EX-99.(A)(1) 2 d461323dex99a1.htm EX-99.(A)(1) EX-99.(a)(1)

CALAMOS INVESTMENT TRUST

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

May 15, 2012


CALAMOS INVESTMENT TRUST

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

     Page

ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS

   2

Section 1.1

   Name and Principal Office    2

Section 1.2

   Definitions    2

(a)

   “Trust”    2

(b)

   “Trustees”    2

(c)

   “Shares”    2

(d)

   “Series”    2

(e)

   “Shareholder”    3

(f)

   “1940 Act”    3

(g)

   “Commission”    3

(h)

   “Declaration of Trust”    3

(i)

   “By-Laws”    3

(j)

   “Class”    3

ARTICLE II PURPOSE OF TRUST

   3

ARTICLE III THE TRUSTEES

   3

Section 3.1

   Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc.    3

(a)

   Trustees    3

(b)

   Number    3

(c)

   Election and Term    3

(d)

   Resignation and Retirement    4

(e)

   Removal    4

(f)

   Vacancies    4

(g)

   Effect of Death, Resignation, etc.    4

(h)

   No Accounting    4

Section 3.2

   Powers of Trustees    4

(a)

   Investments    5

(b)

   Disposition of Assets    5

(c)

   Ownership Powers    5

(d)

   Subscription    6

(e)

   Form of Holding    6

(f)

   Reorganization, etc.    6

(g)

   Voting Trusts, etc.    6

(h)

   Compromise    6

(i)

   Partnerships, etc.    6

(j)

   Borrowing and Security    6

(k)

   Guarantees, etc.    6

(l)

   Insurance    6

(m)

   Pensions, etc.    7

 

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(n)

  Distribution Plans      7   

Section 3.3

  Certain Contracts      7   

(a)

  Advisory      7   

(b)

  Administration      7   

(c)

  Distribution      8   

(d)

  Custodian and Depository      8   

(e)

  Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency      8   

(f)

  Shareholder Servicing      8   

(g)

  Accounting      8   

Section 3.4

  Payment of Trust Expenses and Compensation of Trustees      9   

Section 3.5

  Ownership of Assets of the Trust      9   

ARTICLE IV SHARES

     9   

Section 4.1

  Description of Shares      9   

Section 4.2

  Establishment and Designation of Sub-Trusts and Classes      11   

(a)

  Assets Belonging to Sub-Trusts      11   

(b)

  Liabilities Belonging to Sub-Trusts      12   

(c)

  Dividends      12   

(d)

  Liquidation      13   

(e)

  Voting      13   

(f)

  Redemption by Shareholder      13   

(g)

  Redemption by Trust      14   

(h)

  Net Asset Value      14   

(i)

  Transfer      14   

(j)

  Equality      15   

(k)

  Fractions      15   

(l)

  Conversion Rights      15   

(m)

  Class Differences      16   

Section 4.3

  Ownership of Shares      16   

Section 4.4

  Investments in the Trust      17   

Section 4.5

  No Preemptive Rights      17   

Section 4.6

  Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability      17   

ARTICLE V SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS

     17   

Section 5.1

  Voting Powers      17   

Section 5.2

  Meetings      18   

Section 5.3

  Record Dates      18   

Section 5.4

  Quorum and Required Vote      18   

Section 5.5

  Action by Written Consent      23   

Section 5.6

  Inspection of Records      23   

Section 5.7

  Additional Provisions      23   

Section 5.8

  Shareholder Communications      23   

ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

     23   

Section 6.1

  Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice      23   

Section 6.2

  Trustees’ Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety      24   

Section 6.3

  Indemnification of Shareholders      24   

Section 6.4

  Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.      25   

 

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Section 6.5

   Compromise Payment      21   

Section 6.6

   Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc.      22   

Section 6.7

   Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees      22   

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

     22   

Section 7.1

   Duration and Termination of Trust      22   

Section 7.2

   Reorganization      22   

Section 7.3

   Amendments      23   

Section 7.4

   Filing of Copies; References; Headings      24   

Section 7.5

   Applicable Law      24   

Section 7.6

   Resident Agent      25   

 

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CALAMOS INVESTMENT TRUST

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 15th day of May, 2012, by the Trustees hereunder on behalf of themselves and all other persons who become Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Trust was created by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated and executed in Boston, Massachusetts on December 21, 1987 and was named CFS Investment Trust;

WHEREAS, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated December 21, 1987 was subsequently amended by amendments dated July 26, 1988, June 26, 1990, February 25, 1992, February 22, 1996, March 18, 1996 and March 28, 1996, respectively, and was amended and restated by the First Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 23, 1997;

WHEREAS, the First Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 23, 1997 was subsequently amended by two amendments dated July 27, 1999 and one dated July 26, 2000, and was amended and restated by the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 3, 2001;

WHEREAS, the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 3, 2001 was subsequently amended by amendments dated August 23, 2002, January 28, 2003, September 24, 2003, March 8, 2005, December 31, 2005 and February 27, 2006, and was amended and restated by the Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 30, 2006;

WHEREAS, the Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 30, 2006 was subsequently amended by amendments dated June 22, 2006, August 24, 2006, September 1, 2006, December 14, 2006, February 6, 2007, March 30, 2007, December 20, 2007, March 7, 2008, April 30, 2008, June 12, 2008, June 25, 2008, February 20, 2009, September 16, 2009, December 16, 2009, March 25, 2010, December 21, 2010, December 21, 2010 and February 28, 2011;

WHEREAS, the Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial interest in separate series, each separate series to be a Sub-Trust hereunder, and to issue classes of Shares of any Sub-Trust or divide Shares of any Sub-Trust into two or more classes, all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;


WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as Trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and

WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to amend further and restate in its entirety the Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as heretofore amended by adopting this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which shall supersede such Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as heretofore amended and be the governing instrument of the Trust from and after the date hereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, effective as of May 15, 2012, the Trustees hereby amend and restate in its entirety the Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust as heretofore amended and declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets that they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustee hereunder in trust to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust or Sub-Trusts created hereunder as hereinafter set forth.

