Exhibit (a)
CDC NVEST TAX EXEMPT MONEY MARKET TRUST
THIRD RESTATEMENT OF AMENDED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS THIRD RESTATEMENT OF AMENDED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made
at Boston, Massachusetts this 22nd, day of August, 2002 by the Trustees whose
signatures are affixed hereto, restating the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated the 18th day of January, 1983 ("Original Declaration of Trust"), as
amended and restated by the First Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration
of Trust dated the 18th day of June, 1985 ("First Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust"), and as amended and restated by the Second Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated the 10th day of September,
1993 ("Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust"), and as further
amended to the date hereof:
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, the Trustees adopted the Original Declaration of Trust on January
18, 1983 and amendments thereto prior to June 18, 1985;
WHEREAS, the Trustees amended and restated the Original Declaration of
Trust by adopting the First Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust on June
18, 1985 and Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 to the First Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust prior to September 10, 1993;
WHEREAS, the Trustees amended and restated the First Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust by adopting the Second Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust on September 10, 1993 and Amendments Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to the Second
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust prior to the date hereof (as so
amended, the "Current Declaration of Trust");
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire at this time to restate the Current
Declaration of Trust in order to incorporate into one document the Second
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto;
WHEREAS, the Trustees intend that such restatement not amend any
substantive provisions of the Current Declaration of Trust;
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.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby restate the Current Declaration of
Trust to incorporate any amendments thereto in one document and direct that this
Third Restatement of Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust be filed with
the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the City Clerk of
the City of Boston and do hereby declare that they will hold all cash,
securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any
manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon
the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1. This Trust shall be known as CDC Nvest Tax Exempt Money Market
Trust and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name
or any other name as they may from time to time determine.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by
the context or specifically provided
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by
this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(b) "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust elected in accordance
with Article IV hereof;
(c) "Shares" means the equal proportionate units of interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust or in the Trust property belonging to any
Series of the Trust or in any class of Shares of the Trust (as the context may
require) shall be divided from time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the
Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms "Commission" and "principal underwriter" shall have the
meanings given them in the 1940 Act;
(g) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Third Restatement of Amended
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(h) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to
time;
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(i) "Series Company" refers to the form of registered open-end investment
company described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act or in any successor
statutory provision;
(j) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated under or
in accordance with the provisions of Article III;
(k) "Multi-Class Series" refers to Series of Shares established and
designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6;
and
(1) The terms "class" and "class of Shares" refer to the division of Shares
representing any Multi-Class Series into two or more classes in accordance with
the provisions of Article III.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment
primarily in securities and debt instruments.
ARTICLE III
SHARES
SECTION 1. DIVISION OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST. The beneficial interest in the
Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, without
par value. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each
Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of
the Shares of any Series shall be entitled to receive dividends, when and as
declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1
hereof. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6 of this Article III with
respect to Shares of Multi-Class Series, no Share shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or
distributions upon termination of the Trust or of such Series made pursuant to
Article VIII, Section 4 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6 of
this Article III with respect to Shares of Multi-Class Series, all dividends and
distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a particular
Series or from the assets belonging to such Series according to the number of
Shares of such Series held of record by such Shareholder on the record date for
any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as the case may be.
Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any
additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust. The Trustees may from
time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Series or class into
a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series or class without thereby
changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of that Series or
class in the assets belonging to that Series or attributable to that class or in
any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series or class.
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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 or class and as to the number of Shares of
each Series and class held from time to time by each.
SECTION 3. INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST. The Trustees shall accept investments
in the Trust from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration as
they from time to time authorize.
