Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Optimize Growth Equity Fund, a Delaware Statutory Trust

 

Exhibit 99.(a)(2)

 

Agreement and Declaration of Trust of

 

Optimize Growth Equity Fund, a Delaware Statutory Trust

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I Name and Definitions		1
Section 1.1	Name	1
Section 1.2	Definitions	1
ARTICLE II Purpose of Trust		3
ARTICLE III Shares		3
Section 3.1	Division of Beneficial Interest	3
Section 3.2	Ownership of Shares	4
Section 3.3	Transfer of Shares	5
Section 3.4	Investments in the Trust	5
Section 3.5	Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability	5
Section 3.6	Establishment of Series and Classes of Shares	5
ARTICLE IV The Board of Trustees		8
Section 4.1	Number, Election, Tenure and Conduct	8
Section 4.2	Effect of Death, Resignation, etcִ. of a Trustee	9
Section 4.3	Powers	10
Section 4.4	Payment of Expenses by the Trust	14
Section 4.5	Payment of Expenses by Shareholders	14
Section 4.6	Small Accounts	14
Section 4.7	Ownership of Assets of the Trust	15
Section 4.8	Service Contracts	15
Section 4.9	Trustees and Officers as Shareholders	16
Section 4.10	Determinations by Trustees	16
Section 4.11	Delegation by Trustees	17
ARTICLE V Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings		17
ARTICLE VI Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions		17
Section 6.1	Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions	17
Section 6.2	Redemptions and Repurchases	18
ARTICLE VII Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees		19
Section 7.1	Compensation	19
Section 7.2	Limitation of Liability	19
Section 7.3	Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety	20

 

 

Section 7.4	Insurance	21
Section 7.5	Indemnification	21
Section 7.6	Further Indemnification	22
Section 7.7	Indemnification of Shareholders	22
ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous		22
Section 8.1	Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees	22
Section 8.2	Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class	23
Section 8.3	Reorganization and Master/Feeder	24
Section 8.4	Amendments	25
Section 8.5	Filing of Copies, References, Headings, Rules of Construction	25
Section 8.6	Applicable Law	26
Section 8.7	Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations	26
Section 8.8	Statutory Trust Only	27
Section 8.9	Derivative Actions	27
Section 8.10	Inspection of Records and Reports	28
Section 8.11	Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial	28
Section 8.12	Conversion	29

 

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF

 

OPTIMIZE GROWTH EQUITY FUND

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of December 31, 2024 for the purpose of governing the Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth. The principal place of business of the Trust is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.

 

WHEREAS, the Trust has been formed under the Delaware Act by the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities and other assets that the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions.

 

ARTICLE I

 

Name and Definitions

 

Section 1.1   Name. The name of the Trust is Optimize Growth Equity Fund 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. The Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the name of the Trust or any Series or Class and adopt such other name as they deem proper. Any name change of any Series or Class shall become effective upon approval by the Trustees of such change or any document (including any Registration Statement) reflecting such change. Any name change of the Trust shall become effective upon the filing of an amendment to the Certificate of Trust as required by the Delaware Act reflecting such change. Any such action shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust. In the event of any name change, the Trustees shall cause notice to be given to the affected Shareholders within a reasonable time after the implementation of such change, which notice will be deemed given if the changed name is reflected in any Registration Statement.

 

Section 1.2   Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

 

(a)          “By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time, which By-Laws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing instrument” within the meaning of the Delaware Act;

 

 

(b)          “Certificate of Trust” shall mean the certificate of trust, as amended or restated from time to time, filed by the Trustees in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act to form the Trust;

 

(c)          “Class” shall mean a class of Shares of the Trust or of any Series of the Trust established in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;

 

(d)          “Commission” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act;

 

(e)          “Covered Person” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7.5(a) hereof;

 

(f)           “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

 

(g)          “Delaware Act” shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801 et seq., as amended from time to time;

 

(h)          “General Assets” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.6(a) hereof;

 

(i)           “Investment Manager” or “Manager” shall mean a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Section 4.8 hereof;

 

(j)           “1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder and interpretations thereunder, and any order or orders thereunder which may from time to time be applicable to the Trust. References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such rules and regulations as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees;

 

(k)         “Person” shall mean and include individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign, and any other “person” as defined in Section 3801 of the Delaware Act;

 

(l)           “Registration Statement” shall mean the Trust’s registration statement or statements as filed with the Commission, as from time to time in effect and shall include any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part thereof;

 

(m)         “Series” shall mean each series of Shares referenced in, or established under or in accordance with, the provisions of Article III hereof;

 

(n)          “Shareholder” shall mean a record owner of outstanding Shares;

 

(o)          “Shares” shall mean the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;

 

 

(p)          “Trust” shall mean the Delaware statutory trust established under the Delaware Act by this Declaration of Trust and the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

 

(q)          “Trust Property” shall mean any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, that is from time to time owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or any Series thereof; and

 

(r)           “Trustees” or “Board of Trustees” shall mean the person or persons who have signed this Declaration of Trust and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, in each case so long as such person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in his, her or their capacities as trustee or trustees hereunder. Unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided, any reference herein to the Trustees shall refer to the Trustee at any time that there is only one Trustee of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Purpose of Trust

 

The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through the Trust or through one or more Series investing directly or indirectly in securities or other interests, and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration of Trust.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Shares

 

