AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND a Delaware Business Trust Principal Place of Business: Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Agent for Service of Process in Delaware: The Corporation Trust Company Corporation Trust Center...
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND
a Delaware Business Trust
Principal Place of Business:
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Agent for Service of
Process in Delaware:
The Corporation Trust Company
Corporation Trust Center
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE I the trust |
1 | |||||
| 1.1. |
Name. |
1 | ||||
| 1.2. |
Definitions. |
1 | ||||
| ARTICLE II Purpose of Trust |
2 | |||||
| ARTICLE III Shares |
3 | |||||
| 3.1. |
Division of Beneficial Interest. |
3 | ||||
| 3.2. |
Ownership of Shares. |
3 | ||||
| 3.3. |
Transfer of Shares. |
4 | ||||
| 3.4. |
Investments in the Trust. |
4 | ||||
| 3.5. |
Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. |
4 | ||||
| 3.6. |
Establishment, Designation, Abolition or Termination, etc. |
4 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV Trustees |
7 | |||||
| 4.1. |
Number, Election and Tenure. |
7 | ||||
| 4.2. |
Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. |
7 | ||||
| 4.3. |
Powers. |
7 | ||||
| 4.4. |
Payment of Expenses by the Trust. |
11 | ||||
| 4.5. |
Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. |
11 | ||||
| 4.6. |
Ownership of Assets of the Trust. |
11 | ||||
| 4.7. |
Service Contracts. |
12 | ||||
| 4.8. |
Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. |
13 | ||||
| 4.9. |
Section 9. |
13 | ||||
| ARTICLE V Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings |
13 | |||||
| 5.1. |
Voting Powers, Meetings, Notice and Record Dates. |
13 | ||||
| 5.2. |
Quorum and Required Vote. |
13 | ||||
| 5.3. |
Record Dates. |
14 | ||||
| 5.4. |
Additional Provisions. |
14 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions |
14 | |||||
| 6.1. |
Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. |
14 | ||||
| 6.2. |
Redemptions and Repurchases. |
14 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII Limitation of Liability; Indemnification |
15 | |||||
| 7.1. |
Trustees, Shareholders, etc. |
15 | ||||
| 7.2. |
Trustees’ Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety. |
16 | ||||
| 7.3. |
Indemnification of Shareholders. |
16 | ||||
| 7.4. |
Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. |
17 | ||||
| 7.5. |
Compromise Payment. |
18 | ||||
| 7.6. |
Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. |
18 | ||||
| 7.7. |
Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. |
18 | ||||
| 7.8. |
Insurance. |
18 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous |
18 | |||||
| 8.1. |
Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class. |
18 | ||||
| 8.2. |
Reorganization. |
19 | ||||
| 8.3. |
Amendments. |
20 | ||||
| 8.4. |
Filing of Copies; References; Headings. |
20 | ||||
| 8.5. |
Applicable Law. |
21 | ||||
| 8.6. |
Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations. |
21 | ||||
| 8.7. |
Business Trust Only. |
21 | ||||
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into as of the date set forth below by the Trustee named hereunder for the purpose of forming a Delaware business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustee(s) hereby direct that the Certificate of Trust be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities, and other assets which the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders of Shares of this Trust.
ARTICLE I
1.1. Name. This Trust shall be known as Metropolitan Series Fund and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
1.2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) “Adviser(s)” means a party or parties furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
(b) “By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time, which By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing instrument” within the meaning of the Delaware Act;
(c) “Certificate of Trust” means the certificate of trust, as amended or restated from time to time, filed by the Trustees in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act;
(d) “Class” means a class of Shares of a Series of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;
(e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(f) “Commission” shall have the meaning given such term in the 1940 Act;
(g) “Declaration of Trust” means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) “Delaware Act” means the Delaware Business Trust Act, Del. Code Xxx. tit. 12 § 3801 et seq., as amended from time to time;
(i)(i) “Interested Person” shall have the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;
(j) “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(k) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates, and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;
(l) “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meaning given such term in the 1940 Act;
(m) “Series” means each Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof; and where the context requires or where appropriate, shall be deemed to include “Class” or “Classes”;
(n) “Shareholder” means a record owner of outstanding Shares;
(o) “Shares” means the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(p) “Trust” means the Delaware Business Trust established under the Delaware Act by this Declaration of Trust and the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(q) “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is from time to time owned or held by or for the account of the Trust; and
(r) “Trustees” means the Person or Persons who have signed this Declaration of Trust and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, in each case so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in his or her or their capacity as Trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
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ARTICLE III
3.1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into one or more Series. The Trustees may divide each Series into Classes. Subject to the further provisions of this Article III and any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any authorization or vote of the Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, (i) to divide the beneficial interest in each Series or Class thereof into Shares, with or without par value as the Trustees shall determine, (ii) to issue Shares without limitation as to number (including fractional Shares) to such Persons and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or securities, subject to any restriction set forth in the By-Laws, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, (iii) to establish and designate and to change in any manner any Series or Class thereof and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges and business purpose of each Series or Class thereof as the Trustees may from time to time determine, which preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges may be senior or subordinate to (or in the case of business purpose, different from) any existing Series or Class thereof and may be limited to specified property or obligations of the Trust or profits and losses associated with specified property or obligations of the Trust, (iv) to divide or combine the Shares of any Series or Class thereof into a greater or lesser number without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of such Series or Class thereof in the assets held with respect to that Series, (v) to classify or reclassify any issued Shares of any Series or Class thereof into shares of one or more Series or Classes thereof; (vi) to change the name of any Series or Class thereof; (vii) to abolish or terminate any one or more Series or Classes thereof; (viii) to refuse to issue Shares to any Person or class of Persons; and (ix) to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.
