▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
June 11, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I - NAME AND DEFINITIONS..............................................1
Section 1.1 Name and Principal Office..........................1
Section 1.2 Definitions........................................2
(a) "By-Laws"..........................................2
(b) "class"............................................2
(c) "Commission".......................................2
(d) "Declaration of Trust".............................2
(e) "1940 Act".........................................2
(f) "Shareholder"......................................2
(g) "Shares"...........................................2
(h) "Sub-Trust" or "Series"............................2
(i) "Trust"............................................2
(j) "Trustees".........................................2
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE OF TRUST.................................................2
ARTICLE III - THE TRUSTEES....................................................3
Section 3.1 Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc...........3
(a) Trustees...........................................3
(b) Number.............................................3
(c) Election and Term..................................3
(d) Resignation and Retirement.........................3
(e) Removal............................................3
(f) Vacancies..........................................3
(g) Effect of Death, Resignation, etc..................4
(h) No Accounting......................................4
Section 3.2 Powers of Trustees.................................4
(a) Investments........................................5
(b) Disposition of Assets..............................5
(c) Ownership Powers...................................5
(d) Subscription.......................................5
(e) Form of Holding....................................6
(f) Reorganization, etc................................6
(g) Voting Trusts, etc.................................6
(h) Compromise.........................................6
(i) Partnerships, etc..................................6
(j) Borrowing and Security.............................6
(k) Guarantees, etc....................................6
(l) Insurance..........................................6
(i)
(m) Pensions, etc......................................7
(n) Distribution Plans.................................7
Section 3.3 Certain Contracts..................................7
(a) Advisory...........................................7
(b) Administration.....................................7
(c) Distribution.......................................8
(d) Custodian and Depository...........................8
(e) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency............8
(f) Shareholder Servicing..............................8
(g) Accounting.........................................8
Section 3.4 Payment of Trust Expenses and Compensation
of Trustees........................................9
Section 3.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust...................9
Section 3.6 Action by Trustees.................................9
ARTICLE IV - SHARES...........................................................10
Section 4.1 Description of Shares..............................10
Section 4.2 Establishment and Designation of Sub-Trusts
and Classes........................................11
(a) Assets Belonging to Sub-Trusts.....................11
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Sub-Trusts................12
(c) Dividends..........................................12
(d) Liquidation........................................13
(e) Voting.............................................13
(f) Redemption by Shareholder..........................14
(g) Redemption by Trust................................14
(h) Net Asset Value....................................14
(i) Transfer...........................................15
(j) Equality...........................................15
(k) Fractions..........................................15
(l) Conversion Rights..................................15
(m) Class Differences..................................15
Section 4.3 Ownership of Shares................................16
Section 4.4 Investments in the Trust...........................16
Section 4.5 No Pre-emptive Rights..............................16
Section 4.6 Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal
Liability..........................................16
Section 4.7 No Appraisal Rights................................16
ARTICLE V - SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS..........................17
Section 5.1 Voting Powers......................................17
Section 5.2 Meetings...........................................17
Section 5.3 Record Dates.......................................18
Section 5.4 Quorum and Required Vote...........................18
(ii)
Section 5.5 Action by Written Consent..........................18
Section 5.6 Inspection of Records..............................18
Section 5.7 Additional Provisions..............................19
Section 5.8 Shareholder Communications.........................19
ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION.........................19
Section 6.1 Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally
Liable; Notice.....................................19
Section 6.2 Trustee's Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No
Bond or Surety.....................................20
Section 6.3 Indemnification of Shareholders....................20
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.........21
Section 6.5 Compromise Payment.................................21
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc.................22
Section 6.7 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees...22
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS...................................................22
Section 7.1 Duration and Termination of Trust..................22
Section 7.2 Reorganization.....................................23
Section 7.3 Amendments.........................................23
Section 7.4 Filing of Copies; References; Headings.............23
Section 7.5 Applicable Law.....................................24
Section 7.6 Integration........................................24
Section 7.7 Resident Agent.....................................24
(iii)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
WHEREAS, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Trust (the "Trust") was executed and delivered in Boston, Massachusetts on June
11, 1999 and the initial trustee named therein accepted an initial subscription
for, and caused the initial issuance of, shares of beneficial interest of the
Trust and accepted payment therefor as trust property and has subsequently named
the undersigned as the successor initial Trustees and has thereupon resigned
after delivering the trust property to the undersigned as such successor initial
Trustees;
NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned successor initial Trustees, having
accepted their appointments as such, hereby amend and restate said Agreement and
Declaration of Trust to read in its entirety as follows:
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 11th day of June 1999 by
the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to
be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and
WHEREAS this Trust is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial
interest in separate series, each separate series to be a Sub-Trust hereunder,
and to issue classes of Shares of any Sub-Trust or divide Shares of any
Sub-Trust into two or more classes, all in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into
their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the
provisions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all
cash, securities and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in
any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon
the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust and the Sub-Trusts created
hereunder as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I - NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 NAME AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE. This Trust shall be known as
"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Trust" and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust
under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time
determine. The principal office of the Trust shall be located at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or at such other
location as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
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Section 1.2 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise
required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time;
(b) "class" refers to any class of Shares of any Series or
Sub-Trust established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions
of Article IV;
(c) "Commission" shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;
(d) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Master Trust
Agreement, as amended or restated from time to time;
(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) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(g) "Shares" refers to the transferable units of interest into
which the beneficial interest in the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust
and/or any class of any Sub-Trust (as the context may require) shall be divided
from time to time;
(h) "Sub-Trust" or "Series" refers to a series of Shares
established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article
IV;
(i) "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust
established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time,
inclusive of each and every Sub-Trust established hereunder; and
(j) "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust and of each
Sub-Trust hereunder named herein or elected in accordance with Article III.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE OF TRUST
-----------------------------
The purpose of the Trust is to operate as an investment company and to
offer Shareholders of the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust one or more
investment programs primarily in securities and debt instruments.
