Exhibit 99.B1
The Trust's Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust
PIMCO Advisors Fund
(formerly known as
Thomson Fund Group)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at
Boston, Massachusetts this 11th day of September, 1990, by the Trustees
hereunder and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued
hereunder as hereinafter provided, amending and restating the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust dated October 14, 1983 (the "Original Declaration of
Trust").
Whereas, pursuant to Section 7 of Article IX of the Original
Declaration of Trust the Trustees of the Trust have determined that the Original
Declaration of Trust should be amended so as to provide for two classes of
shares of beneficial interest for each series of the Trust; and
Whereas, the shareholders of each series of this Trust have approved
this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust at a meeting held
on September 7, 1990;
Now, Therefore, the Trustees of this Trust direct that this Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust be filed with the Secretary of State
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall take effect as of the date of
filing.
Witnesseth that
Whereas, this Trust has been 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 a Massachusetts voluntary association with
transferable shares 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 in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name and Definitions
Name
Section 1. This Trust shall be known as "PIMCO Advisors 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.
Definitions
Section 2. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the
context or specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts 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 IV;
(c) "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units
of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided
from time to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized
by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each
series or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;
(d) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(e) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of
1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(f) The terms "Affiliated Person", "Assignment", "Commission",
"Interested Person", "Principal Underwriter" and "Majority Shareholder Vote"
(the 67% or 50% requirement of the third sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the
1940 Act, whichever may be applicable) shall have the meanings given them in the
1940 Act;
(g) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as amended or restated from time to
time;
(h) "Bylaws" shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended
from time to time;
(i) The term "series" or "series of Shares" refers to the one
or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and
liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing
the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios; and
(j) the term "class" or "class of Shares" refers to the
division of Shares representing any series into two or more classes as provided
in Article III, Section 1 hereof.
ARTICLE II
Purpose of Trust
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment primarily
in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial
character and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to
time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE III
Shares
Division of Beneficial Interest
Section 1. The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more
series as the Trustees may, without shareholder approval, authorize. Each series
shall be preferred over all other series in respect of the assets specifically
allocated to that series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent
a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The beneficial interest in each
series shall at all times be divided into Shares, with a par value of $0.00001,
each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence, represent an
equal proportionate interest in the series with each other Share of the same
series, none having priority or preference over another. The Trustees may,
without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any series into two or more
classes, Shares of each such class having such preferences and special or
relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the
Trustees may determine or as shall be set forth in the Bylaws. The number of
Shares authorized shall be unlimited. The Trustees may from time to time divide
or combine the Shares of any series or class into a greater or lesser number
without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the series or
class.
Ownership of Shares
Section 2. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of
the Trust or a transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the
ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise
determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider
appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, 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 of each series and class and as to the number of Shares of each
series and class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
Investment in the Trust
Section 3. The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from such
persons and on such terms and for such consideration, which may consist of cash
or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as they or the
Bylaws from time to time authorize.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of each
series, together with all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation thereof,
and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in
whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to the series of Shares
with respect to which the same were received by the Trust for all purposes,
subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so handled upon the books
of account of the Trust and are herein referred to as "assets of" such series.
No Preemptive Rights
Section 4. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.
Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability
Section 5. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only
the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws. Every
Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have
expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the
Bylaws and to have become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the
continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the
representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting 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, not 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 IV
The Trustees
Election
Section 1. A Trustee may be elected either by the Trustees or by the
Shareholders. There shall be not less than three Trustees. The number of
Trustees shall be as provided by the Bylaws or as fixed from time to time by the
Trustees. The Shareholders may elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders
called by the Trustees for that purpose. Each Trustee shall serve until he or
she retires, resigns, is removed or dies or until the next meeting of
Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election
and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by such Trustee and delivered to any officer of the
Trust, to each other Trustee or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation
shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other
time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the
Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any
compensation for any period following his resignation or removal, or any right
to damages on account of such removal.
Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee
Section 2. The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal or
incapacity of the Trustees, or any one 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.
