HIGHLAND FLOATING RATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND II AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Exhibit (a)(1)
HIGHLAND FLOATING RATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND II
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts, on this 28th day of June, 2017 by the Trustees hereunder and by 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 Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as “Highland Floating Rate Opportunities Fund II” 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) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated 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 transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The “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 “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act (as modified by any applicable exemptive order issued thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission);
(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 or restated from time to time;
(i) The term “series” or “series of Shares” refers to the one or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios; and
(j) The term “class” or “class of Shares” refers to the division of Shares representing any series into two or more classes as provided in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to engage in the business of a management investment company.
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ARTICLE III
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more series as the Trustees may, from time to time and without shareholder approval, authorize. Each series shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets allocated to that series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The beneficial interest in each series shall at all times be divided into Shares, without par value unless otherwise determined by the Trustees, each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence, represent an equal proportionate interest in the series with each other Share of the same series, none having priority or preference over another. The Trustees may, from time to time and without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any series into two or more classes, Shares of each such class having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the Trustees may determine and as shall be set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any series or class into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series or class. The Trustees may also, without shareholder approval, from time to time combine the Shares or two or more classes of any series into a single class, or combine the shares of two or more series into a single series.
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 or 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 issuance of Share certificates, the retirement of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares 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 Shareholder.
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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 or the Bylaws from time to time authorize, and may, at any time and from time to time, charge fees for effective purchases of Shares at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and any rules, regulations or exemptive relief thereunder.
Section 4. 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 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws and to have become a party thereto. 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 6. Derivative and Direct Claims of a Shareholder. As used herein, a “direct” Shareholder claim shall refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholder’s individual rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a Shareholder’s voting rights, rights to receive a dividend payment as may be declared from time to time, rights to inspect books and records, or other similar rights personal to the Shareholder and independent of any harm to the Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct Shareholder action is expressly provided under the U.S. federal securities laws. Any other claim asserted by a Shareholder, including without limitation any claims purporting to be brought on behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust, shall be considered a “derivative” claim as used herein.
| a) | Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, claim or other proceeding asserting a derivative claim or any claim asserted on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust 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 Shareholder makes a specific showing that irreparable nonmonetary injury to the Trust would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of |
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| 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 90 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 any series or class of Shares, 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, and no suit, proceeding or other action shall be commenced or maintained after a decision to reject a demand. Any Trustee acting in connection with any demand or any proceeding relating to a claim on behalf or for the benefit of the Trust who is not an Interested Person shall be deemed to be independent and disinterested with respect to such demand, proceeding or claim. |
| b) | Direct Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain a court action or other proceeding asserting a direct claim against the Trust, the Trustees or any officers or employees of the Trust predicated upon an express or implied right of action under this Declaration of Trust or U.S. federal securities laws (excepting direct shareholder actions expressly provided by U.S. federal securities laws), unless the 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 Shareholder to support the allegations made in the request. The Trustees shall consider such request within 90 days after its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class of Shares, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to settle or to authorize (or not to settle or to authorize) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders, shall be binding upon the Shareholder seeking authorization. |
Section 7. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Massachusetts law or this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or any agreement contemplated by any provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a “Covered Action”) shall be within the federal or state courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and
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consented to the provisions of this Section 7, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forum referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this Section 7.
If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than in a federal or state court sitting within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any Shareholder, such Shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section 7 (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Shareholder. Furthermore, except to the extent prohibited by any provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law or the Declaration of Trust, if any Shareholder shall initiate or assert a Foreign Action without the written consent of the Trust, then each such Shareholder shall be obligated jointly and severally to reimburse the Trust and any officer or Trustee of the Trust made a party to such proceeding for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description (including, but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses) that the parties may incur in connection with any successful motion to dismiss, stay or transfer such Foreign Action based upon non-compliance with this Section 7.
If any provision or provisions of this Section 7 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 7 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section 7 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 8. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws and without limiting the powers of the Trustees as provided 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, to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws 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; provided that before adopting any such amendment without Shareholder approval the Trustees shall have determined that such change 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 herein shall be effective upon either the execution by a majority of
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the 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 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 Trustees of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust or the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the 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:
(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 (g) of Section 8 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 IX, 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 issuance 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; and
(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;
(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.