SECTION 4. STATUS OF SHARES AND LIMITATION OF PERSONAL LIABILITY. Shares
shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this
instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be
held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have
become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the
Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of
any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or
elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but entitles such representative
only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Trust. Ownership of
Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any
part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the
same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the
Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any
Shareholders, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any
Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other
than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
SECTION 5. POWER OF TRUSTEES TO CHANGE PROVISIONS RELATING TO SHARES.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without
limiting the power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided
elsewhere herein, the Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of
Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Trustees may
determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so
as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the
Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust for the purpose of (i) responding
to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or interpretations of any
governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or
(ii) designating and establishing Series or classes in addition to those
established under or in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of this
Article III; provided that before adopting any such amendment without
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Shareholder approval the Trustees shall determine that it is consistent with the
fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders. The establishment and
designation of any series of Shares in addition to those Series established and
designated in Section 6 of this Article III shall be effective upon the
execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an amendment to this Declaration
of Trust, taking the form of a complete restatement or otherwise, setting forth
such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of
such Series, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. The establishment and
designation of any class of Shares shall be effective upon either the execution
by a majority of the then Trustees of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust
or the adoption by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees of
a resolution setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative
rights and preferences of such class and such eligibility requirements for
investment therein as the Trustees may determine, or as otherwise provided in
such amendment or resolution.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, for the
above-stated purposes, amend the Declaration of Trust to:
(a) create one or more Series or classes of Shares (in addition to any
Series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and
preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the
Trustees shall determine and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as shares
of particular Series or classes in accordance with such eligibility
requirements;
(b) amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of
Section 6 of this Article III;
(c) combine one or more Series or classes of Shares into a single Series or
class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine;
(d) change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in
Shares of any Series or class, including without limitation the power to provide
for the issue of Shares of any Series or class in connection with any merger or
consolidation of the Trust with another trust or company or any acquisition by
the Trust of part or all of the assets of another trust or company;
(e) change the designation of any Series or class of Shares;
(f) change the method of allocating dividends among the various Series and
classes of Shares;
(g) allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any
specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more Series or
classes of Shares; and
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(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.
SECTION 6. ESTABLISHMENT AND DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND CLASSES. Without
limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 5, INTER ALIA, to
establish and designate any further Series or classes or to modify the rights
and preferences of any Series or class, the following Series shall be, and is
hereby established and designated, and is further designated a Multi-Class
Series: the "Tax Exempt Money Market Trust."
Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the
following rights and preferences relative to Shares of each other Series, and
Shares of each class of a Multi-Class Series shall have such rights and
preferences relative to other classes of the same Series as are set forth below,
together with such other rights and preferences relative to such other classes
as are set forth in this resolution of the Trustees establishing and designating
such class of Shares:
(a) ASSETS BELONGING TO SERIES. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c)
of this Section 6:
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of
a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is
invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from
whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived
from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be,
shall irrevocably belong to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the
rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the
Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any
proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any
funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever
form the same may be, are herein referred to as "assets belonging to" that
Series. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and
proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as
belonging to any particular Series (collectively "General Assets"), the Trustees
shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the
Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such
basis as they, in their 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.
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(b) LIABILITIES BELONGING TO SERIES. Subject to the provisions of paragraph
(c) of this Section 6:
The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the
liabilities of the Trust in respect to that Series and all 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 shall be 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 (including Reserve
Requirements, if any) so charged to a Series are herein referred to as
"liabilities belonging to" that Series. Each allocation of liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves (including Reserve Requirements, if any)
by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the holders of all Series
for all purposes.
(c) APPORTIONMENT OF ASSETS ETC. IN CASE OF MULTI-CLASS SERIES. In the case
of any Multi-Class Series, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect
to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of such Series,
(i) any assets, income, earnings, profits, proceeds, liabilities, expenses,
charges, costs and reserves belonging or attributable to that Series may be
allocated or attributed to a particular class of Shares of that Series or
apportioned among two or more classes of Shares of that Series; and (ii) Shares
of any class of such Series may have priority or preference over shares of other
classes or such Series with respect to dividends or distributions upon
termination of the Trust or of such Series or class or otherwise, provided that
no Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Shares of the same
class and that all dividends and distributions to shareholders or a particular
class shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of such class according to
the number of Shares and such class held of record by such Shareholders on the
record date for any dividend or distribution or on the date of termination, as
the case may be.
(d) DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Declaration, including, without limitation, Article
VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without limitation, any distribution
paid upon termination of the Trust or of any Series or class) with respect to,
nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series or class shall be
effected by the Trust other than from the assets belonging to such Series or
attributable to such class, nor shall any Shareholder of any particular Series
or class otherwise have any right or claim against the assets belonging to any
other Series or attributable to any other class except to the extent that such
Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other
Series or class.
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(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. Except with
respect to matters as to which any particular Series or class is adversely
affected, all of the Shares of each Series and class shall, on matters as to
which it is entitled to vote, vote with other Series and classes so entitled as
a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to matters which
would otherwise be voted on by two or more Series or classes as a single class,
the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, submit such matters to the
Shareholders of any or all such Series or classes, separately.
(f) EQUALITY. Except to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect
to the relative rights and preferences of any classes of Shares of a Multi-Class
Series, all the Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Series (subject to the
liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of any particular Series
shall be equal to each other Share of that Series. All the Shares of each
particular class of Shares within a Multi-Class Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Series that are
attributable to such class (subject to the liabilities attributable to such
class), and each Share of any particular class within a Multi-Class Series shall
be equal to each other Share of such class.
