EX-99 3 dectrust.txt AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST MONARCH FUNDS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST FEBRUARY 7, 2003 MONARCH FUNDS TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.01 Name 1 Section 1.02 Definitions 1 ARTICLE II BENEFICIAL INTEREST Section 2.01 Shares of Beneficial Interest 3 Section 2.02 Issuance of Shares 3 Section 2.03 Register of Shares and Share Certificates 3 Section 2.04 Transfer of Shares 3 Section 2.05 Treasury Shares 4 Section 2.06 Establishment of Series 4 Section 2.07 Investment in the Trust 4 Section 2.08 Assets and Liabilities of Series 5 Section 2.09 No Preemptive Rights 5 Section 2.10 No Personal Liability of Shareholder 5 Section 2.11 Assent to Trust Instrument 6 ARTICLE III THE TRUSTEES Section 3.01 Management of the Trust 6 Section 3.02 Initial Trustees 6 Section 3.03 Term of Office 6 Section 3.04 Vacancies and Appointments 7 Section 3.05 Temporary Absence 7 Section 3.06 Number of Trustees 7 Section 3.07 Effect of Ending of a Trustee's Service 7 Section 3.08 Ownership of Assets of the Trust 7 ARTICLE IV POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES Section 4.01 Powers 8 Section 4.02 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares 11 Section 4.03 Trustees and Officers as Shareholders 11 Section 4.04 Action by the Trustees 11 Section 4.05 Chairman of the Trustees 12 Section 4.06 Principal Transactions 12 ARTICLE V EXPENSES OF THE TRUST 12 ARTICLE VI INVESTMENT ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTERED AGENT Section 6.01 Investment Adviser 13 Section 6.02 Principal Underwriter 13 Section 6.03 Administration 13 Section 6.04 Transfer Agent 14 Section 6.05 Registered Agent 14 Section 6.06 Parties to Contract 14 Section 6.07 Provisions and Amendments 14 ARTICLE VII SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS Section 7.01 Voting Powers 14 Section 7.02 Meetings 15 Section 7.03 Quorum and Required Vote 15 ARTICLE VIII CUSTODIAN Section 8.01 Appointment and Duties 16 Section 8.02 Central Certificate System 16 ARTICLE IX DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS Section 9.01 Distributions 17 Section 9.02 Redemptions 17 Section 9.03 Determination of Net Asset Value and Valuation of Portfolio Assets 17 Section 9.04 Suspension of the Right of Redemption 18 Section 9.05 Redemption of Shares in Order to Qualify as Regulated Investment Company 18 ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION Section 10.01 Limitation of Liability 19 Section 10.02 Indemnification 19 Section 10.03 Shareholders 20 ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS Section 11.01 Trust Not A Partnership 21 Section 11.02 Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, -ii- No Bond or Surety 21 Section 11.03 Establishment of Record Dates 21 Section 11.04 Termination of Series 22 Section 11.05 Reorganization of Series 22 Section 11.06 Filing of Copies, References, Headings 23 Section 11.07 Applicable Law 23 Section 11.08 Amendments 23 Section 11.09 Fiscal Year 23 Section 11.10 Provisions in Conflict With Law 24 ARTICLE XII PURPOSE OF THE TRUST 24 ARTICLE XIII PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS 24 -iii- MONARCH FUNDS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Portland, Maine, this 7th day of February, 2003 by the Trustees hereunder and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided: WITNESSETH that WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth. ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.01 Name. The name of the trust created hereby is "Monarch 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. Section 1.02 Definitions. Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided: (a) The "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time. (b) "Bylaws" means the Bylaws of the trust as adopted by the Trustees, as amended from time to time. (c) "Commission" has the meaning given it in the 1940 Act. (d) "Affiliated Person," "Assignment," "Interested Person" and "Principal Underwriter" shall have the respective meanings given them in the 1940 Act, as modified or interpreted by the Commission under any applicable order, rule or regulations of the Commission thereunder. "Majority Shareholder Vote" shall have the same meaning as the term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" is given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted by or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder. (e) "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time. (f) "Net Asset Value" means the net asset value of each Series of the Trust determined in the manner provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereoff. (g) "Outstanding Shares" means those Shares shown from time to time in the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed by the Trust or which have been repurchased by the Trust and which are at the time held in the treasury of the Trust. (h) "Series" or "Series of Shares" refers to the one or more separate investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios. (i) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the Trust. (j) "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, if more than one Series or Class of Shares is authorized by the Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each Series or Class of Shares shall be divided from time to time. (k) "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time. (l) "Trustees" means the person or persons who has or have signed this Trust Instrument, so long as he or they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article IV hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees shall refer respectively to each individual Trustee, or the Trustees, collectively, in each case in their capacity as Trustees hereunder. (m) "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of one or more of the Trust or any Series, or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Series. -2- ARTICLE II BENEFICIAL INTEREST Section 2.01 Shares of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Series or classes of a Series as the Trustees shall from time to time create and establish. The number of Shares of each Series, and class thereof, authorized hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have no par value. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Section 2.02 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, subject to applicable law, including cash or securities, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and may issues Shares held in the treasury. