CLAYMORE EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED AS OF AUGUST 15, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I THE TRUST................................................1
1.1 Name.........................................................1
1.2 Definitions..................................................1
ARTICLE II TRUSTEES.................................................3
2.1 Number and Qualification.....................................3
2.2 Term and Election............................................3
2.3 Resignation and Removal......................................3
2.4 Vacancies....................................................3
2.5 Meetings.....................................................4
2.6 Trustee Action by Written Consent............................4
2.7 Officers.....................................................4
ARTICLE III POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES............................5
3.1 General......................................................5
3.2 Investments..................................................5
3.3 Legal Title..................................................5
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares............................5
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage.............................5
3.6 Delegation; Committees.......................................6
3.7 Collection and Payment.......................................6
3.8 Expenses.....................................................6
3.9 By-Laws......................................................6
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers.........................................6
3.11 Further Powers...............................................7
ARTICLE IV SERIES AND CLASSES OF SHARES.............................7
4.1 Classification of Shares.....................................7
4.2 Establishment and Designation................................7
4.3 Separate and Distinct Nature.................................8
4.4 Conversion Rights............................................8
4.5 Rights and Preferences.......................................8
ARTICLE V ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS......11
5.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements........................11
5.2 Distribution Arrangements...................................11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
5.3 Parties to Contract.........................................11
ARTICLE VI LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION............12
6.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc........12
6.2 Mandatory Indemnification...................................12
6.3 No Bond Required of Trustees................................13
6.4 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc..13
6.5 Reliance on Experts, etc....................................14
ARTICLE VII SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST...........................14
7.1 Beneficial Interest.........................................14
7.2 Rights of Shareholders......................................14
7.3 Trust Only..................................................14
7.4 Issuance of Shares..........................................14
7.5 Register of Shares..........................................15
7.6 Transfer Agent and Registrar................................15
7.7 Notices.....................................................15
ARTICLE VIII CUSTODIANS..............................................15
8.1 Appointment and Duties......................................15
8.2 Central Certificate System..................................16
ARTICLE IX HOLDING.................................................16
9.1 Disclosure of Holding.......................................16
ARTICLE X NET INCOME; DISTRIBUTIONS...............................16
10.1 Distributions to Shareholders...............................16
10.2 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures........................17
ARTICLE XI SHAREHOLDERS............................................17
11.1 Meetings of Shareholders....................................17
11.2 Voting......................................................17
11.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date...........................17
11.4 Quorum and Required Vote....................................18
11.5 Proxies, etc................................................18
11.6 Reports.....................................................18
11.7 Inspection of Records.......................................19
11.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent.......................19
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
PAGE
ARTICLE XII DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.19
12.1 Duration....................................................19
12.2 Termination.................................................19
12.3 Amendment Procedure.........................................20
12.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets....................20
12.5 Subsidiaries................................................20
12.6 Certain Transactions........................................21
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS...........................................22
13.1 Filing......................................................22
13.2 Resident Agent..............................................22
13.3 Governing Law...............................................22
13.4 Counterparts................................................22
13.5 Reliance by Third Parties...................................22
13.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation...............23
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CLAYMORE EXCHANGE TRADED FUND TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made
as of the 15th day of August, 2006, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the
holders of shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder as hereinafter
provided.
WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as
set forth more particularly hereinafter;
WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number
of its shares of beneficial interest all in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property
coming into their hands as Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance
with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by
this Declaration and the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware on May 24, 2006 shall constitute a statutory trust
under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall
constitute the governing instrument of such statutory trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will
hold all cash, securities, and other assets which they may from time to time
acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of
the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders
from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter
set forth.
ARTICLE I
THE TRUST
1.1 Name. This Trust shall be known as the "Claymore
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust" and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the
Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time
determined.
1.2 Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted
therefrom, as amended from time to time.
The terms "Affiliated Person", "Assignment", "Commission",
"Interested Person" and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meanings given
them in the 1940 Act.
"By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time by the Trustees.
"Class" shall mean any of the separate classes of Shares
established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article
4 hereof and to which the Trustees have allocated assets and liabilities of the
Trust in accordance with Article 4.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
"Declaration" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, as amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time.
"Delaware Statutory Trust Statute" shall mean the provisions
of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C.ss.3801, et. seq., as such Act
may be amended from time to time.
"Delaware General Corporation Law" means the Delaware General
Corporation Law, 8 Del. C.ss.100, et. seq., as amended from time to time.
"Fundamental Policies" shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions as set forth from time to time in any Prospectus or contained in
any current Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the Commission or as
otherwise adopted by the Trustees and the Shareholders in accordance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act and designated as fundamental policies therein as
they may be amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the
1940 Act.
"Majority Shareholder Vote" shall mean a vote of "a majority
of the outstanding voting securities" (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of the Trust with each class and series of Shares voting together as a single
class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act or this
Declaration with respect to any one or more classes or series of Shares, in
which case the applicable proportion of such classes or series of Shares voting
as a separate class or series, as case may be, also will be required.
