AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AS OF MARCH 22, 2013
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AS OF MARCH 22, 2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE I | ||
| Name and Definitions | ||
| 1.1 | Name | 1 |
| 1.2 | Definitions | 1 |
| ARTICLE II | ||
| Trustees | ||
| 2.1 | Number and Qualification | 3 |
| 2.2 | Term and Election | 3 |
| 2.3 | Resignation and Removal | 3 |
| 2.4 | Vacancies | 4 |
| 2.5 | Meetings | 4 |
| 2.6 | Trustee Action by Written Consent | 4 |
| 2.7 | Officers | 5 |
| ARTICLE III | ||
| Powers and Duties of Trustees | ||
| 3.1 | General | 5 |
| 3.2 | Investments | 5 |
| 3.3 | Legal Title | 5 |
| 3.4 | Issuance, Repurchase and Exchange of Shares | 6 |
| 3.5 | Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage | 6 |
| 3.6 | Delegation; Committees | 6 |
| 3.7 | Collection and Payment | 6 |
| 3.8 | Expenses | 6 |
| 3.9 | By-Laws | 7 |
| 3.10 | Miscellaneous Powers | 7 |
| 3.11 | Further Powers | 7 |
| ARTICLE IV | ||
| Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements | ||
| 4.1 | Advisory and Management Arrangements | 8 |
| 4.2 | Distribution Arrangements | 8 |
| 4.3 | Other Arrangements | 8 |
| 4.4 | Parties to Contracts | 8 |
| ARTICLE V | ||
| Limitations of Liability and Indemnification | ||
| 5.1 | No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc | 9 |
| 5.2 | Mandatory Indemnification | 9 |
| 5.3 | No Bond Required of Trustees | 10 |
| 5.4 | No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc | 10 |
| 5.5 | Reliance on Experts, etc | 11 |
| 5.6 | Insurance | 11 |
| 5.7 | Derivative Actions | 11 |
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| ARTICLE VI | ||
| Shares of Beneficial Interest | ||
| 6.1 | Beneficial Interest | 12 |
| 6.2 | Other Securities | 12 |
| 6.3 | Rights of Shareholders | 13 |
| 6.4 | Trust Only | 13 |
| 6.5 | Issuance of Shares | 13 |
| 6.6 | Register of Shares | 13 |
| 6.7 | Transfer Agent and Xxxxxxxxx | 00 |
| 6.8 | Transfer of Shares | 14 |
| 6.9 | Notices | 14 |
| ARTICLE VII | ||
| Custodians | ||
| 7.1 | Appointment and Duties | 14 |
| 7.2 | Central Certificate System | 15 |
| ARTICLE VIII | ||
| Redemption | ||
| 8.1 | Redemptions | 15 |
| 8.2 | Disclosure of Holding | 15 |
| ARTICLE IX | ||
| Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions | ||
| 9.1 | Net Asset Value | 15 |
| 9.2 | Distributions to Shareholders | 15 |
| 9.3 | Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures | 16 |
| 9.4 | Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 16 |
| ARTICLE X | ||
| Shareholders | ||
| 10.1 | Meetings of Shareholders | 16 |
| 10.2 | Voting | 16 |
| 10.3 | Notice of Meeting | 17 |
| 10.4 | Quorum and Required Vote | 17 |
| 10.5 | Proxies, etc | 17 |
| 10.6 | Reports | 17 |
| 10.7 | Shareholder Action by Written Consent | 18 |
| 10.8 | Record Dates | 18 |
| 10.9 | Additional Provisions | 18 |
| ARTICLE XI | ||
| Duration; Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers, Etc | ||
| 11.1 | Duration | 18 |
| 11.2 | Termination | 18 |
| 11.3 | Amendment Procedure | 19 |
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| 11.4 | Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets | 20 |
| 11.5 | Subsidiaries | 20 |
| 11.6 | Conversion | 20 |
| 11.7 | Certain Transactions | 20 |
| ARTICLE XII | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||
| 12.1 | Filing | 21 |
| 12.2 | Resident Agent | 22 |
| 12.3 | Governing Law | 22 |
| 12.4 | Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial | 22 |
| 12.5 | Counterparts | 23 |
| 12.6 | Reliance by Third Parties | 23 |
| 12.7 | Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation | 23 |
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of the 22nd day of March 2013, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire the Trust to carry on the business of an investment company;
WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of beneficial interest 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 hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of the Trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities, and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the “SharesPost 100 Fund” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name, or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine. However, should the Trustees determine that the use of the name of the Trust is not advisable, they may select such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and the Trust may hold its property and conduct its activities under such other name. Any name change shall become effective upon the approval by the Trustees of the new name and the filing of a certificate of amendment pursuant to Section 3810(b) of the Delaware Act. Any such instrument shall not require the approval of the Shareholders, but shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration. The Trust shall constitute a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the Delaware Act and this Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of the Trust.