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ARTICLE III - THE TRUSTEES
--------------------------
Section 3.1 NUMBER, DESIGNATION, ELECTION, TERM, ETC.
(a) TRUSTEES. The initial Trustees hereof and of each Sub-Trust
hereunder shall be ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, each of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
(b) NUMBER. The Trustees serving as such, whether named above or
hereafter becoming Trustees, may increase or decrease the number of Trustees to
a number other than the number theretofore determined. No decrease in the number
of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to
the expiration of such Trustee's term, but the number of Trustees may be
decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to subsection
(e) of this Section 3.1.
(c) ELECTION AND TERM. Trustees in addition to those named herein
may become such by election by Shareholders or the Trustees in office pursuant
to Section 3.1(f). Each Trustee, whether named above or hereafter becoming a
Trustee, shall serve as a Trustee of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust hereunder
during the lifetime of this Trust and until its termination as hereinafter
provided except as such Trustee sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their own
successors and may, pursuant to Section 3.1(f) hereof, appoint Trustees to fill
vacancies.
(d) RESIGNATION AND RETIREMENT. Any Trustee may resign or retire
as a Trustee, by written instrument signed by such Trustee and delivered to the
other Trustees or to any officer of the Trust, and such resignation or
retirement shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is
specified in such instrument and shall be effective as to the Trust and each
Sub-Trust hereunder.
(e) REMOVAL. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at
any time: (i) by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number
of Trustees in office immediately prior to such removal, specifying the date
upon which such removal shall become effective; or (ii) by vote of Shareholders
holding not less than two-thirds of the Shares then outstanding, cast in person
or by proxy at any meeting called for the purpose; or (iii) by a written
declaration signed by Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the
Shares then outstanding and filed with the Trust's custodian. Any such removal
shall be effective as to the Trust and each Sub-Trust hereunder.
(f) VACANCIES. Any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from
any reason, including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement,
removal or incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in
the number of Trustees by the other Trustees may (but so long as there are at
least two remaining Trustees, need not unless required by the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) be
filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject to the provisions of
Section 16(a) of the
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1940 Act, through the appointment in writing of such other person as such
remaining Trustees in their discretion shall determine and such appointment
shall be effective upon the written acceptance of the person named therein to
serve as a Trustee and agreement by such person to be bound by the provisions of
this Declaration of Trust, except that any such appointment in anticipation of a
vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of
Trustees to be effective at a later date shall become effective only at or after
the effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of
Trustees. As soon as any Trustee so appointed shall have accepted such
appointment and shall have agreed in writing to be bound by this Declaration of
Trust and the appointment is effective, the Trust estate shall vest in the new
Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or
conveyance.
(g) EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. The death, resignation,
retirement, removal or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not
operate to annul or terminate the Trust or any Sub-Trust hereunder or to revoke
or terminate any existing agency or contract created or entered into pursuant to
the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
(h) NO ACCOUNTING. Except to the extent required by the 1940 Act
or under circumstances which would justify removal for cause, no person ceasing
to be a Trustee as a result of death, resignation, retirement, removal or
incapacity (nor the estate of any such person) shall be required to make an
accounting to the Shareholders or remaining Trustees upon such cessation.
Section 3.2 POWERS OF TRUSTEES. 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 and the purpose of the Trust. The Trustees in all instances
shall act as principals, and are and shall be free from the control of the
Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all
acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may
consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the
Trust. The Trustees shall not be bound or limited by present or future laws or
customs with regard to investment by trustees or fiduciaries, but shall have
full authority and absolute power and control over the assets of the Trust and
the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole
owners of the assets of the Trust and the business in their own right, including
such authority, power and control to do all acts and things as they, in their
uncontrolled discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this
Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not
inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the
business and 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 ▇▇▇ or
be sued in the name of the Trust; they may from time to time in accordance with
the provisions of Section 4.1 hereof establish Sub-Trusts, each such Sub-Trust
to operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately
defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes;
they may from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1
hereof establish classes of Shares of any Series or Sub-Trust or divide the
Shares of any Series or Sub-Trust into classes; they may as they consider
appropriate elect and remove officers and appoint and terminate agents and
consultants and hire and terminate
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employees, any one or more of the foregoing of whom may be a Trustee, and may
provide for the compensation of all of the foregoing; they may appoint from
their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of two or
more Trustees, including without implied limitation an executive committee,
which may, when the Trustees are not in session and subject to the 1940 Act,
exercise some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees
may determine; in accordance with Section 3.3 they may employ one or more
advisers, administrators, depositories and custodians and may authorize any
depository or custodian to employ subcustodians or agents and to deposit all or
any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of
securities and debt instruments, retain transfer, dividend, accounting or
Shareholder servicing agents or any of the foregoing, provide for the
distribution of Shares by the Trust through one or more distributors, principal
underwriters or otherwise, and set record dates or times for the determination
of Shareholders or various of them with respect to various matters; they may
compensate or provide for the compensation of the Trustees, officers, advisers,
administrators, custodians, other agents, consultants and employees of the Trust
or the Trustees on such terms as they deem appropriate; and in general they may
delegate to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to
any employee, adviser, administrator, distributor, depository, custodian,
transfer and dividend disbursing agent, or any other agent or consultant of the
Trust such authority, powers, functions and duties as they consider desirable or
appropriate for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust, including
without implied limitation, the power and authority to act in the name of the
Trust and any Sub-Trust and of the Trustees, to sign documents and to act as
attorney-in-fact for the Trustees.
