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Exhibit 23 (b)
By-Laws
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BY-LAWS
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for the regulation, except as otherwise provided by statute or
the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST I
a Massachusetts Business Trust
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST I
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I Offices
1. Principal Office
2. Other Offices
ARTICLE II Meetings of Shareholders
1. Place of Meetings
2. Call of Meeting
3. Notice of Shareholders' Meeting
4. Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice
5. Adjourned Meeting; Notice
6. Voting
7. Waiver of Notice of Consent by Absent Shareholders
8. Shareholder Action by Written Consent without a Meeting
9. Record Date for Shareholder Notice, Voting and Giving Consents
10. Proxies
11. Inspectors of Election
ARTICLE III Trustees
1. Powers
2. Number and Qualification of Trustees
3. Vacancies
4. Place of Meetings and Meetings by Telephone
5. Regular Meetings
6. Special Meetings
7. Quorum
8. Waiver of Notice
9. Adjournment
10. Notice of Adjournment
11. Action Without a Meeting
12. Fees and Compensation of Trustees
ARTICLE IV Committees
1. Committees of Trustees
2. Meetings and Action of Committees
ARTICLE V Officers
1. Officers
2. Election of Officers
3. Subordinate Officers
4. Removal and Resignation of Officers
5. Vacancies in Offices
6. Chairman of the Board
7. President
8. Vice President
9. Secretary
10. Treasurer
ARTICLE VI Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Other Agents
1. Agents, Proceedings and Expenses
2. Actions Other than by Trust
3. Actions by the Trust
4. Exclusion and Indemnification
5. Successful Defense by Agent
6. Required Approval
7. Advance of Expenses
8. Other Contractual Rights
9. Limitations
10. Insurance
11. Fiduciaries of Corporate Employee Benefit Plan
ARTICLE VII Records and Reports
1. Maintenance and Inspection of Share Register
2. Maintenance and Inspection of By-laws
3. Maintenance and Inspection of Other Records
4. Inspection by Trustees
5. Financial Statements
ARTICLE VIII General Matters
1. Checks, Drafts, Evidence of Indebtedness
2. Contracts and Instruments; How Executed
3. Certificate of Shares
4. Lost Certificates
5. Representation of Shares of Other Entities
ARTICLE IX Amendments
1. Amendment by Shareholders
2. Amendment by Trustees
BY-LAWS
OF
CALIFORNIA INVESTMENT TRUST I
A Massachusetts Business Trust
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The Board of Trustees shall fix the location
of the principal executive office of the Trust at any place within or outside
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Board of Trustees may at any time establish
branch subordinate offices at any place or places where the Trust intends to do
business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
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Section 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of shareholders shall be held at any
place within or outside The Commonwealth of Massachusetts designated by the
Board of Trustees. In the absence of any such designation, shareholders'
meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust.
Section 2. CALL OF MEETING. A meeting of the shareholders may be called at
any time by the Board of Trustees or by the chairman of the Board or by the
president.
Section 3. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING. All notices be or otherwise
given in of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with Section 4 of this Article II not less than seven (7) nor more
than seventy-five (75) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall
specify (i) the place, date and hour of the meeting, and (ii) the general nature
of the business to be transacted. The notice of any meeting at which trustees
are to be elected also shall include the name of any nominee or nominees whom at
the time of the notice are intended to be presented for election.
If action is proposed to be taken at any meeting for approval of (i) a
contract or transaction in which a trustee has a direct or indirect financial
interest (ii) an amendment of the Declaration of Trust, (iii) a reorganization
of the Trust, or (iv) a voluntary dissolution of the Trust, the notice shall
also state the general nature of that proposal.
Section 4. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE. Notice of any
meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally or by first-class mail
or telegraphic or other written communication charges prepaid, addressed to the
shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the
Trust or its transfer agent or given by the shareholder to the Trust for the
purpose of notice. If no such address appears on the Trust's books or is given,
notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by
first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the Trust' s
principal executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of
general circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall be
deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in
the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.
