Exhibit (a)
BLACKROCK MUNICIPAL
2018 TERM TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Dated as of September 7, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
The Trust..................................1
1.1 Name................................................................1
1.2 Definitions.........................................................2
ARTICLE II
Trustees....................................3
2.1 Number and Qualification............................................3
2.2 Term and Election...................................................4
2.3 Resignation and Removal.............................................4
2.4 Vacancies...........................................................5
2.5 Meetings............................................................5
2.6 Trustee Action by Written Consent...................................6
2.7 Officers............................................................6
ARTICLE III
Powers and Duties of Trustees......................6
3.1 General.............................................................6
3.2 Investments.........................................................7
3.3 Legal Title.........................................................7
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares...................................7
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage....................................8
3.6 Delegation; Committees..............................................8
3.7 Collection and Payment..............................................8
3.8 Expenses............................................................9
3.9 By-Laws.............................................................9
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers................................................9
3.11 Further Powers.....................................................10
ARTICLE IV
Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements.............10
4.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements...............................10
4.2 Distribution Arrangements..........................................11
4.3 Parties to Contract................................................11
ARTICLE V
Limitations of Liability
and Indemnification........................11
5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc...............11
5.2 Mandatory Indemnification..........................................12
5.3 No Bond Required of Trustees.......................................14
5.4 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc.........14
5.5 Reliance on Experts, etc...........................................15
5.6 Indemnification of Shareholders....................................15
ARTICLE VI
Shares of Beneficial Interest....................15
6.1 Beneficial Interest................................................15
6.2 Other Securities...................................................15
6.3 Rights of Shareholders.............................................16
6.4 Trust Only.........................................................16
6.5 Issuance of Shares.................................................16
6.6 Register of Shares.................................................17
6.7 Transfer Agent and Registrar.......................................17
6.8 Transfer of Shares.................................................17
6.9 Notices............................................................18
ARTICLE VII
Custodians.................................18
7.1 Appointment and Duties.............................................18
7.2 Central Certificate System.........................................19
ARTICLE VIII
Redemption................................19
8.1 Redemptions........................................................19
8.2 Disclosure of Holding..............................................19
ARTICLE IX
Determination of Net Asset Value
Net Income and Distributions....................19
9.1 Net Asset Value....................................................19
9.2 Distributions to Shareholders......................................20
9.3 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures...............................20
ARTICLE X
Shareholders...............................21
10.1 Meetings of Shareholders...........................................21
10.2 Voting.............................................................21
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date..................................21
10.4 Quorum and Required Vote...........................................22
10.5 Proxies, etc.......................................................22
10.6 Reports............................................................23
10.7 Inspection of Records..............................................23
10.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent..............................23
ARTICLE XI
Limited Term of Existence; Termination;
Amendment; Mergers, Etc..........................24
11.1 Limited Term of Existence..........................................24
11.2 Termination........................................................25
11.3 Amendment Procedure................................................26
11.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets...........................27
11.5 Incorporation......................................................27
11.6 Conversion.........................................................27
11.7 Certain Transactions...............................................28
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous...............................30
12.1 Filing.............................................................30
12.2 Resident Agent.....................................................30
12.3 Governing Law......................................................31
12.4 Counterparts.......................................................31
12.5 Reliance by Third Parties..........................................31
12.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation......................31
BLACKROCK MUNICIPAL 2018 TERM TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 7th day of
September, 2001, by the Trustee hereunder, and by the holders of shares of
beneficial interest issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set
forth more particularly hereinafter;
WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number
of its shares of beneficial interest 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 business trust in accordance
with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by
this Declaration and the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware on September 7, 2001 shall constitute a
business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act and that this
Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of such business
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
The Trust
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the " BlackRock
Municipal 2018 Term Trust" and the Trustees shall conduct the
business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they
may from time to time determine.
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted
therefrom, as amended from time to time.
The terms "Affiliated Person", "Assignment", "Commission",
"Interested Person" and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meanings
given them in the 1940 Act.
"By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time by the Trustees.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Declaration" shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, as amended or amended and restated from time to
time.
"Delaware Business Trust Statute" shall mean the provisions of
the Delaware Business Trust Act, 12 Del. C.ss.3801, et. seq., as such Act
may be amended from time to time.