"Person" shall mean and include individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures
and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies
and political subdivisions thereof.
"Prospectus" shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any,
as in effect from time to time under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Series" shall mean any of the separate series of Shares
established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article
4 hereof and to which the Trustees have allocated assets and liabilities of the
Trust in accordance with Article 4;
"Shareholders" shall mean as of any particular time the
holders of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust, at such time.
"Shares" shall mean the transferable units of beneficial
interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from
time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. In
addition, Shares also means any preferred shares or preferred units of
beneficial interest which may be issued from time to time, as described herein.
All references to Shares shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all series or
classes as the context may require.
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"Trust" shall mean the trust established by this Declaration,
as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.
"Trust Property" shall mean as of any particular time any and
all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is
owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such
capacity.
"Trustees" shall mean the signatories to this Declaration, so
long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and
all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or
appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions
hereof and are then in office.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
2.1 Number and Qualification. Prior to a public offering of
Shares there may be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be
determined by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in
office, provided that the number of Trustees shall be no less than two or more
than eight. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of
removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. An
individual nominated as a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not
older than 80 years of age at the time of nomination and not under legal
disability. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
2.2 Term and Election. Each Trustee shall hold office until
the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of considering the
election or re-election of such Trustee or of a successor to such Trustee, and
until his or her successor is elected and qualified, and any Trustee who is
appointed by the Trustees in the interim to fill a vacancy as provided hereunder
shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor, if any, or
such term as the Trustees may determine.
2.3 Resignation and Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign
their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument
in writing signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the
Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be
effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the
instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required
by Section 2.1 hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by action
taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by the holders of at
least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares then entitled to vote in an
election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each
such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust
or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning
or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee's
legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee's behalf such
documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding
sentence.
2.4 Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall
occur, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing an individual
having the qualifications described in this Article by a written instrument
signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office or may leave such vacancy
unfilled or may reduce the number of Trustees; provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such reduction shall not be less than the minimum number required
by Section 2.1 hereof; provided, further, that if the Shareholders of any Class
or Series of Shares are entitled separately to elect one or more Trustees, a
majority of the remaining Trustees or the sole remaining Trustee elected by that
Class or Series may fill any vacancy among the number of Trustees elected by
that Class or
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Series. Any vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the
appointment of an individual having the qualifications described in this Article
made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in
office. No vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any
existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a
vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as
provided herein, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have
all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties
imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration.
2.5 Meetings. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time
to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, or the President or any two
Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at
a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Trustees. Notice
of any other meeting shall be given by the Secretary and shall be delivered to
the Trustees orally not less than 24 hours, or in writing not less than 72
hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either
before or after such meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business
on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened. A
quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than
two, of the Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except
as required under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a
meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present)
or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.
Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive
committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings
of any such committee shall be one-third of the members thereof. Unless provided
otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at
a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present)
or without a meeting by written consent of all of the members.
With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of
the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may
be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote
to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act. For any committee of the Trustees
comprised of one Trustee, a quorum shall be one.
All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting
of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such
communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.6 Trustee Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be
taken by Trustees by vote may be taken without a meeting if that number of the
Trustees, or members of a committee, as the case may be, required for approval
of such action at a meeting of the Trustees or of such committee consent to the
action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the
meetings of Trustees. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote
taken at a meeting of Trustees.
2.7 Officers. The Trustees shall elect a President, a
Secretary and a Treasurer, and may elect a Chairman, who shall serve at the
pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors are elected. The Trustees may
elect or appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, or President to appoint
such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be
advisable. A Chairman shall, and the President and Treasurer may, but need not,
be a Trustee.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES
3.1 General. The Trustees shall owe to the Trust and its
Shareholders the same fiduciary duties as owed by directors of corporations to
such corporations and their stockholders under the Delaware General Corporation
Law. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust
Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the
Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own
right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this
Declaration. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion are
proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The enumeration of any specific
power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers
of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
3.2 Investments. The Trustees shall have power, subject to the
Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, to:
(a) manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold,
pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or
dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but
not limited to securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity,
of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights,
interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all
rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all
such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation,
the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to
designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and
privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be
limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
3.3 Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall
be vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of
one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any
other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as the Trustees may
determine, provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately
protected.
The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust
Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a
Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person
to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have
any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title
and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in
the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have
the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold,
resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares, including
Shares in fractional denominations, and, subject to the more detailed provisions
set forth in Articles IV, VIII and IX, to apply to any such repurchase,
redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or
property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or
hereafter permitted corporations formed under the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, the
Trustees shall have the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or
utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by law or regulation as such
may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging
or otherwise subjecting
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as security the assets of the Trust, including the lending of portfolio
securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any
obligation, contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or
corporation.