(g) FRACTIONS. Any fractional Share of a Series or class shall carry
proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of that Series
or class, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(h) EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that the holders of Shares of any Series or class shall have the right to
exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series or classes of Shares
in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(i) COMBINATION OF SERIES. The Trustees shall have the authority, without
the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required by
applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities belonging to any two or
more Series into assets and liabilities belonging to a single series or class.
(j) ELIMINATION OF SERIES OR CLASS. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the
Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust to abolish that Series and to
rescind the establishment and designation thereof, such amendment to be effected
in the manner provided in Section 5 of this Article III. At any time that there
are no Shares outstanding of any particular class previously established and
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designated of a Multi-Series Class, the Trustees may abolish that class and
rescind the establishment and designation thereof, either by amending this
Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in Section 5 of this Article III (if
such class was established and designated by an amendment to this Declaration of
Trust), or by vote or written consent of a majority of the then Trustees (if
such class was established and designated by Trustee vote or written consent).
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder or
former Shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his
or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series
or class and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or
other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of
the assets of the Series (or attributable to the class) or 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 rights to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. ELECTION AND TENURE. The Trustees may fix the numbers of
Trustees, fill vacancies in the Trustees, including vacancies arising from an
increase in the number of Trustees, or remove Trustees with or without cause.
Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or
she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of
Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election
and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the
Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon
receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the
extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee
resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for
any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
on account of such removal. The Shareholders may fix the number of Trustees and
elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Trustees for that
purpose and to the extent required by applicable law, including paragraphs (a)
and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.
SECTION 2. EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. OF A TRUSTEE. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or
any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing
agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
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SECTION 3. POWERS. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust,
the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have
all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including
the power to engage in securities transactions of all kinds on behalf of the
Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt 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; they may
fill vacancies in or remove from their number (including any vacancies created
by an increase in the number of Trustees); 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; and they may employ
one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such
custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets
in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal
Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both,
provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more
principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of
Shareholders with respect to various matters, and in general delegate such
authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any
committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any
such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease 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;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any
trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its
own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or
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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 of
which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage,
purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, to pay calls or
subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit
any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee,
depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority
with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred)
as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such
portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or
trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited
to claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and
any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
(1) 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; and
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(m) To pay pensions as deemed appropriate by the Trustees and to
adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share
purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit
plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance
and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other
benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of
the Trust.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present
or future law or custom in regard to investments by Trustees. The Trustees
shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of
the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES BY THE TRUST. The Trustees are authorized to
pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly
out of principal and partly out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses,
fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the
Trust, or in connection with the management thereof, including but not limited
to, the Trustees' compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of
the Trust's officers, employees, investment adviser or manager, principal
underwriter, auditor, counsel, custodian, transfer agent. Shareholder servicing
agent and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses
and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES BY SHAREHOLDERS. The Trustees shall have the
power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each
Shareholder of any particular Series or class, to pay directly, in advance or
arrears, for charges of the Trust's custodian or transfer, Shareholder servicing
or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting
off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends
owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of
such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which
represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
SECTION 6. OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST. Title to all of the assets of
the Trust shall at 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 By-Laws, the Trustees
may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive
advisory and/or management services for the Trust or for any Series or class
with any corporation, trust, association or other organization (the "Manager");
and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may
determine, including without limitation, authority for the Manager to determine
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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 other corporation, trust, association or other organization,
appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal underwriter for
the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements and
restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws; and any such contract may
contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a
shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager,
adviser, principal underwriter, distributor or affiliate or agent of or for
any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or of or for
any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or
management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract,
or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract may have been
or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or
affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or
that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with
which an advisory or management contract or principal underwriter's or
distributor's contract, or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency
contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or
management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract,
or transfer, Shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or
more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or
has other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
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 and as may
otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act, including without limitation Sections
16(a) and 16(b) thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration
of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article VIII, Section 8, (iii) to the
same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to
whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be
brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust
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or the Shareholders, (iv) with respect to the termination of the Trust or any
Series or class to the extent and as provided in Article VIII, Section 4, (v)
with respect to the removal of one or more Trustees to the extent and as
provided in Article V, Section 7 and (vi) with respect to such additional
matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration of Trust,
the By-Laws 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 with respect to matters affecting that Series and may with respect
to that Series take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the
By-Laws to be taken by the Shareholders.