If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that shareholder
appearing on the books of the Trust is returned to the Trust by the United
States Postal Service marked to indicate that the Postal Service is unable to
deliver the notice to the shareholder at that address, all future notices or
reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if these
shall be available to the shareholder on written demand of the shareholder at
the principal executive office of the Trust for a period of one year from the
date of the giving of the notice.
An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
shareholder's meeting shall be executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or
any transfer agent of the Trust giving the notice and shall be filed and
maintained in the minute book of the Trust.
Section 5. ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE. Any shareholder's meeting, whether or
not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the
majority of the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by
proxy.
When any meeting of shareholders is adjourned to another time or place,
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting at which the adjournment is
taken, unless a new record date of the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the
adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original
meeting, in which case the Board of Trustees shall set a new record date. Notice
of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record
entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 3 and 4 of this Article II. At any adjourned meeting, the Trust may
transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 6. VOTING. The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
shareholders shall be de terminated in accordance with the provisions of the
Declaration of Trust, as in effect at such time. The shareholder s vote may be
by voice vote or by ballot, provided, however, that any election for trustees
must be by ballot if demanded by any shareholder before the voting has begun. On
any matter other than elections of trustees, any shareholder may vote part of
the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares
or vote them against the proposal, but if the shareholder fails to specify the
number of shares which the shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be
conclusively presumed that the shareholder's approving vote is with respect to
the total shares that the shareholder is entitled to vote on such proposal.
Section 7. WAIVER OF NOTICE BY CONSENT OF ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS. The
transactions of the meeting of shareholders, however called and noticed and
wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after
regular call and notice if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy and
if either before or after the meeting, each person entitled to vote who was not
present in person or by proxy signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to a
holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or
consent need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of
any meeting of shareholders.
Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of
notice of that meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the
meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of
any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice
of the meeting if that objection is expressly made at the beginning of the
meeting.
Section 8. SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. Any
action which may be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting and without prior notice if a consent in writing setting forth the
action so taken is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
that action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on that action
were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of
the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust's records. Any shareholder giving
a written consent or the shareholder's proxy holders or a transferee of the
shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxy
holders may revoke the consent by a writing received by the Secretary of the
Trust before written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the
proposed action have been filed with the Secretary.
If the consents of all shareholder s entitled to vote have not been
solicited in writing and if the unanimous written consent of all such
shareholders shall not have been received, the Secretary shall give prompt
notice of the action approved by the shareholders without a meeting. This notice
shall be given in the manner specified in Section 4 of this Article II. In the
case of approval of (i) contracts or transactions in which a trustee has a
direct or indirect financial interest, (ii) indemnification of agents of the
Trust, and (iii) a reorganization of the Trust, the notice shall be given at
least ten (10) days before the consummation of any action authorized by that
approval.
Section 9. RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDER NOTICE, VOTING AND GIVING CONSENTS.
For purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting
or to vote or entitled to give consent to action without a meeting, the Board of
Trustees may fix in advance a record date which shall not be more than
seventy-five (75) days nor less than seven (7) days before the date of any such
meeting as provided in the Declaration of Trust.
If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:
(a) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business
on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or
if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
(b) The record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent
to action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior action by
the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be the day on which the
first written consent is given, or (ii) when prior action of the Board
of Trustees has been taken i shall be at the close of business on the
day on which the Board of Trustees adopt the resolution relating to
that action or the seventy-fifth day before the date of such other
action, whichever is later.
Section 10. PROXIES. Every person entitled to vote for trustees or on any
other matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more
agents authorized by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the
Secretary of the Trust. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the shareholder's name
is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic
transmission or otherwise) by the shareholder or the shareholder's
attorney-in-fact. A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is
irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the
person executing it before the vote pursuant to that proxy by a writing
delivered to the Trust stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent
proxy executed by or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by the
person executing that proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity
of the maker of that proxy is received by the Trust before the vote pursuant to
that proxy is counted; provided however, that no proxy shall be valid after the
expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that
it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of the California General
Corporation Law.