Without limiting the foregoing and to the extent not inconsistent with
the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Trustees shall have power and
authority for and on behalf of the Trust and each separate Sub-Trust established
hereunder:
(a) INVESTMENTS. To invest and reinvest cash and other
property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested without in any event
being bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to
investments by trustees;
(b) DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. To sell, exchange, lend, pledge,
mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of
the Trust;
(c) OWNERSHIP POWERS. To vote or give assent, or exercise any
rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, debt instruments
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, debt instruments
or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) SUBSCRIPTION. To exercise powers and rights of
subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of
securities or debt instruments;
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(e) FORM OF HOLDING. To hold any security, debt instrument or
property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or
other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or of any
Sub-Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depository or a
nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) REORGANIZATION, ETC. To consent to or participate in any
plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or
issuer, any security or debt instrument of which is or was held in the Trust; to
consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such
corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any
security or debt instrument held in the Trust;
(g) VOTING TRUSTS, ETC. To join with other holders of any
securities or debt instruments in acting through a committee, depositary, voting
trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or debt
instrument with, or transfer any security or debt instrument to, any such
committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and
authority with relation to any security or debt instrument (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) COMPROMISE. To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust
claims in favor of or against the Trust or any Sub-Trust or any matter in
controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(i) PARTNERSHIPS, ETC. To enter into joint ventures, general
or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(j) BORROWING AND SECURITY. To borrow funds and to mortgage
and pledge the assets of the Trust or any part thereof to secure obligations
arising in connection with such borrowing;
(k) GUARANTEES, ETC. 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; and to mortgage
and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such
obligations;
(l) INSURANCE. To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust
property such insurance and/or bonding 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, consultants, investment
advisers, managers, administrators, distributors, principal underwriters, or
independent contractors, or any thereof (or any person connected therewith), of
the Trust individually against all claims and
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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 in any such capacity, 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 such liability;
and
(m) PENSIONS, ETC. To pay pensions for faithful service, as
deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out
pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the
purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such
retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust.
(n) DISTRIBUTION PLANS. To adopt on behalf of the Trust or any
Sub-Trust with respect to any class thereof a plan of distribution and related
agreements thereto pursuant to the terms of Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act and to
make payments from the assets of the Trust or the relevant Sub-Trust or
Sub-Trusts pursuant to said Rule 12b-1 Plan.
Section 3.3 CERTAIN CONTRACTS. Subject to compliance with the
provisions of the 1940 Act, but notwithstanding any limitations of present and
future law or custom in regard to delegation of powers by trustees generally,
the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time and without limiting the
generality of their powers and authority otherwise set forth herein, enter into
one or more contracts with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations,
partnerships, limited partnerships, other type of organizations, or individuals
(a "Contracting Party"), to provide for the performance and assumption of some
or all of the following services, duties and responsibilities to, for or on
behalf of the Trust and/or any Sub-Trust, and/or the Trustees, and to provide
for the performance and assumption of such other services, duties and
responsibilities in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may
determine appropriate:
(a) ADVISORY. Subject to the general supervision of the
Trustees and in conformity with the stated policy of the Trustees with respect
to the investments of the Trust or of the assets belonging to any Sub-Trust of
the Trust (as that phrase is defined in subsection (a) of Section 4.2), to
manage such investments and assets, make investment decisions with respect
thereto, and to place purchase and sale orders for portfolio transactions
relating to such investments and assets;
(b) ADMINISTRATION. Subject to the general supervision of the
Trustees and in conformity with any policies of the Trustees with respect to the
operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust (including each class thereof), to
supervise all or any part of the operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust, and
to provide all or any part of the administrative and clerical personnel, office
space and office equipment and services appropriate for the efficient
administration and operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust;
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(c) DISTRIBUTION. To distribute the Shares of the Trust and
each Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof), to the principal underwriter of
such Shares, and/or to act as agent of the Trust and each Sub-Trust in the sale
of Shares and the acceptance or rejection of orders for the purchase of Shares;
(d) CUSTODIAN AND DEPOSITORY. To act as depository for and to
maintain custody of the property of the Trust and each Sub-Trust and accounting
records in connection therewith;
(e) TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENCY. To maintain
records of the ownership of outstanding Shares, the issuance and redemption and
the transfer thereof, and to disburse any dividends declared by the Trustees and
in accordance with the policies of the Trustees and/or the instructions of any
particular Shareholder to reinvest any such dividends;
(f) SHAREHOLDER SERVICING. To provide service with respect to
the relationship of the Trust and its Shareholders, records with respect to
Shareholders and their Shares, and similar matters; and
(g) ACCOUNTING. To handle all or any part of the accounting
responsibilities, whether with respect to the Trust's properties, Shareholders
or otherwise.
The same person may be the Contracting Party for some or all of the
services, duties and responsibilities to, for and of the Trust and/or the
Trustees, and the contracts with respect thereto may contain such terms
interpretive of or in addition to the delineation of the services, duties and
responsibilities provided for, including provisions that are not inconsistent
with the 1940 Act relating to the standard of duty of and the rights to
indemnification of the Contracting Party and others, as the Trustees may
determine. Nothing herein shall preclude, prevent or limit the Trust or a
Contracting Party from entering into sub-contractual arrangements relating to
any of the matters referred to in Sections 3.3(a) through (g) hereof.
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 or distributor or agent of or for any Contracting
Party, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Contracting Party or that the
Contracting Party or any parent or affiliate thereof is a Shareholder or has an
interest in the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or that
(ii) any Contracting Party may have a contract providing for
the rendering of any similar services to one or more other corporations, trusts,
associations, partnerships, limited partnerships or other organizations, or have
other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any contract for the performance and assumption
of services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the Trust or any
Sub-Trust and/or the Trustees or disqualify any
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Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust, any Sub-Trust or
its Shareholders, provided that in the case of any relationship or interest
referred to in the preceding clause (i) on the part of any Trustee or officer of
the Trust either (x) the material facts as to such relationship or interest have
been disclosed to or are known by the Trustees not having any such relationship
or interest and the contract involved is approved in good faith by a majority of
such Trustees not having any such relationship or interest (even though such
unrelated or disinterested Trustees are less than a quorum of all of the
Trustees), (y) the material facts as to such relationship or interest and as to
the contract have been disclosed to or are known by the Shareholders entitled to
vote thereon and the contract involved is specifically approved in good faith by
vote of the Shareholders, or (z) the specific contract involved is fair to the
Trust as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Trustees or
by the Shareholders.