Section 3.1   Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into Shares. The Trust and any Series may have no Classes, may consist of one Class or may be divided into two or more Classes. The number of Shares of the Trust and each Series and Class authorized hereunder is unlimited. The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares, and upon the establishment of any Series or Class as provided herein, the Trust shall be authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares of each such Series and Class, unless otherwise determined and subject to any conditions set forth, by the Trustees. Subject to the further provisions of this Article III and any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any authorization or vote of the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class, (i) to divide the beneficial interest in the Trust or in each Series or Class into Shares, with or without par value as the Trustees shall determine (provided that unless the Trustees shall otherwise determine, all Shares shall have a par value of $0.001), (ii) to issue Shares without limitation as to number (including fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury), to such Persons and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or securities, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, (iii) to establish and designate and to change in any manner any Series or Class and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges and business purpose of each Series or Class as the Trustees may from time to time determine, which preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges may be senior or subordinate to (or in the case of business purpose, different from) any existing Series or Class thereof and may be limited to specified property or obligations of the Trust or profits and losses associated with specified property or obligations of the Trust, (iv) to divide or combine the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class into a greater or lesser number without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of the Trust or such Series or Class in the assets held with respect to the Trust or such Series or Class, (v) to classify or reclassify any Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class into Shares of one or more Series or Classes (whether the Shares to be classified or reclassified are issued and outstanding or unissued and whether such Shares constitute part or all of the Shares of the Trust or such Series or Class) and (vi) to take such other action with respect to the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class as the Trustees may deem desirable.

 

 

Subject to the distinctions permitted among Classes of the Trust or any Series as established by the Trustees consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, each Share of the Trust or any Series shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust or such Series, and each Shareholder of the Trust or any Series shall be entitled to receive such Shareholder’s pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to the Trust or such Series. Upon redemption or repurchase of the Shares of the Trust or any Series, the applicable Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of the Trust or such Series of the Trust, as applicable.

 

All references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to be Shares of the Trust and of any or all Series or Classes, as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust and each Class, except as the context otherwise requires.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, including Section 4.5 hereof, all Shares issued hereunder, including Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series. Shares held in the Trust’s treasury shall not confer any voting rights on the Trustees and shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.

 

Section 3.2   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 contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the Shares held by each Shareholder. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of 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 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 the identity of the Shareholders of the Trust and of each Series and Class and as to the number of Shares of the Trust and of each Series and Class held from time to time by each Shareholder. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any distribution or to have notice given to such Shareholder of any meeting or other action in respect of the Trust or any Series or Class until such Shareholder has given its address and such other information as shall be required to such officer or agent of the Trust or such Series or Class as shall keep the record books of the Trust or such Series or Class for entry thereof.

 

 

Section 3.3   Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his duly authorized agent upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust’s transfer or similar agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery, and subject to any further requirements specified by the Trustees, the transfer shall be recorded on the books of the Trust. Until a transfer is so recorded, the Shareholder of record of Shares shall be deemed to be the Shareholder with respect to such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer or similar agent or registrar or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.

 

Section 3.4   Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Trustees or their authorized agents from time to time may authorize in their sole discretion. The Trustees and their authorized agents shall have the right to refuse to issue Shares to any Person at any time and for any reason.

 

Section 3.5   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. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such 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 such 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 as 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 whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.

 

Section 3.6   Establishment of Series and Classes of Shares. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.6, the Trust shall consist of the Series and Classes (if any) as the Trustees shall by resolution establish. The establishment of any Series or Class of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by the Trustees of a resolution that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series or Class, whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of another document that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series or Class including any Registration Statement, any amendment and/or restatement of this Declaration of Trust or as otherwise provided in such resolution. Upon the establishment of any Series or Class of Shares or the termination of any existing Series or Class of Shares, the books and records of the Trust shall be updated to reflect the addition or termination of such Series or Class; provided that any such update shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment or termination of any Series or Class in accordance with this Declaration of Trust. The relative rights and preferences of each Series and each Class shall be as set forth herein and as set forth in any Registration Statement relating thereto, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or Class. Any action that may be taken by the Trustees with respect to any Series or Class, including any addition, modification, division, combination, classification, reclassification, change of name or termination may be made in the same manner as the establishment of such Series or Class.

 

 

Unless otherwise provided in any Registration Statement relating thereto, Shares of each Series or Class established pursuant to this Article III (unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such additional Series or Class), shall have the following relative rights and preferences:

 

(a)          Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, 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 any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets held with respect to” or “assets of” that Series. In the event that the Trust has only issued Shares of two or more Series (and not Shares of the Trust) and there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments that are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect 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 in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Assets so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect 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 Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All liabilities of the Trust held with respect to a particular Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series shall be charged against the assets held with respect to that Series. Any general liabilities of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as being held with respect to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. All liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series are herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” or “liabilities of” 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. All liabilities held with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such Series only and not against the assets of the Trust generally or against the assets held with respect to any other Series and, except as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust with respect to the allocation of General Assets, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series. Notice of this limitation on inter-Series liabilities shall be set forth in the Certificate of Trust or in an amendment thereto. To the extent required by Section 3804(a) of the Delaware Act in order to give effect to the limitation on inter-Series liabilities set forth in this Section 3.6, (i) separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Series, (ii) the assets held with respect to each Series shall be held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from the assets held with respect to all other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series and or (iii) the records maintained for each Series shall account for the assets held with respect to such Series separately from the assets of any other Series and from the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series.

