AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF VIRTUS ALTERNATIVES TRUST I

Exhibit a.1

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered into as of the date set forth below by the Trustees named hereunder for the purpose of forming a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth,

NOW, THEREFORE, the initial Trustee hereby directs that the Certificate of Trust be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the Initial Trustee does 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 for the benefit of the holders of Shares in the Trust.

ARTICLE I

Name and Definitions

Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as “Virtus Alternatives Trust I” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.

Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

(a) “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” means 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;

(c) “Class” means a class of Shares of a 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) “Declaration of Trust” means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

(f) “Delaware Act” means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. Sections 3801 et seq., as amended from time to time;

(g) “Manager” means a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 9(a) hereof;

(h) “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

(i) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;

(j) “Series” means each Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III;

(k) “Shareholder” means a record owner of outstanding Shares;

(l) “Shares” means 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;

(m) “Trust” means 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;

(n) “Trust Property” means 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; and

(o) “Trustees” means all 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 her or his or their capacity as trustees hereunder.

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 one or more Series investing primarily in securities, 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

Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust may be divided into one or more Series. Each Series may be divided into one or more Classes. 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 the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, (i) to divide the beneficial interest in the Trust or in each Series or Class thereof into Shares, with or without par value as the Trustees shall determine, (ii) to issue Shares without limitation as to number (including fractional Shares), 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 thereof and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges and business purpose of each Series or Class thereof 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 any Series or Class thereof into a greater or lesser number, or issue dividends in Shares with respect to Shares of any Series or Class, without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of such Series or Class in the assets held with respect to that Series or Class thereof, (v) to classify or reclassify any issued Shares of any Series or Class thereof

into Shares of one or more Series or Classes thereof and (vi) to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.

Except as provided in this Declaration of Trust or in the resolution establishing a Class or Series consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series, and each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive such holder’s pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains, if any, made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of the Shares of any Series or Class thereof, the applicable Shareholder shall be entitled to be paid solely out of, the funds and property of such Series of the Trust.

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

All Shares issued hereunder, including, without limitation, 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 appraisal, preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.

Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The Ownership of Shares of each Series and Class shall be recorded separately on the books of the Trust or by one or more transfer, sub-transfer or similar agents on behalf of the Trust. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of each Series (or Class) and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or by one or more transfer, sub-transfer or similar agents, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series (or Class) and as to the number of Shares of each Series (or Class) held from time to time by each Shareholder.

Section 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 agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate if one is outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of the execution and authorization thereof as may be required by the Trustees 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 or contained in the By-Laws, 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 holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent or similar agent, any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of a proposed transfer.

Section 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 from time to time may authorize.

Section 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument. 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 or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay. Except as specifically provided herein, no Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations or expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series or Class. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series or Class may include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust or to one or more Series and its respective assets (but the omission of such a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust).

Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series (or Class). The Trustees may establish and designate one or more Series or Classes in their sole discretion without obtaining the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof (except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act). The establishment and designation of any Series (or Class) of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution that sets forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Series (or Class), whether directly in such resolution or by reference to another document including, without limitation, any registration statement of the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution.

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

(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series or Class. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series or Class thereof, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series (or Class) 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, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets held with respect to” that Series (or Class thereof). In the event that 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 (and the Classes thereof) 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 (and the Classes thereof) shall be assets held with respect to that Series and such Classes. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series and Classes for all purposes. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets held with respect to all other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series.

(b) Liabilities Attributable to a Particular Series (or Class). The assets of the Trust held with respect to each particular Series (or Class thereof) shall be charged exclusively with the liabilities of the Trust attributable to that Series or Class and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series or Class. Any general liabilities of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as being attributable to any particular Series (and the Classes thereof) shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series (and the Classes thereof) 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 (and the Classes thereof) are herein referred to as “liabilities attributable to” that Series (or Class thereof). Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series and Classes for all purposes. All liabilities attributable 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. Notice of this limitation on the liability of each Series shall be set forth in the Certificate of Trust or in an amendment thereto prior to the issuance of any Shares of a Series. To the extent that the Trustees, pursuant to Section 2 of Article VII hereof, include a Class limitation on liability in any note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made with respect to any Class, the parties to such note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking shall look only to the assets attributable to such Class in satisfaction of the liabilities arising thereunder and not to the assets attributable to any other Class of the applicable Series.

