RIVERSOURCE RETIREMENT SERIES TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts,
effective on January 20, 2006, by the Trustees hereunder and the holders of
shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and to be issued hereunder as
hereinafter provided:
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into
their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with
transferable shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all
cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in
any manner as Trustee hereunder, IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon
the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. This Trust shall be known as "RiverSource Retirement Series Trust"
and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any
other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the
context or specifically provided:
(a) "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established
by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from
time to time;
(b) "Trustees" refers to the persons signatory hereto, so long as
they continue in office in accordance with the terms of this
Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who may from time
to time be duly elected or appointed in accordance with
Article IV hereof;
(c) "Shares" means the equal proportionate units of interest into
which the beneficial interest in the Trust or in the Trust
property belonging to any Series of the Trust or in any class
of Shares of the Trust (as the context may require) shall be
divided from time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time
to time;
(f) The terms "Commission" and "principal underwriter" shall have
the 1940 Act;
(g) "Declaration of Trust" or "Declaration" shall mean this
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated
from time to time;
(h) "Bylaws" shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust, as amended from
time to time;
(i) "Series Company" refers to the form of registered open-end
investment company described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940
Act or in any successor statutory provision;
(j) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated
under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(k) "Multi-Class Series" refers to Series of Shares established
and designated as Multi-Class Series under or in accordance
with the provisions of Article III, Section 6; and
(l) The terms "class" and "class of Shares" refer to each class of
Shares into which the Shares of any Multi-Class Series may
from time to time be divided in accordance with the provisions
of Article III.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to engage in the business of a management
investment company.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, without par
value. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share
shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the
Shares of any Series or class shall be entitled to receive dividends, when and
as declared with respect thereto in the
manner provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 6 of this Article III with respect to Shares of Multi-Class Series, no
Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same
Series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust
or of such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 4 hereof. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 6 of this Article III with respect to Shares of
Multi-Class Series, all dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among
all Shareholders of a particular Series from the assets belonging to such Series
according to the number of Shares of such Series held of record by such
Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date
of termination, as the case may be. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or
other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the Trust. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of
any particular Series or class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that
Series or class without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest
of the Shares of that Series or class in the assets belonging to that Series or
attributable to that class or in any way affecting the rights of Shares of any
other Series or class.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the
books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books
shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series and class. No
certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the
Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such
rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series and
class and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or
any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who
are the Shareholders of each Series and class and as to the number of Shares of
each Series and class held from time to time by each.
Section 3. Investments in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in
the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration as they
from time to time authorize.
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall
be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this
instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be
held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have
become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the
Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of
any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or
elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative
only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of
Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any
part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the
same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the
Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any
Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any
Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other
than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
Section 5. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without
limiting the power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided
elsewhere herein, the Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of
Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may
determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so
as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the
Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust for the purpose of (i) responding
to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any
governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or
(ii) designating and establishing Series or classes in addition to those
established in Section 6 of this Article III; provided that before adopting any
such amendment without Shareholder approval the Trustees shall determine that it
is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders. The
establishment and designation of any Series of Shares in addition to the Series
established and designated in Section 6 of this Article III shall be effective
upon either the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an amendment to
this Declaration of Trust, taking the form of a complete restatement or
otherwise, or the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the then
Trustees of a resolution setting forth such establishment and designation and
the relative rights and preferences of such Series, or as otherwise provided in
such amendment or resolution. The establishment and designation of any class of
Shares shall be effective upon either the execution by a majority of the then
Trustees of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust or the adoption by vote or
written consent of a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution setting forth
such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of
such class and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the
Trustees may determine, or as otherwise provided in such amendment or
resolution.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may,
without the approval of Shareholders, for the above-stated purposes, amend the
Declaration of Trust to:
(a) create one or more Series or classes of Shares (in addition to
any Series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such
rights and preferences and such eligibility requirements for
investment therein as the Trustees shall determine and
reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares of
particular Series or classes in accordance with such
eligibility requirements;
(b) amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a)
through (j) of Section 6 of this Article III;
(c) combine one or more Series or classes of Shares into a single
Series or class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees
shall determine or consolidate, merge or transfer assets of
the Trust or a Series as set forth in Article VIII, Section 5;
(d) change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for
investment in Shares of any Series or class, including without
limitation the power to provide for the issue of Shares of any
Series or class in connection with any merger or consolidation
of the Trust
with another trust or company or any acquisition by the Trust
of part or all of the assets of another trust or company;
(e) change the designation of any Series or class of Shares;
(f) change the method of allocating dividends among the various
Series and classes of Shares;
(g) allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or
any specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or
more Series or classes of Shares; and
(h) specifically allocate assets to any or all Series of Shares or
create one or more additional Series of Shares which are
preferred over all other Series of Shares in respect of assets
specifically allocated thereto or any dividends paid by the
Trust with respect to any net income, however determined,
earned from the investment and reinvestment of any assets so
allocated or otherwise and provide for any special voting or
other rights with respect to such Series or any classes of
Shares thereof.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. Without limiting
the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 5, inter alia, to establish
and designate any further Series or classes or to modify the rights and
preferences of any Series or class, the following Series shall be, and are
hereby, established and designated:
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2010
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2015
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2020
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2025
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2030
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2035
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2040
RiverSource Retirement Plus Fund - 2045
Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the
following rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series, and
Shares of each class of a Multi-Class Series shall have such rights and
preferences relative to other classes of the same Series as are set forth below,
together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other classes
as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating
such class of Shares:
(a) Assets belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of
paragraph (c) of this Section 6:
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares
of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is
invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof from
whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of
such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to that
Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of 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 belonging to" that Series. In the event
that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds
or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular
Series (collectively "General Assets"), the Trustees shall allocate such General
Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series established and
designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their
sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to
a particular Series shall belong to that Series. Each such allocation by the
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for
all purposes.
