Exhibit No. EX-99.a.1
FORM OF
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
of
GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
a Delaware Statutory Trust
(Adopted effective June 4, 2008.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. - NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS......................1
Section 1. Name...........................................................1
Section 2. Offices of the Trust...........................................1
Section 3. Registered Agent and Registered Office.........................1
Section 4. Definitions....................................................2
ARTICLE II. - PURPOSE OF TRUST.................................................4
ARTICLE III. - SHARES..........................................................7
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest................................7
Section 2. Ownership of Shares............................................8
Section 3. Sale of Shares.................................................9
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability..........9
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election.........9
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes...........10
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series......10
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a
Particular Series or Class...........................11
(c) Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions.............12
(d) Voting...............................................12
(e) Equality.............................................12
(f) Fractions............................................12
(g) Exchange Privilege...................................12
(h) Combination of Series or Classes.....................12
(i) Dissolution or Termination...........................13
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders...............................13
ARTICLE IV. - THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES...........................................14
Section 1. Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation...............14
Section 2. Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting...........14
Section 3. Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote....15
(a) Powers...............................................15
(b) Other Business Interests.............................16
(c) Quorum and Required Vote.............................16
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust..............................17
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders...........................17
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property...................................17
Section 7. Service Contracts.............................................17
ARTICLE V. - SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS.........................18
Section 1. Voting Powers.................................................18
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote......................................19
Section 3. Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting.......19
Section 4. Record Dates..................................................20
Section 5. Additional Provisions.........................................21
ARTICLE VI. - NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTIONS; TRANSFERS..........21
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and
Distributions.................................................21
Section 2. Redemptions at the Option of a Shareholder....................23
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust........................24
Section 4. Transfer of Shares............................................24
ARTICLE VII. - LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT...........24
Section 1. Limitation of Liability.......................................24
Section 2. Indemnification...............................................26
(a) Indemnification by Trust.............................26
(b) Exclusion of Indemnification.........................26
(c) Required Approval....................................26
(d) Advancement of Expenses..............................26
(e) Other Contractual Rights.............................27
(f) Fiduciaries of Employee Benefit Plan.................27
Section 3. Insurance.....................................................27
Section 4. Derivative Actions............................................27
ARTICLE VIII. - CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS..........................................27
Section 1. Dissolution of Trust or Series................................27
Section 2. Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization...........28
(a) Merger or Consolidation........................28
(b) Conversion.....................................29
(c) Reorganization.................................29
Section 3. Master Feeder Structure.......................................30
Section 4. Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters' Rights....................30
ARTICLE IX. - AMENDMENTS......................................................30
Section 1. Amendments Generally..........................................30
ARTICLE X. - MISCELLANEOUS....................................................31
Section 1. References; Headings; Counterparts............................31
Section 2. Applicable Law................................................31
Section 3. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations................31
Section 4. Statutory Trust Only..........................................31
Section 5. Use of the Name "Genworth"....................................32
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of this ____ day of March,
2008, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares issued or to be
issued by GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST (the "Trust") hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, this Trust was formed to carry on the business of an open-end
management investment company as defined in the 1940 Act; 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 Statutory Trust Act, as amended, from time to time,
and the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that:
(i) the Trustees will hold all cash, securities, and other assets that they
may acquire, from time to time, in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST and
will manage and dispose of the same, from time to time, upon the following terms
and conditions for the benefit of the holders of Shares created hereunder as
hereinafter set forth; and
(ii) this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws shall be binding in
accordance with their terms on every Trustee, by virtue of having become a
Trustee of the Trust, and on every Shareholder, by virtue of having become a
Shareholder of the Trust, pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and
the Bylaws.
ARTICLE I
NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as "GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE
TRUST" and the Board of Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under
that name, or any other name as the Board of Trustees may designate, from time
to time.
Section 2. Offices of the Trust. The Board at any time may establish
offices of the Trust at any place or places where the Trust intends to do
business.
Section 3. 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 in the Trust's Certificate of Trust.
Section 4. 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) "Affiliate" shall have the same meaning as "affiliated person," as such
term is defined in the 1940 Act, when used with reference to a specified Person,
as defined below;
(c) "Board of Trustees" shall mean the governing body of the Trust, which
is comprised of the number of Trustees of the Trust fixed, from time to time,
pursuant to Article IV hereof, having the powers and duties set forth herein;
(d) "Bylaws" shall mean Bylaws of the Trust, as amended or restated, from
time to time, in accordance with Article VIII therein. Such Bylaws may contain
any provision not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration of Trust,
relating to the governance of the Trust;
(e) "Certificate of Trust" shall mean the certificate of trust of the Trust
filed on June 4, 2008 with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, as required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as such
certificate shall be amended or restated, from time to time;
(f) "Class" shall mean each class of Shares of the Trust or of a Series of
the Trust established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions
of Article III hereof;
(g) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and
regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended, from time to time;
(h) "Commission" shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
(i) "DSTA" shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. X.xx. 3801,
et seq), as amended, from time to time;
(j) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, including resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that have
been adopted prior to the date of this Declaration of Trust, or that may be
adopted hereafter, regarding the establishment and designation of Series and/or
Classes of Shares of the Trust, and any amendments or modifications to such
resolutions, as of the date of the adoption of each such resolution;
(k) "General Liabilities" shall have the meaning given it in Article III,
Section 6(b) of this Declaration of Trust;
(l) "Interested Person" shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940
Act;
(m) "Investment Adviser" or "Adviser" shall mean a Person, as defined
below, furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or
investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
(n) "National Financial Emergency" shall mean the whole or any part of any
period during (i) which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Trust of securities or other assets owned by the Trust is not reasonably
practicable; (ii) which it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust to
determine fairly the net asset value of its assets; or (iii) such other period
as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of investors;
(o) "Person" shall mean a natural person, partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability company, trust, estate, association, corporation,
organization, custodian, nominee, or any other individual or entity in its own
or any representative capacity, in each case, whether domestic or foreign, and a
statutory trust or a foreign statutory or business trust;
(p) "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meaning given that term in the
1940 Act;
(q) "Series" shall mean each Series of Shares established and designated
under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;
(r) "Shares" shall mean the transferable shares of beneficial interest into
which the beneficial interest in the Trust have been or shall be divided, from
time to time, and shall include fractional and whole shares;
(s) "Shareholder" shall mean a record owner of Shares pursuant to the
Bylaws;
(t) "Trust" shall mean the GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, the Delaware
statutory trust formed by this Declaration of Trust and by filing of the
Certificate of Trust with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
(u) "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, or one or more of any Series thereof, including, without limitation, the
rights referenced in Article X, Section 5 hereof; and
(v) "Trustee" or "Trustees" shall mean each Person who signs this