(c) Dividends. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Series or any class thereof may be paid with such frequency as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine, which may be daily or otherwise pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine, to the holders of Shares of that Series or Class, from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series, or in the case of a Class, belonging to that Series and allocable to that Class, as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine, after providing for actual and accrued liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Series or Class thereof shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of Shares of that Series or Class in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series or Class held by such holders at the date and time of record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions, except that in connection with any dividend or distribution program or procedure and when consistent with applicable law, the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine that no dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to which the Shareholder’s purchase order and/or payment have not been received by the time or times established by the Trustees under such program or procedure. Such dividends and distributions may be made in cash or Shares of that Series or Class or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion or pursuant to any program that the Trustees may have in effect at the time for the election by each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such dividend or distribution to that Shareholder. The Trustees shall have full 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 the Shareholders.

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

(e) Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series (or Class thereof), unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities attributable to any two or more Series (or Classes) into assets and liabilities attributable to a single Series or Class.

Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. If any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating to such Person being or having been a Shareholder, and not because of such Person’s acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or such Person’s heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust against all cost and expense reasonably incurred in connection with such claim or demand, but only out of the assets held with respect to the particular Series of Shares of which such Person is or was a Shareholder and from or in relation to which such liability arose. The Trust may, at its option and shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets held with respect to the particular series.

ARTICLE IV

Trustees

Section 1. Section 2. Number, Election and Tenure. The number and tenure of Trustees

shall be set by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by the Shareholders, to the extent required by the 1940 Act, the Trustees then in office shall call a Shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by her or him and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to the Secretary of any meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following her or his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or by a vote of two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal.

Section 2. Vacancies. Any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from any reason, including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in the number of Trustees by the other Trustees may (but so long as there are at least two remaining Trustees, need not unless required by the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, through the appointment in writing of such other person as such remaining Trustees in their discretion shall determine and such appointment shall be effective upon the written acceptance of the person named therein to serve as a Trustee and agreement by such person to be bound by the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, except to the extent that such appointment or such acceptance provides that it shall be effective at a later date or upon the occurrence of a later event.

Section 3. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. 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 conclusive evidence of such vacancy, a written instrument certifying the existence of such vacancy may be executed by an officer of the Trust or by a majority of the Trustees then in office. 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 Managers are empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.

Section 4. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees; the Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust, including the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may:

(a) adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders;

(b) elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;

(c) appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Board of Trustees determine;

(d) provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise;

(e) redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law;

(f) operate as and carry out the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary or appropriate to the conduct of such operations;

(g) invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, purchase or write options on, lend, enter into contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of, or otherwise deal in or dispose of, securities, indices, currencies, commodities or other property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities, commodities or contracts of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, the U.S. Government or any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any domestic or 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, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;

(h) sell, exchange, 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 or Class thereof;

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

(j) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, which, for purposes of determining the Shareholders of any Series (or Class) who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution shall be on or before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series (or Class) having the right to receive such dividend or distribution; without fixing a record date, the Trustees may for distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series (or Classes) at any time prior to the payment of a distribution; nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series (or Classes);

(k) exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other property;

(l) hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of one or more custodians, sub-custodians, depositories, nominees or otherwise;

(m) consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security or property 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 property held in the Trust;

(n) join with other security or property holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or property with, or transfer any security or property to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or property (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(o) compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;

(p) enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

(q) borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust for the benefit of one or more Series and in connection therewith issue notes or other evidences of indebtedness; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property allocable to such Series or any part thereof to secure any or all of such indebtedness;

(r) endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all of such obligations;

(s) purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being in or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability;

(t) 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;

(u) enter into contracts of any kind and description;

(v) interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any Series;

(w) establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Delaware;

(x) invest all or any portion of the assets of any Series in one or more other investment companies, including investment by means of transfer of such assets in exchange for an interest or interests in such investment company;

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

(z) in general, carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone, through their committees, officers and agents, or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing

incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.

Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Unless otherwise specified herein or in the By-Laws or required by law, any action by the Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees at which a quorum of Trustees is present, within or without the State of Delaware or in a writing signed by a majority of Trustees then in office.

