EX-99.A CHARTER 2 declarationoftrust_chesterfu.htm DECLARATION OF TRUST declarationoftrust_chesterfu.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
 
OF
 
VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
 
  This Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to the Amended and Restated
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Vanguard Chester Funds (the “Trust”) amends, effective
September 22, 2011, the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust
dated as of November 19, 2008, as amended (the “Agreement”).
 
  By resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the
“Board”) on September 22, 2011, the Board approved this Amendment. Under Article VIII,
Section 4 of the Agreement, this Amendment may be executed by a duly authorized officer of
the Trust.  
 
  WHEREAS, the Trust desires to amend the Agreement to reflect the addition of
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund, a new series of the Trust;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
 
1. Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
  entirety as set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment.
 
2. All references in the Agreement to the “Amended Declaration of Trust” or
“Declaration of Trust” shall mean the Agreement as amended by this
  Amendment.
 
3. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby
  confirmed and remains in full force and effect.
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, a duly authorized officer of the
Trust, has executed this Amendment as of January 12, 2012.
 
 
  VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
 
 
  By:
 
  Name: Natalie Bej
  Title: Assistant Secretary

 

 

EXHIBIT 1
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
“SCHEDULE A
“VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST

 

SERIES CLASSES
 
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Investor, Admiral
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund Investor”

 

#108134 1/12/2012

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
 
OF
 
VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
 
  This Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Amended and Restated
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Vanguard Chester Funds (the “Trust”) amends, effective
May 21, 2010, the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated
as of November 19, 2008, as amended (the “Agreement”).
 
  By resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the
“Board”) on May 21, 2010, the Board approved this Amendment. Under Article VIII, Section 4
of the Agreement, this Amendment may be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust.
 
  WHEREAS, the Trust desires to amend the Agreement to reflect the addition of
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund, a new series of the Trust;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
 
4. Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
  entirety as set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment.
 
5. All references in the Agreement to the “Amended Declaration of Trust” or
“Declaration of Trust” shall mean the Agreement as amended by this
  Amendment.
 
6. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby
  confirmed and remains in full force and effect.
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, a duly authorized officer of the
Trust, has executed this Amendment as of August 11, 2010.
 
 
  VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
 
 
  By:
 
  Name: Natalie Bej
  Title: Assistant Secretary

 

 

EXHIBIT 1
TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
“SCHEDULE A
“VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST

 

SERIES CLASSES
 
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Investor, Admiral
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund Investor”

 

#108134 1/12/2012

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
 
OF
 
VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS
 
 
  WHEREAS, this AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND
DECLARATION OF TRUST of Vanguard Chester Funds (the “Trust”) is made and entered into
as of the date set forth below by the Trustees named hereunder for the purpose of continuing the
Trust as a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;
 
  WHEREAS, the Trust was formed upon the filing of a certificate of trust in the
Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 1998 pursuant to a
declaration of trust dated January 23, 1998 (the “Original Declaration of Trust”);
 
  WHEREAS, the Original Declaration of Trust was amended on July 19, 2002 and
further amended on July 25, 2003 (as so amended, the “Amended Declaration of Trust”); and
 
  WHEREAS, the Trustees consider it appropriate to amend and restate the
Amended Declaration of Trust in accordance with the terms of the Amended Declaration of
Trust and the Delaware Act.
 
  NOW, THEREFORE, the Amended Declaration of Trust is hereby amended and
restated as follows and the Trustees do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all
cash, securities and other assets that the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time
to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and
conditions.  
 
ARTICLE I.
 
Name and Definitions
 
  Section 1. Name. The name of the Trust is “VANGUARD CHESTER
FUNDS” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name as they may from time to time determine. If the Trustees determine to change the name of
the Trust, they may adopt such other name for the Trust as they deem proper. Any name change
shall become effective upon approval by the Trustees of such change and the filing of a
certificate of amendment under the Delaware Act. Any such action shall have the status of an
amendment to this Declaration of Trust.
 