Subject to the distinctions permitted among Classes of the same Series as established by the Trustees, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series, and each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive such Shareholder’s pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series and upon redemption of the Shares of any Series, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust.
All Shares issued hereunder, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend or other distribution in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
3.2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or those of a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained
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separately for the Shares of each Series or Class of the Trust. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of each Series or Class of the Trust and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series or Class of the Trust and as to the number of Shares of each Series or Class of the Trust held from time to time by each Shareholder.
3.3. Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his or her duly authorized agent upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust’s transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees or contained in the By-Laws, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the holder of record of Shares shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar or any officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.
3.4. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize.
3.5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The death, incapacity, dissolution, termination, or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but shall entitle such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or any right to call for a participation or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners. No Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or any Series. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee, or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided herein, to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
3.6. Establishment, Designation, Abolition or Termination, etc. of Series or Class. The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of Shares of the Trust shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees then in office of a resolution that sets forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Series or Class of
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the Trust, whether directly in such resolution or by reference to another document including, without limitation, any registration statement of the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. The abolition or termination of any Series or Class of Shares of the Trust shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees then in office of a resolution that abolishes or terminates such Series or Class.
Shares of each Series or Class of the Trust established pursuant to this Article III, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or Class, shall have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived (including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be) shall irrevocably be held separately with respect to that Series for all purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, (including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds), in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets held with respect to” that Series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Assets”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Assets so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect to that Series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets held with respect to all other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series.
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series. The assets of the Trust held with respect to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust held with respect to that Series and all expenses, costs, charges, and reserves attributable to that Series, except that liabilities and expenses allocated solely to a particular Class shall be borne by that Class. Any general liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being held with respect to any particular Series or Class shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series or Classes in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. All liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series or Class are herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” that Series or Class. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series or Classes for all purposes. Without limiting the foregoing, but subject to the right of the Trustees to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such Series only and
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not against the assets of the Trust generally or against the assets held with respect to any other Series. Notice of this contractual limitation on liabilities among Series may, in the Trustees’ discretion, be set forth in the Certificate of Trust and upon the giving of such notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act relating to limitations on liabilities among Series (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.
(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution, including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series or Class with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series or Class, shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder or any particular Series or Class otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital, and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.
(d) Equality. All the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets held with respect to that Series (subject to the liabilities held with respect to that Series or Class thereof and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to any Class within such Series), and each Share of any particular Series shall be equal to each other Share of that Series. With respect to any Class of a Series, each such Class shall represent interests in the assets held with respect to that Series and shall have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except that expenses allocated to a Class may be borne solely by such Class as determined by the Trustees and a Class may have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters affecting only that Class.
(e) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series or Class thereof shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Series or Class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(f) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series or Class shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series of Shares or Class of Shares of the Trust or of other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(g) Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series or Classes into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series or Class.
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ARTICLE IV
4.1. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees shall initially be one, who shall be Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx. The number of Trustees shall at all times be at least one and no more than such number as determined, from time to time, by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3 of this Article IV. Each Trustee shall serve during the lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, has reached any mandatory retirement age as set by the Trustees, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by the Shareholders, the Trustees then in office shall take such actions as may be necessary under applicable law for the election of Trustees. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose. Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust.