"Delaware General Corporation Law" means the Delaware General
Corporation Law, 8 Del. C.ss.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 Prospectus or contained
in any current Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the
Commission or as otherwise adopted by the Trustees and the Shareholders in
accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and designated as
fundamental policies therein as they may be amended from time to time in
accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
"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 voting together (except where the
classes are required to vote separately by the 1940 Act or other applicable
law).
"Person" shall mean and include individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint
ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments
and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as
in effect from time to time under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shareholders" shall mean as of any particular time the holders
of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust, at such time.
"Shares" shall mean the transferable units of beneficial
interest 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
series or classes as the context may require.
"Trust" shall mean the trust established by this Declaration,
as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
"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.
"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.
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 or more than nine. No reduction in the number of Trustees
shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the
expiration of his term. An individual nominated as a Trustee shall be at
least 21 years of age and 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. The Board of Trustees shall be divided
into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class
shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total
number of trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees. Within the
limits above specified, the number of the Trustees in each class shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees. The term of office of
the first class shall expire on the date of the first annual meeting of
Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective
date of the Registration Statement relating to the Shares under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The term of office of the second class
shall expire on the date of the second annual meeting of Shareholders or
special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date of the
Registration Statement relating to the Shares under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. The term of office of the third class shall expire on the
date of the third annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu
thereof following the effective date of the Registration Statement relating
to the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Upon expiration
of the term of office of each class as set forth above, the number of
Trustees in such class, as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be
elected for a term expiring on the date of the third annual meeting of
Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following such expiration
to succeed the Trustees whose terms of office expire. The Trustees shall be
elected at an annual meeting of the Shareholders or special meeting in lieu
thereof called for that purpose, except as provided in Section 2.3 of this
Article and each Trustee elected shall hold office until his or her
successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified. 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
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 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.
2.4 Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees
shall occur, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing an
individual having the qualifications described in this Article by a written
instrument signed 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 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 may fill any vacancy among the
number of Trustees elected by that class. Any vacancy created by an
increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of an individual
having the qualifications described in this Article made by a written
instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. 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.
2.5 Meetings. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time
to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, or the President or any two
Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or
notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the
Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given by the Secretary and
shall be delivered to the Trustees orally not less than 24 hours, or in
writing not less than 72 hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in
writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance
of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting
has not been properly called or convened. A quorum for all meetings of the
Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the Trustees. 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) or without a
meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.
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) or without a
meeting by written consent of all of the members.
With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of
the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken
may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled
to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of
the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a
meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
2.6 Trustee Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be
taken by Trustees by vote may be taken without a meeting if all of the
Trustees, or members of a committee, as the case may be, 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.
2.7 Officers. The Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary
and a Treasurer and may elect a Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of
the Trustees or until their successors are elected. The Trustees may elect
or appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, or President to appoint
such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to
be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer
may, but need not, be a Trustee.
ARTICLE III
Powers and Duties of Trustees
3.1 General. The Trustees shall 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. 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.
3.2 Investments. The Trustees shall have power, 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;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or
otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange,
distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of
property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to securities
of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer,
evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests,
instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights,
powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all
such investments of every kind and description, including, without
limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto,
with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights,
powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees
shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made
by fiduciaries.
3.3 Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be
vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the
name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the
name of any other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as
the Trustees may determine, provided that the interest of the Trust therein
is appropriately protected.
The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust
Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a
Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any
person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically
cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property,
and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property
shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have
the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares,
including Shares in fractional denominations, and, subject to the more
detailed provisions set forth in Articles VIII and IX, to apply to any such
repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares
any funds or property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full
extent now or hereafter permitted corporations formed under the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
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 and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the
Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem
expedient, to at least the same extent as such delegation is permitted to
directors of corporations formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law
and is permitted by the 1940 Act, as well as any further delegations the
Trustees may determine to be desirable, expedient or necessary in order to
effect the purpose hereof. The Trustees may designate an executive
committee which shall have all authority of the entire Board of Trustees
except such committee cannot declare dividends except to the extent
specifically delegated by the Board of Trustees and cannot authorize
removal of a trustee or any merger, consolidation or sale of substantially
all of the assets of the Trust.
3.7 Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to
collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes,
against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon
any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or
any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security
interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property is owed
to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.
Except to the extent required for a corporation formed under the Delaware
General Corporation Law, 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 power to incur and pay
out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion
of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the
purposes of this Declaration, and the business of the Trust, and to pay
reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as
Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers,
employees and Trustees. The Trustees may pay themselves such compensation
for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating and
brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of
the Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may
determine, to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or
arrears, for charges of distribution, of the custodian or transfer,
Shareholder servicing or similar agent, a pro rata amount as defined from
time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such
Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such
Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of shares in the account of such
Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which
represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such
Shareholder.