 

 

(c)          Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including Article VI, no dividend or distribution on the Shares of any Series, including any distribution paid in connection with termination of the Trust or such Series or any Class of such Series, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of such Series or Class shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have the sole discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital, and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon all Shareholders for all purposes.

 

(d)           Fractions. Any fractional Share of the Trust or any Series shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of the Trust or any Series, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption and repurchase of Shares and termination of the Trust.

 

(e)          Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the Shareholders of any Series or Class shall have the right to exchange such Shares for Shares of one or more other Series or Class of Shares or for interests in one or more trusts, corporations or other business entities (or a series or class of any of the foregoing) in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.

 

(f)           Combination of Series and Classes. The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class unless otherwise required by applicable federal law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series or Classes into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series or Class and in connection therewith to cause the Shareholders of each such Series or Class to become shareholders of such single Series or Class. The transactions contemplated by this Section 3.6(f) may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers, or sales of assets, Shareholder in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees.

 

 

(g)          Elimination of Series or Classes. In addition to the rights granted to the Trustees in Section 8.2 to dissolve a Series or to terminate a Class, at any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series or Class previously established, the Trustees may dissolve such Series or terminate such Class and rescind the establishment thereof.

 

(h)          Division 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 federal law, to divide the assets and liabilities held with respect to any Series or Class into assets and liabilities held with respect to an additional one or more Series or Classes and in connection therewith to cause some or all of the Shareholders of such Series or Class to be admitted as Shareholders of such additional one or more Series or Classes.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

The Board of Trustees

 

Section 4.1   Number, Election, Tenure and Conduct.

 

(a)          The initial Trustee shall be the person or persons initially signing this Declaration of Trust. The number of Trustees shall be the number of persons so signing until changed by the Trustees, and the Trustees may fix the number of Trustees from time to time; provided that the number of Trustees shall at all times be at least one (1). Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor or, if sooner, until he or she dies, declines to serve, resigns, retires, is removed, is incapacitated or is otherwise unable or unwilling to serve as herein provided. Shareholders shall not be entitled to elect Trustees except as required by the 1940 Act. To the extent required by the 1940 Act, the Shareholders shall elect the Trustees on such dates as the Trustees may fix from time to time. Any Trustee may resign at any time by an 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 from the Trust for any period following the effective date of his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose. In the event that after the proxy material has been printed for a meeting of Shareholders at which Trustees are to be elected any one or more nominees named in such proxy material dies or become incapacitated or is otherwise unable or unwilling to serve, the authorized number of Trustees shall be automatically reduced by the number of such nominees, unless the Board of Trustees prior to the meeting shall otherwise determine. Any Trustee may be removed by action of a majority of the Trustees with or without cause. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the total combined net asset value of all Shares of the Trust and each Series issued and outstanding voting as a single class or group. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing or removing one or more Trustees shall be called as provided in the By-Laws.

 

 

(b)          A Trustee shall be removed immediately, without the need for further action or determination, in the event that such Trustee (i) is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or admits committing, a felony or any crime involving theft, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude, whether or not committed in the course of performing services or obligations as a Trustee or (ii) is subject to a final court judgment, without further rights of appeal, or enters into a settlement agreement with respect to a civil or criminal claim made by any governmental, regulatory or quasi-regulatory agency, including without limitation the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Further, a Trustee shall be removed for Cause upon a finding of such Cause by a majority of the Board of Trustees. Such finding shall be final and binding upon a Trustee so removed. For the purposes hereof, “Cause” means (i) disloyalty, deliberate dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty to the Trust; (ii) one or more acts or omissions by the Trustee which are willful and deliberate acts or omissions which the Trustee knew or should have known that such acts or omissions are reasonably likely to cause material harm or injury to the business, operations, financial condition, properties, assets, prospects, value or reputation of the Trust; (iii) the commission by the Trustee of an act in deliberate disregard of the rules or policies of the Trust, including any By-Laws, which results in a material loss, damage or injury to the Trust or materially adversely affects the business activities, financial condition, prospects, reputation, goodwill or image of the Trust; (iv) the Trustee’s willful disregard of the lawful directives of the Board of Trustees of the Trust clearly communicated to Trustee and consistent with this Declaration of Trust; (v) a material breach by the Trustee of obligations of the Trustee under this Declaration of Trust; (vi) the Trustee’s violation of his or her duties under Section 4.1(c) of this Declaration of Trust; or (vii) the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct of his duties with respect to the Trust.

 

(c)          No Trustee shall make any oral or written statement to any third party that disparages, defames, or reflects adversely or negatively upon the Trust. Each Trustee shall be required to use best efforts and exercise the utmost diligence to protect the confidential information of the Trust, except as disclosure may be required in the course of performing services or obligations as a Trustee or as may be required by legal or regulatory process.