  Section 2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by
the context or specifically provided:
 
 
#108134 1/12/2012  

 

 

(a) “Amended Declaration of Trust” shall have the meaning set forth
in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust;
 
(b) “By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from
time to time;  
 
(c) “Commission” shall have the respective meanings given it in
Section 2(a)(7) and Section (2)(a)(29) of the 1940 Act;
 
(d) “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Amended and Restated
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;
 
(e) “Delaware Act” refers to Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C.
§ 3801 et. seq. (as amended and in effect from time to time);
 
(f) “Interested Person” shall have the meaning given it in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;  
 
(g) “Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” means a party furnishing
services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 6(a) hereof;
 
(h) “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the
Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time. References herein to
specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such Rules and Regulations as are
applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees;
 
(i) “Original Declaration of Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals to this Declaration of Trust;
 
(j) “Principal Underwriter” shall have the respective meanings given
it in Section 2(a)(7) and Section (2)(a)(29) of the 1940 Act;
 
(k) “Prior Declaration of Trust” refers to the original Declaration of
Trust and the Amended Declaration of Trust, each as from time to time in effect prior to the date
hereof;  
 
(l) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, foundations, plans, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities,
whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof,
whether domestic or foreign;  
 
(m) “Series” refers to each Series of Shares referenced in, or
established under or in accordance with, the provisions of Article III.
 
(n) “Shareholder” means a record owner of outstanding Shares;
 
 
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(o) “Shares” means the shares of beneficial interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares
as well as whole Shares;  
 
(p) “Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Declaration of Trust;  
 
(q) “Trustees” or “Board of Trustees” refers to the persons who have
signed this Declaration of Trust and all other persons who were or may from time to time be duly
elected or appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof
or of the Prior Declaration of Trust, so long as they continue in office in accordance with the
terms hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or
persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder; and
 
(r) “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust.
 
ARTICLE II.
 
Purpose of Trust
 
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a
management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series
investing primarily in securities.
 
ARTICLE III.
 
Shares
 
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, with a par value of $ .001 per
Share unless the Trustees shall designate another par value in connection with the issuance of
Shares or with respect to outstanding Shares as provided in Section 5 of this Article III. The
Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate Series and the division of Series into
separate classes of Shares. The different Series shall be established and designated, and the
variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series shall be fixed and
determined, by the Trustees. If no Series shall be established or if only one Series shall be
established, the Shares shall have the rights and preferences provided for herein and in Article
III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein.
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have
voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the Shares of any Series shall be
entitled to receive dividends, when, if and as declared with respect thereto in the manner
provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any
other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or distributions of the Trust or
 
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otherwise. All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a Series (or class) from the assets held with respect to such Series according to the number of Shares of such Series (or class) held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of a Series into a greater or lesser number of Shares of such Series without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of such Shares in the assets held with respect to that Series or materially affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series.

     All references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to be Shares of the Trust and of any or all Series or classes thereof, as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.

All Shares issued hereunder, including Shares issued in connection with a

dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

     Section 2. Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series (and class). No certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series (and class) and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series (and class) and as to the number of Shares of each Series (and class) held from time to time by each Shareholder.

     Section 3. Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize. Each investment shall be credited to the Shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Series (or class) as the purchaser shall select, at the net asset value per Share next determined for such Series (or class) after receipt of the investment; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, impose a sales charge or reimbursement fee upon investments in the Trust.

     Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws of the Trust. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but shall entitle such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle a Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of

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the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners or joint venturers. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee nor agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time agree to pay.

Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to

Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, and

without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as

provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration

of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may

determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to, delete,

replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of

Trust, provided that before adopting any such amendment without Shareholder approval the

Board of Trustees shall determine that it is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all

Shareholders and that Shareholder approval is not required by the 1940 Act or other applicable

federal law. If Shares have been issued, Shareholder approval shall be required to adopt any

amendments to this Declaration of Trust which would adversely affect to a material degree the

rights and preferences of the Shares of any Series (or class) or to increase or decrease the par

value of the Shares of any Series (or class).

Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Shares. The Series and classes

of Shares existing as of the date of this Declaration of Trust are those Series and classes that have

been established under the Prior Declaration of Trust and not heretofore terminated which are

indicated on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof (“Schedule A”). The

establishment of any additional Series (or class) of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by

the Trustees of a resolution that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series

(or class), whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of, another

document that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series (or class)

including any registration statement of the Trust or such Series (or class), any amendment and/or

restatement of this Declaration of Trust and/or Schedule A or as otherwise provided in such

resolution. Upon the establishment of any additional Series (or class) of Shares or the

termination of any existing Series (or class) of Shares, Schedule A shall be amended to reflect

the addition or termination of such Series (or class) and any officer of the Trust is hereby

authorized to make such amendment; provided that amendment of Schedule A shall not be a

condition precedent to the establishment or termination of any Series (or class) in accordance

with this Declaration of Trust. The relative rights and preferences of the Shares of the Trust and

each Series and each class thereof shall be as set forth herein and as set forth in any registration

statement relating thereto, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or

class.

Shares of each Series (or class) established pursuant to this Section 6, unless

otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series (or class) or in any registration

statement relating thereto, shall have the following relative rights and preferences:

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(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series. All consideration

received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a Series, including dividends and

distributions paid by, and reinvested in, such Series, together with all assets in which such

consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from

whatever source derived, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation

of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in

whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all

purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration,

assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including

any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or

payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be,

are herein referred to as ”assets held with respect to” that Series. In the event that there are any

assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments that are not readily

identifiable as assets held with respect to the Trust or any particular Series (collectively ”General

Assets”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among the Trust and/or

any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole

discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series

shall be held with respect to that Series. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive

and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error.

(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series. The assets of

the Trust held with respect to each Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust with

respect to such Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to such Series,

and any general liabilities of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as being held in respect of

a Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among the Trust and/or any one or

more Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair

and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series are

herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” that Series. Each allocation of liabilities,

expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the

Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error. All liabilities held with

respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such

Series only and not against the assets of the Trust generally or against the assets held with

respect to any other Series and, except as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust, none of

the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with

respect to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of

such Series. As and to the extent provided in Section 3804(a) of the Delaware Act, separate and

distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series

shall be held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a

nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from

the assets held with respect to all other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to

such Series. Notice of this limitation on inter-Series liabilities shall be set forth in the certificate

of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment).

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(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases. No

dividend or distribution including any distribution paid in connection with termination of the

Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, or any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares

of any Series (or class) shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect

to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any Series otherwise have any right or claim against

the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has

such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Trustees shall have

full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital;

and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the

Shareholders in absence of manifest error.

(d) Voting. All Shares entitled to vote on a matter shall vote without

differentiation between the separate Series on a one-vote-per-each dollar (and a fractional vote

for each fractional dollar) of the net asset value of each Share (including fractional shares) basis;

provided however, if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of one or more but not all

Series (or one or more but not all of a class of a Series), then only the Shareholders of such

affected Series (or class) shall be entitled to vote on the matter.

(e) Equality. All the Shares of each Series shall represent an equal

proportionate undivided interest in the assets held with respect to such Series (subject to the

liabilities of such Series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and

designated with respect to classes of Shares within such Series), and each Share of a Series shall

be equal to each other Share of such Series.

(f) Fractions. Any fractional Share of a Series shall have

proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of such Series, including rights

with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions and redemption of Shares.

(g) Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to

provide that the Shareholders of any Series shall have the right to exchange such Shares for

Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may

be established by the Trustees.

(h) Combination of Series. The Trustees shall have the authority,

without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required by applicable

federal law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series into

assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series.

(i) Elimination of Series. At any time that there are no Shares

outstanding of a Series (or class), the Trustees may abolish such Series (or class).

 


 

ARTICLE IV.
 