Section 11. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. Before any meeting of shareholders, the
Board of Trustees may appoint any persons other than nominees for office to act
as inspectors of election at the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspectors of
election are so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of
any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election
at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3).
If inspectors are appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more
shareholders or proxies, the holders of a majority of shares or their proxies
present at the meeting shall determine whether one (1) or three (3) inspectors
are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or
fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of
any shareholder or a shareholder 's proxy, shall appoint a person to fill the
vacancy.
These inspectors shall:
(a) Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of
each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum
and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies;
(b) Receive votes, ballots or consents;
(c) Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in
connection with the right to vote;
(d) Count and tabulate all votes or consents;
(e) Determine when the polls shall close;
(f) Determine the result; and
(g) Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote
with fairness to all shareholders.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
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Section 1. POWERS. Subject to the applicable provisions of the Declaration
of Trust and these By-Laws relating to action required to be approved by the
shareholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the Trust
shall be managed and all powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of
the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEES. The authorized number of
trustees shall be neither less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). The
exact number of trustees within the limits specified shall be four (4), until
changed by a duly adopted amendment to the Declaration of Trust and these
By-laws.
Section 3. VACANCIES. Vacancies in the Board of Trustees may be filled by a
majority of the remaining trustees, though less than a quorum, or by a sole
remaining trustee, unless the Board of Trustees calls a meeting of shareholders
for the purposes of electing trustees. In the event that at any time less than a
majority of the trustees holding office at that time were so elected by the
holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the Board of Trustees
shall forthwith cause to be held as promptly as possible, and in any event
within sixty (60) days, a meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing
trustees to fill any existing vacancies in the Board of Trustees, unless such
period is extended by order of the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Notwithstanding the above, whenever and for so long as the Trust is a
participant in or otherwise has in effect a Plan under which the Trust may be
deemed to bear expenses of distributing its shares as that practice is described
in Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, then the selection and
nomination of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) shall be, and is,
committed to the discretion of such disinterested trustees.
Section 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS AND MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE. All meetings of the
Board of Trustees are held at any place within or outside The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts that has been designated from time to time by resolution of the
Board. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings shall be held at
the principal executive office of the Trust. Any meeting, regular or special,
may be held by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long
as all trustees participating in the meeting can hear one another and all such
trustees shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 5. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees
shall be held without call at such time as shall from time to time be fixed by
the Board of Trustees. Such regular meetings may be held without notice.
Section 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees for
any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairman of the board
or the president or any vice president or the secretary or any two (2) trustees.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each trustee or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each trustee at that trustee's address
as it is shown on the records of the Trust. In case the notice is mailed it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the
time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered personally
or by telephone or to the Telegraph Company, it shall be given at least
forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral
notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the
trustee or to a person at the office of the trustee who the person giving the
notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the trustee. The
notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting or the place if the meeting
is to be held at the principal executive office of the Trust.
Section 7. QUORUM. A majority of the authorized number of trustees shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as
provided in Section 10 of this Article III. Every act or decision done or made
by a majority of the
trustees present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be
regarded as the act of the Board of Trustees, subject to the provisions of the
Declaration of Trust. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may
continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of trustees if any
action taken is approved by a least a majority of the required quorum for that
meeting.
Section 8. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any
trustee who either before or after the meeting signs a written waiver of notice,
a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of
notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers,
consents, and approvals shall be filed with the records of the Trust or made a
part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed
given to any trustee who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its
commencement the lack of notice to that trustee.
Section 9. ADJOURNMENT. A majority of the trustees present, whether or not
constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
Section 10. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. Notice of the time and place of holding
an adjourned meeting need not be given unless the meeting is adjourned for more
than forty-eight (48) hours, in which case notice of the time and place shall be
given before the time of the adjourned meeting in the manner specified in
Section 7 of this Article III to the trustees who were present at the time of
the adjournment.