 

Section 4.2   Effect of Death, Resignation, etcִ. of a Trustee. The death, declination to serve, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all 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 there shall be fewer than the designated number of Trustees, until additional Trustees are elected or appointed as provided herein to bring the total number of Trustees equal to the designated number, 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 of Trust. As evidence of such vacancy, an instrument certifying the existence of such vacancy may be executed by an officer of the Trust or by a Trustee. In the event of the death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of all the then Trustees within a short period of time and without the opportunity for at least one Trustee being able to appoint additional Trustees to replace those no longer serving, the Trust’s Investment Manager(s) are empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

Section 4.3   Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and the Trustees 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 By- Laws providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal such By-Laws; enlarge or reduce their number and fill vacancies caused by enlargement of their number or by the death, declination to serve, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of a Trustee; elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine, including a committee consisting of fewer than all of the Trustees then in office, which may act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, with respect to the institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any legal action, suit, examination, investigation or proceeding, pending or threatened to be brought before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and 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 or similar agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters, or both, or otherwise, including pursuant to one or more distribution plans of any kind; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Delaware; and declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders. The Trustees have the power to construe and interpret this Declaration of Trust and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. Any construction or interpretation of this Declaration of Trust by the Trustees and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust and the Shareholders made by the Trustees in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Shareholders and all other Persons for all purposes. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Except as required by federal law including the 1940 Act, neither the Trustees nor any officer of the Trust shall owe any fiduciary duty to the Trust or any Series or Class or any Shareholder. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein or required by federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall act in their sole discretion and may take any action or exercise any power without any vote or consent of the Shareholders.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have the power and authority to cause the Trust (or to act on behalf of the Trust):

 

(a)          To invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in, or dispose of any form of property, including foreign currencies and related instruments and contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities or interests of every nature and kind, including all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, warrants, time notes, negotiable or non- negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, convertible securities, forward contracts, options, futures contracts, swaps, other financial contracts or derivative instruments and securities issued by an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or any series thereof, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;

 

 

(b)          To purchase, sell and hold currencies and enter into contracts for the future purchase or sale of currencies, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts;

 

(c)         To sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options (including, options on futures contracts) with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;

 

(d)          To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, interests or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

(e)          To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other interests;

 

(f)          To hold any security, interest or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a Trustee or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;

 

(g)         To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, conversion, division, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security or interest 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 or interest held in the Trust;

 

 

(h)          To join with other security or interest holders in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or interest with, or transfer any security or interest to, any such committee, depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or interest (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, depository 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 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 or otherwise obtain credit in the name of the Trust or Series exclusively for Trust (or such Series) purposes and in connection therewith issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; and to mortgage, pledge or otherwise subject as security the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness, including the lending of portfolio securities;

 

(l)           To endorse or guarantee the payment, or undertake the performance, of any notes or other contracts, engagements or 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 of or all of such obligations;

 

(m)         To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property, or the assets belonging to the Trust or any appropriate Series, such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or such Series or 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 Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser 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 liability;

 

(n)         To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans and trusts, 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;

 

 

(o)          To operate as and carry out the business of an investment company registered under the 1940 Act, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of such operations;

 

(p)          To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as custodians of any assets of the Trust or a Series thereof subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;

 

(q)         To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies, distinct investment purposes and separate Shares representing beneficial interests in such Series, and to establish separate Classes of the Trust or any Series, all in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof;

 

(r)           To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of the Trust or any Series or Class;

 

(s)           To the fullest extent permitted by Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to allocate assets and liabilities of the Trust to the Trust or to a particular Series, and liabilities to a particular Class, or to apportion the same between or among the Trust or two (2) or more Series or Classes, as provided for in Article III hereof;

 

(t)           To invest part or all of the Trust Property (whether held by or for the account of the Trust or any Series thereof ), or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property (whether held by or for the account of the Trust or any Series) and invest the proceeds of such disposition, in securities issued by one or more other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act (including investment by means of transfer of part or all of the Trust Property in exchange for an interest or interests in such one or more investment companies) all without any requirement of approval by Shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Any such other investment company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes;

 

(u)          To declare and make distributions of income and capital gains to Shareholders;

 

(v)          To provide for separate classes, groups or series of Trustees with respect to any Series or Class or any Trust Property having such relative rights, powers and duties as the Trustees may determine;

 

(w)         To issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, cancel, retire, convert, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, transfer, dispose of and otherwise deal in Shares pursuant to applicable federal law; to establish terms and conditions including any fees or expenses regarding the issuance, sale, repurchase, redemption, cancellation, retirement, conversion, acquisition, holding, resale, reissuance, disposition of or dealing in Shares; and, subject to Articles III and VI hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, conversion, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust or of any particular Series with respect to which such Shares are issued;

 

 

(x)          To enter into contracts of any kind and description and carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary or desirable to accomplish any purpose or to further any of the foregoing powers, and to take every other action incidental to the foregoing business or purposes, objects or powers; and

 

(y)          Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or activity in which a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage.

 

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.

 

Section 4.4   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 the 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 the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, investment adviser or Manager, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, deem necessary or proper to incur, which expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities shall be allocated in accordance with Section 3.6 hereof.

 

Section 4.5   Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause any Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, an amount fixed, from time to time, by the Trustees or an officer of the Trust for charges of the Trust's custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing, or similar agent that are not customarily charged generally to the Trust, a Series, or a Class, where such services are provided to such Shareholder individually, rather than to all Shareholders collectively, including, without limitation, by setting off such amount due from such Shareholder from the amount of (i) declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder, or (ii) proceeds from the redemption or repurchase by the Trust or any Series of Shares from such Shareholder pursuant to Article VI hereof.