The Board of Trustees
 
Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure. The number of Trustees
constituting the Board of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument
signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the Board of
Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall at all times be at least one (1).
Subject to the requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees, by action of
a majority of the then Trustees at a duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of
Trustees and remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee shall serve during the
continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent
by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is removed. Any Trustee may resign at any time by
written instrument signed by him and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the
Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at
some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust,
no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any
period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages or other payment on
account of such removal. Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a
vote of two-thirds of the total combined net asset value of all Shares of the Trust issued and
outstanding. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing or removing one or more
Trustees may be called (i) by the Trustees upon their own vote, or (ii) upon the demand of
Shareholders owning 10% or more of the Shares entitled to vote.
 
Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of
them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to
the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur,
until such vacancy is filled as provided in Article IV, Section 1, the Trustees in office, regardless
of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the
duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.
 
Section 3. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the
business of the Trust shall be managed by the Board of Trustees, and such Board of Trustees
shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power
to engage in transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. Trustees, in all instances, shall act
as principals and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all
contracts, documents and instruments that they may consider desirable, necessary or appropriate
in connection with the administration of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees
may: adopt, amend and repeal By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing
for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust; elect and remove such officers and
appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number
and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees who may
exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees

 

 

determine; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable federal law; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series; establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any Series of Shares, each such Series to operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.

Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall have power and authority:
 
(a) To invest and reinvest cash and cash items, to hold cash
uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold,
pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or
dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of all types of securities, futures
contracts and options thereon, and forward currency contracts of every nature and kind,
including all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable
instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness,
commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any
kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including states,
territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political
subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international
instrumentality or organization, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or
organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or
possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in
"when issued" contracts for any such securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and
forward currency contracts, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise
any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such
investments of every kind and description, including the right to consent and otherwise act with
respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights,
powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;
 
(b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or
write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the
assets of the Trust or any Series;

 

 

(c) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with

respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of

attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or

persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall

deem proper;

(d) To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in

any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

(e) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is

trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in

the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize

the custodian or a subcustodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities

depository, subject in each case to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;

(f) To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization,

consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to

consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or

issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

(g) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,

depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or

transfer any security to, any such committee, depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such

power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as

the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and

compensation of such committee, depository or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(h) To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, settle or otherwise adjust claims

in favor of or against the Trust or a Series, or any matter in controversy, including but not limited

to claims for taxes;

(i) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and

any other combinations or associations;

(j) To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust or

Series exclusively for Trust (or such Series) purposes;

(k) To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other

obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume

liability for payment thereof;

(l) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such

insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary, desirable or appropriate for the conduct of the

business, including insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions

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and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Adviser, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability;

(m) To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share

bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and

provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of

providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees

and agents of the Trust; and

(n) Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or

activity in which a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage.

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the

possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series. The Trust shall not in any way be

bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries.

The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or

take any other action hereunder.

Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust. Subject to the provisions of

Article III, Section 6(b), the Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the

principal or income of the Trust or Series, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income,

and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series that may

be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes

and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or Series, or in connection with the

management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such

expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser,

Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent,

and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the

Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.

Section 5. Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the

Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have

power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the

Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such

terms as the Trustees may determine. Upon the resignation, incompetency, bankruptcy, removal,

or death of a Trustee he or she shall automatically cease to have any such title in any of the Trust

Property, and the title of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the

remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not

conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. The Trustees may determine that

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the Trust or the Trustees, acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold beneficial
ownership of any income earned on the securities owned by the Trust, whether domestic or
foreign.    
 
Section 6. Service Contracts.
 
(a) The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for
exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or
for any Series with any Person; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the
Trustees may determine, including authority for the Investment Adviser to determine from time
to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held,
sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and
to make changes in the Trust’s investments, and such other responsibilities as may specifically
be delegated to such Person.    
 
(b) The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract
with any Persons, appointing such Persons exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal
Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series or other securities to be issued by the
Trust. Every such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
 
(c) The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to
time, to contract with any Persons, appointing such Person(s) to serve as custodian(s), transfer
agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series. Every such
contract shall comply with such terms as may be required by the Trustees.
 
(d) The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to
time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of
the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable
Series.    
 