4.2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination to serve, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever there shall be fewer than the designated number of Trustees, until additional Trustees are elected or appointed as provided herein to bring the total number of Trustees equal to the designated number, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. As conclusive evidence of such vacancy, a written instrument certifying the existence of such vacancy may be executed by an officer of the Trust or by a majority of the Trustees. In the event of the death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of all the then Trustees within a short period of time and without the opportunity for at least one Trustee being able to appoint additional Trustees to replace those no longer serving, the Trust’s Adviser(s) are empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act.
4.3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and the Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust as described in this Declaration of Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal such By- Laws
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to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; enlarge or reduce the number of Trustees; remove any Trustee with or without cause at any time by written instrument signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective, and fill vacancies, including, without limitation, those caused by enlargement of their number or by the death, resignation, retirement or removal of a Trustee; elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees, consisting of two or more Trustees, that may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees so determine; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; employ an administrator for the Trust and may authorize such administrator to employ subadministrators; employ an investment adviser or investment advisers to the Trust and may authorize such Advisers to employ subadvisers; retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series; and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, or Principal Underwriter. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Unless otherwise specified herein or in the By-Laws or required by law, any action by the Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees at which a quorum of Trustees is present, within or without the State of Delaware.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have the power and authority to cause the Trust (or to act on behalf of the Trust):
(a) To invest and reinvest cash; to hold cash uninvested; and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities, instruments or other investments of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the United States Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities; to change
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the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options (including, options on futures contracts) with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust exclusively for Trust purposes and in connection therewith to issue notes or other evidences of indebtedness; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;
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(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance polices insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability;
(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans and trusts, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(n) To operate as and carry out the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of such operations;
(o) To enter into contracts of any kind and description;
(p) To employ as custodian of any assets of the Trust one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as custodians of the Trust, subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;
(q) To employ auditors, counsel or other agents of the Trust, subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;
(r) To interpret the investment policies, practices, or limitations of any Series or Class;
(s) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes, and with separate Shares representing beneficial interests in such Series, and to establish separate Classes, all in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(t) To the full extent permitted by the Delaware Act, to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series and Class or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series or Classes, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Series or Class shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Series or Class as provided for in Article III;
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(u) To invest all of the assets of the Trust, or any Series or any Class thereof in a single investment company; and
(v) Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or activity in which a business trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
4.4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Advisers, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, which expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities shall be allocated in accordance with Article III, Section 6 hereof.
4.5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, expenses of the Trust as described in Section 4 of this Article IV (“Expenses”), in an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such Expenses due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such Expenses due from such Shareholder, provided that the direct payment of such Expenses by Shareholders is permitted under applicable law.
4.6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust 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, on such terms as the Trustees may determine. The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee, he or she shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
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4.7. Service Contracts.
(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws, including, without limitation, the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or for any Series (or Class thereof) with any Person and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for the Adviser(s) or administrator to delegate certain or all of its duties under such contracts to other qualified investment advisers and administrators and to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.
(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any Person, appointing such Person exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series (or Classes) or other securities to be issued by the Trust.
(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Person, appointing such Person or Persons the custodian, transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series.
(d) The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Person to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.
(e) The fact that:
| (i) | any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any Person, or for any parent or affiliate of any Person with which an advisory, management, or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust; or that |
| (ii) | any Person with which an advisory, management, or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, management, or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s or other service contract with one or more other Persons, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders. |
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4.8. Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he or she were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell and cause to be issued and sold Shares to, and redeem such Shares from, any such Person or any firm or company in which such Person is interested, subject only to the general limitations contained herein or in the By-Laws relating to the sale and redemption of such Shares.
4.9. Compensation . The Trustees in such capacity shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust and they may fix the amount of such compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for such services by the Trust.
ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
5.1. Voting Powers, Meetings, Notice and Record Dates. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1 hereof, and (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by applicable law, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration statement of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Shareholders shall be entitled to one vote for each Share, and a fractional vote for each fraction of a Share for each Share held, as to any matter on which the Share is entitled to vote. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, on any matters submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall be voted in aggregate, except: (i) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class; (ii) when the matter involves any action that the Trustees have determined will affect only the interests of one or more Series, then only Shareholders of such Series shall be entitled to vote thereon; and (iii) when the matter involves any action that the Trustees have determined will affect only the interests of one or more Classes, then only the Shareholders of such Class or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by an electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by the Shareholders. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor shall be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.