The foregoing clauses shall be construed as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general power of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity.

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 or Classes thereof. 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 5. 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, but not limited to, the Trustees compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Manager, Principal Underwriters, auditors, counsel, custodians, transfer agents, Shareholder servicing agents, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, which expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities shall be allocated in accordance with Article III, Section 5 hereof.

Section 6. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or Class, to pay directly, at such intervals as the Trustees may determine, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s transfer agent, Shareholder servicing or similar agent, in an amount or at a rate fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.

Section 7. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees. 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 any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine. 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, removal or death of a Trustee, she or he 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 8. Service Contracts.

(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws, including, without limitation, at the date hereof the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, or any successor provision, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or for any Series (or Class thereof) with any corporation, trust, association or other organization; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including, without limitation, authority for the Manager to delegate certain or all of its duties under such contracts to qualified investment advisers and administrators and to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.

(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series (or Classes thereof) or other securities to be issued by the Trust. Every such contract shall comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws, including, without limitation, at the date hereof the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, or any successor provision; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.

(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, appointing it or them the custodian, transfer agent and/or Shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series (or Classes). Every such contract shall comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth under federal and/or state law and in the By-Laws or stipulated by resolution of the Trustees. The Trustees are empowered, at any time and from time to time, to retain subagents (foreign or domestic) in connection with any service provider to the Trust or one or more of its Series (or Classes).

(d) Subject to applicable law, the Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any entity to provide such other services, including without limitation accounting and pricing services, to the Trust or one or more of the Series (or Classes thereof), as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series (or Class).

(e) The fact that:

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a Shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Manager, adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory, management or administration contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that

(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory, management or administration contract or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory, management or administration contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other service contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act.

Section 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 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 or in the By-Laws relating to the sale and redemption of such Shares.

ARTICLE V

Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings

Section 1. Voting Powers, Meetings, Notice and Record Dates. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees to the extent and as provided in Article IV, Section 1, and (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by applicable law, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Each Shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (determined as of the applicable record date) of each Share owned by such Shareholder (number of Shares owned times net asset value per Share) on any matter on which such Shareholder is entitled to vote and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, on any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall be voted in aggregate, except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class; and (ii) when the matter affects the interests of one or more Series or Classes, only holders of Shares of the one or more affected Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy may be given in writing. The By-Laws may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein or in the By-Laws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of one or more Series or Classes thereof or of the Trust, or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy at a meeting. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by the Shareholders. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be called and notice thereof and record dates therefor shall be given and set as provided in the By-Laws.

Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, (i) thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting and (ii) when any one or more Series (or Classes) is to vote as a single class separate from any other Shares, thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Shares of each such Series (or Class) entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting of that Series (or Class). Except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by applicable law, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality of the Shares voted shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust requires that the holders of one or more Series (or Classes) shall vote separately, then a majority of the Shares of such Series (or Classes) voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee) shall decide that matter with respect to such Series (or Classes).

Section 3. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters.

ARTICLE VI

Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions

Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By-Laws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and time or times for determining the net asset value of the Shares of any Series or Class, the net income attributable to the Shares of any Series or Class, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any Series or Class, as they may deem necessary or desirable from time to time.

Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases.

(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof (minus any applicable redemption or service fee or deferred sales load) as determined by the Trustees (or on their behalf), in accordance with any applicable provisions of the By-Laws and applicable law.

(b) The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series or Class for which the Shares are being redeemed or if such payment is made in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees. The fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.

(c) The holders of Shares 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 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 or regulatory authority.

(d) Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may cause the Trust to redeem, at the price and in the manner provided in this Article VI, Shares of any Series or Class held by any Person (i) if such Person is no longer qualified to hold such Shares in accordance with such qualifications as may be established by the Trustees, (ii) if the net asset value of such Shares is below the minimum investment amount determined by the Trustees or (iii) if otherwise deemed by the Trustees to be in the best interest of the Trust or any Series (or Class) thereof.

(e) Shares redeemed shall, upon redemption, be deemed to be retired and restored to the status of unissued shares.