(e) The fact that:
 
  (i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is
a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Investment Adviser,
Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any Person with
which an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal
Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other
type of service contract may be made, or that
 
  (ii) any Person with which an advisory, management or
administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or
transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made also
has an advisory, management or administration contract, or principal
underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other
service contract, or has other business or interests with any other Person,
 
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shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer
of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to
the Trust or its Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the
applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
 
ARTICLE V.
 
Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings
 
Subject to the provisions of Article III, Sections 5 and 6(d), the Shareholders shall
have right to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV,
Section 1, and (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required
by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including Section 16(a) thereof, and (iii) on such
other matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Provisions relating to
meetings, quorum, required vote, record date and other matters relating to Shareholder voting
rights are as provided in the By-Laws.
 
ARTICLE VI.
 
  Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions
 
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions.
Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe
and shall set forth in the By-Laws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and
time for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series (or
class) and the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust
or any Series (or class), as they may deem necessary or desirable.
 
Section 2. Redemptions and Repurchases. The Trust shall purchase such
Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon receipt by the Trust or a Person
designated by the Trust that the Trust redeem such Shares or in accordance with such procedures
for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor
the net asset value thereof, in accordance with the By-Laws and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven
days after the date on which the request for redemption is received in proper form. The
obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the
New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if
permitted by the Rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the Exchange is
restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the
investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held with
respect to such Series or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the
protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees.
 
The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid in cash or wholly or partly

 

 


 

in kind in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act if the Trustees determine that such
payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series of which the
Shares are being redeemed. Subject to the foregoing, the selection and quantity of securities or
other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price shall be determined by
or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any
corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any
payment in kind.  
 
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the
right, at its option, upon 30 days notice to the affected Shareholder at any time to redeem Shares
of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i)
if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series having an aggregate net asset value
of less than a minimum value determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent
that such Shareholder owns Shares of a Series equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage of
the outstanding Shares of such Series determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (iii) to the
extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage,
determined from time to time by the Trustees, of the outstanding Shares of the Trust.
 
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. The Trust shall transfer shares held of record
by any Person to any other Person upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust
of a written request therefore in such form and pursuant to such procedures as may be approved
by the Trustees.  
 
ARTICLE VII.
 
Compensation and Limitation of Liability
 
Section 1. Compensation of Trustees. Any Trustee, whether or not he is a
salaried officer or employee of the Trust, may be compensated for his services as Trustee or as a
member of a committee of Trustees, or as chairman of a committee by fixed periodic payments
or by fees for attendance at meetings, by both or otherwise, and in addition may be reimbursed
for transportation and other expenses, all in such manner and amounts as the Board of Trustees
may from time to time determine. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of
any Trustee to provide advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other
services to the Trust and to be specially compensated for such services by the Trust.
 
Section 2. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification. A Trustee, when
acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a
Shareholder to the extent provided in this Article VII, for any act, omission or obligation of the
Trust, of such Trustee or of any other Trustee. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in
any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Investment Adviser or
Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of
any other Trustee, and, subject to the provisions of the By-Laws, the Trust out of its assets may
indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against
any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or
 
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related to such Trustee’s or officer’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of
the Trust.  
 
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other
act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or
any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued,
executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and
such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
 
Section 3. Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety.
The exercise by the Trustees of their powers hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested
in or dealing with the Trust. A Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely
for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of
judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts
with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no
liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such
advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is
required.  
 
Section 4. Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the
fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for liability and for all
expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection
with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his
or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power
to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article.
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
Miscellaneous
 
Section 1. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No Person
dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any
transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made
or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
 
Section 2. Termination of the Trust or Any Series. Unless terminated as
provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be dissolved
at any time by the Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series of
Shares may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice to the
Shareholders of such Series. Any action to dissolve the Trust shall be deemed to also be an
action to dissolve each Series and each class thereof.
 
In accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Act, upon dissolution of the
Trust or any Series, as the case may be, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes,
 
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expenses and liabilities held, severally, with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held, severally, with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, and any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, to the Shareholders of that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination.

Section 3.