5.2. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, one third (33 1/3%) of the Shares issued and outstanding shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting but any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjourned sessions. When any one or more Series (or Classes) is to vote as a single Series (or Class) separate from any other Shares, one third (33 1/3%) of the
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Shares of each such Series (or Class) issued and outstanding shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting of that Series (or Class). Except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by applicable law, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality of the Shares voted shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust requires that the holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that holders of a Class shall vote as a Class), then a majority of the Shares of that Series (or Class) voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter insofar as that Series (or Class) is concerned.
5.3. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series (or Class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or Classes) at any time prior to the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or Classes).
5.4. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
NET ASSET VALUE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
6.1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By-Laws or in a duly adopted vote of the Trustees such bases and time for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Shares of any Series or Class or net income attributable to the Shares of any Series or Class, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any Series or Class, as they may deem necessary or desirable.
6.2. Redemptions and Repurchases.
(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust, or a Person designated by the Trust, that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof as determined by the Trustees (or on their behalf), in accordance with any applicable provisions of the By-Laws, any registration statement of the Trust and applicable law. Unless extraordinary circumstances exist, payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder in accordance with the 1940 Act and any rules and regulations thereunder or as otherwise required by the Commission. The obligation set forth in this Section 2(a) is subject to the provision that, in the event that at
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any time the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules and regulations or an order of the Commission during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted, or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such Series or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of investors, such obligation may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption as provided herein, a Shareholder may either withdraw the request for redemption or receive payment based on the net asset value per share next determined after the termination of such suspension.
(b) The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series or Class thereof for which the Shares are being redeemed. Subject to the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any Adviser or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment-in-kind.
(c) If the Trustees shall, at any time and in good faith, determine that direct or indirect ownership of Shares of any Series or Class thereof has or may become concentrated in any Person to an extent that would disqualify any Series as a regulated investment company under the Code (or any successor statute thereto), then the Trustees shall have the power (but not the obligation) by such means as they deem equitable (i) to call for the redemption by any such Person of a number, or principal amount, of Shares sufficient to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of Shares into conformity with the requirements for such qualification, (ii) to refuse to transfer or issue Shares of any Series or Class thereof to such Person whose acquisition of the Shares in question would result in such disqualification, or (iii) to take such other actions as they deem necessary and appropriate to avoid such disqualification. Any such redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article VI.
(d) The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code (or any successor statute thereto), or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing authority.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, in incurring any debts, liabilities or obligations, or in limiting or omitting any other actions for or in connection with the Trust, are or shall be deemed to be acting as Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust and not in their own capacities. No Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever in tort, contract or otherwise to any other Person or Persons in connection with the assets or the affairs of the Trust or of any Series, and subject to Section 4 of this Article VII, no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
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Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever in tort, contract, or otherwise, to any other Person or Persons in connection with the assets or affairs of the Trust or of any Series, save only that arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office or the discharge of his or her functions. The Trust (or if the matter relates only to a particular Series, that Series) shall be solely liable for any and all debts, claims, demands, judgments, decrees, liabilities or obligations of any and every kind, against or with respect to the Trust or such Series in tort, contract or otherwise in connection with the assets or the affairs of the Trust or such Series, and all Persons dealing with the Trust or any Series shall be deemed to have agreed that resort shall be had solely to the Trust Property of the Trust (or if the matter relates only to a particular Series, that of such Series), for the payment or performance thereof.
The Trustees may provide that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that a Certificate of Trust in respect of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and may recite to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or officer, and not individually, and that the obligations of any instrument made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer of officers of the Trust are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, or the particular Series in question, as the case may be. The omission of any statement to such effect from such instrument shall not operate to bind any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder individually, or to subject the assets of any Series to the obligations of any other Series.
7.2. Trustees’ Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to Section 4 of this Article VII, a Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Subject to the foregoing, (i) the Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, consultant, Adviser, administrator, distributor or Principal Underwriter, custodian or transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee; (ii) the Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as Trustees, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice; and (iii) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by them, any independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a contracting party employed by the Trust. The Trustees as such shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other security for the performance of their duties.