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or 1/1,000th of a Share or integral multiples thereof. Section 2.03 Register of Shares and Share Certificates. A register shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust or an office of the Trust's transfer agent that shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders of each Series, the number of Shares of that Series (or any class or classes thereof) held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. No share certificates shall be issued by the Trust. Such register shall be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the Bylaws provided, until he has given his address to the transfer agent or such officer or other agent of the Trustees as shall keep the said register for entry thereon. Section 2.04 Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust's transfer agent of a duly executed instrument or instruction of transfer and such evidence of the genuineness of such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees or the transfer agent. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer. -3- Section 2.05 Treasury Shares. Shares held in the treasury shall, until reissued pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares. Section 2.06 Establishment of Series. The Trust created hereby shall consist of one or more Series. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained by the Trust for each Series, and the assets associated with any such Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets of the Trust or any other Series. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the Shareholders of any Series of the Trust, (a) to establish and designate, and to change in any manner, any such Series of Shares or any classes of initial or additional Series and (b) to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Series or classes thereof as the Trustees may from time to time determine, (c) to divide or combine the Shares or any Series or classes thereof into a greater or lesser number, (d) to classify or reclassify any issued Shares or any Series or classes thereof into one or more Series or classes of Shares, and (e) to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. The establishment and designation of any Series shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the Trustees setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Series. A Series may issue any number of Shares but need not issue shares. Without limiting any other power of the Trustees hereunder, at any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Series previously established and designated, the Trustees may by a majority vote abolish that Series and the establishment and designation thereof. All references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to be Shares 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. Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of all distributions made with respect to such Series. Upon redemption of his Shares, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust. Section 2.07 Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in any Series or class of a Series of the Trust from such persons and on such terms as they may from time to time authorize. At the Trustees' discretion, such investments, subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the affected Series is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Article IX, Section 9.03 hereof. Investments in a Series shall be credited to each Shareholder's account in the form of full Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the investment is received or accepted, as may be determined by the Trustees; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital contribution, (b) impose a sales charge upon investments in the Trust in such manner and at such time determined by the Trustees, or (c) issue fractional Shares. -4- Section 2.08 Assets and Liabilities of Series. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held and accounted for separately from the other assets of the Trust and of every other Series and may be referred to herein as "assets belonging to" that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall belong to that Series for all purposes, and to no other Series, subject only to the rights of creditors of that Series. In addition, any assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto, which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated by the Trustees between and among one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes, and such assets, income, earnings, profits or funds, or payments and proceeds with respect thereto shall be assets belonging to that Series. The assets belonging to a particular Series shall be so recorded upon the books of the Trust, and shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares of that Series. The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not determined by the Trustees or the authorized agents of the Trust as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. Any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against any Series may look only to the assets of that Series to satisfy or enforce any debt, with respect to that Series. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series. Section 2.09 No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or other Series. Section 2.10 No Personal Liability of Shareholder. No Shareholder of the Trust and of any Series shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligation and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Series. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any Shareholder personally 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 personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise. Every note, bond, contract or other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating to the Trust or to a Series shall include a recitation limiting the obligation represented thereby to the Trust or to one or more Series and its or their assets (but the omission of such a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust). -5- Section 2.11 Assent to Trust Instrument. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased a Share, shall become a Shareholder and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to be bound by the terms hereof. ARTICLE III THE TRUSTEES SECTION 3.01 MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Trust Instrument. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction, and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Trust Instrument, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court. Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Article III, the Trustees shall be elected by the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of Shareholders. Such a meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the Trustees. In the event that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders' meeting for the election of Trustees. SECTION 3.02 INITIAL TRUSTEES. The initial Trustees shall be the persons named herein. On a date fixed by the Trustees, the Shareholders shall elect at least three (3) but not more than twelve (12) Trustees, as specified by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.06 of this Article III. SECTION 3.03 TERM OF OFFICE. The Trustees shall hold office during the lifetime of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided; except (a) that any Trustee may resign his trust by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) that any Trustee may be removed at any time by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees in office immediately prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective; (c) that any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has died, -6- become physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; and (d) that a Trustee may be removed at any meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust by a vote of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Shares. SECTION 3.04 VACANCIES AND APPOINTMENTS. In case of the death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or mental incapacity by reason of disease or otherwise of a Trustee, or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur in the Board of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy shall occur, then until such vacancy is filled the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the confirmation by the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of a vacancy, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such other person, as they in their discretion shall see fit consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act. Such appointment shall be evidenced by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in office or by resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded in the minutes of a meeting of the Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall take effect. An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall have accepted this trust, the trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and such appointee shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder. SECTION 3.05 TEMPORARY ABSENCE. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six months at any time to any other Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less than two Trustees personally exercise the other powers hereunder except as herein otherwise expressly provided. SECTION 3.06 NUMBER OF TRUSTEES. The number of Trustees shall be at least three (3), and thereafter shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be more than twelve (12). SECTION 3.07 EFFECT OF ENDING OF A TRUSTEE'S SERVICE. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Trust Instrument. SECTION 3.08 OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS OF THE TRUST. The assets of the Trust and of each Series shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any successor Trustees. Legal title in all of -7- the assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees on behalf of the Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or of any Series or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust or Series. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust Instrument. ARTICLE IV POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES SECTION 4.01 POWERS. The 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 and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs in regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments which they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purpose of this Trust without recourse to any court or other authority. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument or the Bylaws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have the power and authority: (a) 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, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust; (b) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations; (c) To borrow money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation or engagement of any other person and to lend Trust Property; (d) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a Principal Underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any kind; (e) To adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust, and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; such Bylaws shall be deemed incorporated and included in this Trust Instrument; -8- (f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; (g) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as the Commission may permit as custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in this Trust Instrument or in the Bylaws; (h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or both; (i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the Bylaws; (j) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any investment adviser, manager, custodian, underwriter or other agent or independent contractor; (k) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the provisions of Article XI; (l) 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 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; (m) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise that in any manner arise out of ownership of securities; (n) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of the Trust or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of Massachusetts trust companies or investment companies; (o) To establish separate and distinct Series with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purposes in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof, and to establish classes of such Series having relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide consistent with applicable law; (p) To allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular Series or to apportion the same between or among two or more Series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Series shall be payable solely out of the assets belonging to that Series as provided for in Article II hereof; -9- (q) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern, any security of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust; (r) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including, but not limited to, claims for taxes; (s) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to Shareholders in the manner provided herein; (t) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Series or class, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any Shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon giving notice to such Shareholder; (u) To establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees to said committees and to adopt a committee charter providing for such responsibilities, membership (including Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust therein) and any other characteristics of said committees as the Trustees may deem proper. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IV, and in addition to such provisions or any other provision of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws, the Trustees may by resolution appoint a committee consisting of less than the whole number of Trustees then in office, which committee may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office, with respect to the institution, prosecution, dismissal, settlement, review or investigation of any action, suit or proceeding that shall be pending or threatened to be brought before any court, administrative agency or other adjudicatory body; (v) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of any Series; (w) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and (x) In general to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers. The foregoing clauses shall be construed as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Series, and not an action in an individual capacity. -10- The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust. No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order. SECTION 4.02 ISSUANCE AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Article II and Article IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or the particular Series of the Trust, with respect to which such Shares are issued. SECTION 4.03 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS AS SHAREHOLDERS. Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if he were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm or company in which he is interested, subject only to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares; and all subject to any restrictions which may be contained in the Bylaws. SECTION 4.04 ACTION BY THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees shall act by majority vote at a meeting duly called, or by unanimous written consent without a meeting, or by telephone meeting provided a quorum of Trustees participate in any such telephone meeting, unless the 1940 Act requires that a particular action be taken only at a meeting at which the Trustees are present in person. At any meeting of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Trustees may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees or by any two other Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all meetings of the Trustees shall be given by the party calling the meeting, or the Secretary of the Trust to each Trustee by telephone, facsimile or other electronic mechanism sent to his home or business address at least twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting or by written notice mailed to his home or business address at least seventy-two hours in advance of the meeting. Notice need not be given to any Trustee who attends the meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who executes a written waiver of notice with respect to the meeting. Any meeting conducted by telephone shall be deemed to take place at the principal office of the Trust, as determined by the Bylaws or by the Trustees. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees by majority vote may delegate to any one or more of their number their authority to approve particular matters or take particular actions on behalf of the Trust. Written consents or waivers of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. Execution of a written consent or waiver and delivery thereof to the Trust may be accomplished by facsimile or other similar electronic mechanism. -11- SECTION 4.05 CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees shall appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the execution of policies established by the Trustees and the administration of the Trust, and may be (but is not required to be) the chief executive, financial and/or accounting officer of the Trust. SECTION 4.06 PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment adviser, administrator, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such person; and the Trust may employ any such person, or firm or company in which such person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment adviser, administrator, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms. ARTICLE V EXPENSES OF THE TRUST Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 2.08 hereof, the Trustees shall be reimbursed from the Trust estate or the assets belonging to the appropriate Series for their expenses and disbursements, including, without limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions; expenses of issue, repurchase and redemption of shares; certain insurance premiums; applicable fees, interest charges and expenses of third parties, including the Trust's investment advisers, managers, administrators, distributors, custodian, transfer agent and fund accountant; fees of pricing, interest, dividend, credit and other reporting services; costs of membership in trade associations; telecommunications expenses; funds transmission expenses; auditing, legal and compliance expenses; costs of forming the Trust and maintaining corporate existence; costs of preparing and printing the Trust's prospectuses, statements of additional information and shareholder reports and delivering them to existing shareholders; expenses of meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations therefore; costs of maintaining books and accounts; costs of reproduction, stationery and supplies; fees and expenses of the Trust's trustees; compensation of the Trust's officers and employees and costs of other personnel performing services for the Trust; costs of Trustee meetings; Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees and related expenses; state or foreign securities laws registration fees and related expenses and for such non-recurring items as may arise, including litigation to which the Trust (or a Trustee acting as such) is a party, and for all losses and liabilities by them incurred in administering the Trust, and for the payment of such expenses, disbursements, losses and liabilities the Trustees shall have a lien on the assets belonging to the appropriate Series, or in the case of an expense allocable to more than one Series, on the assets of each such Series, prior to any rights or interests of the Shareholders thereto. This section shall not preclude the Trust from directly paying any of the aforementioned fees and expenses. -12- ARTICLE VI INVESTMENT ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTERED AGENT SECTION 6.01 INVESTMENT ADVISER. The Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time, enter into an investment advisory contract or contracts with respect to the Trust or any Series whereby the other party or parties to such contract or contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with such investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services