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions
of Article III hereof;
(g) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and
regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
(h) "Commission" shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
(i) "DSTA" shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C.ss.3801,
et seq.), as amended from time to time;
(j) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, including resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that may be
adopted hereafter, regarding the establishment and designation of Series and/or
Classes of Shares of the Trust, and any amendments or modifications to such
resolutions, as of the date of the adoption of each such resolution or amendment
or modification thereto;
(k) "General Liabilities" shall have the meaning given it in Article III,
Section 6(b) of this Declaration of Trust;
(l) "Interested Person" shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940
Act;
(m) "Investment Adviser" or "Adviser" shall mean a Person, as defined
below, furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or
investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
(n) "National Financial Emergency" shall mean the whole or any part of any
period during (i) which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Trust of securities or other assets owned by the Trust is not reasonably
practicable; (ii) which it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to
determine the net asset value of its assets; or (iii) such other period as the
Commission may by order permit for the protection of investors;
(o) "Person" shall mean a natural person, partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability company, trust, estate, association, corporation,
organization, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or
any representative capacity, in each case, whether domestic or foreign, and a
statutory trust or a foreign statutory or business trust;
(p) "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meaning given that term in the
1940 Act;
(q) "Series" shall mean each Series of Shares established and designated
under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;
(r) "Shares" shall mean the transferable shares of beneficial interest into
which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time,
and shall include fractional and whole Shares, as well as any preferred shares
or preferred units of beneficial interest which may be issued from time to time,
as described herein;
(s) "Shareholder" shall mean a record owner of Shares pursuant to the
By-Laws;
(t) "Trust" shall mean Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and Income Fund,
the Delaware statutory trust formed under this Declaration of Trust and by
filing of the Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware;
(u) "Trust Property" shall mean any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the
Trust, or one or more of any Series thereof, including, without limitation, the
rights referenced in Article X, Section 5 hereof;
(v) "Trustee" or "Trustees" shall mean each Person who signs this
Declaration of Trust as a trustee and all other Persons who may, from time to
time, be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of
Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and the By-Laws, so long as
such signatory or other Person continues in office in accordance with the terms
hereof and the By-Laws. Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall
refer to such Person or Persons in such Person's or Persons' capacity as a
trustee or trustees hereunder and under the By-Laws; and
(w) "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have
the meaning provided under Subsection 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act or any successor
provision thereof, which Subsection, as of the date hereof, is as follows: the
vote, at a meeting of the Shareholders, (i) of sixty-seven percent (67%) or more
of the voting securities present in person or represented by proxy at such
meeting, if the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
voting securities of the Trust are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust,
whichever is the less.
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, directly, or
if one or more Series is established hereunder, through one or more Series,
investing primarily in securities, and to exercise all of the powers, rights and
privileges granted to, or conferred upon, a statutory trust formed under the
DSTA, including, without limitation, the following powers:
(a) To hold, invest and reinvest its funds, and in connection therewith, to
make any changes in the investment of the assets of the Trust, to hold part or
all of its funds in cash, to hold cash uninvested, to subscribe for, invest in,
reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign,
mortgage, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise
deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed
income or other securities, and securities or property of every nature and kind,
including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, shares,
units of beneficial interest, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable
instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, money market instruments,
certificates of deposit or indebtedness, bills, notes, mortgages, commercial
paper, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances,
finance paper, and any options, certificates, receipts, warrants, futures
contracts or other instruments representing rights to receive, purchase or
subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or
interests therein or in any property or assets, and other securities of any
kind, as the foregoing are 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, any foreign government or any political
subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any
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;
(b) To exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges with reference to
or incident to ownership or interest, use and enjoyment of any of such
securities and other instruments or property of every kind and description,
including, but without limitation, the right, power and privilege to own, vote,
hold, purchase, sell, negotiate, assign, exchange, lend, transfer, mortgage,
hypothecate, lease, pledge or write options with respect to or otherwise deal
with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy any rights, title, interest, powers or
privileges under or with reference to any of such securities and other
instruments or property, 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, and to do
any and all acts and things for the preservation, protection, improvement and
enhancement in value of any of such securities and other instruments or
property;
(c) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease or write
options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any
or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series, subject to any requirements of
the 1940 Act;
(d) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver
proxies 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;
(e) To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any
manner arise out of ownership of securities and/or other property;
(f) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is
trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in
its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or
nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian or a
nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in
each case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of investment
companies or any rules or regulations applicable thereto;
(g) To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security 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 held in the Trust;
(h) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any
security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or
trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any
security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem
proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem
proper;
(i) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to
claims for taxes;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any
other combinations or associations;
(k) To 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;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance
as the Board of 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
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, to
the fullest extent permitted by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and by
applicable law;
(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus,
share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit
plans, trusts and provisions, 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;
(n) To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, sell, negotiate, exchange,
assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use,
exercise or enjoy, property of all kinds;
(o) To buy, sell, mortgage, encumber, hold, own, exchange, rent or
otherwise acquire and dispose of, and to develop, improve, manage, subdivide,
and generally to deal and trade in real property, improved and unimproved, and
wheresoever situated; and to build, erect, construct, alter and maintain
buildings, structures, and other improvements on real property;
(p) To borrow or raise moneys for any of the purposes of the Trust, and to
mortgage or pledge the whole or any part of the property and franchises of the
Trust, real, personal, and mixed, tangible or intangible, and wheresoever
situated;
(q) To enter into, make and perform contracts and undertakings of every
kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as to amount;
(r) To issue, purchase, sell and transfer, re-acquire, hold, trade and deal
in stocks, Shares, bonds, debentures and other securities, instruments or other
property of the Trust, from time to time, to such extent as the Board of
Trustees shall, consistent with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust,
determine; and to re-acquire and repurchase, from time to time, its Shares or,
if any, its bonds, debentures and other securities;
(s) To engage in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust,
by arbitration, or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims,
and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or
to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith,
including those of litigation, and such power shall include without limitation
the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise
of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit,
proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any
Person, including a Shareholder in the Shareholder's own name or the name of the
Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually
therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of
the Trust;
(t) To exercise and enjoy, in Delaware and in any other states,
territories, districts and United States dependencies and in foreign countries,
all of the foregoing powers, rights and privileges, and the enumeration of the
foregoing powers shall not be deemed to exclude any powers, rights or privileges
so granted or conferred; and
(u) In general, to carry on any other business in connection with or
incidental to its trust purposes, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper
for the accomplishment of such purposes or for the attainment of any object or
the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in
association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or
appurtenant to, or growing out of, or connected with, its business or purposes,
objects or powers.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible dissolution of the Trust or one or more of its Series. Neither the
Trust nor the Board of Trustees shall be required to obtain any court order to
deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
The foregoing clauses shall each be construed as purposes, objects and
powers, and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumeration of
specific purposes, objects and powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in
any manner the powers of the Trust, and that they are in furtherance of, and in
addition to, and not in limitation of, the general powers conferred upon the
Trust by the DSTA and the other laws of the State of Delaware or otherwise; nor
shall the enumeration of one thing be deemed to exclude another, although it be
of like nature, not expressed.
ARTICLE III. SHARES
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest.