3.6 Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have the power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the
Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their
number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things
and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the
names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to at
least the same extent as such delegation is permitted to directors of
corporations formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law and is permitted
by the 1940 Act, as well as any further delegations the Trustees may determine
to be desirable, expedient or necessary in order to effect the purpose hereof.
The Trustees may, to the extent that they determine it necessary, desirable and
appropriate, designate committees with such powers as the Trustees deem
appropriate, each of which shall consist of at least one Trustee, which shall
have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of Trustees
as the Trustees shall determine from time to time, except to the extent action
by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the 0000
Xxx.
3.7 Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to
collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes,
against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee
or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims
relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any
obligations, by virtue of which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter
into releases, agreements and other instruments. Except to the extent required
for a corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the
Shareholders shall have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action,
legal 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.
3.8 Expenses. The Trustees shall have power to incur and pay
out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion of
the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of
this Declaration, and the business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable
compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees
shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees. The Trustees
may pay themselves such compensation for special services, including legal,
underwriting, syndicating and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem
reasonable reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on
behalf of the Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they
may determine, to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears,
for charges of distribution, of the custodian or transfer, Shareholder servicing
or similar agent, a pro rata amount as defined from time to time by the
Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared
but unpaid dividends or distributions 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.
3.9 By-Laws. The Trustees shall have the exclusive authority
to adopt and from time to time amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the
business of the Trust.
3.10 Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power
to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable
for the transaction of the business of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures,
partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay
for out of Trust Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders,
Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors,
selected dealers or independent contractors of the
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Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by
reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity,
whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have
the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (d) establish
pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (e)
make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for charitable, religious,
educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the extent permitted
by law, indemnify any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including without
limitation any advisor, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian,
distributor or selected dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit
to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or
contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of
the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; (i)
notwithstanding the Fundamental Policies of the Trust, convert the Trust to a
master-feeder structure; provided, however, the Trust obtains the approval of
shareholders holding at least a majority of the Trust's Shares present at a
meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present and (j) adopt a seal for
the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any
instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
3.11 Further Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to
conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of
its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware,
in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of
Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies,
possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and
of foreign governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such
instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the
interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically
mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by
the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of
this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Trustees. The Trustees will not be required to obtain any court order to deal
with the Trust Property.
ARTICLE IV
SERIES AND CLASSES OF SHARES
4.1 Classification of Shares. The Trustees may classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of
any Series or Class into one or more Series or Class that may be established and
designated from time to time.
4.2 Establishment and Designation. The Trustees shall have
exclusive power without the requirement of Shareholder approval to establish and
designate separate and distinct Series and Classes of Shares and to fix such
preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Series or Class as the
Trustees may from time to time determine, to divide or combine the Shares or any
Series or Class into a greater or lesser number without thereby materially
changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the Shares of such Series or
Class in the assets held with respect to that Series, to classify or reclassify
any issued Shares or any Series or Class thereof into one or more Series or
Classes, and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the
Trustees may deem desirable. The establishment and designation of any Series or
Class (in addition to those established and designated in this Section below)
shall be effective upon the execution by a majority of the Trustees of an
instrument setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative
rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series or Class, or as otherwise
provided in such instrument. Each such instrument shall have the status of an
amendment to this Declaration of Trust. Without limiting the authority of the
Trustees to establish and designate any further Series or Class, the Trustees
hereby establish and designate the following five (5) initial Series:
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Claymore/Sabrient Insider ETF
Claymore/Sabrient Stealth ETF
Claymore/Zacks Yield Hog ETF
Claymore/Zacks Sector Rotation ETF
Claymore/BNY BRIC ETF
4.3 Separate and Distinct Nature. Each Series and Class,
including without limitation Series and Classes specifically established and
designated in Section 4.2, shall be separate and distinct from any other Series
and Class and shall maintain separate and distinct records on the books of the
Trust, and the assets belonging to any such Series or Class shall be held and
accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other Series or
Class.
4.4 Conversion Rights. Subject to compliance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that holders of Shares of any Series or Class shall have the right to convert
said Shares into Shares of one or more other Series or Class in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
4.5 Rights and Preferences. The Trustees shall have exclusive
power without the requirement of Shareholder approval to fix and determine the
relative rights and preferences as between the Shares of the separate Series and
Classes. The initial Series and Classes and any further Series and Classes that
may from time to time be established and designated by the Trustees shall
(unless the Trustees otherwise determine with respect to some further Series at
the time of establishing and designating the same) have relative rights and
preferences as set forth in this Section 4.5.