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of
paragraph (c) of this Section 6:
The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged solely
with the liabilities of the Trust in respect to that Series, the expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any general
liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series but which are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and
among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time
in a manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair
and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged
to a Series are herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series.
Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for
all purposes.
(c) Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Multi-Class Series. In
the case of any Multi-Class Series, to the extent necessary or
appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and
preferences of any classes of Shares of such Series, (i) any
assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities,
expenses, charges, costs and reserves belonging or
attributable to that Series may be allocated or attributed to
a particular class of Shares of that Series or apportioned
among two or more classes of Shares of that Series; and (ii)
Shares of any class of such Series may have priority or
preference over shares of other classes of such Series with
respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the
Trust or of such Series or class or otherwise, provided that
no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other
Shares of the same class and that all dividends and
distributions to Shareholders of a particular class shall be
made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to
the number of Shares of such class held of record by such
Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or
distribution or on the date of termination, as the case
may be.
(d) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration,
including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or
distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution
paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series or class)
with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the
Shares of any Series or class shall be effected by the Trust
other than from the assets belonging to such Series or
attributable to such class, nor shall any Shareholder of any
particular Series or class otherwise have any right or claim
against the assets belonging to any other Series or
attributable to any other class except to the extent that such
Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a
Shareholder of such other Series or class.
(e) Voting. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this
Declaration, including, without limitation, Section 1 of
Article V, the Shareholders of any particular Series or class
shall not be entitled to vote on any matters as to which such
Series or class is not affected. On any matter submitted to a
vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to
vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, be
voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to
Series or class of Shares, except that (1) when required by
the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that
the matter affects one or more Series or classes of Shares
materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual
Series or class and (2) when the matter affects only the
interests of one or more Series or classes, only Shareholders
of such Series or classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.
If authorized by the Trustees, Shareholders shall be entitled
to vote cumulatively in the election of Trustees.
(f) Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to
give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any
classes of Shares of a Multi-Class Series, all the Shares of
each particular Series shall represent an equal proportionate
interest in the assets belonging to that Series (subject to
the liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of
any particular Series shall be equal to each other Share of
that Series. All the Shares of each particular class of Shares
within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series
that are attributable to such class (subject to the
liabilities attributable to such class), and each Share of any
particular class within a Multi-Class Series shall be equal to
each other Share of such class.
(g) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series or class shall
carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a
whole Share of that Series or class, including rights with
respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions,
redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(h) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to
provide that the holders of Shares of any Series or class
shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one
or more other Series or classes of Shares in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(i) Combination of Series or Classes. Without limiting the
authority of the Trustees set forth in Article VIII, Section
5, the Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval
of the Shareholders of any Series or class unless otherwise
required by applicable law, to combine the assets and
liabilities belonging to any two or more Series or
attributable to any class into assets and liabilities
belonging to a single Series or attributable to a single
class.
(j) Elimination of Series or Class. At any time that there are no
Shares outstanding of any particular Series previously
established and designated, the Trustees may abolish and
rescind the establishment and designation of that Series,
either by amending this Declaration of Trust in the manner
provided in Section 5 of this Article III for the
establishment and designation of Series (if such Series was
established and designated by an amendment to this Declaration
of Trust), or by vote or written consent of a majority of the
then Trustees (if such Series was established and designated
by Trustee vote or written consent). At any time that there
are no Shares outstanding of any particular class previously
established and designated of a Multi- Class Series, the
Trustees may abolish that class and rescind the establishment
and designation thereof, either by amending this Declaration
of Trust in the manner provided in Section 5 of this Article
III for the establishment and designation of classes (if such
class was established and designated by an amendment to this
Declaration of Trust), or by vote or written consent of a
majority of the then Trustees (if such class was established
and designated by Trustee vote or written consent).