(a) The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into Shares, each
Share without a par value. The number of Shares in the Trust authorized
hereunder, and of each Series and Class as may be established from time to time,
is unlimited. The Board of Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into
separate Classes of Shares and into separate and distinct Series of Shares and
the division of any Series into separate Classes of Shares in accordance with
the 1940 Act. As of the effective date of this Declaration of Trust, any new
Series and Classes shall be established and designated pursuant to Article III,
Section 6 hereof. The Trustees may authorize and issue such other securities of
the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having
such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the
Trustees see fit, including preferred interests, debt securities and other
senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue preferred
shares of any Class or Series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend
or supplement this Declaration of Trust as they deem necessary or appropriate,
including to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act or requirements
imposed by the rating agencies or other Persons, all without the approval of
Shareholders. Any such supplement or amendment shall be filed as necessary. The
Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as
they see fit to offer and sell such securities. If no separate Series or Classes
of Series shall be established, the Shares shall have the rights, powers and
duties provided for herein to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for
herein, and all references to Series and Classes shall be construed (as the
context may require) to refer to the Trust.
(i) The fact that the Trust shall have one or more established and
designated Classes of the Trust, shall not limit the authority of
the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional
Classes of the Trust. The fact that one or more Classes of the
Trust shall have initially been established and designated
without any specific establishment or designation of a Series
(i.e., that all Shares of the Trust are initially Shares of one
or more Classes) shall not limit the authority of the Board of
Trustees to later establish and designate a Series and establish
and designate the Class or Classes of the Trust as Class or
Classes, respectively, of such Series.
(ii) The fact that a Series shall have initially been established and
designated without any specific establishment or designation of
Classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Series are initially of a
single Class) shall not limit the authority of the Board of
Trustees to establish and designate separate Classes of said
Series. The fact that a Series shall have more than one
established and designated Class, shall not limit the authority
of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional
Classes of said Series.
(b) The Board of Trustees shall have the power to issue authorized, but
unissued Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, or any Series and Class
thereof, from time to time for such consideration paid wholly or partly in cash,
securities or other property, as may be determined from time to time by the
Board of Trustees, subject to any requirements or limitations of the 1940 Act.
The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may acquire and hold as treasury
shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine, or
cancel, at its discretion from time to time, any Shares reacquired by the Trust.
The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares of
beneficial interest or any Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof, that were previously issued and are reacquired, into
one or more Series or Classes that may be established and designated from time
to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and any Series thereof may
acquire, hold, sell and otherwise deal in, for purposes of investment or
otherwise, the Shares of any other Series of the Trust or Shares of the Trust,
and such Shares shall not be deemed treasury shares or cancelled.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share
shall entitle the holder to voting rights as provided in Article V hereof.
Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe for new or
additional authorized, but unissued Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust or any Series thereof. The Board of Trustees may from time to time divide
or combine the Shares of the Trust or any particular Series thereof into a
greater or lesser number of Shares of the Trust or that Series, respectively.
Such division or combination shall not materially change the proportionate
beneficial interests of the holders of Shares of the Trust or that Series, as
the case may be, in the Trust Property at the time of such division or
combination that is held with respect to the Trust or that Series, as the case
may be.
(d) Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization
in which any such Person has an economic or other interest, may acquire, own,
hold and dispose of Shares of beneficial interest in the Trust or any Series and
Class thereof, whether such Shares are authorized but unissued, or already
outstanding, to the same extent as if such Person were not a Trustee, officer or
other agent of the Trust; and the Trust or any Series may issue and sell and may
purchase such Shares from any such Person or any such organization, subject to
the limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or
purchase of such Shares herein and the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded
on the books of the Trust kept by the Trust or by a transfer or similar agent
for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of the
Trust and each Series and each Class thereof that has been established and
designated. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued
except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The
Board of Trustees may make such rules not inconsistent with the provisions of
the 1940 Act as it considers appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates,
the transfer of Shares of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof, if any,
and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any
transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are
the Shareholders of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof and as to the
number of Shares of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof held from time
to time by each such Shareholder.
Section 3. Sale of Shares. Subject to the 1940 Act and applicable law, the
Trust may sell its authorized but unissued Shares of beneficial interest to such
Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board
of Trustees may from time to time authorize. Each sale shall be credited to the
individual purchaser's account in the form of full or fractional Shares of the
Trust or such Series thereof (and Class thereof, if any), as the purchaser may
select, at the net asset value per Share, subject to Section 22 of the 1940 Act,
and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder; provided, however, that the
Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, permit the Principal Underwriter
to impose a sales charge upon any such sale. Every Shareholder by virtue of
having become a Shareholder shall be deemed to have expressly assented and
agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and to have become bound as a
party hereto.
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares
shall be deemed to be personal property giving to Shareholders only the rights
provided in this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, and under applicable law.
Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the
whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or
division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares
constitute the Shareholders as partners. Subject to Article VIII, Section 2
hereof, the death, incapacity, dissolution, termination, or bankruptcy of a
Shareholder during the existence of the Trust and any Series thereof shall not
operate to dissolve the Trust or any such Series, nor entitle the representative
of any deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated or bankrupt Shareholder to
an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust, the
Trustees or any such Series, but entitles such representative only to the rights
of said deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated or bankrupt Shareholder
under this Declaration of Trust. 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 other than such as the
Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay. Each Share, when issued on
the terms determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be fully paid and
nonassessable. As provided in the DSTA, Shareholders shall be entitled to the
same limitation of personal liability as that extended to stockholders of a
private corporation organized for profit under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election. The
Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its discretion, to make such
elections as to the tax status of the Trust and any Series as may be permitted
or required under the Code, without the vote of any Shareholder.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. The
establishment and designation of any Series or Class shall be effective, without
the requirement of Shareholder approval, upon the adoption of a resolution by
not less than a majority of the then Board of Trustees, which resolution shall
set forth such establishment and designation and may provide, to the extent
permitted by the DSTA, for rights, powers and duties of such Series or Class
(including variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the
different Series and Classes) otherwise than as provided herein. Each such
resolution shall be incorporated herein upon adoption, as of the date of their
adoption. Any such resolution may be amended by a further resolution of a
majority of the Board of Trustees, and if Shareholder approval would be required
to make such an amendment to the language set forth in this Declaration of
Trust, such further resolution shall require the same Shareholder approval that
would be necessary to make such amendment to the language set forth in this
Declaration of Trust. Each such further resolution shall be incorporated herein
by reference upon adoption.
Each Series shall be separate and distinct from any other Series, separate
and distinct records on the books of the Trust shall be maintained for each
Series, and the assets and liabilities belonging to any such Series shall be
held and accounted for separately from the assets and liabilities of the Trust
or any other Series. Each Class of the Trust shall be separate and distinct from
any other Class of the Trust. Each Class of a Series shall be separate and
distinct from any other Class of the Series. As appropriate, in a manner
determined by the Board of Trustees, the liabilities belonging to any such Class
shall be held and accounted for separately from the liabilities of the Trust,
the Series or any other Class and separate and distinct records on the books of
the Trust for the Class shall be maintained for this purpose. Subject to Article
II hereof, each such Series shall operate as a separate and distinct investment
medium, with separately defined investment objectives and policies.
Shares of each Series (and Class where applicable) established and
designated pursuant to this Section 6, shall have the following rights, powers
and duties, unless otherwise provided to the extent permitted by the DSTA, in
the resolution establishing and designating such Series or Class:
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration
received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series,
together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested,
all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof 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 for all purposes, subject only
to the rights of creditors with respect to that Series, 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. In the event that there are any assets,
income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not
readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series
(collectively "General Assets"), the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate
officer as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall allocate such General
Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on
such basis as the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, deems fair and
equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall be
held with respect to that Series. Each such allocation by or under the direction
of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders
of all Series for all purposes.
