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WORLDWIDE INDEX FUNDS
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST, as of this 28th day of May, 1998, the
Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of Shares of beneficial interest to be
issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WITNESSETH that
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment
company; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees elected in accordance with Article IV hereof have agreed
to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts
business trust with transferable Shares in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees elected in accordance with Article IV hereof 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 for the pro rata benefit of the holders from time
to time of Shares in this Trust issued hereunder on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME, PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AND RESIDENT AGENT, AND DEFINITIONS
NAME
Section 1. This Trust shall be known as Worldwide Index 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.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AND RESIDENT AGENT
Section 2. The principal place of business of the Trust is 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000. The name of the Trust's
resident agent in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is CT Corporation, 0 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
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DEFINITIONS
Section 3. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or
specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to Worldwide Index Funds the trust created hereby.
(b) "Trustee" or "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein
or elected in accordance with Article IV hereof and then in office.
(c) "Shares" refers to units of beneficial interest in the assets of the
Trust. When used in relation to any particular series established by the
Trustees hereunder, "Shares" refers to units of beneficial interest in the
assets specifically allocated to that series. "Shares" includes fractional
as well as whole Shares.
(d) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time.
(e) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares.
(f) "Affiliated Person," "Assignment," "Commission," "Interested Person," and
"Principal Underwriter" shall have the meanings given them in the 1940
Act.
(g) "Majority Shareholder Vote" shall have the same meaning as "vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities" as that phrase is defined
in the 1940 Act, provided that such majority shall be calculated by
reference to the number of votes represented by shares entitled to vote
and present at the meeting, either in person or by proxy. Such term may be
used herein with respect to the Shares of the Trust as a whole or the
Shares of a particular series, as the context may require.
(h) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
as further amended or restated from time to time, provided that reference
made in this Agreement and Declaration of Trust and in any amendment
hereto to "hereby," "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" or similar terms shall
be deemed to refer to this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to
time, rather than the Article or Section in which such words appear,
unless the context otherwise requires.
(i) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust referred to in Article IV,
Section 4 hereof, as amended from time to time.
(j) "Disinterested Trustees" shall mean Trustees who are not "interested
persons" as such term is defined in the 1940 Act (including any Trustee
who has been exempted from being an "interested person" by any rule,
regulation or order of the Commission). In limitation
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of the foregoing, however, as used in Article VIII hereof, a
"Disinterested Trustee" shall mean a Disinterested Trustee against whom,
at the time of the votes to be taken pursuant to said Article VIII, none
of the actions, suits or other proceedings referred to in such Article
VIII, nor any other action, suit or other proceeding on the same or
similar grounds, is or has been pending.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors with one or more managed
investment portfolio(s) consisting primarily of securities, including debt
instruments and other instruments and rights of a financial character.
ARTICLE III
SHARES
DIVISION OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 1. The Trustees may divide the beneficial interest in the Trust
into an unlimited number of Shares, authorize the issuance of Shares without
prior Shareholder approval, and may in their discretion provide in a By-Law or
otherwise that Shares may have voting rights based upon the value thereof.
Shares may be issued in series and, if so, Shares of any series will constitute
units of beneficial interest in assets of the Trust specifically allocated to
such series. Shares of the Trust, or any series thereof, shall have no par
value, shall represent equal and proportionate interests in the Trust, or such
series, with none having priority or preference over any other except as
specifically set forth in this Article III, and shall be transferable. All
Shares issued hereunder, including any Shares issued in payment of dividends or
other distributions or in connection with any split of Shares, shall be fully
paid and non-assessable. Shares of the Trust or of any series may be issued in
two or more classes, as the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval,
authorize, and Shares of any class shall be identical to those of any other
class of the Trust or such series except that, if the Trustees have authorized
the issuance of Shares of any particular series in two or more classes, then
such classes may, consistent with the 1940 Act, or pursuant to any exemptive
order issued by the Commission and other applicable law, have such variations as
to dividends, redemption charges, conversion, voting rights, net asset value,
expenses borne by the class, and other matters as the Trustees shall have
determined. The Trustees may from time to time, without Shareholder approval,
divide or combine the Shares of a series into a greater or lesser number without
thereby changing their proportionate beneficial interests in assets allocated to
such series.
