Exhibit 99.B(1)(a)
Effective as of
October 18, 1994
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
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of
TRAINER, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FIRST MUTUAL FUND S
a Delaware Business Trust
Principal Place of Business:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dated October 18, 1994
Last Amended July 25, 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I........................................................... 1
Name and Definitions............................................. 1
Section 1. Name......................................... 1
Section 2. Definitions.................................. 1
(a) Trust................................ 1
(b) Trust Property....................... 1
(c) Trustees............................. 1
(d) Shares............................... 2
(e) Shareholder.......................... 2
(f) Person............................... 2
(g) 1940 Act............................. 2
(h) Commission and Principal
Underwriter.......................... 2
(i) Declaration of Trust................. 2
(j) By-Laws.............................. 2
(k) Interested Person.................... 2
(l) Investment Manager................... 2
(m) Series............................... 2
ARTICLE II.......................................................... 2
Purpose of Trust............................................... 2
ARTICLE III......................................................... 3
Shares......................................................... 3
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest.............. 3
Section 2. Ownership of Shares......................... 3
Section 3. Investments in the Trust..................... 4
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of
Personal Liability........................... 4
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change
Provisions Relating to Shares................ 4
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Shares...... 5
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a
Particular Series.................... 5
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a
Particular Series.................... 5
(c) Dividends, Distributions,
Redemptions, and Repurchases......... 6
(d) Voting............................... 6
(e) Equality............................. 6
(f) Fractions............................ 7
(g) Exchange Privilege................... 7
(h) Combination of Series................ 7
(i)
(i) Elimination of Series....................... 7
Page
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ARTICLE IV.............................................................. 7
The Board of Trustees.............................................. 7
Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure...................... 7
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc.
of a Trustee..................................... 8
Section 3. Powers........................................... 8
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust................. 11
Section 5. Ownership of Assets of the Trust................. 12
Section 6. Service Contracts................................ 12
ARTICLE V............................................................... 13
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings........................... 13
Section 1. Voting Powers.................................... 13
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings........................ 14
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote......................... 14
Section 4. Action by Written Consent........................ 14
Section 5. Record Dates..................................... 14
ARTICLE VI.............................................................. 15
Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions.................... 15
Section 1. Income, and Determination of
Net Asset Value, Net Distributions............... 15
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases...................... 15
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust........... 16
Section 4. Transfer of Shares............................... 16
ARTICLE VII............................................................. 16
Compensation and Limitation of Liability........................... 16
Section 1. Compensation of Trustees......................... 16
Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability..... 16
Section 3. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice,
No Bond or Surety................................ 17
Section 4. Insurance........................................ 17
ARTICLE VIII............................................................ 17
Miscellaneous...................................................... 17
Section 1. Liability of Third Persons Dealing
with Trustees.................................... 17
Section 2. Termination of Trust or Series................... 18
Section 3. Merger and Consolidation......................... 18
Section 4. Amendments....................................... 18
(ii)
Section 5. Filing of Copies, References, Headings........... 19
Section 6. Applicable Law................................... 19
Section 7. Provisions in Conflict with Law or
Regulations...................................... 19
Section 8. Business Trust Only.............................. 20
Section 9. Use of the Name "First Mutual"................... 20
(iii)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
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OF
TRAINER, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FIRST MUTUAL FUND S
WHEREAS, this AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made and entered
into as of the date set forth below by the Trustees named hereunder for the
purpose of forming a Delaware business trust in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby direct that a Certificate of Trust
be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities and
other assets which the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to
time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms
and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders of Shares in this Trust.
ARTICLE I.
Name and Definitions
Section 1. Name. This trust shall be known as " TRAINER, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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FIRST MUTUAL FUND S " and the Trustees shall conduct the business of
the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time
determine.
Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise
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required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Delaware business trust established by
this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;
(b) The "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account
of the Trust;
(c) "Trustees" refers to the persons who have signed this Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, so long as they continue in office in accordance with
the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly
elected or appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer
to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder;
(d) "Shares" means the shares of beneficial interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes
fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(e) "Shareholder" means a record owner of outstanding Shares;
(f) "Person" means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, foundations, plans, associations, joint ventures, estates
and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies
and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;
(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.
References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to
include such Rules and Regulations as are applicable to such sections as
determined by the Trustees or their designees;
(h) The terms "Commission" and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the
respective meanings given them in Section 2(a)(7) and Section (2)(a)(29) of the
1940 Act;
(i) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration
of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
(j) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time;
(k) The term "Interested Person" has the meaning given it in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;
(l) "Investment Manager" or "Manager" means a party furnishing
services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section
7(a) hereof;
(m) "Series" refers to each Series of Shares established and
designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article III.