(a) Assets and Liabilities "Belonging" to a Series or
Class. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares
of particular Series or Class, together with all assets in which such
consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and
proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or
liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held
and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of every
other Series or Class and may be referred to herein as "assets belonging to"
that Series or Class. The assets belonging to a particular Series or Class shall
belong to that Series or Class for all purposes, and to no other Series or
Class, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series or Class. Such
consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such
assets, and any funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as
belonging to any particular Series or Class (collectively "GENERAL ITEMS"), the
Trustees shall allocate to and among any one or more of the Series and/or
Classes in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem
fair and equitable. Any General Items so allocated to a particular Series or
Class shall belong to that Series/Class. Each such allocation by the Trustees
shall be conclusive and binding upon all Shareholders for all purposes. The
assets belonging to each particular Series and Class shall be charged with the
liabilities in respect of that Series/Class and all expenses, costs, charges and
reserves attributable to that Series/Class, and any general liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class shall be allocated
and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series and
Classes established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such
basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each
allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees
shall be conclusive and binding upon all Shareholders for all purposes.
(b) Treatment of Particular Items. The Trustees shall have
full discretion, to the extent consistent with the 1940 Act and consistent with
generally accepted accounting principles, to
8
determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and
each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Shareholders.
(c) Limitation on Interseries and Interclass Liabilities.
Subject to the right of the Trustees in their discretion to allocate general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as provided in Section 4.5(a),
the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or
otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series or Class shall be
enforceable against the assets of such Series/Class only, and not against the
assets of any other Series or Class. Notice of this limitation on liabilities
between and among Series shall be set forth in the certificate of trust of the
Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware
Statutory Trust Statute, and upon the giving of such notice in the certificate
of trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Statutory
Trust Statute relating to limitations on liabilities between and among series
(and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the
certificate of trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series.
(d) Dividends. Dividends and capital gains distributions on
Shares of a particular Series may be paid with such frequency, in such form, and
in such amount as the Trustees may determine by resolution adopted from time to
time, or pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or
with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. All dividends and
distributions on Shares of a particular Series or Class shall be distributed pro
rata to the holders of Shares of that Series/Class in proportion to the number
of Shares of that Series/Class held by such holders at the date and time of
record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions. Such
dividends and distributions may be paid in cash, property or additional Shares
of that Series/Class, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trustees or
pursuant to any program that the Trustees may have in effect at the time for the
election by each Shareholder of the form in which dividends or distributions are
to be paid to that Shareholder. Any such dividend or distribution paid in Shares
shall be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with
Section 4.5(h) herein.
(e) Redemption by Shareholder. Each Shareholder of a
particular Series or Class shall have the right on any business day to require
the Trust to redeem all or any part of his Shares of that Series or Class, upon
and subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Section 4.5(e), in
accordance with and pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed or approved by
the Trustees and, in the case of any Series or Class now or hereafter
authorized, if so determined by the Trustees, shall be redeemable only in
aggregations of such number of Shares and at such times as may be determined by,
or determined pursuant to procedures or methods prescribed by or approved by,
the Trustees from time to time with respect to such Series or Class. The number
of Shares comprising an aggregation for purposes of redemption or repurchase so
determined from time to time with respect to any Series or Class shall be
referred to herein as a "CREATION UNIT" and collectively, as "CREATION UNITS".
The Trustees shall have the unrestricted power to determine from time to time
the number of Shares constituting a Creation Unit by resolutions adopted at any
regular or special meeting of the Trustees. Each holder of a Creation Unit
aggregation of a Series or Class, upon request to the Trust accompanied by
surrender of the appropriate stock certificate or certificates in proper form
for transfer if certificates have been issued to such holder, or in accordance
with such other procedures as may from time to time be in effect if certificates
have not been issued, shall be entitled to require the Trust to redeem all or
any number of such holder's Shares standing in the name of such holder on the
books of the Trust, but in the case of Shares of any Series or Class as to which
the Trustees have determined that such Shares shall be redeemable in Creation
Unit aggregations, only in such Creation Unit aggregations of shares of such
Series or Class as the Trustees may determine from time to time in accordance
with this Section 4.5(e). The Trust shall, upon application of any Shareholder
or pursuant to authorization from any Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from
such Shareholder outstanding Shares for an amount per share determined by the
Trustees in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations; provided that
(i) such amount per share shall not
9
exceed the cash equivalent of the proportionate interest of each Share or of any
Class or Series of Shares in the assets of the Trust at the time of the
redemption or repurchase and (ii) if so authorized by the Trustees, the Trust
may, at any time and from time to time, charge fees for effecting such
redemption or repurchase, at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and to
the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and may, at any time and from time to time, pursuant to
such Act and such rules and regulations, suspend such right of redemption. The
procedures for effecting and suspending redemption shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus from time to time. Payment may be in cash, securities or a
combination thereof, as determined by or pursuant to the direction of the
Trustees from time to time, less any applicable sales charges and/or fees.
(f) Redemption by Trust. The Trustees may cause the Trust to
redeem the Shares of any Series or Class held by a Shareholder at the redemption
price that would be applicable if such Shares were then being redeemed by the
Shareholder pursuant to Section 4.5(e) upon such conditions as may from time to
time be determined by the Trustees. Upon redemption of Shares pursuant to this
Section 4.5(f), the Trust shall promptly cause payment of the full redemption
price to be made to such Shareholder for Shares so redeemed.