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OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
Section 2. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the
Trust or its transfer or similar agent, which books shall be maintained
separately for the Shares of each series. 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 of the Trust, as the case may be, shall be conclusive
as to who are the Shareholders of each series or class and as to the number of
Shares of each series or class held from time to time by each Shareholder.
INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST; ASSETS OF THE SERIES
Section 3. The Trustees may accept investments in the Trust from such
persons and on such terms and, subject to any requirements of law, for such
consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or a
combination thereof, as they may 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 recorded upon the books
of account of the Trust and are herein referred to as "assets of" such series.
In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds,
or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular
series shall be allocated by the Trustees between and among one or more of the
series in such manner as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and
equitable. Each such allocation to any series shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all series for all purposes, and shall be referred to
as assets belonging to that series. No holder of Shares of any particular series
shall have any claim on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any
other series.
ESTABLISHMENT OF CLASS OR SERIES
Section 4. The establishment and designation of any class or series of
Shares shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the
Trustees (or of a committee thereof) setting forth such establishment and
designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such class
or series. Such establishment and designation shall not constitute an amendment
to this Declaration of Trust, although the Trustees may, at their option, set
forth such establishment and designation in a written instrument signed by them
or by an
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officer of the Trust. The Trustees (or a committee thereof) may by majority vote
amend such establishment and designation. At any time, if no Shares are
outstanding of a particular class or series previously so established and
designated, the Trustees (or a committee thereof) may by majority vote abolish
such class or series and said establishment and designation thereof.
NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Section 5. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
receive, purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or other securities
issued by the Trust, except as otherwise provided herein or as the Trustees in
their sole discretion shall have determined by resolution.
STATUS OF SHARES AND LIMITATION OF PERSONAL LIABILITY
Section 6. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the
rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become
a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms
of this Declaration of Trust 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 or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the
Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of
Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any
part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the
same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the
Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any
Shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided herein, to call upon any
Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other
than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay. A
Shareholder, as such, shall not be personally liable for any act, omission or
obligation, of the Trustees or of the Trust.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS AS SHAREHOLDERS
Section 7. Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire,
own and dispose of Shares of the Trust to the same extent as if he or she were
not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to
be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any
firm or company in which he is interested, subject only to the general
limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares; and all
subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the By-Laws.
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POWER OF TRUSTEES TO CHANGE PROVISIONS RELATING TO SHARES.
Section 8. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of
Trust and without limiting the power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration of
Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Trustees shall have the power to amend
this Declaration of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as
the 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 for the
purpose of responding to or complying with any regulations, orders, rulings or
interpretations of any governmental agency or any laws, now or hereafter
applicable to the Trust.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or of any other
provision of this Declaration of Trust , the Trustees may, for the purposes
stated above and in Section 4 of this Article III, amend the Declaration of
Trust to:
(a) Create one or more Series or classes of Shares (in addition to any
Series or classes already existing or otherwise) with such rights and
preferences and such eligibility requirements for investment therein as the
Trustees shall determine and reclassify any or all outstanding Shares as Shares
of particular Series or classes in accordance with such eligibility
requirements;
(b) Amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of
Section 9 of this Article III;
(c) Combine one or more Series or classes of Shares into a single Series
or class on such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall determine;
(d) Change or eliminate any eligibility requirements for investment in
Shares of any Series or class, including without limitation the power to provide
for the issue of Shares of any Series or class in connection with any merger or
consolidation of the Trust with another trust or company or any acquisition by
the Trust of part or all of the assets of another trust or company;
(e) Change the designation of any Series or class of Shares;
(f) Change the method of allocating dividends among the various Series and
classes of Shares;
(g) Allocate any specific assets or liabilities of the Trust or any
specific items of income or expense of the Trust to one or more Series or
classes of Shares; and
(h) Specifically allocate assets to any or all Series or classes of Shares
or create one or more additional Series or classes of Shares which are preferred
over all other Series or classes of Shares in respect of assets specifically
allocated thereto or any dividends paid by the Trust with respect to any net
income, however determined, earned from the investment and reinvestment of
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any assets so allocated or otherwise provide for any special voting or other
rights with respect to such Series or classes.
