AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of a Delaware Statutory Trust
Exhibit (a)(3)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
of
CIM REAL ASSETS & CREDIT FUND
a Delaware Statutory Trust
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
ARTICLE I | |||
Name and Definitions | 1 | ||
Section 1. | Name. | 1 | |
Section 2. | Registered Agent and Registered Office; Principal Place of Business. | 1 | |
(a) | Registered Agent and Registered Office. | 1 | |
(b) | Principal Place of Business. | 2 | |
Section 3. | Definitions. | 2 | |
(a) | “1940 Act” | 2 | |
(b) | “Affiliated Person” | 2 | |
(c) | “Assignment” | 2 | |
(d) | “Board of Trustees” | 2 | |
(f) | “Certificate of Trust | 2 | |
(g) | “Code” | 2 | |
(h) | “Commission” | 2 | |
(i) | “Delaware Act” | 2 | |
(j) | “Declaration of Trust” | 2 | |
(l) | “Interested Person” | 2 | |
(m) | “Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” | 2 | |
(n) | “Majority Shareholder Vote” | 2 | |
(o) | “National Financial Emergency” | 3 | |
(p) | “Person” | 3 | |
(q) | “Principal Underwriter” | 3 | |
(s) | “Shares” | 3 | |
(t) | “Shareholder” | 3 | |
(u) | “Trust” | 3 | |
(v) | “Trust Property” | 3 | |
(w) | “Trustee” or “Trustees” | 3 | |
ARTICLE II | |||
Purpose of Trust. | 3 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
ARTICLE III | |||
Shares. | 6 | ||
Section 1. | Division of Beneficial Interest. | 6 | |
Section 2. | Other Securities. | 7 | |
Section 3. | Conversion Rights. | 8 | |
Section 4. | Ownership of Shares. | 8 | |
Section 5. | Investments in the Trust. | 8 | |
Section 6. | Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. | 9 | |
Section 7. | Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. | 9 | |
ARTICLE IV | |||
The Board of Trustees. | 9 | ||
Section 1. | Number, Election and Tenure. | 9 | |
Section 2. | Effect of Death, Resignation, Removal, etc. of a Trustee. | 10 | |
Section 3. | Powers. | 10 | |
Section 4. | Meetings of the Board of Trustees. | 12 | |
Section 5. | Payment of Expenses by the Trust. | 12 | |
Section 6. | Ownership of Trust Property. | 13 | |
Section 7. | Service Contracts. | 13 | |
Section 8. | Committees of the Board of Trustees. | 14 | |
ARTICLE V | 14 | ||
Officers of the Trust. | 14 | ||
Section 1. | Officers of the Trust. | 14 | |
Section 2. | Reports. | 15 | |
ARTICLE VI | |||
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings. | 15 | ||
Section 1. | Voting Powers. | 15 | |
Section 2. | Meetings. | 15 | |
Section 3. | Quorum and Required Vote. | 15 | |
Section 4. | Shareholder Action by Written Consent without a Meeting. | 16 | |
Section 5. | Record Dates. | 16 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
Section 6. | Derivative Actions. | 17 | |
ARTICLE VII | |||
Custodian. | 17 | ||
Section 1. | Appointment and Duties. | 17 | |
Section 2. | Central Certificate System. | 18 | |
ARTICLE VIII | |||
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Repurchases. | 18 | ||
Section 1. | Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. | 18 | |
Section 2. | Repurchases at the Option of a Shareholder. | 19 | |
Section 3. | Repurchases at the Option of the Trust. | 20 | |
ARTICLE IX | |||
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Officers and Trustees. | 20 | ||
Section 1. | Compensation. | 20 | |
Section 2. | Indemnification; Limitation of Liability and Advance of Expenses. | 20 | |
Section 3. | Officers and Trustees’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. | 21 | |
Section 4. | Insurance. | 21 | |
ARTICLE X | |||
Miscellaneous. | 23 | ||
Section 1. | Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. | 23 | |
Section 2. | Dissolution of Trust. | 23 | |
Section 3. | Merger and Consolidation; Conversion. | 24 | |
(a) | Merger and Consolidation. | 24 | |
(b) | Conversion. | 24 | |
Section 4. | Reorganization. | 24 | |
Section 5. | Amendments. | 25 | |
Section 6. | Filing of Copies, References, Headings. | 25 | |
Section 7. | Applicable Law. | 25 | |
Section 8. | Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations. | 26 | |
Section 9. | Statutory Trust Only. | 26 | |
Section 10. | Fiscal Year. | 26 | |
Section 11. | Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction. | 27 | |
Section 12. | Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise. | 27 | |
Section 13. | Seal. | 28 | |
Section 14. | Execution of Papers. | 27 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
CIM REAL ASSETS & CREDIT FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 29th day of August, 2019, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares issued hereunder, if any, as hereinafter provided.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, this Trust is a Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on February 4, 2019 and the execution of an initial declaration of trust, dated as of February 4, 2019 that is amended and restated in its entirety hereby;
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company;
WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial interest in separate classes, all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act (as defined herein), and the provisions hereinafter set forth.