Section 3.4 PAYMENT OF TRUST EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES. The
Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the principal or
income of the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or partly out of principal and partly out
of income, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or
more of the Sub-Trusts and/or one or more classes of Shares thereof that may be
established and designated pursuant to Article IV, as the Trustees deem fair,
all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in
connection with the Trust, any Sub-Trust and/or any class of Shares thereof, 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, administrator, distributor,
principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, depository, custodian, transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent, accounting agent, Shareholder servicing agent, and
such other agents, consultants, and independent contractors and such other
expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Without limiting the generality of any other provision hereof, the Trustees
shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust for their services
as Trustees and may fix the amount of such compensation.
Section 3.5 OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST. Title to all of the
assets of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust shall at all times be considered as
vested in the Trustees.
Section 3.6 ACTION BY TRUSTEES. Except as otherwise provided by the
1940 Act or other applicable law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, any
action to be taken by the Trustees on behalf of or with respect to the Trust or
any Sub-Trust or class thereof may be taken by a majority of the Trustees
present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum, consisting of at least one-half of
the Trustees then in office, being present), within or without Massachusetts,
including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means
shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a
majority of the Trustees then in office (or such larger or different number as
may be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law).
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ARTICLE IV - SHARES
-------------------
Section 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF SHARES. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be divided into Shares, all with $.001 par value, but the Trustees shall
have the authority from time to time to issue Shares in one or more Series (each
of which Series of Shares shall represent the beneficial interest in a separate
and distinct Sub-Trust of the Trust, including without limitation each Sub-Trust
specifically established and designated in Section 4.2), as they deem necessary
or desirable. For all purposes under this Declaration of Trust or otherwise,
including, without implied limitation, (i) with respect to the rights of
creditors and (ii) for purposes of interpreting the relevant rights of each
Sub-Trust and the Shareholders of each Sub-Trust, each Sub-Trust established
hereunder shall be deemed to be a separate trust. The Trustees shall have
exclusive power without the requirement of Shareholder approval to establish and
designate such separate and distinct Sub-Trusts, and to fix and determine the
relative rights and preferences as between the shares of the separate Sub-Trusts
as to right of redemption and the price, terms and manner of redemption, special
and relative rights as to dividends and other distributions and on liquidation,
sinking or purchase fund provisions, conversion rights, and conditions under
which the several Sub-Trusts shall have separate voting rights or no voting
rights.
In addition, the Trustees shall have exclusive power, without the
requirement of Shareholder approval, to issue classes of Shares of any Sub-Trust
or divide the Shares of any Sub-Trust into classes, each class having such
different dividend, liquidation, voting and other rights as the Trustees may
determine, and may establish and designate the specific classes of Shares of
each Sub-Trust. The fact that a Sub-Trust shall have initially been established
and designated without any specific establishment or designation of classes
(I.E., that all Shares of such Sub-Trust are initially of a single class), or
that a Sub-Trust shall have more than one established and designated class,
shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to establish and designate
separate classes, or one or more additional classes, of said Sub-Trust without
approval of the holders of the initial class thereof, or previously established
and designated class or classes thereof.
The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each
Sub-Trust or class thereof that may be issued is unlimited, and the Trustees may
issue Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof for such consideration and on
such terms as they may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share
dividend or split-up), all without action or approval of the Shareholders. All
Shares when so issued on the terms determined by the Trustees shall be fully
paid and non-assessable (but may be subject to mandatory contribution back to
the Trust as provided in subsection (g) of Section 4.2). The Trustees may
classify or reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and
reacquired of any Sub-Trust or class thereof into one or more Sub-Trusts or
classes thereof that may be established and designated from time to time. The
Trustees may hold as treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such
terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time,
any Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof reacquired by the Trust.
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The Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books or
establish record dates and times for the purposes of determining the holders of
Shares entitled to be treated as such, to the extent provided or referred to in
Section 5.3.
The establishment and designation of any Sub-Trust or of any class of
Shares of any Sub-Trust in addition to those established and designated in
Section 4.2 shall be effective (i) upon the execution by a majority of the then
Trustees of an instrument setting forth such establishment and designation of
the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Sub-Trust or class,
(ii) upon the execution of an instrument in writing by an officer of the Trust
pursuant to the vote of a majority of the Trustees, or (iii) as otherwise
provided in either such instrument. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Sub-Trust or class previously established and
designated, the Trustees may by an instrument executed by a majority of their
number (or by an instrument executed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the
vote of a majority of the Trustees) abolish that Sub-Trust or class and the
establishment and designation thereof. Each instrument establishing and
designating any Sub-Trust shall have the status of an amendment to this
Declaration of Trust.
Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization
in which any such person is interested may acquire, own, hold and dispose of
Shares of any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) of the Trust to the same
extent as if such person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the
Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may
purchase Shares of any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) from any such
person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations,
restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of Shares of
such Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) generally.
Section 4.2 ESTABLISHMENT AND DESIGNATION OF SUB-TRUSTS AND CLASSES.
