AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST OF MASSMUTUAL ADVANTAGE FUNDS
Exhibit (a)(1)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
| ARTICLE I Name and Definitions | 1 |
| Section 1. Name | 1 |
| Section 2. Definitions | 1 |
| ARTICLE II Purpose of Trust | 2 |
| ARTICLE III Shares | 2 |
| Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest | 2 |
| Section 2. Ownership of Shares | 3 |
| Section 3. Investments in the Trust | 3 |
| Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability | 3 |
| Section 5. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares | 3 |
| Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes | 4 |
| Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders | 7 |
| Section 8. No Preemptive Rights | 7 |
| Section 9. Claims | 7 |
| ARTICLE IV The Trustees | 8 |
| Section 1. Election and Tenure | 8 |
| Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc. of a Trustee | 8 |
| Section 3. Powers | 8 |
| Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust | 10 |
| Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders | 10 |
| Section 6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust | 11 |
| Section 7. Advisory, Management and Distribution Contracts | 11 |
| Section 8. Address of the Trustees | 11 |
| ARTICLE V Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings | 12 |
| Section 1. Voting Powers | 12 |
| Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings | 12 |
| Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote | 13 |
| Section 4. Action by Written Consent | 13 |
| Section 5. Record Dates | 13 |
| Section 6. Additional Provisions | 13 |
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| ARTICLE VI Net Income, Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases | 14 |
| Section 1. Distributions of Net Income | 14 |
| Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases | 14 |
| Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust | 15 |
| ARTICLE VII Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees | 15 |
| Section 1. Compensation | 15 |
| Section 2. Limitation of Liability | 15 |
| ARTICLE VIII Indemnification | 16 |
| Section 1. Trustees, Officers, Etc | 16 |
| Section 2. Compromise Payment | 16 |
| Section 3. Rebuttable Presumption | 17 |
| Section 4. Indemnification Not Exclusive | 17 |
| Section 5. No Presumption | 17 |
| Section 6. Shareholders | 17 |
| ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous | 17 |
| Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, Etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice | 17 |
| Section 2. Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety | 18 |
| Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees | 18 |
| Section 4. Termination of Trust or Series or Class | 19 |
| Section 5. Merger, Consolidation or Transfer | 19 |
| Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings | 19 |
| Section 7. Applicable Law | 20 |
| Section 8. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. | 20 |
| Section 9. Amendments | 21 |
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made in Springfield, Massachusetts this 26th day of April, 2021 by the Trustees hereunder and the holders of shares of beneficial interest issued and to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as “MassMutual Advantage Funds”, and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided,
(a) “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(b) “Trustees” refers to the Trustees of the Trust at this date and the persons serving in such office from time to time in the future;
(c) “Shares” means the equal proportionate units into which the beneficial interest in the Trust or in the Trust property belonging to any Series of the Trust (or in the property belonging to any Series allocable to any Class of that Series) (as the context may require) shall be divided from time to time;
(d) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;
(e) “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms “Commission” and “principal underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act;
(g) “Declaration of Trust” and “this Declaration” shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) “Bylaws” shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended from time to time;
(i) “Series Company” refers to the form of registered open-end investment company described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act or in any successor statutory provision;
(j) “Series” refers to the Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III; and
(k) “Class” refers to any class of Shares of a Series established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III. The Shares of a Class shall represent a subset of Shares of a Series, and the Shares of each Class, together with the Shares of all other Classes of the same Series, shall constitute all Shares of that Series.
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily in securities, debt instruments, money market instruments, commodities, commodity contracts, and other instruments and rights of a financial character, 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.
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, without par value. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have the voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the Shares of any Series or Class shall be entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Series and Class with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such Series or Class made pursuant to Article IX, Section 4 hereof. Unless the Trustees have authorized the issuance of Shares of a Series in two or more Classes, all dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a particular Series from the assets belonging to such Series according to the number of Shares of such Series held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Series or Class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series or Class without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of that Series or Class in the assets belonging to that Series (or allocable to the Shares of that Class) or in any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series or Class.
