Exhibit 1
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
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AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
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GMO TRUST
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THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
made at Boston, Massachusetts this _____ day of May, 1997 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 desire to restate all prior Amendments to the
original Agreement and Declaration of Trust made to date and additionally
desire to amend and restate this Agreement and Declaration of Trust in
connection with the creation of Classes within each Series of the GMO Trust
pursuant to the power of the Trustees set forth in Article III, Section 5 of
the original Agreement and 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby direct that this First Amended and
Restated 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 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. This Trust shall be known as GMO 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) "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this
First Amended and Restated 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 (or in the property belonging to any Series allocable to
any Class of that Series) (as the context may require) shall be divided from
time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms "Commission" and "principal underwriter" shall have the meanings
given to 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;
(j) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated under or in
accordance with the provisions of Article III; and
(k) "Class" refers to any Class of Shares established and designated under or
in accordance with the provisions of Article III. The Shares of any Class shall
represent a subset of Shares of a Series, and together with all other Classes
of the same Series, shall constitute all Shares of that Series.
ARTICLE II.
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment
primarily in securities (including options), debt instruments, commodities,
commodity contracts and options thereon.
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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 or Class shall be entitled to receive dividends, when
and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI,
Section 1 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other
Share of the same Series and Class with respect to dividends or distributions
upon termination of the Trust or of such Series or Class made pursuant to
Article VIII, Section 4 hereof. All dividends and distributions shall be made
ratably among all Shareholders of a particular Series or Class from the assets
belonging to such Series (or, in the case of a Class, allocable to such Class)
according to the number of Shares of such Series or Class 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 other securities issued by the
Trust. The Trust 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, in the case of a Class, allocable to such Class) in any way affecting the
rights of Shares of any other Series or Class.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on
the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which
books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series and Class.
No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as
the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make
such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each
Series and Class and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by
the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be
conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each Series and Class and as to
the number of Shares of each Series and Class held from time to time by each.
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
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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
and Classes in addition to the Series and Classes 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 and
Classes 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 Class, as the case may be, 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 (j) of
Section 6 of this Article III;
(c) combine one or more Series or Classes of Shares into a single Series or
Class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine;
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(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 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, each Series set forth on Schedule 3.6 hereto (as may be amended
from time to time by the Trustees) shall be, and are hereby, established and
designated. In addition, with respect to each such Series, the Class I Shares,
Class II Shares, Class III Shares, Class IV Shares, Class V Shares and Class VI
Shares, which each such Series may issue from time to time, shall be, and are
hereby, established and designated, which Classes shall have the respective
rights and preferences as are set forth in Exhibit 3.6 attached hereto as it
may be amended from time to time by the Board of Trustees.
Shares of each Series (or Class, as the case may be) 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
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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.
(c) 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 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,
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 as otherwise required by the
1940 Act or other applicable law. 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 Class of a Series shall
represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets allocable to that Class,
and each Share of any particular
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Series shall be equal to each other Share of that Series (subject to the
liabilities allocated to each Class of that Series).
(f) 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.
(g) 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 Class of Shares in
accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(h) Combination of Series or Classes. The Trustees shall have the authority,
without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series or Class unless
otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities
belonging to any two or more Series (or the assets allocable to any two or more
Classes) into assets and liabilities belonging (or allocable) to a single
Series (or Class).
(i) Elimination of Series or Classes. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Series or Class previously established and
designated, the Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust to abolish that
Series or Class and to rescind the establishment and designation thereof, such
amendment to be effected in the manner provided in Section 5 of this Article
III.
(j) Assets and Liabilities Allocable to a Class. The assets and liabilities
belonging to a Series shall be proportionately allocated among all the Classes
of that Series according to the percentage of net assets allocated to each
particular Class. For purposes of determining the assets and liabilities
belonging to a Series that are allocable to a Class of that Series, subject to
the provisions of paragraph (g) of Section 5 of this Article III, expenses
shall be accrued as set forth in Exhibit 3.6 attached hereto.