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Section 9. Rights and Preferences of Shares. Shares of each series or class established by the Trustees shall have the following rights and preferences, together with such other rights and preferences 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 9:
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 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 9:
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.
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(c) Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Multi-Class Series. In the case of any series having multiple classes (a “Multi-Class Series”), to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of such series, (i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities, expenses, charges, costs and reserves belonging or attributable to that series may be allocated or attributed to a particular class of Shares of that series or apportioned among two or more classes of Shares of that series; and (ii) Shares of any class of such series may have priority or preference over shares of other classes of such series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such series or class or otherwise, provided that no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same class and that all dividends and distributions to Shareholders of a particular class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to the number of Shares of such class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be.
(d) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any series or class) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any series or class shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series or class otherwise have any right or claim against the assets belonging to any other Series or attributable to any other class except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series or class.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 (subject to any condition that Shares may be offered for redemption only in such number of Shares, and in full, but not fractional, multiples thereof, as the Trustees may from time to time authorize) and termination of the Trust or a series or class.
(g) 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.
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ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Number and Qualification. Prior to a public offering of Shares there may be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office, provided that the number of Trustees shall be no less than two. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
Section 2. Term and Election. The Board of Trustees shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees. Within the limits above specified, the number of the Trustees in each class shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees. The term of office of the first class shall expire on the date of the first annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date of the initial registration statement relating to the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The term of office of the second class shall expire on the date of the second annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date of the initial registration statement relating to the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The term of office of the third class shall expire on the date of the third annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following the effective date of the initial registration statement relating to the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Upon expiration of the term of office of each class as set forth above, the number of Trustees in such class, as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the third annual meeting of Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof following such expiration to succeed the Trustees whose terms of office expire. The Trustees shall be elected at an annual meeting of the Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof called for that purpose, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article IV, and each Trustee elected shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office, or removal, of a Trustee
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Section 3. Removal and Resignation. Any of the Trustees may resign their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 1 of Article IV hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees and with the approval of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares then entitled to vote in an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents, if any, as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such documents, if any, as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.
Section 4. 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. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration.
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Section 5. 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 and other portfolio 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 fix the number of Trustees, elect Trustees or fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause, and 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, any one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all of the powers and authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees may 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; they may retain a transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both; they may 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, write options on and lease 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;
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(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or other depositary or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 9, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series; and to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a series to a particular class of Shares of that series or to apportion the same among two or more classes of Shares of that series;
(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(h) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(i) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(k) To borrow funds or other property;
(l) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such obligations;
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(m) 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 or managers, 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 Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or manager, 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 such liability; and
(n) 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 the Trustees. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or taken any other action hereunder.
Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
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Section 6. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the assets of the Trust, 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, provided, however, that all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that series.
Section 7. 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 8. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Section 9. Advisory, Management and Distribution. 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:
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(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, principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the voting powers of one or more classes of Shares as set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws, the Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 3, (iii) with respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4, (iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 8, and (v) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or classes of shares, except (1) when required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual series or class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined
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that the matter affects only the interests of one or more series or classes, only Shareholders of such series or classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and, in the case of a challenge by any person other than the Trust, 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 Shareholders of any or all series or classes may be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders of such series or classes as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable, or as may be prescribed by law. 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 entitled to vote at such meeting by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, at least seven days before such meeting to 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. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his attorney thereunto authorized, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 30% of the Shares entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class, then 30% of the aggregate number of Shares of that series or class entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series or class. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, 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, provided that
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where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws requires that the holders of any series or class shall vote as an individual series or class then a majority of the Shares of that series or class voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter insofar as that series or class is concerned.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws) 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 120 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, not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust, regarding Shareholders’ voting powers, the conduct of meetings and related matters.
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ARTICLE VI
Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each series out of the assets of such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in cash, Shares or other property, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trustees. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws.