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Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series and Class. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series and Class and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each Series and Class and as to the number of Shares of each Series and Class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Section 3. Investments in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration as they from time to time authorize.
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners of each other. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholders, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
Section 5. Power of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without limiting the power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust for the purpose of, without limitation, (i) responding to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or (ii) designating and establishing Series or Classes. The establishment and designation of any Series of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Series and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees may determine, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. The establishment and designation of any Class of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees of a resolution setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Class and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees may determine, or as otherwise provided in such resolution.
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders:
(a) create one or more Series or Classes of Shares (with respect to or in addition to any Series or Classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the Trustees shall determine, and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares of particular Series or Classes in accordance with such eligibility requirements;
(b) amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Section 6 of this Article III;
(c) combine one or more Series or Classes of Shares into a single Series or Class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine;
(d) change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in Shares of any Series or Class, including without limitation the power to provide for the issue of Shares of any Series or Class in connection with any consolidation, merger or transfer of assets of the Trust or a Series as set forth in Article IX, Section 5;
(e) change the designation of any Series or Class of Shares;
(f) change the method of allocating dividends among the various Series and Classes of Shares;
(g) allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more Series or Classes of Shares;
(h) specifically allocate assets to any or all Series or Classes of Shares or create one or more additional Series or Classes of Shares which are preferred over all other Series or Classes of Shares in respect of assets specifically allocated thereto or any dividends paid by the Trust with respect to any net income, however determined, earned from the investment and reinvestment of any assets so allocated or otherwise and provide for any special voting or other rights with respect to such Series or Classes; and
(i) divide one or more Series of Shares into one or more Classes on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may determine.
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. Shares of each Series established in this Section shall have the following rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other Series as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating such Series of Shares, and Shares of each Class of a Series divided into two or more Classes shall have such rights and preferences relative to other Classes of the same Series as are set forth below, together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other Classes as are set forth in any resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating such Class of Shares:
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(a) Assets Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section:
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets belonging to” that Series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series (collectively “General Assets”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time, in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall belong to that Series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Series. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section:
The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged solely with the liabilities of the Trust in respect to that Series, expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any general liabilities of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series but which are allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time in a manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series are herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
(c) Apportionment of Assets etc. in Case of Series with Multiple Classes. In the case of any Series whose Shares are issued in two or more Classes, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any Classes of Shares of such Series, (i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities, expenses, charges, costs, and reserves belonging or attributable to that Series may be allocated or attributed to a particular Class of Shares of that Series or apportioned among two or more Classes of such Series; and (ii) Shares of any Class of such Series may have priority or preference over Shares of other Classes of such Series with respect to dividends or distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such Series of Class or otherwise, provided that no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same Class and that all dividends and distributions to Shareholders of a particular Class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be.
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(d) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series) with respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets belonging to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets belonging 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.
(e) Voting. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Declaration, including, without limitation, Section 1 of Article V, the Shareholders of any particular Series or Class shall not be entitled to vote on any matters as to which such Series or Class is not affected. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or in the Bylaws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to Series or Class of Shares, except that (i) when required by the 1940 Act or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more Series or Classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class as the Trustees shall determine, and (ii) when the matter affects only the interests of one or more Series or Classes, only Shareholders of such Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.
(f) Equality. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the relative rights and preferences of any Classes of Shares of a Series, all the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to that Series (subject to the liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of any particular Series shall be equal to each other Share of that Series. All the Shares of each particular Class of Shares of a Series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Class (subject to the liabilities belonging to that Class), and each Share of any particular Class shall be equal to each other Share of that Class.
(g) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series or Class shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of that Series or Class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(h) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series or Class shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(i) Combination of Series or Classes. The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class, as applicable, unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities belonging to any two or more Series (or the assets allocable to any two or more Classes) into assets and liabilities belonging (or allocable) to a single Series or Class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine or consolidate, merge or transfer assets of the Trust or any Series as set forth in Article IX, Section 5.