3.9 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.
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 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
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 and (j)
adopt a seal for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair
the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
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. Any determination as to
what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith
shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the
presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. The
Trustees will not be required to obtain any court order to deal with the
Trust Property.
ARTICLE IV
Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements
4.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements. Subject to the
requirements of applicable law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees
may in their discretion from time to time enter into advisory,
administration or management contracts (including, in each case, one or
more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby
the other party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish the
Trustees such advisory, administrative and management services, with
respect to the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider
desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in
their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of this
Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any advisor, administrator or
manager (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees
may from time to time adopt) to effect investment transactions with respect
to the assets on behalf of the Trustees to the full extent of the power of
the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer,
employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations
of any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further
action by the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to
have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
4.2 Distribution Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the
1940 Act, the Trustees may retain underwriters and/or placement agents to
sell Trust Shares. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time
enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of the Shares 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 Trustees may in their 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 Shares of the
Trust.
4.3 Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character
described in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Article IV or in Article VII
hereof may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the
Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust may be an officer, director,
trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no
such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the
existence of any such relationship, nor shall any Person holding such
relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss
or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable
for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the
contract when entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws. The same Person may
be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1 and
4.2 above or Article VII, and any individual may be financially interested
or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the
contracts mentioned in this Section 4.3.
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. 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, other
than the Trust or its Shareholders, in connection with Trust Property or
the affairs of the Trust, save only liability to the Trust or its
Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence
(negligence in the case of those Trustees or officers who are directors,
officers or employees of the Trust's investment advisor ("Affiliated
Indemnitees")) 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.
5.2 Mandatory Indemnification. (a) The Trust hereby agrees to
indemnify each person 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
reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or
disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or
criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which
he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise 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 (negligence in the case of Affiliated Indemnitees),
or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being
sometimes referred to herein as "disabling conduct"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily
prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be
mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding
by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2)
was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her 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 or
her 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.
(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 direct, independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial
reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these
provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any
statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or "disinterested persons" (as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or any other right to which he
or she 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, as such, 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. Every written obligation, contract, undertaking,
instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust made or issued
by the Trustees or by any officers, employees or agents of the Trust in
their capacity as such, shall contain an appropriate recital to the effect
that the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust
shall not personally be bound by or liable thereunder, nor shall resort be
had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or
claim thereunder, and appropriate references shall be made therein to this
Declaration, and may contain any further recital which they may deem
appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to impose
personal liability on any of the Trustees, Shareholders, 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.
5.5 Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to
act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or
other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports
made to the Trust by any of the Trust's officers or employees or by any
advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant,
appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by
the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether
such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
5.6 Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or
former Shareholder shall be held personally liable solely by reason of its
being or having been a Shareholder and not because of its acts or omissions
or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or its
heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the
case of any entity, its general successor) shall be entitled out of the
assets belonging to the Trust to be held harmless from and indemnified to
the maximum extent permitted by law against all loss and expense arising
from such liability. The Trust shall, upon request by such Shareholder,
assume the defense of any claim made against such Shareholder for any act
or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets
of the Trust.
ARTICLE VI
Shares of Beneficial Interest
6.1 Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries
hereunder shall be divided into an unlimited number of transferable shares
of beneficial interest, par value $.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, except as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8,
nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any)
therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
6.2 Other Securities. The Trustees may authorize and issue such
other securities as they determine to be necessary, desirable or
appropriate including preferred interests, debt securities or other senior
securities subject to the Fundamental Policies and the requirements of the
1940 Act. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue preferred
shares they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this
Declaration as is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements
of the 1940 Act relating to such securities or as required to issue such
securities by 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.
6.3 Rights of Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal
property giving only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth.
The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to
conduct any business 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, subject to the right of the Trustees to
charge certain expenses directly to Shareholders, as provided in the last
sentence of Section 3.8, 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).
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 vote of the Shareholders issue Shares including
preferred shares 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 in such fractions thereof.
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. Each such register
shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares of the
applicable class and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or
distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders.
No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein provided, until he
has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of
the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. It is not
contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares; however, the
Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share
certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and
regulations as to their use.
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.