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former
Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her
being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series or
class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason,
the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation
or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out
of the assets of the Series (or attributable to the class) of which he or she is
a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified
against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 8. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust.
Section 9. Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or
maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust or any
Series without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to
bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be excused
only when the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable injury to the
Trust or Series would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the
Secretary of the Trust at the Trust's principal office and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim
and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the
allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within
45 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may
submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or Series, as
appropriate. Any decision by
the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle)
such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of
Shareholders, shall be made by the Trustees in their business judgment and shall
be binding upon the Shareholders.
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election and Tenure. The Trustees may fix the number of Trustees,
fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in
the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee
shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies,
resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders
called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and
qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the
Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon
receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the
extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee
resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for
any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
on account of such removal. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting
of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent
required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of
the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or
any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all
powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the
power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent
with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of
the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such
Bylaws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may elect and remove
such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider
appropriate; they may appoint from their own number and terminate one or more
committees consisting of one or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and
authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine; they may
employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such
custodians to employ sub-custodians and to deposit all or any part of such
assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a
Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent,
or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or
more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination
of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate
such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any
committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any
such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate,
lease, write options with respect to or otherwise deal in
any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of
the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership,
with respect to stock or other securities or property; and
to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such
person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper,
granting to such person or persons such power and discretion
with relation to securities or property as the Trustees
shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise
which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating
any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other
negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a
custodian or sub-custodian or a nominee or nominees or
otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation
or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to
consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale
of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls
or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the
Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a
committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in
that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer
any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee,
and to delegate to them such power and authority with
relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or
transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree
to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the
Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor
of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy,
including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited
partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any person; and to make contracts of guaranty
or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment of
such notes or other obligations;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such
insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the
conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without
limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the
Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its
portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, principal underwriters or independent
contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and
liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding,
being or having held any such office or position, or by
reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
by any such person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent,
investment adviser, principal underwriter or independent
contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may
be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against
liability; and
(m) To pay pensions as deemed appropriate by the Trustees and to
adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing,
share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and
provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and
annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement
and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or
future law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees. The Trustees shall
not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust
or take any other action hereunder.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay
or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out
of principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees,
charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust,
or in connection with the management thereof, including but not limited to, the
Trustees' compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the
Trust's officers, employees, administrators, investment advisers or managers,
principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder
servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors, and such
other expenses and charges, as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to
incur.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the
power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each
Shareholder of any particular Series or class, to pay directly, in advance or
arrears, for charges of the Trust's custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing
or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting
off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends
owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of
such Shareholder by that number of full
and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges
due from such Shareholder.
Section 6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the
Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Section 7. Advisory, Management and Distribution Contracts. Subject to such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws, the Trustees
may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive
advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any Series or class
with any corporation, trust, association or other organization (a "Manager");
and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may
determine, including without limitation, authority for a Manager to determine
from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments
shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the
assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust's
investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract
with a Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or other
organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal
underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements
and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may
contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust
is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee,
manager, adviser, principal underwriter, distributor or affiliate or
agent of or for any corporation, trust, association or other
organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization,
with which an advisory or management contract, or principal
underwriter's or distributor's contract or transfer, shareholder
servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be
made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate
thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization
with which an advisory or management contract or principal
underwriter's or distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder
servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be
made also has an advisory or management contract, or principal
underwriter's or distributor's contract or transfer, shareholder
servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations,
trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or
interests
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for