Without limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 4.1 to
establish and designate any further Sub-Trusts, the Trustees hereby establish
and designate four (4) Sub-Trusts: (i) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Market Leaders Fund, (ii)
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Free S&P 500 Index Fund, (iii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Pure Play
Internet Fund and (iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Community Intelligence Fund, each of
which shall have a single class of Shares. The Shares of such Sub-Trust and any
Shares of any further Sub-Trust that may from time to time be established and
designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise determine with
respect to some further Sub-Trust at the time of establishing and designating
the same) have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) ASSETS BELONGING TO SUB-TRUSTS. All consideration received
by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or any
classes thereof, together with all assets in which such consideration is
invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including 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 be held by the Trustees in trust for the
benefit of the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof and shall
irrevocably belong to that Sub-Trust (and be allocable to any classes thereof)
for all purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the
Trust.
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Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including 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, together with any General Items (as
hereinafter defined) allocated to that Sub-Trust as provided in the following
sentence, are herein referred to as "assets belonging to" that Sub-Trust (and
allocable to any classes thereof). 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 Sub-Trust (collectively
"General Items"), the Trustees shall allocate such General Items to and among
any one or more of the Sub-Trusts 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 Items so allocated to a particular Sub-Trust
shall belong to that Sub-Trust (and be allocable to any classes thereof). Each
such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the holders
of all Shares of all Sub-Trusts (including any classes thereof) for all
purposes.
(b) LIABILITIES BELONGING TO SUB-TRUSTS. The assets belonging
to each particular Sub-Trust shall be charged with the liabilities in respect of
that Sub-Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves belonging to that
Sub-Trust, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of
the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular
Sub-Trust shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or
more of the Sub-Trusts established and designated from time to time in such
manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and
equitable. In addition, the liabilities in respect of a particular class of
Shares of a particular Sub-Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves
belonging to that class of Shares, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges or reserves of that particular Sub-Trust which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular class of Shares of that Sub-Trust
shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of
the classes of Shares of that Sub-Trust established and designated from time to
time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion
deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves
allocated and so charged to a Sub-Trust or class thereof are herein referred to
as "liabilities belonging to" that Sub-Trust or class thereof. Each allocation
of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders, creditors and any other persons
dealing with the Trust or any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) for all
purposes. Any creditor of any Sub-Trust may look only to the assets of that
Sub-Trust to satisfy such creditor's debt.
The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent
with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which
items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Shareholders.
(c) DIVIDENDS. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a
particular Sub-Trust or any class thereof may be paid with such frequency as the
Trustees may determine, which may be daily or otherwise pursuant to a standing
resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the
Trustees may determine, to the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class,
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from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets
belonging to that Sub-Trust, or in the case of a class, belonging to that
Sub-Trust and allocable to that class, as the Trustees may determine, after
providing for actual and accrued liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or
class. All dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or
class thereof shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of Shares of that
Sub-Trust or class in proportion to the number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or
class held by such holders at the date and time of record established for the
payment of such dividends or distributions, except that in connection with any
dividend or distribution program or procedure the Trustees may determine that no
dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to which the
Shareholder's purchase order and/or payment have not been received by the time
or times established by the Trustees under such program or procedure. Such
dividends and distributions may be made in cash or Shares of that Sub-Trust or
class or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees or pursuant to any
program that the Trustees may have in effect at the time for the election by
each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such dividend or distribution to
that Shareholder. Any such dividend or distribution paid in Shares will be paid
at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with subsection (h)
of Section 4.2.
The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall
be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and
allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.
(d) LIQUIDATION. In the event of the liquidation or
dissolution of the Trust, the holders of Shares of each Sub-Trust or any class
thereof that has been established and designated shall be entitled to receive,
when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets belonging to that
Sub-Trust, or in the case of a class, belonging to that Sub-Trust and allocable
to that class, over the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class. The
assets so distributable to the holders of Shares of any particular Sub-Trust or
class thereof shall be distributed among such holders in proportion to the
number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof held by them and recorded on
the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Sub-Trust or class
thereof may be authorized at any time by vote of a majority of the Trustees then
in office.
(e) VOTING. On each matter submitted to a vote of the
Shareholders, each holder of a whole Share shall be entitled to one vote for
each dollar of net asset value standing in such Shareholder's name on the books
of the Trust irrespective of the Series thereof or class thereof and all Shares
of all Series and classes thereof shall vote together as a single class;
provided, however, that as to any matter (i) with respect to which a separate
vote of one or more Series or classes thereof is required by the 1940 Act or the
provisions of the writing establishing and designating the Sub-Trust or class,
such requirements as to a separate vote by such Series or class thereof shall
apply in lieu of all Shares of all Series and classes thereof voting together;
and (ii) as to any matter which affects the interests of one or more particular
Series or classes thereof, only the holders of Shares of the one or more
affected Series or classes shall be entitled to vote, and each such Series or
class shall vote as a separate class.
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(f) REDEMPTION BY SHAREHOLDER. Each holder of Shares of a
particular Sub-Trust or any class thereof shall have the right at such times as
may be permitted by the Trust to require the Trust to redeem all or any part of
such holder's Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof at a redemption price
equal to the net asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust or class thereof next
determined in accordance with subsection (h) of this Section 4.2 after the
Shares are properly tendered for redemption, subject to any contingent deferred
sales charge, redemption charge or other charge in effect at the time of
redemption. Payment of the redemption price shall be in cash; provided, however,
that if the Trustees determine, which determination shall be conclusive, that
conditions exist which make payment wholly in cash unwise or undesirable, the
Trust may, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, make payment wholly or
partly in securities or other assets belonging to the Sub-Trust of which the
Shares being redeemed are part at the value of such securities or assets used in
such determination of net asset value.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the
redemption price and may suspend the right of the holders of Shares of any
Sub-Trust or class thereof to require the Trust to redeem Shares of that
Sub-Trust during any period or at any time when and to the extent permissible
under the 1940 Act.