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
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 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.
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The Trustees
Section 9. Election and Tenure. The Trustees may fix the number of 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 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 successor. Any Trustee may resign at any
time by written instrument signed by him 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 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 10. 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 11. 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 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.
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Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power
and authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write
options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to
any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect
to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or
powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper,
granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to
securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise power 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 the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall
deem proper;
(h) To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against
the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for
taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other
combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property;
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(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of
any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume
liability for payment thereof;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as
they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business,
including without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the
Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments,
and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees, agents, investment advisers, principal underwriters, or independent
contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of
every nature arising by reason of holding being or having held any such office
or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
by any such person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser,
principal underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or
omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against liability; 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 12. 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 13. 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
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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 14. 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 15. 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
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. (including any limited liability company,
provided that a majority of the beneficial owners of Grantham, Mayo, Van
Otterloo & Co. hold a majority of the equity interest in such entity and
substantially all business of Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. is assigned
thereto) 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
(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,
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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 IV.
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 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 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, 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 or Class are outstanding the Trustees may exercise all rights of
Shareholders of that Series or Class with respect to matters affecting that
Series or Class and may with respect to that Series or Class take any action
required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the 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 ByLaws. Meetings of the Shareholders may
also be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking
action upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or
desirable. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the
Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or
caused to be given by the Trustees by mailing such notice at least seven days
before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the
meeting, to each Shareholder at the Shareholder's address as it appears on the
records of the Trust. 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,
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executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his 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
Series or Class is to vote separately from any other Shares which are to vote
on the same matters as a separate Series or Class, 40% of the Shares of each
such Series or Class entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a
Shareholder's meeting of that Series or Class. Any meeting of Shareholders may
be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes property 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 record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series
or Class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other
distribution, the Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be
before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the
record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or Class having the
right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date
the Trustees may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or
transfer books for one or more Series or Class for all or any part of the
period between a record date and a
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meeting of shareholders or the payment of a distribution. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different
record dates for different Series or Classes.
Section 6. Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for
Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
ARTICLE V.
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 or Class, in shares of that Series or Class, cash
or otherwise, an amount approximately equal to the net income attributable to
the assets belonging to such Series (or the assets allocable to such Class) and
may from time to time distribute to the Shareholders of each Series or Class,
in shares of that Series, cash or otherwise, such additional amounts, but only
from the assets belonging to such Series (or allocable to that Class), as they
may authorize. All dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Series
or Class shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of that Series or Class
in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series or Class held by such
holders and recorded on the books of the Trust at the date and time of record
established for that payment or such dividend or distributions.
The manner of determining net income, income, asset values, capital gains,
expenses, liabilities and reserves of any Series or Class may from time to time
be altered as necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Trustees to conform
such manner of determination to any other method prescribed or permitted by
applicable law. Net income shall be determined by the Trustees or by such
person as they may authorize at the times and in the manner provided in the
By-Laws. Determinations of net income of any Series or Class 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 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 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 out of such
Shareholder's account at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may from
time to time determine (x) out of the accrued dividend account of such
Shareholder, (y) by reducing the number of Shares of that Series or Class in
the account of such Shareholder, or (z) otherwise.
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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, 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
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 net
assets allocable to such Class) 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 allocable 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 time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series or Class having an
aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time
by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal
to or in excess of a percentage determined from time to time by the Trustees of
the outstanding Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class.
ARTICLE VI.
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
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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 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 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
office.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every
other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the
Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with
respect to their or his capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or
Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
ARTICLE VII.
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 or Class 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 (or the assets allocable to a
particular Class), only to the assets belonging to the relevant Series (or
allocable to the relevant Class), 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 (or allocable to the
Class) 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 they may deem appropriate, but
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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 discretions hereunder shall be
binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his 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.
