Exhibit (a)
ING CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 12, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
The Trust
1.1 Name .............................................................. 1
1.2 Definitions ....................................................... 2
ARTICLE II
Trustees
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 Chairman .......................................................... 6
2.8 Officers .......................................................... 6
ARTICLE III
Powers and Duties of Trustees
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
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ARTICLE IV
Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements
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
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; Insurance, etc. ......................... 14
5.5 Reliance on Experts, etc. ......................................... 14
ARTICLE VI
Shares of Beneficial Interest
6.1 Beneficial Interest ............................................... 15
6.2 Other Securities .................................................. 15
6.3 Rights of Shareholders ............................................ 15
6.4 Trust Only ........................................................ 15
6.5 Issuance of Shares ................................................ 16
6.6 Register of Shares ................................................ 16
6.7 Transfer Agent and Registrar ...................................... 16
6.8 Transfer of Shares ................................................ 17
6.9 Notices ........................................................... 17
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ARTICLE VII
Custodians
7.1 Appointment and Duties ............................................ 17
7.2 Central Certificate System ........................................ 18
ARTICLE VIII
Redemption
8.1 Redemptions ....................................................... 18
8.2 Disclosure of Holding ............................................. 19
ARTICLE IX
Determination of Net Asset Value
Net Income and Distributions
9.1 Net Asset Value ................................................... 19
9.2 Distributions to Shareholders ..................................... 19
9.3 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures .............................. 20
ARTICLE X
Shareholders
10.1 Meetings of Shareholders .......................................... 20
10.2 Voting ............................................................ 21
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date ................................. 21
10.4 Quorum and Required Vote .......................................... 21
10.5 Proxies, etc. ..................................................... 22
10.6 Reports ........................................................... 22
10.7 Inspection of Records ............................................. 22
10.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent ............................. 23
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ARTICLE XI
Duration; Termination of Trust;
Amendment; Mergers, Etc.
11.1 Duration .......................................................... 23
11.2 Termination ....................................................... 23
11.3 Amendment Procedure ............................................... 24
11.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets .......................... 25
11.5 Subsidiaries ...................................................... 25
11.6 Conversion ........................................................ 26
11.7 Certain Transactions .............................................. 26
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
12.1 Filing ............................................................ 28
12.2 Resident Agent .................................................... 29
12.3 Governing Law ..................................................... 29
12.4 Counterparts ...................................................... 29
12.5 Reliance by Third Parties ......................................... 29
12.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation ..................... 29
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ING CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the
12th day of December, 2003, by the Trustees 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 statutory 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 November 6, 2003, shall constitute a statutory trust
under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall
constitute the governing instrument of such statutory 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 "ING Clarion Global Real Estate
Income 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.
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 Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as
amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time.
"Delaware Statutory Trust Statute" shall mean the provisions of the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. Section 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. Section 100, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
"Fundamental Policies" shall mean the investment policies and restrictions
designated as fundamental in the Prospectus utilized by the Trust in connection
with its initial public offering 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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 the case may be, also will be required.
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"Person" shall mean and included 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 (including any Statement of
Additional Information incorporated by reference therein) of the Trust in the
form filed with the Commission in connection with there being declared effective
a registration statement of the Trust 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 signatory or signatories to this Declaration, so
long as he or 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. The number of Trustees shall be determined
by resolution adopted by a majority of the Trustees then in office. 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
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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. The number of the Trustees in each
class shall be determined by 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 initial public offering of 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 such
registration statement. 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 such registration statement. Upon
expiration of the term of office of each class as set forth above, the Trustees
in such class 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. 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 of such
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 for cause only, and not without cause, and
only by action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees then in office
followed by the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares
then entitled to vote in an election of such Trustee or by a Delaware court of
competent jurisdiction. 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 death, bankruptcy, incompetence or other incapacity of
any Trustee, such Trustee or such Trustee's legal
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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 or may leave such vacancy unfilled
or may reduce the number of Trustees; provided 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 by the Trustees of an individual having the
qualifications described in this Article. 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 in office. 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).
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 and except as required under the
1940 Act, 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).
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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 that number of the
Trustees, or members of a committee, as the case may be, that would be required
for approval of such action at a meeting of the Trustees or of such committee at
which all of the Trustees or members were 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 or the relevant committee.
2.7 Chairman. The Trustees may elect a Chairman who shall
serve at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Chairman shall be a Trustee and shall
not, in his capacity as such, be an officer of the Trust.