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 created hereunder as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions.
Name and Definitions.
Section 1. Name. The name of the Trust hereby continued is “CIM Real Assets & Credit 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.
Section 2. Registered Agent and Registered Office; Principal Place of Business.
(a) Registered Agent and Registered Office. The name of the registered agent of the Trust and the address of the registered office of the Trust are as set forth on the Certificate of Trust.
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(b) Principal Place of Business. The principal place of business of the Trust is 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, or such other location within or outside of the State of Delaware as the Board of Trustees may determine from time to time.
Section 3. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) “1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
(b) “Affiliated Person” or “Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act when used with reference to a specified Person;
(c) “Assignment” shall have the meaning given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder.
(d) “Board of Trustees” shall mean the governing body of the Trust, which is comprised of the Trustees of the Trust;
(f) “Certificate of Trust” shall mean the certificate of trust filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 4, 2019, as required under the Delaware Act to form the Trust, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time;
(g) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder;
(h) “Commission” shall have the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(7) of the 1940 Act;
(i) The “Delaware Act” refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled “Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts,” as it may be amended from time to time;
(j) “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(k) “Interested Person” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;
(l) “Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” shall mean a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
(m) “Majority Shareholder Vote” shall have the same meaning as the term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” is given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder;
(n) “National Financial Emergency” shall mean the whole or any part of any period set forth in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, declare that
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the suspension relating to a national financial emergency shall terminate, as the case may be, on the first business day on which the New York Stock Exchange shall have reopened or the period specified in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act shall have expired (as to which, in the absence of an official ruling by the Commission, the determination of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive);
(o) “Person” shall include a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate, association, corporation, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity;
(p) “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(a)(29) of the 1940 Act;
(q) “Shares” shall mean the outstanding shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, and shall include fractional and whole shares;
(r) “Shareholder” shall mean a record owner of Shares;
(s) “Trust” shall refer to the Delaware statutory trust continued by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(t) “Trust Property” shall mean any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust, including, without limitation, the rights referenced in Article VIII, Section 2 hereof; and
(u) “Trustee” or “Trustees” shall refer to each signatory to this Declaration of Trust as a trustee, so long as such signatory continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may, from time to time, be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof. Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in their capacity as Trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust.
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment management company registered under the 1940 Act investing primarily in securities and, in addition to any authority given by law, to exercise all of the powers and to do any and all of the things conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware on a Delaware statutory trust, including, without limitation, the following powers:
(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, mortgage, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities or property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of
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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 U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust;
(b) To exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges with reference to or incident to ownership or interest, use and enjoyment of any of such securities and other instruments or property of every kind and description, including, but without limitation, the right, power and privilege to own, vote, hold, purchase, sell, negotiate, assign, exchange, lend, transfer, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, pledge or write options with respect to or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy any rights, title, interest, powers or privileges under or with reference to any of such securities and other instruments or property, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments, and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of any of such securities and other instruments or property;
(c) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease or write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act;
(d) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(e) To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(f) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or sub-custodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a sub-custodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in each case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of investment companies or any rules or regulations applicable thereto;
(g) To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
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(h) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(i) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Advisers, Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, to the fullest extent permitted by this Declaration of Trust and by applicable law;
(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(n) To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, sell, negotiate, exchange, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy, property of all kinds;
(o) To buy, sell, mortgage, encumber, hold, own, exchange, rent or otherwise acquire and dispose of, and to develop, improve, manage, subdivide, and generally to deal and trade in real property, improved and unimproved, and wheresoever situated; and to build, erect, construct, alter and maintain buildings, structures, and other improvements on real property;
(p) To borrow or raise moneys for any of the purposes of the Trust, and to mortgage or pledge the whole or any part of the property and franchises of the Trust, real, personal, and mixed, tangible or intangible, and wheresoever situated;
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(q) To enter into, make and perform contracts and undertakings of every kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as to amount; and
(r) To issue, purchase, sell and transfer, reacquire, hold, trade and deal in Shares, bonds, debentures and other securities, instruments or other property of the Trust, from time to time, to such extent as the Board of Trustees shall, consistent with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, determine; and to repurchase, re-acquire and redeem, from time to time, its Shares or, if any, its bonds, debentures and other securities.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible dissolution of the Trust. 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. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees shall be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
The foregoing clauses shall each be construed as purposes, objects and powers, and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumeration of specific purposes, objects and powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of the Trust, and that they are in furtherance of, and in addition to, and not in limitation of, the general powers conferred upon the Trust by the Delaware Act and the other laws of the State of Delaware or otherwise; nor shall the enumeration of one thing be deemed to exclude another, although it be of like nature, not expressed.