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 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 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. Any Class may be separately
terminated at any time by vote of at least a majority of the Shares of that
Class present and voting on the question (a quorum being present) or by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that 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 allocable to each Class (or
the applicable Series or Classes, 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 allocable to each
Class (or the applicable Series or Classes, 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 allocable to
each Class (or the applicable Series or Classes, 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
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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 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Trustees as aforesaid do hereto set
their hands this ____ day of ____________, 1997.
--------------------------
R. ββββββ ββββββββ
--------------------------
βββ β. Light
--------------------------
ββββββ β. ββββββββ
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EXHIBIT 3.6
GMO TRUST
Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940
-------------------------------------
Effective June 1, 1996
This Plan (the "Plan") is adopted by GMO Trust (the "Trust") pursuant
to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") and sets
forth the general characteristics of, and the general conditions under which
the Trust may offer, multiple classes of shares of its now existing and
hereafter created portfolios ("Funds"). This Plan may be revised or amended
from time to time as provided below.
CLASS DESIGNATIONS
Each Fund of the Trust may from time to time issue one or more of the
following classes of shares: Class I Shares, Class II Shares, Class III Shares,
Class IV Shares, Class V Shares and Class VI Shares. Each of the classes of
shares of any Fund will represent interests in the same portfolio of
investments and, except as described herein, shall have the same rights and
obligations as each other class. Each class shall be subject to such investment
minimums and other conditions of eligibility as are set forth in the Trust's
prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in
effect (the "Prospectus").
CLASS ELIGIBILITY
Class eligibility is generally dependent on the size of the client's
total account under the management of Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co., the
Trust's investment adviser (referred to herein as "GMO" or the "Adviser"), as
described from time to time in the Prospectus. Eligibility for Class I, Class
II and Class III Shares in dependent on the size of a client's minimum "Total
Investment" with GMO. For clients that have accounts with GMO as of May 31,
1996, their initial Total Investment will equal the market value of all of
their investments advised by GMO as of the close of business on May 31, 1996.
For clients establishing a relationship with GMO on or after June 1, 1996,
their Total Investment at any date is equal to the aggregate of all amounts
contributed (and less amounts withdrawn) to any Fund on or after June 1, 1996,
plus the market value of any non-mutual fund investment with GMO as of the
month-end prior to the date that "Total Investment" is being computed. For
purposes of class eligibility, market appreciation or depreciation of a Fund's
account is not considered; the Total Investment of a client is impacted only by
the amount of contributions to and withdrawals from Funds made by the client.
It is assumed that any Fund redemptions or withdrawals made by a client are
satisfied first from market appreciation in their shares, so that a redemption
or withdrawal does not lower a client's Total Investment unless the
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redemption or withdrawal exceeds the value of market appreciation. Market value
of non- mutual fund accounts at GMO will be considered, however.
Eligibility for Class IV, Class V and Class VI Shares is dependent
upon the client meeting either (i) a minimum "Total Fund Investment"
requirement which includes only a client's total investment in the particular
Fund, or (ii) a minimum "Total Investment" requirement (calculated as described
above for Class I, II and III shares). A client's Total Fund Investment and
Total Investment will be determined similarly to the determination of Total
Investment for purposes of eligibility for Class I, Class II and Class III
Shares, i.e., appreciation and depreciation of mutual fund shares is not
considered but these two calculations do include the market value of all such
accounts as of May 31, 1996, and the market value of non-mutual fund accounts
as of the month-end prior to determination.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
The differences among the various classes of shares are solely (i) the
level of shareholder service fee ("Shareholder Service Fee") borne by the class
for client and shareholder service, reporting and other support, and (ii)
whether GMO itself or the GMO Funds Division provides service and reporting to
the shareholders.
The multiple class structure reflects the fact that, as the size of
the client relationship increases, the cost to service that relationship is
expected to decrease as a percentage of the account. Thus, the Shareholder
Service Fee is lower for classes for which eligibility criteria generally
require greater assets under GMO's management.