Declaration of Trust as a trustee and all other Persons who, from time to time,
may be duly elected or appointed, qualified, and serving on the Board of
Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Bylaws, so long as
such signatory or other Person continues in office in accordance with the terms
hereof and the Bylaws. Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer
to such Person or Persons in such Person's or Persons' capacity as a Trustee or
Trustees hereunder and under the Bylaws.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate, and carry on the business
of a registered management investment company registered under the 1940 Act,
directly, or if one or more Series is established hereunder, through one or more
Series, investing primarily in securities, and to exercise all of the powers,
rights, and privileges granted to, or conferred upon, a statutory trust formed
under the DSTA, including, without limitation, the following powers:
(a) To hold, invest, and reinvest its funds, and in connection therewith,
to make any changes in the investment of the assets of the Trust, to hold part
or all of its funds in cash, to hold cash uninvested, 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, shares,
units of beneficial interest, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable
instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, money market instruments,
certificates of deposit or indebtedness, bills, notes, mortgages, commercial
paper, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances,
finance paper, and any options, certificates, receipts, warrants, futures
contracts, or other instruments representing rights to receive, purchase, or
subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or
interests therein or in any property or assets, and other securities of any
kind, as the foregoing are 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;
(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 or any Series, 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 that arise in
any manner out of ownership of securities and/or other property;
(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 subcustodian or a nominee or
nominees or otherwise, or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian 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;
(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 such insurance as the Board of Trustees may
deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business entirely out of
Trust Property, 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, the Bylaws, 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;
(q) To enter into, make, and perform contracts and undertakings of every
kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as to amount;
(r) To issue, purchase, sell and transfer, reacquire, hold, trade, and deal
in stocks, 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 determine, consistent with the provisions of this Declaration of
Trust; and to reacquire and redeem, from time to time, its Shares or, if any,
its bonds, debentures, and other securities;
(s) To engage in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust,
by arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims,
and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or
to satisfy any debts, claims, or expenses incurred in connection therewith,
including those of litigation, and such power shall include, without limitation,
the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise
of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit,
proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any
Person, including a Shareholder in the Shareholder's own name or the name of the
Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually
therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of
the Trust;
(t) To exercise and enjoy, in Delaware and in any other states,
territories, districts, and United States dependencies, and in foreign
countries, all of the foregoing powers, rights, and privileges, and the
enumeration of the foregoing powers shall not be deemed to exclude any powers,
rights, or privileges so granted or conferred; and
(u) In general, to carry on any other business in connection with or
incidental to its trust purposes, to do everything necessary, suitable, or
proper for the accomplishment of such purposes or for the attainment of any
object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or
in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or
appurtenant to, or growing out of or connected with, its business or purposes,
objects, or powers.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible dissolution of the Trust or one or more of its Series. Neither the
Trust nor the Board of 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 each shall 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 DSTA 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.
(a) The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into Shares, each
Share without a par value. The number of Shares in the Trust authorized under
this Declaration of Trust and authorized hereunder, and of each Series and Class
as may be established, from time to time, is unlimited. The Board of Trustees
may authorize the division of Shares into separate Classes of Shares and into
separate and distinct Series of Shares and the division of any Series into
separate Classes of Shares in accordance with the 1940 Act. As of the effective
date of this Declaration of Trust, any new Series and Classes shall be
established and designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6 hereof. If no
separate Series or Classes of Series shall be established, the Shares shall have
the rights, powers, and duties provided for herein and in Article III, Section 6
hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein, and all
references to Series and Classes shall be construed (as the context may require)
to refer to the Trust.
(i) The fact that the Trust shall have one or more established and
designated Classes of the Trust shall not limit the authority of the Board
of Trustees to establish and designate additional Classes of the Trust. The
fact that one or more Classes of the Trust shall have been established
initially and designated without any specific establishment or designation
of a Series (i.e., that all Shares of the Trust are initially Shares of one
or more Classes) shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to
later establish and designate a Series and establish and designate the
Class or Classes of the Trust as Class or Classes, respectively, of such
Series.
(ii) The fact that a Series shall have initially been established and
designated without any specific establishment or designation of Classes
(i.e., that all Shares of such Series are initially of a single Class)
shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and
designate separate Classes of said Series. The fact that a Series shall
have more than one established and designated Class shall not limit the
authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional
Classes of said Series.
(b) The Board of Trustees shall have the power to issue authorized but
unissued Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, or any Series and Class
thereof, from time to time, for such consideration paid wholly or partly in
cash, securities, or other property, as may be determined, from time to time, by
the Board of Trustees, subject to any requirements or limitations of the 1940
Act. The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may acquire and hold as
treasury shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as the Board
of Trustees may determine, or cancel, at its discretion, from time to time, any
Shares reacquired by the Trust. The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify
any unissued Shares of beneficial interest, or any Shares of beneficial interest
of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, which were previously issued and
are reacquired, into one or more Series or Classes that may be established and
designated, from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and any
Series thereof may acquire, hold, sell, and otherwise deal in, for purposes of
investment or otherwise, the Shares of any other Series of the Trust or Shares
of the Trust, and such Shares shall not be deemed treasury shares or cancelled.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share
shall entitle the holder to voting rights as provided in Article V hereof.
Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe for new or
additional authorized but unissued Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust or any Series thereof. The Board of Trustees, from time to time, may
divide or combine the Shares of the Trust, or any particular Series thereof,
into a greater or lesser number of Shares of the Trust or that Series,
respectively. Such division or combination shall not materially change the
proportionate beneficial interests of the holders of Shares of the Trust or that
Series, as the case may be, in the Trust Property at the time of such division
or combination that is held with respect to the Trust or that Series, as the
case may be.
(d) Any Trustee, officer, or other agent of the Trust, and any organization
in which any such Person has an economic or other interest, may acquire, own,
hold, and dispose of Shares of beneficial interest in the Trust or any Series
and Class thereof, whether such Shares are authorized but unissued, or already
outstanding, to the same extent as if such Person were not a Trustee, officer,
or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust or any Series may issue and sell and
may purchase such Shares from any such Person or any such organization, subject
to the limitations, restrictions, or other provisions applicable to the sale or
purchase of such Shares herein and in the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded
on the books of the Trust kept by the Trust or by a transfer or similar agent
for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of the
Trust, and each Series and each Class thereof, which has been established and
designated. 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 the Board of Trustees considers appropriate for the issuance of
Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of the Trust, and each Series and
Class thereof, if any, 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 the Trust, and each Series and
Class thereof, and as to the number of Shares of the Trust, and each Series and
Class thereof, held, from time to time, by each such Shareholder.
Section 3. Sale of Shares. Subject to the 1940 Act and applicable law, the
Trust may sell its authorized but unissued Shares of beneficial interest to such
Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board
of Trustees may authorize, from time to time. Each sale shall be credited to the
individual purchaser's account in the form of full or fractional Shares of the
Trust or such Series thereof (and Class thereof, if any), as the purchaser may
select, at the net asset value per Share, subject to Section 22 of the 1940 Act,
and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder; provided, however, that the
Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, permit the Principal Underwriter
to impose a sales charge upon any such sale. Every Shareholder by virtue of
having become a Shareholder shall be deemed to have expressly assented and
agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and to have become bound as a
party hereto.
Section 4. 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, the Bylaws, and under applicable law.