ARTICLE II.
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the
business of a management investment company
registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series investing primarily in
securities.
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ARTICLE III.
Shares
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest
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in the Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares,
with a par value of $ .001 per Share. The Trustees may authorize the division
of Shares into separate Series and the division of Series into separate classes
of Shares. The different Series shall be established and designated, and the
variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different
Series shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees. If only one Series shall
be established, the Shares shall have the rights and preferences provided for
herein and in Article III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not
otherwise provided for herein.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share
shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the
Shares of any Series shall be entitled to receive dividends, when, if and as
declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1
hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of
the same Series with respect to dividends or distributions of the Trust or
otherwise. All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all
Shareholders of a Series (or class) from the assets held with respect to such
Series according to the number of Shares of such Series (or class) held of
record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution
or on the date of termination of the Trust, as the case may be. Shareholders
shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or
other securities issued by the Trust or any Series. The Trustees may from time
to time divide or combine the Shares of a Series into a greater or lesser number
of Shares of such Series without thereby materially changing the proportionate
beneficial interest of such Shares in the assets held with respect to that
Series or materially affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series.
Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be
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recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust,
which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series. No
certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the
Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may
make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each
Series (or class) and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by
the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be
conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series and as to the
number of Shares of each Series held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Section 3. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by
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the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such
consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize. Each investment
shall be credited to the Shareholder's account in the form of full and
fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Series (or class) as the purchaser shall
select, at the net asset value per Share next determined for such Series (or
class) after receipt of
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the investment; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole
discretion, impose a sales charge or reimbursement fee upon investments in the
Trust.
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability.
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Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided
in this instrument and the By-Laws of the Trust. Every Shareholder by virtue of
having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed
to the terms hereof. The death of a Shareholder during the existence 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 shall entitle such
representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this
Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle a 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 as partners or joint venturers.
Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the
Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, or 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 agree to pay.
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating
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to Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to
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the contrary, and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend
the Declaration of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees
shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, at any time and from
time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may determine in their
sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to,
delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares
contained in this Declaration of Trust, provided that before adopting any such
amendment without Shareholder approval the Board of Trustees shall determine
that it is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders
and that Shareholder approval is not required by the 1940 Act or other
applicable law. If Shares have been issued, Shareholder approval shall be
required to adopt any amendments to this Declaration of Trust which would
adversely affect to a material degree the rights and preferences of the Shares
of any Series (or class) or to increase or decrease the par value of the Shares
of any Series (or class).
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Shares. The
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establishment and designation of any Series (or class) of Shares shall be
effective upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees, of a resolution which
sets forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and
preferences of such Series (or class). Each such resolution shall be
incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
Shares of each Series (or class) established pursuant to this Section
6, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series, shall
have the following relative rights and preferences:
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(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All
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consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a Series,
including dividends and distributions paid by, and reinvested in, such Series,
together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested,
all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source
derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale,
exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from
any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, subject only
to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account
of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and
proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation,
any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and
any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in
whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as "assets held with
respect to" that Series. In the event that there are any assets, income,
earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily
identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively
"General Assets"), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between
or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the
Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General
Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect to that
Series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest
error.
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series. The assets
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of the Trust held with respect to each Series shall be charged with the
liabilities of the Trust with respect to such Series and all expenses, costs,
charges and reserves attributable to such Series, and any general liabilities of
the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being held in respect of a
Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or
more Series 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 so charged to a Series are herein referred to as "liabilities held
with respect to" that Series. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
holders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error. All
Persons who have extended credit which has been allocated to a particular
Series, or who have a claim or contract which has been allocated to a Series,
shall look exclusively to the assets held with respect to such Series for
payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an express
agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors, claimants and contracting
parties, each creditor, claimant and contracting party shall be deemed
nevertheless to have agreed to such limitation unless an express provision to
the contrary has been incorporated in the written contract or other document
establishing the contractual relationship.
(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases. No
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dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid
upon termination of the Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, or
any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or class) shall be
effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such
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Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any Series otherwise have any right or
claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the
extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a
Shareholder of such other Series. 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 in absence of manifest error.
(d) Voting. All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter
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shall vote without differentiation between the separate Series on a one-vote-
per-Share basis; provided however, if a matter to be voted on affects only the
interests of not all Series (or class of a Series), then only the Shareholders
of such affected Series (or class) shall be entitled to vote on the matter.