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEES
QUALIFICATION; NUMBER OF TRUSTEES; ELECTION
Section 1. There shall initially be one Trustee. Each Trustee shall be a
natural person and may, but need not, be a Shareholder. A Trustee may be elected
either by the Trustees or the Shareholders subject to the limitations of the
1940 Act. Each Trustee shall hold office during the lifetime of this Trust until
the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she
sooner dies, resigns or is removed. The number of Trustees shall be fixed from
time to time by a vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office. The number
of Trustees so fixed may be increased either by the Shareholders of the Trust or
by the Trustees by a vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office. The
number of Trustees so fixed may be decreased either by the Shareholders of the
Trust or by the Trustees by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office,
but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of the death, resignation or
removal of one or more Trustees.
In case of the declination, death, resignation, retirement, removal,
incapacity, or inability of any of the Trustees, or in case a vacancy shall
exist by reason of an increase in number, or for any other reason, the remaining
Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such other person as they in
their discretion shall see fit consistent with the 1940 Act. Until any such
vacancy is filled as provided in this Section 1, the Trustees then in office
shall, regardless of their number, have all powers granted to and discharge all
duties imposed on the Trustees hereby. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office, even though
less than a quorum, or by recording in the records of the Trust, and shall take
effect upon such signing or recording and the acceptance of such appointment by
the Trustee so appointed. An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the
Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of
retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees effective at a later
date, provided that said appointment shall become effective only at or after the
effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of
Trustees.
REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION
Section 2. By vote of the Shareholders holding a majority of the shares
entitled to vote, the Shareholders may remove a Trustee with or without cause.
By vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office, the Trustees may remove a
Trustee with or without cause. Any Trustee
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may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her 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 or her
resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. OF A TRUSTEE
Section 3. 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 4. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
Trustees shall manage the business of the Trust as an investment company, and
they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that
responsibility. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws
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 in
their number, including vacancies resulting from increases in their number, may
remove from their number with or without cause, and may elect and remove 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, including an executive committee
which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all of the
powers and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they may
appoint an advisory board, the members of which shall not be Trustees and need
not be Shareholders; they may employ one or more investment advisers or
administrators as provided in Section 9 of this Article IV; 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;
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(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write
options on, or lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(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 rights 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 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;
(f) To establish separate and distinct series of shares with separately
defined investment objectives, policies and purposes, and with
separately defined relative powers, rights, privileges and
liabilities, and to allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the
Trust to a particular series of Shares or to apportion the same
among two or more series, provided that any liability or expense
determined by the Trustees to have been incurred by a particular
series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that
series and to establish separate classes of shares of each series,
all in accordance with Article III hereof;
(g) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security
or property 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;
(h) 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;
(i) 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;
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(j) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships,
limited liability companies, and any other combinations or
associations;
(k) To borrow funds;
(l) 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 or all of such obligations;
(m) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such
insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct
of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies
insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and
principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies
insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers or administrators, 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,
administrator, 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;
(n) To pay pensions, 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;
(o) To establish, from time to time, a minimum total investment for
Shareholders, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any
Shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving
notice to such Shareholder;
(p) To enter into contracts of any kind and description;
(q) To name, or to change the name or designation of the Trust or any
series or class of the Trust;
(r) To take whatever action may be necessary to enable the Trust to
comply with any applicable Federal, state or local statute, rule or
regulation; and
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(s) To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which corporations
organized under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law 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. The Trustees shall
not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust
or take any other action hereunder.
MANNER OF ACTING
Section 5. Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the
By-Laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees, or a committee thereof, may be
taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees, or of the
committee members present at a meeting of such committee (if in either case a
quorum be 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 communicate with each other
simultaneously and participation by such means shall constitute presence in
person at a meeting, or by written consent of a majority of the Trustees, or
members of such committee, then in office. At any meeting of the Trustees, or a
committee thereof, one third of the Trustees or members of such committee, as
the case may be, shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is present when a duly
called or held meeting is convened, the Trustees present at such meeting may,
following the withdrawal of one or more Trustees originally present, continue to
transact business until adjournment thereof, even though such Trustees would not
otherwise constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Trustees, or a committee thereof,
may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman of the Trustees or of such
committee or by any two other Trustees or committee members, as the case may be.