ARTICLE I

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Name and Principal Office. This trust shall be known as Calamos Investment Trust and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine. The principal office of the Trust shall be located at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563 or at such other location as the Trustees may from time to time determine.

Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

(a) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, inclusive of each and every Sub-Trust established hereunder;

(b) “Trustees” refers each person who is or becomes a Trustee of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust hereunder named herein or elected in accordance with Article III;

(c) “Shares” refers to the transferable units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust and/or any class of any Sub-Trust (as the context may require) shall be divided from time to time;

(d) “Series” refers to Series of Shares established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, each of which Series shall be a Sub-Trust of the Trust;

 

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(e) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;

(f) “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

(g) “Commission” shall have the meaning given it in the 1940 Act;

(h) “Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

(i) “By-Laws” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to time; and

(j) “Class” or “class” or “classes” refers to any class of Shares of any Series or Sub-Trust established and designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE OF TRUST

The purpose of the Trust is to operate as an investment company and to offer Shareholders of the Trust and each Sub-Trust of the Trust one or more investment programs primarily in securities, debt instruments, futures and options on futures. The Trust shall also have the power to invest in precious metals, bullion and gold coins.

ARTICLE III

THE TRUSTEES

Section 3.1 Number, Designation, Election, Term, etc.

(a) Trustees. The current Trustees hereof are John P. Calamos, Sr. Weston W. Marsh, John E. Neal, William R. Rybak, Stephen B. Timbers and David D. Tripple. The address of each trustee is 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois.

(b) Number. The Trustees serving as such may increase or decrease the number of Trustees to a number other than the number theretofore determined. No decrease in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term, but the number of Trustees may be decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 3.1.

(c) Election and Term. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), the Trustees shall be elected by Shareholders of the Trust. Each Trustee shall serve as a Trustee of the Trust and of each Sub-Trust hereunder during the lifetime of this Trust and until its termination as hereinafter provided except as such Trustee sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed. Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their own successors and may, pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 3.1, appoint Trustees to fill vacancies.

 

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(d) Resignation and Retirement. Any Trustee may resign his trust or retire as a Trustee, by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees or to any officer of the Trust, and such resignation or retirement shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified in such instrument and shall be effective as to the Trust and each Sub-Trust hereunder.

(e) Removal. Any Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time: (i) by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date upon which such removal shall become effective; or (ii) by vote of Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the Shares then outstanding, cast in person or by proxy at any meeting called for the purpose; or (iii) by a written declaration signed by Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the Shares then outstanding and filed with the Trust’s Secretary. Any such removal shall be effective as to the Trust and each Sub-Trust hereunder.

(f) Vacancies. Any vacancy or anticipated vacancy resulting from any reason, including without limitation the death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity of any of the Trustees, or resulting from an increase in the number of Trustees by the other Trustees may (but need not unless required by the 1940 Act) be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, through the appointment in writing of such other person as such remaining Trustees in their discretion shall determine and such appointment shall be effective upon the written acceptance of the person named therein to serve as a Trustee and agreement by such person to be bound by the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, except that any such appointment in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation, or increase in number of Trustees to be effective at a later date shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said retirement, resignation, or increase in number of Trustees. As soon as any Trustee so appointed shall have accepted such appointment and shall have agreed in writing to be bound by this Declaration of Trust and the appointment is effective, the Trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee, together with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance.

(g) Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul or terminate the Trust or any Sub-Trust hereunder or to revoke or terminate any existing agency or contract created or entered into pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.

(h) No Accounting. Except to the extent required by the 1940 Act or under circumstances that would justify his removal for cause, no person ceasing to be a Trustee as a result of his death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity (nor the estate of any such person) shall be required to make an accounting to the Shareholders or remaining Trustees upon such cessation.

Section 3.2 Powers of Trustees. Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility and the purpose of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust and may amend and

 

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repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve that right to the Shareholders; they may from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1 hereof establish Sub-Trusts, each such Sub-Trust to operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; they may from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1 hereof establish classes of Shares of any Series or Sub-Trust or divide the Shares of any Series or Sub-trust into classes; they may as they consider appropriate elect and remove officers and appoint and terminate agents and consultants and hire and terminate employees, any one or more of the foregoing of whom may be a Trustee, and may provide for the compensation of all of the foregoing; they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one or more committees consisting of one or more Trustees, including without implied limitation an executive committee, which may, when the Trustees are not in session and subject to the 1940 Act, exercise some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; in accordance with Section 3.3, they may employ one or more advisers, administrators, depositories and custodians and may authorize any depository or custodian to employ sub-custodians or agents and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities and debt instruments, retain transfer, dividend, accounting or shareholder servicing agents or any of the foregoing, provide for the distribution of Shares by the Trust through one or more distributors, principal underwriters or otherwise, set record dates or times for the determination of Shareholders or various of them with respect to various matters; they may compensate or provide for the compensation of the Trustees, officers, advisers, administrators, custodians, other agents, consultants and employees of the Trust or the Trustees on such terms as they deem appropriate; and in general they may delegate to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any employee, adviser, administrator, distributor, depository, custodian, transfer and dividend disbursing agent, or any other agent or consultant of the Trust such authority, powers, functions and duties as they consider desirable or appropriate for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust, including without implied limitation the power and authority to act in the name of the Trust and of the Trustees, to sign documents and to act as attorney-in-fact for the Trustees.

