EXHIBIT 99.B1A
INTEGRITY INVESTMENT TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
October 18, 1990
INTEGRITY INVESTMENT TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Page
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ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS 1
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Section 1.1 Name 1
Section 1.2 Definitions 1
(a) Trust 1
(b) Trustees 1
(c) Shares 2
(d) Series 2
(e) Class 2
(f) Shareholder 2
(g) 1940 Act 2
(h) Commission 2
(i) Declaration of Trust 2
(j) By-Laws 2
ARTICLE II PURPOSE OF TRUST 2
ARTICLE III THE TRUSTEES 2
Section 3.1 Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc. 2
(a) Initial Trustee(s) 2
(b) Number 2
(c) Election and Term 3
(d) Resignation and Retirement 3
(e) Removal 3
(f) Vacancies 3
(g) Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. 4
(h) No Accounting 4
Section 3.2 Powers of Trustees 4
(a) Investments 5
(b) Disposition of Assets 5
(c) Ownership Powers 5
(d) Subscription 5
(e) Form of Holding 5
(f) Reorganization, etc. 5
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(g) Voting Trusts, etc. 5
(h) Compromise 5
(i) Partnerships, etc. 5
(j) Borrowing and Security 6
(k) Guarantees, etc. 6
(l) Insurance 6
(m) Pensions, etc. 6
Section 3.3 Certain Contracts 6
(a) Advisory 7
(b) Administration 7
(c) Distribution 7
(d) Custodian and Depository 7
(e) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency 7
(f) Shareholder Servicing 7
(g) Accounting 7
Section 3.4 Payment of Trust Expenses and Compensation of Trustees 8
Section 3.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust 8
ARTICLE IV SHARES 9
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Section 4.1 Description of Shares 9
Section 4.2 Establishment and Designation of Sub-Trusts 10
(a) Assets Belonging to Sub-Trusts 10
(b) Liabilities Belonging to Sub-Trusts 11
(c) Dividends 11
(d) Liquidation 11
(e) Voting 12
(f) Redemption by Shareholder 12
(g) Redemption by Trust 12
(h) Net Asset Value 13
(i) Transfer 13
(j) Equality 13
(k) Fractions 13
(l) Conversion Rights 14
Section 4.3 Ownership of Shares 14
Section 4.4 Investments in the Trust 14
Section 4.5 No Preemptive Rights 14
Section 4.6 Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability 14
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ARTICLE V SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS 15
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Section 5.1 Voting Powers 15
Section 5.2 Meetings 15
Section 5.3 Record Dates 16
Section 5.4 Quorum and Required Vote 16
Section 5.5 Action by Written Consent 16
Section 5.6 Inspection of Records 16
Section 5.7 Additional Provisions 16
Section 5.8 Shareholder Communications 16
ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION 17
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Section 6.1 Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice 17
Section 6.2 Trustees' Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety 18
Section 6.3 Indemnification of Shareholders 18
Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. 18
Section 6.5 Compromise Payment 19
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. 19
Section 6.7 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees 20
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS 20
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Section 7.1 Duration and Termination of Trust 20
Section 7.2 Reorganization 20
Section 7.3 Amendments 21
Section 7.4 Filing of Copies; References; Headings 22
Section 7.5 Applicable Law 22
Section 7.6 Information Pursuant to Code of Massachusetts Regulations 22
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EXHIBIT 1.1
INTEGRITY INVESTMENT TRUST
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 18th day of October,
1990, by the Trustee hereunder on behalf of himself and all other persons who
become Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest
to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of
1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
and
WHEREAS, the Trustee has agreed to manage all property coming into his
hands as Trustee of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the
provisions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustee hereby declares that he will hold all cash,
securities and other assets which he may from time to time acquire in any manner
as Trustee 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 or Sub-Trusts created hereunder
as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 NAME. This Trust shall be known as Integrity Investment 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 determine.
Section 1.2 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required
by the context or specifically provided:
(a) The "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by
this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, inclusive
of each and every Sub-Trust established hereunder;
(b) "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust
hereunder named herein or elected in accordance with Article III;
(c) "Shares" refers to the transferable units of interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust (as the context
may require) shall be divided from time to time;
(d) "Series" refers to Series of Shares established and designated under
or in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, each of which Series shall
represent the beneficial interest in a Sub-Trust of the Trust; "Sub-Trust"
refers to each Sub-Trust of the Trust established and designated in accordance
with Article IV;
(e) "Class" refers to any class of Shares established and designated under
or in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of any Series or Sub-Trust;
(f) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
(g) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the
Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;
(h) The term "Commission" shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;
(i) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
Trust as amended or restated from time to time; and
(j) "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to
time.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to operate as an investment company and to
offer Shareholders of the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust one or more
investment programs primarily in securities and debt instruments. The Trust
shall also have the power to invest in precious metals, bullion and gold coins.
ARTICLE III
THE TRUSTEES
Section 3.1 NUMBER, DESIGNATION, ELECTION, TERM, ETC.
(a) INITIAL TRUSTEE(S). Upon his execution of this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, which execution evidences his acceptance and agreement to
serve as Trustee hereunder, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx shall become the initial Trustee
hereof and of each Sub-Trust hereunder.
(b) NUMBER. The Trustees serving as such, whether named above or
hereafter becoming a Trustee, may increase or decrease the number of Trustees to
a number other than the number theretofore determined. No decrease in the number
of Trustees shall have the effect of
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removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term, but the
number of Trustees may be decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 3.1.
(c) ELECTION AND TERM. With the exception of the initial Trustee and any
other person becoming a Trustee during the period prior to the first issuance of
shares of any Sub-Trust to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and except as otherwise provided in
this subsection (c), the Trustees shall be elected by Shareholders of the Trust.
