ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORPORATE SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at New
York, New York, effective this 3rd day of May, 2006 by the Trustees hereunder
and the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and to be
issued hereunder as hereinafter provided:
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, this Trust was formed on the 26th day of January, 2004;
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their
hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable
shares in accordance with 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 in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. This Trust shall be known as "AllianceBernstein Corporate
Shares" 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. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by
the context or specifically provided:
(a) "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(b) "Trustees" refers to Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx., D. Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx, and
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx., so long as they continue in office in accordance with
the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who may from time
to time be duly elected or appointed in accordance with Article IV hereof;
(c) "Shares" means the equal proportionate units of interest into which
the beneficial interest in the Trust or in the Trust property belonging to any
Series of the Trust or in any class of Shares of the Trust (as the context may
require) shall be divided from time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms "Commission" and "principal underwriter" have the meanings
given them in the 1940 Act;
(g) "Declaration of Trust" means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) "By-Laws" means the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to
time;
(i) "Series Company" refers to the form of registered open-end investment
company described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act or in any successor
statutory provision;
(j) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated under
or in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(k) "Multi-Class Series" refers to Series of Shares established and
designated as Multi-Class Series under or in accordance with the provisions of
Article III, Section 6; and
(l) The terms "class" and "class of Shares" refer to each class of Shares
into which the Shares of any Multi-Class Series may from time to time be divided
in accordance with the provisions of Article III.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment
primarily in securities (including options), debt instruments, commodities,
commodity contracts and options thereon.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the
Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, with
$0.00001 par value per Share.
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Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall
have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the Shares of
any Series or class shall be entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared
with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6 of this Article III with respect to
Shares of Multi-Class Series, no Share shall have any priority or preference
over any other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or
distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such Series made pursuant to
Article VIII, Section 4 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6 of
this Article III with respect to Shares of Multi-Class Series, all dividends and
distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a particular
Series from the assets belonging to such Series according to the number of
Shares of such Series held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for
any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be.
Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any
additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust. The Trustees may from
time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Series or class into
a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series or class without thereby
changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of that Series or
class in the assets belonging to that Series or attributable to that class or in
any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series or class.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded
on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust. No
certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the
Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such
rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series and
class and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or
any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who
are the Shareholders of each Series and class and as to the number of Shares of
each Series and class held from time to time by each.
Section 3. Investments in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments
in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration as
they from time to time authorize.
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares
shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this
instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be
held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have
become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the
Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of
any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or
elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative
only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of
Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any
part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the
same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the
Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any
Shareholders, 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.
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Section 5. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without
limiting the power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided
elsewhere herein, the Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of
Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may
determine in their 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 for the purpose of (i) responding
to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any
governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or
(ii) designating and establishing Series or classes in addition to those
established in Section 6 of this Article III; provided that before adopting any
such amendment without Shareholder approval the Trustees shall determine that it
is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders. The
establishment and designation of any Series of Shares in addition to the Series
established and designated in Section 6 of this Article III shall be effective
upon either the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an amendment to
this Declaration of Trust, taking the form of a complete restatement or
otherwise, or the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the then
Trustees of a resolution, setting forth such establishment and designation and
the relative rights and preferences of such Series, or as otherwise provided in
such amendment or resolution. The establishment and designation of any class of
Shares shall be effective upon either the execution by a majority of the then
Trustees of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust, taking the form of a
complete restatement or otherwise, or the adoption by vote or written consent of
a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution, setting forth such
establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such
class and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees
may determine, or as otherwise provided in such amendment or resolution.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, for
the above-stated purposes, amend the Declaration of Trust to:
(a) create one or more Series or classes of Shares (in addition to any
Series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and
preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the
Trustees shall determine and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares
of particular Series or classes in accordance with such eligibility
requirements;
(b) amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (j) of
Section 6 of this Article III;
(c) combine one or more Series or classes of Shares into a single Series
or class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine or
consolidate, merge or transfer assets of the Trust or a Series as set forth in
Article VIII, Section 5;
(d) change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in
Shares of any Series or class, including without limitation the power to provide
for the issue of Shares of any Series or class in connection with any merger or
consolidation of the Trust with another trust or company or any acquisition by
the Trust of part or all of the assets of another trust or company;
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(e) change the designation of any Series or class of Shares;
(f) change the method of allocating dividends among the various Series and
classes of Shares;
(g) allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any
specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more Series or
classes of Shares; and
(h) specifically allocate assets to any or all Series of Shares or create
one or more additional Series of Shares which are preferred over all other
Series of Shares in respect of assets specifically allocated thereto or any
dividends paid by the Trust with respect to any net income, however determined,
earned from the investment and reinvestment of any assets so allocated or
otherwise and provide for any special voting or other rights with respect to
such Series or any classes of Shares thereof.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. Without
limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 5, inter alia, to
establish and designate any further Series or classes or to modify the rights
and preferences of any Series or class, each of the following Series and classes
shall be, and is hereby, established and designated:
AllianceBernstein Corporate Income Shares.
Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the
following rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series, and
Shares of each class of a Multi-Class Series shall have such rights and
preferences relative to other classes of the same Series as are set forth below,
together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other classes
as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating
such class of Shares:
(a) Assets belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c)
of this Section 6:
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of
a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is
invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof from
whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be,
shall irrevocably belong to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the
rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the
Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any
proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any
funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever
form the same may be, are herein referred to as "assets belonging to" that
Series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and
proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as
belonging to any particular Series (collectively "General Assets"), the
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Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more
of the Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on
such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any
General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall belong to that Series.
Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of
paragraph (c) of this Section 6:
The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged solely
with the liabilities of the Trust in respect to that Series, the expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any general
liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series but which are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and
among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time
in a manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair
and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged
to a Series are herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series.
Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for
all purposes.
(c) Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Multi-Class Series. In the
case of any Multi-Class Series, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give
effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of such
Series, (i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities,
expenses, charges, costs and reserves belonging or attributable to that Series
may be allocated or attributed to a particular class of Shares of that Series or
apportioned among two or more classes of Shares of that Series; and (ii) Shares
of any class of such Series may have priority or preference over shares of other
classes of such Series with respect to dividends or distributions upon
termination of the Trust or of such Series or class or otherwise, provided that
no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same
class and that all dividends and distributions to Shareholders of a particular
class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to
the number of Shares of such class held of record by such Shareholders on the
record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as
the case may be.
(d) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without
limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without
limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series
or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of
any Series or class shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets
belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, nor shall any
Shareholder of any particular Series or class otherwise have any right or claim
against the assets belonging to any other Series or attributable to any other
class except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim
hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series or class.
(e) Voting. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this
Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Section 1 of Article V, the
Shareholders of any particular Series or
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class shall not be entitled to vote on any matters as to which such Series or
class is not affected. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all
Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in
the By-Laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to
Series or class of Shares, except that (1) when required by the 1940 Act or when
the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more Series or
classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual
Series or class and (2) when the matter affects only the interests of one or
more Series or classes, only Shareholders of such Series or classes shall be
entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of
Trustees.
(f) Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect
to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of a Multi-Class
Series, all the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Series (subject to the
liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of any particular Series
shall be equal to each other Share of that Series. All the Shares of each
particular class of Shares within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series that are
attributable to such class (subject to the liabilities attributable to such
class), and each Share of any particular class within a Multi-Class Series shall
be equal to each other Share of such class.
(g) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series or class shall carry
proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Series
or class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(h) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that the holders of Shares of any Series or class shall have the right to
exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series or classes of Shares
in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(i) Combination of Series or Classes. The Trustees shall have the
authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or class
unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and
liabilities belonging to any two or more Series or attributable to any class
into assets and liabilities belonging to a single Series or attributable to a
single class.
(j) Elimination of Series or Class. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the
Trustees may abolish and rescind the establishment and designation of that
Series, either by amending this Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in
Section 5 of this Article III for the establishment and designation of Series,
or by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees. At any time
that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular class previously
established and designated of a Multi-Class Series, the Trustees may abolish
that class and rescind the establishment and designation thereof, either by
amending this Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in Section 5 of this
Article III for the establishment and designation of classes, or by vote or
written consent of a majority of the then Trustees.
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Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or
former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his
or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series
or class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation
or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out
of the assets of the Series (or attributable to the class) of which he or she is
a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified
against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 8. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or
other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the Trust.
Section 9. Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring
or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust or any
Series without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to
bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be
excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the
part of the Trustees, unless the plaintiff makes a specific showing that
irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust or Series would otherwise result.
Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust's
principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the
proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon
by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees
shall consider such demand within 45 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their
sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of
the Trust or Series, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring,
maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action,
proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be
binding upon the Shareholders. Any decision by the Trustees to bring or maintain
a court action, proceeding or suit on behalf of the Trust or a Series shall be
subject to the right of the Shareholders under Article V, Section 1 hereof to
vote on whether or not such court action, proceeding or suit should or should
not be brought or maintained.