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. Subject to Article VIII, Section 1
hereof, the death, incapacity, dissolution, termination, or bankruptcy of a
Shareholder during the existence of the Trust and any Series thereof shall not
operate to dissolve the Trust or any such Series, nor entitle the representative
of any deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated, or bankrupt Shareholder
to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust,
the Trustees, or any such Series, but entitles such representative only to the
rights of said deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated, or bankrupt
Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust. 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 other than such as the
Shareholder personally, at any time may agree to pay at any time. Each Share,
when issued on the terms determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be fully
paid and nonassessable. As provided in the DSTA, Shareholders shall be entitled
to the same limitation of personal liability as that extended to stockholders of
a private corporation organized for profit under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election. The
Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its discretion, to make such
elections as to the tax status of the Trust and any Series as may be permitted
or required under the Code, without the vote of any Shareholder.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. The
establishment and designation of any Series or Class shall be effective, without
the requirement of Shareholder approval, upon the adoption of a resolution by
not less than a majority of the then Board of Trustees, which resolution shall
set forth such establishment and designation and may provide, to the extent
permitted by the DSTA, for rights, powers, and duties of such Series or Class
(including variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the
different Series and Classes), otherwise than as provided herein. Each such
resolution shall be incorporated herein upon adoption. Any such resolution may
be amended by a further resolution of a majority of the Board of Trustees, and
if Shareholder approval would be required to make such an amendment to the
language set forth in this Declaration of Trust, such further resolution shall
require the same Shareholder approval that would be necessary to make such
amendment to the language set forth in this Declaration of Trust. Each such
further resolution shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
Each Series shall be separate and distinct from any other Series, separate
and distinct records on the books of the Trust shall be maintained for each
Series, and the assets and liabilities belonging to any such Series shall be
held and accounted for separately from the assets and liabilities of the Trust
or any other Series. Each Class of the Trust shall be separate and distinct from
any other Class of the Trust. Each Class of a Series shall be separate and
distinct from any other Class of the Series. As appropriate, in a manner
determined by the Board of Trustees, the liabilities belonging to any such Class
shall be held and accounted for separately from the liabilities of the Trust,
the Series, or any other Class, and separate and distinct records on the books
of the Trust for the Class shall be maintained for this purpose. Subject to
Article II hereof, each such Series shall operate as a separate and distinct
investment medium, with separately defined investment objectives and policies.
Shares of each Series (and Class where applicable) established and
designated pursuant to this Section 6 shall have the following rights, powers,
and duties, unless otherwise provided to the extent permitted by the DSTA, in
the resolution establishing and designating such Series or Class:
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration
received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series,
together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested,
all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, from whatever source
derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale,
exchange, or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from
any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, subject only
to the rights of creditors with respect to that Series, and shall be so recorded
upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived,
including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange, or
liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein
referred to as "assets held with respect to" that Series. In the event that
there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds, or
payments which are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any
particular Series (collectively "General Assets"), the Board of Trustees, or an
appropriate officer as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall allocate such
General Assets to, between, or among any one or more of the Series in such
manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, deems
fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series
shall be held with respect to that Series. Each such allocation by or under the
direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series or Class. The
assets of the Trust held with respect to a particular Series shall be charged
with the liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves, and expenses
of the Trust incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to
such Series. Such liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves, and
expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a
particular Series are herein referred to as "liabilities held with respect to"
that Series. Any liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves, and
expenses of the Trust that are not identifiable readily as being liabilities
held with respect to any particular Series (collectively "General Liabilities")
shall be allocated by the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate officer as
determined by the Board of Trustees, to and among any one or more of the Series
in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion
deems fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, debts, obligations,
costs, charges, reserves, and expenses by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for
all purposes. All Persons who have extended credit that has been allocated to a
particular Series, or who have a claim or contract that has been allocated to
any particular Series, shall look exclusively to the assets of that particular
Series for payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an
express contractual agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors,
claimants, and contract providers, each creditor, claimant, and contract
provider shall be deemed nevertheless to have agreed impliedly to such
limitation.
Subject to the right of the Board of Trustees in its discretion to allocate
General Liabilities as provided herein, the debts, liabilities, obligations, and
expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a
particular Series, whether such Series is now authorized and existing, or is
hereafter authorized and existing, pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, shall
be enforceable against the assets held with respect to that Series only, and not
against the assets of any other Series or the Trust generally, and none of the
debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or
otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series
thereof shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such
Series. Notice of this limitation on liabilities between and among Series has
been set forth in the Certificate of Trust filed in the Office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DSTA, and having given such
notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of
the DSTA relating to limitations on liabilities between and among Series (and
the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the
Certificate of Trust) are applicable to the Trust and each Series.
Liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves, and expenses
related to the distribution of and other identified expenses that properly
should or may be allocated to the Shares of a particular Class may be charged to
and borne solely by such Class. The bearing of expenses solely by a particular
Class of Shares may be reflected appropriately (in a manner determined by the
Board of Trustees) and may affect the net asset value attributable to, and the
dividend, redemption, and liquidation rights of, such Class. Each allocation of
liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves, and expenses by or
under the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all Classes for all purposes. All Persons who have
extended credit that has been allocated to a particular Class, or who have a
claim or contract that has been allocated to any particular Class, shall look,
and may be required by contract to look, exclusively to that particular Class
for payment of such credit, claim, or contract.
(c) Dividends, Distributions, and Redemptions. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article
VI hereof, no dividend or distribution, including, without limitation, any
distribution paid upon dissolution of the Trust or of any Series with respect
to, nor any redemption of, the Shares of any Series or Class of such Series
shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to
such Series nor, except as specifically provided in Section 7 of this Article
III, shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or
claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series or the Trust
generally except, in the case of a right or claim against the assets held with
respect to any other Series, to the extent that such Shareholder has such a
right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Board of
Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the
1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as
capital, and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders.
(d) Voting. All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote
in the aggregate without differentiation between the Shares of the separate
Series, if any, or separate Classes, if any; provided that (i) with respect to
any matter that affects only the interests of some but not all Series, then only
the Shares of such affected Series, voting separately, shall be entitled to vote
on the matter; (ii) with respect to any matter that affects only the interests
of some but not all Classes, then only the Shares of such affected Classes,
voting separately, shall be entitled to vote on the matter; and (iii)
notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any matter as to which the 1940
Act or other applicable law or regulation requires voting, by Series or by
Class, then the Shares of the Trust shall vote as prescribed in such law or
regulation.
(e) Equality. Each Share of any particular Series shall be equal to each
other Share of such Series (subject to the rights and preferences with respect
to separate Classes of such Series).
(f) Fractions. A fractional Share of a Series shall carry proportionately
all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of such Series, including rights
with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of
Shares, and dissolution of the Trust or that Series.
(g) Exchange Privilege. The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to
provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to
exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board of Trustees,
and in accordance with the 1940 Act.
(h) Combination of Series or Classes.
(i) The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the
approval, vote, or consent of the Shareholders of any Series,
unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the
assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more
Series into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single
Series, provided that, upon completion of such combination of
Series, the interest of each Shareholder in the combined assets
and liabilities held with respect to the combined Series shall
equal the interest of each such Shareholder in the aggregate of
the assets and liabilities held with respect to the Series that
were combined.