Each Trustee, whether named above or hereafter becoming a Trustee, shall serve
as a Trustee of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust hereunder during the lifetime of
this Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided except as such
Trustee sooner dies, resigns or is removed. Subject to Section 16(a) of the
1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their own successors and may, pursuant to
subsection (f) of this Section 3.1, appoint Trustees to fill vacancies.
(d) RESIGNATION AND RETIREMENT. Any Trustee may resign his trust or
retire as a Trustee, by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the
other Trustees or to any officer of the Trust, and such resignation or
retirement shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is
specified in such instrument and shall be effective as to the Trust and each
Sub-Trust hereunder.
(e) REMOVAL. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any
time: (i) by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of
Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date upon which such removal
shall become effective; or (ii) by vote of Shareholders holding not less than
two-thirds of the Shares then outstanding, cast in person or by proxy at any
meeting called for the purpose; or (iii) by a written declaration signed by
Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the Shares then outstanding and
filed with the Trust's Custodian. Any such removal shall be effective as to the
Trust and each Sub-Trust hereunder.
(f) VACANCIES. Any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from any
reason, including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement, removal
or incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in the
number of Trustees by the other Trustees may (but need not unless required by
the 0000 Xxx) be filled either by a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject
to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, through the appointment in
writing of such other person as such remaining Trustees in their discretion
shall determine and such appointment shall be effective upon the written
acceptance of the person named therein to serve as a Trustee and agreement by
such person to be bound by the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, except
that any such appointment in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of
retirement, resignation, or increase in number of Trustees to be effective at a
later date shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said
retirement, resignation, or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any
Trustee so appointed shall have accepted such appointment and shall have agreed
in writing to be bound by this Declaration of Trust and the appointment is
effective, the Trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee, together with the
continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance.
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(g) EFFECT OF DEATH, RESIGNATION, ETC. The death, resignation,
retirement, removal, or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall
not operate to annul or terminate the Trust or any Sub-Trust hereunder or to
revoke or terminate any existing agency or contract created or entered into
pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
(h) NO ACCOUNTING. Except to the extent required by the 1940 Act or under
circumstances which would justify his removal for cause, no person ceasing to be
a Trustee as a result of his death, resignation, retirement, removal or
incapacity (nor the estate of any such person) shall be required to make an
accounting to the Shareholders or remaining Trustees upon such cessation.
Section 3.2 POWERS OF TRUSTEES Subject to the provisions of this
Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the
Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out
that responsibility and the purpose of the Trust. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration
of Trust providing for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust and
may amend and repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve that
right to the Shareholders; they may from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4.1 hereof establish Sub-Trusts, each such Sub-Trust to
operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined
investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; they may as
they consider appropriate elect and remove officers and appoint and terminate
agents and consultants and hire and terminate employees, any one or more of the
foregoing of whom may be a Trustee, and may provide for the compensation of all
of the foregoing; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one
or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, including without implied
limitation an executive committee, which may, when the Trustees are not in
session and subject to the 1940 Act, exercise some or all of the power and
authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; in accordance with
Section 3.3 they may employ one or more Advisers, Administrators, Depositories
and Custodians and may authorize any Depository or Custodian to employ
subcustodians or agents and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a
system or systems for the central handling of securities and debt instruments,
retain transfer, dividend, accounting or Shareholder servicing agents or any of
the foregoing, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust through one
or more distributors, principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates or
times for the determination of Shareholders or various of them with respect to
various matters; they may compensate or provide for the compensation of the
Trustees, officers, advisers, administrators, custodians, other agents,
consultants and employees of the Trust or the Trustees on such terms as they
deem appropriate; and in general they may delegate to any officer of the Trust,
to any committee of the Trustees and to any employee, adviser, administrator,
distributor, depository, custodian, transfer and dividend disbursing agent, or
any other agent or consultant of the Trust such authority, powers, functions and
duties as they consider desirable or appropriate for the conduct of the
business and affairs of the Trust, including without implied limitation the
power and authority to act in the name of the Trust and of the Trustees, to sign
documents and to act as attorney-in-fact for the Trustees.
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Without limiting the foregoing and to the extent not inconsistent with the
1940 Act or other applicable law, the Trustees shall have power and authority
for and on behalf of the Trust and each separate Sub-Trust established
hereunder:
(a) INVESTMENTS. To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to
hold cash or other property uninvested without in any event being bound or
limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by
trustees;
(b) DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage,
hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(c) OWNERSHIP POWERS. To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of
ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, debt instruments or
property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such
person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or
persons such power and discretion with relation to securities, debt instruments
or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(d) SUBSCRIPTION. To exercise powers and rights of subscription or
otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or debt
instruments;
(e) FORM OF HOLDING. To hold any security, debt instrument or property in
a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other
negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or of any
Sub-Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depositary or a
nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(f) REORGANIZATION, ETC. To consent to or participate in any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any
security or debt instrument of which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to
any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation
or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or
debt instrument held in the Trust;
(g) VOTING TRUSTS, ETC. To join with other holders of any securities or
debt instruments in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or
otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or debt instrument
with, or transfer any security or debt instrument to, any such committee,
depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with
relation to any security or debt instrument (whether or not so deposited or
transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay,
such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or
trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
(h) COMPROMISE. To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in
favor of or against the Trust or any Sub-Trust or any matter in controversy,
including but not limited to claims for taxes;
(i) PARTNERSHIPS, ETC. To enter into joint ventures, general or limited
partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
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(j) BORROWING AND SECURITY. To borrow funds and to mortgage and pledge
the assets of the Trust or any part thereof to secure obligations arising in
connection with such borrowing;
(k) GUARANTEES, ETC. To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or
other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the
Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such obligations;
(l) INSURANCE. To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property
such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the
business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets
of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio
investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees, agents, consultants, investment advisers, managers,
administrators, distributors, principal underwriters, or independent
contractors, or any thereof (or any person connected therewith), of the Trust
individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by
reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by
reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person in
any such capacity, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined
to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability; and
(m) PENSIONS, ETC. To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed
appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension,
profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other
retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trust and provisions, including the
purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such
retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust.