Section 11. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to
be taken by the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a majority
of the members of the Board of Trustees shall individually or collectively
consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the
same force and effect as a majority vote of the Board of Trustees. Such written
consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the
Board of Trustees.
Section 12. FEES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES. Trustees and members of
committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services and such
reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the
Board of Trustees. This Section 12 shall not be construed to preclude any
trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity as an officer, agent,
employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation for those services.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
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Section 1. COMMITTEES OF TRUSTEES. The Board of Trustees may by resolution
adopted by a majority of the authorized number of trustees designate one or more
committees, each consisting of two (2) or more trustees, to serve at the
pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more trustees as alternate
members of any committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the
committee. Any committee to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board,
shall have the authority of the Board, except with respect to:
(a) the approval of any action which under applicable law also requires
shareholders' approval or approval of the outstanding shares, or
requires approval by a majority of the entire Board or certain members
of said Board;
(b) the filling of vacancies on the Board of Trustees or in any committee;
(c) the fixing of compensation of the trustees for serving on the Board of
Trustees or on any committee;
(d) the amendment or repeal of the Declaration of Trust or of the By-Laws
or the adoption of new By-Laws;
(e) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Trustees
which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(f) a distribution to the shareholders of the Trust, except at a rate or
in a periodic amount or within a designated range determined by the
Board of Trustees; or
(g) the appointment of any other committees of the Board of Trustees or
the members of these committees.
Section 2. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES. Meetings and action of
committee shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws, with such changes in the context
thereof as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the
Board of Trustees and its members, except that the time of regular meetings of
committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Trustees or by
resolution of the committee. Special meetings of committees may also be called
by resolution of the Board of Trustees, and notice of special meetings of
committees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right
to attend all meetings of the commit tee. The Board of Trustees may adopt rules
for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of
these By-Laws.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
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Section 1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust shall be a president, a
secretary, and a treasurer. The Trust may also have, at the discretion of the
Board of Trustees, a chairman of the Board, one or more vice presidents, one or
more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and such other
officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of
this Article V. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Trust, except such
officers as may appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or
Section 5 of this Article V, shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees, and each
shall serve at the subject to the rights, if any, officer under any contract of
employment.
Section 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. The Board of Trustees may appoint and may
empower the president to appoint such other officers as the business of the
Trust may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such
authority and perform such duties as are provided in these By-Laws or as the
Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.
Section 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. Subject to the rights, if
any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed,
either with or without cause, by the Board of Trustees at any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Trustees or except in the case of an officer upon whom
such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Trustees.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trust.
Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or
at any later time specified in that notice; and unless otherwise specified in
that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the
Trust under any contract to which the officer is a party.
Section 5. VACANCIES IN OFFICES. A vacancy in any office because of death,
resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause shall be filled in the
manner prescribed in these By-Laws for regular appointment to that office.
Section 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The chairman of the board, if such an
officer is elected, shall if present preside at meetings of the Board of
Trustees and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from
time to time assigned to him by the Board of Trustees or prescribed by the
By-Laws.
Section 7. PRESIDENT. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be
given by the Board of Trustees to the chairman of the board, if there be such an
officer, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust and
shall, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, have general
supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the
Trust. He shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and in the absence
of the chairman of the board or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board
of Trustees. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually
vested in the office of president of corporation and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or these
By-Laws.
Section 8. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence or disability of the president,
the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of
Trustees or if not ranked, a vice president designated by the Board of Trustees,
shall perform all the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all
power s of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice
presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from
time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Trustees or
by these By-Laws and the president or the chairman of the board.
Section 9. SECRETARY. The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ executive office of the Trust or such other. place as the Board of
Trustees may direct a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of trustees,
committees of trustees and shareholders with the time and place of holding r
whether regular or special and if special, how authorized, the notice given, the
names of those present at trustees' meetings or committee meetings, the number
of shares present or represented at shareholders' meetings, and the proceedings.