(g) Prevention of Personal Holding Company Status. The Trust
may reject any purchase order, refuse to transfer any Shares, and compel the
redemption of Shares if, in its opinion, any such rejection, refusal, or
redemption would prevent the Trust from becoming a personal holding company as
defined by the Code.
(h) Net Asset Value. The net asset value per Share of any
Series or Class shall be determined in accordance with the methods and
procedures established by the Trustees from time to time and, to the extent
required by applicable law, as disclosed in the then current prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Series/Class.
(i) Maintenance of Stable Net Asset Value. The Trustees may
determine to maintain the net asset value per Share of any Series at a
designated constant dollar amount and in connection therewith may adopt
procedures not inconsistent with the 1940 Act for the continuing declarations of
income attributable to that Series, or any Class thereof, as dividends payable
in additional Shares of that Series/Class at the designated constant dollar
amount and for the handling of any losses attributable to that Series/Class.
Such procedures may provide that in the event of any loss each Shareholder shall
be deemed to have contributed to the capital of the Trust attributable to that
Series/Class his or her pro rata portion of the total number of Shares required
to be canceled in order to permit the net asset value per Share of that
Series/Class to be maintained, after reflecting such loss, at the designated
constant dollar amount. Each Shareholder of the Trust shall be deemed to have
agreed, by his investment in any Series with respect to which the Trustees shall
have adopted any such procedure, to make the contribution referred to in the
preceding sentence in the event of any such loss. The Trustees may delegate any
of their powers and duties under this Section 4.5(i) with respect to appraisal
of assets and liabilities in the determination of net asset value or with
respect to a suspension of the determination of net asset value to an officer or
officers or agent or agents of the Trust designated from time to time by the
Trustees.
(j) Transfer of Shares. Except to the extent that
transferability is limited by applicable law or such procedures as may be
developed from time to time by the Trustees or the appropriate officers of the
Trust, Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only by the
record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized in writing, upon
delivery to the Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed
instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate, if one is
outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and
authorization and of
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such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery the
transfer shall be recorded on the register of the Trust.
(k) Equality of Shares. All Shares of each particular Series
or Class shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging
or attributable to that Series/Class (subject to the liabilities belonging to
that Series/Class), and each Share of any particular Series or Class shall be
equal in this respect to each other Share of that Series or Class, as
applicable.
(l) Fractional Shares. Any fractional Share of any Series or
Class, if any such fractional Share is outstanding, shall carry proportionately
all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Series/Class, including
rights and obligations with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares, and liquidation of the Trust or any Series
or Class.
ARTICLE V
ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
5.1 Advisory and Management Arrangements. Subject to the
requirements of applicable law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees may
in their discretion from time to time enter into advisory, administration or
management contracts (including, in each case, one or more sub-advisory,
sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby the other party to any
such contract shall undertake to furnish the Trustees such advisory,
administrative and management services, with respect to the Trust as the
Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding
any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any advisor,
administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific instructions as
the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect investment transactions with
respect to the assets on behalf of the Trustees to the full extent of the power
of the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer,
employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of
any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by
the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been
authorized by all of the Trustees.
5.2 Distribution Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the
1940 Act, the Trustees may retain underwriters, placement agents and/or other
distribution agents to sell Trust Shares. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of
the Shares of the Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such Shares
to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent
for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Article V or the By-Laws; and such contract may also
provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares of the Trust by such other party as
principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may
enter into selected dealer agreements with registered securities dealers and
brokers and servicing and similar agreements with persons who are not registered
securities dealers to further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of
the Shares of the Trust.
5.3 Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character
described in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Article V or in Article VIII hereof
may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees,
officers or employees of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee,
shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract
shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such
relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by
reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by
reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or
indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract
11
when entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article V or the By-Laws. The same Person may be the other
party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2 above or
Article VIII, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise
affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned
in this Section 5.3.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No
Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal
liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the
acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same
limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private
corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any
personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability to the Trust or
its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence
or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing
exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for
satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of
the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is
made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to
the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any
personal liability. Any repeal or modification of this Section 6.1 shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust
existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or
omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
6.2 Mandatory Indemnification. (a) The Trust hereby agrees to
indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the
Trust (each such person being an "indemnitee") against any liabilities and
expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or
as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such
indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or
other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative
or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or
otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in
any capacity set forth in this Article VI by reason of his having acted in any
such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have
acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best
interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he
shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful,
provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any
liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of
(i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv)
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the
conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to
herein as "disabling conduct"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to
any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as
plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such
action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a
majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his
or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is
found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set
forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or
restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit
or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or
was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification
hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such
amendment, restatement or repeal.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification
shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final
decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before
whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such
indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of
such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding ("Disinterested Non-Party Trustees"),
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such
quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs,
independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee
should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make
advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding
shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding
paragraph (c) below.