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(j) Elimination of Series or Classes. At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the Trustees may abolish and rescind the establishment and designation of that Series, by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees. At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Class previously established and designated of a Series, the Trustees may abolish that Class and rescind the establishment and designation thereof, by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees.
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series or Class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of the Series of which he or she is a Shareholder or former Shareholder to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 8. No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Section 9. Claims. As used herein, a “direct Shareholder claim” shall refer to (i) a claim based upon alleged violations of a Shareholder’s individual rights independent of any harm to the Trust, including a Shareholder’s voting rights under Article V, Section 1 hereof, rights to receive a dividend payment as may be declared from time to time, rights to inspect books and records, or other similar rights personal to the Shareholder and independent of any harm to the Trust; and (ii) a claim for which a direct shareholder action is expressly provided under the U.S. federal securities laws. Any claim asserted by a Shareholder that is not a direct Shareholder claim, including without limitation any claims purporting to be brought on behalf of the Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust, shall be considered a “derivative claim” as used herein.
(a) Derivative Claims. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action or other proceeding asserting a derivative claim or any claim asserted on behalf of this Trust or involving any alleged harm to the Trust or any Series without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be excused only when the plaintiff makes a specific showing that irreparable injury to the Trust or Series would otherwise result. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth in reasonable detail the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. The Trustees shall consider such demand within 45 days of its receipt by the Trust. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust or Series, as appropriate. Any decision by the Trustees to bring, maintain or settle (or not to bring, maintain or settle) such court action, proceeding or claim, or to submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders shall be made by the Trustees in their business judgment and shall be binding upon the Shareholders. Any decision by the Trustees to bring or maintain a court action, proceeding or suit on behalf of the Trust or a Series shall be subject to the right of the Shareholders under Article V, Section 1 hereof to vote on whether or not such court action, proceeding or suit should or should not be brought or maintained.
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Section 1. Election and Tenure. The Trustees may fix the number of Trustees, fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the election and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees and elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable law.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc. of a Trustee. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in securities or investment transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may fill vacancies in or remove from their number (including any vacancies created by an increase in the number of Trustees); they may remove Trustees from their number with or without cause; they may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their own number and terminate one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine; they may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; they may retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; they may provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise; they may set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; and in general they may delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
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Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other property;
(e) To hold any security or other property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security or other investment 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 other property held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders or investors in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security or other investment to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or other investment (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
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(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against liability;
(m) To pay pensions as deemed appropriate by the Trustees and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(n) To buy, sell, and/or to enter into transactions with respect to any securities, commodities, derivative instruments, or other investments of any kind; and
(o) To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which corporations organized under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act may engage.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees. The Trustees shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, investment adviser or manager, administrator, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or Class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
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Section 6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Section 7. Advisory, Management and Distribution Contracts. Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any Series with MML Investment Advisers, LLC or any other partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization (the "Manager"); and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including without limitation, authority for a Manager to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with the Manager or any other partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor, principal underwriter or placement agent for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, administrator, adviser, principal underwriter, placement agent, distributor or affiliate or agent of or for any partnership, corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or placement agreement, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any partnership, corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an advisory or management contract or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or placement agreement, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, Shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of the contractual arrangements discussed in this Section, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any Shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of any Series of the Trust. The summary prospectus, prospectus and statement of additional information describing any Series of the Trust are not contracts between the Trust and the Shareholders of any Series of the Trust and do not give rise to any Shareholder rights other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Section 8. Address of the Trustees. The business address for each Trustee is ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
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ARTICLE V
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, (ii) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 8, (iii) to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (iv) with respect to the termination of the Trust or any Series or Class to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4, and (v) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At any time when no Shares of a Series or Class are outstanding the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders of that Series or Class with respect to matters affecting that Series or Class and may with respect to that Series or Class take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws to be taken by the Shareholders thereof.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees for the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1 and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, by this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws. Meetings of the Shareholders may also be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees by mailing such notice at least seven days before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the meeting, to each Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, at least seven days before such meeting, to the telephone or facsimile number or e-mail or other electronic address most recently furnished to the Trust (or its agent) by the Shareholder. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
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Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by law, by the Bylaws or by this Declaration of Trust, 10% of the Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting. When any one or more Series or Classes is to vote as a single class separate from any other Shares, 10% of the Shares of such Class shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting of that Class. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, or by the chair of the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without further notice. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or by law, or when the Trustees determine in their discretion to require a larger vote. In any case where Shares of one or more Series or Classes are voted separately, the vote of a majority (or such larger vote as is required as aforesaid) of the Shares voted shall be required to decide such question.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the Bylaws) consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 5. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series or Class who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or Class having the right to notice of and to vote at such a meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series or Class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or Class having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for one or more Series or Classes for all or any part of the period between a record date and a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series or Classes.