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series or Class. The
assets of the Trust held with respect to a particular Series shall be charged
with the liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses
of the Trust incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to such
Series. Such liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and
expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a
particular Series are herein referred to as "liabilities held with respect to"
that Series. Any liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and
expenses of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being liabilities
held with respect to any particular Series (collectively "General Liabilities")
shall be allocated by the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate officer as
determined by the Board of Trustees, to and among any one or more of the Series
in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion
deems fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, debts, obligations,
costs, charges, reserves and expenses by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for
all purposes. All Persons who have extended credit that has been allocated to a
particular Series, or who have a claim or contract that has been allocated to
any particular Series, shall look exclusively to the assets of that particular
Series for payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an
express contractual agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors,
claimants and contract providers, each creditor, claimant and contract provider
shall be deemed nevertheless to have impliedly agreed to such limitation.
Subject to the right of the Board of Trustees in its discretion to allocate
General Liabilities as provided herein, the debts, liabilities, obligations and
expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a
particular Series, whether such Series is hereafter authorized and existing
pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, shall be enforceable against the assets
held with respect to that Series only, and not against the assets of any other
Series or the Trust generally and none of the debts, liabilities, obligations
and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the
Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the
assets held with respect to such Series. Notice of this limitation on
liabilities between and among Series has been set forth in the Certificate of
Trust filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
pursuant to the DSTA, and having given such notice in the Certificate of Trust,
the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the DSTA relating to limitations on
liabilities between and among Series (and the statutory effect under Section
3804 of setting forth such notice in the Certificate of Trust) are applicable to
the Trust and each Series.
Liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses
related to the distribution of, and other identified expenses that should or may
properly be allocated to, the Shares of a particular Class may be charged to and
borne solely by such Class. The bearing of expenses solely by a particular Class
of Shares may be appropriately reflected (in a manner determined by the Board of
Trustees) and may affect the net asset value attributable to, and the dividend,
repurchase and liquidation rights of, such Class. Each allocation of
liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses by or
under the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all Classes for all purposes. All Persons who have
extended credit that has been allocated to a particular Class, or who have a
claim or contract that has been allocated to any particular Class, shall look,
and may be required by contract to look, exclusively to that particular Class
for payment of such credit, claim, or contract.
(c) Dividends, Distributions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article
VI hereof, no dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any
distribution paid upon dissolution of the Trust or of any Series with respect
to, nor any repurchase of, the Shares of any Series or Class of such Series
shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to
such Series, nor, except as specifically provided in Section 7 of this Article
III, shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or
claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series or the Trust
generally except, in the case of a right or claim against the assets held with
respect to any other Series, to the extent that such Shareholder has such a
right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Board of
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) Voting. All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote
in the aggregate without differentiation between the Shares of the separate
Series, if any, or separate Classes, if any; provided that (i) with respect to
any matter that affects only the interests of some but not all Series, then only
the Shares of such affected Series, voting separately, shall be entitled to vote
on the matter, (ii) with respect to any matter that affects only the interests
of some but not all Classes, then only the Shares of such affected Classes,
voting separately, shall be entitled to vote on the matter; and (iii)
notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any matter as to which the 1940
Act or other applicable law or regulation requires voting, by Series or by
Class, then the Shares of the Trust shall vote as prescribed in such law or
regulation.
(e) Equality. Each Share of any particular Series shall be equal to each
other Share of such Series (subject to the rights and preferences with respect
to separate Classes of such Series).
(f) Fractions. A fractional Share of a Series shall carry proportionately
all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of such Series, including rights
with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, repurchases of
Shares and dissolution of the Trust or that Series.
(g) Exchange Privilege. The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to
provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to
exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board of Trustees,
and in accordance with the 1940 Act.
(h) Combination of Series or Classes.
(i) The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the
approval, vote or consent of the Shareholders of any Series,
unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the
assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more
Series into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single
Series; provided that upon completion of such combination of
Series, the interest of each Shareholder, in the combined assets
and liabilities held with respect to the combined Series shall
equal the interest of each such Shareholder in the aggregate of
the assets and liabilities held with respect to the Series that
were combined.
(ii) The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the
approval, vote or consent of the Shareholders of any Series or
Class, unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine,
merge or otherwise consolidate the Shares of two or more Classes
of Shares of a Series with and/or into a single Class of Shares
of such Series, with such designation, preference, conversion or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications, terms and conditions of repurchase and
other characteristics as the Trustees may determine; provided,
however, that the Trustees shall provide written notice to the
affected Shareholders of any such transaction.
(iii) The transactions in (i) and (ii) above may be effected through
share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sales of assets,
Shareholder in-kind repurchases and purchases, exchange offers,
or any other method approved by the Trustees.
(i) Dissolution or Termination. Any particular Series shall be dissolved
upon the occurrence of the applicable dissolution events set forth in Article
VIII, Section 2 hereof. Upon dissolution of a particular Series, the Trustees
shall wind up the affairs of such Series in accordance with Article VIII,
Section 2 hereof and thereafter, rescind the establishment and designation
thereof. The Board of Trustees shall terminate any particular Class and rescind
the establishment and designation thereof: (i) upon approval by a majority of
votes cast at a meeting of the Shareholders of such Class, provided a quorum of
Shareholders of such Class are present, or by action of the Shareholders of such
Class by written consent without a meeting pursuant to Article V, Section 3; or
(ii) at the discretion of the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are
no Shares outstanding of such Class, or (B) upon prior written notice to the
Shareholders of such Class; provided, however, that upon the rescission of the
establishment and designation of any particular Series, every Class of such
Series shall thereby be terminated and its establishment and designation
rescinded. Each resolution of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section
6(i) shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. No shareholder as such shall be
subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with
Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability, charged with
liability, or held personally liable, for any obligations or liability of the
Trust, by reason of a claim or demand relating exclusively to his or her being
or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or a Shareholder of a particular
Series thereof, and not because of such Shareholder's actions or omissions, such
Shareholder or former Shareholder (or, in the case of a natural person, his or
her 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 or out of the assets of such Series thereof, as the case may be,
against all loss and expense, including without limitation, attorneys' fees,
arising from such claim or demand; provided, however, such indemnity shall not
cover (i) any taxes due or paid by reason of such Shareholder's ownership of any
Shares and (ii) expenses charged to a Shareholder pursuant to Article IV,
Section 5 hereof.
ARTICLE IV. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation.
(a) The initial Board of Trustees shall be comprised of the Trustees
entering into this Declaration of Trust on the date first written above, who
shall hold office until the initial holder of a Share executes a consent in
writing to elect a Board of Trustees that holds office in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this Section 1. The initial Trustees shall (i) execute and file
or cause to be filed the Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware and (ii) adopt the By-Laws. In accordance with
Section 3801 of the DSTA, each Trustee shall become a Trustee and be bound by
this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws when such Person signs this
Declaration of Trust as a trustee and/or is duly elected or appointed, qualified
and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof
and the By-Laws, so long as such signatory or other Person continues in office
in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) The number of Trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees may be
fixed from time to time by the vote of a majority of the then Board of Trustees;
provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than
one (1) nor more than fifteen (15). The number of Trustees shall not be reduced
so as to shorten the term of any Trustee then in office.
(c) Each Trustee shall hold office for the lifetime of the Trust or until
such Trustee's earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or inability
otherwise to serve, or, until the election and qualification of his or her
successor elected at a meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of
electing Trustees or pursuant to a consent of Shareholders, in lieu of a meeting
of Shareholders, for the election of Trustees.
(d) Any of the Trustees may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board
of Trustees, by action of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
(e) Any Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
secretary of the Trust or to a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless specified to be effective at
some later time.
(f) Any vacancy on Board of Trustees may be filled in accordance with
Article III, Section 1 of the By-Laws.
Section 2. Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. To the
extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act, any action that may
be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof may be
taken without a meeting and without prior written notice if a consent or
consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Trustees
having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to
authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all Trustees on the Board of
Trustees or any committee thereof, as the case may be, were present and voted.
Written consents of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. A
consent transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 3806 of
the DSTA) by a Trustee shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of
this Section. All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust
and shall be maintained in the Trust's records.