Without limiting the foregoing and to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Trustees shall have power and authority for and on behalf of the Trust and each separate Sub-Trust established hereunder:

(a) Investments. To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested without in any event being bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees;

(b) Disposition of Assets. To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;

(c) Ownership Powers. To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, debt instruments or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities, debt instruments or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

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(d) Subscription. To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise that in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or other assets;

(e) Form of Holding. To hold any security or other asset in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or of any Sub-Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depositary or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;

(f) Reorganization, etc. To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or debt instrument of which is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or debt instrument held in the Trust;

(g) Voting Trusts, etc. To join with other holders of any securities or debt instruments in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or debt instrument with, or transfer any security or debt instrument to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or debt instrument (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(h) Compromise. To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any Sub-Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;

(i) Partnerships, etc. To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

(j) Borrowing and Security. To borrow funds, securities or other assets and to mortgage and pledge the assets of the Trust or any part thereof to secure obligations arising in connection with such borrowing;

(k) Guarantees, etc. To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such obligations;

(l) Insurance. To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, consultants, investment advisers, managers, administrators, distributors, principal underwriters, or independent contractors, or any thereof (or any person connected therewith), of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person in any such capacity, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability;

 

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(m) Pensions, etc. To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trust and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; and

(n) Distribution Plans. To adopt on behalf of the Trust or any Sub-Trust with respect to any class thereof a plan of distribution and related agreements thereto pursuant to the terms of Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act and to make payments from the assets of the Trust or the relevant Sub-Trust or Sub-Trusts pursuant to said Rule 12b-1 Plan.

Except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees on behalf of the Trust or any Sub-Trust may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum, consisting of at least a majority of the Trustees then in office, being present), within or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting, or by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in office (or such larger or different number as may be required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law).

Section 3.3 Certain Contracts. Subject to compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, but notwithstanding any limitations of present and future law or custom in regard to delegation of powers by trustees generally, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time and without limiting the generality of their powers and authority otherwise set forth herein, enter into one or more contracts with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, other type of organizations, or individuals (a “Contracting Party”), to provide for the performance and assumption of some or all of the following services, duties and responsibilities to, for or on behalf of the Trust and/or any Sub-Trust, and/or the Trustees, and to provide for the performance and assumption of such other services, duties and responsibilities in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may determine appropriate:

(a) Advisory. Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and in conformity with the stated policy of the Trustees with respect to the investments of the Trust or of the assets belonging to any Sub-Trust of the Trust (as that phrase is defined in subsection (a) of Section 4.2), to manage such investments and assets, make investment decisions with respect thereto, and to place purchase and sale orders for portfolio transactions relating to such investments and assets;

(b) Administration. Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees and in conformity with any policies of the Trustees with respect to the operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof), to supervise all or any part of the operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust, and to provide all or any part of the administrative and clerical personnel, office space and office equipment and services appropriate for the efficient administration and operations of the Trust and each Sub-Trust;

 

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(c) Distribution. To distribute the Shares of the Trust and each Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof), to be principal underwriter of such Shares, and/or to act as agent of the Trust and each Sub-Trust in the sale of Shares and the acceptance or rejection of orders for the purchase of Shares;

(d) Custodian and Depository. To act as depository for and to maintain custody of the property of the Trust and each Sub-Trust and accounting records in connection therewith;

(e) Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency. To maintain records of the ownership of outstanding Shares, the issuance and redemption and the transfer thereof, and to disburse any dividends and distributions declared by the Trustees and in accordance with the policies of the Trustees and/or the instructions of any particular Shareholder to reinvest any such dividends or distributions;

(f) Shareholder Servicing. To provide service with respect to the relationship of the Trust and its Shareholders, records with respect to Shareholders and their Shares, and similar matters; and

(g) Accounting. To handle all or any part of the accounting responsibilities, whether with respect to the Trust’s properties, Shareholders or otherwise.

The same person may be the Contracting Party for some or all of the services, duties and responsibilities to, for and of the Trust and/or the Trustees, and the contracts with respect thereto may contain such terms interpretive of or in addition to the delineation of the services, duties and responsibilities provided for, including provisions that are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act relating to the standard of duty of and the rights to indemnification of the Contracting Party and others, as the Trustees may determine. Nothing herein shall preclude, prevent or limit the Trust or a Contracting Party from entering into sub-contractual arrangements relative to any of the matters referred to in Sections 3.3(a) through (g) hereof.

The fact that:

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any Contracting Party, or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Contracting Party or that the Contracting Party or any parent or affiliate thereof is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or that

(ii) any Contracting Party may have a contract providing for the rendering of any similar services to one or more other corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships or other organizations, or have other business or interests,

shall not affect the validity of any contract for the performance and assumption of services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the Trust or any Sub-Trust and/or the Trustees or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the

 

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same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust, any Sub-Trust or its Shareholders, provided that in the case of any relationship or interest referred to in the proceeding clause (i) on the part of any Trustee or officer of the Trust either (x) the material facts as to such relationship or interest have been disclosed to or are known by the Trustees not having any such relationship or interest and the contract involved is approved in good faith by a majority of such Trustees not having any such relationship or interest (even though such unrelated or disinterested Trustees are less than a quorum of all of the Trustees), (y) the material facts as to such relationship or interest and as to the contract have been disclosed to or are known by the Shareholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract involved is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the Shareholders, or (z) the specific contract involved is fair to the Trust as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Trustees or by the Shareholders.