Powers
Section 3. 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. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this
Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and
may amend and repeal them to the extent that such Bylaws do not reserve that
right to the Shareholders; they may fill vacancies, including vacancies caused
by enlargement of their number, and may remove Trustees with or without cause;
they may elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and appoint and
terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint from their
own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of two or more
Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they may employ one or more custodians
of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ
subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or
systems for the central handling of securities, retain a transfer agent or a
Shareholder servicing agent, or both, provide for the distribution of Shares by
the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters or otherwise, set record
dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, and
in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of
the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the
Trust or to any such custodian or underwriter.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write
options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) To act as a distributor of shares and as underwriter of, or
broker or dealer in, securities and other property;
(d) 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;
(e) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which
in any matter arise out of ownership of securities;
(f) To hold any security 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 depositary or a nominee or
nominees or otherwise;
(g) To allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust
to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same among
two or more series, provided that any liabilities or expenses
incurred by a particular series of Shares shall be payable solely
out of the assets of that series; and, to the extent necessary or
appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or
relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares, to
allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a series to
a particular class of Shares of that series or to apportion the
same among two or more classes of Shares of that series;
(h) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any
security 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 held in the Trust;
(i) To join other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in connection to
deposit any security with, or transfer 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;
(j) 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;
(k) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships
and any other combinations or associations;
(l) To borrow funds;
(m) 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 and all such obligations;
(n) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such
insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the
conduct of business, including without limitation, insurance
policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of
distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and
insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees, agents, investment advisers or managers, principal
underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust
individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature
arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such
office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have
been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee,
officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or 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 such liability;
(o) 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; and
(p) To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which
corporations organized under the Massachusetts Business
Corporation Act may engage.
The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or
future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees.
Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the Bylaws,
any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the
Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within
or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and
participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or
by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office.
Payment of Expenses by Trust
Section 4. 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, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, in connection with
the management thereof, or in connection with the financing of the sale of
Shares, including, but not limited to, the Trustees' compensation and such
expenses and charges for the services of the Trust's officers, employees, any
investment adviser, manager or sub-adviser, principal underwriter, auditor,
counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other
agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the
Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, provided, however, that all
expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in
connection with a particular series of Shares, as determined by the Trustees,
shall by payable solely out of the assets of that series.
Ownership of Assets of the Trust
Section 5. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and of
the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
Advisory, Management and Distribution
Section 6. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time,
contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services with
any corporation, trust, association or other organization (the "Manager"), every
such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set
forth in the Bylaws; and any such contract may provide for one or more
sub-advisers who shall perform all or part of the obligations of the Manager
under such contract and may contain such other terms interpretive of or in
addition to said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine,
including, without limitation, authority to determine from time to time what
investments shall be purchased, held, sold, or exchanged and what portion, if
any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in
the Trust's investments. The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to
time, contract with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or
other organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or
principal underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in Bylaws; and any such
contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said
requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine.
The fact that:
(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a
shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager,
adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any
corporation, trust, association or other organization, or of or for
any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory
or management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's
contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract
may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such
organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or
has an interest in the Trust, or that
(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which
an advisory or management contract or principal underwriter's or
distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other
agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an
advisory or management contract, or principal underwriter's or
distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other
agency contract with one or more other corporations, trusts,
associations or other organizations, or has other business or
interests
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE V
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
Shareholders shall have such power to vote as is provided for in, and
may hold meetings and take actions pursuant to, the provisions of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases
Distributions
Section 1. The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so
determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each series out of the assets of
such series such amounts as the Trustees may determine. Any such distribution to
the Shareholders of a particular series shall be made to said Shareholders pro
rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such series held by each of them,
except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and
special or relative rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that
series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares
shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of
Shares of such class held by each of them. Such distributions shall be made in
cash, Shares of other property, or a combination thereof, as determined by the
Trustees. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset
value thereof as determined in accordance with the Bylaws.
Redemptions and Repurchases
Section 2. The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any
Shareholder for redemption upon the presentation of any certificate for the
Shares to be purchased, a proper instrument of transfer and a request directed
to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such
Shares, or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the
Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the
net asset value thereof, as next determined in accordance with the Bylaws, less
any redemption charge or fee as the Trustees may from time to time authorize.
Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within
seven days after the date on which the request is made. The obligation set forth
in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time
the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends or
holidays, or, if permitted by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any
emergency which makes it impractical for the Trust to dispose of its investments
or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or during any other period
permitted by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection
of investors, such obligation may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. The
Trust may also purchase or repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net
asset value of such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase of any
contract to purchase or repurchase is made.
Redemption at the Option of the Trust
Section 3. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time
to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as determined
in accordance with the Bylaws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer
Shares than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an
amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that
such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular series of Shares equal to or in
excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that series determined from
time to time by the Trustees; or (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns
Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in excess of such
percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the Trust or the
aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time by the
Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees
Compensation
Section 1. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation.
Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for
advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking, underwriting,
brokerage or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.
Limitation of Liability
Section 2. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event
for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, manager or
principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the
act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect
any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
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 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.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Trustees, Officers, etc.