ARTICLE III
Shares.
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into Shares, all without par value. The number of Shares authorized hereunder is unlimited. The Board of Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate classes of Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify any unissued Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Shares of any class from time to time, in one or more classes of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”). The different classes shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different classes shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Trustees without the requirement of Shareholder approval. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust or any class. If no separate classes shall be established, the Shares shall have the rights and preferences provided for herein and in Article III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein, and all references to classes shall be construed (as the context may require) to refer to the Trust.
The Board of Trustees shall have the power to issue Shares of the Trust, or any class thereof, from time to time for such consideration (but not less than the net asset value thereof) and in such form as may be fixed from time to time pursuant to the direction of the Board of Trustees.
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The Board of Trustees may hold as treasury shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time, any Shares reacquired by the Trust (which Shares shall not be deemed cancelled unless the Board of Trustees specifically provides otherwise). Shares held in the treasury shall not, until reissued, confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any class into one or more classes that may be established and designated from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may acquire, hold, sell and otherwise deal in, for purposes of investment or otherwise, Shares of the Trust, and such Shares shall not be deemed treasury shares or cancelled.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and the Shareholders shall be entitled to receive dividends and distributions, when, if and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article IV, Section 3 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same class with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust or of such class made pursuant to Article IX, Section 2 hereof. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to new or additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any such Person is interested, may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of the Trust to the same extent as if such Person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may purchase Shares from any such Person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of such Shares generally.
Section 2. Other Securities. The Trustees may, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue preferred shares of any class or series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration of Trust as they deem necessary or appropriate, including to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act or requirements imposed by other persons, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any such supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. In addition, any such supplement or amendment may set forth the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of such preferred shares and any such supplement or amendment shall operate either as additions to or modifications of the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of any such preferred shares under this Declaration of Trust. To the extent the provisions set forth in such supplement or amendment conflict with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust with respect to any such rights, powers and privileges of the preferred shares, such amendment or supplement shall control. Except as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, this Declaration of Trust shall control as to the Trust generally and the rights, powers,
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preferences and privileges of the other Shareholders of the Trust. The Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.
Section 3. Conversion Rights. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide from time to time that the holders of Shares of any class shall be required to, or have the right to, convert or exchange such Shares for or into Shares of one or more other classes or for interests in one or more other trusts, corporations, or other business entities (or a series or class of any of the foregoing) in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees from time to time.
Section 4. Ownership of Shares.
(a) The ownership of Shares shall be recorded or maintained in any manner permitted by the Delaware Act. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Board of Trustees may make such rules not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of each class and similar matters. The records of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each class and as to the number of Shares of each class held from time to time by each such Shareholder.
(b) In lieu of issuing certificates for shares, the Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such shares as if they had accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of share certificates. In that event, each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number of shares owned by him, in such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. Such certificate shall be signed by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures may be facsimiles if the certificate is signed by a transfer agent, or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall cease to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he were such officer at the time of its issue. In case of the alleged loss or destruction or the mutilation of a share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees shall prescribe.
(c) In the event certificates have been issued, a pledgee of shares transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is held as collateral security, and the name of the pledgor shall be stated thereon, who alone shall be liable as a shareholder, and entitled to vote thereon.
Section 5. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, authorize. Each investment shall be credited to the individual Shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such class as the purchaser may select, at the net asset value per Share next determined by the Board of Trustees for such class after
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receipt of the investment, or as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus; provided, however, that the custodian and the transfer agent may, pursuant to its agreement with the Trust, impose a sales charge upon investments in the Trust.
Section 6. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving to Shareholders only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust and under applicable law. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to dissolve the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Declaration of 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 right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners. 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. All Shares when issued on the terms determined by the Board of Trustees shall be fully paid and nonassessable. As provided in the Delaware Act, Shareholders of the Trust shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of a private corporation organized for profit under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware.
Section 7. Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend this Declaration of Trust or the Certificate of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, or the Certificate of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may determine in its sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that before adopting any such amendment without Shareholder approval, the Board of Trustees shall determine that it is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders and that Shareholder approval is not otherwise required by the 1940 Act.
The Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its discretion, to make such elections as to the tax status of the Trust as may be permitted or required under the Code as presently in effect or as amended, without the vote of any Shareholder.
ARTICLE IV
The Board of Trustees.
Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees may be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the Board of Trustees; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15). The Trustees as of the date of this Declaration of Trust shall be the signatories hereto. Subject to the express
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terms of any class of Preferred Shares, the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the then Trustees at a duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees or remove any Trustee with or without cause. The Shareholders may elect Trustees, including filling any vacancies in the Board of Trustees, at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Board of Trustees for that purpose. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees may be called by the Board of Trustees. To the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to the express terms of any class of Preferred Shares, Shareholders shall have the power to remove a Trustee only to the extent provided by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or, if sooner than any of such events, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. 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 Board of Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some later 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 any such event or any right to damages on account of such events or any actions taken in connection therewith following his or her resignation or removal.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, Removal, etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, declaration as bankrupt or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or of all of them, shall not operate to dissolve the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in Section 1 of this Article IV, the Trustee(s) in office, regardless of the number, shall have all the powers granted to the Board of Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Board of Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. In the event of the death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, declaration as bankrupt or incapacity of all of the then Trustees, the Trust’s Investment Adviser(s) is (are) empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees shall manage the business of the Trust, and such Board of Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility, including, without limitation, the power to engage in securities or other transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. The Board of Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that it may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Trust. The Trustees shall not be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs with regard to investment by trustees or fiduciaries, but shall have full authority and absolute power and control over the assets of the Trust and the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the assets of the Trust and the business in their own right, including such authority, power and control to do all acts and things as they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: (1) adopt, amend and repeal bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust; (2) fill vacancies in or remove from their number in accordance with this Declaration of Trust, and may
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elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; (3) appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Board of Trustees determine; (4) employ one or more custodians of the Trust Property and may authorize such custodians to employ sub-custodians and to deposit all or any part of such Trust Property in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; (5) retain a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, a shareholder servicing agent or administrative services agent, or all of them; (6) provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; (7) retain one or more Investment Adviser(s); (8) redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; (9) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, in the manner provided in Article V, Section 5 of this Declaration of Trust; (10) declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders from the Trust Property; (11) establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any class of Shares; and (12) in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Board of Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing or shareholder servicing agent, Principal Underwriter or Investment Adviser or any other person. Any determination as to what is in the best interests of the Trust made by the Board of Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive.
In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Unless otherwise specified herein or required by law, any action by the Board of Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Trustees, or a committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be, shall individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a majority vote of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be.
The Trustees shall devote to the affairs of the Trust such time as may be necessary for the proper performance of their duties hereunder, but neither the Trustees nor the officers, directors, shareholders or partners of the Trustees, shall be expected to devote their full time to the performance of such duties. The Trustees, or any Affiliate shareholder, officer, director, partner or employee thereof, or any Person owning a legal or beneficial interest therein, may engage in or possess an interest in any other business or venture of any nature and description, independently or with or for the account of others. The Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust shall have the authority to hire employees and to retain advisers and experts necessary to carry out their duties.
Section 4. Meetings of the Board of Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent Trustees. A regular meeting of the Trustees may be held without call or
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notice immediately after and at the same place as any meeting of the shareholders. Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at any time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called by the President or the Treasurer or by two or more Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.
It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting to send notice by mail or electronic transmission at least forty-eight hours before the meeting addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or residence address or to give notice to him or her in person or by electronic transmission, telephone or facsimile at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. Neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.
At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. One or more of the Trustees or of any committee of the Trust may participate in a meeting thereof by means of a conference telephone or other communications means allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Board of Trustees is authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any particular class, or partly out of the principal and partly out of the income of the Trust or any particular class, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the classes that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, as it deems fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with the maintenance or operation of the Trust or a particular class, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, sub-custodian (if any), transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property.
(a) Legal title to all of the Trust Property shall at all times be considered to be vested in the Trust, except that the Board of Trustees shall have the power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of any Person as nominee, on such terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, in accordance with applicable law.
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(b) Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of shares of the Trust to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may accept subscriptions to shares or repurchase shares from any firm or company in which he is interested.
Section 7. Service Contracts.
(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliate; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, including without limitation, authority for the Investment Adviser or administrator to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Board of Trustees what securities and other instruments or property shall be purchased or otherwise acquired, owned, held, invested or reinvested in, sold, exchanged, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, assigned, negotiated, or otherwise dealt with or disposed of, and what portion, if any, of the Trust Property shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.
(b) The Board of Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliate, appointing it or them as the exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of the Trust or one or more of the classes thereof or for other securities to be issued by the Trust, or appointing it or them to act as the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the classes thereof.
(c) The Board of Trustees is further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust, as the Board of Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust.
(d) The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or Affiliate of any organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or Affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other service contract with one or
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more other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee, employee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders, provided that the establishment of and performance under each such contract is permissible under the provisions of the 1940 Act.
