EX-99.23.a.
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SOLANUS FUNDS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
January 15, 2001
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SOLANUS FUNDS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I - NAME AND DEFINITIONS..........................................................................................1
Section 1.1 Name and Principal Office................................................................ 1
Section 1.2 Definitions.............................................................................. 1
(a) The "Trust".................................................................................. 1
(b) "Trustees"................................................................................... 1
(c) "Shares"..................................................................................... 1
(d) "Series"..................................................................................... 1
(e) "Class"...................................................................................... 2
(f) "Shareholder"................................................................................ 2
(g) The "1940 Act"............................................................................... 2
(h) "Commission".................................................................................. 2
(i) "Declaration of Trust"....................................................................... 2
(j) "By-Laws"................................................................................... 2
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE OF TRUST........................................................................................... 2
ARTICLE III - THE TRUSTEES.............................................................................................. 2
Section 3.1 Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc................................................. 2
(a) Initial Trustees............................................................................. 2
(b) Number........................................................................................ 2
(c) Term......................................................................................... 2
(d) Resignation and Retirement................................................................... 3
(e) Removal...................................................................................... 3
(f) Vacancies.................................................................................... 3
(g) Effect of Death, Resignation, etc............................................................ 3
(h) No Accounting................................................................................ 3
Section 3.2 Powers of Trustees....................................................................... 3
(a) Investments.................................................................................. 4
(b) Disposition of Assets........................................................................ 4
(c) Ownership Powers............................................................................. 4
(d) Subscription................................................................................. 4
(e) Form of Holding.............................................................................. 4
(f) Reorganization, etc.......................................................................... 4
(g) Voting Trusts, etc........................................................................... 5
(h) Compromise................................................................................... 5
(i) Partnerships, etc............................................................................ 5
(j) Borrowing and Security....................................................................... 5
(k) Guarantees, etc.............................................................................. 5
(l) Insurance.................................................................................... 5
(m) Pensions, etc................................................................................ 5
Section 3.3 Certain Contracts........................................................................ 6
(a) Advisory..................................................................................... 6
(b) Administration............................................................................... 6
(c) Distribution................................................................................. 6
(d) Custodian and Depository..................................................................... 6
(e) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency...................................................... 6
(f) Shareholder Servicing........................................................................ 6
(g) Accounting................................................................................... 7
Section 3.4 Payment of Trust Expenses and Compensation of Trustees................................... 7
Section 3.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust......................................................... 8
ARTICLE IV - SHARES..................................................................................................... 8
Section 4.1 Description of Shares.................................................................... 8
Section 4.2 Establishment and Designation of Series................................................... 9
(a) Assets Belonging to Series.................................................................... 9
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Series.............................................................. 10
(c) Dividends.................................................................................... 10
(d) Liquidation.................................................................................. 11
(e) Voting....................................................................................... 11
(f) Redemption by Shareholder.................................................................... 11
(g) Redemption by Trust.......................................................................... 12
(h) Net Asset Value.............................................................................. 12
(i) Transfer..................................................................................... 12
(j) Equality..................................................................................... 13
(k) Fractions.................................................................................... 13
(l) Conversion Rights............................................................................ 13
Section 4.3 Ownership of Shares...................................................................... 13
Section 4.4 Investments in the Trust................................................................. 13
Section 4.5 No Preemptive Rights..................................................................... 13
Section 4.6 Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability.................................... 13
ARTICLE V - SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS.................................................................... 14
Section 5.1 Voting Powers................................................................................ 14
Section 5.2 Meetings................................................................................. 14
Section 5.3 Record Dates............................................................................. 14
Section 5.4 Quorum and Required Vote................................................................. 15
Section 5.5 Action by Written Consent................................................................ 15
Section 5.6 Inspection of Records.................................................................... 15
Section 5.7 Additional Provisions.................................................................... 15
ARTICLE VI - LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION................................................................... 15
Section 6.1 Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice............................... 15
Section 6.2 Trustee's Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety............................ 16
Section 6.3 Indemnification of Shareholders.......................................................... 16
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc............................................... 17
Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses..................................................................... 17
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc....................................................... 17
Section 6.7 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees......................................... 17
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................................. 17
Section 7.1 Duration and Termination of Trust........................................................ 17
Section 7.2 Reorganization........................................................................... 18
Section 7.3 Amendments............................................................................... 18
Section 7.4 Filing of Copies; References; Headings................................................... 19
Section 7.5 Applicable Law........................................................................... 19
SOLANUS FUNDS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 15th day of January, 2001,
by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares of beneficial interest
to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, this Trust is being formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into
their hands as trustees of an Ohio 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 as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Name and Principal Office. This Trust shall be known as
"Solanus Funds" and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under
that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine. The
principal office of the Trust shall be located at Xxxxxxxx Heights, Ohio or any
other place as determined from time to time by the Trustees and reported to the
Secretary of the State of Ohio.
Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by
the context or specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Ohio business trust established by this Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(b) "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein or elected in
accordance with Article III;
(c) "Shares" refers to the transferable units of interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust, shall be divided from time to time,
including the shares of any and all Series or Classes which may be
established by the Trustees, and includes fractions of Shares as well as
whole Shares;
(d) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated under or in
accordance with the provisions of Article IV;
(e) "Class" refers to a class or sub-series of any Series of Shares established
and designated under and in accordance with the provisions of Article IV;
(f) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(g) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(h) "Commission" shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;
(i) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust
as amended or restated from time to time; and
(j) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to operate as an investment company, to
offer Shareholders one or more investment programs primarily in securities and
debt instruments and to engage in any and all lawful acts or activities for
which business trusts may be formed under Chapter 1746 of the Ohio Revised Code.
ARTICLE III
THE TRUSTEES
Section 3.1 Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc.
(a) Initial Trustees. Upon his execution of this Declaration of Trust or a
counterpart hereof or some other writing in which he accepts such
Trusteeship and agrees to the provisions hereof, Xxxx X. X'Xxxxxxx shall
become Trustee hereof.
(b) Number. The Trustees serving as such, whether named above or hereafter
becoming a Trustee, 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 his 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) Term. Each Trustee shall serve as a Trustee during the lifetime of the
Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided or until such
Trustee sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed. The Trustees may elect
their own successors and may, pursuant to Section 3.1(f) hereof, appoint
Trustees to fill vacancies; provided that, immediately after filling a
vacancy, at least two-thirds of the Trustees then holding office shall have
been elected to such office by the Shareholders at an annual or special
meeting. If at any time less than a majority of the Trustees then holding
office were so elected, the Trustees shall forthwith cause to be held as
promptly as possible, and in any event within 60 days, a meeting of
Shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees to fill any existing
vacancies.
(d) Resignation and Retirement. Any Trustee may resign his trust or retire as a
Trustee, by written instrument signed by him 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.
(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 prior to such removal, specifying the date upon which such removal
shall become effective, (ii) by vote of the 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 declaration in writing
signed by Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the Shares then
outstanding and filed with the Trust's Custodian.
(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 Trustees may (but so long as there are at least
three remaining Trustees, need not unless required by the 0000 Xxx) be
filled either by a majority of the remaining Trustees through the
appointment in writing of such other person as such remaining Trustees in
their discretion shall determine (unless a shareholder election is required
by the 0000 Xxx) or by the election by the Shareholders, at a meeting
called for the purpose, of a person to fill such vacancy, and such
appointment or election 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 or election 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 or elected shall have
accepted such appointment or election and shall have agreed in writing to
be bound by this Declaration of Trust and the appointment or election 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 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 his removal for cause, no person ceasing
to be a Trustee as a result of his 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. 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 as they consider appropriate elect and
remove officers and appoint and terminate agents and consultants and hire and
terminate 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, set record dates or times for the determination of
Shareholders or certain 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, principal underwriter,
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 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:
(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;
(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 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, depository, 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, depository 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, depository 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 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 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 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; provided,
however, that insurance which protects the Trustees and officers against
liabilities rising from action involving willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of their offices may not be purchased; 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.