 

Section 4.6   Small Accounts. The Trustees or their authorized agents may establish, from time to time, one or more minimum investment amounts for Shareholder accounts, which may differ within and among any Series or Class, and may impose account fees on (which may be satisfied by involuntarily redeeming the requisite number of Shares in any such account in the amount of such fee), and or require the involuntary redemption of Shares held in, those accounts the net asset value of which for any reason falls below such established minimum investment amounts, or may authorize the Trust to convert any such Shares in such account to Shares of another Series or Class (whether of the same or a different Series, or take any other such action with respect to minimum investment amounts as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Trustees or their authorized agents, in each case upon such terms as shall be established by the Trustees or their authorized agents.

 

 

Section 4.7   Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine with the same effect as if such property were held in the name of the Trust. No creditor of any Trustee shall have any right to obtain possession, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, any Trust Property with respect to any claim against, or obligation of, such Trustee in its individual capacity and not related to the Trust or any Series or Class of the Trust. The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the resignation, retirement, removal, declination to serve, incapacity, or death of a Trustee, he or she shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.

 

Section 4.8   Service Contracts.

 

(a)          The Trust may enter into contracts with one or more Persons, to act as investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, manager, investment manager, administrator, sub- administrator, transfer agent, or other agent, and as such to perform such functions as the Trustees may deem reasonable and proper, including, without limitation, investment advisory, management, research, valuation of assets, clerical and administrative functions, under such terms and conditions, and for such compensation, as the Trustees may deem advisable. The Trustees may also authorize any adviser or sub-adviser to employ one or more sub-advisers from time to time and any administrator to employ one or more sub- administrators from time to time, upon such terms and conditions as shall be approved by the Trustees.

 

(b)          The Trust may enter into a contract or contracts with one or more Persons to act as underwriters, distributors or placement agents whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class to the other party or parties to the contactor appoint such other party or parties its sales agent or agents for such Shares and with such other provisions as the Trustees may deem reasonable and proper, and the Trust may from time to time enter into transfer agency, sub-transfer agency and or shareholder servicing contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may deem advisable.

 

All securities, cash and other interests of the Trust shall be held pursuant to a written contract or contracts with one or more custodians and subcustodians or shall otherwise be held in accordance with the 1940 Act, to the extent applicable.

 

 

(c)          Any contract of the character described in this Section 4.8 may be entered into with any Person, including the investment adviser, any investment sub-adviser or an affiliate of the investment adviser or sub-adviser, even though one or more of the Trustees, officers, or Shareholders of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, or otherwise interested in such contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom. The same Person may be a party to more than one contract entered into pursuant to this Section 4.8 and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 4.8.

 

(d)          The authority of the Trustees hereunder to authorize the Trust to enter into contracts or other agreements or arrangements shall include the authority of the Trustees to modify, amend, waive any provision of supplement, assign all or a portion of, novate, or terminate such contracts, agreements or arrangements. The enumeration of any specific contracts in this Section 4.8 shall in no way be deemed to limit the power and authority of the Trustees as otherwise set forth in this Declaration of Trust to authorize the Trust to employ, contract with or make payments to such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust.

 

(e)          The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Person to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.

 

(f)           Any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust may lend money to, borrow money from, act as a surety, guarantor or endorser for, guarantee or assume one or more obligations of, provide collateral for, and transact other business with the Trust and, subject to applicable law, has the same rights and obligations with respect to any such matter as a Person who is not a Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust.

 

Section 4.9   Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell and cause to be issued and sold Shares to, and redeem or repurchase such Shares from, any such Person or any firm or company in which such Person is interested, subject only to the general limitations contained herein relating to the sale and redemption and repurchase of such Shares.

 

Section 4.10   Determinations by Trustees. The Trustees may make any determinations they deem necessary with respect to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including the following matters; the amount of the assets, obligations, liabilities and expenses of the Trust or any Series or Class; the amount of the net income of the Trust or any Series or Class from dividends, capital gains, interest or other sources for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends or distributions; which items are to be treated as income and which as capital; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges were created shall have been paid or discharged); the market value, or any other price to be applied in determining the market value, or the fair value, of any security or other interest owned or held by the Trust or any Series or Class; the number of Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class issued or issuable; and the net asset value per Share.

 

 

Section 4.11   Delegation by Trustees. Subject only to any limitations required by federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees may delegate, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, any and all rights, powers, authority and duties hereunder as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees, any committee composed of Trustees and other persons and any committee composed only of persons other than Trustees and to any agent, independent contractor or employee of the Trust or to any custodian, administrator, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Manager, Manager, investment adviser or sub-adviser, Principal Underwriter or other service provider, provided that such delegation of rights power, authority or duties by the Trustees shall not cause any Trustee to cease to be a Trustee of the Trust or cause such person, officer, agent, employee, custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Manager, Manager, Principal Underwriter or other service provider to whom any rights power, authority or duties has been delegated to be a Trustee of the Trust. The reference in this Declaration of Trust to the right of the Trustee to, or circumstances under which they may, delegate any rights, power, authority or duties, or the reference in this Declaration of Trust to the authorized agents of the Trustees or any other Person to whom any rights, power, authority or duties has been or may be delegated pursuant to any specific provision of this Declaration of Trust, shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to delegate any other rights, power, authority or duties under this Declaration of Trust to any Person, subject only to any limitations under federal law including the 1940 Act.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings

 

The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as and to the extent provided in Section 4.1 hereof, (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by federal law including the 1940 Act, or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, and (iii) as the Trustees may otherwise consider necessary or desirable in their sole discretion. Provisions relating to meetings, quorum, required vote, record date and other matters relating to Shareholder voting rights are as provided in the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions

 

Section 6.1   Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions. Subject to applicable federal law, including the 1940 Act, and Section 3.6 hereof, the Trustees, in their sole discretion, may prescribe (and delegate to any officer of the Trust or any other Person or Persons the right and obligation to prescribe) such bases and time (including any methodology or plan) for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class or net income attributable to the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class and the method of determining the Shareholders to whom dividends and distributions are payable, as they may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, any dividend or distribution may be paid in cash and or securities or other property, and the composition of any such distribution shall be determined by the Trustees (or by any officer of the Trust or any other Person or Persons to whom such authority has been delegated by the Trustees) and may be different among Shareholders including differences among Shareholders of the same Series or Class.