(ii) The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the
approval, vote, or consent of the Shareholders of any Series or
Class, unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine,
merge, or otherwise consolidate the Shares of two or more Classes
of Shares of a Series with and/or into a single Class of Shares
of such Series, with such designation, preference, conversion, or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications, terms and conditions of redemption,
and other characteristics as the Trustees may determine;
provided, however, that the Trustees shall provide written notice
to the affected Shareholders of any such transaction.
(iii) The transactions in (i) and (ii) above may be effected through
share-for-share exchanges, transfers, or sales of assets,
Shareholder in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers,
or any other method approved by the Trustees.
(i) Dissolution or Termination. Any particular Series shall be dissolved
upon the occurrence of the applicable dissolution events set forth in Article
VIII, Section 1 hereof. Upon dissolution of a particular Series, the Trustees
shall wind up the affairs of such Series in accordance with Article VIII,
Section 1 hereof, and thereafter rescind the establishment and designation
thereof. The Board of Trustees shall terminate any particular Class and rescind
the establishment and designation thereof: (i) upon approval by a majority of
votes cast at a meeting of the Shareholders of such Class, provided a quorum of
Shareholders of such Class is present, or by action of the Shareholders of such
Class by written consent without a meeting pursuant to Article V, Section 3; or
(ii) at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, either (A) at any time there
are no Shares outstanding of such Class, or (B) upon prior written notice to the
Shareholders of such Class; provided, however, that upon the rescission of the
establishment and designation of any particular Series, every Class of such
Series thereby shall be terminated and its establishment and designation
rescinded. Each resolution of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section
6(i) shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. No Shareholder as such shall be
subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with
Trust Property or the acts, obligations, or affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability, charged with
liability, or held personally liable for any obligations or liability of the
Trust, by reason of a claim or demand relating exclusively to his or her being
or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or a Shareholder of a particular
Series thereof, and not because of such Shareholder's actions or omissions, such
Shareholder or former Shareholder (or in the case of a natural Person, 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 to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of
the Trust or out of the assets of such Series thereof, as the case may be,
against all loss and expense, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees
arising from such claim or demand; provided, however, such indemnity shall not
cover (i) any taxes due or paid by reason of such Shareholder's ownership of any
Shares, and (ii) expenses charged to a Shareholder pursuant to Article IV,
Section 5 hereof.
ARTICLE IV
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation.
(a) In accordance with Section 3801 of the DSTA, each Trustee shall become
a Trustee and be bound by this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws when such
Person signs this Declaration of Trust as a Trustee and/or is duly elected or
appointed, qualified, and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with
the provisions hereof and the Bylaws, so long as such signatory or other Person
continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) The number of Trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees may be
fixed, from time to time, by the vote of a majority of the then 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 number of Trustees shall not
be reduced so as to shorten the term of any Trustee then in office.
(c) Each Trustee shall hold office for the lifetime of the Trust or until
such Trustee's earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement, or inability
otherwise to serve, or if sooner than any of such events, until the next meeting
of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees or consent of
Shareholders in lieu thereof for the election of Trustees, and until the
election and qualification of his or her successor.
(d) Any Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of
Trustees by action of a majority of the Trustees then in office, or by vote of
the Shareholders at any meeting called for that purpose.
(e) Any Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
secretary of the Trust or to the Board of Trustees. Such resignation shall be
effective upon receipt, unless specified to be effective at some later time.
Section 2. Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. To the
extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act, any action that may
be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof may be
taken without a meeting and without prior written notice if a consent or
consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Trustees
having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to
authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all Trustees on the Board of
Trustees or any committee thereof, as the case may be, were present and voted.
Written consents of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. A
consent transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 3806 of
the DSTA) by a Trustee shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of
this Section. All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust
and shall be maintained in the Trust's records.
Section 3. Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote.
(a) Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
business of the Trust (including every Series thereof) shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Board of Trustees, and such Board of Trustees shall
have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. 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 operation and administration of
the Trust (including every Series thereof). The Board of Trustees shall not be
bound or limited by present or future laws or customs with regard to investments
by trustees or fiduciaries, but, subject to the other provisions of this
Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws, shall have full authority and absolute
power and control over the assets and the business of the Trust (including every
Series thereof) to the same extent as if the Board of Trustees was the sole
owner of such assets and business in its own right, including such authority,
power, and control to do all acts and things as the Board of Trustees, in its
sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Board of Trustees, subject to the requisite
vote for such actions as set forth in this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws,
may: (i) adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration
of Trust; (ii) amend, restate, and repeal such Bylaws, subject to and in
accordance with the provisions of such Bylaws; (iii) fill vacancies on the Board
of Trustees in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws; (iv)
elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as the
Board of Trustees considers appropriate, in accordance with this Declaration of
Trust and the Bylaws; (v) establish and terminate one or more committees of the
Board of Trustees pursuant to the Bylaws; (vi) place Trust Property in custody
as required by the 1940 Act, employ one or more custodians of the Trust
Property, and authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to place all
or any part of such Trust Property with a custodian or a custodial system
meeting the requirements of the 1940 Act; (vii) retain a transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, or administrative
services agent, or any number thereof, or any other service provider, as deemed
appropriate; (vii) provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares or other
securities or financial instruments directly or through one or more Principal
Underwriters or otherwise; (ix) retain one or more Investment Adviser(s); (x)
reacquire and redeem Shares on behalf of the Trust and transfer Shares pursuant
to applicable law; (xi) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders
with respect to various matters in the manner provided in Article V, Section 4
of this Declaration of Trust; (xii) declare and pay dividends and distributions
to Shareholders from the Trust Property in accordance with this Declaration of
Trust and the Bylaws; (xiii) establish, designate, and redesignate any Series or
Class of the Trust or Class of a Series, from time to time, in accordance with
the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof; (xiv) hire personnel as staff
for the Board of Trustees, or for those Trustees who are not Interested Persons
of the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal Underwriter, set the
compensation to be paid by the Trust to such personnel, exercise exclusive
supervision of such personnel, and remove one or more of such personnel at the
discretion of the Board of Trustees; (xv) retain special counsel, other experts,
and/or consultants for the Board of Trustees, for those Trustees who are not
Interested Persons of the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal
Underwriter, and/or for one or more of the committees of the Board of Trustees,
set the compensation to be paid by the Trust to such special counsel, other
experts, and/or consultants, and remove one or more of such special counsel,
other experts, and/or consultants at the discretion of the Board of Trustees;
(xvi) engage in and prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by
arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and
demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to
satisfy any debts, claims, or expenses incurred in connection therewith,
including those of litigation, and such power shall include, without limitation,
the power of the Board of Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the
exercise of its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit,
proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any
person, including a Shareholder in its own name or in the name of the Trust,
whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually
therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of
the Trust; and (xvii) in general, delegate such authority as the Board of
Trustees considers desirable to any Trustee or officer of the Trust, to any
committee of the Trust, to any agent or employee of the Trust, or to any
custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing or shareholder servicing agent,
Principal Underwriter, Investment Adviser, or other service provider.
The powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this Section 3(a) are
without prejudice to any other powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this
Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws. Any determination as to what is in the best
interests of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof and its Shareholders 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 Board of Trustees.