Except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees on
behalf of the Trust or any Sub-Trust may be taken by a majority of the Trustees
present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum, consisting of at least a majority of
the Trustees then in office, being present), within or without Massachusetts,
including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means
shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a
majority of the Trustees then in office (or such larger or different number as
may be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law).
Section 3.3 CERTAIN CONTRACTS. Subject to compliance with the provisions
of the 1940 Act, but notwithstanding any limitations of present and future law
or custom in regard to delegation of powers by trustees generally, the Trustees
may, at any time and from time to time and without limiting the generality of
their powers and authority otherwise set forth herein, enter into one or more
contracts with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships,
limited partnerships, other type of organizations, or individuals ("Contracting
Party"), to provide for the performance and assumption of some or all of the
following services, duties and responsibilities to, for or on behalf of the
Trust and/or any Sub-Trust, and/or the Trustees, and to
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provide for the performance and assumption of such other services, duties and
responsibilities in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may
determine appropriate:
(a) ADVISORY. Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and in
conformity with the stated policy of the Trustees with respect to the
investments of the Trust or of the assets belonging to any Sub-Trust of the
Trust (as that phrase is defined in subsection (a) of Section 4.2), to manage
such investments and assets, make investment decisions with respect thereto, and
to place purchase and sale orders for portfolio transactions relating to such
investments and assets;
(b) ADMINISTRATION. Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees
and in conformity with any policies of the Trustees with respect to the
operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust, to supervise all or any part of the
operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust, and to provide all or any part of
the administrative and clerical personnel, office space and office equipment and
services appropriate for the efficient administration and operations of the
Trust and each Sub-Trust;
(c) DISTRIBUTION. To distribute the Shares of the Trust and each
Sub-Trust, to be principal underwriter of such Shares, and/or to act as agent of
the Trust and each Sub-Trust in the sale of Shares and the acceptance or
rejection of orders for the purchase of Shares;
(d) CUSTODIAN AND DEPOSITORY. To act as depository for and to maintain
custody of the property of the Trust and each Sub-Trust and accounting records
in connection therewith;
(e) TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENCY. To maintain records of the
ownership of outstanding Shares, the issuance and redemption and the transfer
thereof, and to disburse any dividends declared by the Trustees and in
accordance with the policies of the Trustees and/or the instructions of any
particular Shareholder to reinvest any such dividends;
(f) SHAREHOLDER SERVICING. To provide service with respect to the
relationship of the Trust and its Shareholders, records with respect to
Shareholders and their Shares, and similar matters; and
(g) ACCOUNTING. To handle all or any part of the accounting
responsibilities, whether with respect to the Trust's properties, Shareholders
or otherwise.
The same person may be the Contracting Party for some or all of the services,
duties and responsibilities to, for and of the Trust and/or the Trustees, and
the contracts with respect thereto may contain such terms interpretive of or in
addition to the delineation of the services, duties and responsibilities
provided for, including provisions that are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act
relating to the standard of duty of and the rights to indemnification of the
Contracting Party and others, as the Trustees may determine. Nothing herein
shall preclude, prevent or limit the Trust or a Contracting Party from entering
into sub-contractual arrangements relative to any of the matters referred to in
Sections 3.3(a) through (g) hereof.
The fact that:
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(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust
is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager,
adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any
Contracting Party, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Contracting
Party or that the Contracting Party or any parent or affiliate thereof is a
Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or that
(ii) any Contracting Party may have a contract providing for the
rendering of any similar services to one or more other corporations,
trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships or other
organizations, or have other business or interests,
shall not affect the validity of any contract for the performance and assumption
of services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the Trust or any
Sub-Trust and/or the Trustees or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer
of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or
accountability to the Trust, any Sub-Trust or its Shareholders, provided that in
the case of any relationship or interest referred to in the preceding clause (i)
on the part of any Trustee or officer of the Trust either (x) the material facts
as to such relationship or interest have been disclosed to or are known by the
Trustees not having any such relationship or interest and the contract involved
is approved in good faith by a majority of such Trustees not having any such
relationship or interest (even though such unrelated or disinterested Trustees
are less than a quorum of all of the Trustees), (y) the material facts as to
such relationship or interest and as to the contract have been disclosed to or
are known by the Shareholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract involved
is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the Shareholders, or (z) the
specific contract involved is fair to the Trust as of the time it is
authorized, approved or ratified by the Trustees or by the Shareholders.
Section 3.4 PAYMENT OF TRUST EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES. The
Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the principal or
income of the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or partly out of principal and partly out
of income, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or
more of the Sub-Trusts that may be established and designated pursuant to
Article IV, as the Trustees deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or any Sub-Trust,
or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to,
the Trustees' compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of
the Trust's officers, employees, investment adviser, administrator,
distributor, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, depository, custodian,
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, accounting agent, Shareholder
servicing agent, and such other agents, consultants, and independent
contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem
necessary or proper to incur. Without limiting the generality of any other
provision hereof, the Trustees shall be entitled to reasonable compensation
from the Trust for their services as Trustees and may fix the amount of such
compensation.