and such other facilities and services, if any, all upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the Bylaws or as the Trustees may in their discretion determine (such terms and conditions not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may authorize any investment adviser (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio securities, other investment instruments of the Trust, or other Trust Property on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any officer, agent, or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the investment adviser (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees. The Trustees may authorize the investment adviser to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisers to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser and sub-adviser (such terms and conditions not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws). Any reference in this Trust Instrument to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers, unless the context otherwise requires. SECTION 6.02 PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or contracts providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the Bylaws and as the Trustees may in their discretion determine (such terms and conditions not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws); and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust. SECTION 6.03 ADMINISTRATION. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more management or administrative contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with management or administrative services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the Bylaws and as the Trustees may in their discretion determine (such terms and conditions not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws). -13- SECTION 6.04 TRANSFER AGENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and Shareholder service contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with transfer agency and Shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the Bylaws and as the Trustees may in their discretion determine (such terms and conditions not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Trust Instrument or of the Bylaws). SECTION 6.05 REGISTERED AGENT. The registered agent of the Trust is: CT Corporation System, 101 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. SECTION 6.06 PARTIES TO CONTRACT. Any contract of the character described in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04 of this Article VI or any contract of the character described in Article VIII hereof may be entered into with any corporation, firm, partnership, trust or association, although one or more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered void or voidable by reason of the existence of any relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be disqualified from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder and/or Trustee, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VI or Article VIII hereof or of the Bylaws. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust, or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04 of this Article VI or pursuant to Article VIII hereof, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 6.05. SECTION 6.07 PROVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS. Any contract entered into pursuant to Sections 6.01 or 6.02 of this Article VI shall be consistent with and subject to the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act, if applicable, or other applicable Act of Congress hereafter enacted with respect to its continuance in effect, its termination, and the method of authorization and approval of such contract or renewal thereof, and no amendment to any contract entered into pursuant to Section 6.01 of this Article VI shall be effective unless assented to in a manner consistent with any applicable requirements of said Section 15, as modified by any applicable rule, regulation or order of the Commission. ARTICLE VII SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS SECTION 7.01 VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (a) for the election of Trustees as provided in Article III, Sections 3.01 and 3.02 hereof, (b) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Article III, Section 3.03(d) hereof, (c) with respect to any investment advisory contract, as required under the 1940 Act or other applicable law, and (d) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be specifically required by law, by this Trust -14- Instrument, or the Bylaws, or any registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or as the Trustees may consider desirable. On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted separately by individual Series, except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series; and (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects the interests of more than one Series, then the Shareholders of all such Series shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees may also determine that a matter affects only the interests of one or more classes of a Series, in which case any such matter shall be voted on by such class or classes. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided for in the Bylaws. A proxy may be given in writing. The Bylaws may provide that proxies may also, or may instead, be given by any electronic or telecommunications device or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything else herein or in the Bylaws, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of one or more Series or of the Trust, or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted to be taken by Shareholders by law, this Trust Instrument or any of the Bylaws of the Trust. SECTION 7.02 MEETINGS. The first Shareholders' meeting shall be held in order to elect Trustees as specified in Section 3.02 of Article III hereof at the principal office of the Trust or such other place as the Trustees may designate. Meetings may be held within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Special meetings of the Shareholders of any Series may be called by the Trustees and shall be called by the Trustees upon the written request of Shareholders owning at least one-tenth of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote. Whenever ten or more Shareholders meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, seek the opportunity of furnishing materials to the other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures on such a request for a meeting, the Trustees shall comply with the provisions of said Section 16(c) with respect to providing such Shareholders access to the list of the Shareholders of record of the Trust or the mailing of such materials to such Shareholders of record, subject to any rights provided to the Trust or any Trustees provided by said Section 16(c). Notice shall be sent, by First Class Mail or such other means determined by the Trustees, at least 15 days prior to any such meeting. SECTION 7.03 QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. One-third of Shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting, except that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that holders of a class shall vote as a class), then one-third of the aggregate number of Shares of that Series (or that class) entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that Series (or that class). Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may -15- be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by law or by any provision of this Trust Instrument or the Bylaws, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, provided that where any provision of law or of this Trust Instrument permits or requires that the holders of any Series shall vote as a Series (or that the holders of any class shall vote as a class), then a majority of the Shares present in person or by proxy of that Series (or class), voted on the matter in person or by proxy shall decide that matter insofar as that Series (or class) is concerned. Shareholders may act by unanimous written consent. Actions taken by Series (or class) may be consented to unanimously in writing by Shareholders of that Series (or class). ARTICLE VIII CUSTODIAN SECTION 8.01 APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trustees shall at all times employ a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, qualified to act as custodian under applicable with authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the Bylaws of the Trust: (a) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order or oral order confirmed in writing; (b) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct; and (c) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers. The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company organized under the laws of the United States or one of the states thereof and qualified to act as custodian under applicable law or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act. SECTION 8.02 CENTRAL CERTIFICATE SYSTEM. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust or its custodians, sub-custodians or other agents. -16- ARTICLE IX DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS SECTION 9.01 DISTRIBUTIONS. (a) The Trustees may from time to time declare and pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Series. The amount of such dividends or distributions and the payment of them, and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property, shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees. (b) Dividends and other distributions may be paid or made to the Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a dividend or other distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such other date or time or dates or times as the Trustees shall determine, which dividends or distributions, at the election of the Trustees, may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans, as the Trustees shall deem appropriate. (c) Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees may at any time declare and distribute a stock dividend pro rata among the Shareholders of a particular Series, or class thereof, as of the record date of that Series fixed as provided in Subsection 9.01(b) hereof. SECTION 9.02 REDEMPTIONS. In case any holder of record of Shares of a particular Series desires to dispose of his Shares or any portion thereof, he may deposit at the office of the transfer agent or other authorized agent of that Series a written request or such other form of request as the Trustees may from time to time authorize, requesting that the Series purchase the Shares in accordance with this Section 9.02; and the Shareholder so requesting shall be entitled to require the Series to purchase, and the Series or the principal underwriter of the Series shall purchase his said Shares, but only at the Net Asset Value thereof (as described in Section 9.03 of this Article IX). The Series shall make payment for any such Shares to be redeemed, as aforesaid, in cash or property from the assets of that Series and payment for such Shares shall be made by the Series or the Principal Underwriter of the Series to the Shareholder of record within seven (7) days after the date upon which the request is effective. Upon redemption, shares shall become Treasury shares and may be reissued from time to time. SECTION 9.03 DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS. The term "Net Asset Value" of any Series shall mean that amount by which the assets of that Series exceed its liabilities, all as determined by or under the direction of the Trustees. Such value shall be determined separately for each Series and shall be determined on such days and at such times as the Trustees may determine. Such determination shall be made with respect to securities for which market quotations are readily available, at the market value of such -17- securities; and with respect to other securities and assets, at the fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustees, without Shareholder approval, may alter the method of valuing portfolio securities insofar as permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereof promulgated or issued by the Commission or insofar as permitted by any order of the Commission applicable to the Series. The Trustees may delegate any of their powers and duties under this Section 9.03 with respect to valuation of assets and liabilities. The resulting amount, which shall represent the total Net Asset Value of the particular Series, shall be divided by the total number of shares of that Series outstanding at the time and the quotient so obtained shall be the Net Asset Value per Share of that Series. At any time the Trustees may cause the Net Asset Value per Share last determined to be determined again in similar manner and may fix the time when such redetermined value shall become effective. If, for any reason, the net income of any Series, determined at any time, is a negative amount, the Trustees shall have the power with respect to that Series (a) to offset each Shareholder's pro rata share of such negative amount from the accrued dividend account of such Shareholder, (b) to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of such Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder by a pro rata portion of that number of full and fractional Shares which represents the amount of such excess negative net income, (c) to cause to be recorded on the books of such Series an asset account in the amount of such negative net income (provided that the same shall thereupon become the property of such Series with respect to such Series and shall not be paid