(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection
with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification
might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the
indemnitee of the indemnitee's good faith belief that the standards of conduct
necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to
reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is
entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine
that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to
have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be
met: (i) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking,
(ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful
advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party
Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is
substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found
entitled to indemnification.
(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these
provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute,
agreement, vote of stockholders or Trustees who are "disinterested persons" (as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or any other right to which he or
she may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act
and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify
and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other
Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the
request of the Trust to the full extent corporations organized under the
Delaware General Corporation Law may indemnify or provide for the advance
payment of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has
been approved by a majority of the Trustees.
6.3 No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall, as such,
be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of
his duties hereunder.
6.4 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments,
etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the
Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to
make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be
made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the
application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order
of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation,
contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the
Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors
thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their
capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may
maintain insurance for
13
the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover
possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole
judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.
6.5 Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act
resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records
of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by
any of the Trust's officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator,
manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or
consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees
of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a
Trustee.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
7.1 Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries
hereunder shall be divided into an unlimited number of transferable shares of
beneficial interest, without par value, pursuant to Article IV hereof. All
Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without
limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of
Shares, shall be fully paid and, except as provided in the last sentence of
Section 3.8, nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if
any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust.
7.2 Rights of Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal
property given only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The
ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct
any business herein before described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and
the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial
interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any
partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust
nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or,
subject to the right of the Trustees to charge certain expenses directly to
Shareholders, as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8, suffer an
assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall
not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or
exchange rights (except as specified in this Section 7.2, in Section 12.4 or as
specified by the Trustees when creating the Shares, as in preferred shares).
7.3 Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create
only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
7.4 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion, may
from time to time without vote of the Shareholders issue Shares pursuant to
Article IV, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares
held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of
consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times, and on such
terms as the Trustees may determine, and may in such manner acquire other assets
(including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the
assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time to time
divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby
changing the proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and
redemptions of Shares may be made in whole Shares
14
and/or l/l,000ths of a Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may determine
pursuant to Article IV hereof.
7.5 Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the
offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under
the direction of the Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of
all transfers thereof. Separate registers shall be established and maintained
for each class or series of Shares. Each such register shall be conclusive as to
who are the holders of the Shares of the applicable class or series of Shares
and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to
exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled
to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to
him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or
such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry
thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares;
however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share
certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and regulations
as to their use.
7.6 Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trustees shall have
power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or
registrars, with respect to the Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents
may keep the applicable register and record therein, the original issues and
transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer agents and/or
registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and
registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, as modified by the
Trustees.
7.7 Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder
hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly
served or given if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of
record at his last known address as recorded on the applicable register of the
Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
CUSTODIANS
8.1 Appointment and Duties. The Trustees shall at all times
employ a custodian or custodians, meeting the qualifications for custodians for
portfolio securities of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as
custodian with respect to the assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have
authority as agent of the Trust with respect to which it is acting as determined
by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such restrictions,
limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws
of the Trust and the 1940 Act:
(1) to hold the securities owned by the
Trust and deliver the same upon written order;
(2) to receive any receipt for any moneys
due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking
department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or
vouchers;
(4) if authorized by the Trustees, to keep
the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and
accounting services; and
15
(5) if authorized to do so by the Trustees,
to compute the net income or net asset value of the Trust;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees
and the custodian.
The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one
or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and
services of the custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed
upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees,
provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for
custodians contained in the 1940 Act.
8.2 Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the
custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a
system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other Person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class of any
issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be
transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such
securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only
upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
HOLDING
9.1 Disclosure of Holding. The holders of Shares or other
securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing
such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or
other securities of the Trust as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Code, the 1940 Act or other applicable laws or regulations, or
to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory authority.
ARTICLE X
NET INCOME; DISTRIBUTIONS
10.1 Distributions to Shareholders. (a) The Trustees shall
from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any Class, or any
Series of any such Class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and
fractional Shares of such Class or any Series of such Class, such proportion of
the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets held by
the Trustees as they may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in
accordance with this Declaration. Any such distribution may be made in cash or
property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or
any assets thereof) or Shares of any Class or Series or any combination thereof,
and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any Class of
shares or Series of any such Class, in accordance with the number of outstanding
full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, additional
Shares of any Class or Series in such manner, at such times, and on such terms
as the Trustees may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance
with this Declaration.
(b) Distributions pursuant to this Section 10.1 may be
among the Shareholders of record of the applicable class or series of Shares at
the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such
later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify.
16
(c) The Trustees may always retain from the net profits
such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust
or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to
use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or
extensions of the business.
(d) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains
for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the
books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power
in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and
as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to
enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
10.2 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any
of the foregoing provisions of this Article X, the Trustees may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other
bases and times for determining the per share asset value of the Trust's Shares
or net income, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as
they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the
Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange
or association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
order of exemption issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter
amended or modified.