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, all as adopted or amended from time to time.
The terms “Affiliated Person”, “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given to them in the 1940 Act.
“Board of Trustees” or “Trustees” shall mean the signatories to this Declaration, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in office.
“By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the Trustees, which By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing instrument” within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
“Certificate of Trust” means the certificate of trust as amended from time to time, filed by the Trustees in the Office of the Sectary of the State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Covered Person” means every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer or employee of the Trust.
“Declaration” or “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time.
“DSTA,” the “Delaware Act” or the “Delaware Statutory Trust Act” shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801, et seq., as amended from time to time.
“Delaware General Corporation Law” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 Del. C. §§ 100, et seq., as amended from time to time.
“Fundamental Policies” shall mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth from time to time in any Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the Commission and designated as fundamental policies therein or as otherwise adopted by the Trustees and the Shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, as they may be amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
“Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” shall mean a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
“Majority Shareholder Vote” shall mean a vote of “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust with each class and series of Shares voting together as a single class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act or this Declaration with respect to any one or more classes or series of Shares, in which case the applicable proportion of such classes or series of Shares voting as a separate class or series, as case may be, also will be required.
“Person” shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign.
“Prospectus” shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as in effect from time to time under the Securities Act.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement of the Trust, if any, as in effect from time to time under the Securities Act and/or the 1940 Act.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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“Shareholders” shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust, at such time.
“Shares” shall mean the units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. In addition, Shares also means any preferred shares or preferred units of beneficial interest which may be issued from time to time, as described herein. All references to Shares shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all classes or series as the context may require.
“Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended.
“Trust” shall mean the Delaware statutory trust established under the DSTA by this Declaration, as amended from time to time.
“Trust Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
2.1 Number and Qualification. Prior to a public offering of Shares there may be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office, provided that the number of Trustees shall be no less than two (2). No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term unless the Trustee is specifically removed pursuant to Section 2.3 at the time of decrease. An individual nominated as a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than 80 years of age at the time of nomination and not under legal disability. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
2.2 Term and Election. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or, if sooner than any of such events, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office, or removal, of a Trustee.
2.3 Resignation and Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the other Trustees or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided that the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares then entitled to vote in an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
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2.4 Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur regardless of the reason for such vacancy, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications described in this Article, consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act, by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of Trustees; provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such reduction shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof; provided, further, that if the Shareholders of any class or series of Shares are entitled separately to elect one or more Trustees, a majority of the remaining Trustees or the sole remaining Trustee elected by that class or series may fill any vacancy among the number of Trustees elected by that class or series. Any vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of an individual having the qualifications described in this Article II, consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act, made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. No vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration. Upon the appointment and/or election of a successor Trustee, the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he or she shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder.
2.5 Meetings. (a) Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, or the President or such other Persons as may be specified in the By-Laws. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given to the Trustees before the meeting at the time and in the manner specified in the By-Laws, but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened. Anytime there is more than one Trustee, a quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the Trustees or such greater number as may be specified in the By-Laws. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except as required under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present).
(b) Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present).
(c) With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.
(d) All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a video or telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.6 Trustee Action by Written Consent. Except as otherwise limited by the 1940 Act, any action which may be taken by Trustees by vote may be taken without a meeting if that number of the Trustees, or members of a committee, as the case may be, required for approval of such action at a meeting of the Trustees or of such committee at which all members of the Board of Trustees or such committee are present consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Trustees. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Trustees.
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2.7 Officers. The Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and may elect a Chairman or such other officers of the Trust as the Trustees deem appropriate who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, or President to appoint such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not, be a Trustee.
ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES
3.1 General. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and the Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustees shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties as owed by directors of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
3.2 Investments. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust to:
(a) manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate for the conduct of such operations;
(b) otherwise deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any Person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general and plenary powers of the Trustees.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Trustees shall have full power in their discretion, without any requirement of approval by Shareholders, to invest part or all of the Trust Property, or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property and invest the proceeds of such disposition, in securities issued by one or more other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
3.3 Legal Title. Legal title to all of the Trust Property shall at all times be considered to 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. The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee, he or she shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
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3.4 Issuance, Repurchase and Exchange of Shares. The Trustees shall have the full power and authority to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, exchange and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional denominations, and to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation, exchange or acquisition of Shares any funds or property whether capital or surplus or otherwise. Shares may be sold for cash or property or other consideration whenever and in such amounts and manner as the Trustees deem desirable. The Trustees shall have full power to provide for the distribution of Shares either through one or more principal underwriters or by the Trust itself, or both. Subject to any provisions or restrictions provided by the 1940 Act and the federal securities laws, the Trustees shall have full power to provide for the exchange of Shares for securities issued by other corporate entities whenever and in such amounts and manner as the Trustees deem desirable.
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage. Subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, the Trustees shall have the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or corporation.
3.6 Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have the power, consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things, including any matters set forth in this Declaration, and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem to be desirable, expedient or necessary in order to effect the purpose hereof. The Trustees may, to the extent that they determine it necessary, desirable and appropriate, designate committees with such powers as the Trustees deem appropriate, each of which shall consist of at least one Trustee, which shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time, except to the extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the 0000 Xxx.
3.7 Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments. The Shareholders shall have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders.
3.8 Expenses. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the business of the Trust. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers and employees. The Trustees may pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees and may pay themselves such compensation for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of the Trust. In setting the amount, kind or any other aspect of any compensation they pay to themselves, the Trustees shall be entitled to the presumption of the business judgment rule, and any Shareholder or other Person challenging the amount, kind, or any other aspect of any such compensation shall bear the burden of showing that such compensation was not reasonable.
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3.9 By-Laws. The Trustees shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the Trust not inconsistent with this Declaration. Unless the By-Laws specifically require that Shareholders authorize or approve the amendment or repeal of a particular provision of the By-Laws, any provision of the By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the Trustees without Shareholder authorization or approval.
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for entirely out of Trust Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (d) establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify or reimburse any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including without limitation any advisor, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or selected dealer, or any other Person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; (i) notwithstanding the Fundamental Policies of the Trust, convert the Trust to a master- feeder structure; 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; (j) adopt a seal for the Trust, if desired, but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust and (k) distribute to Shareholders all or any part of the earnings or profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital (including paid-in capital) or assets of the Trust, the amount of such distributions and the manner of payment thereof to be solely at the discretion of the Trustees.
3.11 Further Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. The Trustees have the power to construe and interpret this Declaration and to act upon any such construction and interpretation. Any construction or interpretation of this Declaration by the Trustees and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination as to what is in the interest of the Trust and Shareholders made by the Trustees in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Persons for all purposes. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees shall be required to obtain any court order to deal with any of the Trust Property or take any other action hereunder.
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ARTICLE IV
SERVICE CONTRACTS
4.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements. Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws and/or the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may, in their discretion, and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliated Person; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, including without limitation, authority for the Investment Adviser or administrator 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 investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.
The Trustees may also authorize the Trust to employ, or authorize the Investment Adviser to employ, one or more sub-investment advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the Investment Adviser and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Investment Adviser and such sub-investment adviser and approved by the Trustees.
4.2 Distribution Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may retain underwriters, placement agents and/or other distribution agents to sell Trust Shares or other securities of the Trust. The Board of Trustees may in its discretion, from time to time, enter into one or more contracts providing for the sale of securities of the Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Board of Trustees may in its discretion determine, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may enter into selected dealer agreements with registered securities dealers and brokers and servicing and similar agreements with Persons who are not registered securities dealers to further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of the securities of the Trust.
4.3 Other Arrangements. The Board of Trustees is further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust, as the Board of Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust, including appointing it or them to act as the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, fund accountant, and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the classes or series of its Shares.
4.4 Parties to Contracts. The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliated Person or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or Affiliated Person of any organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, fund accounting, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or Affiliated Person thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, fund accounting, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other service contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests,
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shall not affect the validity of any such contract 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 or its Shareholders, provided that the establishment of and performance under each such contract is permissible under the provisions of the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. As provided in the DSTA, Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification of this Section 5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
The Trustees may provide that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that a Certificate of Trust in respect of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and may recite to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers, and not individually, and that the obligations of any instrument made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers of the Trust are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust. The omission of any statement to such effect from such instrument shall not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or Shareholders individually.
5.2 Mandatory Indemnification. (a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each individual who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such Person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any Person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any Person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.