6.8 Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable on the
records of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by its agent
thereto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or a
transfer agent of the Trust of a duly executed instrument of transfer,
together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and
authorization and of other matters as may reasonably be required. Upon such
delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the
Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed
to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the
Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or
agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed
transfer.
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:
(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.
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 holders.
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 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 such proportion of
the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets
held by the Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be made
in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations
of the Trust or any assets thereof) or any combination thereof, and the
Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders additional Shares in
such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may deem
proper.
(b) In the event the Trust has outstanding more than one class
of Shares, the Trustees shall from time to time distribute ratably among
each class of Shareholders of the Trust such proportion of the net profits,
surplus (including paid- in surplus), capital or assets attributable to
such class held by the Trustees as they may deem proper or as may otherwise
be determined in the instrument creating such class of Shares, and the
Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders of each class of the
Trust additional Shares of such class in such manner, at such times, and on
such terms as the Trustees may deem proper. Such distributions to one class
need not be ratable with respect to distributions to Shares of any other
class of the Trust.
(c) Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be among the
Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a distribution or among the
Shareholders of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine
and specify at the time of declaration.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 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.
ARTICLE X
Shareholders
10.1 Meetings of Shareholders. The Trust shall hold annual
meetings of the Shareholders. 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 51% of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust or class having voting rights, 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
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. Except as
otherwise provided herein, any matter required to be submitted to
Shareholders and affecting one or more classes shall require approval by
the required vote of all the affected classes 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 is required by the 1940 Act, such
requirement as to a separate vote by that class shall apply in lieu of a
vote of all the affected classes voting together as a single class.
Shareholders of a particular class shall not be entitled to vote on any
matter that affects only one or more other classes. There shall be no
cumulative voting in the election or removal of Trustees. The Trustees
shall cause each matter required or permitted to be voted upon at a meeting
or by written consent of Shareholders to be submitted to a vote of all
classes of outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon, unless the 1940
Act, other applicable law or regulations or this Declaration requires that
the actions of the Shareholders be taken by a separate vote of one or more
classes, or the Trustees determine that any matter to be submitted to a
vote of Shareholders affects only the rights or interests of one or more
(but not all) classes of outstanding Shares, in which case only the
Shareholders of the class or classes so affected shall be entitled to vote
thereon.
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date. Notice of all meetings
of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall
be given by the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder of record entitled to
vote thereat at its registered address, mailed at least 10 days and not
more than 90 days before the meeting or otherwise in compliance with
applicable law. 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 120 days
after the record date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who
are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may,
without closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 nor less
than 10 days prior to the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record
date for the determination of the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of
record for such purposes.
10.4 Quorum and Required Vote. (a) The holders of a majority of
the Shares entitled to vote at the meeting present in person or by proxy
shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders for purposes
of conducting business on which a vote of Shareholders of the Trust is
being taken. The holders of a majority of the Shares of a class entitled to
vote at the meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum
at any meeting of the Shareholders of such class for purposes of conducting
business on which a vote of Shareholders of such class is being taken. 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 requiring
greater or lesser votes, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees
specifying a greater or lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any
item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, (i) the affirmative vote
of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders
with respect to such matter, and (ii) where a separate vote of any class is
required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of
such class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall
be the act of the Shareholders of such class with respect to such matter.
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 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.
10.7 Inspection of Records. The records of the Trust shall be
open to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted
shareholders of a corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
10.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which
may be taken by Shareholders by vote may be taken without a meeting if the
holders entitled to vote thereon of the proportion of Shares required for
approval of such action at a meeting of Shareholders pursuant to Section
10.4 consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed
with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be
treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
ARTICLE XI
Limited Term of Existence;
Termination; Amendment; Mergers, Etc.
11.1 Limited Term of Existence. (a) The Trust created hereby
shall have a limited period of existence and shall cease to exist at the
close of business on December 31, 2018, except that the Trust shall
continue to exist for the purpose of paying, satisfying, and discharging
any existing debts or obligations, collecting and distributing its assets,
and doing all other acts required to liquidate and wind up its business and
affairs. After the close of business on December 31, 2018, if the Trust has
not liquidated and wound up its business and affairs, 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.
(b) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all
liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding
agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may
distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each,
among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(c) 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.
(d) The Trustees may, to the extent they deem appropriate,
adopt a plan of termination at any time during the 24 months immediately
preceding December 31, 2018, which plan of termination may set forth the
terms and conditions for implementing the termination of the Trust's
existence under the Article XI. Shareholders of the Trust shall not be
entitled to vote on the adoption of any such plan or the termination of the
Trust's existence under this Article XI.