(b) Other Business Interests. The Trustees shall devote to the affairs of
the Trust (including every Series thereof) such time as may be necessary for the
proper performance of their duties hereunder, but neither the Trustees nor the
officers, directors, shareholders, partners, or employees of the Trustees, if
any, 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 business or venture other
than the Trust or any Series thereof, of any nature and description,
independently or with or for the account of others. None of the Trust, any
Series thereof, or any Shareholder shall have the right to participate or share
in such other business or venture or any profit or compensation derived
therefrom.
(c) Quorum and Required Vote. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, a
majority of the Board of Trustees then in office shall be present in person in
order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A meeting at which
a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding
the departure of Trustees from the meeting, if any action taken is approved by
at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. Subject to Article
III, Sections 1 and 6 of the Bylaws, and except as otherwise provided herein or
required by applicable law, the vote of not less than a majority of the Trustees
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board
of Trustees.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to the provisions of
Article III, Section 6 hereof, an authorized officer of the Trust shall pay or
cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any particular
Series or Class thereof, or partly out of the principal and partly out of the
income of the Trust or any particular Series or Class thereof, and charge or
allocate the same to, between, or among such one or more of the Series or
Classes that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6
hereof, as such officer 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 Series or Class thereof, or in connection
with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees'
compensation and such expenses, fees, charges, taxes, and liabilities associated
with the services of the Trust's officers, employees, Investment Adviser(s),
Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, subcustodian, 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 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Board of Trustees shall
have the power, as frequently as it may determine, to cause any Shareholder to
pay directly, in advance or arrears, an amount fixed, from time to time, by the
Board of Trustees or an officer of the Trust for charges of the Trust's
custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing, or similar
agent that are not customarily charged generally to the Trust, a Series, or a
Class, where such services are provided to such Shareholder individually, rather
than to all Shareholders collectively, by setting off such amount due from such
Shareholder from the amount of (i) declared but unpaid dividends or
distributions owed such Shareholder, or (ii) proceeds from the redemption by the
Trust of Shares from such Shareholder pursuant to Article VI hereof.
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property. Legal title to all of the Trust
Property shall at all times 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.
Section 7. Service Contracts.
(a) Subject to this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, and the 1940 Act, the
Board of Trustees, at any time and from time to time, may contract for exclusive
or nonexclusive investment advisory or investment management services for the
Trust or for any Series thereof 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, delegation of authority to the Investment Adviser 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 or a particular Series' investments, or to engage
in such other activities, including administrative services, as may be delegated
specifically to such party.
(b) The Board of Trustees also, at any time and from time to time, may
contract with any Person, including any Affiliate, appointing it or them as the
exclusive or nonexclusive placement agent, distributor, or Principal Underwriter
for the Shares of the Trust or one or more of the Series or Classes thereof, or
for other securities or financial instruments to be issued by the Trust, or
appointing it or them to act as the administrator, fund accountant, or
accounting agent, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, and/or
shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the Series or
Classes thereof.
(c) The Board of Trustees is further empowered, at any time and from time
to time, to contract with any Persons, including any Affiliates, to provide such
other services to the Trust or one or more of its Series as the Board of
Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust, such Series, and
its Shareholders.
(d) None of the following facts or circumstances shall affect the validity
of any of the contracts provided for in this Article IV, Section 7, 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, any Series thereof, or the Shareholders, provided that the
establishment and performance of each such contract is permissible under the
1940 Act, and provided further that such Person is authorized to vote upon such
contract under the 1940 Act:
(i) the fact that any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees, or
officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, placement agent,
Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliate or agent of or
for any Person, or for any parent or Affiliate of any Person,
with which any type of service contract provided for in this
Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may be made hereafter, or
that any such Person, or any parent or Affiliate thereof, is a
Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or
(ii) the fact that any Person with which any type of service contract
provided for in this Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may
be made hereafter also has such a service contract with one or
more other Persons, or has other business or interests.
(e) Every contract referred to in this Section 7 is required to comply with
this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, the 1940 Act, other applicable law, and
any stipulation by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section
6 hereof, the Shareholders shall have the power to vote only (i) on such matters
required by this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, the 1940 Act, other
applicable law, and any registration statement of the Trust filed with the
Commission, the registration of which is effective; and (ii) on such other
matters as the Board of Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Subject to
Article III hereof, the Shareholder of record (as of the record date established
pursuant to Section 4 of this Article V) 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.
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote.
(a) Forty percent (40%) of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote at a
Shareholders' meeting, which are present in person or represented by proxy,
shall constitute a quorum at the Shareholders' meeting, except when a larger
quorum is required by this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, applicable law, or
the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for
trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such requirements. When a
separate vote by one or more Series or Classes is required, forty percent (40%)
of the outstanding Shares of each such Series or Class entitled to vote at a
Shareholders' meeting of such Series or Class, which are present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Shareholders' meeting of
such Series or Class, except when a larger quorum is required by this
Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, applicable law, or the requirements of any
securities exchange on which Shares of such Series or Class are listed for
trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such requirements.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d), when a quorum
is present at any meeting, a majority of the votes cast shall decide any
questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is
required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or by
applicable law. Pursuant to Article III, Section 6(d) hereof, where a separate
vote by Series and, if applicable by Class, is required, the preceding sentence
shall apply to such separate votes by Series and Classes.
(c) Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as votes present at a
Shareholders' meeting; abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as
votes cast at such meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore, (i)
will be included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present; and
(ii) will have no effect on proposals that require a plurality for approval or
on proposals requiring an affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast for
approval.
Section 3. Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Any
action which may be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a
meeting if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is
or are signed by the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on
such action (or such different proportion thereof as shall be required by law,
the Declaration of Trust, or the Bylaws for approval of such action) and is or
are received by the secretary of the Trust either: (i) by the date set by
resolution of the Board of Trustees for the shareholder vote on such action; or
(ii) if no date is set by resolution of the Board, within thirty (30) days after
the record date for such action as determined by reference to Article V, Section
4(b) hereof. The written consent for any such action may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which,
when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. A consent
transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in the DSTA) by a Shareholder
or by a Person or Persons authorized to act for a Shareholder shall be deemed to
be written and signed for purposes of this Section. All such consents shall be
filed with the secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust's
records. Any Shareholder that has given a written consent or the Shareholder's
proxyholder or a personal representative of the Shareholder or its respective
proxyholder may revoke the consent by a writing received by the secretary of the
Trust either: (i) before the date set by resolution of the Board of Trustees for
the shareholder vote on such action; or (ii) if no date is set by resolution of
the Board, within thirty (30) days after the record date for such action as
determined by reference to Article V, Section 4(b) hereof.
Section 4. Record Dates.
(a) For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at any meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Trustees may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees, and which record
date shall not be more than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor less than ten
(10) days before the date of any such meeting. A determination of Shareholders
of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall
apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of
Trustees may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting and shall fix a new
record date for any meeting that is adjourned for more than sixty (60) days from
the date set for the original meeting. For purposes of determining the
Shareholders entitled to vote on any action without a meeting, the Board of
Trustees may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Trustees, and which record date shall not be more than thirty (30) days after
the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the
Board of Trustees.
