ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts this 12th
day of December, 2000 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, effective upon execution of this Agreement
and Declaration of Trust by the initial Trustee named on the signature page
hereof, 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 "AllianceBernstein 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 Trustees of the Trust named in Article IV hereof
or elected in accordance with such Article;
(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 meanings
given them in 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 provide investors a managed investment primarily
in securities (including options), debt instruments, commodities, commodity
contracts and options thereon.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the
Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, 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
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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 Shareholders, nor except as specifically provided herein
to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment
whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree
to pay.
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
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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 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, setting forth such
establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such
Series, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. 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, 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;
(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;
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(g) allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any specific
items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more Series or classes of
Shares; and
(h) specifically allocate assets to any or all Series of Shares or create one
or more additional Series of Shares which are preferred over all other Series
of Shares in respect of assets specifically allocated thereto or any dividends
paid by the Trust with respect to any net income, however determined, earned
from the investment and reinvestment of any assets so allocated or otherwise
and provide for any special voting or other rights with respect to such Series
or any classes of Shares thereof.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. Without
limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 5, inter alia, to
establish and designate any further Series or classes or to modify the rights
and preferences of any Series or class, each of the following Series and
classes shall be, and is hereby, established and designated: the
AllianceBernstein Small Cap Value Fund, the AllianceBernstein Large Cap Value
Fund, the AllianceBernstein International Value Fund, and the AllianceBernstein
Global Value Fund. In addition, with respect to each such Series, the Class A
Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Advisor Class Shares, which each
such Series may issue from time to time, shall be, and are hereby, established
and designated, which classes shall have the respective rights and preferences
as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees.
Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the following
rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series, and Shares of
each class of a Multi-Class Series shall have such rights and preferences
relative to other classes of the same Series as are set forth below, together
with such other rights and preferences relative to such other classes as are
set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating such
class of Shares:
(a) Assets belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of
this Section 6:
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a
particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is
invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof from
whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or
payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the
same may be, shall irrevocably belong to that Series for all purposes, subject
only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of
account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits
and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without
limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such
assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such
proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as "assets
belonging to" that Series. In the event that there are any assets, income,
earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series (collectively "General
Assets"), the 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
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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
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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. There shall be no
cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
(f) Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to
the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of a Multi-Class
Series, all the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Series (subject to the
liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of any particular Series
shall be equal to each other Share of that Series. All the Shares of each
particular class of Shares within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series that are
attributable to such class (subject to the liabilities attributable to such
class), and each Share of any particular class within a Multi-Class Series
shall be equal to each other Share of such class.
(g) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series or class shall carry
proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Series
or class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(h) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that
the holders of Shares of any Series or class shall have the right to exchange
said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series or classes of Shares in
accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(i) Combination of Series or Classes. The Trustees shall have the authority,
without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or class unless
otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities
belonging to any two or more Series or attributable to any class into assets
and liabilities belonging to a single Series or attributable to a single class.
(j) Elimination of Series or Class. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the
Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust to abolish that Series and to
rescind the establishment and designation thereof, such amendment to be
effected in the manner provided in Section 5 of this Article III for the
establishment and designation of Series. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular class previously established and designated of a
Multi-Series Class, 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).
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Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former
Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or
her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series
or class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation
or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled
out of the assets of the Series (or attributable to the class) of which he or
she is a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and
indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 8. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or
other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the Trust.
Section 9. Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or
maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust or any
Series without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to
bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall not be
excused under any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the
part of the Trustees, unless the plaintiff makes a specific showing that
irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust or Series would otherwise result.
Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust's
principal office and shall set forth with particularity the nature of the
proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon
by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees
shall consider such demand within 45 days of its receipt by the Trust. In
their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of
Shareholders of the Trust or Series, as appropriate. Any decision by the
Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle)
such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of
Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholders. Any decision by the
Trustees to bring or maintain a court action, proceeding or suit on behalf of
the Trust or a Series shall be subject to the right of the Shareholders under
Article V, Section 1 hereof to vote on whether or not such court action,
proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or maintained.
Section 10. Direct Claims. No class of Shareholders shall have the right to
bring or maintain a direct action or claim for monetary damages against the
Trust or Trustees predicated upon an express or implied right of action under
this Declaration or the 1940 Act (excepting rights of action permitted under
section 36(b) of the 1940 Act), nor shall any single Shareholder, who is
similarly situated to one or more other Shareholders with respect to the
alleged injury, have the right to bring such an action, unless the class of
Shareholders or Shareholder has obtained authorization from the Trustees to
bring the action. The requirement of authorization shall not be excused under
any circumstances, including claims of alleged interest on the part of the
Trustees. A request for authorization shall be mailed to the Secretary of the
Trust at the Trust's principal office and shall set forth with particularity
the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential
facts relied upon by the class of Shareholders or Shareholder to support the
allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request
within 45 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the
Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or
Series, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize
(or not to settle or to authorize) such court action,
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proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall
be binding upon the class of Shareholders or Shareholder seeking authorization.