(e) Equality. All the Shares of each Series shall represent an equal
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proportionate undivided interest in the assets held with respect to such Series
(subject to the liabilities of such Series and such rights and preferences as
may have been established and designated with respect to classes of Shares
within such Series), and each Share of a Series shall be equal to each other
Share of such Series.
(f) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series shall have
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proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of such Series,
including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions
and redemption of Shares.
(g) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to
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provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to
exchange such Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(h) Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the authority,
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without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required
by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to
any two or more Series into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single
Series.
(i) Elimination of Series. At any time that there are no Shares
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outstanding of a Series (or class), the Trustees may abolish such Series (or
class).
ARTICLE IV.
The Board of Trustees
Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees
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constituting the Board of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by a written
instrument signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a
majority of the Board of Trustees, provided, however, that the number of
Trustees shall in no event be less than one (1) nor more
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than fifteen (15). Subject to the requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1940
Act, the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the then Trustees at a
duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees and remove
Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued
lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or
incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is removed. Any Trustee
may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him and delivered to any
officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be
effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time.
Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust,
no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any
compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any
right to damages or other payment on account of such removal. Any Trustee may
be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of
electing or removing one or more Trustees may be called (i) by the Trustees upon
their own vote, or (ii) upon the demand of Shareholders owning 10% or more of
the Shares of the Trust in the aggregate.
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The
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death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or
more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke
any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is
filled as provided in Article IV, Section 1, the Trustees in office, regardless
of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall
discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of
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Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Board of Trustees, and
such Board shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that
responsibility including the power to engage in transactions of all kinds on
behalf of the Trust. 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, documents and instruments that they may consider desirable,
necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: adopt, amend and repeal By-
Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the
regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust; elect and remove such
officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;
appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees
consisting of two or more Trustees who may exercise the powers and authority of
the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine; employ one or
more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to
employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system
or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve
Bank, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide
for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one
or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer
Shares pursuant to applicable law; set record dates for the determination
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of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and
distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series;
establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III,
Section 6 hereof, any Series of Shares, each such Series to operate as a
separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined investment
objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; and in general delegate
such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any
committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any
such custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Manager or
Principal Underwriter. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the
Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a
grant of power to the Trustees and unless otherwise specified herein or required
by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, any action by the Board of Trustees
shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees
then in office or a majority of any duly constituted committee of Trustees. Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
Trustees, or any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all
members of the Board of Trustees or committee (as the case may be) consent
thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, or committee, except as otherwise
provided in the 1940 Act.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash and cash items, to hold cash
uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise
acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write
options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future
acquisition or delivery of all types of securities, futures contracts and
options thereon, and forward currency contracts of every nature and kind,
including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, preferred
stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of
indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper,
repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances, and other securities of any kind,
issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including,
without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States
and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of
the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international
instrumentality or organization, or by any bank or savings institution, or by
any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or
of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or
organization organized under any foreign law, or in "when issued" contracts for
any such securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and forward currency
contracts, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise
any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect
of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including,
without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto,
with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights,
powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;
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(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or
write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating
to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series;
(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver
proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall
deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with
relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which
in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it
is trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or
in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or
nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian or a
nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in
each case to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;
(f) To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any
security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease,
mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay
calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a
committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to
deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee,
depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with
relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the
Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the
expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the
Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, settle or otherwise adjust
claims in favor of or against the Trust or a Series, or any matter in
controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and
any other combinations or associations;
(j) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust or
Series exclusively for Trust purposes;
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(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such
insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary, desirable or appropriate for the
conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies
insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on
its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders,
Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Manager, principal
underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all
claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares,
holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any
action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee,
officer, employee, agent, Investment Manager, Principal Underwriter, or
independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be
determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the
power to indemnify such Person against liability; and
(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share
bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance
and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other
benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the
Trust.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing
before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The
Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or
custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required
to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other
action hereunder.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to the
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provisions of Article III, Section 6(b), the Trustees are authorized to pay or
cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or Series, or
partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to charge or allocate
the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series that may be
established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, all expenses,
fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the
Trust or Series, 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 Manager, Principal
Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing
agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses
and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 5. 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 Trust,
except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust
Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the
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Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as
nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine. Upon the resignation,
incompetency, bankruptcy, removal, or death of a Trustee he or she shall
automatically cease to have any such title in any of the Trust Property, and the
title of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the
remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. The
Trustees may determine that the Trust or the Trustees, acting for and on behalf
of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold beneficial ownership of any income earned
on the securities owned by the Trust, whether domestic or foreign.
Section 6. Service Contracts.