Section 3.5 OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST. Title to all of the assets
of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.
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ARTICLE IV
SHARES
Section 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF SHARES. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be divided into transferable Shares, all without par value, and the
Trustees shall have the authority from time to time to issue Shares in one or
more Series of Shares (each of which Series of Shares shall represent the
beneficial interest in a separate and distinct Sub-Trust of the Trust, including
without limitation the Sub-Trust specifically established and designated in
Section 4.2) as they deem necessary or desirable. The Trustees shall have
exclusive power without the requirement of shareholder approval to establish and
designate such separate and distinct Sub-Trusts, and to fix and determine the
relative rights and preferences as between the shares of the separate Sub-Trusts
as to right of redemption and the price, terms and manner of redemption, special
and relative rights as to dividends and other distributions and on liquidation,
sinking or purchase fund provisions, conversion rights, and conditions under
which the several Sub-Trusts or the several classes of any Sub-Trust shall have
separate voting rights or no voting rights.
If authorized by an applicable exemptive or other order of the Commission
or by any applicable Rule or Regulation of the Commission under the 1940 Act,
the Trustees may divide the Shares of any Sub-Trust into classes having such
different dividend, liquidation, voting and other rights arising as a result of
different plans or arrangements for the distribution of Shares of the various
classes as the Trustees may determine and that are not inconsistent with such
applicable order, Rule or Regulation, and may establish and designate the
specific classes of each Sub-Trust. The fact that a Sub-Trust shall have
initially been established and designated without any specific establishment or
designation of classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Sub-Trust are initially of
a single class) shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to establish and
designate separate classes of said Sub-Trust without approval of the holders of
the initial class thereof if the establishment and designation of separate
classes would not adversely affect the rights of the holders of the initial
class (within the meaning of section 77 of the Massachusetts Business
Corporation Law).
The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Sub-Trust
or class thereof that may be issued is unlimited, and the Trustees may issue
Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof for such consideration and on such
terms as they may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share
dividend or split-up), all without action or approval of the Shareholders. All
Shares when so issued on the terms determined by the Trustees shall be fully
paid and non-assessable (but may be subject to mandatory contribution back to
the Trust as provided in subsection (h) of Section 4.2). The Trustees may
classify or reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and
reacquired of any Sub-Trust or class thereof into one or more Sub-Trusts or
classes thereof that may be established and designated from time to time. The
Trustees may hold as treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such
terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time,
any Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof reacquired by the Trust.
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The Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books or establish
record dates and times for the purposes of determining the holders of Shares
entitled to be treated as such, to the extent provided or referred to in Section
5.3.
The establishment and designation of any Sub-Trust or of any class of
Shares of any Sub-Trust in addition to those established and designated in
Section 4.2 shall be effective upon the execution by a majority of the then
Trustees of an instrument setting forth such establishment and designation and
the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Sub-Trust or class, or
as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any time that there are no Shares
outstanding of any particular Sub-Trust or class previously established and
designated the Trustees may by an instrument executed by a majority of their
number abolish that Sub-Trust or class and the establishment and designation
thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall have the status of
an amendment to this Declaration of Trust.
Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in
which any such person is interested may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares
of any Sub-Trust of the Trust to the same extent as if such person were not a
Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell
or cause to be issued and sold and may purchase Shares of any Sub-Trust from any
such person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations,
restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of Shares of
such Sub-Trust generally.
Section 4.2 ESTABLISHMENT AND DESIGNATION OF SUB-TRUSTS. Without limiting
the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 4.1 to establish and
designate any further Sub-Trusts, the initial Trustee hereby establishes and
designates a single initial Sub-Trust to be called the Integrity Growth Fund.
The Shares of such Sub-Trust and the Shares of any further Sub-Trusts that may
from time to time be established and designated by the Trustees shall (unless
the Trustees otherwise determine with respect to some further Sub-Trust at the
time of establishing and designating the same) have the following relative
rights and preferences:
(a) ASSETS BELONGING TO SUB-TRUSTS. All consideration received by the
Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust, 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 by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares of
that Sub-Trust and shall irrevocably belong to that Sub-Trust for all purposes,
and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such
consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such
assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such
proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, together with any General Items
allocated to that Sub-Trust as provided in the following sentence, are herein
referred to as "assets belonging to" that Sub-Trust. In the event that there
are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or
payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular
Sub-Trust (collectively "General Items"), the Trustees shall allocate such
General Items to and
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among any one or more of the Sub-Trusts established and designated from time to
time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem
fair and equitable; and any General Items so allocated to a particular Sub-Trust
shall belong to that Sub-Trust. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Sub-Trusts for all purposes.
(b) LIABILITIES BELONGING TO SUB-TRUSTS. The assets belonging to each
particular Sub-Trust shall be charged with the liabilities in respect of that
Sub-Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that
Sub-Trust, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of
the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular
Sub-Trust shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or
more of the Sub-Trusts (or classes thereof) established and designated from time
to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole
discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges
and reserves allocated and so charged to a Sub-Trust are herein referred to as
"liabilities belonging to" that Sub-Trust. Each allocation of liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Shareholders of all Sub-Trusts for all purposes. Any creditor
of any Sub-Trust may look only to the assets of that Sub-Trust to satisfy such
creditor's debt.
The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent
with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which
items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Shareholders.