Notice of the time, date and place of all meeting of the Trustees, or a
committee thereof, shall be given to each Trustee or committee member as
provided in the ByLaws.
Notice of any meeting need not be given to any Trustee (or committee
member) who attends that meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who
executes a written waiver of notice with respect to the meeting. Subject to the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any
one of their number the authority to approve particular matters or take
particular actions on behalf of the Trust.
PAYMENT OF EXPENSES BY THE TRUST
Section 6. 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, or in connection
with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees'
compensation, as authorized pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 hereof, and
reimbursement for
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expenses and disbursements and such expenses and charges for the services of the
Trust's officers, employees, investment adviser, administrator, 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 or
arising in connection with a particular series of Shares or class as determined
by the Trustees consistent with applicable law, shall be payable solely out of
the assets of that Series or class. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging
to any particular series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees between
or among any one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees in their
sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. Any
creditor of any Series may look only to the assets of that series to satisfy
such creditor's debt.
Section 7. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may
determine, to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular
Series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for any and all expenses of the
Trust, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such
charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such
Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such
Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the
outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST
Section 8. Title to all of the assets of each series of Shares and the
Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees as joint
tenants. The right, title and interest of the Trustees in such assets shall vest
automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee, and upon any
Trustees' death, resignation or removal, such Trustee shall automatically cease
to have any right, title or interest in such assets. Vesting and cessation of
title as set forth in this Section 8 shall be effective notwithstanding the
absence of execution and delivery of any conveyancing documents.
ADVISORY, ADMINISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Section 9. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract
with respect to the Trust or any series thereof for exclusive or nonexclusive
investment advisory and/or administration services with any corporation, trust,
association or other organization, every such contract to comply with such
requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws; and any such
contract may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said
requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine, including, without
limitation, in the case of a contract for investment advisory or sub-advisory
services, authority to determine from
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time to time what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and
what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust or any series thereof shall be
held uninvested and to make changes in the investments of the Trust or any
series thereof. Any contract for investment advisory services shall be subject
to such Shareholder approval as required by the 1940 Act. The Trustees may also,
at any time and from time to time, contract with any 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 the
By-Laws; 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,
administrator, investment adviser, principal underwriter,
distributor or affiliate 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 investment advisory or
administration 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 investment advisory or administration 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 investment advisory or administration 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 businesses 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
The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election
or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1 hereof, (ii) with
respect to any investment adviser as provided in Article IV, Section 7 hereof,
(iii) with respect to any termination of the Trust or any series or class to the
extent and as provided in Article IX, Section 4 hereof, (iv) with respect to
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any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in
Article IX, Section 9 hereof, (v) to the same extent as the stockholders of a
Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action,
proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively
or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders, (vi) with
respect to any merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or incorporation of the
Trust or any series to the extent and as provided in Article IX, Sections 6 and
7 hereof, and (vii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the
Trust as may be required by law, by this Declaration of Trust, by the ByLaws or
by any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, on any matter
submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to
vote shall be voted by individual series or class, except that (1) when so
required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by
individual series or class, and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the
matter affects only the interests of one or more series or class, then only
Shareholders of such series or class(es) shall be entitled to vote thereon. The
Shareholders may hold meetings and take action as provided in the By-Laws,
subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act where applicable. 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 with respect to Shares held in the name of
two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them, unless at or
prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to
the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on
behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to
its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
At any time when no Shares of a Series are outstanding, the Trustees may
exercise all rights of Shareholders of that Series and may take any action
required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by
Shareholders.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS, REPURCHASES
AND DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1. The Trustees may, but need not, distribute from time to time
to the Shareholders of each series such income and gains, accrued or realized,
as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued expenses
and liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish)
determined in accordance with good accounting practices. The Trustees shall have
full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which
items as capital and their determination shall be binding upon the Shareholders.