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
may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees (a
quorum, consisting of at least a majority of the Trustees then in office, being
present), within or without Ohio, 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).
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
("Contracting Party") to provide for the performance and assumption of some or
all of the following services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the
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 Series of Shares
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, to supervise all or any part of the operations of the 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;
(c) Distribution. To distribute the Shares of the Trust, to be principal
underwriter of such Shares, and/or to act as agent of the 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 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 subcontractual arrangements relative to any of the matters referred to in
Sections 3.3(a) through (g) hereof.
Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, 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
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 has 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 and/or the
Trustees or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from
voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to
the Trust or its Shareholders, 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 (l) 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
reasonably justified by such facts 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), (2) the material facts
as to such relationship or interest and as to the contract have been disclosed
to or are known by the Shareholders not having such relationship or interest and
who are entitled to vote thereon and the contract involved is specifically
approved in good faith by majority vote of such Shareholders, or (3) the
specific contract involved is fair to the Trust as of the time it is authorized,
approved or ratified by the Trustees or by such 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 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 Series
and Classes 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, 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 shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES
Section 4.1 Description of Shares. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be divided into Shares, all without par value. The Trustees shall have the
authority from time to time to issue or reissue Shares in one or more Series of
Shares (including without limitation the Series specifically established and
designated in Section 4.2), as they deem necessary or desirable, to establish
and designate such Series, and to fix and determine the relative rights and
preferences as between the different Series of Shares 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 Series
shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights.
The Shares of each Series may be issued or reissued from time to time
in one or more Classes, as determined by the Board of Trustees pursuant to
resolution. Each Class shall be appropriately designated, prior to the issuance
of any shares thereof, by some distinguishing letter, number or title. All
Shares within a Class shall be alike in every particular. All Shares of each
Series shall be of equal rank and have the same powers, preferences and rights,
and shall be subject to the same qualifications, limitations and restrictions
without distinction between the shares of different Classes thereof, except with
respect to such differences among such Classes, as the Board of Trustees shall
from time to time determine to be necessary or desirable, including without
limitation differences in expenses, in voting rights and in the rate or rates of
dividends or distributions. The Board of Trustees may from time to time increase
the number of Shares allocated to any Class already created by providing that
any unissued Shares of the applicable Series shall constitute part of such
Class, or may decrease the number of Shares allocated to any Class already
created by providing that any unissued Shares previously assigned to such Class
shall no longer constitute part thereof. The Board of Trustees is hereby
empowered to classify or reclassify from time to time any unissued Shares of
each Series by fixing or altering the terms thereof and by assigning such
unissued shares to an existing or newly created Class. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this paragraph the Board of Trustees is hereby empowered (i)
to redesignate any issued Shares of any Series by assigning a distinguishing
letter, number or title to such shares and (ii) to reclassify all or any part of
the issued Shares of any Series to make them part of an existing or newly
created Class.
The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Series
and Class that may be issued is unlimited, and the Trustees may issue Shares of
any Series or Class 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 (h) of Section 4.2). The Trustees may classify or reclassify any
unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any Series or
Class into one or more Series or Classes that may be established and designated
from time to time. The Trustees may hold as treasury Shares (of the same or some
other Series), 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
Series or Class reacquired by the Trust.
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 Series or Class of Shares in
addition to those established and designated in Section 4.2 shall be effective
upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument setting
forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences
of such Series or Class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any
time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series or Class
previously established and designated the Trustees may by an instrument executed
by a majority of their number abolish that Series or Class and the establishment
and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph 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 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 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 generally.