(e) Every contract referred to in this Section 7 of Article IV shall comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the 1940 Act or stipulated by resolution of the Board of Trustees; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine.
Section 8. Committees of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office, may elect from their number an Executive Committee or other committees and may delegate thereto some or all of their powers except those which by law or by this Declaration of Trust may not be delegated. Except as the Trustees may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Trustees or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by this Declaration of Trust for the Trustees themselves. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Trustees may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Trustees delegate any of their powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Trustees. The Trustees shall have power to rescind any action of any committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect.
ARTICLE V
Officers of the Trust.
Section 1. Officers of the Trust. The officers of the Trust may be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers, including Vice Presidents, if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion elect. The Trust also may have such agents as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion appoint. Any officer may be, but need not be, a Trustee or shareholder. The same person may hold any two or more offices. The President, the Treasurer and the Secretary shall be elected annually by the Trustees. Other officers, if any, may be elected or appointed by the Trustees at any time. Vacancies in any office may be filled at any time.
The officers shall hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each officer shall hold office and each agent shall retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees. Subject to the other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, each officer shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Delaware business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate.
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust will be a principal executive officer of the Trust. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide, the President, or in the absence of the President, any Trustee chosen by the Trustees, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Trustees. The President shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by the Chief Executive Officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board or the chief executive officer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial and accounting officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to any arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment adviser or manager, or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by any officer of the Trust. The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the shareholders or Trustees, an assistant secretary, or if there be none or if he or she is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at such meeting shall record the proceedings thereof in the aforesaid books.
Section 2. Reports. The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and in the manner required by this Declaration of Trust or any applicable law. Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem desirable or as may from time to time be required by the Trustees.
ARTICLE VI
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings.
Section 1. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (i) for the election of Trustees, including the filling of any vacancies in the Board of Trustees, as provided in Article IV, Section 1; (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by the 1940 Act; and (iii) on such other matters as the Board of Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. The Shareholder of record (as of the record date established pursuant to Section 5 of this Article VI) of each Share shall be entitled to one vote for each full Share, and a fractional vote for each fractional Share. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulative voting in the election of Trustees or on any other matter. Shareholders may vote Shares in person or by proxy.
Subject to the express terms of any class of Preferred Shares, All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote on the matter, separately by class, subject to: (1) where the 1940 Act requires all Shares of the Trust to be voted in the aggregate without differentiation between the separate classes, then all of the Trust’s Shares shall vote in the aggregate; and (2) if any matter affects only the interests of some but not all classes, then only the Shareholders of such affected classes shall be entitled to vote on the matter. Fractional Shares shall be entitled to a fractional vote.
Section 2. Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be held within or outside the State of Delaware. Meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust may be called by the Board of Trustees, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Trust for
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any lawful purpose, including the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1. Shareholders shall be entitled to at least fifteen (15) days’ notice of any meeting.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or by this Declaration of Trust, thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. When a separate vote by one or more classes is required, thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Shares of each such class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting of such class. Subject to the provisions of Section 6(d) of Article III hereof, Section 1 of this Article VI, and any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or applicable law which requires a different vote: (1) in all matters other than the election of Trustees, the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at a Shareholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Shareholders; (2) Trustees shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a Shareholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present.
Section 4. Record Dates. For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote or entitled to give consent to action without a meeting, the Board of Trustees may fix in advance a record date which shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) days nor less than seven (7) days before the date of any such meeting.
If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date, the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day which is five (5) business days next preceding to the day on which the meeting is held.
For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Board of Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such class having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees from setting different record dates for different classes.
Section 5. Derivative Actions. No person, other than a Trustee, who is not a Shareholder of a particular Class shall be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Class. No Shareholder may maintain a derivative action on behalf of the Trust unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares join in the bringing of such action.
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust with respect to a Class only if the following conditions are met: (i) the Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed; and a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term
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is defined in the Delaware Act); and (ii) unless a demand is not required under clause (i) of this paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and the Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. For purposes of this Section 6 of Article V, the Trustees may designate a committee of one or more Trustees to consider a Shareholder demand.
ARTICLE VII
Custodian.
Custodian.
Section 1. Appointment and Duties. The Trustees shall at all times employ a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, each having capital, surplus and undivided profits consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act as custodian with authority as its agent:
(a) To hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing, or by such electro-mechanical or electronic devices as are agreed to by the Trust and the custodian, if such procedures have been authorized in writing by the Trust;
(b) To receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;
(c) To disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
and the Trust may also employ such custodian or other third party service provider as its agent:
(d) To keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any class and furnish clerical and accounting services; and
(e) To compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset Value of any class in accordance with the provisions hereof; all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize the 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 be a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company organized under the laws of the United States or one of the states thereof and having capital, surplus and undivided profits consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act.