---------- -----------------
(a) The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for
exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services
for the Trust or for any Series with any Person; and any such contract may
contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including without
limitation, authority for the Investment Manager to determine from time to time
without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be
purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of
the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust's
investments, and such other responsibilities as may specifically be delegated to
such Person.
(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time,
contract with any Persons, appointing such Persons exclusive or nonexclusive
distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series
or other securities to be issued by the Trust. Every such contract may contain
such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to
time, to contract with any Persons, appointing such Person(s) to serve as
custodian(s), transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or
one or more of its Series. Every such contract shall comply with such terms as
may be required by the Trustees.
(d) The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to
time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust
or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best
interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.
(e) The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is
a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Manager,
adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of
or for any Person with which an advisory, management or administration
contract, or Principal Underwriter's or distributor's contract, or
transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may
be made, or that
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(ii) any Person with which an advisory, management or
administration contract or Principal Underwriter's or distributor's
contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service
contract may be made also has an advisory, management or
administration contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's
contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other service
contract, or has other business or interests with any other Person,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its
Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the
applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE V.
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
Section 1. Voting Powers. Subject to the provisions of Article III,
---------- -------------
Sections 5 and 6(d), the Shareholders shall have right to vote only (i) for the
election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, and (ii)
with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required
by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including Section 16(a) thereof,
and (iii) on such other matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or
desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on
which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a
proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the
election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy
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.
Section 2. Voting Power and Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders
---------- -------------------------
may be called by the Trustees for the purposes described in Section 1 of this
Article V. A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the
Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or
caused to be given by the Trustees by delivering personally or mailing such
notice not more than ninety (90), nor less than ten (10) days before such
meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the meeting, to each
Shareholder at the Shareholder's address as it appears on the records of the
Trust. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder
under this Declaration of Trust, a written waiver thereof, executed before or
after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto
authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, or actual attendance at
the meeting of Shareholders in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to
such notice.
Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is
---------- ------------------------
required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the presence in person or
by proxy of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on a matter shall
constitute a quorum at a Shareholders' meeting. Any
-12-
meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the
votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning a meeting to another date
and time, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as
adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting
without further notice. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d)
and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, when a quorum is present at any
meeting, a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions except only a
plurality vote shall be necessary to elect Trustees.
Section 4. Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by
---------- -------------------------
Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if all the holders of Shares
entitled to vote on the matter are provided with not less than 7 days written
notice thereof and written consent to the action is filed with the records of
the meetings of Shareholders by the holders of the number of shares that would
be required to approve the matter as provided in Article V, Section 3. Such
consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.
Section 5. Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the
---------- ------------
Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment
thereof, the Trustees may fix a time, which shall be not more than ninety (90)
nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as
the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to notice of
and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such case only
Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right,
notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the
record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled
to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees
may fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend
or distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the
right to receive such dividend or distribution. Nothing in this Section shall
be construed as precluding the Trustees from setting different record dates for
different Series.
ARTICLE VI.
Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and
---------- -------------------------------------------------
Distributions. Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their
-------------
absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By-laws or in a
duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and time for determining the
per Share net asset value of the Shares of any Series and the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any Series, as they may
deem necessary or desirable.
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase
---------- ---------------------------
such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon receipt by
the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust that the Trust redeem such Shares
or in accordance with such procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from
time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor
-13-
the net asset value thereof, in accordance with the By-Laws and the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust
to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request for
redemption is received in proper form. The obligation set forth in this Section
2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if
permitted by the Rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the
Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for
the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine
fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such Series or during
any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of
investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees.
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid in cash or
wholly or partly in kind in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act if the
Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the
remaining Shareholders of the Series of which the Shares are being redeemed.
Subject to the foregoing, the selection and quantity of securities or other
property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price shall be
determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be
liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring
securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall
---------- --------------------------------------
have the right, at its option, upon 60 days notice to the affected Shareholder
at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof
as described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i) if at such time such
Shareholder owns Shares of any Series having an aggregate net asset value of
less than a minimum value determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii)
to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a Series equal to or in
excess of a maximum percentage of the outstanding Shares of such Series
determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (iii) to the extent that such
Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage,
determined from time to time by the Trustees, of the outstanding Shares of the
Trust.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. The Trust shall transfer shares held
---------- -------------------
of record by any Person to any other Person upon receipt by the Trust or a
Person designated by the Trust of a written request therefore in such form and
pursuant to such procedures as may be approved by the Trustees.
ARTICLE VII.