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal executive
office of the Trust or at the office of the Trust's transfer agent or registrar,
as determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees, a share register or a
duplicate share register showing the names of all shareholders and their
addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of
certificates issued for the same and the number and date of cancellation of
every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the
shareholders and of the Board of Trustees required by these By-Laws or by
applicable law to be given and shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or by these By-Laws.
Section 10. TREASURER. The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer
of the Trust and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained
adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and
business transactions of the Trust, including accounts of its assets,
liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings
and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to
inspection by any trustee.
The treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and
to the credit of the Trust with such depositaries as may be designated by the
Board of Trustees. He shall disburse the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by
the Board of Trustees, shall render to the president and trustees, whenever they
request it, an account of all of his transactions as chief financial officer and
of the financial condition of the Trust and shall have other powers and perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or these
By-Laws.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS,
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EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS
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Section 1. AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES. For the purpose of this
Article, "agent" means any person who is or was a trustee, officer, employee or
other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a
trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a
trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic
corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor entity; "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed
action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative;
and "expenses" includes without limitation attorney 's fees and any expenses of
establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
Section 2. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of
the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses,
judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with such proceeding if that person acted in good faith and in a
manner that person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this Trust
and in the case of a criminal proceeding , had no reasonable cause to believe
the conduct of that person was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the person did not act
in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the
best interests of this Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe
that the person's conduct was unlawful.
Section 3. ACTIONS BY THE TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that that person is or was an agent of this
Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in
connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in
good faith in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust and with such care , including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily
prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
Section 4. EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for
any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
the agent's office with this Trust.
No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:
(a) In respect of any claim issue or matter as to which that person shall
have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that person's
duty to this Trust, unless and only to the extent that the court in
which that action was brought shall determine upon application that in
view of all the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable
by reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding
paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the
expenses which the court shall determine; or
(b) Of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or
pending action, with or without court approval, or of expenses
incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled
or otherwise disposed of without court approval, unless the required
approval set forth in Section 6 of this Article is obtained.
Section 5. SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT. To the extent that an agent of this
Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to
in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, before the court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought,
the' agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board of
Trustees, including a majority who are disinterested, non-party trustees, also
determines that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by
reason of the disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.
Section 6. REQUIRED APPROVAL. Except as provided in Section 5 of this
Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only
if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of
the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and
is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set
forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:
(a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of trustees who are not parties
to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940); or
(b) A written opinion by an independent legal counsel.
Section 7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the
proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the agent to repay
the amount of the advance unless it shall be determined ultimately that the
agent is entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article, provided the
agent provides a security for his undertaking, or a majority of a quorum of the
disinterested, non-party trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, determine that based on a review of readily available facts, there is
reason to believe that said agent ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
Section 8. OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Article
shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than trustees
and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract
or otherwise.
Section 9. LIMITATIONS. No indemnification or advance shall be made under
this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6 in any circumstances where
it appears:
(a) That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Declaration of
Trust, a resolution of the shareholders, or an agreement in effect at
the time of accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the
proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were
paid which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or
(b) That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by
a court in approving a settlement.
Section 10. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the
Board or Trustees of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any
liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising
out of the agent's status as such, but only to the extent that this Trust would
have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the
provisions of this Article.
Section 11. FIDUCIARIES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. This Article does not
apply to any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person's capacity as such, even
though that person may also be an agent of this Trust as defined in Section 1 of
this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to
indemnification to which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary
may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the
extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
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Section 1. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER. This Trust shall
keep at its principal executive office or at the office of its transfer agent or
registrar, if either be appointed and as determined by resolution of the Board
of Trustees, a record of its shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all
shareholders and the number and series of shares held by each shareholder.
Section 2. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS. The Trust shall keep at
its principal executive office the original or a copy of these By-Laws as
amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all
reasonable times during office hours.