11.2 Termination (a) Prior to December 31, 2018, the Trust may
be dissolved, after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution
therefor, upon approval by not less than 75% of the Shares of each class
outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, unless such
resolution has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval
by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. 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.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for
the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such
releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem
necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the
remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among
the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(b) After the winding up and termination of the Trust and
distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the
Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an
instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall
execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall
thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder,
and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
11.3 Amendment Procedure. (a) Amendment Procedure. (b) 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 to divide the Shares of the
Trust into one or more classes or additional classes, to change the name of
the Trust or any class, to make any change that does not adversely affect
the relative rights or preferences of any Shareholder, as they may deem
necessary, 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.
(c) 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 seventy-five percent
(75%) of the Shares of each class outstanding and entitled to vote, voting
as separate classes, 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.
(d) 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 in recordable form 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, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of
the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged
among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the
Board.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as
a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
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.
11.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as
provided in Section 11.7, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other
corporation, association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or
exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or the property,
including its 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 vote of the affected Shareholders 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 Incorporation. Upon approval by Shareholders, the Trustees
may cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or
corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or any other trust,
partnership, association or other organization to take over all of the
Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall
directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer
the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited liability
company, association or organization 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
corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association or
organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability
company, association or organization in which the Trust holds or is about
to acquire shares or any other interests. The Trustees may also cause a
merger or consolidation between the Trust or any successor thereto and any
such corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership,
association or other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as
provided under the law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be
construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to
organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, limited
liability companies, partnerships, associations or other organizations and
selling, conveying or transferring a portion of the Trust Property to such
organizations or entities.
11.6 Conversion. (a) 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 seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of
each class outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes,
shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this
Declaration that makes the Shares or any other class of units of beneficial
interest of the Trust 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.
(b) The Trust may be converted at any time to a master-feeder
structure, upon the approval of such a proposal, together with the
necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion, by a
majority of the Trustees then in office and by the holders of not less than
a majority of the Trust's outstanding Shares entitled to be voted on the
matter. From time to time, the Trustees may consider recommending to the
Shareholders a proposal to convert the Trust to a master-feeder structure.
Upon the recommendation and subsequent adoption of such a proposal and the
necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion of the
Trust's outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall, upon
complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, convert to a
master-feeder structure.
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 seventy-five percent (75%) of the
Shares of each class outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate
classes, 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
corporation, Person or other entity which is the beneficial owner, directly
or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares and
shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in
clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the purposes of this
Section, in addition to the Shares which a corporation, Person or other
entity beneficially owns directly, (a) any corporation, Person or other
entity 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 corporation, Person or entity with which its
"affiliate" or "associate" (as defined below) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
or disposing of Shares, or which is its "affiliate" or "associate" as those
terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (b) the outstanding Shares shall
include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii)
above but shall not include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant
to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or
otherwise.
(c) This Section shall apply to the following transactions:
(i) The merger or consolidation of the
Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal
Shareholder.
ii) The issuance of any securities of
the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant
to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(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 approval by a
Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required, or (ii) any such transaction
with any corporation of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all
classes of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is
owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries.
(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 corporation, person or entity beneficially
owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares, (ii) a
corporation, person or entity 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. (a) This Declaration and any amendment hereto
shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem
appropriate. Each amendment shall be accompanied by a certificate signed
and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a
manner provided herein, and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's minute
book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A
restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all
amendments theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a
majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's minute
book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may
thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the
various amendments thereto.
(b) The Trustees hereby authorize and direct a Certificate of
Trust, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to be executed and filed
with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the Delaware Business Trust Act.
12.2 Resident Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident agent
in the State of Delaware, which agent shall initially be The Corporation
Trust Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, 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. This Declaration is executed by the
Trustees and delivered in the State of Delaware and with reference to the
laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity and
construction of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed
according to laws of said State and reference shall be specifically made to
the Delaware General Corporation Law as to the construction of matters not
specifically covered herein or as to which an ambiguity exists, although
such law shall not be viewed as limiting the powers otherwise granted to
the Trustees hereunder and any ambiguity shall be viewed in favor of such
powers.
12.4 Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously
executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the
same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original
counterpart.
12.5 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.
12.6 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 Internal Revenue 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents
to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