Section 3.4 Payment of Trust Expenses and Compensation of Trustees. The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any Sub-Trust, or partly out of principal and partly out of income, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Sub-Trusts and/or one or more classes of Shares thereof that may be established and designated pursuant to Article IV, as the Trustees deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, any Sub-Trust and/or any class of Shares thereof, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, investment adviser, administrator, distributor, principal underwriter, auditor, counsel, depository, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, accounting agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents, consultants, and independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur. Without limiting the generality of any other provision hereof, the Trustees shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Trust for their services as Trustees and may fix the amount of such compensation.

Section 3.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.

ARTICLE IV

SHARES

Section 4.1 Description of Shares. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into Shares, all without par value, but the Trustees shall have the authority from time to time to issue Shares in one or more Series (each of which Series of Shares shall represent the beneficial interest in a separate and distinct Sub-Trust of the Trust, including without limitation those Sub-Trusts specifically established and designated in Section 4.2), as they deem necessary or desirable. For all purposes under this Declaration of Trust or otherwise, including, without implied limitation, (i) with respect to the rights of creditors and (ii) for purposes of interpreting the relevant rights of each Sub-Trust and the Shareholders of each Sub-Trust, each Sub-Trust established hereunder shall be deemed to be a separate trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive power without the requirement of Shareholder approval to establish and designate such separate and distinct Sub-Trusts, and to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences as between the Shares of the separate Sub-Trusts as to right of redemption and the price, terms and manner

 

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of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and other distributions and on liquidation, sinking or purchase fund provisions, conversion rights, and conditions under which the several Sub-Trusts shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights.

In addition, the Trustees shall have exclusive power, without the requirement of Shareholder approval, to issue classes of Shares of any Sub-Trust or divide the Shares of any Sub-Trust into classes, each class having such different dividend, liquidation, voting and other rights as the Trustees may determine, and may establish and designate the specific classes of Shares of each Sub-Trust. The fact that a Sub-Trust shall have initially been established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Sub-Trust are initially of a single class), or that a Sub-Trust shall have more than one established and designated class, shall not limit the authority of the Trustees to establish and designate separate classes, or one or more further classes, of said Sub-Trust without approval of the holders of the initial class thereof, or previously established and designated class or classes thereof, provided that the establishment and designation of such further separate classes would not adversely affect the rights of the holders of the initial or previously established and designated class or classes.

The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Sub-Trust or class thereof that may be issued is unlimited, and the Trustees may issue Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share dividend or split-up), all without action or approval of the Shareholders. All Shares when so issued on the terms determined by the Trustees shall be fully paid and non-assessable (but may be subject to mandatory contribution back to the Trust as provided in subsection (h) of Section 4.2). The Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any Sub-Trust or class thereof into one or more Sub-Trusts or classes thereof that may be established and designated from time to time. The Trustees may hold as treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time, any Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof reacquired by the Trust.

The Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books or establish record dates and times for the purpose of determining the holders of Shares entitled to be treated as such, to the extent provided or referred to in Section 5.3.

The establishment and designation of any Sub-Trust or of any class of Shares of any Sub-Trust in addition to those established and designated in Section 4.2 shall be effective upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such Sub-Trust or class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular Sub-Trust or class previously established and designated, the Trustees may by an instrument executed by a majority of their number (or by an instrument executed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a majority of the Trustees) abolish that Sub-Trust or class and the establishment and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust.

 

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Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any such person is interested may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) of the Trust to the same extent as if such person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may purchase Shares of any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) from any such person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of Shares of such Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) generally.

Section 4.2 Establishment and Designation of Sub-Trusts and Classes. Without limiting the authority of the Trustees set forth in Section 4.1 to establish and designate any further Sub-Trusts, the Trustees hereby establish and designate thirteen Sub-Trusts:

Calamos Blue Chip Fund

Calamos Convertible Fund

Calamos Growth and Income Fund

Calamos Global Growth and Income Fund

Calamos Growth Fund

Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund

Calamos High Income Fund

Calamos Value Fund

Calamos International Growth Fund

Calamos Global Equity Fund

Calamos Total Return Bond Fund

Calamos Evolving World Growth Fund

Calamos Discovery Growth Fund

each of which shall have five classes of Shares, Class A, Class B, Class C, Class I and Class R or such classes as may from time to time be established and designated. The Shares of such Sub-Trusts and any Shares of any further Sub-Trust or class that may from time to time be established and designated by the Trustees shall (unless the Trustees otherwise determine with respect to some further Sub-Trust or class at the time of establishing and designating the same) have the following relative rights and preferences:

(a) Assets Belonging to Sub-Trusts. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or any classes thereof, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be held by the Trustees in trust for the benefit of the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof and shall irrevocably belong to that Sub-Trust (and be allocable to any classes thereof) for all purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, together with any General Items (as hereinafter defined) allocated to that Sub-Trust as provided in the following sentence, are herein referred to as “assets belonging to” that Sub-Trust (and

 

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allocable to any classes thereof). In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments that are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Sub-Trust (collectively “General Items”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Items to and among any one or more of the Sub-Trusts established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable; and any General Items so allocated to a particular Sub-Trust shall belong to that Sub-Trust (and be allocable to any classes thereof). Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the holders of all Shares of all Sub-Trusts (including any classes thereof) for all purposes.