Section 6. Additional Provisions. The Bylaws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters.
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Net Income, Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 1. Distributions of Net Income. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each series out of the assets of such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in cash, Shares, or other property, or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees.
The manner of determining net income, income, asset values, capital gains, expenses, liabilities and reserves of any Series or Class may from time to time be altered as necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Trustees to conform such manner of determination to any other method prescribed or permitted by applicable law. Net income shall be determined by the Trustees or by such person as they may authorize at the times and in the manner provided in the Bylaws. Determinations of net income of any Series or Class and determination of income, asset values, capital gains, expenses, and liabilities made by the Trustees, or by such person as they may authorize, in good faith, shall be binding on all parties concerned. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed to protect any Trustee, officer or agent of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or its security holders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
If, for any reason, the net income of any Series or Class determined at any time is a negative amount, in the discretion of the Trustees the pro rata share of such negative amount allocable to each Shareholder of such Series or Class may constitute a liability of such Shareholder to that Series or Class which shall be paid out of such Shareholder’s account at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may from time to time determine (x) out of the accrued dividend account of such Shareholder, (y) by reducing the number of Shares of that Series or Class in the account of such Shareholder, or (z) otherwise.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, as determined in accordance with the policies and procedures that may be adopted from time to time by the Trustees, less any redemption charge or fee as the Trustees may from time to time authorize. The Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase is made. The Trust, by action of the Trustees, may suspend the right of redemption at any time to the extent consistent with applicable law.
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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 interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Series or Class the Shares of which are being redeemed. The fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as described in Section 2 of this Article VI: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series or Class having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage determined from time to time by the Trustees of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Section 1. Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment of compensation for the same by the Trust.
Section 2. Limitation of Liability. A Trustee may be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
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Section 1. Trustees, Officers, Etc. The Trust shall indemnify every person who is or has been a Trustee or officer (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees, reasonably incurred or paid by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any claim, action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, or other, including appeals, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit or other proceeding to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising from any such advance payments, or (c) either a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Article.
Section 2. Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication on the merits by a court, or by any other body before which the proceeding was brought, that such Covered Person is liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved, after notice that it involves such indemnification, by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such Covered Person is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office (the disinterested Trustees to take final action on the consideration of such approval within 60 days of a request thereof by a Covered Person), or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), to the effect that such indemnification would not protect such Covered Person against any liability to the Trust to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office (which opinion the Trustees shall use reasonable diligence to obtain within 60 days of a request therefor by a Covered Person). Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
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Section 3. Rebuttable Presumption. For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c) of Section 1 of this Article VIII or clauses (a) or (b) of Section 2 of this Article VIII, the majority of disinterested Trustees acting on the matter or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, shall be entitled to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
Section 4. Indemnification Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term "Covered Person" shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators and a "disinterested Trustee" is a Trustee who is not an "interested person" of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an "interested person" by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees or officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 5. No Presumption. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that a Covered Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was lawful.
Section 6. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a Shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability, but only out of the assets of the particular Series of Shares of which he or she is or was a Shareholder.