(g) REDEMPTION BY TRUST. Each Share of each Sub-Trust or class
thereof that has been established and designated is subject to redemption by the
Trust at the redemption price which would be applicable if such Share was then
being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section
4.2: (i) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion and by
majority vote that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences
to the Trust or any Sub-Trust or to the holders of the Shares of the Trust or
any Sub-Trust thereof or class thereof, or (ii) upon such other conditions as
may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set forth in the then
current Prospectus of the Trust. Upon such redemption the holders of the Shares
so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other than to
receive payment of such redemption price.
(h) NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value per Share of any
Sub-Trust shall be (i) in the case of a Sub-Trust whose Shares are not divided
into classes, the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the net assets of
that Sub-Trust (being the value of the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust less
the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust) by the total number of Shares of
that Sub-Trust outstanding, and (ii) in the case of a class of Shares of a
Sub-Trust whose Shares are divided into classes, the quotient obtained by
dividing the value of the net assets of that Sub-Trust allocable to such class
(being the value of the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust allocable to such
class less the liabilities belonging to such class) by the total number of
Shares of such class outstanding; all determined in accordance with the methods
and procedures, including without limitation those with respect to rounding,
established by the Trustees from time to time.
The Trustees may determine to maintain the net asset value per Share of
any Sub-Trust at a designated constant dollar amount and in connection therewith
may adopt procedures not inconsistent with the 1940 Act for the continuing
declarations of income attributable to that
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Sub-Trust as dividends payable in additional Shares of that Sub-Trust at the
designated constant dollar amount and for the handling of any losses
attributable to that Sub-Trust. Such procedures may provide that in the event of
any loss each Shareholder shall be deemed to have contributed to the capital of
the Trust attributable to that Sub-Trust such Shareholder's pro rata portion of
the total number of Shares required to be canceled in order to permit the net
asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust to be maintained, after reflecting such
loss, at the designated constant dollar amount. Each Shareholder of the Trust
shall be deemed to have agreed, by making an investment in any Sub-Trust with
respect to which the Trustees shall have adopted any such procedure, to make the
contribution referred to in the preceding sentence in the event of any such
loss.
(i) TRANSFER. All Shares of each particular Sub-Trust or class
thereof shall be transferable, but transfers of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust
or class thereof will be recorded on the Share transfer records of the Trust
applicable to that Sub-Trust or class only at such times as Shareholders shall
have the right to require the Trust to redeem Shares of that Sub-Trust or class
and at such other times as may be permitted by the Trustees.
(j) EQUALITY. Except as provided herein or in the instrument
designating and establishing any class of Shares or any Sub-Trust, all Shares of
each particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust, or in the case
of a class, belonging to that Sub-Trust and allocable to that class, subject to
the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class, and each Share of any
particular Sub-Trust or class shall be equal to each other Share of that
Sub-Trust or class; but the provisions of this sentence shall not restrict any
distinctions permissible under subsection (c) of this Section 4.2 that may exist
with respect to dividends and distributions on Shares of the same Sub-Trust or
class. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any
particular Sub-Trust or class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that
Sub-Trust or class without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interest in the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust or class or in any way
affecting the rights of Shares of any other Sub-Trust or class.
(k) FRACTIONS. Any fractional Share of any Sub-Trust or class,
if any such fractional Share is outstanding, shall carry proportionately all the
rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Sub-Trust or class, including
rights and obligations with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares, and liquidation of the Trust.
(l) CONVERSION RIGHTS. Subject to compliance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that holders of Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof shall have the right to
convert said Shares into Shares of one or more other Sub-Trust or class thereof
in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.
(m) CLASS DIFFERENCES. The relative rights and preferences of
the classes of any Sub-Trust may differ in such other respects as the Trustees
may determine to be appropriate in their sole discretion, provided that such
differences are set forth in the instrument establishing and
15
designating such classes and executed by a majority of the Trustees (or by an
instrument executed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority
of the Trustees).
Section 4.3 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. The ownership of Shares shall be
recorded on the books of the Trust or of a transfer or similar agent for the
Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each
Sub-Trust and each class thereof that has been established and designated. No
certificates certifying the ownership of Shares need 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 issuance of Share certificates, the
use of facsimile signatures, the transfer of Shares 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 and as to
the number of Shares of each Sub-Trust and class thereof held from time to time
by each such Shareholder.
Section 4.4 INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST. The Trustees may accept or reject
investments in the Trust and each Sub-Trust from such persons and on such terms
and for such consideration, not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940
Act, as they from time to time authorize or determine. The Trustees may
authorize any distributor, principal underwriter, custodian, transfer agent or
other person to accept orders for the purchase of Shares that conform to such
authorized terms and to reject any purchase orders for Shares whether or not
conforming to such authorized terms.
Section 4.5 NO PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS. Shareholders shall have no
pre-emptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other
securities issued by the Trust or any Sub-Trust.
Section 4.6 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 Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof nor
entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to
take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but
only to the rights of said decedent 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 Shareholder, 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 4.7 NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Shareholders shall have no right to
demand payment for their shares or to any other rights of dissenting
shareholders in the event the Trust participates in any transaction which would
give rise to appraisal or dissenters' rights by a shareholder of a
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corporation organized under Chapter 156B of the General Laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, or otherwise.
ARTICLE V - SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
----------------------------------------------------
Section 5.1 VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote
only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Section 3.1,
(ii) with respect to any contract with a Contracting Party as provided in
Section 3.3 as to which Shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act, (iii)
with respect to any termination or reorganization of the Trust to the extent and
as provided in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, (iv) with respect to any amendment of this
Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Section 7.3, (v) 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 any Sub-Trust thereof or the Shareholders of the Trust (provided, however,
that a Shareholder of a particular Sub-Trust shall not be entitled to a
derivative or class action on behalf of any other Sub-Trust (or Shareholder of
any other Sub-Trust)) and (vi) with respect to such additional matters relating
to the Trust as may be required by the 1940 Act, 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.