Section 10. Direct Claims. No class of Shareholders shall have the right
to bring or maintain a direct action or claim for monetary damages against the
Trust or Trustees predicated upon an express or implied right of action under
this Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act (excepting rights of action permitted
under section 36(b) of the 1940 Act), nor shall any single Shareholder, who is
similarly situated to one or more other Shareholders with respect to the alleged
injury, have the right to bring such an action, unless the class of Shareholders
or Shareholder has obtained authorization from the Trustees to bring the action.
The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under any circumstances,
including claims of alleged interest on the part of the Trustees. A request for
authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust's
principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the
proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon
by the class of Shareholders or Shareholder to support the allegations made in
the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 45 days of its
receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the
matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or Series, as appropriate. Any
decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to
authorize) such court
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action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders,
shall be binding upon the class of Shareholders or Shareholder seeking
authorization. Any decision by the Trustees to authorize a court action,
proceeding or suit by a class of Shareholders shall be subject to the right of
the Shareholders under Article V, Section 1 hereof to vote on whether or not
such court action, proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or
maintained.
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election and Tenure. The Trustees may fix the number of
Trustees, fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an
increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause.
Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or
she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of
Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election
and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the
Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon
receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the
extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee
resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for
any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
on account of such removal. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees and
elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that
purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a)
and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or
any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust,
the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have
all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including
the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the
Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not
inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and
management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the
extent that such By-Laws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may
elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they
consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number and terminate one
or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees which may exercise the
powers and authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine;
they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may
authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part
of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or
with a Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing
agent, or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one
or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the
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determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general
delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust,
to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to
any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, write
options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any
or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver
proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall
deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with
relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in
any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust,
whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or
in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or
otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is
held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale
of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions
with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any
security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or
trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any
security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem
proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem
proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to
claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any
other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations
of any person; and to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise
assume liability for payment of
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such notes or other obligations;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance
as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the
Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of
the Trust and 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, being or having held
any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been
taken or omitted by any such person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent,
investment adviser, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including
any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence,
whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against
liability; and
(m) To pay pensions as deemed appropriate by the Trustees and 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.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or
future law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees. The Trustees shall
not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust
or take any other action hereunder.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized
to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or
partly out of principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all
expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection
with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including but not
limited to, the Trustees' compensation and such expenses and charges for the
services of the Trust's officers, employees, administrators, investment advisers
or managers, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent,
shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors,
and such other expenses and charges, as the Trustees may deem necessary or
proper to incur.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have
the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or
each Shareholder of any particular Series or class, to pay directly, in advance
or arrears, for charges of the Trust's custodian or transfer, shareholder
servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees,
by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid
dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the
account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares
which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such
Shareholder.
Section 6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of
the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
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Section 7. Advisory, Management and Distribution Contracts. Subject to
such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws, the
Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or
nonexclusive advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any Series
or class with any corporation, trust, association or other organization (the
"Manager"); and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees
may determine, including without limitation, authority for a Manager to
determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what
investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if
any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in
the Trust's investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to
time, contract with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or
other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or
principal underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws; and any such
contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees 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 of or
for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or
management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract
or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency 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 advisory or management contract or principal underwriter's or
distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency
contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or
management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract
or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or
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 or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers Subject to the voting powers of one or more
classes of Shares as set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or in the
By-Laws, the Shareholders shall have
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power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV,
Section 1, (ii) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to
the extent and as provided in Article VIII, Section 8, (iii) to the same extent
as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not
a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or
maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the
Shareholders, (iv) with respect to the termination of the Trust or any Series or
class to the extent and as provided in Article VIII, Section 4, and (v) with
respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by
this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the
Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may
consider necessary or desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote
as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall
be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. On any matter submitted to a
vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall,
except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws, be voted in the aggregate as a
single class without regard to series or classes of shares, except (1) when
required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the
matter affects one or more Series or classes of Shares materially differently,
Shares shall be voted by individual series or class; and (2) when the Trustees
have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one or more series
or classes, only Shareholders of such series or classes shall be entitled to
vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held
in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them
unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific
written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be
executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger. At any time when no Shares of a Series or class
are outstanding the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that
Series or class with respect to matters affecting that Series or class and may
with respect to that Series or class take any action required by law, this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by the Shareholders thereof.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be
called by the Trustees for the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in
Article IV, Section 1 and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law,
by this Declaration of Trust or by the By-Laws. Meetings of the Shareholders may
also be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking
action upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or
desirable. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the
Trustees. Notice of any meeting of Shareholders, stating the time and place of
the meeting, shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees to each
Shareholder by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, at least seven days before
such meeting, at the Shareholder's address as it appears on the records of the
Trust, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, at least seven days
before such meeting, to the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other
electronic address most recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the
Shareholder. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a
Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, a written waiver
thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his
attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall
be deemed equivalent to such notice.