(b) Liabilities Belonging to Sub-Trusts. The assets belonging to each particular Sub-Trust shall be charged with the liabilities in respect of that Sub-Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves belonging to that Sub-Trust, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Sub-Trust shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Sub-Trusts established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. In addition, the liabilities in respect of a particular class of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves belonging to that class of Shares, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of that particular Sub-Trust that are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular class of Shares of that Sub-Trust shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the classes of Shares of that Sub-Trust established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves allocated and so charged to a Sub-Trust or class thereof are herein referred to as “liabilities belonging to” that Sub-Trust or class thereof. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders, creditors and any other persons dealing with the Trust or any Sub-Trust (including any classes thereof) for all purposes. Any creditor of any Sub-Trust may look only to the assets of that Sub-Trust to satisfy such creditor’s debt.

The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.

(c) Dividends. Dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or any class thereof may be paid with such frequency as the Trustees may determine, which may be daily or otherwise pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine, to the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class, from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust, or in the case of a class, belonging to that Sub-Trust and allocable to that class, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class. All dividends and distributions on Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class in proportion to the number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class held by such holders at the date and time of record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions, except that in connection with any dividend or distribution program or procedure the Trustees may determine that no dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to which the Shareholder’s

 

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purchase order and/or payment have not been received by the time or times established by the Trustees under such program or procedure. Such dividends and distributions may be made in cash or Shares of that Sub-Trust or class or a combination thereof as determined by the Trustees or pursuant to any program that the Trustees may have in effect at the time for the election by each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such dividend or distribution to that Shareholder. Any such dividend or distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with subsection (h) of Section 4.2.

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.

(d) Liquidation. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, the holders of Shares of each Sub-Trust or any class thereof that has been established and designated shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust, or in the case of a class, belonging to that Sub-Trust and allocable to that class, over the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class. The assets so distributable to the holders of Shares of any particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall be distributed among such holders in proportion to the number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof held by them and recorded on the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Sub-Trust or class thereof may be authorized at any time by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office.

(e) Voting. On each matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, each holder of a Share shall be entitled to one vote for each whole Share standing in such Shareholder’s name on the books of the Trust irrespective of the Series thereof or class thereof and all Shares of all Series and classes thereof shall vote together as a single class; provided, however, that as to any matter (i) with respect to which a separate vote of one or more Series or classes thereof is required by the 1940 Act or the provisions of the writing establishing and designating the Sub-Trust or class, such requirements as to a separate vote by such Series or class thereof shall apply in lieu of all Shares of all Series and classes thereof voting together; and (ii) as to any matter that affects the interests of one or more particular Series or classes thereof, only the holders of Shares of the one or more affected Series or classes shall be entitled to vote, and each such Series or class shall vote as a separate class.

(f) Redemption by Shareholder. Each holder of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or any class thereof shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust to require the Trust to redeem all or any part of such holder’s Shares of that Sub-Trust or class thereof at a redemption price equal to the net asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust or class thereof next determined in accordance with subsection (h) of this Section 4.2 after the Shares are properly tendered for redemption, subject to any contingent deferred sales charge or redemption charge in effect at the time of redemption. Payment of the redemption price shall be in cash; provided, however, that if the Trustees determine, which determination shall be conclusive, that conditions exist that make payment wholly in cash unwise or undesirable, the Trust may, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, make payment wholly or partly in securities or other assets belonging to the Sub-Trust of which the Shares being redeemed are part at the value of such securities or assets used in such determination of net asset value.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of the holders of Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof to require the Trust to redeem Shares of that Sub-Trust during any period or at any time when and to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.

(g) Redemption by Trust. Each Share of each Sub-Trust or class thereof that has been established and designated is subject to redemption by the Trust at the redemption price that would be applicable if such Share was then being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 4.2: (i) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion and by majority vote that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to the Trust or any Sub-Trust or to the holders of the Shares of the Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof or class thereof, or (ii) upon such other conditions as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set forth in the then current Prospectus of the Trust with respect to maintenance of Shareholder accounts of not less than a minimum value. Upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such redemption price.

(h) Net Asset Value. The net asset value per Share of any Sub-Trust shall be (i) in the case of a Sub-Trust whose Shares are not divided into classes, the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the net assets of that Sub-Trust (being the value of the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust less the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust) by the total number of Shares of that Sub-Trust outstanding, and (ii) in the case of a class of Shares of a Sub-Trust whose Shares are divided into classes, the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the net assets of that Sub-Trust allocable to such class (being the value of the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust allocable to such class less the liabilities belonging to such class) by the total number of Shares of such class outstanding; all determined in accordance with the methods and procedures, including without limitation those with respect to rounding, established by the Trustees from time to time.

The Trustees may determine to maintain the net asset value per Share of any Sub-Trust at a designated constant dollar amount and in connection therewith may adopt procedures not inconsistent with the 1940 Act for the continuing declarations of income attributable to that Sub-Trust as dividends payable in additional Shares of that Sub-Trust at the designated constant dollar amount and for the handling of any losses attributable to that Sub-Trust. Such procedures may provide that in the event of any loss each Shareholder shall be deemed to have contributed to the capital of the Trust attributable to that Sub-Trust such Shareholder’s pro rata portion of the total number of Shares required to be cancelled in order to permit the net asset value per Share of that Sub-Trust to be maintained, after reflecting such loss, at the designated constant dollar amount. Each Shareholder of the Trust shall be deemed to have agreed, by making an investment in any Sub-Trust with respect to which the Trustees shall have adopted any such procedure, to make the contribution referred to in the preceding sentence in the event of any such loss.