Section 4.2 Establishment and Designation of Series or Classes. Without
limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 4.1 to establish and
designate any further Series, the Trustees hereby establish and designate one
Series of Shares: the "Solanus Fund". The Shares of these Series and any Shares
of any further Series or Class that may from time to time be established and
designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise determine with
respect to some further Series or Class at the time of establishing and
designating the same) have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Assets Belonging to Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the
issuance or sale of Shares of a particular Series or Class, 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 irrevocably belong to that Series or
Class for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall
be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration,
assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, 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 allocated to
that Series or Class as provided in the following sentence, are herein
referred to as "assets belonging to" that Series or Class. In the event
that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series or Class (collectively "General Items"), the Trustees
shall allocate such General Items to and among any one or more of the
Series or Classes 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 Series or
Class shall belong to that Series or Class. Each such allocation by the
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all
Series and Classes for all purposes.
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.
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Series The assets belonging to each particular
Series and Class thereof shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust
in respect of that Series or Class and all expenses, costs, charges and
reserves attributable to that Series or Class, and any general liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class shall be
allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the
Series and Classes 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 Series or Class are herein referred to as
"liabilities belonging to" that Series or Class. Each allocation of
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all
purposes.
(c) Dividends. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Series 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 Series, from such of the estimated income and
capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that
Series, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and
accrued liabilities belonging to that Series. All dividends and
distributions on Shares of a particular Series shall be distributed pro
rata to the holders of that Series in proportion to the number of Shares of
that Series held by such holders 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, and except that if Classes have been established for
any Series, the rate of dividends or distributions may vary among such
Class pursuant to resolution, which may be a standing resolution, of the
Board of Trustees. Such dividends and distributions may be made in cash or
Shares 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 Trust intends to qualify each Series as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954,
as amended, or any successor or comparable statute thereto,
and regulations promulgated thereunder. Inasmuch as the
computation of net income and gains for federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books of
the Trust, the Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its
sole discretion, to distribute in any fiscal year as
dividends, including dividends designated in whole or in part
as capital gains distributions, amounts sufficient, in the
opinion of the Board of Trustees, to enable each Series to
qualify as a regulated investment company and to avoid
liability of the Series for federal income tax in respect of
that year. However, nothing in the foregoing shall limit the
authority of the Board of Trustees to make distributions
greater than or less than the amount necessary to qualify as a
regulated investment company and to avoid liability of each
Series for such tax.
(d) Liquidation In event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, the
Shareholders of each Series or Class that has been established and
designated shall be entitled to receive, as a Series or Class, when and as
declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets belonging to that Series
or Class over the liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. The assets
so distributable to the Shareholders of any particular Series or Class
shall be distributed among such Shareholders in proportion to the number of
Shares of that Series or Class held by them and recorded on the books of
the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Series or Class may be
authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office subject to
the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares of that Series
or Class, as defined in the 1940 Act.
(e) Voting. All Shares shall have "equal voting rights" as such term is defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and except as otherwise provided by
that Act or rules, regulations or orders promulgated thereunder. On each
matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, each Series shall vote as a
separate series except (i) as to any matter with respect to which a vote of
all Series voting as a single series is required by the 1940 Act or rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, or would be required under the Ohio
General Corporation Law if the Trust were an Ohio corporation; and (ii) as
to any matter which the Trustees have determined affects only the interests
of one or more Series or Classes, only the holders of Shares of the one or
more affected Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.
(f) Redemption by Shareholder. Each holder of Shares of a particular Series or
Class shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust,
but no less frequently than once each week, to require the Trust to redeem
all or any part of his Shares of that Series or Class at a redemption price
equal to the net asset value per Share of that Series or Class next
determined in accordance with subsection (h) of this Section 4.2 after the
Shares are properly tendered for 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 make payment
wholly or partly in securities or other assets belonging to the Series or
Class 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 Series to require the Trust to redeem
Shares of that Series during any period or at any time when
and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act, and such
redemption is conditioned upon the Trust having funds or
property legally available therefor.
(g) Redemption by Trust. Each Share of each Series or Class 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:(a) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion
that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to all
or any of the holders of the Shares, or any Series or Class thereof, of the
Trust, or (b) 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 with respect to maintenance of Shareholder accounts of a minimum
amount. 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 Series or Class shall
be the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the net assets of that
Series or Class (being the value of the assets belonging to that Series or
Class less the liabilities belonging to that Series or Class) by the total
number of Shares of that Series or 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. Net asset value shall be determined separately for each Class of a
Series.