Section 3. Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote.
(a) Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
business of the Trust (including every Series thereof) shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Board of Trustees, and such Board of Trustees shall
have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. The
Board of 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 it may consider
necessary or appropriate in connection with the operation and administration of
the Trust (including every Series thereof). The Board of Trustees shall not be
bound or limited by present or future laws or customs with regard to investments
by trustees or fiduciaries, but, subject to the other provisions of this
Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws, shall have full authority and absolute
power and control over the assets and the business of the Trust (including every
Series thereof) to the same extent as if the Board of Trustees was the sole
owner of such assets and business in its own right, including such authority,
power and control to do all acts and things as it, in its sole discretion, shall
deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this Trust. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Board of Trustees may, subject to the requisite vote for such
actions as set forth in this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws: (1) adopt
By-Laws not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration of Trust; (2)
amend, restate and repeal such By-Laws, subject to and in accordance with the
provisions of such By-Laws; (3) fill vacancies on the Board of Trustees in
accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws; (4) elect and remove
such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as it considers appropriate,
in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws; (5) establish and
terminate one or more committees of the Board of Trustees pursuant to the
By-Laws; (6) place Trust Property in custody as required by the 1940 Act, employ
one or more custodians of the Trust Property and authorize such custodians to
employ sub-custodians and to place all or any part of such Trust Property with a
custodian or a custodial system meeting the requirements of the 1940 Act; (7)
retain a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, a shareholder servicing
agent or administrative services agent, or any number thereof or any other
service provider as deemed appropriate; (8) provide for the issuance and
distribution of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust or other securities
or financial instruments directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters
or otherwise; (9) retain one or more Investment Adviser(s); (10) repurchase
Shares on behalf of the Trust and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law;
(11) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to
various matters, in the manner provided in Article V, Section 4 of this
Declaration of Trust; (12) declare and pay dividends and distributions to
Shareholders from the Trust Property, in accordance with this Declaration of
Trust and the By-Laws; (13) establish, designate and redesignate from time to
time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any
Series or Class of the Trust or of a Series; (14) hire personnel as staff for
the Board of Trustees or, for those Trustees who are not Interested Persons of
the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal Underwriter, set the
compensation to be paid by the Trust to such personnel, exercise exclusive
supervision of such personnel, and remove one or more of such personnel, at the
discretion of the Board of Trustees; (15) retain special counsel, other experts
and/or consultants for the Board of Trustees, for those Trustees who are not
Interested Persons of the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal
Underwriter, and/or for one or more of the committees of the Board of Trustees,
set the compensation to be paid by the Trust to such special counsel, other
experts and/or consultants, and remove one or more of such special counsel,
other experts and/or consultants, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees;
(16) engage in and prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by
arbitration, or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims,
and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or
to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith,
including those of litigation, and such power shall include, without limitation,
the power of the Trustees, or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise
of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit,
proceeding, dispute, claim or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any
person, including a shareholder in its own name or in the name of the Trust,
whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually
therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of
the Trust; and (17) in general delegate such authority as it considers desirable
to any Trustee or officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trust, to any
agent or employee of the Trust or to any custodian, transfer, dividend
disbursing, shareholder servicing agent, Principal Underwriter, Investment
Adviser, or other service provider.
The powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this Section 3(a) are
without prejudice to any other powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this
Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws. Any determination as to what is in the
best interests of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof and its Shareholders
made by the Board of 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 Board of Trustees.
(b) Other Business Interests. The Trustees shall devote to the affairs of
the Trust (including every Series thereof) such time as may be necessary for the
proper performance of their duties hereunder, but neither the Trustees nor the
officers, directors, shareholders, partners or employees of the Trustees, if
any, shall be expected to devote their full time to the performance of such
duties. The Trustees, or any Affiliate, shareholder, officer, director, partner
or employee thereof, or any Person owning a legal or beneficial interest
therein, may engage in, or possess an interest in, any business or venture other
than the Trust or any Series thereof, of any nature and description,
independently or with or for the account of others. None of the Trust, any
Series thereof or any Shareholder shall have the right to participate or share
in such other business or venture or any profit or compensation derived
therefrom.
(c) Quorum and Required Vote. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, a
majority of the Board of Trustees then in office shall be present in person in
order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A meeting at which
a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding
the departure of Trustees from the meeting, if any action taken is approved by
at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. Subject to Article
III, Sections 1 and 6 of the By-Laws and except as otherwise provided herein or
required by applicable law, the vote of not less than a majority of the Trustees
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board
of Trustees.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to the provisions of
Article III, Section 6 hereof, an authorized officer of the Trust shall pay or
cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any particular
Series or Class thereof, or partly out of the principal and partly out of the
income of the Trust or any particular Series or Class thereof, and charge or
allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series or Classes
that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6 hereof,
as such officer deems fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities
incurred by or arising in connection with the maintenance or operation of the
Trust or a particular Series or Class thereof, or in connection with the
management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees' compensation
and such expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities associated with the
services of the Trust's officers, employees, Investment Adviser(s), Principal
Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, sub-custodian, transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or
independent contractors and such other expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Board of Trustees shall
have the power, as frequently as it may determine, to cause any Shareholder to
pay directly, in advance or arrears, an amount fixed from time to time by the
Board of Trustees or an officer of the Trust for charges of the Trust's
custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or similar
agent which are not customarily charged generally to the Trust, a Series or a
Class, where such services are provided to such Shareholder individually, rather
than to all Shareholders collectively, by setting off such amount due from such
Shareholder from the amount of (i) declared but unpaid dividends or
distributions owed such Shareholder, or (ii) proceeds from the repurchase by the
Trust of Shares from such Shareholder pursuant to Article VI hereof.
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property. Legal title to all of the Trust
Property shall at all times be vested in the Trust, except that the Board of
Trustees shall have the power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be
held by or in the name of any Person as nominee, on such terms as the Board of
Trustees may determine, in accordance with applicable law.
Section 7. Service Contracts.
(a) Subject to this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and the 1940 Act, the
Board of Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive
or nonexclusive investment advisory or investment management services for the
Trust or for any Series thereof with any corporation, trust, association or
other organization, including any Affiliate; and any such contract may contain
such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, including without
limitation, delegation of authority to the Investment Adviser to determine from
time to time without prior consultation with the Board of Trustees what
securities and other instruments or property shall be purchased or otherwise
acquired, owned, held, invested or reinvested in, sold, exchanged, transferred,
mortgaged, pledged, assigned, negotiated, or otherwise dealt with or disposed
of, and what portion, if any, of the Trust Property shall be held uninvested and
to make changes in the Trust's or a particular Series' investments, or to engage
in such other activities, including administrative services, as may specifically
be delegated to such party.
(b) The Board of Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time,
contract with any Person, including any Affiliate, appointing it or them as the
exclusive or nonexclusive placement agent, distributor or Principal Underwriter
for the Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or one or more of the Series
or Classes thereof, or for other securities or financial instruments to be
issued by the Trust, or appointing it or them to act as the administrator, fund
accountant or accounting agent, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing
agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the
Series or Classes thereof.
(c) The Board of Trustees is further empowered, at any time and from time
to time, to contract with any Persons, including any Affiliates, to provide such
other services to the Trust or one or more of its Series, as the Board of
Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust, such Series and
its Shareholders.