2.8 Officers. The Trustees shall elect a President, a
Secretary and a Treasurer 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. 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
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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, enter into, become obligated with respect to, hold,
pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, lend, borrow, 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.
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
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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, 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 purposes hereof.
The Trustees may designate one or more committees 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
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.
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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) notwithstand-
9
ing 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).
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4.2 Distribution Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the
1940 Act, the Trustees may retain underwriters and/or placement agents to sell
Trust Shares and debt instruments. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of the
Shares and debt instruments of the Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to
sell such Shares or debt instruments 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 or debt instruments 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 or debt
instruments 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
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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.
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, 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
12
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 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 Trustees who are not Interested Persons of
the Trust or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.
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(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; Insurance, 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.
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.
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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, any number of which may be
preferred shares. 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.
6.2 Securities. The Trustees may, subject to the Fundamental
Policies and the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such
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 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.
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 partner-
15
ship, 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 or any class or series thereof 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. 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.
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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 or if delivered in any other manner permitted by applicable law or the
Shareholder.
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;
17
(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 except that the terms of any preferred shares may provide that they
are redeemable by the holders to the extent provided therein.
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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
common 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.
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(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.
(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.
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 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 Trustees shall designate.
20
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 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.
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 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, this Declaration or,
to the extent not in conflict with a specific provision of this Declaration
other than this Section 10.4, 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) the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject
matter and voting or abstain-
21
ing on such matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such
matter, and (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. The Trustees are expressly authorized to
adopt by-laws requiring the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
Shares to elect a Trustee; provided, however, that in the absence of such by-law
Trustees shall be elected by plurality vote.
10.5 Voting Rights, Proxies, etc. 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. At any meeting of
Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly
authorized 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. The Trustees may authorize the granting
of proxies by any means they deem reasonable, including by internet, telephone
or other methods. 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. 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 given 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 approved by the Trustees or
required by law, regulation or any exchange on which Shares are listed a report
of the Trust's operations.
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.
22
10.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken
by Shareholders by vote may be taken without a meeting if all of the holders of
Shares entitled to vote thereon 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
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.
11.2 Termination. (a) The Trust may be dissolved, after a majority of the
Trustees in office have approved a resolution therefor, upon approval by not
less than 75% of the Shares of each class or series outstanding and entitled to
vote, voting as separate classes or series. 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.
23
(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) Except as provided in this Section 11.3,
this Declaration may be amended, after a majority of the Trustees in office have
approved a resolution therefor, upon approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote.
The Trustees also may amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders of
any class of 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
determine the terms of any class or series of Shares, 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, to make
any further amendments to the terms of any class or series of Shares authorized
by such terms to be made by the Trustees without Shareholder approval, as they
may deem necessary, 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 11.2(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, 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 affected class or
24
series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series. 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 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 or any subsidiary having a net asset value in excess of
25% of the net asset value of 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 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; provided, however, that if
such other corporation, association, trust or other organization shall have
provisions in its governing documents substantially equivalent to Section 10.4
and Sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, this Section 11.4, 11.6 and 11.7 of this
Declaration, such Shareholder approval shall be 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 corporations, trusts,
partnerships, associations or other organizations to take over any portion 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
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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.
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
seventy-five percent (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 such class or
series of Shares a "redeemable security" as that term is defined in the 1940
Act. 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
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class or series
outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, when a Principal Shareholder
(as defined in paragraph (b) of this Section) is a party to the transaction.
Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of
the holders of Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class or
series of preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any agreement
between the Trust and any national securities exchange.
(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 of any outstanding class or
series and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined
in clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder, and any affiliated person, as
such term is defined in Section 2(a)(3)(i)-(iii) of the 1940 Act, of such
Principal Shareholder. For the
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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 such corporation, Person or other
entity or any "affiliate" or "associate" (as defined below) thereof has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting or disposing of Shares, or which is an "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 of such corporation, Person or other entity,
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) unless immediately after giving effect to such
issuance, such Principal Shareholder beneficially owns less than 15% of
the total voting power of the Shares.
(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 5% of the total
assets of the Trust, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all
assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions
within a twelve-month period.)
(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 5% of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating
for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged
in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).
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(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
the only vote of Shareholders required by this Section, or (ii) any such
transaction with any entity of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all
classes and series of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of
directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries.
(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 of any class or series, (ii) a corporation,
person or entity is an "affiliate," "associate" or "affiliated person" (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 5%, 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 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 or the President 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 in office 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.
(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
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Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the
Delaware Statutory 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,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. 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
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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 has caused these presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Trustee
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