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 By-Laws. 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. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder
under this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, 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.
SECTION 3. QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. Except when a larger quorum is
required by law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, 40% of the
Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting.
When any one or more Series or classes is to vote as a single class separate
from any other Shares which are to vote on the same matters as a separate class
or classes, 40% of the Shares of each such class entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting of that class. Any meeting of
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Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes
properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the
meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for
the original meeting without further notice. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions and a
plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is required by any
provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by law. If any question
on which the Shareholders are entitled to vote would adversely affect the rights
of any Series or class of Shares, the vote of a majority (or such larger vote as
is required as aforesaid) of the Shares of such Series or class which are
entitled to vote, voting separately, shall also be required to decide such
question.
SECTION 4. ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Any action taken by Shareholders may
be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the
By-Laws) and holding a majority (or such larger proportion as aforesaid) of the
Shares of any Series or class entitled to vote separately on the matter consent
to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of
the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as
a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
SECTION 5. RECORD DATES. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of
any Series or class who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any
adjournment thereof, the Trustees may from time to time fix a time, which shall
be not more than 60 days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the
record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having the
right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and
in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such
right, notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after
the records 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
Trustee from setting different record dates for different Series or classes.
SECTION 6. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
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SECTION 7. REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES. A Trustee may be removed (i) by vote of at
least 66-2/3% of the Shares entitled to vote, voting together without regard to
series at a meeting of Shareholders duly called for the purpose or (ii) by a
written consent filed with the custodian of the Trust's portfolio securities and
executed by the holders of 66-2/3% of the Shares entitled to vote, voting
together without regard to series. The Trustees shall call a meeting of
shareholders for the purpose set forth in clause (i) if requested to do so in
writing by the holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding Shares.
ARTICLE VI
NET INCOME, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
SECTION 1. DISTRIBUTIONS OF NET INCOME. The Trustees shall each year, or
more frequently if they so determine in their sole discretion, distribute to the
Shareholders of each Series, in shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, an
amount approximately equal to the Net Income attributable to the assets
belonging to such Series, and may from time to time distribute to the
shareholders of each Series, in shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, such
additional amounts, but only from the assets belonging to such Series, as they
may authorize. Except as otherwise permitted by paragraph (c) of Section 6 of
Article III in the case of a Multi-Class Series, all dividends and distributions
on Shares of a particular Series shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of
that Series in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held by such
holders and recorded on the books of the Trust at the date and time of record
established for that payment of such dividend or distributions.
So long as any Series or class thereof shall use the amortized cost method
of determining its net asset value, the term "Net Income" as used with respect
to that particular Series or class shall mean (i) all interest income (including
both original issue and market discount accrued ratably to the date of maturity)
accrued on portfolio investments belonging to the Series or attributable to the
class, plus or minus (ii) realized gains and losses on portfolio investments
belonging to such Series or attributable to such class and less (iii) all actual
and accrued expenses and liabilities (including amortized premium determined in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted at the time) belonging
to such Series or attributable to such class. At any other time the term "Net
Income" shall, subject to the last paragraph of this section, mean: (i) such
interest income plus or minus (ii) realized or unrealized gains and losses on
portfolio investments belonging to the Series or attributable to such class
determined by valuing the portfolio investments belonging to the Series or
attributable to such class in a manner consistent with the requirements of the
1940 Act and any applicable provisions of the By-Laws, and less (iii) all actual
and accrued expenses and liabilities belonging to such Series or attributable to
such class. Such 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
By-Laws, and all of the Net Income of each Series or class, to the extent there
16
is a positive amount thereof since the last determination of Net Income, shall
be declared as a dividend to the Shareholders of that Series or class.
Determinations of Net Income of any Series or class 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, the
pro rata share of such negative amount allocable to each Shareholder of such
Series or class shall constitute a liability of such Shareholder to that Series
or class which shall be paid at such times and in such manner as the Trustees
may from time to time determine (i) out of the accrued dividend account of such
Shareholder, (ii) by reducing the number of Shares of that Series or class in
the account of such Shareholder or (iii) otherwise. As a result of such
determinations and declarations as a dividend of the Net Income of any Series or
class, the net asset value per Share of each Series or class (the value of all
the assets belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, less total
liabilities belonging to such Series or attributable to such class, divided by
the number of Shares of that Series or class outstanding) is intended to remain
at a constant amount immediately after each such determination and declaration
subject, however, to the power of the Trustees as provided in Section 1 of
Article III hereof to divide or combine the Shares of any Series or class into a
greater or lesser number.