Certain Funds are subject to either an initial purchase premium, a
redemption fee, or both. The initial purchase premium and redemption fee, if
any, may, in some limited cases, be subject to reduction or waiver if the
Adviser determines that there are minimal brokerage and/or transaction costs
incurred as a result of the purchase or redemption, as set forth in the
Prospectus in effect from time to time.1
----------------------------
1 All purchase premiums are paid to and retained by the relevant Fund
and are intended to cover the brokerage and other costs associated with putting
an investment to work in the relevant markets. All redemption fees are paid to
and retained by the relevant Fund and are designed to allocate transaction
costs caused by shareholder activity to the shareholder generating the
activity.
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ALLOCATIONS TO EACH CLASS
EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS
Shareholder Service Fees payable by the Trust to the shareholder
servicer of the Trust's shares (the "Shareholder Servicer") shall be allocated,
to the extent practicable, on a class-by-class basis. Subject to the approval
of the Trust's Board of Trustees, including a majority of the independent
Trustees, the following "Class Expenses" may (if such expense is properly
assessable at the class level) in the future be allocated on a class-by-class
basis: (a) transfer agency costs attributable to each class, (b) printing and
postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as
shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy statements to current shareholders
of a specific Class, (c) SEC registration fees incurred with respect to a
specific class, (d) blue sky and foreign registration fees and expenses
incurred with respect to a specific class, (e) the expenses of administrative
personnel and services required to support shareholders of a specific class
(including, but not limited to, maintaining telephone lines and personnel to
answer shareholder inquiries about their accounts or about the Trust), (f)
litigation and other legal expenses relating to a specific class of shares, (g)
Trustees' fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a
specific class of shares, (h) accounting and consulting expenses relating to a
specific class of shares, (i) any fees imposed pursuant to a non-Rule 12b-1
shareholder service plan that relate to a specific class of shares, and (j) any
additional expenses, not including advisory or custodial fees or other expenses
related to the management of the Trust's assets, if these expenses are actually
incurred in a different amount with respect to a class, or if services are
provided with respect to a class, or if services are provided with respect to a
class that are of a different kind or to a different degree than with respect
to one or more other classes.
All expenses not now or hereafter designated as Class Expenses ("Fund
Expenses") will be allocated to each class on the basis of the net asset value
of that class in relation to the net asset value of the relevant Fund.
However, notwithstanding the above, a Fund may allocate all expenses
other than Class Expenses on the basis of relative net assets (settled shares),
as permitted by rule 18f-3(c)(2) under the Act.
WAIVERS AND REIMBURSEMENTS
The Adviser and the Shareholder Servicer may choose to waive or
reimburse Shareholder Service Fees, or any other Class Expenses on a voluntary
or temporary basis.
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INCOME, GAINS AND LOSSES
Income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses shall be
allocated to each class on the basis of the net asset value of that class in
relation to the net asset value of the relevant Fund.
Each Fund may allocate income and realized and unrealized capital
gains and losses to each share based on relative net assets (i.e. settled
shares), as permitted by Rule 18f-3(c)(2) under the Act.
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE FEATURES
On July 31 of each year (the "Conversion Date") each client's Total
Investment, as previously defined and as described in the Prospectus, will be
determined. Based on that determination, the client's shares will be
automatically converted to the class of shares (Class I, Class II or Class III
Shares) of such Fund with the lowest Shareholder Service Fee which the client
would be eligible to purchase based on such Total Investment. Further, if a
client makes an investment in a GMO Fund or other product that causes the
client to be eligible for a new class of shares, such conversion will be
effected within 15 days after the end of the month during which such investment
was made. The rules for conversion to and among Class IV, Class V and Class VI
Shares are the same, with determinations of a client's Total Fund Investment
and Total Investment made according to the same schedule, as described in the
Prospectus.