Section 1. 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 and expenses, including but not limited to
amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and
penalties, and counsel fees reasonably 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 Covered Person may be or may have
been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having
been such a Covered Person except with respect to any matter as to which such
Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or
other proceeding (a) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that such Covered Person's action was in the best interest of the Trust or (b)
to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such Covered Person's office. Expenses, including counsel fees so
incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction
of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time
to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt of any undertaking by or on behalf of such
Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately
determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this
Article, provided, however, that either (a) such Covered Person shall have
provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be
insured against losses arising from any such advance payments or (c) either a
majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a
majority of disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter), or
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based
upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type
inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found
entitled to indemnification under this Article.
Compromise Payment
Section 2. As to any matter disposed of (whether by a compromise
payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication by a
court, or by any other body before which the proceeding was brought, that such
Covered Person either (a) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief
that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust or (b) is liable
to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
his or her office, indemnification shall be provided if (a) approved as in the
best interests of the Trust by at least a majority of the disinterested Trustees
acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the disinterested Trustees
then in office act on the matter) upon a determination, based upon a review of
readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry) that such
Covered Person acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her
action was in the best interests of the Trust and is not liable to the Trust or
its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her
office, or (b) there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent
legal counsel, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
full trial type inquiry) to the effect that such Covered Person appears to have
acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the
best interests of the Trust and that such indemnification would not protect such
Covered Person against any liability to the Trust to which he or she would
otherwise be subject be reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or
her office. Any approval pursuant to this Section shall not prevent the recovery
from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance
with this Section as indemnification if such Covered Person is subsequently
adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith
in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person's action was in the best
interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person's office.
Indemnification Not Exclusive
Section 3. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be
exclusive of or affect any other rights to which such Covered Person may be
entitled. As used in this Article VIII, the term "Covered Person" shall include
such person's heirs, executors and administrators and a "disinterested Trustee"
is a Trustee who is not an "interested person" of the Trust as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (or who has been exempted from being an
"interested person" by any rule, regulation or order of the Securities and
Exchange Commission) and against whom none of such actions, suits or other
proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar
grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in this Article shall
affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than
Trustees or 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; provided, however, that the Trust shall
not purchase or maintain any such liability insurance in contravention of
applicable law, including without limitation the 1940 Act.
Shareholders
Section 4. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held
to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a
Shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representative or, in the case of a corporation or
other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be
held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from
such liability, but only out of the assets of the particular series of Shares of
which he or she is or was a Shareholder.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice
Section 1. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having
any claim against the Trust or a particular series of Shares shall look only to
the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular series of Shares for
payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor
the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether
past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this
Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which
such Trustee would otherwise be subject be reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the office of Trustee.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that this
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on
behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers
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, and may contain such further recital as he or
she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to
bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or
Shareholders individually.
Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety
Section 2. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions
hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable
for his or her 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 the errors of judgement or
mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other
experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust,
and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such
advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required
to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.
Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustee
Section 3. 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.
Duration and Termination of Trust
Section 4. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall
continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by
vote of Shareholders holding at least 66 2/3% of Shares entitled to vote or by
the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any series or class of
Shares may be terminated at any time by vote of Shareholders holding at least 66
2/3% of the Shares of such series or class entitled to vote or by the Trustees
by written notice to the Shareholders of such series. Upon termination of the
Trust or of any one or more series or classes of Shares, after paying or
otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether
due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular series or class
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 from in cash or shares or other property, or any combination
thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the series involved,
ratably according to the number of Shares of such series held by the several
Shareholders of such series on the date of termination, except to the extent
otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative
rights and privileges of any classes of Shares of that series, provided that any
distribution to the Shareholders of a particular class of Shares shall be made
to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such
class held by each of them.
Filing and Copies, References, Headings
Section 5. 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 State of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any
other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required.
Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the
Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made and as to any
matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and, with the same effect as if
it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to
be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and
in any such amendment, references to this instrument and all expressions like
"herein", "hereof", and "hereunder" shall be deemed to refer to this instrument
as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are placed herein for
convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control
or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This
instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be
deemed an original.
Applicable Law
Section 6. This Declaration of Trust is made in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed
and administered according to the laws of the laws of said Commonwealth. The
Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust and,
without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which
are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Amendments
Section 7. This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an
instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized
to do so by vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to
vote, except that an amendment which in the determination of the Trustees shall
affect the holders of one or more series of classes of Shares but not the
holders of all outstanding series and classes shall be authorized by vote of the
Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote of each series
and class affected and no vote of Shareholder of a series or class not affected
shall be required. Amendments having the purpose of changing the name of the
Trust, of establishing, changing or eliminating the par value of the Shares or
of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or
supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not
require authorization by Shareholder vote.
In Witness Whereof, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his hand
and seal for himself and his assigns, as of the day and year first above
written.
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