 

 

Section 6.2   Redemptions and Repurchases

 

(a)          From time to time, the Trust may redeem or repurchase its Shares, all upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Trustees and subject to any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act or any exemption therefrom. The Trust may require Shareholders to pay a withdrawal charge, a sales charge, or any other form of charge to the Trust, to the underwriter or to any other person designated by the Trustees upon redemption or repurchase of Shares in such amount as shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The Trust may also charge a redemption or repurchase fee, payable to the Trust, in such amount as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The Trustees may from time to time specify conditions, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any exemption therefrom, regarding the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Trust.

 

(b)          Subject to Section 6.2(a) hereof, Shares may be redeemed or repurchased at their net asset value or at such other price as is in compliance with the 1940 Act or any exemption therefrom, which may be reduced by any sales charge, withdrawal charge, redemption or repurchase fee, or any other form of charge authorized by the Trustees. Net asset value shall be determined as set forth in Section 6.1 hereof as of such time as the Trustees shall have theretofore prescribed by resolution. Subject to Section 6.2(a) hereof, any shares of preferred stock may be redeemed or repurchased on such terms as are stipulated in the document or resolution of the Trustees establishing the terms. Payment for Shares redeemed or repurchased shall be made in cash or in property out of the assets of the Trust, or if applicable, the relevant Class or Series to the Shareholder of record at such time and in the manner, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or other applicable laws.

 

(c)         The Trustees may require any Shareholder or group of Shareholders (including some or all of the Shareholders of any Series or Class) to redeem Shares for any reason as determined by the Trustees, in their sole discretion, including (i) the determination of the Trustees that direct or indirect ownership of Shares of the Trust or any Series has or may become concentrated in such Shareholder to an extent that would disqualify any Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification number if required to do so, or to have the minimum investment required (which may vary by Series or Class), (iii) if the Share activity of the account or ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is deemed by the Trustees either to affect adversely the management of the Trust or any Series or Class or not to be in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class, or (iv) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due for the purchase of Shares issued to him. Any such redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article VI.

 

 

(d)          The Shareholders shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary or appropriate, including as they deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto), or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing authority.

 

(e)          Subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, and except as otherwise determined by the Trustees, upon redemption or repurchase, Shares shall no longer be deemed outstanding or carry any voting rights irrespective of whether a record date for any matter on which such Shares were entitled to vote had been set on a date prior to the date on which such Shares were redeemed or repurchased. In making a determination as to whether redeemed or repurchased Shares shall be deemed outstanding and carry any voting rights with respect to any matter on which such Shares were entitled to vote prior to redemption or repurchase, subject to applicable federal law including the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, among other things, determine that Shares redeemed or repurchased either before or after a date specified by the Trustees between the record date for such matter and the meeting date for such matter shall be deemed outstanding and retain voting rights, which determination may be made for any reason including that it would not be reasonably practicable to obtain a quorum if all of the Shares redeemed or repurchased after the record date for such matter and before the voting date no longer were deemed outstanding and earned any voting rights.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees

 

Section 7.1   Compensation. Any Trustee, whether or not he or she is a salaried officer or employee of the Trust, may be compensated for his or her services as Trustee or as a member of a committee of Trustees or as chairman of a committee by fixed periodic payments or by fees for attendance at meetings, by both or otherwise, and in addition may be reimbursed for transportation and other expenses, all in such manner and amounts as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine. 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 7.2   Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, a Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office of Trustee, 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, Investment Manager, Manager, adviser, sub-adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust.

 

All Persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or any Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust or any applicable Series that such Person extended credit to, contracted with or has a claim against, and neither the Trustees nor the Shareholders, 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 or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees by any of them in connection with the Trust or any Series thereof shall conclusively be deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to his or their capacity as Trustee or Trustees, and such Trustee or Trustees shall not be personally liable thereon. At the Trustees’ discretion, any note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers may give notice that the Certificate of Trust is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and that a limitation on liability of Series exists and such note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking may, if the Trustees so determine, recite that the same was executed or made on behalf of the Trust or any Series thereof by a Trustee or Trustees in such capacity and not individually or by an officer or officers in such capacity 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 on the assets and property of the Trust or a Series thereof, and may contain such further recital as such Person or Persons may deem appropriate. The omission of any such notice or recital shall in no way operate to bind any Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually.

 

Section 7.3   Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise in good faith by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. The Trustees may rely in good faith upon advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and the 1940 Act, and their duties as Trustees hereunder and thereunder, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice; provided the Trustees shall be under no liability for failing to follow such advice. A Trustee shall be fully protected in relying in faith upon the records of the Trust and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented by another Trustee or any officer, employee or other agent of the Trust, or by any other Person as to matters the Trustee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust or any Series or Class, or the value and amount of assets or reserves or contracts, agreements or other undertakings that would be sufficient to pay claims and obligations of the Trust or any Series or Class or to make reasonable provision to pay such claims and obligations, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to Shareholders or creditors of the Trust might properly be paid. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as chair of the Trustees, a member or chair of a committee of the Trustees, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as aforesaid shall affect in any way that Trustee’s rights or entitlement to indemnification or advancement of expenses. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is obtained.