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Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by
law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, 30% of the Shares entitled
to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting. When any one or
more Series or classes is to vote as a single class separate from any other
Shares which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class or classes, 30%
of the Shares of each such class entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a
Shareholders' meeting of that class. Any meeting of Shareholders may be
adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the
question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as
adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting
without further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by any provision
of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, a majority of the Shares
voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided
that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws
requires that the holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual
series or class then a majority of the Shares of that series or class voted on
the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall
decide that matter insofar as that series or class is concerned.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may
be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the
By-Laws) and holding a majority (or such larger proportion as aforesaid) of the
Shares of any Series or class entitled to vote separately on the matter consent
to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of
the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as
a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 5. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders
of any Series or class who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any
adjournment thereof, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall
be not more than 90 days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the
record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having the
right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and
in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such
right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after
the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series
or class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other
distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be on
or before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as
the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having
the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date
the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or
transfer books for one or more Series or classes for all or any part of the
period prior to a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from
setting different record dates for different Series or classes.
Section 6. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
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ARTICLE VI
Net Income, Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions of Net Income. The Trustees shall each year, or
more frequently if they so determine in their sole discretion, distribute to the
Shareholders of each Series, in Shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, an
amount approximately equal to the net income attributable to the assets
belonging to such Series and may from time to time distribute to the
Shareholders of each Series, in Shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, such
additional amounts, but only from the assets belonging to such Series, as they
may authorize. Except as otherwise permitted by paragraph (c) of Section 6 of
Article III in the case of Multi-Class Series, all dividends and distributions
on Shares of a particular Series shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of
that Series in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held by such
holders and recorded on the books of the Trust at the date and time of record
established for the payment of such dividend or distributions.
The manner of determining net income, income, asset values, capital gains,
expenses, liabilities and reserves of any Series or class may from time to time
be altered as necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Trustees to conform
such manner of determination to any other method prescribed or permitted by
applicable law. Net income shall be determined by the Trustees or by such person
as they may authorize at the times and in the manner provided in the By-Laws.
Determinations of net income of any Series or class and determinations of
income, asset value, capital gains, expenses and liabilities made by the
Trustees, or by such person as they may authorize, in good faith, shall be
binding on all parties concerned. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed
to protect any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust against any liability to
the Trust or its security holders to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
If, for any reason, the net income of any Series or class determined at
any time is a negative amount, the pro rata share of such negative amount
allocable to each Shareholder of such Series or class shall constitute a
liability of such Shareholder to that Series or class which shall be paid out of
such Shareholder's account at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may
from time to time determine (x) out of the accrued dividend account of such
Shareholder, (y) by reducing the number of Shares of that Series or class in the
account of such Shareholder or (z) otherwise.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such
Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation
of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust
or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in
accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from
time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value
thereof, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws, next determined. Payment
for said
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Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the
date on which the request is made. 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 is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the
rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the New York Stock
Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for
the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine
fairly the value of the net assets belonging to such Series or attributable to
any class thereof 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 Trustees. The Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a
price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in effect when the
purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
Payment for any redemption, purchase or repurchase may be made in cash or in
other property, or any combination thereof. The composition of any such payment
shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and the Trust shall
have no obligation to effect a pro rata division of cash or other property in
making any such payment. In no event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of
any other person in transferring securities or other property selected for
delivery as all or part of any such payment.