7.3. Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder (or former Shareholder) of the Trust shall be charged or held to be personally liable for any obligation or liability of the Trust solely by reason of being or having been a Shareholder and not because of such
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Shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Trust (upon proper and timely request by the Shareholder) may assume the defense against such charge and satisfy any judgment thereon or may reimburse the Shareholders for expenses, and the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or the heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives thereof, or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled (but solely out of the assets of the Series of which such Shareholder or former Shareholder is or was the holder of Shares) to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
7.4. Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. Subject to the limitations, if applicable, hereinafter set forth in this Section 4, the Trust shall indemnify (from the assets of one or more Series to which the conduct in question relates) each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents (including Persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter, together with such Person’s heirs, executors, administrators or personal representative, referred to as a “Covered Person”)) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; or (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office; and (iii) for a criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful (the conduct described in (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to hereafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of the Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act nor parties to the proceeding (the “Disinterested Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by one or more Series to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to such Series if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VII and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such 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 Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
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7.5. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by any such Covered Person referred to in Section 4 of this Article VII, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such indemnification shall be approved (i) by a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Trustees or (ii) by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Trustees pursuant to clause (i) or by independent legal counsel pursuant to clause (ii) shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with either of such clauses as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Covered Person’s office.
7.6. Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VII shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person or shareholder may be entitled. As used in this Article VII, a “disinterested” Person is one against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question, and no other action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened. Nothing contained in this Article VII shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such Person.
7.7. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No Person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
7.8. Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he or she may become involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity as a Trustee of the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 8.1. Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class.
(a) Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of each Series entitled to vote, voting separately by Series, or by the Trustees by written notice to the
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Shareholders. Any Series of Shares or Class thereof may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of such Series or Class entitled to vote or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such Series or Class.
(b) Upon the requisite Shareholder vote or action by the Trustees to terminate the Trust or any one or more Series of Shares or any Class thereof, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses, and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular Series or any Class thereof as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees may consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets of the Trust or of the affected Series or Class to distributable form in cash or Shares (if any Series remain) or other securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Series or Classes involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of such Series or Class held by the Shareholders of such Series or Class on the date of distribution. Thereupon, the Trust or any affected Series or Class shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged from any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title, and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust or such Series or Class shall be canceled and discharged.
(c) Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust’s Certificate of Trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
8.2. Reorganization.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by applicable law, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into or transfer its assets and any liabilities to one or more trusts (or series thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities (including trusts, partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such merger or consolidation or transfer of assets and any liabilities) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that is formed, organized, or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, unless otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, (ii) cause any one or more Series (or Classes) of the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into or transfer its assets and any liabilities to any one or more other Series (or Classes) of the Trust, one or more trusts (or series or classes thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, associations or corporations, (iii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law or (iv) cause the Trust to reorganize as a corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership under the laws of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction. An agreement of merger or consolidation or exchange or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of the Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Declaration of
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Trust, an agreement of merger or consolidation or exchange or transfer of assets and liabilities approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 2 may (i) effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the Trust or (ii) effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
(c) The Trustees may create one or more business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits, or losses of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust or any Series or Class thereof into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or classes thereof.
8.3. Amendments. Except as specifically provided in this Section 3, the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust. Shareholders shall have the right to vote on (i) any amendment that would affect their right to vote granted in Article V, Section 1 hereof, (ii) any amendment to this Section 3 of Article VIII; (iii) any amendment that may require their vote under applicable law or by the Trust’s registration statement, as filed with the Commission, and (iv) any amendment submitted to them for their vote by the Trustees. Any amendment to this Declaration required to be submitted, or actually submitted by the Trustees, to the Shareholders that, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series but not all Series shall be authorized by a vote of the Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment hereof shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Article VII, Section 8 hereof with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification referenced in Article VII hereof or as provided in the By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment. The Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the Certificate of Trust as they deem necessary or desirable.
8.4. Filing of Copies; References; Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements and/or amendments. In this instrument and in any such restatements and/or amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions such as “herein,” “hereof,” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such restatements and/or amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
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8.5. Applicable Law.
(a) The Trust is created under, and this Declaration of Trust is to be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to business trusts or actions that may be engaged in by business trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege, or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
(b) Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 5(a) of this Article VIII, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, or this Declaration of Trust either the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of Trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges; (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust; (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding, or disposition of real or personal property; (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust; (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal; (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount, or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage, or other manner of holding of trust assets; or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers or liabilities or authorities and powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust; or (viii) activities similar to those referenced in the foregoing items (i) through (vii).
8.6. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any such provision is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code (or any successor statute thereto), and the regulations thereunder, the Delaware Act or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such decision shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
8.7. Business Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners, or members of a joint stock association.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee named below does hereby make and enter into this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as of the 16th day of February 2012.
| /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
| Trustee and not individually |
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