ARTICLE XI
SHAREHOLDERS
11.1 Meetings of Shareholders. The Trust is not required to
hold regular or annual meetings of the Shareholders. A special meeting of
Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees or the
President and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written
request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than 51%
of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or Class or Series or Shares having
voting rights on the matter, such request specifying the purpose of purposes for
which such meeting is to be called. Any shareholder meeting, including a Special
Meeting, shall be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and
at such time as the Trustees shall designate.
11.2 Voting. Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any
matter except matters on which a vote of Shareholders is required by applicable
law, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees. Except as otherwise
provided herein, any matter required to be submitted to Shareholders and
affecting one or more Classes or Series of Shares shall require approval by the
required vote of all the affected Classes and Series of Shares voting together
as a single class; provided, however, that as to any matter with respect to
which a separate vote of any Class or Series of Shares is required by the 1940
Act, such requirement as to a separate vote by that Class or Series of Shares
shall apply in addition to a vote of all the affected Classes and Series voting
together as a single class. Shareholders of a particular Class or Series of
Shares shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects only one or more
other Classes or Series of Shares. There shall be no cumulative voting in the
election or removal of Trustees.
11.3 Notice of Meeting and Record Date. Notice of all meetings
of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be
given by the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote
thereat at its registered address, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 120
days before the commencement of the meeting or otherwise in compliance with
applicable law. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be
considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned one
or more times without further notice not later than 180 days after the record
date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to
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notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may, without closing the
transfer books, fix a date not more than 120 nor less than 10 days prior to the
date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the determination of
the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such purposes.
11.4 Quorum and Required Vote. (a) The holders of a majority
of the Shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or
by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such meeting of the Shareholders for
purposes of conducting business on such matter. The absence from any meeting, in
person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter
shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which
may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in
person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matters.
(b) Subject to any provision of applicable law, this
Declaration or a resolution of the Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser
vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of
Shareholders, (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in
person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall
be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such matter, and (ii) where a
separate vote of one or more Classes or Series of Shares is required on any
matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of such Class or Series
of Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the
act of the Shareholders of such Class or Series with respect to such matter.
11.5 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder
of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed proxy, provided
that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on
file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the
Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote
shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies
may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the
officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration
of 11 months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only
Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be
entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such
fraction. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may
vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more
than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and
such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. 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. If the holder of any such Share is a
minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal
control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share,
he may vote by his guardian or such other person appointed or having such
control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.
11.6 Reports. The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at least
annually and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law,
regulation or any exchange on which Trust Shares are listed a report of
operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed
income of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and an opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial
statements. Copies of such reports shall be mailed to all Shareholders of record
within the time required by the 1940 Act, and in any event within a reasonable
period preceding the meeting of Shareholders. The Trustees shall, in addition,
furnish to the Shareholders at least semi-annually to the extent required by
law, interim reports containing an unaudited balance sheet of the Trust as of
the end of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus for the
period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such period.
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11.7 Inspection of Records. The records of the Trust shall be
open to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted
shareholders of a corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
11.8 Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which
may be taken by Shareholders by vote may be taken without a meeting if the
holders entitled to vote thereon of the proportion of Shares required for
approval of such action at a meeting of Shareholders pursuant to Section 11.4
consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the
records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all
purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
ARTICLE XII
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
12.1 Duration. Subject to possible termination in accordance
with the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have
perpetual existence.
12.2 Termination. (a) The Trust may be dissolved, after a
majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, upon approval by
not less than 75% of the Shares of each Class or Series outstanding and entitled
to vote, voting as separate Classes or Series, unless such resolution has been
approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote shall be required. Upon the dissolution of the Trust:
(i) The Trust shall carry on no business
except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up
the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees
under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the
Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill
or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets,
sell, convey, assign, exchange, merge where the Trust is not
the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part
of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at
public or private sale for consideration which may consist in
whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of any
kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts
appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale,
conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is
not the survivor, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all the Trust Property of the Trust shall
require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and
the nature and amount of the consideration by Shareholders
with the same vote as required to dissolve the Trust.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing
for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such
releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem
necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute
the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly
each, among the Shareholders according to their respective
rights.
(b) After the winding up and termination of the Trust and
distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees
shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing
setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be
discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and
interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.
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12.3 Amendment Procedure. (a) Except as provided in subsection
(b) of this Section 12.3, this Declaration may be amended, after a majority of
the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the
holders of not less than a majority of the affected Shares. The Trustees also
may amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders of any class of
series to divide the Shares of the Trust into one or more classes or additional
classes, or one or more series of any such class or classes, to change the name
of the Trust or any class or series of Shares, to make any change that does not
adversely affect the relative rights or preferences of any Shareholder, as they
may deem necessary, or to conform this Declaration to the requirements of the
1940 Act or any other applicable federal laws or regulations including pursuant
to the requirements of the regulated investment company provisions of the Code,
but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do so.