(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee shall provide adequate 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, or if a majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or Trustees who are “disinterested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full extent corporations organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law may indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.
5.3 No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.
5.4 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.
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5.5 Reliance on Experts, etc. The exercise in good faith by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. The Trustees may rely in good faith upon advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration and their duties as Trustees hereunder, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice; provided the Trustees shall be under no liability for failing to follow such advice. A Trustee shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented by another Trustee or any officer, employee or other agent of the Trust, or by any other Person as to matters the Trustee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence, including relying on information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust, or the value and amount of assets or reserves or contracts, agreements or other undertakings that would be sufficient to pay claims and obligations of the Trust or to make reasonable provision to pay such claims and obligations, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to Shareholders or creditors of the Trust might properly be paid, and a Trustee shall not be responsible for any good faith errors made in connection therewith. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as chair of the Trustees, a member or chair of a committee of the Trustees, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that Person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that Person as a Trustee in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as aforesaid shall affect in any way that Trustee’s rights or entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses.
5.6 Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the officers and Trustees shall be entitled and 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 a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which such Person becomes involved by virtue of such Person’s capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Article.
5.7. Derivative Actions. In addition 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 following conditions are met:
(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 5.7(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the DSTA). A demand on the Board of Trustees shall also 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 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 advisor or underwriter;
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(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 5.7, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the DSTA who collectively hold Shares representing ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined net asset value of all Shares issued and outstanding or of classes or series to which such action relates if it does not relate to all classes or series, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action;
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 5.7, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and
(d) For purposes of this Section 5.7, the Board of Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who are “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the DSTA). The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
6.1 Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries hereunder shall be divided into an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares 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 and as to the number of Shares held from time to time by each Shareholder. The Trustees may at any time discontinue the issuance of Share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder, require the surrender of Share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership of Shares in the Trust.
6.2 Other Securities. The Trustees may, subject to the Fundamental Policies and the requirements of the 1940 Act, 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 or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue any such other securities, including preferred shares of any class or series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration 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 is necessary. The Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such Persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
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6.3 Rights of Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal property given only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business herein before described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights (except as specified in this Section 6.3, in Section 11.4 or as specified by the Trustees when creating the Shares, as in preferred shares).
Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration and the By-laws and to have become a party hereto and thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust.
6.4 Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
6.5 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time without authorization or vote of the Shareholders issue Shares including preferred shares and other securities that may have been established pursuant to Section 6.2, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may determine, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and redemptions of Shares may be made in whole Shares and/or l/l,000ths of a Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may determine.
6.6 Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under the direction of the Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Separate registers shall be established and maintained for each class or series of Shares. Each such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares of the applicable class or series of Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefor and rules and regulations as to their use.
6.7 Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to the Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record therein, the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer agents and/or registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, as modified by the Trustees.
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6.8 Transfer of Shares. Shareholders have no rights to transfer their Shares without the consent of the Trustees, which consent may be granted or withheld in their sole and absolute discretion, except that Shareholders may transfer their Shares by operation of law pursuant to the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or dissolution of the Shareholder. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.
Any Person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence, or other operation of law.
6.9 Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.
ARTICLE VII
CUSTODIANS
7.1 Appointment and Duties. The Trustees shall at all times employ a custodian or custodians, meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio securities of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to the assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the Trust with respect to which it is acting as determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust and the 1940 Act, including, without limitation, authority:
(1) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order;
(2) to receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
(4) if authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and accounting services; and
(5) if authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net asset value of the Trust;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the 1940 Act.
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7.2 Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other Person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
REDEMPTION
8.1 Redemptions. The Shares of the Trust are not redeemable by the Shareholders.
8.2 Disclosure of Holding. The holders of Shares or other securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code, the 1940 Act or other applicable laws or regulations, or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory authority.
ARTICLE IX
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
9.1 Net Asset Value. The net asset value of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make the net asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees and shall be as generally set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees.
9.2 Distributions to Shareholders. (a) The Trustees shall from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of Shares, or any series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets held by the Trustees as they may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration. Any such distribution may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or Shares of any class or series or any combination thereof, and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of shares or series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, additional Shares of any class or series in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration.
(b) Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be among the Shareholders of record of the applicable class or series of Shares at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify.
(c) The Trustees may always retain from the net profits such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.
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(d) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
9.3 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for determining the per share asset value of the Trust’s Shares or net income, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange or association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or modified.