Reorganization and Master/Feeder.

     (a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, (i) cause the Trust to convert or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger, reorganization or consolidation) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, to the extent permitted by law, and that, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger, reorganization or consolidation, may succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that, in any case, is formed, organized or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (ii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any Series or Class to another Series or Class of the Trust or to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance), organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States so long as such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity is an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance, may succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act, for adequate consideration as determined by the Trustees which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust or any affected Series or Class, and which may include Shares of such other Series or Class of the Trust or shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interest of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or series thereof) or (v) at any time sell or convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof. Any agreement of merger, reorganization, consolidation or conversion or exchange or certificate of merger,

16

 

certificate of conversion or other applicable certificate may be signed by a majority of the Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid.

(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section

3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this

Declaration of Trust, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in

accordance with this Section 3 may effect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or effect

the adoption of a new governing instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting

entity in the merger or consolidation.

(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without

Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, invest all or a portion of

the Trust Property of any Series, or dispose of all or a portion of the Trust Property of any Series,

and invest the proceeds of such disposition in interests issued by one or more other investment

companies registered under the 1940 Act. Any such other investment company may (but need

not) be a trust (formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction)

(or subtrust thereof) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless

such approval is required by the 1940 Act, cause a Series that is organized in the master/feeder

fund structure to withdraw or redeem its Trust Property from the master fund and cause such

Series to invest its Trust Property directly in securities and other financial instruments or in

another master fund.

Section 4. Amendments. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of Article III

relating to the requirement of Shareholder approval for certain amendments to this Declaration of

Trust or requirements for certain determinations by the Board of Trustees for certain

amendments hereto without Shareholder approval and any requirements under the 1940 Act

requiring Shareholder approval of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may,

without any Shareholder vote or approval, amend this Declaration of Trust by making an

amendment to this Declaration of Trust (including Schedule A), an agreement supplemental

hereto, or an amended and restated trust instrument. Unless otherwise provided by the Trustees,

any such amendment will be effective (i) upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees then

holding office of a resolution specifying the amendment, supplemental agreement or amendment

and restatement or (ii) upon the execution in writing of an instrument signed by a majority of the

Trustees then holding office specifying the amendment, supplemental agreement or amended and

restated trust instrument. A certification signed by an officer of the Trust setting forth an

amendment to this Declaration of Trust and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees as

aforesaid, or a copy of the instrument referenced above executed by the Trustees as aforesaid,

shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust.

The certificate of trust of the Trust may be restated and/or amended by any Trustee as necessary

or desirable to reflect any change in the information set forth therein, and any such restatement

and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of

State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.

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Section 5. Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of

this Declaration of Trust shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any

Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust

as to 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

Declaration of Trust. In this Declaration of Trust, references to this Declaration of Trust, and all

expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration

of Trust. 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 Declaration of Trust.

Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter,

masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. This Declaration of

Trust may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original

but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. To the extent permitted by

the 1940 Act, (i) any document, consent, instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by

this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws that is to be executed by one or more Trustees may be

executed by means of original, facsimile or electronic signature and (ii) any document, consent,

instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws

that is to be delivered by one or more Trustees may be delivered by facsimile or electronic means

(including e-mail), unless, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), otherwise expressly provided

herein or in the By-Laws or determined by the Trustees. The terms “include,” “includes” and

“including” and any comparable terms shall be deemed to mean “including, without limitation.”

Section 6. Applicable Law. This Agreement and Declaration of Trust is

created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of

the State of Delaware and the Delaware Act. The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust

pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise

all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust.

Section 7. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.