(d) None of the following facts or circumstances shall affect the validity
of any of the contracts provided for in this Article IV, Section 7, or
disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee, employee or officer of the Trust from
voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to
the Trust, any Series thereof or the Shareholders, provided that the
establishment of and performance of each such contract is permissible under the
1940 Act, and provided further that such Person is authorized to vote upon such
contract under the 1940 Act:
(i) the fact that any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees or
officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, placement agent,
Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliate or agent of or
for any Person, or for any parent or Affiliate of any Person,
with which any type of service contract provided for in this
Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may hereafter be made, or
that any such Person, or any parent or Affiliate thereof, is a
Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or
(ii) the fact that any Person with which any type of service contract
provided for in this Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may
hereafter be made also has such a service contract with one or
more other Persons, or has other business or interests.
(e) Every contract referred to in this Section 7 is required to comply with
this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act, other applicable law and
any stipulation by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE V. SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section
6 hereof, the Shareholders shall have the power to vote only (i) on such matters
required by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act, other
applicable law and any registration statement of the Trust filed with the
Commission, the registration of which is effective; and (ii) on such other
matters as the Board of Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Subject to
Article III hereof, the Shareholder of record (as of the record date established
pursuant to Section 4 of this Article V) of each Share shall be entitled to one
vote for each full Share, and a fractional vote for each fractional Share.
Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulative voting in the election of
Trustees or on any other matter.
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote.
(a) A majority of the Shares entitled to vote at a Shareholders' meeting,
which are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at the Shareholders' meeting, except when a larger quorum is required by
applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares
are listed for trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such
requirements. When a separate vote by one or more Series or Classes is required,
a majority of the Shares of each such Series or Class entitled to vote at a
Shareholders' meeting of such Series or Class, which are present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Shareholders' meeting of
such Series or Class, except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law
or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares of such Series or
Class are listed for trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such
requirements.
(b) Subject to any provision of this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the
1940 Act or other applicable law that requires a different vote: (1) in all
matters other than the election of Trustees, the affirmative "vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined herein) of the Trust entitled
to vote at a Shareholders' meeting at which a quorum is present, shall be the
act of the Shareholders; and (2) Trustees shall be elected by not less than a
plurality of the votes cast of the holders of Shares entitled to vote present in
person or represented by proxy at a Shareholders' meeting at which a quorum is
present. Pursuant to Article III, Section 7(d) hereof, where a separate vote by
Series and, if applicable, by Classes is required, the preceding sentence shall
apply to such separate votes by Series and Classes.
(c) Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as votes present at a
Shareholders' meeting; abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as
votes cast at such meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore (i) will
be included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present; and (ii)
will have no effect on proposals that require a plurality for approval, or on
proposals requiring an affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast for
approval.
Section 3. Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Any
action which may be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a
meeting if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is
or are signed by the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on
such action (or such different proportion thereof as shall be required by law,
the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws for approval of such action) and is or
are received by the secretary of the Trust either: (i) by the date set by
resolution of the Board of Trustees for the shareholder vote on such action; or
(ii) if no date is set by resolution of the Board, within 30 days after the
record date for such action as determined by reference to Article V, Section
4(b) hereof. The written consent for any such action may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which
when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A consent
transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in the DSTA) by a Shareholder
or by a Person or Persons authorized to act for a Shareholder shall be deemed to
be written and signed for purposes of this Section. All such consents shall be
filed with the secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust's
records. Any Shareholder that has given a written consent or the Shareholder's
proxyholder or a personal representative of the Shareholder or its respective
proxyholder may revoke the consent by a writing received by the secretary of the
Trust either: (i) before the date set by resolution of the Board of Trustees for
the shareholder vote on such action; or (ii) if no date is set by resolution of
the Board, within 30 days after the record date for such action as determined by
reference to Article V, Section 4(b) hereof.
Section 4. Record Dates.
(a) For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Trustees may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees, and which record
date shall not be more than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor less than ten
(10) days before the date of any such meeting. A determination of Shareholders
of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall
apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of
Trustees may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting and shall fix a new
record date for any meeting that is adjourned for more than sixty (60) days from
the date set for the original meeting. For purposes of determining the
Shareholders entitled to vote on any action without a meeting, the Board of
Trustees may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Trustees, and which record date shall not be more than thirty (30) days after
the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the
Board of Trustees.
(b) If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:
(i) the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which
notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business
on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
(ii) the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to vote on
any action by consent in writing without a meeting of
Shareholders, (1) when no prior action by the Board of Trustees
has been taken, shall be the day on which the first signed
written consent setting forth the action taken is delivered to
the Trust, or (2) when prior action of the Board of Trustees has
been taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which
the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution taking such prior
action.
(c) For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
of any other distribution of assets of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof
(other than in connection with a dissolution of the Trust or a Series, a merger,
consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or any other transactions, in each
case that is governed by Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust), the Board of
Trustees may:
(i) from time to time fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date
is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty
(60) days before the date for the payment of such dividend and/or
such other distribution;
(ii) adopt standing resolutions fixing record dates and related
payment dates at periodic intervals of any duration for the
payment of such dividend and/or such other distribution; and/or
(iii) delegate to an appropriate officer or officers of the Trust the
determination of such periodic record and/or payment dates with
respect to such dividend and/or such other distribution.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees
from setting different record dates for different Series or Classes.
Section 5. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes, meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI. NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS;
REPURCHASES; TRANSFERS
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions.
(a) Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees shall
have the power to determine from time to time the offering price for authorized,
but unissued, Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or any Series or Class
thereof, respectively, that shall yield to the Trust or such Series or Class not
less than the net asset value thereof, in addition to any amount of applicable
sales charge to be paid to the Principal Underwriter or the selling broker or
dealer in connection with the sale of such Shares, at which price the Shares of
the Trust or such Series or Class, respectively, shall be offered for sale,
subject to any other requirements or limitations of the 1940 Act.
(b) Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees may,
subject to the 1940 Act, prescribe and shall set forth in the By-Laws, this
Declaration of Trust or in a resolution of the Board of Trustees such bases and
time for determining the net asset value per Share of the Trust or any Series or
Class thereof, or net income attributable to the Shares of the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof or the declaration and payment of dividends and
distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, as it
may deem necessary or desirable, and such dividends and distributions may vary
between the Classes to reflect differing allocations of the expenses of the
Trust between such Classes to such extent and for such purposes as the Trustees
may deem appropriate.
(c) The Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class, if any, shall be
entitled to receive dividends and distributions, when, if and as declared by the
Board of Trustees with respect thereto, provided that with respect to Classes,
such dividends and distributions shall comply with the 1940 Act. The right of
Shareholders to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares of any Class
may be set forth in a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and amended from
time to time pursuant to the 1940 Act. No Share shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the Trust with respect to dividends or
distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon
dissolution of the Trust made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof;
provided however, that
(i) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, no
Share of a particular Series shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect
to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of
business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust or of
such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof;
(ii) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Classes thereof, no
Share of a particular Class shall have any priority or preference
over any other Share of the same Class with respect to dividends
or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or
distributions upon dissolution of the Trust made pursuant to
Article VIII, Section 1 hereof; and
(iii) if the Shares of a Series are divided into Classes thereof, no
Share of a particular Class of such Series shall have any
priority or preference over any other Share of the same Class of
such Series with respect to dividends or distributions paid in
the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution
of such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof.
All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of
the Trust, a particular Class of the Trust, a particular Series, or a particular
Class of a Series from the Trust Property held with respect to the Trust, such
Series or such Class, respectively, according to the number of Shares of the
Trust, such Series or such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the
record date for any dividend or distribution; provided however, that
(iv) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, all
dividends and distributions from the Trust Property and, if
applicable, held with respect to such Series, shall be
distributed to each Series thereof according to the net asset
value computed for such Series and within such particular Series,
shall be distributed ratably to the Shareholders of such Series
according to the number of Shares of such Series held of record
by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or
distribution; and
(v) if the Shares of the Trust or of a Series are divided into
Classes thereof, all dividends and distributions from the Trust
Property and, if applicable, held with respect to the Trust or
such Series, shall be distributed to each Class thereof according
to the net asset value computed for such Class and within such
particular Class, shall be distributed ratably to the
Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of
such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date
for any dividend or distribution.