The Trustees may determine to maintain the net asset value per
Share of any Series or Class 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 Series or Class as dividends
payable in additional Shares of that Series or Class at the
designated constant dollar amount and for the handling of any
losses attributable to that Series or Class. 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 Series or Class his 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
Series or Class 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 his investment in
any Series 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 Series or Class shall be
transferable, but transfers of Shares of a particular Series or Class will
be recorded on the Share transfer records of the Trust applicable to that
Series or Class only at such times as Shareholders shall have the right to
require the Trust to redeem Shares of that Series or Class and at such
other times as may be permitted by the Trustees.
(j) Equality. All Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal
proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Series (subject to
the liabilities belonging to that Series), and each Share of any particular
Series shall be equal to each other Share of that Series; but the
provisions of this sentence shall not restrict any distinctions permissible
under this Section 4.2 that may exist with respect to a Class of the same
Series. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of
any particular Series or Class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of
that Series or Class without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interest in the assets belonging to that Series or Class or in any way
affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series or Class.
(k) Fractions. Any fractional Share of any Series or Class, if any such
fractional Share is outstanding, shall carry proportionately all the rights
and obligations of a whole Share of that Series or Class, including 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 Series or Class shall have the right to convert said Shares
into Shares of one or more other Series or Classes in accordance with such
requirements and procedures as may be established by 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 Series
and Class 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 Series and Class held from time to time by each such Shareholder.
Section 4.4 Investments in the Trust. The Trustees may accept
investments in the 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. 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 Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or
other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by
the 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 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.
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 or any Series 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 an Ohio business corporation
as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be
brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust
or the Shareholders, 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 any Trustee or Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held
in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them
unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific
written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be
executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger. Until Shares are then issued and outstanding, 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. Meetings (including meetings involving only the
holders of Shares of one or more but less than all Series or Classes) 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 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. If the Trustees shall fail to call or
give notice of any meeting of Shareholders (including a meeting involving only
the holders of Shares of one or more but less than all Series or Classes) for a
period of 30 days after written application by Shareholders holding at least 25%
of the Shares then outstanding 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 25% 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 60 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 (subject to any provisions permissible
under subsection (c) of Section 4.2 with respect to dividends or distributions
on Shares that have not been ordered and/or paid for by the time or times
established by the Trustees under the applicable dividend or distribution
program or procedure then in effect) to be treated as a Shareholder of record
for purposes of such other action, even though he has since that date and time
disposed of his 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. A majority of Shares entitled to
vote shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders'
meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust
permits or requires that holders of any Series or Class thereof shall vote as a
Series or Class, then a majority of the aggregate number of Shares of that
Series or Class thereof entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business by that Series or Class. Any lesser
number shall be sufficient for adjournments. 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. Except when a larger vote is
required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, a
majority of the Shares voted, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, shall
decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where
any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust permits or requires that
the holders of any Series or Class shall vote as a Series or Class, then a
majority of the Shares of that Series or Class voted on the matter shall decide
that matter insofar as that Series or Class is concerned.
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 other 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 to the same extent as is permitted
stockholders of an Ohio corporation under the Ohio General 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.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice.
All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against
any Series of the Trust (or the Trust on behalf of any Series) shall look only
to the assets of that Series for payment under such credit, contract or claim;
and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers,
employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable
therefor. 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 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 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 State of Ohio 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, 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 discretions hereunder
shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else,
and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
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. Nothing stated herein is intended to detract from
the protection accorded to Trustees by Ohio Revised Code Sections 1746.08 and
1701.59, as amended from time to time.