Shares of one class will always convert into shares of another class
on the basis of the relative net asset value of the two classes, without the
imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. The conversion of a client's
investment from one class of shares to another is not a taxable event, and will
not result in the realization of gain or loss that may exist in Fund shares
held by the client. The client's tax basis in the new class of shares will
equal their basis in the old class before conversion. The conversion of shares
from one class to another class of shares may be suspended if the opinion of
counsel obtained by the Trust that the conversion does not constitute a taxable
event under current federal income tax law is no longer available.
Certain special rules will be applied by the Adviser with respect to
clients who owned shares of the Funds upon the creation of multiple classes on
May 31, 1996. First, all clients existing on May 31, 1996 will receive Class
III Shares on June 1, 1996 regardless of the size of their GMO investment.
Second, the conversion of existing clients to any class of shares with a higher
Shareholder Service Fee will not occur until July 31, 1997, based on the
client's Total Investment as of such date. Further, existing clients whose
Total Investment as of May 31, 1996 is equal to $7 million or more will be
eligible to remain invested in Class III Shares (despite the normal $35 million
minimum), provided such client makes no subsequent redemptions or withdrawals
other than of amounts attributable to market appreciation of their account
value as of June 1, 1996. Existing clients whose Total Investment as of May 31,
1996
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is less than $7 million but greater than $0 will be eligible to convert to
Class II Shares rather than Class I Shares on July 31, 1997, provided that such
client makes no subsequent redemptions or withdrawals other than of amounts
attributable to market appreciation of their account value as of June 1, 1996.
Clients making additional investments prior to June 1, 1997, such that their
Total Investment on June 1, 1997 is $35 million or more, will remain eligible
for Class III Shares.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends paid by the Trust with respect to its Class I, Class II,
Class III, Class IV, Class V and Class VI Shares, to the extent any dividends
are paid, will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time and will be
in the same amount, except that any Service Fee payments relating to a class of
shares will be borne exclusively by that class and, if applicable, Class
Expenses relating to a class shall be borne exclusively by that class.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each share of the Trust entitles the shareholder of record to one
vote. Each class of shares of the Trust will vote separately as a class on
matters for which class voting is required under applicable law.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
On an ongoing basis, the Trustees will monitor the Trust for the
existence of any material conflicts among the interests of the six classes of
shares. The Trustees shall further monitor on an ongoing basis the use of
waivers or reimbursement of expenses by the Adviser to guard against
cross-subsidization between classes. The Trustees, including a majority of the
independent Trustees, shall take such action as is reasonably necessary to
eliminate any such conflict that may develop.
REPORTS TO THE TRUSTEES
The Adviser and the Shareholder Servicer will be responsible for
reporting any potential or existing conflicts among the six classes of shares
to the Trustees.
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AMENDMENTS
The Plan may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
provisions and requirements of Rule 18f-3 under the Act.
Adopted this ____ day of ___________, 1996
By:________________________
βββββββ β. βββββ
Clerk
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SCHEDULE 3.6
SERIES
------
GMO Core Fund
GMO Tobacco-Free Core Fund
GMO Value Fund
GMO Growth Fund
GMO U.S. Sector Fund
GMO Small Cap Value Fund
GMO Fundamental Value Fund
GMO REIT Fund
GMO Small Cap Growth Fund
GMO International Core Fund
GMO Currency Hedged International Core Fund
GMO Foreign Fund
GMO U.S. Bond/Global Alpha B Fund
GMO U.S. Bond/Global Alpha A Fund
GMO International Small Companies Fund
GMO Japan Fund
GMO Emerging Markets Fund
GMO Global Properties Fund
GMO Short-Term Income Fund
GMO Global Hedged Equity Fund
GMO Domestic Bond Fund
GMO International Bond Fund
GMO Currency Hedged International Bond Fund
GMO Global Bond Fund
GMO Emerging Country Debt Fund
GMO Inflation Indexed Bond Fund
GMO International Equity Allocation Fund
GMO World Equity Allocation Fund
GMO Global (U.S.+) Equity Allocation Fund
GMO Global Balanced Allocation Fund Pelican Fund
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