Dividends and distributions may be paid in cash, in kind or in Shares.
(d) Before payment of any dividend there may be set aside out of any funds
of the Trust, or the applicable Series thereof, available for dividends such sum
or sums as the Board of Trustees may from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust,
or any Series thereof, or for such other lawful purpose as the Board of Trustees
shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust, or the applicable Series,
as the case may be, and the Board of Trustees may abolish any such reserve in
the manner in which the reserve was created.
Section 2. Repurchase of Shares With Shareholder Consent.
(a) The Trust may repurchase Shares on the open market or such Shares as
are tendered by any Shareholder for repurchase pursuant to a repurchase offer or
tender offer, if any, made by the Trust periodically or from time to time, upon
the presentation by the Shareholder of a proper instrument of transfer together
with a request directed to the Trust, its transfer agent or other duly
authorized agent, that the Trust repurchase such Shares, or in accordance with
such other procedures for repurchase as the Board of Trustees may from time to
time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefore a price that meets the
requirements of Section 23 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations
adopted thereunder, and that is in accordance with the terms of such repurchase
offer, tender offer, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and other applicable
law. The obligations of the Trust set forth in this Section 2 are subject to the
provision that such obligations may be suspended or postponed under the
circumstances provided in the 1940 Act or other applicable law, and such
suspension or postponement may thereafter be terminated, by the Board of
Trustees, by the vote required under the 1940 Act or other applicable law.
(b) The repurchase price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly
in kind if the Board of Trustees determines that such payment is advisable in
the interest of the Trust or the applicable Series. Subject to the foregoing,
the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property of the
Trust or the applicable Series so paid or delivered as all or part of the
repurchase price shall be determined by or under authority of the Board of
Trustees. Subject to applicable law, the Trust or the applicable Series shall
not be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring
securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any payment
in kind.
Section 3. Repurchase of Shares Without Shareholder Consent. The Trust
shall have the right at its option and at any time, subject to the 1940 Act and
other applicable law, to repurchase Shares of any Shareholder at a price that
meets the requirements of Section 23 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and
regulations adopted thereunder, and that is in accordance with the terms of this
Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and other applicable law: (a) if at such time,
such Shareholder owns Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than an
amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (b) to the extent that
such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the Shares
determined from time to time by the Trustees.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable in accordance
with the provisions of the By-Laws
Section 5. Redemptions. The Shares of the Trust are not redeemable by the
holders thereof.
ARTICLE VII. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT
Section 1. Limitation of Liability.
(a) For the purpose of this Article, "Agent" means any Person who is or was
a Trustee, officer, employee or other agent of the Trust or is or was serving at
the request of the Trust as a trustee, director, officer, employee or other
agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise; "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending or
completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative; and "Expenses" include without limitation attorneys' fees and any
expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
(b) An Agent shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder for any
act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied
contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, for such Agent's own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of such Agent (such conduct referred to herein as
"Disqualifying Conduct"), and for nothing else.
(c) Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 1 and to the fullest extent
that limitations on the liability of Agents are permitted by the DSTA, the
Agents shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission
of any other Agent of the Trust or any Investment Adviser or Principal
Underwriter of the Trust.
(d) No Agent, when acting in its respective capacity as such, shall be
personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder to the
extent provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 1, for any act,
omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee thereof.
(e) Each Trustee, officer and employee of the Trust shall, in the
performance of his or her duties, be fully and completely justified and
protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance
in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an
opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or
employees or by the Investment Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, any other
Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants
selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the
Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee. The
officers and Trustees may obtain the advice of counsel or other experts with
respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws,
applicable law and their respective duties as officers or Trustees. No such
officer or Trustee shall be liable for any act or omission in accordance with
such advice, records and/or reports and no inference concerning liability shall
arise from a failure to follow such advice, records and/or reports. The officers
and Trustees shall not be required to give any bond hereunder, nor any surety if
a bond is required by applicable law.
(f) The failure to make timely collection of dividends or interest, or to
take timely action with respect to entitlements, on the Trust's securities
issued in emerging countries, shall not be deemed to be negligence or other
fault on the part of any Agent, and no Agent shall have any liability for such
failure or for any loss or damage resulting from the imposition by any
government of exchange control restrictions which might affect the liquidity of
the Trust's assets or from any war or political act of any foreign government to
which such assets might be exposed, except, in the case of a Trustee or officer,
for liability resulting from such Trustee's or officer's Disqualifying Conduct.
(g) The limitation on liability contained in this Article applies to events
occurring at the time a Person serves as an Agent whether or not such Person is
an Agent at the time of any Proceeding in which liability is asserted.
(h) No amendment or repeal of this Article shall adversely affect any right
or protection of an Agent that exists at the time of such amendment or repeal.
Section 2. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by Trust. The Trust shall indemnify, out of Trust
Property, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any Person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by
reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Agent of the Trust, against
Expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with such Proceeding if such Person acted in
good faith or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe the conduct of such Person was unlawful. The termination of any
Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the Person did
not act in good faith or that the Person had reasonable cause to believe that
the Person's conduct was unlawful.
(b) Exclusion of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for any
liability arising by reason of the Agent's Disqualifying Conduct. In respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which that Person shall have been adjudged to
be liable in the performance of that Person's duty to the Trust or the
Shareholders, indemnification shall be made only to the extent that the court in
which that action was brought shall determine, upon application or otherwise,
that in view of all the circumstances of the case, that Person was not liable by
reason of that Person's Disqualifying Conduct.
(c) Required Approval. Any indemnification under this Article shall be made
by the Trust if authorized in the specific case on a determination that
indemnification of the Agent is proper in the circumstances by (i) a final
decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was
brought that the Agent was not liable by reason of Disqualifying Conduct
(including, but not limited to, dismissal of either a court action or an
administrative proceeding against the Agent for insufficiency of evidence of any
Disqualifying Conduct) or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Agent was not liable
by reason of Disqualifying Conduct, by (1) the vote of a majority of a quorum of
the Trustees who are not (x) "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, (y) parties to the proceeding, or (z) parties
who have any economic or other interest in connection with such specific case
(the "disinterested, non-party Trustees"); or (2) by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion.
(d) Advancement of Expenses. Expenses incurred by an Agent in defending any
Proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the final disposition of the
Proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Agent to repay
the amount of the advance if it shall be determined ultimately that the Agent is
not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article; provided, that at
least one of the following conditions for the advancement of expenses is met:
(i) the Agent shall provide a security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall
be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a
majority of a quorum of the disinterested, non-party Trustees of the Trust, or
an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a
review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry),
that there is reason to believe that the Agent ultimately will be found entitled
to indemnification.
(e) Other Contractual Rights. Nothing contained in this Article shall
affect any right to indemnification to which Persons other than Trustees and
officers of the Trust or any subsidiary thereof may be entitled by contract or
otherwise.
(f) Fiduciaries of Employee Benefit Plan. This Article does not apply to
any Proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary of an
employee benefit plan in that Person's capacity as such, even though that Person
may also be an Agent of the Trust as defined in Section 1 of this Article.
Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to indemnification to
which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary may be entitled by
contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by
applicable law other than this Article.
Section 3. Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
the Board of Trustees shall have the authority to purchase with Trust Property,
insurance for liability and for all Expenses reasonably incurred or paid or
expected to be paid by an Agent in connection with any Proceeding in which such
Agent becomes involved by virtue of such Agent's actions, or omissions to act,
in its capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust
would have the power to indemnify such Agent against such liability.