the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) to the
extent provided in Article III, Section 9 as to whether or not a court action,
proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively
or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (iii) with
respect to the termination of the Trust or any Series or class to the extent and
as provided in Article VIII, Section 4 and (iv) with respect to such additional
matters relating to the Trust as may be required by applicable law, including
the 1940 Act, this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws or any registration of the
Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the
Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. The number of votes that each
whole or fractional Share shall be entitled to vote as to any matter on which it
is entitled to vote shall be as specified in the Bylaws. If authorized by the
Trustees, Shareholders shall be entitled to vote cumulatively in the election of
Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to
Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any
one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a
specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting
to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger. At any time when no Shares of a Series or class
are outstanding the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that
Series or class with respect to matters affecting that Series or class and may
with respect to that Series or class take any action required by law, this
Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws to be taken by the Shareholders thereof.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be called
by the Trustees for the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV,
Section 1 and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, by this
Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws. Meetings of the Shareholders may also be
called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon
any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. A meeting
of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Notice of
any meeting of Shareholders, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be
given or caused to be given by the Trustees to each Shareholder by mailing such
notice, postage prepaid, at least seven days before such meeting, at the
Shareholder's address as it appears on the records of the Trust, or by facsimile
or other electronic transmission, at least seven days before such meeting, to
the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other electronic address most
recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the Shareholder. Whenever
notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under this
Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or
after the meeting by such Shareholder or his attorney thereunto authorized and
filed with the records of the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to such
notice.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by
law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 10% of the votes entitled to
be cast
shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting. When any one or more
Series or classes is to vote as a single class separate from any other Shares
which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class or classes, 10% of the
votes entitled to be cast by each such class entitled to vote shall constitute a
quorum at a Shareholders' meeting of that class. Any meeting of Shareholders may
be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the
question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as
adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting
without further notice. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of
the Shares voted 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 law. If any question on which the
Shareholders are entitled to vote would adversely affect the rights of any
Series or class of Shares, the vote of a majority (or such larger vote as is
required as aforesaid) of the Shares of such Series or class which are entitled
to vote, voting separately, shall also be required to decide such question.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be
taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws)
and holding a majority (or such larger proportion as aforesaid) of the Shares of
any Series or class entitled to vote separately on the matter consent to the
action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the
meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a
vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 5. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any
Series or class who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any
adjournment thereof, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall
be not more than 90 days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the
record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having the
right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and
in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such
right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after
the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series
or class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other
distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be on
or before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as
the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having
the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date
the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or
transfer books for one or more Series or classes for all or any part of the
period prior to a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from
setting different record dates for different Series or classes.
Section 6. Additional Provisions. The Bylaws may include further provisions for
Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE VI
Net Income, Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions of Net Income. The Trustees shall each year, or more
frequently if they so determine in their sole discretion, distribute to the
Shareholders of each Series, in Shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, an
amount approximately equal to the net income attributable to the assets
belonging to such Series and may from time to time distribute to the
Shareholders of each Series, in Shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, such
additional amounts, but only from the assets belonging to such Series, as they
may authorize. Except as otherwise permitted by paragraph (c) of Section 6 of
Article III in the case of Multi-Class Series, all dividends and distributions
on Shares of a particular Series shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of
that Series in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held by such
holders and recorded on the books of the Trust at the date and time of record
established for the payment of such dividend or distributions.
The manner of determining net income, income, asset values, capital
gains, expenses, liabilities and reserves of any Series or class may from time
to time be altered as necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Trustees to
conform such manner of determination to any other method prescribed or permitted
by applicable law. Net income shall be determined by the Trustees or by such
person as they may authorize at the times and in the manner provided in the
Bylaws. Determinations of net income of any Series or class and determinations
of income, asset value, capital gains, expenses and liabilities made by the
Trustees, or by such person as they may authorize, in good faith, shall be
binding on all parties concerned. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed
to protect any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust against any liability to
the Trust or its security holders to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
If, for any reason, the net income of any Series or class determined at
any time is a negative amount, the pro rata share of such negative amount
allocable to each Shareholder of such Series or class shall constitute a
liability of such Shareholder to that Series or class which shall be paid out of
such Shareholder's account at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may
from time to time determine (x) out of the accrued dividend account of such
Shareholder, (y) by reducing the number of Shares of that Series or class in the
account of such Shareholder or (z) otherwise.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as
are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper
instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a person
designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance
with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time
authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, as
determined in accordance with the Bylaws, next determined. Payment for said
Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the
date on which the request is made. The
obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the
event that any time the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than
weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules of the Commission during
periods when trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted or during any
emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the
investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net
assets belonging to such Series or attributable to any class thereof or during
any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of
investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The
Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net
asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any
contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly
in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest
of the remaining Shareholders of the Series the Shares of which are being
redeemed. The fair value, selection and quantity of any securities or other
property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be
determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be
liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring
securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the
right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the
net asset value thereof: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any
Series or class having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount
determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such
Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage determined from
time to time by the Trustees of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any
Series or class.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation.
Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for
advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services
and payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of
the Trust shall be subject to any liability whatsoever to any person in
connection with Trust property or the affairs of the Trust, and no Trustee shall
be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any
officer, agent, employee, Manager or principal underwriter of the Trust or for
the act or omission of any other Trustee. For the sake of clarification and
without limiting the foregoing, the appointment, designation or identification
of a Trustee as the chairman of the Board, the lead or assistant lead
independent Trustee, a member or chairman of a committee of the Board, an expert
on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert) or
as having any
other special appointment, designation or identification shall not (a) impose on
that person any duty, obligation or liability that is greater than the duties,
obligations and liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence
of the appointment, designation or identification or (b) affect in any way such
Trustee's rights or entitlement to indemnification, and no Trustee who has
special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as
aforesaid, shall (x) be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof or
(y) be limited with respect to any indemnification to which such Trustee would
otherwise be entitled. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust, including without
limitation anything in this Article VII, Section 2, shall protect any Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust against any liabilities to the Trust or
its Shareholders to which he, she or it would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his, her or its office or position with or on
behalf of the Trust.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of
the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with
respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice. All
persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the
Trust or any Series or class shall look only to the assets of the Trust, or, to
the extent that the liability of the Trust may have been expressly limited by
contract to the assets of a particular Series or attributable to a particular
class, only to the assets belonging to the relevant Series or attributable to
the relevant class, for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and
neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers,
employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable
therefor. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against
any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made
or issued on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees, by any officer or officers or
otherwise shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same
was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or
Trustees or as officer or officers or otherwise and not individually and that
the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the
Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of
the Trust or upon the assets belonging to the Series or attributable to the
class for the benefit of which the Trustees have caused the note, bond,
contract, instrument, certificate or
undertaking to be made or issued, and may contain such further recital as he or
she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall not
operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholders
or any other person individually.
Section 2. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The
exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be
binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his or her own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else,
and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The
Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning
and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for
any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such
advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any
surety if a bond is required.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person dealing
with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of
any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application
of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
Section 4. Termination of Trust, Series or Class. Unless terminated as provided
herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be
terminated at any time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of each Series
entitled to vote and voting separately by Series, or by the Trustees by written
notice to the Shareholders. Any Series or class may be terminated at any time by
vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of that Series or class, or by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that Series or class.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series or class, as the case may
be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or
accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in
accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the
remaining assets belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series
or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to distributable
form in cash or shares or other securities, or any combination thereof, and
distribute the proceeds belonging to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to the Shareholders
of that Series (or class, as the case may be), as a Series (or class, as the
case may be), ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series (or
class, as the case may be) held by the several Shareholders on the date of
termination.
Section 5. Reorganizations. The Trust, or any one or more Series of the Trust,
may, either as the successor, survivor or non-survivor, (1) consolidate or merge
with one or more other trusts, series, sub-trusts, partnerships, limited
liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, to form a consolidated or
merged trust, series, sub-trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association or corporation under the laws of any state under the laws of which
any one of the constituent entities is organized or (2) transfer all or a
substantial portion of its assets to one or more other trusts, series,
sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or
corporations organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or
any other state of the United States, or have one or more such trusts, series,
sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or
corporations transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets to it, any such
consolidation, merger or transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as are
specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by
the Trustees and entered into by the Trust, or one or more Series, as the case
may be, in connection therewith. Unless otherwise required by applicable law,
any such consolidation, merger or transfer may be authorized by vote of a
majority of the Trustees then in office without the approval of Shareholders of
the Trust or relevant Series.
Section 6. Filing of Copies, Reference, Headings. The original or a copy of this
instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust
where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of
each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with any other governmental office where such
filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely
on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such
amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust
hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a
copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of
any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to
this instrument, and all expressions like "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder,"
shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such
amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and
shall not be taken as a part hereof or to control or affect the meaning,
construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in
any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is made in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed
and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be
of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and, without
limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are
ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Section 8. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by
an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees provided
notice of such amendment (other than amendments having the purpose of supplying
any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective or inconsistent provision contained herein, or having any other
purpose which is ministerial or clerical in nature) shall be transmitted
promptly to Shareholders of record at the close of business on the effective
date of such amendment.
Section 9. Addresses. The address of the Trust is Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000. The address of each of the Trustees is Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hands and
seals as of the day first above written.
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss.
On this 27th day of January, 2006, before me, the undersigned notary
public, personally appeared the above-named person, proved to me through
satisfactory evidence of identification, to be the person whose name is signed
on the preceding or attached document, and acknowledged to me that said person
signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose as Trustee of RiverSource
Retirement Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust.
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: 1/26/12
Registered Agent: Corporation Service Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