(c) DIVIDENDS. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular
Sub-Trust or class thereof may be paid with such frequency as the Trustees may
determine, which may be daily or otherwise pursuant to a standing resolution or
resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may
determine, to the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class, from such of the
income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that
Sub-Trust, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued
liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class. All dividends and
distributions on Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall be
distributed pro rata to the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class in
proportion to the number of Shares of that Sub-Trust held by such holders at the
date and time of record established for the payment of such dividends or
distributions, except that in connection with any dividend or distribution
program or procedure the Trustees may determine that no dividend or distribution
shall be payable on Shares as to which the Shareholder's purchase order and/or
payment have not been received by the time or times established by the Trustees
under such program or procedure. Such dividends and distributions may be made
in cash or Shares of that Sub-Trust or 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 mode of the
making of such dividend or distribution to that Shareholder. Any such dividend
or distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as
determined in accordance with subsection (h) of Section 4.2.
(d) LIQUIDATION. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the
Trust, the Shareholders of each Sub- Trust that has been established and
designated shall be entitled to
11
receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets
belonging to that Sub-Trust over the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or
class thereof. The assets so distributable to the Shareholders of any particular
Sub-Trust shall be distributed among such Shareholders in proportion to the
number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class held by them and recorded on the
books of the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Sub-Trust may be
authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office subject to the
approval of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares of that Sub-Trust, as
defined in the 1940 Act.
(e) VOTING. On each matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, each
holder of a Share of each Sub-Trust shall be entitled to one vote for each whole
Share and for a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional Share standing
in his name on the books of the Trust. All Shares of each Sub-Trust shall vote
as a separate class, except as to voting for Trustees and as otherwise required
by the 1940 Act, and except as set forth in the provisions of the writing
establishing and designating any class of any Sub-Trust, and except that on any
matter which does not affect the interest of a particular Sub-Trust or class
thereof only the holders of Shares of the one or more affected Sub-Trusts or
classes shall be entitled to vote.
(f) REDEMPTION BY SHAREHOLDER. Each holder of Shares of a particular
Sub-Trust shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust,
but no less frequently than once each week, to require the Trust to redeem all
or any part of his Shares of that Sub-Trust at a redemption price equal to the
net asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust next determined in accordance with
subsection (h) of this Section 4.2 after the Shares are properly tendered for
redemption. Payment of the redemption price shall be in cash; provided,
however, that if the Trustees determine, which determination shall be
conclusive, that conditions exist which make payment wholly in cash unwise or
undesirable, the Trust may make payment wholly or partly in securities or other
assets belonging to the Sub-Trust of which the Shares being redeemed are part at
the value of such securities or assets used in such determination of net asset
value.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the
redemption price and may suspend the right of the holders of Shares of any
Sub-Trust to require the Trust to redeem Shares of that Sub-Trust during any
period or at any time when and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.
(g) REDEMPTION BY TRUST. Each Share of each Sub-Trust that has been
established and designated is subject to redemption by the Trust at the
redemption price which would be applicable if such Share was then being redeemed
by the Shareholder pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 4.2: (a) at any
time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that failure to so
redeem may have materially adverse consequences to the holders of the Shares of
the Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof, or (b) upon such other conditions as may
from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set forth in the then
current Prospectus of the Trust with respect to maintenance of Shareholder
accounts of a minimum amount. Upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so
redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other than to receive
payment of such redemption price.
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(h) NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value per Share of any Sub-Trust or
class thereof shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the net
assets of that Sub-Trust (being the value of the assets belonging to that
Sub-Trust less the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class) by the
total number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class outstanding, all determined in
accordance with the methods and procedures, including without limitation those
with respect to rounding, established by the Trustees from time to time.
The Trustees may determine to maintain the net asset value per Share of any
Sub-Trust or class thereof 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 Sub-Trust or class as
dividends payable in additional Shares of that Sub-Trust or class at the
designated constant dollar amount and for the handling of any losses
attributable to that Sub-Trust or class. Such procedures may provide that in
the event of any loss each Shareholder shall be deemed to have contributed to
the capital of the Trust attributable to that Sub-Trust or class his pro rata
portion of the total number of Shares required to be canceled in order to permit
the net asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust or class to be maintained, after
reflecting such loss, at the designated constant dollar amount. Each
Shareholder of the Trust shall be deemed to have agreed, by his investment in
any Sub-Trust with respect to which the Trustees shall have adopted any such
procedure, to make the contribution referred to in the preceding sentence in the
event of any such loss.
(i) TRANSFER. All Shares of each particular Sub-Trust shall be
transferable, but transfers of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust will be recorded
on the Share transfer records of the Trust applicable to that Sub-Trust only at
such times as Shareholders shall have the right to require the Trust to redeem
Shares of that Sub-Trust and at such other times as may be permitted by the
Trustees.
(j) EQUALITY. Except as provided herein or in the instrument designating
and establishing any class of any Shares or any Sub-Trust, all Shares of each
particular Sub-Trust shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the
assets belonging to that Sub-Trust (subject to the liabilities belonging to that
Sub-Trust or class thereof), and each Share of any particular Sub-Trust shall be
equal to each other Share of that Sub-Trustor class; but the provisions of this
sentence shall not restrict any distinctions permissible under subsection (c)
of this Section 4.2 that may exist with respect to dividends and distributions
on Shares of the same Sub-Trust or class. The Trustees may from time to time
divide or combine the Shares of any particular Sub-Trust into a greater or
lesser number of Shares of that Sub-Trust without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust or
in any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Sub-Trust.
(k) FRACTIONS. Any fractional Share of any Sub-Trust or class thereof, if
any such fractional Share is outstanding, shall carry proportionately all the
rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Sub-Trust or class, including
rights and obligations with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and
distributions, redemption of Shares, and liquidation of the Trust.