(b) If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:
(i) the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice
of and to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the close
of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is
given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and/or
(ii) the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to vote on
any action by consent in writing without a meeting of
Shareholders (A) when no prior action by the Board of Trustees
has been taken, shall be the day on which the first signed
written consent setting forth the action taken is delivered to
the Trust, or (B) when prior action of the Board of Trustees has
been taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which
the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution taking such prior
action.
(c) For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
of any other distribution of assets of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof
(other than in connection with a dissolution of the Trust or a Series, a merger,
consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or any other transactions, in each
case that is governed by Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust), the Board of
Trustees may:
(i) from time to time, fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date
is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty
(60) days before the date for the payment of such dividend and/or
such other distribution;
(ii) adopt standing resolutions fixing record dates and related
payment dates at periodic intervals of any duration for the
payment of such dividend and/or such other distribution; and/or
(iii) delegate to an appropriate officer or officers of the Trust the
determination of such periodic record and/or payments dates with
respect to such dividend and/or such other distribution.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees
from setting different record dates for different Series or Classes.
Section 5. Additional Provisions. The Bylaws may include further provisions
for Shareholders' votes, meetings, and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS;
REDEMPTIONS; TRANSFERS
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions.
(a) Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees shall
have the power to determine, from time to time, the offering price for
authorized but unissued Shares of the Trust, or any Series or Class thereof,
respectively, which shall yield to the Trust or such Series or Class not less
than the net asset value thereof, in addition to any amount of applicable sales
charge to be paid to the Principal Underwriter or the selling broker or dealer
in connection with the sale of such Shares, at which price the Shares of the
Trust, or such Series or Class, respectively, shall be offered for sale, subject
to any other requirements or limitations of the 1940 Act.
(b) Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees,
subject to the 1940 Act, may prescribe and shall set forth in the Bylaws, this
Declaration of Trust, or in a resolution of the Board of Trustees such bases and
time for determining the net asset value per Share of the Trust, or any Series
or Class thereof, or net income attributable to the Shares of the Trust, or any
Series or Class thereof, or the declaration and payment of dividends and
distributions on the Shares of the Trust, or any Series or Class thereof, as the
Board of Trustees may deem necessary or desirable, and such dividends and
distributions may vary between the Classes to reflect differing allocations of
the expenses of the Trust between such Classes to such extent and for such
purposes as the Trustees may deem appropriate.
(c) The Shareholders of the Trust, or any Series or Class if any, shall be
entitled to receive dividends and distributions when, if, and as declared by the
Board of Trustees with respect thereto, provided that with respect to Classes
such dividends and distributions shall comply with the 1940 Act. The right of
Shareholders to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares of any Class
may be set forth in a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and amended, from
time to time, pursuant to the 1940 Act. No Share shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the Trust with respect to dividends or
distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon
dissolution of the Trust made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof;
provided, however, that
(i) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, no
Share of a particular Series shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect
to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of
business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust or of
such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof;
(ii) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Classes thereof, no
Share of a particular Class 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 made pursuant to
Article VIII, Section 1 hereof; and
(iii) if the Shares of a Series are divided into Classes thereof, no
Share of a particular Class of such Series shall have any
priority or preference over any other Share of the same Class of
such Series with respect to dividends or distributions paid in
the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution
of such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof.
All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of
the Trust, a particular Class of the Trust, a particular Series, or a particular
Class of a Series from the Trust Property held with respect to the Trust, such
Series, or such Class, respectively, according to the number of Shares of the
Trust, such Series, or such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the
record date for any dividend or distribution; provided, however, that
(i) if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, all
dividends and distributions from the Trust Property and, if
applicable, held with respect to such Series shall be distributed
to each Series thereof according to the net asset value computed
for such Series, and within such particular Series, shall be
distributed ratably to the Shareholders of 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;
and
(ii) if the Shares of the Trust or of a Series are divided into
Classes thereof, all dividends and distributions from the Trust
Property and, if applicable, held with respect to the Trust or
such Series shall be distributed to each Class thereof according
to the net asset value computed for such Class, and within such
particular Class, shall be distributed ratably to the
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.
Dividends and distributions may be paid in cash, in kind, or in Shares.
(d) Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds
of the Trust, or the applicable Series thereof, available for dividends such sum
or sums as the Board of Trustees, from time to time, in its absolute discretion,
may think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing
dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust, or any
Series thereof, or for such other lawful purpose as the Board of Trustees shall
deem to be in the best interests of the Trust, or the applicable Series, as the
case may be, and the Board of Trustees may abolish any such reserve in the
manner in which the reserve was created.
Section 2. Redemptions 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:
(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder
for redemption upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer,
together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated by the
Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares and/or in accordance with such other
procedures for redemption as the Board of Trustees may authorize, from time to
time. If certificates have been issued to a Shareholder, any request for
redemption 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) The Trust shall pay for such Shares the net asset value thereof
(excluding any applicable redemption fee or sales load) in accordance with this
Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, the 1940 Act, and other applicable law.
Payments for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made in cash, except
payment for such Shares, at the option of the Board of Trustees or such officer
or officers as it may duly authorize in its complete discretion, may 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 authorized officers shall have absolute discretion
as to what security or securities of the Trust or the applicable Series 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 legally cannot acquire securities so distributed in kind shall
receive cash to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. 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 by the Trust for such redemption of Shares shall be made by the
Trust to the Shareholder within seven (7) days after the date on which the
redemption request is received in proper form and/or such other procedures
authorized by the Board of Trustees are complied with; 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
occur necessarily within such seven- (7) day period. 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 obligations of the Trust set forth in this Section 2 are subject to
the provision that such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Board
of Trustees (i) during any time the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is
closed for other than weekends or holidays; (ii) if permitted by the rules of
the Commission, during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted; or
(iii) during any National Financial Emergency. The Board of Trustees, in its
discretion, may declare that the suspension relating to a National Financial
Emergency shall terminate, as the case may be, on the first business day on
which the Exchange shall have reopened or the period specified above 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).
(e) The right of any Shareholder of the Trust, or any Series or Class
thereof, to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares redeemed and all
other rights of such Shareholder with respect to the Shares so redeemed, except
the right of such Shareholder to receive payment for such Shares, shall cease at
the time the purchase price of such Shares shall have been fixed, as provided
above.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. At the option of the
Board of Trustees, the Trust, from time to time, without the vote of the
Shareholders but subject to the 1940 Act, may redeem Shares or authorize the
closing of any Shareholder account, subject to such conditions as may be
established, from time to time, by the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable in accordance
with the provisions of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT
Section 1. Limitation of Liability.
(a) For the purpose of this Article, "Agent" means any Person who is or was
a Trustee, officer, employee, or other agent of the Trust or is or was serving
at the request of the Trust as a trustee, director, officer, employee, or other
agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, or other enterprise; "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending, or
completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative; and "Expenses" include, without limitation, attorneys' fees and
any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
(b) An Agent shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder for any
act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied
contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, for such Agent's own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of such Agent (such conduct referred to herein as
"Disqualifying Conduct"), and for nothing else.
(c) Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 1 and to the fullest extent
that limitations on the liability of Agents are permitted by the DSTA, the
Agents shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission
of any other Agent of the Trust or any Investment Adviser or Principal
Underwriter of the Trust.