9.4. Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Trustees may establish a dividend reinvestment plan for any class or series of Shares providing for the automatic reinvestment of cash dividends on the Shares of such class or series in additional shares of such class or series or of another class or series of Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Trustees, all dividends on Shares of any class or series for which such a dividend reinvestment plan has been established shall automatically be reinvested under such plan unless the holder of such shares shall affirmatively elect, in such manner as specified by the Trust, not to participate in the dividend reinvestment plan.
ARTICLE X
SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Meetings of Shareholders. The Trust shall hold annual meetings of the Shareholders (provided that the Trust’s initial annual meeting of Shareholders may occur up to one year after the completion of its initial fiscal year). A special meeting of Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees or the President and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or class or series of Shares having voting rights on the matter, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called. Any shareholder meeting, including a Special Meeting, shall be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Board of Trustees shall designate.
10.2 Voting. Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of Shareholders is required by applicable law, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees; provided, that no power to vote on any matter is granted to Shareholders under the Declaration solely because the Delaware Statutory Trust Act shall require a vote on such matter in the absence of a contrary provision in the Declaration, and any power to vote on such matter is expressly denied under the Declaration unless otherwise required by this Declaration. Except as otherwise provided herein, any matter required to be submitted to Shareholders and affecting one or more classes or series of Shares shall require approval by the required vote of all the affected classes and series of Shares voting together as a single class; provided, however, that as to any matter with respect to which a separate vote of any class or series of Shares is required by the 1940 Act, such requirement as to a separate vote by that class or series of Shares shall apply in addition to a vote of all the affected classes and series voting together as a single class. Shareholders of a particular class or series of Shares shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects only one or more other classes or series of Shares. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of Trustees.
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10.3 Notice of Meeting. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at the time and in the manner specified in the By-Laws. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than 180 days after the record date.
10.4 Quorum and Required Vote. (a) Except where a higher quorum is required by applicable law, the By-Laws or this Declaration, the holders of one third (33-1/3%) of the Shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matters.
(b) Subject to any provision of applicable law or stock exchange rules, this Declaration or a resolution of the Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, (i) in all matters other than the election of Trustees, the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast by the Shareholders entitled to vote on the subject matter at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Shareholders entitled to vote with respect to such matter, (ii) where a separate vote of one or more classes or series of Shares is required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of such class or series of Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of the Shareholders of such class or series with respect to such matter and (iii) in an election of Trustees, the qualified nominees receiving the highest numbers of votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting at which a quorum is present, up to the number of Trustees to be elected at such meeting, shall be elected.
10.5 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other appropriate officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such fraction. When any Share is held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. If the holder of any such Share is a minor or a Person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal control of any other Person as regards the charge or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other Person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.
10.6 Reports. The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at least annually and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law, regulation or any exchange on which Trust Shares are listed a report of operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed income of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial statements. Copies of such reports shall be mailed to all Shareholders of record within the time required by the 1940 Act, and in any event within a reasonable period preceding the meeting of Shareholders. The Trustees shall, in addition, furnish to the Shareholders at least semi-annually to the extent required by law, interim reports containing an unaudited balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such period.
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10.7 Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the holders of Shares 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 Shares entitled to vote on that action were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust or another appropriate officer and shall be maintained in the Trust’s records. Any Shareholder giving a written consent or the Shareholder’s proxy-holders or a transferee of the Shares or a personal representative of the Shareholder or its respective proxy-holder may revoke the consent by a writing received by the secretary or another appropriate officer of the Trust before written consents of the number of Shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the secretary or another appropriate officer.
If the consents of all Shareholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in writing and if the unanimous written consent of all such Shareholders shall not have been received, the secretary or another appropriate officer shall give prompt notice of the action taken without a meeting to such Shareholders. This notice shall be given in the manner specified in the By-Laws.
10.8 Record Dates. For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote or entitled to give consent to action without a meeting, the Board of Trustees may fix in advance a record date which shall not be more than 120 days nor less than 10 days before the date of any such meeting.
10.9 Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes, meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE XI
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
11.1 Duration. Subject to possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2 hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate or annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency or delegation or authority pursuant to the terms of this Declaration or of the By-Laws.
11.2 Termination. (a) The Trust may be dissolved and terminated by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the Trustees then in office by written notice to the Shareholders. Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(i) The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, 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, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property of the Trust shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and amount of the consideration by Shareholders with the same vote as required to open-end the Trust.
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(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities pursuant to Section 3808(e) of the DSTA, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(b) After the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
11.3 Amendment Procedure. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 11.3, this Declaration may be amended, after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the affected Shares. The Trustees also may amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders of any class or series to divide the Shares of the Trust into one or more classes or additional classes, or one or more series of any such class or classes, to change the name of the Trust or any class or series of Shares, to make any change that does not adversely affect the relative rights or preferences of any Shareholder, as they may deem necessary, in accordance with Section 6.2, or to conform this Declaration to the requirements of the 1940 Act or any other applicable federal laws or regulations including pursuant to Section 6.2 or the requirements of the regulated investment company provisions of the Code, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do so.
(b) No amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 2.3, Section 3.9, Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 11.1, Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.3, Section 11.4, Section 11.6 or Section 11.7 of this Declaration and no amendment may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto (except that this provision shall not limit the ability of the Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to issue, other securities pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the Shares of each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Board of Trustees.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a Registration Statement under the Securities Act, covering the first public offering of Shares of the Trust shall have become effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees.
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11.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as provided in Section 11.7, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other Person or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or the property, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by two-thirds of the Trustees and approved by a Majority Shareholder Vote and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be determined for all purposes to have been accomplished under and pursuant to the statutes of the State of Delaware.
11.5 Subsidiaries. Without approval by Shareholders, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing one or more Persons to take over all of the Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer all or a portion of the Trust Property to any such Person in exchange for the shares or securities thereof, or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such Person, or any Person in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interests.
11.6 Conversion. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration or the By-Laws of the Trust, a favorable 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 outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this Declaration that makes the Shares a “redeemable security” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Upon the adoption of a proposal to convert the Trust from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” as those terms are defined by the 1940 Act and the necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall, upon complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become an “open-end” investment company. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the Shares otherwise required by law, or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.
11.7 Certain Transactions. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions provided in paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 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.
(b) The term “Principal Shareholder” shall mean any Person which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of any class or series and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the purposes of this Section, in addition to the Shares which a Person beneficially owns directly, (a) any Person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise (but excluding share options granted by the Trust) or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed owned through application of clause (i) above), by any other Person with which it or its “affiliate” or “associate” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Shares, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate”, and (b) the outstanding Shares shall include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise.
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(c) This Section shall apply to the following transactions:
(i) The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder.
(ii) The issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(iii) The sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.)
(iv) The sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
(d) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if 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 no shareholder vote shall be 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.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Section on the basis of information known to the Trust whether (i) a Person beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of any class or series, (ii) a Person is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets being acquired or leased to or by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, and (iv) the memorandum of understanding referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Filing. This Declaration and any amendment or supplement hereto shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment or supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein, and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all amendments and supplements theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments and supplements contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments and supplements thereto.
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12.2 Resident Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident agent in the State of Delaware, which agent shall be National Corporate Research, Ltd., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Trustees may designate a successor resident agent, provided, however, that such appointment shall not become effective until written notice thereof is delivered to the office of the Secretary of the State.
12.3 Governing Law. The Trust and this Declaration shall be governed by, and this Declaration shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to statutory trusts or actions that may be engaged in by statutory trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 12.3, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration, the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration.
12.4 Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial. In accordance with Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Act, any suit, action or proceeding brought by or in the right of any Shareholder or any Person claiming any interest in any Shares seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Declaration or the Trust, any class or series or any Shares, including any claim of any nature against the Trust, any class or series, the Trustees or officers of the Trust, shall be brought exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to the extent there is subject matter jurisdiction in such court for the claims asserted or, if not, then in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, and all Shareholders and other such Persons hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of such courts (and the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection they may make now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and further, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, ALL SHAREHOLDERS AND ALL OTHER SUCH PERSONS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. All Shareholders and other such Persons agree that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any proceedings may be made by registered or certified mail or by overnight courier addressed to such Person at the address shown on the books and records of the Trust for such Person or at the address of the Person shown on the books and records of the Trust with respect to the Shares that such Person claims an interest in. Service of process in any such suit, action or proceeding against the Trust or any Trustee or officer of the Trust may be made at the address of the Trust’s registered agent in the State of Delaware. Any service so made shall be effective as if personally made in the State of Delaware.
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12.5 Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts (including counterparts delivered electronically by email, facsimile or otherwise), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
12.6 Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any Person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
12.7 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation. (a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the current Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument this 22nd day of March 2013.
| /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
| Xxxx Xxxxx, as Trustee | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, as Trustee | |
| and not Individually | and not Individually | |
| /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, as Trustee | ||
| and not Individually | ||