The manner of determining Net Income 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 matter prescribed or permitted
by applicable law.
SECTION 2. REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES. The Trust shall purchase such
Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation
of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust
or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in
accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from
time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value
thereof, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws, next determined. Payment
for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days
after the date on which the request is made. The obligation set forth in this
Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if
permitted by the rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the New
York Stock Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it
impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable
Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets belonging to such
17
Series or attributable to a particular class thereof or during any other period
permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of investors, such
obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The Trust may also
purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of
such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to
purchase or repurchase is made.
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 the Shares of which are being
redeemed. In making any such payment wholly or partly in kind, the Trust shall,
so far as may be practicable, deliver assets which approximate the
diversification of all of the assets belonging at the time to the Series (or
attributable to the class) the Shares of which are being redeemed. Subject to
the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other
property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price may be
determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be
liable for any delay of any corporation or other person in transferring
securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
SECTION 3. REDEMPTIONS AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST. The Trust shall have the
right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the
net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i) if at
such times such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series or class having an
aggregate net asset value of less than an amount, determined from time to time
by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal
to or in excess of a percentage determined from time to time by the Trustees of
the outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any Series or class.
ARTICLE VII
COMPENSATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. COMPENSATION. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
reasonable compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services and payment for the same by the Trust.
SECTION 2. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Trustees shall not be responsible
or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent,
employee, Manager or principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee
be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, 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.
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Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of
the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with
respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1. TRUSTEES, SHAREHOLDERS, ETC. NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE; NOTICE. All
persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the
Trust or any Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust, or, to the
extent that the liability of the Trust may have been expressly limited by
contract to the assets of a particular Series, only to the assets belonging to
the relevant Series, for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and
neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers,
employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable
therefor. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against
any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees, by any officers or officer or
otherwise shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same
was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or
Trustees or as officers or officer 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 officers or officer 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 discretion 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
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Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning
and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for
any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such
advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any
surety if a bond is required.
SECTION 3. LIABILITY OF THIRD PERSONS DEALING WITH TRUSTEES. No person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon
its order.
SECTION 4. TERMINATION OF TRUST, SERIES OR CLASS. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust
may be terminated at any time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of each
Series entitled to vote and voting separately by Series or by the Trustees by
written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series or class may be terminated at any
time by vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of that Series or class or by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that Series or class.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series or class, as the case may be),
after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), whether due or
accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in
accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the
remaining assets belonging, severally, to each Series (or the applicable Series
or attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to distributable
form in cash or shares or other securities, or any combination thereof, and
distribute the proceeds belonging to each Series (or the applicable Series or
attributable to the particular class, as the case may be), to the Shareholders
of that Series or class, as a Series or class, ratably according to the number
of Shares of that Series or class held by the several Shareholders on the date
of termination.
SECTION 5. MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION. The Trustees may cause the Trust to be
merged into or consolidated with another trust or company or its shares
exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute, if any, or
otherwise to the extent permitted by law, if such merger or consolidation or
share exchange has been authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding
Shares; provided that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law,
the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure necessary or
appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation.
SECTION 6. FILING OF COPIES, 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
20
instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with any other governmental
office where such filing may from time to time be required. Anyone dealing with
the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or
not any such amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with
the Trust hereunder; and, 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.
SECTION 7. APPLICABLE LAW. This Declaration of Trust is made in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by
and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The
Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and
without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which
are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
SECTION 8. AMENDMENTS. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time
by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when
authorized so to do by vote of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote, except
that amendments described in Article III, Section 5 hereof or having the purpose
of changing the name of the Trust or of supplying any omission, curing any
ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent
provision contained herein shall not require authorization by Shareholder vote.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands for ourselves and for
our successors and assigns as of the day and year first above written.
/S/ ββββββ β. βββββββ, ββ. /S/ ββββ β. ββββββ
ββββββ β. βββββββ, ββ. ββββ β. ββββββ
/S/ ββββββ β. ββββ /S/ ββββββ β. βββββ
ββββββ β. ββββ ββββββ β. βββββ
/S/ βββββββ β. COWAN_ /S/ ββββ β. βββββ
βββββββ β. βββββ ββββ β. βββββ
/S/ βββββββ ββββββ /S/ βββββ β. ββββ
βββββββ ββββββ βββββ β. ββββ
/S/ βββββββββ β. βββββ
βββββββββ β. βββββ
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