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly
in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest
of the remaining Shareholders of the Series the Shares of which are being
redeemed. Subject to the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of
securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the
redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no
case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person
in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment
in kind.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have
the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at
the net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i) if
at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series or class having an
aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time by
the Trustees; (ii) if at such time such Shareholder ceases to be a participant
in a wrap-fee program approved by the investment adviser of the Trust or of any
Series thereof, and the Trust (or its agent) has notified the affected
Shareholder in advance of such redemption; or (iii) to the extent that such
Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage determined from
time to time by the Trustees of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any
Series or class.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent
of the Trust shall be subject to any liability whatsoever to any person in
connection with Trust property or the
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affairs of the Trust, and no Trustee shall be responsible or liable in any event
for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or
principal underwriter of the Trust or for the act or omission of any other
Trustee. For the sake of clarification and without limiting the foregoing, the
appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as the chairman of the
Board, the lead or assistant lead independent Trustee, a member or chairman of a
committee of the Board, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an
audit committee financial expert) or as having any other special appointment,
designation or identification shall not (a) impose on that person any duty,
obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and
liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the
appointment, designation or identification or (b) affect in any way such
Trustee's rights or entitlement to indemnification, and no Trustee who has
special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as
aforesaid, shall (x) be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof or
(y) be limited with respect to any indemnification to which such Trustee would
otherwise be entitled. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust, including without
limitation anything in this Article VII, Section 2, shall protect any Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust against any liabilities to the Trust or
its Shareholders to which he, she or it would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his, her or its office or position with or on
behalf of the Trust.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of
the Trust 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 or with
respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice. All
persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the
Trust or any Series or class shall look only to the assets of the Trust, such
Series or class, as the case may be, as elsewhere provided herein, for payment
under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the
Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether past,
present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this
Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which
such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the office of Trustee.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees, by any officer or officers or
otherwise shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same
was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or
Trustees or as officer or officers or otherwise and not individually and that
the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the
Shareholders individually
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but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or upon the
assets belonging to the Series or attributable to the class for the benefit of
which the Trustees have caused the note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate
or undertaking to be made or issued, and may contain such further recital as he
or she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall
not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or
Shareholders or any other person individually.
Section 2. Trustee's 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. A Trustee shall be liable for his or her own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else,
and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The
Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning
and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for
any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such
advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any
surety if a bond is required.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon
its order.
Section 4. Termination of Trust, Series or Class. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust
may be terminated at any time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of each
Series entitled to vote and voting separately by Series, or by the Trustees by
written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series or class may be terminated at any
time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of that Series or class, or by
the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that Series or class.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series or class, as the case may
be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or
accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in
accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the
remaining assets belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series
or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to distributable
form in cash or shares or other securities, or any combination thereof, and
distribute the proceeds belonging to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to the Shareholders
of that Series (or class, as the case may be), as a Series (or class, as the
case may be), ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series (or
class, as the case may be) held by the several Shareholders on the date of
termination.
Section 5. Merger and Consolidation. The Trust, or any one or more Series
of the Trust, may, either as the successor, survivor or non-survivor, (1)
consolidate or merge with one or more other trusts, series, sub-trusts,
partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or
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corporations organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or
any other state of the United States, to form a consolidated or merged trust,
series, sub-trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or
corporation under the laws of any state under the laws of which any one of the
constituent entities is organized or (2) transfer all or a substantial portion
of its assets to one or more other trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships,
limited liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United
States, or have one or more such trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships,
limited liability companies, associations or corporations transfer all or a
substantial portion of its assets to it, any such consolidation, merger or
transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement
and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered
into by the Trust, or one or more Series, as the case may be, in connection
therewith. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any such consolidation,
merger or transfer may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then
in office without the approval of Shareholders of the Trust or relevant Series.
Section 6. Filing of Copies, Reference, Headings. The original or a copy
of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of
the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this
instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with any other governmental
office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with
the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or
not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with
the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may
rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this
instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such
amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like "herein,"
"hereof" and "hereunder," shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended
or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience
of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or to control or
affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument
may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is made in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by
and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The
Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and,
without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which
are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
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Section 8. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any
time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when
authorized so to do by vote of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote with
respect to such amendment, except that amendments described in Article III,
Section 5 or Article III, Section 6 hereof or having the purpose of changing the
name of the Trust or of any Series or class of Shares or of supplying any
omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not require
authorization by Shareholder vote.
Section 9. Addresses. The address of the Trust is 1345 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York. The address of the Trustees is 1345 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York. The Trust's resident agent is CT Corporation
System, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF AND UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, the undersigned
have hereunto set their hand and seal for themselves and their successors and
assigns this 3rd day of May, 2006.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Trustee Trustee
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ D. Xxxxx Xxxx
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx D. Xxxxx Xxxx
Trustee Trustee
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Trustee Trustee
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Trustee Trustee
THE STATE OF NEW YORK
New York, New York, May 4, 2006
Then personally appeared each of the above named Trustees of
AllianceBernstein Corporate Shares and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to
be their free act and deed, before me.
/s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: January 6, 2010
[Seal]
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