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Section 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, as amended, 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 or its custodians, sub-custodians or other agents.
ARTICLE VIII
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Repurchases.
Net Asset Value, Distributions and Repurchases.
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions. Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to fix an initial offering price for the Shares of any class which shall yield to such class not less than the net asset value thereof, at which price the Shares of such class shall be offered initially for sale, and to determine from time to time thereafter the offering price which shall yield to such class not less than the net asset value thereof from sales of the Shares of such class; provided, however, that no Shares of a class shall be issued or sold for consideration which shall yield to such class less than the net asset value of the Shares of such class next determined by the Board of Trustees after receipt of the investment, or as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus (or at such other times set by the Board of Trustees), except in the case of Shares of such class issued in payment of a dividend properly declared and payable.
Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in a duly adopted vote of the Board of Trustees such bases and time for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Shares or net income attributable to the Shares, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares, as they may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 2. Repurchases at the Option of a Shareholder. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus of the Trust relating to the Shares, as such prospectus may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”):
(a) The Trust may purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for repurchase, 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 repurchase as the Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, in accordance with applicable law. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within the number of days determined by the Trustees after the date on which the request is received in proper form. The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the Rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any
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National Financial Emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Board of Trustees. If certificates have been issued to a Shareholder, any such request by such Shareholder must be accompanied by surrender of any outstanding certificate or certificates for such Shares in form for transfer, together with such proof of the authenticity of signatures as may reasonably be required on such Shares and accompanied by proper stock transfer stamps, if applicable.
(b) Payments for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made in cash, except payment for such Shares may, at the option of the Board of Trustees, or such officer or officers as it may duly authorize in its complete discretion, be made in kind or partially in cash and partially in kind. In case of any payment in kind, the Board of Trustees, or its delegate, shall have absolute discretion as to what security or securities of the Trust shall be distributed in kind and the amount of the same; and the securities shall be valued for purposes of distribution at the value at which they were appraised in computing the then current net asset value of the Shares, provided that any Shareholder who cannot legally acquire securities so distributed in kind by reason of the prohibitions of the 1940 Act or the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, shall receive cash. Shareholders shall bear the expenses of in kind transactions, including, but not limited to, transfer agency fees, custodian fees and costs of disposition of such securities.
(c) Payment for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made by the Trust as provided above within the number of days determined by the Trustees after the date on which the request is received in good order; provided, however, that if payment shall be made other than exclusively in cash, any securities to be delivered as part of such payment shall be delivered as promptly as any necessary transfers of such securities on the books of the several corporations whose securities are to be delivered practicably can be made, which may not necessarily occur within such period. Moreover, repurchases may be suspended in the event of a National Financial Emergency. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
(d) The right of Shareholders to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares may be set forth in a Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and amended from time to time. The right of any Shareholder to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares redeemed and all other rights of such Shareholder with respect to the Shares so redeemed by the Trust, except the
right of such Shareholder to receive payment for such Shares, shall cease at the time as of which the purchase price of such Shares shall have been fixed, as provided above.
Section 3. Repurchases at the Option of the Trust. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, and subject to the 1940 Act, redeem Shares or authorize the closing of any Shareholder account, subject to such conditions as may be established by the Board of Trustees.
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ARTICLE IX
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Officers and Trustees.
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Officers and Trustees.
Section 1. Compensation. Except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 1, the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, fix a reasonable amount of compensation to be paid by the Trust to the Trustees and officers of the Trust. 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 the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Indemnification; Limitation of Liability and Advance of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Trustees and officers are permitted by the Delaware Act, the officers and Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of: any agent or employee of the Trust; any Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust; or with respect to each Trustee and officer, the act or omission of any other Trustee or officer, respectively. With respect to the advancement of expenses, as set forth in Section 2(b) of this Article IX, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every officer and Trustee from and against any and all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and expenses including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding of any kind and nature whatsoever, whether brought in the right of the Trust or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal or administrative nature, before any court or administrative or legislative body, including any appeal therefrom, in which he or she may be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise or with which he or she may be threatened in connection with such officer’s or Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a Person serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust whether or not such Person is a Trustee or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted. Nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any officer or Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which such Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance (as set forth in the 1940 Act), willful misconduct (as defined in Section 3301 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code), bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct involved in the conduct of such Person’s office.
The right of indemnification provided by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of or affect or limit any other rights, including other indemnification rights, to which any such Trustee or officer may be entitled from the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The Trust shall pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by a Trustee, an officer, the Investment Adviser or any Affiliate of the Investment Adviser in advance of final disposition of a proceeding if all of the following are satisfied: (a) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Trust, (b) such Person provides the Trust with written affirmation of such Person’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Trust as authorized by this Section 2 of this Article IX has been met, (c) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third person who is not a Shareholder or, if by a Shareholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent
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jurisdiction approves such advancement and (d) such Person provides the Trust with a written agreement to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Trust, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which such Person is found not to be entitled to indemnification.