 

 

Section 7.4   Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by the Trust or by a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust in connection with any claim, action, suit, examination, investigation or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust.

 

Section 7.5   Indemnification.

 

(a)          To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer or employee of the Trust or is or was serving at the request of the Trust as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (“Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit, examination, investigation or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his or her being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him or her in the settlement thereof. As used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, regulatory, investigative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorney’s fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities whatsoever.

 

(b)          The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.

 

(c)          To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

(d)         To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, examination, investigation, or proceeding of the character described in subsection (a) of this Section 7.5 shall be paid by the Trust or the appropriate Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him or her to the Trust or the appropriate Series if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Section; provided, however, that any such advancement will be made in accordance with any conditions required by applicable law or regulation. The advancement of any expenses pursuant to this Section 7.5(d) shall under no circumstances be considered a “loan” under the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002, as amended from time to time, or for any other reason.

 

 

(e)          Any repeal or modification of this Article VII or adoption or modification of any other provision of this Declaration of Trust inconsistent with this Article shall be prospective only to the extent that such repeal or modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification or right to advancement of expenses available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.

 

(f)          Notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, any liability and/or expense against which any Covered Person is indemnified under this Section 7.5 and any advancement of expenses that any Covered Person is entitled to be paid under Section 7.5(d) shall be deemed to be joint and several obligations of the Trust or the appropriate Series, and the assets of the Trust or the appropriate Series shall be subject to the claims of any Covered Person therefor under this Article VII; provided that any such liability, expense or obligation may be allocated and charged by the Trustees between or among the Trust and/or any one or more of the appropriate Series (and Classes) in such manner as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable.

 

Section 7.6   Further Indemnification. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which any Covered Person or other Person may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law or prevent the Trust from entering into any contract to provide indemnification to any Covered Person or other Person. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust may, in connection with any transaction permitted by this Declaration of Trust, including the acquisition of assets subject to liabilities or a merger or consolidation pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof, assume the obligation to indemnify any Person including a Covered Person or otherwise contract to provide such indemnification, and such indemnification shall not be subject to the terms of this Article VII.

 

Section 7.7   Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series is held personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder 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 any entity, its general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall, upon request by such Shareholder or former Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against him or her for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets belonging to the Series.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 8.1   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 8.2   Termination of the Trust or Any Series or Class.

 

(a)          Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series of Shares may be dissolved and/or liquidated at any time by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such Series. Any Class may be terminated and/or liquidated at any time by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such Class. Any action to dissolve the Trust shall be deemed to also be an action to dissolve and/or liquidate each Series, and to terminate and/or liquidate each Class.

 

(b)          In accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Act, upon the requisite action by the Trustees to dissolve the Trust or any one or more Series of Shares after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular Series 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 affected Series to distributable form in cash or Shares (if any Series remain) or other securities, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Trust or any applicable Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of the Trust or such Series held by the several Shareholders of the Trust or such Series on the date of distribution. Thereupon, the Trust and/or any affected Series shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust and/or such Series shall be canceled and discharged. Upon the requisite action by the Trustees to terminate any Class, the Trustees may, to the extent they deem it appropriate, follow the procedures set forth in this Section 8.2(b) with respect to such Class that are specified in connection with the dissolution and winding up of the Trust or any Series of Shares. Alternatively, in connection with the termination of any Class, the Trustees may treat such termination as a redemption of the Shareholders of such Class effected pursuant to Section 6.2(c) of this Declaration of Trust provided that the costs relating to the termination of such Class shall be included in the determination of the net asset value of the Shares of such Class for purposes of determining the redemption price to be paid to the Shareholders of such Class (to the extent not otherwise included in such determination). In connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Trust or any Series and in connection with the termination of any Class, the Trustees may provide for the establishment of a liquidating trust or similar vehicle.

 

(c)          Following completion of winding up of the Trust’s business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust’s Certificate of Trust to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee, which signature may be a manual, facsimile or electronic signature. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the Trust shall terminate, the Trustees shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties relating thereto or arising therefrom, and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust shall be canceled and discharged.

 

 

Section 8.3   Reorganization and Master/Feeder.

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything else herein, to the extent permitted by law, the Trustees, by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, may, in their sole discretion and without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, (i) cause the Trust to convert, divide, merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, division, merger, reorganization or consolidation), and that, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, division, merger, reorganization or consolidation, may (but need not) succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that, in any case, is formed, organized or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (ii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or of any Series or Class of the Trust to another Series or Class of the Trust or to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance), organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance, may (but need not) succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act, for adequate consideration as determined by the Trustees that may include the assumption of any or all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust or any affected Series or Class, and that may include Shares of such other Series or Class of the Trust or shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interest of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity or series thereof), or (v) at any time sell or convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust or any Series or Class. Any certificate of merger, certificate of division, certificate of conversion or other applicable certificate may be signed by any one (1) Trustee and the manual, facsimile and electronic signature of such Trustee on the applicable certificate shall be valid.