Section 3. MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF OTHER RECORDS. The accounting
books and records and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the Board
of Trustees and any committee or committees of the Board of Trustees shall be
kept at such place or places designated by the Board of Trustees or in the
absence of such designation, at the principal executive office of the Trust. The
minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall
be kept either in written form or in any other form capable of being converted
into written form. The minutes and accounting books and records shall be open to
inspection upon the written demand of any shareholder or holder of a voting
trust certificate at any reasonable time during usual business hours for a
purpose reasonably related to the holder's interests as a shareholder or as the
holder of a voting trust certificate. The inspection may be made in person or by
an agent or attorney and shall include the right to copy and make extracts.
Section 4. INSPECTION BY TRUSTEES. Every trustee shall have the absolute
right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of
every kind and the physical properties of the Trust. This inspection by a
trustee may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and the right of
inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents.
Section 5. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. A copy of any financial statements and any
income statement of the Trust for each quarterly period of each fiscal year and
accompanying balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of each such period that
has been prepared by the Trust shall be kept on file in the principal executive
office of the Trust for at least twelve (12) months and each such statement
shall be exhibited at all reasonable times to any shareholder demanding an
examination of any such statement or a copy shall be mailed to any such
shareholder.
The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred to in this
section shall be accompanied by the report, if any, of any independent
accountants engaged by the Trust or the certificate of an authorized officer of
the Trust that the financial statements were prepared without audit from the
books and records of the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
---------------
Section 1. CHECKS, DRAFTS, EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. All checks, drafts, or
other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness
issued in the name of or payable to the Trust shall be signed or endorsed by
such person or persons and in such manner as from time to time shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED. The Board of Trustees,
except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, may authorize any officer or
officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument
in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and this authority may be general or
confined to specific instances; and unless so authorized or ratified by the
Board of Trustees or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent,
or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Trust by any contract
or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or
for any amount.
Section 3. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES. A certificate or certificates for
shares of beneficial interest in any series of the Trust shall be issued to each
shareholder when any of these shares are fully paid. All certificates shall be
signed in the name of the Trust by the chairman of the board or the president or
vice president and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the secretary
or any assistant secretary, certifying then number of shares and the series of
shares owned by the shareholders. Any or all of the signatures on the
certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a certificate
shal1 have ceased to be that officer, transfer agent, or registrar before that
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if
that person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may adopt and use a system of issuance,
recordation and transfer of its shares by electronic or other means.
Section 4. LOST CERTIFICATES. Except as provided in this Section 4, no new
certificates for shares shall be issued to replace an old certificate unless the
latter is surrendered to the Trust and cancelled at the same time. The Board of
Trustees may in case any share certificate or certificate for any other security
is lost, stolen, or destroyed, authorize the issuance of a replacement
certificate on such terms and conditions as the Board of Trustees may require,
including a provision for indemnification of the Trust secured by a bond or
other adequate security sufficient to protect the Trust against any claim that
may be made against it, including any expense or ii ability on account of the
alleged loss, theft, or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the
replacement certificate.
Section 5. REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER ENTITIES. The chairman of the
board, the president or any vice president or any other person authorized by
resolution of the Board of Trustees or by any of the foregoing designated
officers, is authorized to vote on behalf of the Trust any and all shares of any
corporation or corporations, partnership, trusts, or other entities, foreign or
domestic, standing in the name of the Trust. The authority granted to these
officers to vote or represent on behalf of the Trust any and all shares held by
the Trust in any form of entity may be exercised by any of these officers in
person or by any person authorized to do so by a proxy duly executed by these
officers.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
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Section 1. AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS. New By-Laws may be amended or
repealed by the affirmative vote or written consent of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote, except as otherwise provided by applicable
law or by the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.
Section 2. AMENDMENT By TRUSTEES. Subject to the right of shareholders as
provided in Section 1 of this Article to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, and
except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Declaration of Trust,
these By-Laws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Trustees.