(c) Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or document whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, the officers or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in such Person’s capacity as Trustee and/or as officer, and such Trustee or officer, as applicable, shall not be personally liable therefor, except as described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 2 of this Article IX.
Section 3. Officers and 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. An officer or Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for such officer’s or Trustee’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of such officer or Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The officers and Trustees may obtain the advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as officers or Trustees. No such officer or Trustee shall be liable for any act or omission in accordance with such advice and no inference concerning liability shall arise from a failure to follow such advice. The officers and Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 4. Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the officers and Trustees shall be entitled and have the authority to purchase with Trust Property, insurance for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which such Person becomes involved by virtue of such Person’s capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Article.
Section 5. Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each a “Fiduciary Covered Person”) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person, a Fiduciary Covered Person acting under this Declaration of Trust shall not be liable to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person for its
good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration of Trust. The provisions of this Declaration of Trust, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of Fiduciary Covered Persons otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of such Fiduciary Covered Persons. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Person other than a Trustee or officer of the Trust shall have any fiduciary duties (or liability therefor) to the Trust or any Shareholder. Except where a different standard is expressly provided for in this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees and officers of the Trust shall have the benefit of the business judgment rule in the performance of their duties to the Trust and the Shareholders.
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(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any Fiduciary Covered Person or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust or any Shareholders or any other Person, on the other hand; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration of Trust or any other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that a Fiduciary Covered Person shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust, any Shareholders or any other Person,
a Fiduciary Covered Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by a Fiduciary Covered Person, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by a Fiduciary Covered Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration of Trust or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of a Fiduciary Covered Person at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or otherwise applicable law, whenever in this Declaration of Trust Fiduciary Covered Persons are permitted or required to make a decision (i) in their “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority, the Fiduciary Covered Persons shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as they desire, including their own interests, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust, the Shareholders or any other Person; or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Fiduciary Covered Persons shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard. The term “good faith” as used in this Declaration of Trust shall mean subjective good faith as such term is understood and interpreted under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(d) Any Fiduciary Covered Person and any Affiliate of any Fiduciary Covered Person may engage in or possess an interest in other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust and the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Fiduciary Covered Person. No Fiduciary Covered Person who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Trust shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Trust, and such Fiduciary Covered Person shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Shareholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Fiduciary Covered Person pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Shareholders shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Declaration of Trust or the trust relationship created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Any Fiduciary Covered Person may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, the Shareholders or any Affiliate of the Trust or the Shareholders.
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ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous.
Miscellaneous.
Section 1. 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 actions made or to be made by the Trustees.
Section 2. Dissolution of Trust. Unless dissolved as provided herein, the Trust shall have perpetual existence. The Trust may be dissolved at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust entitled to vote or by the Board of Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders.
Upon dissolution of the Trust, the Trustees shall (in accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Act) pay or make reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust , including all contingent, conditional or unmatured claims and obligations known to the Trust, and all claims and obligations which are known to the Trust but for which the identity of the claimant is unknown. If there are sufficient assets held with respect to the Trust, such claims and obligations shall be paid in full and any such provisions for payment shall be made in full. If there are insufficient assets held with respect to the Trust, such claims and obligations shall be paid or provided for according to their priority and, among claims and obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets available therefor. Any remaining assets (including without limitation, cash, securities or any combination thereof) held with respect to the Trust shall be distributed to the Shareholders of the Trust, ratably according to the number of Shares of the Trust held by the several Shareholders on the record date for such dissolution distribution.
Section 3. Merger and Consolidation; Conversion.
(a) Merger and Consolidation. Pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, the Trust may, by act of a majority of the Board of Trustees, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, merge or consolidate with or into one or more business trusts or other business entities formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or the
United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction. Any such merger or consolidation shall not require the vote of the Shareholders affected thereby, unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act, or unless such merger or consolidation would result in an amendment of this Declaration of Trust, which would otherwise require the approval of such Shareholders. In accordance with Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation may affect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or affect the adoption of a new declaration of trust or bylaws of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting business trust. Upon completion of the merger or consolidation, the Trustees shall file a certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section 3810 of the Delaware Act.