ARTICLE VII

Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees

Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may fix the amount of such compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. A Trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder to the extent provided in this Article VII, for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, of such Trustee or of any other

Trustee. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or Principal Underwriter of the Trust. The Trust (i) may indemnify an agent of the Trust or any Person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as an agent of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise and (ii) shall indemnify each Person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust and any Person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as a director, officer, trustee, or employee of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise, in the case of (i) and (ii), to the fullest extent consistent with the 1940 Act and in the manner provided in the By-Laws; provided that such indemnification shall not be available to any of the foregoing Persons in connection with a claim, suit or other proceeding by any such Person against the Trust or a Series (or Class) thereof.

All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series (or Class thereof if the Trustees have included a Class limitation on liability in the agreement with such person as provided below), or, if the Trustees have yet to establish Series, of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; 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 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 statutory 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 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 including, without limitation, a requirement, in any note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made with respect to one or more Classes of any Series that the parties thereto look only to the assets of such Class or Classes in satisfaction of the liabilities arising thereunder. The omission of any such notice or recital shall in no way operate to bind any Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually.

Section 3. Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for her or his own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.

Section 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 a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which she or he becomes involved by virtue of her or his capacity or former capacity with the Trust.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

Section 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 2. Termination of Trust or Series.

(a) Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of each Series entitled to vote, voting separately by Series, or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series of Shares or Class thereof may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of such Series or Class entitled to vote or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of such Series or Class. At any time following such termination the Trustees may thereafter establish a new Series or Class with the same designation.

(b) Upon the requisite Shareholder vote or action by the Trustees to terminate the Trust or any one or more Series of Shares or any Class thereof, 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 or any Class thereof 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 or Class 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 Series or Classes involved, ratably according to the dollar value of Shares of such Series or Class held by the several Shareholders of such Series or Class on the date of distribution. Thereupon, the Trust or any affected Series or Class 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 or such Series or Class shall be canceled and discharged.

(c) Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its 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.

Section 3. Reorganization.

(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders unless such approval is required by applicable law, in order to change the form or jurisdiction of organization of the Trust or for any other purpose (i) cause the Trust or any Series to merge or consolidate with or into, or sell substantially all of its assets to, one or more trusts (or series thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities (including trusts, partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such merger or consolidation), (ii) cause the Shares (or any portion thereof) to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law or (iii) cause the Trust to reorganize under the laws of any state or other political subdivision of the United States, if such action is determined by the Trustees to be in the best interests of the Trust. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or exchange or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of the Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.

(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware 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 3 may effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the Trust or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation.

(c) The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders unless such approval or vote is required by applicable law, create one or more statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Shares in the Trust or any Series or Class thereof into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or classes thereof.

Section 4. Amendments. Except as specifically provided in this section, the Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, restate, amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust. Shareholders shall have the right to vote (i) on any amendment to their right to indemnity under Article III, Section 7 hereof, (ii) on any amendment to the limitation on personal liability under Article III, Section 5 hereof, (iii) on any amendment that would affect their right to vote granted in Article V, Section 1 hereof, (iv) on any amendment to this Section 4 of Article VIII, (v) on any amendment that may be required to be approved by Shareholders by applicable law or by the Trust’s registration statement filed with the Commission, and (vi) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be submitted to the Shareholders that, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series (or Classes thereof) in a manner different from other Series (or Classes) shall be authorized by a vote of the Shareholders of each Series or Class affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series or Class not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, no amendment hereof shall limit the rights to insurance provided by Article VII, Section 4 with respect to any acts or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment nor shall any such amendment limit the rights to indemnification referenced in Article VII, Section 2 hereof as provided in the By-Laws with respect to any actions or omissions of Persons covered thereby prior to such amendment. The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, restate, amend, or otherwise supplement the Certificate of Trust as they deem necessary or desirable.

Section 5. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto 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 whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements and/or amendments. In this instrument and in any such restatements and/or amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions such as “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such restatements and/or amendments. 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 instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

Section 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 of the type commonly called a statutory trust, 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 6(a) of this Article VIII, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration of Trust (x) the provisions of section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (y) 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 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 provisions 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, with the Delaware Act or with other applicable 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. 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.

[Signature page follows.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the initial Trustee named below hereby makes and enters into this Declaration of Trust as of October 21^st, 2013.

	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF VIRTUS ALTERNATIVES TRUST I

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