Compensation and Limitation of Liability
Section 1. Compensation of Trustees. The Trustees as such shall be
---------- ------------------------
entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust, and they may fix the amount
of such compensation from time to time. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent
the employment of any Trustee to
-14-
provide advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services to the Trust and to be specially compensated for such services by the
Trust.
Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. The Trustees
---------- -------------------------------------------
shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing
of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or Principal Underwriter of the Trust,
nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other
Trustee, and, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws, the Trust out of its
assets may indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the
Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and
damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee's performance of
his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided that nothing
herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee or
officer from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which
he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of wilful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
his or her office.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of
the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with
respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
Section 3. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or
---------- ------------------------------------------------------
Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers hereunder shall be binding
------
upon everyone interested in or dealing with the Trust. A Trustee shall be
liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for his or her own wilful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for
errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of
counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this
Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in
accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees
shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is
required.
Section 4. Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered
---------- ---------
to the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance
for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be
paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity
or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power
to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this
Article.
-15-
ARTICLE VIII.
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No
---------- ------------------------------------------------
Person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning
the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to
the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or
upon its order.
Section 2. Termination of Trust or Series. Unless terminated as
---------- ------------------------------
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust
may be terminated at any time by the Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice
to the Shareholders. Any Series may be terminated at any time by the Trustees
upon 60 days prior written notice to the Shareholders of that Series.
Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series, as the case may be),
after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities held, severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable
Series, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be
determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures
as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held,
severally, with respect to each Series (or the applicable Series, as the case
may be), to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, and any
combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each
Series (or the applicable Series, as the case may be), to the Shareholders of
that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of that
Series held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination.
Section 3. Merger and Consolidation. The Trustees may cause (i) the
---------- ------------------------
Trust or one or more of its Series to the extent consistent with applicable law
to be merged into or consolidated with another Trust, series or Person, (ii) the
Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in
another business trust (or series thereof), (iii) the Shares to be exchanged for
assets or property under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the
extent permitted by law or (iv) a sale of assets of the Trust or one or more of
its Series. Such merger or consolidation, Share conversion, Share exchange or
sale of assets must be authorized by vote as provided in Article V, Section 3
herein; provided that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law,
the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure necessary or
appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, Share exchange, merger or
consolidation including the power to create one or more separate business trusts
to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the
Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the
Trust or any Series into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or
trusts (or series thereof).
Section 4. Amendments. This Declaration of Trust may be restated
---------- ----------
and/or amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of
the Trustees then
-16-
holding office. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective
immediately upon execution and approval. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust
may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, and any such restatement
and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may
be stated therein.
Section 5. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a
---------- --------------------------------------
copy of this instrument and of each restatement and/or 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 restatements and/or amendments have been
made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the
same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an
officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements
and/or amendments. In this instrument and in any such restatements and/or
amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like "herein,"
"hereof" and "hereunder," shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended
or affected by any such restatements and/or 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.
Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural;
and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as
applicable. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each
of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 6. Applicable Law. This Agreement and Declaration of Trust
---------- --------------
is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered
according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Business Trust
Act, as amended from time to time (the "Act"). The Trust shall be a Delaware
business trust pursuant to such Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof,
the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a
business trust.
Section 7. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
---------- ----------------------------------------------
(a) The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if
the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such
provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and
regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted
a part of the Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such determination
shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or
render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such
determination.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and
shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any
other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
-17-
Section 8. Business Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees
---------- -------------------
to create a business trust pursuant to the Act, and thereby to create only the
relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of such Act
between the Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the intention of the
Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock
association, corporation, bailment, joint venture, or any form of legal
relationship other than a business trust pursuant to such Act. Nothing in this
Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by
themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
Section 9. Use of the Name "First Mutual". The name "First Mutual"
---------- ------------------------------
and all rights to the use of the name "First Mutual" belong to The Como Group,
Inc. (the "Como Group"), the Manager of the Trust. The Como Group has consented
to the use by the Trust of the identifying words "First Mutual" and has granted
to the Trust a non-exclusive license to use the name "First Mutual" as part of
the name of the Trust and the name of any Series of Shares. In the event the
Como Group or an affiliate of the Como Group is not appointed as Manager or
ceases to be the Manager of the Trust or of any Series using such names, the
non-exclusive license granted herein may be revoked by the Como Group and the
Trust promptly shall cease using the name "First Mutual" as part of its name or
the name of any Series of Shares, upon receipt of the written request therefore
by the Como Group or any successor to its interests in such name.
-18-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees named below do hereby make and enter
into this Declaration of Trust as of the 18th day of October, 1994 .
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ - ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ - ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-▇▇-
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ OF BUSINESS OF THE TRUST IS
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-20-