(b) Conversion. A majority of the Board of Trustees may, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, cause (i) the Trust to convert to a common-law trust, a general partnership, limited partnership or a limited liability company organized, formed or created under the laws of the State of Delaware as permitted pursuant to Section 3821 of the Delaware Act; (ii) the Shares of the Trust to be converted into beneficial interests in another business trust created pursuant to this
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Section 3 of this Article X, or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law; provided, however, that if required by the 1940 Act, no such statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share exchange shall be effective unless the terms of such transaction shall first have been approved at a meeting called for that purpose by a Majority Shareholder Vote of the Trust, as applicable; provided, further, that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation including the power to create one or more separate business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or trusts.
Section 4. Reorganization. A majority of the Board of Trustees, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, may cause the Trust to sell, convey and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust to another trust, business trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation organized under the laws of any state, in exchange for cash, shares or other securities with such transfer either (a) being made subject to, or with the assumption by the transferee of, the liabilities associated with the Trust the assets of which are so transferred, or (b) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of, such liabilities; provided, however, that, if required by the 1940 Act, no assets associated with the Trust shall be so sold, conveyed or transferred unless the terms of such transaction shall first have been approved at a meeting called for that purpose by a Majority Shareholder Vote. Following such sale, conveyance and transfer, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares or other securities ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust the assets associated with which have been so sold, conveyed and transferred (giving due effect to the differences among the various classes within the Trust); and if all of the assets of the Trust have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, the Trust shall be dissolved.
Section 5. Amendments. Subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of this Section 5 of this Article IX, this Declaration of Trust may be restated and/or amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Board of Trustees and, if required, by approval of such amendment by Shareholders in accordance with Article V, Section 3 hereof. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective immediately upon execution and approval or upon such future date and time as may be stated therein. The Certificate of Trust may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, and any such restatement and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.
Notwithstanding the above, the Board of Trustees expressly reserves the right to amend or repeal any provisions contained in this Declaration of Trust or the Certificate of Trust, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of Article III hereof, and all rights, contractual and otherwise, conferred upon Shareholders are granted subject to such reservation.
Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this Declaration of Trust and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust where any Shareholder may inspect it. 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,
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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 Declaration of Trust and in any such restatements and/or amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions of similar effect to “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.
Section 7. Applicable Law.
The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Declaration of Trust, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and the laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration of Trust (a) the provisions of Sections 3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts which 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 court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a “statutory trust”, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by 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.
Section 8. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the Code, the Delaware Act, or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed not to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust from the time when such provisions became inconsistent with such laws or regulations; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
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(b) If any provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 9. Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and thereby to create the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the Delaware Act between the Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a 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.
Section 10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on September 30; provided, however, that the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the fiscal year of the Trust.
Section 11. Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction. Each Trustee, each officer, each Shareholder and each Person beneficially owning an interest in a Share of the Trust (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise), to the fullest extent permitted by law, including but not limited to Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Act, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to the Trust or its business and affairs, the Delaware Act or this Declaration of Trust or asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs (or similar) doctrine (including, without limitation, any claims, suits, actions or proceedings to interpret, apply or enforce (A) the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, or (B) the duties (including fiduciary duties), obligations or liabilities of the Trust to the Shareholders or the Trustees, or of officers or the Trustees to the Trust, to the Shareholders or each other, or (C) the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Trust, the officers, the Trustees or the Shareholders, or (D) any provision of the Delaware Act or other laws of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts made applicable to the Trust pursuant to Section 3809 of the Delaware Act, if any, or (E) any other instrument, document, agreement (including, without limitation, any investment management agreement) or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Act or the Declaration of Trust relating in any way to the Trust or (F) the federal securities laws of the United States, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act or the securities or antifraud laws of any international, national, state, provincial, territorial, local or other governmental or regulatory authority, including, in each case, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (regardless, in every case, of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings (x) sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, (y) are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or (z) are derivative or direct claims)), shall be exclusively brought, unless the Trust, in its sole discretion, consents in writing to an alternative forum, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is
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improper, (iv) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (iv) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law, and (v) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.
Section 12. Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, any notice, proxy, vote, consent, instrument or writing of any kind referenced in, or contemplated by, this Declaration of Trust may, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, be given, granted or otherwise delivered by electronic transmission (within the meaning of the Delaware Act), including via the internet, or in any other manner permitted by applicable law.
Section 13. Seal. If required by applicable law, the seal of the Trust shall consist of a flat-faced die with the word “Delaware”, together with the name of the Trust and the year of its organization cut or engraved thereon, but, unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on, and its absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.
Section 14. Execution of Papers. Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, contracts, notes and other obligations made by the Trustees shall be signed by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or by the Treasurer or by any other officer or Person authorized by the Trustees from time to time and need not bear the seal of the Trust.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees named below hereby make and enter into this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as of the date first above written.
Trustee | Signature | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxx | /s/ Bilal Xxxxxx | |
Xxxxx “Lili” Lynton | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |