Contract
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
|
(A Delaware Statutory Trust)
|
May 14, 2007
|
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 14th day of May 2007, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly hereinafter;
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of such statutory trust.
ARTICLE I
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the "Central Park Group Multi-Event Fund" and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine; provided that the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust. Any name change shall become effective upon the execution and filing by a majority of the then Trustees of a certificate of amendment or a restated certificate pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. In the event of any such change, the Trustees shall cause notice to be given to the affected Shareholders within a reasonable time after the implementation of such change
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
"Advisers Act" refers to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
"By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to time by the Trustees.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Declaration" shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Delaware General Corporation Law" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 8 Del. C.ss.100, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
"Delaware Statutory Trust Act" shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C.ss.3801, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
"Exchange Act" refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
"Fundamental Policies" shall mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth from time to time in any Prospectus or contained in any current Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the Commission or as otherwise adopted by the Trustees and the Shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and designated as fundamental policies therein, as they may be amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
"Interested Person" shall have the meaning given to such term in the 1940 Act.
"Investment Adviser" shall mean the person appointed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof to provide advisory services to the Trust.
"Majority Shareholder Vote" shall mean a vote of "a majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust.
"Manager" shall mean the person appointed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof to provide management and administrative services to the Trust.
"Person" shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as in effect from time to time under the Securities Act, including any statement of additional information incorporated therein by reference.
"Securities Act" refers to the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.
"Shareholders" shall mean, as of any particular time, the holders of record of outstanding Shares at such time.
"Shares" shall mean the transferable units of undivided beneficial interests into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
"Trust" shall mean the trust established by this Declaration, as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
"Trust Property" shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.
"Trustees" shall mean the signatories to this Declaration so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in office.
ARTICLE II
Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting as set forth in Section 2.5.
With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for all purposes of the Trust, except to the extent that participation in such a meeting would not satisfy any requirement under the 1940 Act with respect to any matter that requires the in personam approval of the Trustees.
ARTICLE III
(a) manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company; and
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
ARTICLE IV
ARTICLE V
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person, a Trustee acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Trustees.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any Trustee or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust or any Shareholder or any other Person, on the other hand; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that the Trustees shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust, any Shareholders or any other Person,
the Trustees shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Trustees, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Trustees shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Trustees at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration or otherwise applicable law, whenever in this Declaration the Trustees are permitted or required to make a decision (i) in their "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Trustees shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as they desire, including their own interests, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust, the Shareholders or any other Person; or (ii) in "good faith" or under another express standard, the Trustees shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.
(d) Any Trustee and any Affiliate of any Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust and the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Trustee. No Trustee who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Trust shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Trust, and such Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Shareholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Trustee pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Shareholders shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Declaration or the trust relationship created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Any Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, the Shareholders or any Affiliate of the Trust or the Shareholders.
(a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such person being an "Indemnitee") against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his having acted in any such capacity; provided, however, that no Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder (i) with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, or (ii) against any liability to any person or any expense of such Indemnitee arising by reason of (A) willful misfeasance, (B) bad faith, (C) gross negligence, or (D) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) and (ii) being sometimes referred to herein as "Disabling Conduct"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such Indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the Indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal. In any event, an Indemnitee shall be afforded a rebuttable presumption that such Indemnitee has not engaged in Disabling Conduct.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding ("Disinterested Non-Party Trustees"), that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the Indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.
(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee's good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the Indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or persons that are not Interested Persons or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full extent statutory trusts established pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act may indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons; provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.
ARTICLE VI
(i) Shares may not be transferred except (A) by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of a Shareholder, or (B) with the written consent of the Trustees (which may be withheld by them in their sole and absolute discretion); and
(ii) Shares may not be transferred, except to any person or entity who meets the standard as a "qualified client" within the meaning of paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act.
(b) Any transfer of Shares that, if effective, would not comply with Section 6.8(a) shall be void ab initio, and the purported transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares. If the Trustees or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a transfer has taken place that results in a violation of this Section 6.8 or that a person or entity intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire any Shares in violation of this Section 6.8 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Trustees or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer, including without limitation refusing to give effect to such transfer on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such transfer or other event, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees or any committee thereof shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase such Shares from such purported transferee in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof; provided further that any transfers or attempted transfers in violation of this Section 6.8 shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Trustees or committee thereof.
(c) In the event of an involuntary transfer (or purported transfer) of Shares that occurs by law, including without limitation pursuant to any jurisdiction's laws of descent and distribution, that does not comply with paragraph (a) of this Section 6.8, the Trustees shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase such Shares in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof.
ARTICLE VII
(a) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order;
(b) to receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;
(c) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
(d) if authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and accounting services; and
(e) if authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net asset value of the Trust;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees; provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VIII
(a) if the Trustees determine or have reason to believe that such Shares have been transferred in violation of Section 6.8 hereof, or such Shares have vested in any person by operation of law as the result of the death, dissolution, bankruptcy or incompetency of a Shareholder;
(b) if the Trustees determine or have reason to believe that ownership of such Shares by such Shareholder other person will cause the Trust to be in violation of, or require registration of any Shares under, or subject the Trust to additional registration or regulation under, the securities, commodities or other laws of the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction;
(c) if the Trustees determine or have reason to believe that continued ownership of such Shares may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Trust, or may subject the Trust or any of its Shareholders to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal consequences;
(d) if the Trustees determine or have reason to believe that it would be in the best interests of the Trust, as determined by the Trustees, for the Trust to repurchase such Shares; or
(e) at such time as such Shareholder owns Shares having an aggregate net asset value less than an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees.
ARTICLE IX
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
9.1 Net Asset Value. The net asset value of the Trust and of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees. In determining the value of the assets of the Trust, no value shall be placed on the goodwill or name of the Trust, or the office records, files, statistical data or any similar intangible assets of the Trust not normally reflected in the Trust's accounting records, but there shall be taken into consideration any items of income earned but not received, expenses incurred but not yet paid, liabilities, fixed or contingent, and any other prepaid expenses to the extent not otherwise reflected in the books of account, and the value of options or commitments to purchase or sell securities or commodities pursuant to agreements entered into prior to such valuation date. The power and duty to make the net asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees and shall be as generally set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees.
9.2 Distributions to Shareholders.
(a) The Trustees shall from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital or assets held by the Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or any combination thereof, and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders additional Shares in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may deem proper.
(b) Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be among the Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify at the time of declaration.
(c) The Trustees may always retain from the net profits such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.
(d) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
9.3 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for determining the per share asset value of the Trust's Shares or net income, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or the Exchange Act, or any order of exemption issued by the Commission, or the Code, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or modified.
ARTICLE X
(a) The holders of one-third of the Shares entitled to vote at the meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on which a vote of Shareholders of the Trust is being taken. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matter.
(b) Subject to any provision of applicable law requiring greater or lesser votes, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees specifying a greater or lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such matter.
ARTICLE XI
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
11.1 Duration. Subject to possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2 hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence.
11.2 Termination.
(a) The Trust shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) upon the affirmative vote to dissolve the Trust by both (a) the Trustees and (b) the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust;
(ii) upon the determination by the Investment Adviser to dissolve the Trust; or
(iii) as required by operation of law.
(b) Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(i) the Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs;
(ii) the Trustees, acting directly or through a liquidator they select, shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust, and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, merge where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; if the Trustees are unable to perform the foregoing functions, a liquidator elected by Shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Trust shall perform the duties required by this Section 11.2(b); and
(iii) after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities pursuant to Section 3808(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.
(c) After the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
11.3 Amendment Procedure.
(a) Except as specifically provided in this Section, the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust. Shareholders shall have the right to vote (i) on any amendment that is required to be approved by Shareholders by the 1940 Act or by the Registration Statement and (ii) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment hereof shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Section 5.7 of this Declaration with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification referenced in Sections 5.5 and 5.9 of this Declaration or as provided in the By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment. The Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the By-Laws and the Certificate of Trust as the Trustees deem necessary or desirable.
(b) No amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 3.9, Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.3 or Section 11.4 of this Declaration and no amendment may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto (except that this provision shall not limit the ability of the Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to issue, other securities pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each class outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Board.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a Registration Statement under the Securities Act covering the first public offering of Shares of the Trust shall have become effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees.
11.4 Reorganization.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, (i) cause the Trust to convert into or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger or consolidation) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof to the extent permitted by law, and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger or consolidation, succeed to or assume the Trust's registration under the 1940 Act, provided that, in any case, such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity is formed, organized or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (ii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance) organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, so long as such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity is a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance, succeed to or assume the Trust's registration under the 1940 Act, for adequate consideration as determined by the Trustees which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust, and which may include shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interest of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or series thereof), or (v) at any time sell or convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust. Any agreement of merger, reorganization, consolidation, exchange or conversion or certificate of merger, certificate of conversion or other applicable certificate may be signed by a majority of the Trustees or an authorized officer of the Trust and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.
(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Declaration, an agreement of merger, reorganization or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.4 may effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the Trust or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust or change the name of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.
(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, create one or more statutory or business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or classes thereof.
ARTICLE XII
(a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 12.7, a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not "independent trustees" (as that term is defined in the Delaware Statutory Trust Act).
(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 12.7, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act who collectively hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action;
(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 12.7, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action; and
(d) For purposes of this Section 12.7, the Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who do not have a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Trustee
|
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Trustee
|
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Trustee
|
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx Green
|
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Green
|
|
Trustee
|
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Trustee
|