(i) Transfer. All Shares of each particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall be transferable, but transfers of Shares of a particular Sub-Trust or class thereof will be recorded on the Share transfer records of the Trust applicable to that Sub-Trust or class only at such times as Shareholders shall have the right to require the Trust to redeem Shares of that Sub-Trust or class and at such other times as may be permitted by the Trustees.

 

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(j) Equality. Except as provided herein or in the instrument designating and establishing any class of Shares or any Sub-Trust, all Shares of each particular Sub-Trust or class thereof shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust, or in the case of a class, belonging to that Sub-Trust and allocable to that class, subject to the liabilities belonging to that Sub-Trust or class, and each Share of any particular Sub-Trust or class shall be equal to each other Share of that Sub-Trust or class; but the provisions of this sentence shall not restrict any distinctions permissible under subsection (c) of this Section 4.2 that may exist with respect to dividends and distributions on Shares of the same Sub-Trust or class. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Sub-Trust or class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Sub-Trust or class without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that Sub-Trust or class or in any way affecting the rights of Shares of any other Sub-Trust or class.

(k) Fractions. Any fractional Share of any Sub-Trust or class, if any such fractional Share is outstanding, shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Sub-Trust or class, including rights and obligations with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares, and liquidation of the Trust.

(l) Conversion Rights. Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees shall have the authority to provide that holders of Shares of any Sub-Trust or class thereof shall have the right to convert said Shares into Shares of one or more other Sub-Trust or class thereof in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.

(m) Class Differences. The relative rights and preferences of the classes of any Sub-Trust may differ in such other respects as the Trustees may determine to be appropriate in their sole discretion, provided that such differences are set forth in the instrument establishing and designating such classes and executed by a majority of the Trustees (or by an instrument executed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority of the Trustees). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Share of Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares or Class I Shares of a Sub-Trust shall have, upon its issuance, all of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption currently accorded each other Share of beneficial interest in that Sub-Trust, including that each Class A Share, each Class B Share, each Class C Share and each Class I Share shall be charged equally with each other Share in the Sub-Trust with the expenses and liabilities of the Sub-Trust in respect of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I Shares or such other Shares and in respect of any general expenses and liabilities of the Sub-Trust allocated to Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares and Class I Shares or such other Shares designated by the Trustees in accordance with this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, provided however, that to the extent permitted by rule or order of the Commission or any successor governmental authority:

(i) Shares of each class of a Sub-Trust shall bear the expenses and liabilities relating to any agreements or arrangements entered into by or on behalf of a Sub-Trust

 

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pursuant to which an organization or other person agrees to provide services with respect to Shares of that class but not with respect to Shares of the other classes of the Sub-Trust as well as any other expenses and liabilities directly attributable to that class that the Trustees determine should be borne solely by such class; and

(ii) On any matter that pertains to the agreements, arrangements, expenses or liabilities described in clause (i) above (or to any plan or other document adopted by a Sub-Trust relating to said agreements, arrangements, expenses or liabilities) and is submitted to a vote of Shareholders of the Sub-Trust, only Shares relating to the affected class shall be entitled to vote, except that if the matter affects other Shares of beneficial interest in the Trust, such other affected Shares shall also be entitled to vote, and in such case all Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by class or Sub-Trust, except where otherwise required by law or permitted by the Trustees.

Subject to the foregoing, the Class A Shares of each Sub-Trust are Shares that are offered to investors at net asset value plus a sales charge that shall not be greater than the maximum sales charge for such Shares set forth in the relevant offering prospectus (“Prospectus”) from time to time, the Class B Shares of each Sub-Trust are Shares that are offered to investors at net asset value without any sales charge other than a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within six years after purchase, the Class C Shares of each Sub-Trust are Shares that are offered to investors at net asset value without any sales charge other than a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within one year after purchase and the Class I shares of each Sub-Trust are shares that are offered to investors at net asset value without any sales charge; but there may be included as expenses and liabilities of each Class of each Sub-Trust or on the holders of Shares thereof fees (such as service and distribution fees), which may vary as to Class, Sub-Trust and holders as determined by the Trustees to be appropriate and as described in the Prospectus from time to time.

Section 4.3 Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or of a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Sub-Trust and each class thereof that has been established and designated. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares need be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Shares certificates, the use of facsimile signatures, the transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders and as to the number of Shares of each Sub-Trust and class thereof held from time to time by each such Shareholder.

Section 4.4 Investments in the Trust. The Trustees may accept investments in the Trust and each Sub-Trust thereof from such persons and on such terms and for such consideration, not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act, as they from time to time authorize. The Trustees may authorize any distributor, principal underwriter, custodian, transfer agent or other person to accept orders for the purchase of Shares that conform to such authorized terms and to reject any purchase orders for Shares whether or not conforming to such authorized terms.

 

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Section 4.5 No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.

Section 4.6 Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided herein to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.

ARTICLE V

SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS

Section 5.1 Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Section 3.1, (ii) with respect to any contract with a Contracting Party as provided in Section 3.3 as to which Shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act, (iii) with respect to any termination or reorganization of the Trust or any Sub-Trust to the extent and as provided in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, (iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Section 7.3, (v) to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or any Sub-Trust thereof or the Shareholders (provided, however, that a Shareholder of a particular Sub-Trust shall not be entitled to a derivative or class action on behalf of any other Sub-trust (or Shareholder of any other Sub-Trust) of the Trust) and (vi) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by the 1940 Act, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. Proxies may be given by or on behalf of a Shareholder orally or in writing or pursuant to any computerized, telephonic or mechanical data gathering process. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if given by any one of them in any manner described in the preceding sentence unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be given by or on behalf of a Shareholder in any manner described above shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders.