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(l) CONVERSION RIGHTS. Subject to compliance with the requirements of the
1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide that holders of
Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof shall have the right to convert said
Shares into Shares of one or more other Sub-Trust or class in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
Section 4.3 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. The ownership of Shares shall be
recorded on the books of the Trust or of a transfer or similar agent for the
Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each
Sub-Trust or class thereof that has been established and designated. No
certificates certifying the ownership of Shares need be issued except as the
Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such
rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the
use of facsimile signatures, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The
record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent,
as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders and as to
the number of Shares of each Sub-Trust or class thereof held from time to time
by each such Shareholder.
Section 4.4 INVESTMENTS IN THE TRUST. The Trustees may accept investments
in the Trust and each Sub-Trust or class thereof from such persons and on such
terms and for such consideration, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
1940 Act, as they from time to time authorize. The Trustees may authorize any
distributor, principal underwriter, custodian, transfer agent or other person to
accept orders for the purchase of Shares that conform to such authorized terms
and to reject any purchase orders for Shares whether or not conforming to such
authorized terms.
Section 4.5 NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Shareholders shall have no preemptive
or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued
by the Trust.
Section 4.6 STATUS OF SHARES AND LIMITATION OF PERSONAL LIABILITY. Shares
shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this
instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be
held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have
become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the
Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof nor
entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to
take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but
only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall
not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the
Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for
an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders
partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent
of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except
as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of
any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may
at any time personally agree to pay.
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ARTICLE V
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 5.1 VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
(i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Section 3.1, (ii)
with respect to any contract with a Contracting Party as provided in Section 3.3
as to which Shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act, (iii) with respect
to any termination or reorganization of the Trust or any Sub-Trust to the extent
and as provided in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, (iv) with respect to any amendment of
this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Section 7.3, (v) to
the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as
to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be
brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust
or any Sub-Trust thereof or the Shareholders, (provided, however, that a
shareholder of a particular Sub-Trust shall not be entitled to a derivative or
class action on behalf of any other Sub-Trust (or shareholder of any other
Sub-Trust) of the Trust) and (vi) with respect to such additional matters
relating to the Trust as may be required by the 1940 Act, this Declaration of
Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any
successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or
desirable. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.
Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Shares held
in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them
unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific
written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be
executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may
exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law,
this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders.
Section 5.2 MEETINGS. No annual or regular meeting of Shareholders is
required. Special meetings of Shareholders may be called by the Trustees from
time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote
or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter
deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. Written notice of any
meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees by
mailing such notice at least seven days before such meeting, postage prepaid,
stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, to each Shareholder at the
Shareholder's address as it appears on the records of the Trust. The Trustees
shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of Shareholders for the purpose
of voting upon removal of any Trustee of the Trust when requested to do so in
writing by Shareholders holding not less than 10% of the Shares then
outstanding. If the Trustees shall fail to call or give notice of any meeting
of Shareholders for a period of 30 days after written application by
Shareholders holding at least 10% of the Shares then outstanding requesting a
meeting be called for a purpose requiring action by the Shareholders as provided
herein or in the By-Laws, then Shareholders holding at least 10% of the Shares
then outstanding may call and give notice of such meeting, and thereupon the
meeting shall be held in the manner provided for herein in case of call thereof
by the Trustees.
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Section 5.3 RECORD DATES. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders
who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or
who are entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution, or for the
purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close the
transfer books for such period, not exceeding 30 days (except at or in
connection with the termination of the Trust), as the Trustees may determine; or
without closing the transfer books the Trustees may fix a date and time not more
than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of Shareholders or other action as
the date and time of record for the determination of Shareholders entitled to
vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as Shareholders
of record for purposes of such other action, and any Shareholder who was a
Shareholder at the date and time so fixed shall be entitled to vote at such
meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Shareholder of record
for purposes of such other action, even though he has since that date and time
disposed of his Shares, and no Shareholder becoming such after that date and
time shall be so entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or
to be treated as a Shareholder of record for purposes of such other action.
Section 5.4 QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. A majority of the Shares entitled
to vote shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders'
meeting, but any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any
adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the
date set for the original meeting without the necessity of further notice. A
majority of the Shares voted, at a meeting of which a quorum is present shall
decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a
different vote is required or permitted by any provision of the 1940 Act or
other applicable law or by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.
Section 5.5 ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT. Subject to the provisions of the
1940 Act and other applicable law, any action taken by Shareholders may be taken
without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter
(or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by the 1940 Act or by
any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws) consent to
the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of
the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as
a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 5.6 INSPECTION OF RECORDS. The records of the Trust shall be open
to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted stockholders of
a Massachusetts business corporation under the Massachusetts Business
Corporation Law.
Section 5.7 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. The By-Laws may include further
provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters not
inconsistent with the provisions hereof.
Section 5.8 SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS. Whenever ten or more Shareholders
of record have been such for at least six months preceding the date of
application, and who hold in the aggregate either Shares having a net asset
value of at least $25,000 or at least 1% of the outstanding Shares, whichever is
less, shall apply to the Trustees in writing, stating that they wish to
communicate with other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures to a
request for a Shareholder meeting and accompanied by a form of communication and
request which they
16
wish to transmit, the Trustees shall within five business days after receipt of
such application either (1) afford to such applicants access to a list of the
names and addresses of all Shareholders as recorded on the books of the Trust or
Sub-Trust, as applicable; or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate
number of Shareholders of record, and the approximate cost of mailing to them
the proposed communication and form of request.