There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be
voted in person or by proxy. Proxies may be given by or on behalf of a
shareholder orally or in writing or pursuant to any computerized, telephonic, or
mechanical data gathering process. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the
name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed or otherwise given by or
on behalf of 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 or otherwise given 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. Until Shares
are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take
any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken
by Shareholders.
Section 5.2 MEETINGS. No annual or regular meeting of Shareholders is
required. Special meetings of Shareholders may be called by the Trustees from
time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote
or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter
deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. 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 (7) days before such meeting, postage
prepaid, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, to each Shareholder
at the Shareholder's address as it appears on the records of the Trust. The
Trustees shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of Shareholders for
the purpose of voting upon removal of any Trustee of the Trust when requested to
do so in writing by Shareholders holding not less than 10% of the Shares then
outstanding. If the Trustees shall fail to call or give notice of any meeting of
Shareholders for a period of 30 days after written application by Shareholders
holding at least 10% of the Shares then outstanding
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requesting a meeting be called for any other purpose requiring action by the
Shareholders as provided herein or in the By-Laws, then Shareholders holding at
least 10% of the Shares then outstanding may call and give notice of such
meeting, and thereupon the meeting shall be held in the manner provided for
herein in case of call thereof by the Trustees.
Section 5.3 RECORD DATES. For the purpose of determining the
Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment
thereof, or who are entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution, or
for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close
the transfer books for such period, not exceeding 30 days (except at or in
connection with the termination of the Trust), as the Trustees may determine; or
without closing the transfer books the Trustees may fix a date and time not more
than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Shareholders or other action as
the date and time of record for the determination of Shareholders entitled to
vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as Shareholders
of record for purposes of such other action, and any Shareholder who was a
Shareholder at the date and time so fixed shall be entitled to vote at such
meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Shareholder of record
for purposes of such other action, even though such Shareholder has since that
date and time disposed of such Shareholder's Shares, and no Shareholder becoming
such after that date and time shall be so entitled to vote at such meeting or
any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Shareholder of record for purposes
of such other action.
Section 5.4 QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. Except as otherwise provided by
the 1940 Act or other applicable law, thirty percent of the Shares entitled to
vote shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders'
meeting, but any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any meeting
of shareholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned for any
lawful purpose provided that no meeting shall be adjourned for more than six (6)
months beyond the originally scheduled meeting date. Any adjourned session or
sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the
original meeting without the necessity of further notice. A majority of the
Shares voted at a meeting of which a quorum is present shall decide any
questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a different vote is
required or permitted by any provision of the 1940 Act or other applicable law
or by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.
Section 5.5 ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Subject to the provisions of the
1940 Act and other applicable law, any action taken by Shareholders may be taken
without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter
(or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by the 1940 Act or by
any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws) 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 5.6 INSPECTION OF RECORDS. The records of the Trust shall be
open to inspection by Shareholders for any lawful purpose reasonably related to
a Shareholder's interest as a
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Shareholder. The Trustees may from time to time establish reasonable standards
including standards governing what information and documents are to be
furnished, at what time and location and at whose expense with respect to
Shareholder inspection of Trust records to the same extent as is permitted
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation under the Massachusetts
Business Corporation Law.
Section 5.7 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters not
inconsistent with the provisions hereof.
Section 5.8 SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS. Whenever ten or more
Shareholders of record who have been such for at least six (6) months preceding
the date of application, and who hold in the aggregate either Shares having a
net asset value of at least $25,000 or at least 1% of the outstanding Shares,
whichever is less, shall apply to the Trustees in writing, stating that they
wish to communicate with other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures
to a request for a Shareholder meeting and accompanied by a form of
communication and request which they wish to transmit, the Trustees shall within
five (5) business days after receipt of such application either (i) afford to
such applicants access to a list of the names and addresses of all Shareholders
as recorded on the books of the Trust or Sub-Trust, as applicable; or (ii)
inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Shareholders of record,
and the approximate cost of mailing to them the proposed communication and form
of request.
If the Trustees elect to follow the course specified in clause (ii)
above, the Trustees, upon the written request of such applicants, accompanied by
a tender of the material to be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of mailing,
shall, with reasonable promptness, mail such material to all Shareholders of
record at their addresses as recorded on the books, unless within five (5)
business days after such tender the Trustees shall mail to such applicants and
file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a
written statement signed by at least a majority of the Trustees to the effect
that in their opinion either such material contains untrue statements of fact or
omits to state facts necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading, or would be in violation of applicable law, and specifying the basis
of such opinion. The Trustees shall thereafter comply with any order entered by
the Commission and the requirements of the 1940 Act and the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
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Section 6.1 TRUSTEES, SHAREHOLDERS, ETC. NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE; NOTICE.
All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against
the Trust shall look only to the assets of the Sub-Trust with which such person
dealt for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the
Shareholders of any Sub-Trust nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers,
employees or agents, whether past, present or future, nor any other Sub-Trust
shall be personally liable therefor. Every note, bond, contract, instrument,
certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or
done by or on behalf of the Trust, any Sub-Trust
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or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only by or for the Trust (or
the Sub-Trust) or the Trustees and not personally. Nothing in this Declaration
of Trust shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust
or the Shareholders to which such Trustee or officer 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 or of
such officer.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made
or issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that
this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and shall recite to the effect that the same was executed or made
by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or
officer 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 the particular Sub-Trust in
question, as the case may be, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind
any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder
individually.
Section 6.2 TRUSTEE'S GOOD FAITH ACTION; EXPERT ADVICE; NO BOND OR
SURETY. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretion hereunder
shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for such
Trustee's 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. Subject to the foregoing, (a) the Trustees shall not be responsible
or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent,
employee, consultant, adviser, administrator, distributor or principal
underwriter, custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, Shareholder servicing
or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the
act or omission of any other Trustee; (b) the Trustees may take advice of
counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this
Declaration of Trust and their duties as Trustees, and shall be under no
liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing
to follow such advice; and (c) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when
acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the
Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by
them, any independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter
of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a
Contracting Party appointed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.3. The
Trustees as such shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other
security for the performance of their duties.