Any decision by the Trustees to authorize a court action, proceeding or suit by
a class of Shareholders shall be subject to the right of the Shareholders under
Article V, Section 1 hereof to vote on whether or not such court action,
proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or maintained.
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election and Tenure. The initial Trustees shall be Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx. The Trustees may fix the number of Trustees,
fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in
the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee
shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies,
resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders
called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and
qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the
Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective
upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to
the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee
resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for
any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
on account of such removal. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees
and elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for
that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs
(a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or
any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust,
the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have
all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including
the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the
Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt 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 subcustodians and to deposit all or any
part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of
securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a
shareholder servicing agent, or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by
the
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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 subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or
otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is
held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or
sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or
subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any
security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or
trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any
security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall
deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall
deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against
the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for
taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any
other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of
any person;
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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
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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 (the "Manager");
and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may
determine, including without limitation, authority for a Manager to determine
from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments
shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the
assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust's
investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time,
contract with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or other
organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal
underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the 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
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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) with
respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as
provided in Article VIII, Section 8, (iii) to the same extent as the
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders,
(iv) with respect to the termination of the Trust or any Series or class to the
extent and as provided in Article VIII, Section 4, (v) to remove Trustees from
office to the extent and as provided in Article V, Section 7 and (vi) with
respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by
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. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one
vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share
shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no
cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person
or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more
persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to
exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the
contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on
behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to
its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
At any time when no Shares of a Series or class are outstanding the Trustees
may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that Series or class with respect to
matters affecting that Series or class and may with respect to that Series or
class take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the 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, 40% of the Shares
entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting. When
any one or more Series or classes is to vote as a single class separate from
any other Shares which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class or
classes, 40% of the Shares of each such class entitled to vote shall constitute
a quorum at
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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.
Section 7. Removal of Trustees. No natural person shall serve as Trustee
after the holders of record of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding
Shares have declared that such Trustee be removed from that office either by
declaration in writing filed with the Trust's custodian or by votes cast in
person or by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose. The Trustees shall
promptly call a meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the
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question of removal of any Trustee when requested in writing so to do by the
record holders of not less than 10 per centum of the outstanding Shares.
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
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
15
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. Payment for any redemption, purchase or
repurchase may be made in cash or in other property, or any combination
thereof. The composition of any such payment shall be determined by the Trust
in its sole discretion, and the Trust shall have no obligation to effect a pro
rata division of cash or other property in making any such payment. In no
event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any other person in
transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part
of any such payment.
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind
if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the
remaining Shareholders of the Series the Shares of which are being redeemed.
Subject to the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of securities
or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price
may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the
Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in
transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in
kind.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the
right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the
net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i) if at
such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series or class having an
aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time
by the Trustees; 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. The Trustees shall not be responsible or
liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent,
employee, Manager or principal
16
underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or
omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect any
Trustee against any liability 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.
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
17
law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to
the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no
liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing
to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as
such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon
its order.
Section 4. Termination of Trust, Series or Class. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The
Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares
of each Series entitled to vote and voting separately by Series, or by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series or class may be
terminated at any time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of that Series
or class, or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that
Series or class.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series or class, as the case may be),
after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or
accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall,
in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce
the remaining assets belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable
Series or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to
distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, or any combination
thereof, and distribute the proceeds belonging to each Series (or the
applicable Series or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be),
to the Shareholders of that Series (or class, as the case may be), as a Series
(or class, as the case may be), ratably according to the number of Shares of
that Series (or class, as the case may be) held by the several Shareholders on
the date of termination.
Section 5. Merger and Consolidation. The Trustees may cause the Trust to be
merged into or consolidated with another trust or company or its shares
exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute, if any, or
otherwise to the extent permitted by law, if such merger or consolidation or
share exchange has been authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding
Shares; provided that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable
law, the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure necessary or
appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation.
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,
18
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 when
authorized so to do by vote of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote with
respect to such amendment, except that amendments described in Article III,
Section 5 or Article III, Section 6 hereof or having the purpose of changing
the name of the Trust or of any Series or class of Shares or of supplying any
omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not require
authorization by Shareholder vote.
Section 9. Addresses. The address of the Trust is 1345 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York. The address of the initial Trustee is 1345
Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York. The Trust's resident agent is
AllianceBernstein Trust c/o CT Corporation System, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
Section 10. Effectiveness. This agreement may be executed in counterparts but
shall not become effective until executed by the second of the two initial
trustees, such execution to occur in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal for
himself and for his successors and assigns this 12th day of December, 2000.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
__________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Initial Trustee
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand and seal for
herself and for her successors and assigns this 12th day of December, 2000.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
___________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Initial Trustee
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss. Boston, December 12th, 2000
Then personally appeared the above named Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and acknowledged the
foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed, before me.
__________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
20