(d) No Agent, when acting in its respective capacity as such, shall be
liable personally to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder, to the
extent provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 1, for any act,
omission, or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee thereof.
(e) Each Trustee, officer, and employee of the Trust shall be justified
fully and completely in the performance of his or her duties, and protected with
regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith
upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of
counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees,
or by the Investment Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, any other Agent,
selected dealers, accountants, appraisers, or other experts or consultants
selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers, or employees of the
Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee. 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, the Bylaws,
applicable law, and their respective duties as officers or Trustees. No such
officer or Trustee shall be liable for any act or omission in accordance with
such advice, records, and/or reports, and no inference concerning liability
shall arise from a failure to follow such advice, records, and/or reports. The
officers and Trustees shall not be required to give any bond hereunder nor any
surety if a bond is required by applicable law.
(f) The failure to make timely collection of dividends or interest, or to
take timely action with respect to entitlements, on the Trust's securities
issued in emerging countries shall not be deemed to be negligence or other fault
on the part of any Agent, and no Agent shall have any liability for such failure
or for any loss or damage resulting from the imposition by any government of
exchange control restrictions that might affect the liquidity of the Trust's
assets or from any war or political act of any foreign government to which such
assets might be exposed, except, in the case of a Trustee or officer, for
liability resulting from such Trustee's or officer's Disqualifying Conduct.
(g) The limitation on liability contained in this Article applies to events
occurring at the time a Person serves as an Agent, whether or not such Person is
an Agent at the time of any Proceeding in which liability is asserted.
(h) No amendment or repeal of this Article shall adversely affect any right
or protection of an Agent that exists at the time of such amendment or repeal.
Section 2. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by Trust. The Trust shall indemnify, out of Trust
Property, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any Person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by
reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Agent of the Trust, against
Expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with such Proceeding if such Person acted in
good faith, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe the conduct of such Person was unlawful. The termination of any
Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the
Person did not act in good faith or that the Person had reasonable cause to
believe that the Person's conduct was unlawful.
(b) Exclusion of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for any
liability arising by reason of the Agent's Disqualifying Conduct. In respect of
any claim, issue, or matter as to which that Person shall have been adjudged to
be liable in the performance of that Person's duty to the Trust or the
Shareholders, indemnification shall be made only to the extent that the court in
which that action was brought shall determine, upon application or otherwise,
that in view of all the circumstances of the case, that Person was not liable by
reason of that Person's Disqualifying Conduct.
(c) Required Approval. Any indemnification under this Article shall be made
by the Trust if authorized in the specific case on a determination that
indemnification of the Agent is proper in the circumstances by (i) a final
decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was
brought that the Agent was not liable by reason of Disqualifying Conduct
(including, but not limited to, dismissal of either a court action or an
administrative proceeding against the Agent for insufficiency of evidence of any
Disqualifying Conduct); or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Agent was not liable
by reason of Disqualifying Conduct, by (A) the vote of a majority of a quorum of
the Trustees who are not (x) "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, (y) parties to the proceeding, or (z) parties
who have any economic or other interest in connection with such specific case
(the "disinterested, non-party Trustees"), or (B) by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion.
(d) Advancement of Expenses. Expenses incurred by an Agent in defending any
Proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the final disposition of the
Proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Agent to repay
the amount of the advance if it shall be determined ultimately that the Agent is
not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article, provided that at
least one of the following conditions for the advancement of expenses is met:
(i) the Agent shall provide a security for his undertaking; (ii) the Trust shall
be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances; or (iii) a
majority of a quorum of the disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust, or an
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a
review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry),
that there is reason to believe that the Agent ultimately will be found entitled
to indemnification.
(e) Other Contractual Rights. Nothing contained in this Article shall
affect any right to indemnification to which Persons other than Trustees and
officers of the Trust or any subsidiary thereof may be entitled by contract or
otherwise.
(f) Fiduciaries of Employee Benefit Plan. This Article does not apply to
any Proceeding against any trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary of an
employee benefit plan in that Person's capacity as such, even though that Person
may also be an Agent of the Trust as defined in Section 1 of this Article.
Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to indemnification to
which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary may be entitled by
contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by
applicable law other than this Article.
Section 3. Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
the Board of Trustees shall 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 an Agent in connection with any Proceeding in which such
Agent becomes involved by virtue of such Agent's actions, or omissions to act,
in its capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust
would have the power to indemnify such Agent against such liability.
Section 4. Derivative Actions. Subject to the requirements set forth in
Section 3816 of the DSTA, a Shareholder or Shareholders may bring a derivative
action on behalf of the Trust only if the Shareholder or Shareholders first make
a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees to bring the subject action unless
an effort to cause the Board of Trustees to bring such action is excused. A
demand on the Board of Trustees shall only be excused if a majority of the Board
of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits
of such action, has a material personal financial interest in the action at
issue. A Trustee shall not be deemed to have a material personal financial
interest in an action or otherwise be disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder
demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration from his or
her service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or
more investment companies with the same or an affiliated investment adviser or
underwriter.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 1. Dissolution of Trust or Series. The Trust and each Series shall
have perpetual existence, except that the Trust (or a particular Series) shall
be dissolved:
(a) With respect to the Trust, (i) upon the vote of the holders of not less
than a majority of the Shares of the Trust cast, or (ii) at the discretion of
the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are no Shares outstanding of
the Trust, or (B) upon prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust; or
(b) With respect to a particular Series, (i) upon the vote of the holders
of not less than a majority of the Shares of such Series cast, or (ii) at the
discretion of the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are no Shares
outstanding of such Series, or (B) upon prior written notice to the Shareholders
of such Series; or
(c) With respect to the Trust (or a particular Series), upon the occurrence
of a dissolution or termination event pursuant to any other provision of this
Declaration of Trust (including Article VIII, Section 2) or the DSTA; or
(d) With respect to any Series, upon any event that causes the dissolution
of the Trust.
Upon dissolution of the Trust (or a particular Series, as the case may be),
the Board of Trustees (in accordance with Section 3808 of the DSTA) shall pay or
make reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust and/or
each Series (or the particular Series, as the case may be), including all
contingent, conditional, or unmatured claims and obligations known to the Trust,
and all claims and obligations that 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 and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series,
as the case may be), 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 and/or each Series of the Trust (or the
particular Series, as the case may be), 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 and/or each Series of
the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be) shall be distributed to
the Shareholders of the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular
Series, as the case may be) ratably according to the number of Shares of the
Trust and/or such Series thereof (or the particular Series, as the case may be)
held of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such dissolution
distribution; provided, however, that if the Shares of the Trust or a Series are
divided into Classes thereof, any remaining assets (including, without
limitation, cash, securities, or any combination thereof) held with respect to
the Trust or such Series, as applicable, shall be distributed to each Class of
the Trust or such Series according to the net asset value computed for such
Class, and within such particular Class, shall be distributed ratably to the
Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of such Class held
of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such dissolution
distribution. Upon the winding up of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808
of the DSTA and its termination, any one Trustee shall execute and cause to be
filed a certificate of cancellation with the Office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3810 of the
DSTA.
Section 2. Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization.