Section 4. Derivative Actions. Subject to the requirements set forth in
Section 3816 of the DSTA, a Shareholder or Shareholders may bring a derivative
action on behalf of the Trust only if the Shareholder or Shareholders first make
a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees to bring the subject action unless
an effort to cause the Board of Trustees to bring such action is excused. A
demand on the Board of Trustees shall only be excused if a majority of the Board
of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits
of such action, has a material personal financial interest in the action at
issue. A Trustee shall not be deemed to have a material personal financial
interest in an action or otherwise be disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder
demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration from his or
her service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or
more investment companies with the same or an affiliated investment adviser or
underwriter.
ARTICLE VIII. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 1. Vote Required.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the
contrary and subject to the exceptions provided in this Article VIII, each of
the transactions described in this Article VIII (other than: (i) a merger or
consolidation in which the Trust is the surviving or resulting statutory trust,
and (ii) transactions with respect to a particular Series) shall require the
approval of the Board of Trustees and the affirmative vote of the holders of not
less than 75% of the Shares entitled to vote to approve, adopt or authorize such
transaction unless such action has been previously approved, adopted or
authorized by the affirmative vote of two thirds (66 2/3%) of the Board of
Trustees, in which case the Shareholder vote set forth in Article V, Section
2(b)(1) shall be required.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the
contrary, each of the transactions described in this Article VIII with respect
to a particular Series (other than a merger or consolidation in which the Series
is the surviving or resulting Series) shall require the approval of the Board of
Trustees and the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the
Shares of that Series entitled to vote to approve, adopt or authorize such
transaction unless such transaction has been previously approved, adopted or
authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the Board of
Trustees, in which case the "affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities" (as defined herein) of the particular Series entitled to vote
at a Shareholders' meeting of such Series at which a quorum is present, shall be
required.
Section 2. Dissolution of Trust or Series. The Trust and each Series shall
have perpetual existence, except that the Trust (or a particular Series) shall
be dissolved:
(a) With respect to the Trust or a particular Series, only upon the vote of
not less than eighty percent (80%) of the Trustees;
(b) With respect to the Trust or a particular Series, upon the occurrence
of a dissolution or termination event pursuant to any other provision of this
Declaration of Trust or the DSTA; or
(c) With respect to any Series, upon any event that causes the dissolution
of the Trust.
Upon dissolution of the Trust (or a particular Series, as the case may be), the
Trustees shall (in accordance with Section 3808 of the DSTA) have the power to
fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell,
convey, assign, exchange, merge where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or
more Persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in
whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of any kind, pay or make
reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust and/or each
Series (or the particular Series, as the case may be), including all contingent,
conditional or unmatured claims and obligations known to the Trust, and all
claims and obligations which are known to the Trust, but for which the identity
of the claimant is unknown; provided, however, that any sale, conveyance,
assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the Trust Property of the Trust
shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature
and amount of the consideration by both the Board of Trustees and by
Shareholders with not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares, unless
eighty percent (80%) of the Trustees approved such principal terms and
consideration, in which case a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities shall be required. If there are sufficient assets held with respect
to the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the
case may be), such claims and obligations shall be paid in full and any such
provisions for payment shall be made in full. If there are insufficient assets
held with respect to the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the
particular Series, as the case may be), such claims and obligations shall be
paid or provided for according to their priority and, among claims and
obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets available
therefor. Any remaining assets (including, without limitation, cash, securities
or any combination thereof) held with respect to the Trust and/or each Series of
the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be) shall be distributed to
the Shareholders of the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular
Series, as the case may be) ratably according to the number of Shares of the
Trust and/or such Series thereof (or the particular Series, as the case may be)
held of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such dissolution
distribution; provided, however, that if the Shares of a Series are divided into
Classes thereof, any remaining assets (including, without limitation, cash,
securities or any combination thereof) held with respect to such Series shall be
distributed to each Class of such Series according to the net asset value
computed for such Class and within such particular Class, shall be distributed
ratably to the Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of
such Class held of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such
dissolution distribution. Upon the winding up of the Trust in accordance with
Section 3808 of the DSTA and its termination, any one (1) Trustee shall execute,
and cause to be filed, a certificate of cancellation, with the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3810 of the DSTA.
Section 3. Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization.
(a) Merger or Consolidation. Pursuant to an agreement of merger or
consolidation, the Board of Trustees may cause the Trust to merge or consolidate
with or into one or more statutory trusts or "other business entities" (as
defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA) formed or organized or existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States or any
foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction. Any such merger or consolidation
shall require approval by vote of the Board of Trustees and Shareholders as set
forth in Section 1 of this Article VIII; provided, however, that the vote of the
Shareholders of the Trust shall not be required if the Trust is the surviving or
resulting statutory trust. By reference to Section 3815(f) of the DSTA, any
agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Section
3(a) may, without a Shareholder vote, unless required by the 1940 Act or the
requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading,
effect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or effect the
adoption of a new governing instrument if the Trust is the surviving or
resulting statutory trust in the merger or consolidation, which amendment or new
governing instrument shall be effective at the effective time or date of the
merger or consolidation. In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act,
other applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which
Shares are listed for trading, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to
prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish a merger
or consolidation, including the power to create one or more separate statutory
trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of
the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares into
beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts. Upon completion
of the merger or consolidation, if the Trust is the surviving or resulting
statutory trust, any one (1) Trustee shall execute, and cause to be filed, a
certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section 3815 of the
DSTA.
(b) Conversion. The Board of Trustees may cause (i) the Trust to convert to
an "other business entity" (as defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA) formed or
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware as permitted pursuant to
Section 3821 of the DSTA; (ii) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be
converted into beneficial interests in another statutory trust (or series
thereof) created pursuant to this Section 3 of this Article VIII, or (iii) the
Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the
extent permitted by law. Any such statutory conversion, Share conversion or
Share exchange shall require approval by vote of the Board of Trustees and the
Shareholders of the Trust or the particular Series, as applicable, as set forth
in Section 1 of this Article VIII; provided, however, that in all respects not
governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act, other applicable law or the requirements of
any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, the Board of
Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or
appropriate to accomplish a statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share
exchange, including the power to create one or more separate statutory trusts to
which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust
may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust or
any Series thereof into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or
trusts (or series thereof).
(c) Reorganization. The Board of Trustees may cause the Trust to sell,
convey and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust ("sale
of Trust assets") or all or substantially all of the assets associated with any
one or more Series ("sale of such Series' assets"), to another trust, statutory
trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation
or other association organized under the laws of any state, or to one or more
separate series thereof, or to the Trust to be held as assets associated with
one or more other Series of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares or other
securities (including, without limitation, in the case of a transfer to another
Series of the Trust, Shares of such other Series) with such sale, conveyance and
transfer either (a) being made subject to, or with the assumption by the
transferee of, the liabilities associated with the Trust or the liabilities
associated with the Series the assets of which are so transferred, as
applicable, or (b) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of,
such liabilities. Any such sale, conveyance and transfer shall require approval
by vote of the Board of Trustees and the Shareholders of the Trust or the
particular Series, as applicable, as set forth in Section 1 of this Article
VIII. Following such sale of Trust assets, the Board of Trustees shall
distribute such cash, shares or other securities ratably among the Shareholders
of the Trust (giving due effect to the assets and liabilities associated with
and any other differences among the various Series the assets associated with
which have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, and due effect to the
differences among the various Classes within each such Series). Following a sale
of such Series' assets, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares
or other securities ratably among the Shareholders of such Series (giving due
effect to the differences among the various Classes within each such Series). If
all of the assets of the Trust have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, the
Trust shall be dissolved. In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940
Act, other applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on
which Shares are listed for trading, the Board of Trustees shall have the power
to prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish such
sale, conveyance and transfer, including the power to create one or more
separate statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities,
profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the
conversion of Shares into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust
or trusts.