Distributions of each year's income of each series, if any be made, may be made
in one or more payments, which
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shall be in Shares, in cash or otherwise and on a date or dates determined by
the Trustees. At any time and from time to time in their discretion, the
Trustees may distribute to the Shareholders of any one or more series as of a
record date or dates determined by the Trustees, in Shares, in cash or
otherwise, all or part of any gains realized on the sale or disposition of
property of the series or otherwise, or all or part of any other principal of
the Trust attributable to the series. Each distribution pursuant to this Section
1 shall be made ratably according to the number of Shares of the series or class
held by the several Shareholders on the applicable record date thereof, provided
that no distributions need be made on Shares purchased pursuant to orders
received, or for which payment is made, after such time or times as the Trustees
may determine. Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net
asset value thereof as determined in accordance with this Declaration of Trust.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Section 2. Any holder of Shares of the Trust may, by presentation of a
written request, together with his or her certificates, if any, for such Shares,
in proper form for transfer, at the office of the Trust, the adviser, the
underwriter or the distributors, or at a principal office of a transfer or
shareholder services agent appointed by the Trust (as the Trustees may
determine), or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the
Trustees may from time to time authorize, redeem his or her Shares in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 2 for the net asset value thereof determined
and computed in accordance with the By-Laws, less any redemption charge the
Trustees may establish, including any contingent deferred sales charge to which
redemption of such Shares may be subject. Upon receipt of such written request
for redemption of Shares by the Trust, the adviser, the underwriter or the
distributor, or the Trust's transfer or shareholder services agent, the Trust
shall purchase such Shares and shall pay therefor the net asset value thereof
next determined after such receipt or the net asset value thereof determined as
of such other time fixed by the Trustees, as may be permitted or required by the
1940 Act in each instance, less any applicable redemption charge.
The obligation of the Trust to redeem its Shares as set forth in
this Section 2 shall be subject to the condition that, such obligation may be
suspended by the Trust by or under authority of the Trustees for such period or
periods when and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act. If there is such
a suspension, any Shareholder may withdraw any demand for redemption and any
tender of Shares which has been received by the Trust during any such period and
any tender of Shares the applicable net asset value of which would but for such
suspension be calculated as of a time during such period. Shareholders who do
not so withdraw any such demand shall receive payment based on the net asset
value next determined after the termination of such suspension.
The Trust may also purchase, repurchase or redeem Shares in
accordance with such other methods, upon such other terms and subject to such
other conditions as the Trustees
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may from time to time authorize at a price not exceeding the net asset value of
such Shares in effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to
purchase or repurchase is made.
PAYMENT IN KIND
Section 3. Subject to any generally applicable limitation imposed by the
Trustees, any payment on redemption, purchase or repurchase by the Trust of
Shares may, if authorized by the Trustees, be made wholly or partly in kind,
instead of in cash. Such payment in kind shall be made by distributing
securities or other property, constituting, in the opinion of the Trustees, a
fair representation of the various types of securities and other property then
held by the series of Shares being redeemed, purchased or repurchased (but not
necessarily involving a portion of each of that series' holdings) and taken at
their value used in determining the net asset value of the Shares in respect of
which payment is made.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Section 4. The completion of redemption, purchase or repurchase of Shares
shall constitute a full discharge of the Trust and the Trustees with respect to
such Shares and the Trustees may require that any certificate or certificates
issued by the Trust to evidence the ownership of such Shares shall be
surrendered to the Trustees for cancellation or notation.
ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Section 5. No dividend or distribution (including, without limitation,
any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of any series) with
respect to, nor any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any series shall
be effected by the Trust other than from the assets of such series.
REDEMPTIONS AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST
Section 6. The Trustees shall have the power at any time to redeem
Shares, of any class or any series, of a Shareholder at a redemption price
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of this Article if at
such time the aggregate net asset value of the Shares of that class of that
series in such Shareholder's account is less than the minimum investment amount
established by the Trustees for that class of that series. A Shareholder shall
be notified prior to any such redemption and shall be allowed 60 days to make
additional investments in Shares of that class or that series before such
redemption is effected.