Section 6.3 INDEMNIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder
(or former Shareholder) of any Sub-Trust of the Trust shall be charged or held
to be personally liable for any obligation or liability of the Trust solely by
reason of being or having been a Shareholder and not because of such
Shareholder's acts or omissions or for some other reason, said Sub-Trust (upon
proper and timely request by the Shareholder) shall assume the defense against
such charge and satisfy any judgment thereon, and the Shareholder or former
Shareholder (or such Shareholder's
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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 said Sub-Trust estate to be held harmless
from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 6.4 INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, ETC. The Trust shall
indemnify (from the assets of the Sub-Trust or Sub-Trusts in question) each of
its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust's request as
directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has
any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as
a "Covered Person")) against all liabilities, including but not limited to
amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and
penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants' and counsel fees,
incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of
any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any
court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be
or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may
be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of
being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with
respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that such Covered
Person had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered
Person's office (such conduct referred to hereafter as "Disabling Conduct"). A
determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made
by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the
proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified was not liable by
reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an
administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence
of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review
of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct
by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties
to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Expenses, including accountants' and counsel fees so incurred by any such
Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in
compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the
Sub-Trust in question in advance of the final disposition of any such action,
suit or proceeding, provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to
repay the amounts so paid to the Sub-Trust in question if it is ultimately
determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this
Article VI and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such
undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of
any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested
Trustees who are not a party to the proceeding, or an independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason
to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
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Section 6.5 COMPROMISE PAYMENT. As to any matter disposed of by a
compromise payment by any such Covered Person referred to in Section 6.4,
pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for
said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such
indemnification shall be approved (a) by a majority of the disinterested
Trustees who are not parties to the proceeding or (b) by an independent legal
counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Trustees pursuant to clause (a) or
by independent legal counsel pursuant to clause (b) shall not prevent the
recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in
accordance with any of such clauses as indemnification if such Covered Person is
subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been
liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such Covered Person's office.
Section 6.6 INDEMNIFICATION NOT EXCLUSIVE, ETC. The right of
indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect
any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in
this Article VI, "Covered Person" shall include such person's heirs, executors
and administrators, an "interested Covered Person" is one against whom the
action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other
proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or
threatened, and a "disinterested" person is a person against whom none of such
actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding
on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened.
Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to
which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other
persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the
Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
Section 6.7 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.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS
---------------------------
Section 7.1 DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no change, alteration or
modification with respect to any Sub-Trust or class thereof shall operate to
terminate the Trust. The Trust may be terminated at any time by a majority of
the Trustees then in office subject to a favorable vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act.
Upon termination, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges,
taxes, expenses and liabilities, 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 to
distributable form in cash, securities or other property, or any combination
thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders in conformity with the
provisions of subsection (d) of Section 4.2.
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Section 7.2 REORGANIZATION. The Trust, or any one or more Sub-Trusts,
may, either as the successor, survivor, or non-survivor, (1) consolidate or
merge with one or more other trusts, sub-trusts, partnerships, associations or
corporations organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or
any other state of the United States, to form a consolidated or merged trust,
partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation under the
laws of which any one of the constituent entities is organized with the Trust to
be the survivor or non-survivor of such consolidation or merger, or (2) transfer
a substantial portion of its assets to one or more other trusts, sub-trusts,
partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations
organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state
of the United States, or have one or more such trusts, sub-trusts, partnerships,
limited liability companies, associations or corporations transfer a substantial
portion of its assets to it, any such consolidation, merger or transfer to be
upon such terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement and plan of
reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the
Trust, or one or more Sub-Trusts as the case may be, in connection therewith.
Any such consolidation, merger or transfer may be authorized at any time by vote
of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Section 7.3 AMENDMENTS. All rights granted to the Shareholders under
this Declaration of Trust are granted subject to the reservation of the right to
amend this Declaration of Trust as herein provided, except that no amendment
shall repeal the limitations on personal liability of any Shareholder or Trustee
or repeal the prohibition of assessment upon the Shareholders without the
express consent of each Shareholder or Trustee involved. Subject to the
foregoing, the provisions of this Declaration of Trust (whether or not related
to the rights of Shareholders) may be amended at any time, so long as such
amendment does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder
with respect to which such amendment is or purports to be applicable and so long
as such amendment is not in contravention of applicable law, including the 1940
Act, by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or
by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a majority of such Trustees).
Any amendment to this Declaration of Trust that materially adversely affects the
rights of Shareholders may be adopted at any time by an instrument in writing
signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust
pursuant to a vote of a majority of such Trustees) when authorized to do so by
the vote in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 4.2 of Shareholders as
specified in Section 5.4 hereof. Subject to the foregoing, any such amendment
shall be effective as of any prior or future time as provided in the instrument
containing the terms of such amendment or, if there is no provision therein with
respect to effectiveness, upon the execution of such instrument and of a
certificate (which may be a part of such instrument) executed by a Trustee or
officer of the Trust to the effect that such amendment has been duly adopted.
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Section 7.4 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. 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, as to the identities of the Trustees and
officers, 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 a whole as the same may be 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 7.5 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 referred to in Section 1 of Chapter 182 of the
Massachusetts General Laws and 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 7.6 INTEGRATION. This Declaration of Trust constitutes the
entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining
thereto.
Section 7.7 RESIDENT AGENT. CT Corporation System, ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ is hereby designated as the resident agent of the
Trust in Massachusetts. The Trustees may change the designated resident agent in
Massachusetts from time to time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned hereunto has set his hands
and seal for himself and his assigns, as of the day and year first above
written.
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