Section 6.3 Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or
former Shareholder 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, the 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 his heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or
other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of
the assets of the Trust estate to be held harmless from and indemnified against
all loss and expense arising from such liability; provided that, in the event
the Trust shall consist of more than one Series, Shareholders of a particular
Series who are faced with claims or liabilities solely by reason of their status
as Shareholders of that Series shall be limited to the assets of that Series for
recovery of such loss and related expenses. The rights accruing to a Shareholder
under this Section 6.3 shall not exclude any other right to which such
Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained
restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any
appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. Subject to and
except as otherwise provided in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
1940 Act, the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including
persons who serve at the Trust's request as directors, officers or trustees of
another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder,
creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") against
all liabilities, 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, and except that no Covered
Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its
Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject 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 6.5 Advances of Expenses. The Trust shall advance attorneys'
fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding to
the full extent permitted by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the 1940
Act, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1707, as amended. In the event any of these
laws conflict with Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13(E), as amended, these laws,
and not Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13(E), shall govern.
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. 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. 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 Shares, as
defined in the 1940 Act, of each Series voting separately by Series.
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.
Section 7.2 Reorganization. The Trustees may sell, convey and transfer
the assets of the Trust, or the assets belonging to any one or more Series, to
another trust, partnership, association or corporation organized under the laws
of any state of the United States, or to the Trust to be held as assets
belonging to another Series of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares or other
securities (including, in the case of a transfer to another Series of the Trust,
Shares of such other Series) with such transfer being made subject to, or with
the assumption by the transferee of, the liabilities belonging to each Series
the assets of which are so transferred; provided, however, that if shareholder
approval is required by the 1940 Act, no assets belonging to any particular
Series shall be so transferred unless the terms of such transfer shall have
first been approved at a meeting called for the purpose by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined in the
1940 Act, of that Series. Following such transfer, the Trustees shall distribute
such cash, shares or other securities (giving due effect to the assets and
liabilities belonging to and any other differences among the various Series the
assets belonging to which have so been transferred) among the Shareholders of
the Series the assets belonging to which have been so transferred; and if all of
the assets of the Trust have been so transferred, the Trust shall be terminated.
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 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).
Except as provided in the first sentence of this Section 7, any amendment to
this Declaration of Trust that adversely affects the rights of Shareholders may
be adopted at any time by an instrument signed in writing by a majority of the
then Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the 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 holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote; (a "Majority Shareholder Vote"); provided, however, than an
amendment that shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series (or of one or
more Classes), but not the Shareholders of all outstanding Series (or Classes),
shall be authorized by a Majority Shareholder Vote of each Series (or Class, as
the case may be) affected, and no vote of a Series (or Class) not affected shall
be required. Subject to the foregoing, any such amendment shall be effective 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 to the effect that such amendment has been duly
adopted. Copies of the amendment to this Declaration of Trust shall be filed as
specified in Section 7.4. A restated Declaration of Trust, integrating into a
single instrument all of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust which are
then in effect and operative, may be executed from time to time by a majority of
the then Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a
majority of such Trustees) and shall be effective upon filing as specified in
Section 7.4.
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. A copy of this
instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the
Secretary of the State of Ohio, as well as any other governmental office where
such filing may from time to time be required, but the failure to make any such
filing shall not impair the effectiveness of this instrument or any such
amendment. 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. The masculine
gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. 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 Trust is an Ohio business trust, and
it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered
according to the laws of said State, including the Ohio General Corporation Law
as the same may be amended from time to time, but the reference to said
Corporation Law is not intended to give the Trust, the Trustees, the
Shareholders or any other person any right, power, authority or responsibility
available only to or in connection with an entity organized in corporate form.
The Trust shall be of the type referred to in Section 1746.01 of the Ohio
Revised Code, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise
all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand for
himself and his assigns, as of the day and year first above written.
......... /s/
......... XXXX X. X'XXXXXXX, Trustee
.........
STATE OF OHIO ......... )
......... ) ss:
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA ......... )
Before me, a Notary Public in and for said county and state, personally
appeared the above named Xxxx X. O'Donnnell, who acknowledged that he did sign
the foregoing instrument and that the same is his free act and deed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal on this 15th day of January, 2001.
......... /s/
......... Notary Public
......... Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
My Commission Expires: October 22, 2002