 

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Section 5.2 Meetings. No annual or regular meeting of Shareholders is required. Special meetings of Shareholders may be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by the Trustees by mailing such notice at least seven days before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, to each Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust. The Trustees shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of voting upon removal of any Trustee of the Trust when requested to do so in writing by Shareholders holding not less than 10% of the Shares then outstanding. If the Trustees shall fail to call or give notice of any meeting of Shareholders for a period of 30 days after written application by Shareholders holding at least 10% of the Shares then outstanding requesting a meeting be called for a purpose requiring action by the Shareholders as provided herein or in the By-Laws, then Shareholders holding at least 10% of the Shares then outstanding may call and give notice of such meeting, and thereupon the meeting shall be held in the manner provided for herein in case of call thereof by the Trustees.

Section 5.3 Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution, or for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books for such period, not exceeding 30 days (except at or in connection with the termination of the Trust), as the Trustees may determine; or without closing the transfer books the Trustees may fix a date and time not more than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of Shareholders or other action as the date and time of record for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as Shareholders of record for purposes of such other action, and any Shareholder who was a Shareholder at the date and time so fixed shall be entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Shareholder of record for purposes of such other action, even though he has since that date and time disposed of his Shares, and no Shareholder becoming such after that date and time shall be so entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Shareholder of record for purposes of such other action.

Section 5.4 Quorum and Required Vote. A majority of the Shares entitled to vote shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting, but any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without the necessity of further notice. A majority of the Shares voted, at a meeting of which a quorum is present shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a different vote is required or permitted by any provision of the 1940 Act or other applicable law or by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.

Section 5.5 Action by Written Consent. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable law, any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by the 1940 Act or by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws) consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

 

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Section 5.6 Inspection of Records. The records of the trust shall be open to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law.

Section 5.7 Additional Provisions. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes and meetings and related matters not inconsistent with the provisions hereof.

Section 5.8 Shareholder Communications. Whenever ten or more Shareholders of record have been such for at least six months preceding the date of application, and who hold in the aggregate either Shares having a net asset value of at least $25,000 or at least 1% of the outstanding Shares, whichever is less, shall apply to the Trustees in writing, stating that they wish to communicate with other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures to a request for a Shareholder meeting and accompanied by a form of communication and request that they wish to transmit, the Trustees shall within five business days after receipt of such application either (1) afford to such applicants access to a list of the names and addresses of all Shareholders as recorded on the books of the Trust or Sub-Trust, as applicable; or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Shareholders of record, and the approximate cost of mailing to them the proposed communication and form of request.

If the Trustees elect to follow the course specified in clause (2) in the preceding paragraph, the Trustees, upon written request of such applicants, accompanied by a tender of the material to be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of mailing, shall, with reasonable promptness, mail such material to all Shareholders of record at their addresses as recorded on the books, unless within five business days after such tender the Trustees shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement signed by at least a majority of the Trustees to the effect that in their opinion either such material contains untrue statements of fact or omits to state facts necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading, or would be in such violation of applicable law, and specifying the basis of such opinion. The Trustees shall thereafter comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

ARTICLE VI

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1 Trustees, Shareholders, etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust shall look only to the assets of the Sub-Trust with which such person dealt for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders of any Sub-trust nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, nor any other Sub-Trust shall be personally liable therefor. Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, any Sub-Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only by or for the Trust (or the Sub-Trust) or the Trustees and not

 

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personally. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders to which such Trustee or officer would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or of such officer.

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall recite to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or officer and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, or the particular Sub-Trust in question, as the case may be, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder individually.

Section 6.2 Trustees’ Good Faith Action; Expert Advice; No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable for his own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Subject to the foregoing, (a) the Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, consultant, adviser, administrator, distributor or principal underwriter, custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee; (b) the Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as Trustees, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice; and (c) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by them, any independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a Contracting Party appointed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.3. The Trustees as such shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other security for the performance of their duties.

Section 6.3 Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder (or former Shareholder) of any Sub-Trust of the Trust shall be charged or held to be personally liable for any obligation or liability of the Trust solely by reason of being or having been a Shareholder and not because of such Shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, said Sub-Trust (upon proper and timely request by the Shareholder) shall assume the defense against such charge and satisfy any judgment thereon, and the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of said Sub-Trust estate to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability.

 

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Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.. The Trust shall indemnify (from the assets of the Sub-Trust or Sub-Trusts in question) each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise [hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”]) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined, in one of the manners described below, that such Covered Person (i) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust or (ii) had acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (either and both of the conduct described in (i) and (ii) being referred to hereafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification despite allegations of Disabling Conduct may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against a Covered Person for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding, provided that the Covered Person shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid to the Sub-Trust in question if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VI and (i) the Covered Person shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason or any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested Trustees who are not a party to the proceeding, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Party ultimately will be found to be entitled to indemnification.

Section 6.5 Compromise Payment. As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by any such Covered Person referred to in Section 6.4, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such indemnification shall be approved (a) by a majority of the disinterested Trustees who are not a party to the proceeding or (b) by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Trustees pursuant to clause (a) or by independent legal counsel pursuant to clause (b) shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any amount paid to such Covered Person in accordance with any of such clauses as indemnification if such

 

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Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Person’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VI, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, an “interested Covered Person” is one against whom the action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened, and a “disinterested” person is a person against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.

