THE BAUPOST FUND
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I....................................................................................................... 1
Name and Definitions................................................................................... 1
Section 1. Name.............................................................................. 1
Section 2. Definitions....................................................................... 1
ARTICLE II...................................................................................................... 2
Purpose of Trust....................................................................................... 2
ARTICLE III..................................................................................................... 2
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........................................... 5
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders................................................... 7
Section 8. No Preemptive Rights.............................................................. 7
ARTICLE IV...................................................................................................... 7
The Trustees........................................................................................... 7
Section 1. Election and Tenure............................................................... 7
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
ARTICLE V....................................................................................................... 12
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...................................................................... 14
Section 6. Additional Provisions............................................................. 14
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ARTICLE VI...................................................................................................... 14
Net Income, Distributions, and Redemptions and Repurchases............................................. 14
Section 1. Distributions of Net Income....................................................... 14
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases....................................................... 15
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust............................................ 16
ARTICLE VII..................................................................................................... 16
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees................................................... 16
Section 1. Compensation...................................................................... 16
Section 2. Limitation of Liability........................................................... 16
ARTICLE VIII.................................................................................................... 17
Indemnification........................................................................................ 17
Section 1. Trustees, Officers, etc........................................................... 17
Section 2. Compromise Payment................................................................ 17
Section 3. Indemnification Not Exclusive..................................................... 18
Section 4. Shareholders...................................................................... 18
ARTICLE IX...................................................................................................... 19
Miscellaneous.......................................................................................... 19
Section 1. Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice........................ 19
Section 2. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or
Surety.............................................................................. 19
Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees.................................. 20
Section 4. Termination of Trust or Series.................................................... 20
Section 5. Merger and Consolidation.......................................................... 20
Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings............................................ 21
Section 7. Applicable Law.................................................................... 21
Section 8. Amendments........................................................................ 21
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THE BAUPOST FUND
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Cambridge,
Massachusetts this 29th day of June, 1990 by the Trustees hereunder and the
holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and to be issued
hereunder as hereinafter provided:
WITNESSETH that
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 direct that this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust be filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the Clerk of every city or town where such association or
trust has a usual place of business, 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 pro rata benefit of the holders
from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This Trust shall be known as "The Baupost Fund" and
the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any
other name as they may from time to time determine.
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 named in
Article IV hereof or elected in accordance with such Article;
(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 (as the context may require) shall be
divided from time to time;
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(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" shall mean this 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;
(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; and
(j) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and
designated under or 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 (including options), debt instruments, money market
instruments, commodities, commodity contracts and options thereon.
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. 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 IX, Section 4 hereof. 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 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
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other securities issued by the Trust. The Trustees may from time to time divide
or combine the Shares of any particular Series into a greater or lesser number
of Shares of that Series without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interest of the Shares of that Series in the assets belonging to that Series or
in any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be
recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust,
which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series. 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
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 as to the number of Shares of each Series
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
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agency or any laws, now or hereafter applicable to the Trust, or (ii)
designating and establishing Series in addition to the Series established in
Section 6 of this Article III; provided that before adopting any such amendment
without 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 or class of Shares in addition to the 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.
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;
(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
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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. 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, the "Baupost X Fund," shall be, and is hereby,
established and designated.
Shares of each Series established in this Section 6 shall have the
following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets belonging to Series. All consideration received by
the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with
all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including,
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. 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 holders of all Series for all purposes.
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(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including
without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution (including, without
limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any
Series) 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.
(d) Voting. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of
this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Section 1 of Article
V, the Shareholders of any particular Series shall not be entitled to vote on
any matters as to which such Series is not affected. On any matter submitted to
a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall be
voted by individual Series, unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act or other
applicable law.
(e) Equality. 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.
(f) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series shall carry
proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of that Series,
including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions,
redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.
(g) Exchange Privileges. The Trustees shall have the authority
to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to
exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series of Shares in
accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(h) 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.
(i) Elimination of Series. 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.
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
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been a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Series 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.
ARTICLE IV
The Trustees
Section 1. Election and Tenure. The initial Trustees shall be ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. 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 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.
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 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 remove 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
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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, 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 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 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 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
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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 and 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 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
(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 without limitation, the Trustees' compensation and such expenses and
charges for the services of the Trust's officers, employees, investment adviser
or manager,
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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, 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
with The Baupost Group, Inc. 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 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
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
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
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(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, (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 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 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
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
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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 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
Shareholder's 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, 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 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 having the right to
notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such
case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right,
notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the
record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series 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
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date for determining the Shareholders of such Series 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 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 settling different
record dates for different Series.
Section 6. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
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. 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.
The manner of determining net income, income, asset values, capital
gains, expenses, liabilities and reserves of any Series 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 By-Laws.
Determinations of net income of any Series and determination of income, asset
value, 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 determined at any time
is a negative amount, the pro rata share of such negative amount allocable to
each Shareholder of such Series shall constitute a liability of such Shareholder
to that Series 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 in the account of such Shareholder, or (z) otherwise.
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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, the 1940 Act and the
rules of the Commission. 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 or
in accordance with such other procedures, consistent with the 1940 Act and the
rules of the Commission, as the Trustees may from time to time authorize. 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 such 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 Series 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 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 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.
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.
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Section 2. Limitation of Liability. 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, his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees
or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 1. Trustees, Officers, etc. The Trust shall indemnify each of
its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust's request as
directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has
any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (hereinafter referred to
as a "Covered Person") against all liabilities and expenses, including but not
limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines
and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by a Covered Person in
connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, 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 any such action, suit or
other proceeding to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of
wilful 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 (providing 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
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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 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 wilful 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 or wilful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his or her office, 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 Person against any liability to the
Trust to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of wilful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his or her office. 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 wilful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such Covered Person's office.
Section 3. 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; provided, however, that the Trust shall
not purchase or maintain any such liability insurance in contravention of
applicable law, including without limitation, the 1940 Act.
Section 4. Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder
shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or
having been a Shareholder and
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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.
ARTICLE IX
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
wilful 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 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,
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.
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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 or Series. 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 may be terminated at any time by
vote of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares of that Series or by the Trustees by
written notice to the Shareholders of that Series.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series, 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, 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, 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, as the case may
be), to the Shareholders of that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the
number of Shares of that Series 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, however, 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
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
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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 to do so 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Trustees as aforesaid do hereto set
their hands this 29th day of June, 1990.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS)
) ss.
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX )
Then personally appeared before me ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ who acknowledged the
foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
June 29, 1990 /s/ Jo-An ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: June 13, 1991
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS)
) ss.
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX )
Then personally appeared before me ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ who acknowledged
the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
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June 29, 1990 /s/ Jo-An ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: June 13, 1991
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS)
) ss.
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX )
Then personally appeared before me ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ who acknowledged
the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
June 29, 1990 /s/ Jo-An ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: June 13, 1991
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