(a) The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the

Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict

with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or

with other applicable federal laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed

never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such

determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or

render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

(b) If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or

unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such

provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other

jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

Section 8. Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create a

statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and thereby to create only the relationship of trustee

18

 

and beneficial owners within the meaning of such Act between the Trustees and each

Shareholder. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited

partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, joint venture, or any form of legal

relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act. Nothing in this

Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with

the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

Section 9. Use of the Name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.”. The name “The

Vanguard Group, Inc.” and any variants thereof and all rights to the use of the name “The

Vanguard Group, Inc.” or any variants thereof shall be the sole and exclusive property of The

Vanguard Group, Inc. (“VGI”). VGI has permitted the use by the Trust of the identifying word

“Vanguard” and the use of the name “Vanguard” as part of the name of the Trust and the name

of any Series of Shares. Upon the Trust’s withdrawal from the Amended and Restated Funds’

Service Agreement among the Trust, the other investment companies within the Vanguard Group

of Investment Companies and VGI, and upon the written request of VGI, the Trust and any

Series of Shares thereof shall cease to use or in any way to refer to itself as related to “The

Vanguard Group, Inc.” or any variant thereof.

Section 10. Derivative Actions. In addition to the requirements set forth in

Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the

Trust only if the following conditions are met:

(a) The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand

upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such

an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of this Section 10(a), a demand on the Trustees

shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of

Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is

composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the

Delaware Act).

(b) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this

Section 10, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who

collectively hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, or who collectively hold at

least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Series or class to which such action relates, shall join

in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and

(c) Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this

Section 10, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such

Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to

retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an

undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of

any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

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SCHEDULE A

VANGUARD CHESTER FUNDS

SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST

SERIES CLASSES
 
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund Investor, Admiral
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund Investor
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund Investor

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
    Page
 
ARTICLE I. Name and Definitions 1
Section 1. Name 1
Section 2. Definitions 1
(a) Amended Declaration of Trust 2
(b) By-Laws 2
(c) Commission 2
(d) Declaration of Trust 2
(e) Delaware Act 2
(f) Interested Person 2
(g) Investment Adviser or Adviser 2
(h) 1940 Act 2
(i) Original Declaration of Trust 2
(j) Principal Underwriter 2
(k) Prior Declaration of Trust 2
(l) Person 2
(m) Series 2
(n) Shareholder 2
(o) Shares 3
(p) Trust 3
(q) Trustees or Board of Trustees 3
(r) Trust Property 3
 
ARTICLE II. Purpose of Trust 3
 
ARTICLE III. Shares 3
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest 3
Section 2. Ownership of Shares 4
Section 3. Investments in the Trust 4
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal  
  Liability 4
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change  
  Provisions Relating to Shares 5
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Shares 5
(a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series 6
(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a  
  Particular Series 6
(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and  
  Repurchases 7
(d) Voting 7
(e) Equality 7
(f) Fractions 7
(g) Exchange Privilege 7

 

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(h) Combination of Series 7
(i) Elimination of Series 7
 
ARTICLE IV. The Board of Trustees 8
Section 1.   Number, Election and Tenure 8
Section 2.   Effect of Death, Resignation, etc.  
    of a Trustee 8
Section 3.   Powers 8
Section 4.   Payment of Expenses by the Trust 11
Section 5.   Ownership of Assets of the Trust 11
Section 6.   Service Contracts 12
 
ARTICLE V. Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings 13
 
ARTICLE VI. Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions 13
Section 1.   Determination of Net Asset Value, Net  
    Income, and Distributions 13
Section 2.   Redemptions and Repurchases 13
Section 3.   Redemptions at the Option of the Trust 14
Section 4.   Transfer of Shares 14
 
ARTICLE VII. Compensation and Limitation of Liability 14
Section 1.   Compensation of Trustees 14
Section 2.   Limitation of Liability and Indemnification 14
Section 3.   Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert  
    Advice, No Bond or Surety 15
Section 4.   Insurance 15
 
ARTICLE VIII. Miscellaneous 15
Section 1.   Liability of Third Persons Dealing  
    with Trustees 15
Section 2.   Termination of the Trust or Any Series 15
Section 3.   Reorganization and Master/Feeder 16
Section 4.   Amendments 17
Section 5.   Filing of Copies, References, Headings 18
Section 6.   Applicable Law 18
Section 7.   Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations 18
Section 8.   Statutory Trust Only 19
Section 9.   Use of the Name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.” 19
Section 10. Derivatives Actions 19

 

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