Section 6.7 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Duration and Termination of Trust. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no change, alteration or modification with respect to any Sub-Trust or class thereof shall operate to terminate the Trust. The Trust may be terminated at any time by a majority of the Trustees then in office subject to a favorable vote of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined in the 1940 Act, of each Sub-Trust voting separately by Sub-Trust.

Upon termination, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets to distributable form in cash, securities or other property, or any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders, in conformity with the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 4.2.

Section 7.2 Reorganization. The Trustees may sell, convey, merge and transfer the assets of the Trust, or the assets belonging to any one or more Sub-Trusts, to another trust, partnership, association or corporation organized under the laws of any state of the United States, or to the Trust to be held as assets belonging to another Sub-Trust of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares or other securities (including, in the case of a transfer to another Sub-Trust of the

 

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Trust, Shares of such other Sub-Trust or any class thereof) with such transfer either (1) being made subject to, or with the assumption by the transferee of, the liabilities belonging to each Sub-Trust the assets of which are so transferred, or (2) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of, such liabilities; provided, however, that no assets belonging to any particular Sub-Trust shall be so transferred unless the terms of such transfer shall have first been approved at a meeting called for the purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined in the 1940 Act, of that Sub-Trust. Following such transfer, the trustees shall distribute such cash, shares or other securities (giving due effect to the assets and liabilities belonging to and any other differences among the various Sub-Trusts and classes the assets belonging to which have been so transferred) among the Shareholders of the Sub-Trust the assets belonging to which have been so transferred; and if all of the assets of the Trust have been so transferred, the Trust shall be terminated.

The Trust, or any one or more Sub-Trusts, may, either as the successor, survivor, or non-survivor, (1) consolidate with one or more other trusts, partnerships, associations or corporations organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, to form a new consolidated trust, partnership, association or corporation under the laws of which any one of the constituent entities is organized, or (2) merge into one or more other trusts, partnerships, associations or corporations organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States, or have one or more such trusts, partnerships, associations or corporations merged into it, any such consolidation or merger to be upon such terms and conditions as are specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization entered into by the Trust, or one or more Sub-Trusts as the case may be, in connection therewith. The terms “merge” or “merger” as used herein shall also include the purchase or acquisition of any assets of any other trust, partnership, association or corporation which is an investment company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other state of the United States. Any such consolidation or merger shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Shares, as defined in the 1940 Act, of each Sub-Trust affected thereby.

Section 7.3 Amendments. All rights granted to the Shareholders under this Declaration of Trust are granted subject to the reservation of the right to amend this Declaration of Trust as herein provided, except that no amendment shall repeal the limitations on personal liability of any Shareholder or Trustee or repeal the prohibition of assessment upon the Shareholders without the express consent of each Shareholder or Trustee involved. Subject to the foregoing, the provisions of this Declaration of Trust (whether or not related to the rights of Shareholders) may be amended at any time, so long as such amendment does not adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder with respect to which such amendment is or purports to be applicable and so long as such amendment is not in contravention of applicable law, including the 1940 Act, by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to the vote of a majority of such Trustees). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the provisions of this Declaration of Trust may be amended from time to time, so long as such amendment does not adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder with respect to which such amendment is or purports to be applicable and so long as such amendment is not in contravention of applicable law, including the 1940 Act, by an instrument in writing signed by an officer of the Trust pursuant to approval or authorization of the executive committee of the Trust to (i) cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein that

 

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may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or correct any printing, stenographic or clerical errors or omissions, in order that this Declaration of Trust shall accurately reflect the understanding or agreement among the Trustees and/or Shareholders hereof; and (ii) provide the necessary information regarding: a change of address of the Trust and/or a change of name or address of its registered agent or registered office. Any amendment to this Declaration of Trust that adversely affects the rights of Shareholders may be adopted at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees (or by an officer of the Trust pursuant to a vote of a majority of such Trustees) when authorized to do so by the vote in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 4.2 of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote. Subject to the foregoing, any such amendment shall be effective as provided in the instrument containing the terms of such amendment or, if there is no provision therein with respect to effectiveness, upon the execution of such instrument and of a certificate (which may be a part of such instrument) executed by a Trustee or officer of the Trust to the effect that such amendment has been duly adopted.

Section 7.4 Filing of Copies; References; Headings. The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be filed by the Trust with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required, but the failure to make any such filing shall not impair the effectiveness of this instrument or any such amendment. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made, as to the identities of the Trustees and officers, and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments. In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as a whole as the same may be amended or affected by any such amendments. The masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

Section 7.5 Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law as the same may be amended from time to time, to which reference is made with the intention that matters not specifically covered herein or as to which an ambiguity may exist shall be resolved as if the Trust were a business corporation organized in Massachusetts, but the reference to said Business Corporation Law is not intended to give the Trust, the Trustees, the Shareholders or any other person any right, power, authority or responsibility available only to or in connection with an entity organized in corporate form. The Trust shall be of the type referred to in Section 1 of Chapter 182 of the Massachusetts General Laws and of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust.

 

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Section 7.6 Resident Agent. CT Corporation System, 155 Federal Street, Suite 700, Boston, MA, 02110 is hereby designated as the resident agent of the Trust in Massachusetts.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal this 27th day of March, 2012.

 

/s/ J. Christopher Jackson

  J. Christopher Jackson, Secretary

 

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