If the Trustees elect to follow the course specified in paragraph (2) above
the Trustees, upon the written request of such applicants, accompanied by a
tender of the material to be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of mailing,
shall, with reasonable promptness, mail such material to all Shareholders of
record at their addresses as recorded on the books, unless within five business
days after such tender the Trustees shall mail to such applicants and file with
the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written
statement signed by at least a majority of the Trustees to the effect that in
their opinion either such material contains untrue statements of fact or omits
to state facts necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading, or would be in such violation of applicable law, and specifying the
basis of such opinion. The Trustees shall thereafter comply with the
requirements of the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 TRUSTEES, SHAREHOLDERS, ETC. NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE;
NOTICE. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim
against the Trust shall look only to the assets of the Sub-Trust with which such
person dealt for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the
Shareholders of any Sub-Trust nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers,
employees or agents, whether past, present or future, nor any other Sub-Trust
shall be personally liable therefor. Every note, bond, contract, instrument,
certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or
done by or on behalf of the Trust, any Sub-Trust or the Trustees or any of them
in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed
or done only by or for the Trust (or the Sub-Trust) or the Trustees and not
personally. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee or
officer against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders to which such
Trustee or officer would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the office of Trustee or of such officer.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that this
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and shall recite to the effect that the same was executed or made
by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or
officer and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not
binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only
upon the assets and property of the Trust, or the particular Sub-Trust in
question, as the case may be, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind
any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder
individually.
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Section 6.2 TRUSTEES' GOOD FAITH ACTION; EXPERT ADVICE; NO BOND OR
SURETY. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder
shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his
own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing
else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.
Subject to the foregoing, (a) the Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in
any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee,
consultant, adviser, administrator, distributor or principal underwriter,
custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, Shareholder servicing or accounting
agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission
of any other Trustee; (b) the Trustees may take advice of counsel or other
experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust
and their duties as Trustees, and shall be under no liability for any act or
omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice;
and (c) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith,
shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon
written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by them, any
independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter of the
contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a Contracting
Party appointed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.3. The Trustees as such
shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other security for the
performance of their duties.
Section 6.3 INDEMNIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder (or
former Shareholder) of any Sub-Trust of the Trust shall be charged or held to be
personally liable for any obligation or liability of the Trust solely by reason
of being or having been a Shareholder and not because of such Shareholder's acts
or omissions or for some other reason, said Sub-Trust (upon proper and timely
request by the Shareholder) shall assume the defense against such charge and
satisfy any judgment thereon, and the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his
heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case
of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor)
shall be entitled out of the assets of said Sub-Trust estate to be held harmless
from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.
Section 6.4 INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, ETC. The Trust shall
indemnify (from the assets of the Sub-Trust or Sub-Trusts in question) each of
its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust's request as
directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has
any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise [hereinafter referred to as
a "Covered Person"]) against all liabilities, including but not limited to
amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and
penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants' and counsel fees,
incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of
any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any
court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be
or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may
be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of
being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with
respect to any matter as to which it has been determined in one of the manners
described below, that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the
reasonable belief that such Covered Person's action was in or not opposed to the
best
18
interests of the Trust or (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
such Covered Person's office (either and both of the conduct described in (i)
and (ii) being referred to hereafter as "Disabling Conduct). A determination
that the Covered Person is not entitled to indemnification due to Disabling
Conduct may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other
body before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action
or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of
evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a
review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling
Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither
"interested persons" of the Trust as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act
nor parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written
opinion. Expenses, including accountants' and counsel fees so incurred by any
such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in
compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time in advance
of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding, provided that
the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to the
Sub-Trust in question if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of
such expenses is not authorized under this Article VI and (i) the Covered Person
shall have provided security for such 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 Trustees who are not a party to the
proceeding, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have
determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Party
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Section 6.5 COMPROMISE PAYMENT. As to any matter disposed of by a
compromise payment by any such Covered Person referred to in Section 6.4,
pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for
said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such
indemnification shall be approved (a) by a majority of the disinterested
Trustees who are not a party to the proceeding or (b) by an independent legal
counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Trustees pursuant to clause (a)
or by independent legal counsel pursuant to clause (b) shall not prevent the
recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in
accordance with any of such clauses as indemnification if such Covered Person is
subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted
in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person's action was in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the
Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such
Covered Person's office.
Section 6.6 INDEMNIFICATION NOT EXCLUSIVE, ETC. The right of
indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect
any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in
this Article VI, "Covered Person". shall include such person's heirs, executors
and administrators, an "interested Covered Person" is one against whom the
action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other
proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or
threatened, and a "disinterested" person is a person against whom none of such
actions, suits or other proceedings or another
19
action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has
been pending or threatened. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any
rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees
and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under
law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on
behalf of any such person.
Section 6.7 LIABILITY OF THIRD PERSONS DEALING WITH TRUSTEES. No person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon
its order.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no change, alteration or
modification with respect to any Sub-Trust shall operate to terminate the Trust.
The Trust or any Sub-Trust may be terminated at any time by a majority of the
Trustees then in office subject to a favorable vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, Shares of each
Sub-Trust voting separately by Sub-Trust, proposed to be terminated under the
authority of such vote.
Upon termination, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges,
taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be
determined by the Trustees, the Trust (or the appropriate Sub-Trust if not all
Sub-Trusts) shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider
appropriate reduce the remaining assets of the appropriate Sub-Trust to
distributable form in cash, securities or other property, or any combination
thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders, in conformity with the
provisions of subsection (d) of Section 4.2.