 

(b)         Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Declaration of Trust, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 8.3 may effect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting entity in the merger or consolidation.

 

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, in their sole discretion and without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, invest all or a portion of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of any Series, or dispose of all or a portion of the Trust Property or the Trust Property of any Series, and invest the proceeds of such disposition in interests issued by one or more other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. Any such other investment company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction) (or subtrust thereof) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, cause the Trust or any Series that is organized in the master/feeder fund structure to withdraw or redeem its Trust Property from the master fund and cause the Trust or such Series to invest its Trust Property directly in securities and other financial instruments or in another master fund.

 

Section 8.4   Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be restated and/or amended at any time by (i) an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees then holding office, or (ii) adoption by a majority of the Trustees then holding office of a resolution specifying the restatement and/or amendment. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective immediately upon such execution or adoption. No vote or consent of any Shareholder shall be required for any amendment to this Declaration of Trust except (i) as determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion, or (ii) as required by federal law including the 1940 Act, but only to the extent so required. The Certificate of Trust may be restated and/or amended by any Trustee as necessary or desirable to reflect any change in the information set forth therein, and any such restatement and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment hereof shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Article VII hereof with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification and advancement referenced in Article VII hereof with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment.

 

Section 8.5   Filing of Copies, References, Headings, Rules of Construction. The original or a copy of this Declaration of Trust shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust 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 Declaration of Trust. In this Declaration of Trust, references to this Declaration of Trust, and all expressions such as “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration of Trust as a whole and not to any particular article or section unless the context requires otherwise. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neutral, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This Declaration of Trust and any document, consent or instrument referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, (i) any document, consent, instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws that is to be executed by one or more Trustees may be executed by means of original, facsimile or electronic signature and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any document, consent, instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws that is to be delivered by one or more Trustees may be delivered by electronic transmission (including facsimile or e-mail) unless, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), otherwise determined by the Trustees. The terms “include,” “includes” and “including” and any comparable terms shall be deemed to mean “including, without limitation.” Any reference to any statute, law, code, rule or regulation shall be deemed to refer to such statute, law, code, rule or regulation as amended or restated from time to time and any successor thereto.

 

 

Section 8.6   Applicable Law.

 

(a)          The Trust is created under, and this Declaration of Trust is to be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to statutory trusts or actions that may be engaged in by statutory trusts under the Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 3.6(a), there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration of Trust, the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate; (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining a court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums applicable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees that are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 8.7   Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.

 

(a)          The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provision is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto), and the regulations thereunder, the Delaware Act or with other applicable federal laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust, provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

 

 

(b)          If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 8.8   Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

 

Section 8.9   Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:

 

(a)          The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 8.9(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act);

 

(b)         Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 8.9, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who collectively hold Shares representing ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined net asset value of all Shares issued and outstanding or of the Series or Classes to which such action relates if it does not relate to all Series and Classes, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action;

 

(c)          Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 8.9, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action;

 

 

(d)         For purposes of this Section 8.9, the Board of Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who are “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act). The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action;

 

(e)          Neither Section 8.9(b) nor the obligation of the Shareholders to reimburse the Trust set forth in the second sentence of Section 8.9(c) shall apply to claims made under federal securities laws.

 

Section 8.10   Inspection of Records and Reports. Every Trustee shall have the right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the Trust. This inspection by a Trustee may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents. No Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account, book or document of the Trust that is not publicly available, except as conferred by the Trustees. The books and records of the Trust may be kept at such place or places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 8.11   Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial. In accordance with Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Act, any suit, action or proceeding brought by or in the right of any Shareholder or any person claiming any interest in any Shares seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Declaration of Trust or the Trust, any Series or Class or any Shares, including any claim of any nature against the Trust, any Series or Class, the Trustees or officers of the Trust, shall be brought exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to the extent there is subject matter jurisdiction in such court for the claims asserted or, if not, then in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, and all Shareholders and other such Persons hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of such courts (and the appropriate appellate courts, therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection they may make now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and further, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, ALL SHAREHOLDERS AND ALL OTHER SUCH PERSONS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. All Shareholders and other such Persons agree that service of summons, complaint or other process in connection with any proceedings may be made by registered or certified mail or by overnight courier addressed to such Person at the address shown on the books and records of the Trust for such Person or at the address of the Person shown on the books and records of the Trust with respect to the Shares that such Person claims an interest in. Service of process in any such suit, action or proceeding against the Trust or any Trustee or officer of the Trust may be made at the address of the Trust’s registered agent in the State of Delaware. Any service so made shall be effective as if personally made in the State of Delaware. The provisions of this Section 8.11 shall not apply to claims made under federal securities laws.

 

 

Section 8.12   Conversion. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, a favorable vote of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of the Trust, each affected Class or Series outstanding, voting as separate Classes or Series, shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this Declaration of Trust that makes the Shares a “redeemable security” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless such amendment has been approved by a majority of the Trustees then in office, in which case approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) shall be required. Upon the adoption of a proposal to convert the Trust from a “closed-end company” to an “open- end company” as those terms are defined by the 1940 Act and the necessary amendments to this Declaration of Trust to permit such a conversion of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall, upon complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become an “open-end” investment company. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the Shares otherwise required by law, or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee named below does hereby make and enter into this Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Optimize Growth Equity Fund as of the date first written above.

 

By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	As Trustee and not individually

 

Declaration of Trust – Optimize Growth Equity Fund