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, Etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or any Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust or to the assets of that particular Series for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee.
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Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees, by any officer or officers or otherwise shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers or otherwise and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or upon the assets belonging to the Series for the benefit of which the Trustees have caused the note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking to be made or issued, and may contain such further recital as he or she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall not operate to bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholders or any other person individually.
Section 2. Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
For purposes of (a) any standard of care applicable to a Trustee in the discharge of his or her duties as a trustee and (b) indemnification of a Trustee pursuant to Article VIII of this Declaration of Trust, the conduct of the Trustee shall be evaluated solely by reference to a hypothetical reasonable person, without regard to any special expertise, knowledge or other qualifications of the Trustee. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, 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 result in that Trustee being held to a standard of care that is higher than the standard that would be applicable in the absence of such an appointment, designation or identification or of such knowledge, experience or qualification, nor shall such an appointment, designation or identification or such knowledge, experience or other qualification impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than would obtain in the absence of such an appointment, designation or identification or such knowledge, experience or qualification.
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
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Section 4. Termination of Trust or Series or Class. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of at least 50% of the Shares of each Series entitled to vote and voting separately by Series or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series or Class may be terminated at any time by vote of at least 50% of the Shares of that Series or Class or by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that Series or Class.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series or Class, as the case may be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or attributable to the particular Class, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or attributable to the particular Class, as the case may be), to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds belonging to each Series (or the applicable Series or attributable to the particular Class, as the case may be) to the Shareholders of that Series (or Class as the case may be), as a Series (or Class as the case may be), ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series (or Class as the case may be) held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination.
Section 5. Merger, Consolidation or Transfer. The Trust, or any one or more Series or Classes of the Trust, may, either as the successor, survivor or non-survivor, (1) consolidate or merge with one or more other trusts, series, or Classes (including any Series or Classes of the Trust), sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, to form a consolidated or merged trust, series, class, sub-trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation under the laws of any state under the laws of which any one of the constituent entities is organized or (2) transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets to one or more other trusts, series, or classes (including any Series or Classes of the Trust), sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, or have one or more such trusts, series, or classes (including any Series or Classes of the Trust), sub-trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets to it, any such consolidation, merger or transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the Trust, or one or more Series or Classes, as the case may be, in connection therewith. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any such consolidation, merger or transfer may be authorized by vote of a majority of the then Trustees without the approval of Shareholders of the Trust or relevant Series or Class.
Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like "herein", "hereof” and "hereunder" shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original. This instrument and any amendment hereto may be executed in written form or using electronic or digital technology, whether it is a computer-generated signature, an electronic copy of the party’s true ink signature, DocuSign, facsimile or otherwise. Delivery of an executed counterpart of the Agreement by facsimile, e-mail transmission via portable document format (.pdf), DocuSign, or other electronic means will be equally as effective and binding as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.
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Section 7. Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is made in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Section 8. Forum for Adjudication of Disputes. Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (i) any action or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Trust or any Shareholders, (ii) any action asserting a claim against the Trust (or any Series thereof), or against any Trustee, officer or other employee of the Trust, whether arising under federal law, the law of any state, or the law of a non-U.S. jurisdiction, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, the statutory or common law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, or any agreement on behalf of the Trust authorized thereunder, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a “Covered Action”) shall be brought in the state or federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section, and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in this Section.
If any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the state or federal courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any Shareholder, such Shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the first paragraph of this Section (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Shareholder.
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If any provision or provisions of this Section shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Section containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 9. Amendments. The Trustees may without shareholder vote amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration of Trust, including without limitation by way of an amendment and restatement. Shareholders shall have the right to vote only (a) to the extent required by applicable law or otherwise required by this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws as in effect at the time or (b) as the Trustees may otherwise determine.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Declaration of Trust is hereby adopted by the Trustee in the town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as of this 26th day of April, 2021.
| MASSMUTUAL ADVANTAGE FUNDS | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Trustee | ||
ADDENDUM
The business address of the Trust is ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
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