(a) Merger or Consolidation. Pursuant to an agreement of merger or
consolidation, the Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, may
cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one or more statutory
trusts or "other business entities" (as defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA)
formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any
other state of the United States, or any foreign country or other foreign
jurisdiction. Any such merger or consolidation shall not require the vote of the
Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided, however,
that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least thirty (30) days' prior
written notice to the Shareholders of such merger or consolidation. By reference
to Section 3815(f) of the DSTA, any agreement of merger or consolidation
approved in accordance with this Section 2(a) may effect any amendment to this
Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or effect the adoption of a new governing
instrument without a Shareholder vote, unless required by the 1940 Act or any
other provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, if the Trust is the
surviving or resulting statutory trust in the merger or consolidation, which
amendment or new governing instrument shall be effective at the effective time
or date of the merger or consolidation. In all respects not governed by the
DSTA, the 1940 Act, or other applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have
the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to
accomplish a merger or consolidation, including the power to create one or more
separate statutory 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 into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust
or trusts. Upon completion of the merger or consolidation, if the Trust is the
surviving or resulting statutory trust, any one Trustee shall execute and cause
to be filed a certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section
3815 of the DSTA.
(b) Conversion. The Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the
Trustees, may cause (i) the Trust to convert to an "other business entity" (as
defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA) formed or organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware, as permitted pursuant to Section 3821 of the DSTA; (ii) the
Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in
another statutory trust (or series thereof) created pursuant to this Section 2
of this Article VIII; or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to
any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law. Any such statutory
conversion, Share conversion, or Share exchange shall not require the vote of
the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided,
however, that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least thirty (30) days'
prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust of any conversion of
Shares of the Trust pursuant to Subsections (b)(i) or (b)(ii) of this Section 2
or exchange of Shares of the Trust pursuant to Subsection (b)(iii) of this
Section 2, and at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the
Shareholders of a particular Series of any conversion of Shares of such Series
pursuant to Subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 2 or exchange of Shares of such
Series pursuant to Subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 2. In all respects not
governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act, or other applicable law, the Board of
Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or
appropriate to accomplish a statutory conversion, Share conversion, or Share
exchange, including the power to create one or more separate statutory 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 or any Series thereof into beneficial interests in such separate statutory
trust or trusts (or series thereof).
(c) Reorganization. The Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the
Trustees, may cause the Trust to sell, convey, and transfer all or substantially
all of the assets of the Trust ("sale of Trust assets") or all or substantially
all of the assets associated with any one or more Series ("sale of such Series'
assets") to another trust, statutory trust, partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability company, corporation, or other association organized under the
laws of any state, or to one or more separate series thereof, or to the Trust to
be held as assets associated with one or more other Series of the Trust, in
exchange for cash, shares, or other securities (including, without limitation,
in the case of a transfer to another Series of the Trust, Shares of such other
Series) with such sale, conveyance, and transfer either (i) being made subject
to or with the assumption by the transferee of the liabilities associated with
the Trust or the liabilities associated with the Series, the assets of which are
so transferred, as applicable, or (ii) not being made subject to or not with the
assumption of such liabilities. Any such sale, conveyance, and transfer shall
not require the vote of the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the
1940 Act; provided, however, that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust of any
such sale of Trust assets, and at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice
to the Shareholders of a particular Series of any sale of such Series' assets.
Following such sale of Trust assets, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such
cash, shares, or other securities ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust
(giving due effect to the assets and liabilities associated with and any other
differences among the various Series, the assets associated with which have been
so sold, conveyed, and transferred, and due effect to the differences among the
various Classes within each such Series). Following a sale of such Series'
assets, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares, or other
securities ratably among the Shareholders of such Series (giving due effect to
the differences among the various Classes within each such Series). If all of
the assets of the Trust have been so sold, conveyed, and transferred, the Trust
shall be dissolved; and if all of the assets of a Series have been so sold,
conveyed, and transferred, such Series and the Classes thereof shall be
dissolved. In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act, or other
applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe
additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish such sale,
conveyance, and transfer, including the power to create one or more separate
statutory 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 into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts.
Section 3. Master Feeder Structure. If permitted by the 1940 Act, the Board
of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, and without a Shareholder
vote, may cause the Trust or any one or more Series to convert to a master
feeder structure (a structure in which a feeder fund invests all of its assets
in a master fund rather than making investments in securities directly) and
thereby cause existing Series of the Trust to either become feeders in a master
fund, or to become master funds in which other funds are feeders.
Section 4. Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters' Rights. No Shareholder shall
be entitled, as a matter of right, to relief as a dissenting Shareholder in
respect of any proposal or action involving the Trust or any Series or any Class
thereof.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments Generally. This Declaration of Trust may be restated
and/or amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by not less than a
majority of the Board of Trustees and, to the extent required by this
Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act, by approval of such amendment by the
Shareholders in accordance with Article III, Section 6 hereof and Article V
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 shall be restated and/or amended at
any time by the Board of Trustees, without Shareholder approval, to correct any
inaccuracy contained therein. Any such restatement and/or amendment of the
Certificate of Trust shall be executed by at least one Trustee and shall be
effective immediately upon its filing with the Office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. References; Headings; Counterparts. In this Declaration of Trust
and in any restatement hereof and/or amendment hereto, references to this
instrument, and all expressions of similar effect to "herein," "hereof," and
"hereunder" shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as so restated and/or
amended. 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. 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. Any references herein to specific
sections of the DSTA, the Code, or the 1940 Act shall refer to such sections as
amended, from time to time, or any successor sections thereof. This instrument
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section 2. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is created under and
is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the
State of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Code.
The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers that are
ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust.
Section 3. 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 DSTA, 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.
(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 4. Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to
create hereby a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and thereby to create the
relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the DSTA
between the Trustees and each Shareholder, respectively. 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 statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA. 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 5. [Use of the Name "Genworth." The Board of Trustees expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the name "Genworth" is the sole property of
Genworth Financial, Inc. or its Affiliates (together "Genworth"). Genworth has
granted to the Trust a non-exclusive license to use such name as part of the
name of the Trust and of any Series now and in the future. The Board of Trustees
further expressly agrees and acknowledges that the non-exclusive license granted
herein may be terminated by Genworth if the Trust ceases to use Genworth or one
of its Affiliates as Investment Adviser or to use other Affiliates or successors
of Genworth for such purposes. In such event, the nonexclusive license may be
revoked by Genworth and the Trust shall cease using the name "Genworth," or any
name misleadingly implying a continuing relationship between the Trust and
Genworth or any of its Affiliates, as part of its name unless otherwise
consented to by Genworth or any successor to its interests in such names.
The Board of Trustees further understands and agrees that so long as
Genworth and/or any future advisory Affiliate of Genworth shall continue to
serve as the Trust's Investment Adviser, other registered open- or closed-end
investment companies ("funds") as may be sponsored or advised by Genworth or its
Affiliates shall have the right permanently to adopt and to use the name
"Genworth" in their names and in the names of any series or Class of shares of
such funds.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees of GENWORTH VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST named
below do hereby make and enter into this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
of the date first written above.
________________, Trustee ________________, Trustee
________________, Trustee ________________, Trustee