to any Shareholder), which account may be reduced by the amount of dividends declared thereafter upon the Outstanding Shares of such Series on the day such negative net income is experienced until such asset account is reduced to zero; (d) to combine the methods described in clauses (a) and (b) and (c) of this sentence; or (e) to take any other action they deem appropriate, in order to cause (or in order to assist in causing) the Net Asset Value per Share of such Series to remain at a constant amount per Outstanding Share immediately after each such determination and declaration. The Trustees shall also have the power not to declare a dividend out of net income for the purpose of causing the Net Asset Value per Share to be increased. The Trustees shall not be required to adopt, but may at any time adopt, discontinue or amend the practice of maintaining the Net Asset Value per Share of the Series at a constant amount. SECTION 9.04 SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. The Trustees may declare a suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment as permitted under the 1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trustees shall specify but not later than the close of business on the business day next following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right of redemption or payment until the Trustees shall declare the suspension at an end. In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or receive payment based on the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the termination of the suspension. In the event that any Series is divided into classes, the provisions of this Section 9.03, to the extent applicable as determined in the discretion of the Trustees and consistent with applicable law, may be equally applied to each such class. SECTION 9.05 REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AS REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY. If the Trustees shall, at any time and in good faith, be of the opinion that direct or -18- indirect ownership of Shares of any Series has or may become concentrated in any Person to an extent which would disqualify any Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code, then the Trustees shall have the power (but not the obligation) by lot or other means deemed equitable by them (a) to call for redemption by any such person of a number, or principal amount, of Shares sufficient to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of Shares into conformity with the requirements for such qualification and (b) to refuse to transfer or issue Shares to any person whose acquisition of Shares in question would result in such disqualification. The redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided in this Article IX. The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares, as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the requirements of any taxing or regulatory authority. ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION SECTION 10.01 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. A Trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or Shareholder for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee. A Trustee shall not be liable for any act or omission or any conduct whatsoever in his capacity as Trustee, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Massachusetts law shall protect any Trustee against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he 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 hereunder. SECTION 10.02 INDEMNIFICATION. (a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection 10.02(b): (i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; (ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or thereafter, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities. (b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person: -19- (i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or (ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, (A) by the court or other body approving the settlement; (B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or (C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Shareholder may, by appropriate legal proceedings, challenge any such determination by the Trustees or by independent counsel. (c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law. (d) Expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described in Subsection 10.02(a) of this Section 10.02 may be paid by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02; provided, however, that either (i) such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments or (iii) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under Section 10.02. SECTION 10.03 SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder of any Series shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Series and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, 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 belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Series, shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder -20- for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Series. ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 11.01 TRUST NOT A PARTNERSHIP. It is hereby expressly declared that a trust, and not a partnership, is created hereby. No Trustee hereunder shall have any power to bind personally either the Trust officers or any Shareholder. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series or (if the Trustees shall have yet to have established Series) of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of their agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Nothing in this Trust Instrument shall protect a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder. SECTION 11.02 TRUSTEE'S GOOD FAITH ACTION, EXPERT ADVICE, NO BOND OR SURETY. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretion hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances then prevailing shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and to Section 11.01 of this Article XI, the Trustees 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 Trust Instrument, and subject to the provisions of Article X hereof and Section 11.01 of this Article XI, shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is obtained. SECTION 11.03 ESTABLISHMENT OF RECORD DATES. The Trustees may close the Share transfer books of the Trust for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect; or in lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Trustees may fix in advance a date, not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for payment of any dividend or other distribution, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or other distribution, or to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of Shares, and in such case such Shareholders and only such Shareholders as shall be Shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend or other distribution, or to receive such allotment or rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, -21- notwithstanding any transfer of any Shares on the books of the Trust after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. SECTION 11.04 TERMINATION OF SERIES. (a) Each Series or class thereof shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of this Section 11.04(b). The Trustees may provide that any Series or class thereof shall have a limited life and shall automatically terminate as determined by the Trustees. (b) The Trustees may determine to terminate the operations of any Series or class thereof. After such determination, the Trustees may require the redemption of all Shares of a Series or class or take such other action, as they deem necessary in order to eliminate all Outstanding Shares of that Series or class, as the case may be. (c) The Trustees may at any time, in contemplation of the termination a Series: (i) sell and convey all or any portion of the assets of the affected Series to another person organized under the laws of any jurisdiction, or to a separate series of shares thereof, for adequate consideration, which may include the assumption of all outstanding and contingent liabilities of any affected Series, and which may include shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interest of such person or series thereof; or (ii) sell and convert into money all or any portion of the assets of any affected Series. Upon paying or making reasonable provision for the payment of all known liabilities any affected Series, the Trustees shall distribute the remaining proceeds or assets (as the case may be) ratably among the Shareholders of the affected Series subject to Section 2.08 and the preferences, rights and privileges of each class of the Series. (d) At any time that there are no Outstanding Shares of a Series or a class, the Trustees may, but shall not be required to, abolish the Series or class, as applicable, and, if applicable, the establishment and designation thereof. (e) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the remaining assets of a Series as provided in Subsection 11.04(c), any affected Series shall terminate. Upon the abolishment of a Series or a class as provided in Subsection 11.04(d), a Series or a class, as applicable, shall terminate. Upon such termination, the Trustees and the Trust shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Series or class shall be canceled and discharged. SECTION 11.05 REORGANIZATION OF SERIES. Notwithstanding anything else in this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may (i) cause any such Series to merge or consolidate with or into one or more entities, if the surviving or resulting entity is another company registered as an open-end, management investment company under the 1940 Act, or a series thereof and (ii) cause any or all Shares of a Series to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state of federal statute to the extent permitted by law. -22- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 11.05(b) may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument. SECTION 11.06 FILING OF COPIES, REFERENCES, HEADINGS. The original or a copy of this Trust Instrument and of each amendment hereof or Trust Instrument supplemental hereto 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 or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments or supplements have been make 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 or Trustee of the Trust to be a copy of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument. In this Trust Instrument or in any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument, references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions like "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder," shall be deemed to refer to this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental Trust Instrument. All expressions like "his", "he" and "him", shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of this Trust Instrument, rather than the headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. SECTION 11.07 APPLICABLE LAW. The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers, which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust. SECTION 11.08 AMENDMENTS. Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees may, without shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this Trust Instrument by making an amendment, a trust instrument supplemental hereto or an amended and restated trust instrument. Shareholders shall only have the right to vote (a) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in Section 7.01 of Article VII hereof, (b) on any amendment to this Section 11.08, (c) on any amendment as may be required by law or by the Trust's registration statement filed with the Commission and (d) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Any amendment submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Series shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders of each Series affected and no vote of shareholders of a Series not affected shall be required. Notwithstanding anything else herein, any amendment to Article X hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification or insurance provided therein with respect to action or omission of Covered Persons prior to such amendment. SECTION 11.09 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set forth in the Bylaws, provided, however, that the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the fiscal year of the Trust. -23- SECTION 11.10 PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW. The provisions of this Trust Instrument are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument 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 matter affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any jurisdiction. ARTICLE XII PURPOSE OF THE TRUST The purpose of this Trust is to provide investors a continuous source of managed investment in securities and other financial instruments. ARTICLE XIII PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS The Trust's principal place of business is: Two Portland Square, Portland, Maine 04101. -24- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument as of date first written above. /s/ LESLIE K. KLENK -------------------------------- Leslie K. Klenk, as Trustee and not individually Two Portland Square Portland, Maine 04101 /S/ BETH P. HANSON -------------------------------- Beth P. Hanson, as Trustee and not individually Two Portland Square Portland, Maine 04101 /S/ PATRICK J. KENISTON -------------------------------- Patrick J. Keniston, as Trustee and not individually Two Portland Square Portland, Maine 04101 -25-