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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, administration, legal, accounting, investment banking 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, investment
adviser, administrator, principal underwriter or custodian, nor shall any
Trustee be responsible for any obligation of the Trust or 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, Share 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
Section 1. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this
Article, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust
shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against
liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in
connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes
involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee
or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.
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No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or
officer:
(a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of
a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the
proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved
in the conduct of his office;
(b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally
adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that his action was in the best interests of the Trust;
(c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a
final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and
resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has
been either a determination that such Trustee or officer did not
engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other
disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of
readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry)
that he did not engage in such conduct:
(i) by a vote of 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); or
(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.
The rights of indemnification hereinafter provided may be insured
against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not
affect any other rights to which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be
entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or
officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any
rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Trustees and
officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim,
action, suit or proceeding of the character described in the next to the last
paragraph of this Article shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final
disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not
entitled to indemnification under this Article, provided that either:
(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other
appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses
arising out of any such advances; or
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(b) 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) or independent legal counsel in a written
opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that
there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be
found entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Article, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or
"proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil,
criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words
"liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorney's fees,
costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other
liabilities.
SHAREHOLDERS
Section 2. 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 of the Trust or of a particular Series 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
representatives 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 expenses arising from such liability, but only
out of the assets of the particular Series 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 or class of Shares thereof
shall look only to the assets of the Trust, the assets of that particular series
the assets or attributable to that particular class, as the case may be 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 by 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 officers or officer shall give notice
that this Declaration of Trust is on
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file with the Secretary 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
Trustees or Trustee or as officers or officer and not individually and that the
obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the
Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of
the Trust, or upon the assets belonging to the relevant Series or attributable
to the relevant class of Shares for the benefit of which the Trustees have
caused the note, land, content, instrument, certificate or undertaking to be
issued or made, and may contain such further recital as he, she or they may deem
appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall not operate to bind any
Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder or any
other person individually.
TRUSTEES' GOOD FAITH ACTION, EXPERT ADVICE; NO BOND OR SURETY
Section 2. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretion
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 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 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 TRUSTEES
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 the Shares of each Series entitled to
vote and voting separately by Series 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 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 or
class. 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 form in cash or Shares or other
securities, or any combination
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thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the series or class
involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of such series or class held
by the several Shareholders of such
series or class on the date of termination.
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 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. Headings are placed herein for convenience
of reference only and shall not be taken as 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.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS
Section 6. Any one or more series of the Trust may, either as the
successor, survivor or non-survivor, (1) consolidate or merge with one or more
other trusts, partnerships, associations or corporations, including any series
or class thereof, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
or any other state of the United States; or (2) transfer a substantial portion
of its assets to one or more other trusts, partnerships, associations or
corporations, including any series or class thereof, organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, any
such consolidation, merger or transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as
are specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved
by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith.
Any such consolidation, merger or transfer may be authorized by vote of a
majority of the Trustees then in office without the approval of shareholders of
any series.
INCORPORATION, REORGANIZATION
Section 7. The Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing
a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction, or any other
trust, unit investment trust, partnership, association or other organization to
take over the assets of any one or more series of the Trust or to carry on any
business in which such series of the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any
interest, and to sell, convey and transfer such assets to any such corporation,
trust, partnership, association or organization in exchange for the shares or
securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares
or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust,
partnership, association or organization in which the
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Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. Subject to
Section 6 of this Article IX, the Trustees may also cause a merger or
consolidation between such series of the Trust or any successor thereto and any
such corporation, trust, partnership, association or other organization if and
to the extent permitted by law.
APPLICABLE LAW
Section 8. 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. This
Declaration of Trust is to be governed by and construed and administered
according to the laws of said Commonwealth.
AMENDMENTS
Section 9. 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 a vote or written consent of Shareholders, except that an amendment
which shall affect the holders of one or more series or classes of Shares but
not the holders of all outstanding series or classes shall be authorized by vote
or written consent of the Shareholders of each series or classes affected and no
vote of Shareholders of a series or classes not affected shall be required.
Amendments having the purpose of changing the name of the Trust 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, the undersigned being the sole Trustee of the Trust,
has executed this document this 1st day of June, 1998.
/s/ F. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------
F. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Sole Trustee
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
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