(b) No amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section 2.2,
Section 2.3, Section 3.9, Section 6.1, Section 6.2, Section 12.2(a), this
Section 12.3, Section 12.4 or Section 12.6 of this Declaration and no amendment
may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights with respect to
any Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation
of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining
thereto, except after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution
therefor, and such proposed amendment has been approved by the affirmative vote
of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each
affected Class or Series outstanding, voting as separate Classes or Series, or
unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case
approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Nothing contained in
this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the
exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the
Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become
effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be
designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A
certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the Trustees setting
forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if
required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as
amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall
be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the
Trust or at such other time designated by the Board.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as
a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the first public offering of Shares of the Trust shall have become effective,
this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a majority of
the Trustees.
12.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as
provided in Section 12.6, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other
corporation, association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or
exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or the property,
including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such
consideration when and as authorized by two-thirds of the Trustees and approved
by a Majority Shareholder Vote and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease
or exchange shall be determined for all purposes to have been accomplished under
and pursuant to the statutes of the State of Delaware.
12.5 Subsidiaries. Without approval by Shareholders, the
Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing one or more
corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations to take
over all of the Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust
shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer
all or a portion of the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited
liability company, association or organization in exchange
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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, limited liability company, partnership, association or
organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company,
association or organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire
shares or any other interests.
12.6 Certain Transactions. (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions provided in
paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions described in paragraph
(c) of this Section shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority
of the Trustees then in office followed by the affirmative vote of the holders
of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class
or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, when a Principal
Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (b) of this Section) is a party to the
transaction. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote
or consent of the holders of Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of
any class or series of preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or
any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.
(b) The term "Principal Shareholder" shall mean any
corporation, Person or other entity which is the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of any class
or series and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are
defined in clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the purposes of
this Section, in addition to the Shares which a corporation, Person or other
entity beneficially owns directly, (a) any corporation, Person or other entity
shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the
right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights
or warrants, or otherwise (but excluding share options granted by the Trust) or
(ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares
deemed owned through application of clause (i) above), by any other corporation,
Person or entity with which its "affiliate" or "associate" (as defined below)
has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of Shares, or which is its "affiliate" or
"associate" as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (b) the outstanding
Shares shall include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and
(ii) above but shall not include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant
to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or
otherwise.
(c) This Section shall apply to the following
transactions: (i) The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of
the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder (ii) The issuance of any
securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than
pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan). (iii) The sale, lease or
exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any
Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of
less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets
sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a
twelve-month period.) (iv) The sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any
subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of
any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value
of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all
assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a
twelve-month period).
(d) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable
to (i) any of the transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if 80%
of the Trustees shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding
with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and substantially consistent
with such transaction, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote
shall be the only vote of Shareholders required by this Section, or (ii) any
such transaction with any entity of which a majority of the outstanding shares
of all classes and series of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of
directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries.
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(e) The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Section on the basis of information known to
the Trust whether (i) a corporation, person or entity beneficially owns five
percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of any class or series, (ii) a
corporation, person or entity is an "affiliate" or "associate" (as defined
above) of another, (iii) the assets being acquired or leased to or by the Trust
or any subsidiary thereof constitute a substantial part of the assets of the
Trust and have an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, and (iv)
the memorandum of understanding referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is
substantially consistent with the transaction covered thereby. Any such
determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Filing. (a) This Declaration and any amendment or
supplement hereto shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the
Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment or supplement shall be accompanied by
a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was
duly taken in a manner provided herein, and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's
minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A
restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all amendments and
supplements theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a majority of
the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's minute book, be conclusive
evidence of all amendments and supplements contained therein and may thereafter
be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments
and supplements thereto.
(b) The Trustees hereby authorize and direct a Certificate
of Trust, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to be executed and filed
with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance
with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
13.2 Resident Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident agent
in the State of Delaware, which agent shall initially be The Corporation Trust
Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Trustees may
designate a successor resident agent, provided, however, that such appointment
shall not become effective until written notice thereof is delivered to the
office of the Secretary of the State.
13.3 Governing Law. This Declaration is executed by the
Trustees and delivered in the State of Delaware and with reference to the laws
thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of
every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to laws of
said State and reference shall be specifically made to the Delaware General
Corporation Law as to the construction of matters not specifically covered
herein or as to which an ambiguity exists, although such law shall not be viewed
as limiting the powers otherwise granted to the Trustees hereunder and any
ambiguity shall be viewed in favor of such powers. All disputes arising under
this Declaration shall be brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery unless
otherwise required by the 1940 Act.
13.4 Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously
executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same
instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original
counterpart.
13.5 Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording
office in which this Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or
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Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the
execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a
meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or
Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument
satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of any By Laws
adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the
existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the
Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of
any person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
13.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation. (a) The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the
conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this
Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of
the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any
action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of this Declaration shall be held
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and
shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any
other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents
to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
By:
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Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Trustee
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