Section 7.2 REORGANIZATION. The Trustees may sell, convey, merge and
transfer the assets of the Trust, or the assets belonging to any one or more
Sub-Trusts, to another trust, partnership, association or corporation organized
under the laws of any state of the United States, or to the Trust to be held as
assets belonging to another Sub-Trust of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares
or other securities (including, in the case of a transfer to another Sub-Trust
of the Trust, Shares of such other Sub-Trust) with such transfer either (1)
being made subject to, or with the assumption by the transferee of, the
liabilities belonging to each Sub-Trust the assets of which are so transferred,
or (2) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of, such
liabilities; provided, however, that no assets belonging to any particular
Sub-Trust shall be so transferred unless the terms of such transfer shall have
first been approved at a meeting called for the purpose by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined in the
1940 Act, of that Sub-Trust. Following such transfer, the Trustees shall
distribute such cash, shares or other securities (giving due effect to the
assets and liabilities
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belonging to and any other differences among the various Sub-Trusts or classes
thereof the assets belonging to which have been so transferred) among the
Shareholders of the Sub-Trust or class the assets belonging to which have been
so transferred; and if all of the assets of the Trust have been so transferred,
the Trust shall be terminated.
The Trust, or any one or more Sub-Trusts, may, either as the successor,
survivor, or non-survivor, (1) consolidate with one or more other trusts,
partnerships, associations or corporations organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, to form a
new consolidated trust, partnership, association or corporation under the laws
of which any one of the constituent entities is organized, or (2) merge into one
or more other trusts, partnerships, associations or corporations organized under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United
States, or have one or more such trusts, partnerships, associations or
corporations merged into it, any such consolidation or merger to be upon such
terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization
entered into by the Trust, or one or more Sub-Trusts as the case may be, in
connection therewith. The terms "merge" or "merger" as used herein shall also
include the purchase or acquisition of any assets of any other trust,
partnership, association or corporation which is an investment company organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the
United States. Any such consolidation or merger shall require the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined
in the 1940 Act, of each Sub-Trust that would not survive such consolidation or
merger or, surviving, the holders of whose Shares would be adversely affected
(within the meaning of section 77 of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law)
thereby.
Section 7.3 AMENDMENTS. All rights granted to the Shareholders under this
Declaration of Trust are granted subject to the reservation of the right to
amend this Declaration of Trust as herein provided, except that no amendment
shall repeal the limitations on personal liability of any Shareholder or Trustee
or repeal the prohibition of assessment upon the Shareholders without the
express consent of each Shareholder or Trustee involved. Subject to the
foregoing, the provisions of this Declaration of Trust (whether or not related
to the rights of Shareholders) may be amended at any time, so long as such
amendment does not adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder (within the
meaning of section 77 of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law) with
respect to which such amendment is or purports to be applicable and so long as
such amendment is not in contravention of applicable law, including the 1940
Act, by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or
by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a majority of such Trustees).
Any amendment to this Declaration of Trust that adversely affects the rights of
Shareholders (within the meaning of said section 77) may be adopted at any time
by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or by an
officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority of such Trustees) when
authorized to do so by the vote in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 4.2
of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote. Subject to
the foregoing, any such amendment shall be effective as provided in the
instrument containing the terms of such amendment or, if there is no provision
therein with respect to effectiveness, upon the execution of such instrument and
of a certificate (which may be a part of such instrument) executed by a Trustee
or officer of the Trust to the effect that such amendment has been duly adopted.
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Section 7.4 FILING OF COPIES; REFERENCES; HEADINGS. The original or a
copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office
of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this
instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk,
as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time
be required, but the failure to make any such filing shall not impair the
effectiveness of this instrument or any such amendment. Anyone dealing with the
Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not
any such amendments have been made, as to the identities of the Trustees and
officers, and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and,
with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by
an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such
amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this
instrument, and all expressions like "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" shall be
deemed to refer to this instrument as a whole as the same may be amended or
affected by any such amendments. The masculine gender shall include the
feminine and neuter genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of
reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the
meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be
executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Section 7.5 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement and Declaration of Trust is
created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according
to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts
Business Corporation Law as the same may be amended from time to time, to which
reference is made with the intention that matters not specifically covered
herein or as to which an ambiguity may exist shall be resolved as if the Trust
were a business corporation organized in Massachusetts, but the reference to
said Business Corporation Law is not intended to give the Trust, the Trustees,
the Shareholders or any other person any right, power, authority or
responsibility available only to or in connection with an entity organized in
corporate form. The Trust shall be of the type referred to in Section l of
Chapter 182 of the Massachusetts General Laws and of the type commonly called a
Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the
Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.
Section 7.6 INFORMATION PURSUANT TO CODE OF MASSACHUSETTS
REGULATIONS. For the purposes of complying with 950 CMR 109.00 et seq., the
following information with respect to the Trust as of the date of the original
declaration of this Agreement and Declaration of Trust is set forth.
(a) The name of the Trust is "Integrity Investment Trust."
(b) The date of the organization of Trust is October 18, 1990.
(c) The name and address of the initial Trustee is Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
(d) The signature below on the executed original of this Agreement and
Declaration of Trust is that of the sole initial Trustee.
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(e) The principal place of business of the Trust is c/x Xxxxxx &
Associates, Inc., One Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The
Trust may also maintain one or more other places of business, and its principal
place of business in Massachusetts is deemed to be at the address of its
resident agent in Massachusetts named in clause (h) below.
(f) As provided in Article IV hereof, the beneficial interest of the Trust
is divided into transferable shares.
(g) The Trust has the ability to merge and participate in reorganizations
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2 hereof.
(h) The Trustee designates as resident agent of the Trust for the purpose
of receiving service of process and other communications within Massachusetts
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, whose address is x/x Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal for
himself and all other persons who become a Trustee hereunder and their
respective successors and assigns, as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, ss
Then personally appeared before me in Boston, Massachusetts Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, who acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and deed, this 18th
day of October, 1990.
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
---------------------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires September 9, 1994
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