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, less any redemption charge fixed by the Trustees. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impractical 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 Securities and Exchange 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, except to the extent prohibited by the laws of any jurisdiction in which Shares are registered for sale, 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 event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
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Section 3. Redemption 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 determined in accordance with the Bylaws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer Shares of any series or class than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees, in which case the Trust may redeem all Shares owned by such Shareholder or only so many of such Shares as may be required to compensate the Trust for any fee fixed from time to time by the Trustees for the maintenance of small accounts; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular series of Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that series determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iv) if such Shareholder fails to supply appropriate personal and tax identification information requested by the Trust; (v) if such Shareholder fails to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular series or class; or (vi) if the Trustees determine for any other reason, in their sole discretion, that the ownership of Shares by a Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or of the applicable 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. 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 shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as an officer of the Trustees or of any committee of the Trustees, or as an expert with respect to certain matters (including without limitation identification of a Trustee as an “audit committee financial expert”) shall not impose on that person any duty, obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and
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liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of such appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise or who is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof or be limited in any way with respect to any right or privilege to which such person would otherwise be entitled as a Trustee hereunder, including without limitation the right of indemnification. 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 his or her office.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 1. Trustees, Officers, etc. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal before any court or administrative or legislative or other body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of any alleged act or omission as a Trustee or officer or by reason of his or her being or having been such a Covered Person except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or other proceeding (a) not to have acted in good faith, (b) not to have acted in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in (or not opposed to) the best interests of the Trust, (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, to have had reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful or (d) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (each of such exceptions being referred to hereinafter as “Disabling Conduct”). Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments or (c) either a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal
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counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Article. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c), the majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct.
Section 2. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication by a court, or by any other body before which the action, suit or proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person engaged in Disabling Conduct, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct, or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) to the effect that such Covered Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct. Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have engaged in Disabling Conduct.
Section 3. Right Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators and a “disinterested Trustee” is a Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an “interested person” by any rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission) and against whom none of the actions, suits or other proceedings in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 4. 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 representative or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its
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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.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable for Obligations of the Trust; Notice. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular 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.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to such person’s capacity as a Trustee, officer, employee or agent, and such person shall not be personally liable thereon.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued on behalf of the Trust by any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust 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 Trustees, officers, employees, agents of the Trust 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 recitals as the person so executing may deem appropriate, but any omission of such notice or recitals shall not operate to bind any such Trustee, officer, employee or agent or the Shareholders individually.
Section 2. Trustee’s Good Faith Actions Binding, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding
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upon everyone interested. 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. Duration and Termination of Trust or any Series or Class. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust and each series and class shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust or any series or class of any series may be terminated at any time (i) by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust or to the Shareholders of the particular series or class, as the case may be, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote, or (2) 67% or more of the Shares of each series or class entitled to vote and present at a meeting called for this purpose if more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of each series or class entitled to vote are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
Upon termination of the Trust (or of 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 to 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 of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, as the case may be, to distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Trust, or of the particular series or class, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held by the several Shareholders of such series or class on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that series or class.
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Section 5. Merger, Consolidation, Sale of Assets and Other Reorganizations. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, authorize the Trust or any series or class to merge, consolidate or reorganize with any other entity (including another series or class of the Trust), or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or of any series or class, in each case upon such terms and for such consideration as they may determine to be in the best interests of the Trust or of the particular series or class. The authority provided by this Section shall be in addition to the powers granted to the Trustees under any other provision of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 6. Filing and Copies, References, 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 the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or to control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and, without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
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Section 8. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized to do so by a vote of the Shareholders, provided that Shareholder authorization shall not be required in the case of any amendment (i) 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 or having any other purpose which is ministerial or clerical in nature or (ii) which is determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion not to have a material adverse effect on the Shareholders of any series or class of Shares.
Section 9. Addresses. The address of the principal place of business of the Trust is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The address of the Trustee is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, the sole Trustee of the Trust, has hereunto set his hand and seal in the City of Boston, Massachusetts for himself and for his successors and assigns, this 28th day of June, 2017.
| /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| Title: sole Trustee |
| Address: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss. Boston, June 28, 2017
Then personally appeared the above named ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed, before me.
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| Notary Public |
| My Commission Expires: |
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Notary Public Commonwealth of Massachusetts My Commission Expires: October 2, 2020 |
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