Section 4. Reclassification of the Trust. The Board of Trustees may cause
the Trust to be converted from a "closed-end company" to an "open-end company"
(as those terms are defined, respectively, in Sections 5(a)(2) and 5(a)(1) of
the 1940 Act). Such reclassification of the Trust shall require approval by vote
of a majority of the Trustees then in office followed by the favorable vote of
the holders of not less than 75% of the Shares of each affected class or series
is required, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in
which case approval by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
is required.
Section 5. Principal Shareholder Transactions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust and
subject to the exceptions provided in paragraph (c) of this Section, the types
of transactions described in sub-paragraphs (i) through (iv) below shall require
the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office
followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five
percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class or series outstanding, voting
as separate classes or series, when a Principal Shareholder (as defined in
paragraph (b) of this Section) is a party to the transaction. Such affirmative
vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of
Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class or series of
preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any agreement between
the Trust and any national securities exchange.
(i) The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the
Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder.
(ii) The issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal
Shareholder (as defined below) for cash (other than pursuant to
any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(iii) The sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of
the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except
assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than two
percent (2%) of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating for
the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or
exchanged in any series or similar transactions within a
twelve-month period.)
(iv) The sale, lease, or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary
thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets
of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate
fair market value of less than two percent (2%) of the total
assets of the Trust, aggregating for the purpose of such
computation, all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series
of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
(b) For purposes of this Section 5, the term "Principal Shareholder" shall
mean any Person or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")), that is the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the Shares of the
Trust and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in
clause (2) below, of a Principal Shareholder, but shall not include DMH (as
defined in Article X, Section 5 below) or any affiliated person of DMH. For the
purposes of this Section 5, in addition to the Shares which a Principal
Shareholder beneficially owns directly, a Principal Shareholder shall be deemed
to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (1) which the Principal Shareholder has
the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion
rights or warrants, or otherwise or (2) which are beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly (including Shares deemed owned through application of clause (1)
above), by any other Person or group with which the Principal Shareholder or its
"affiliate" or "associate," as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2, or any
successor rule, under the 1934 Act, has any agreement, arrangement, or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of
Shares, or which is its "affiliate" or "associate" as so defined. For purposes
of this Section 5, calculation of the total Shares of the Trust shall not
include Shares deemed owned through application of clause (1) above.
(c) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of
the transactions described in paragraphs (a)(i) through (a)(iv) of this Section
if eighty percent (80%) of the Trustees shall by resolution have approved a
memorandum of understanding with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and
substantially consistent with such transaction, in which case approval by a vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities shall be the only vote of
Shareholders required by this Section, or (ii) any such transaction with any
entity of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series
of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of
record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries
(d) The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for
the purposes of this Section 5, on the basis of information known to the Trust
whether (i) a Person or group beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the
Shares, (ii) a corporation, person or entity is an "affiliate" or "associate"
(as defined above) of another, and (iii) the assets being acquired or leased by
or to the Trust have an aggregate fair market value of less than 2% of the total
assets of the Trust (as defined above). Any such determination shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section 5 in the absence of
manifest error.
Section 6. Master Feeder Structure. If permitted by the 1940 Act, the Board
of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, may cause the Trust or any
one or more Series to convert to a master feeder structure (a structure in which
a feeder fund invests all of its assets in a master fund, rather than making
investments in securities directly) and thereby cause existing Series of the
Trust to either become feeders in a master fund, or to become master funds in
which other funds are feeders; provided however, the Trust obtains the approval
of Shareholders holding at least a majority of the Trust's Shares present at a
meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present.
Section 7. Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters' Rights. No Shareholder shall
be entitled, as a matter of right, to relief as a dissenting Shareholder in
respect of any proposal or action involving the Trust or any Series or any Class
thereof.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments Generally. Subject to the provisions of Section 3(a)
of Article VIII and Section 2 of this Article IX, this Declaration of Trust may
be restated and/or amended at any time, by an instrument in writing, by action
of the Board of Trustees, without approval of the Shareholders, including, but
not limited to, amendments to divide the Shares of the Trust into one or more
Classes, or one or more Series of any such Class or Classes, to determine the
rights, powers, preferences, limitations and restrictions of any Class or Series
of Shares, or to change the name of the Trust or any Class or Series of Shares.
The Certificate of Trust shall be restated and/or amended at any time by the
Board of Trustees, without Shareholder approval, to correct any inaccuracy
contained therein. Any such restatement and/or amendment of the Certificate of
Trust shall be executed by at least one (1) Trustee and shall be effective
immediately upon its filing with the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.
Section 2. Special Amendments. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, the amendment or repeal of Article IV,
Sections 1, 2 and 3, Article V, Article VII, Article VIII and this Article IX of
this Declaration of Trust shall require the approval of the Board of Trustees
and the affirmative vote of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of
the Shares of each affected Class or Series outstanding, voting as separate
Classes or Series, unless such amendment has been approved by eighty percent
(80%) of the Trustees, in which case the approval by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities shall be required.
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. References; Headings; Counterparts. In this Declaration of Trust
and in any restatement hereof and/or amendment hereto, references to this
instrument, and all expressions of similar effect to "herein," "hereof" and
"hereunder," shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as so restated and/or
amended. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall
not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or
effect of this instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same
shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall
include each other, as applicable. Any references herein to specific sections of
the DSTA, the Code or the 1940 Act shall refer to such sections as amended from
time to time or any successor sections thereof. This instrument may be executed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 2. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is created under and
is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the
State of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Code.
The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are
ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust.
Section 3. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the
Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such
provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the Code, the DSTA, or with other
applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed not
to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust from the time when such
provisions became inconsistent with such laws or regulations; provided, however,
that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this
Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted
prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this 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 this
Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 4. Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to
create hereby a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and thereby to create the
relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the DSTA
between, respectively, the Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the
intention of the Trustees to create a general or limited partnership, limited
liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form
of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA. 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.
Section 5. Use of the Names "Delaware Group" and "Delaware Investments".
The Trust expressly agrees and acknowledges that the names "Delaware Group" and
"Delaware Investments" are the sole property of Delaware Management Holdings,
Inc. ("DMH"), and, with respect to such names, that similar names are used by
funds in the investment business which are affiliated with DMH. DMH has
consented to the use by the Trust of the identifying words "Delaware Group" and
"Delaware Investments" and has granted to the Trust a nonexclusive license to
use the names "Delaware Group" and "Delaware Investments" as part of the name of
the Trust and the name of any Series of Shares. The Trust further expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the non-exclusive license granted herein may be
terminated by DMH if the Trust ceases to use an Affiliate of DMH as Investment
Adviser or Delaware Distributors, L.P. ("DDLP") as Principal Underwriter (or to
use other Affiliates or successors of DMH and DDLP for such purposes). In such
event, the non-exclusive license granted herein may be revoked by DMH and the
Trust shall cease using the names "Delaware Group" and "Delaware Investments" as
part of its name or the name of any Series of Shares, unless otherwise consented
to by DMH or any successor to its interests in such names.
The Trust further understands and agrees that so long as DMH and/or its
advisory Affiliates shall continue to serve as the Trust's Investment Adviser,
other mutual funds as may be sponsored or advised by DMH or its Affiliates shall
have the right permanently to adopt and to use the words "Delaware" in their
names and in the names of any Series or class of Shares of such funds.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees of Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and
Income Fund named below do hereby make and enter into this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust as of the date first written above.
/s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Trustee
