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MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER TECHNOLOGY FUND
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NY 10048
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED: JUNE 14, 2000
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DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER TECHNOLOGY FUND
DATED: JUNE 14, 2000
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Technology Fund is
made the 14th day of June, 2000 by the parties signatory hereto, as trustees
(such persons, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the
terms of this Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who at the time in
question have been duly elected or appointed as trustees in accordance with the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust and are then in office, being
hereinafter called the "Trustees").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to form a trust fund under the laws of
Massachusetts for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
and
WHEREAS, it is provided that the beneficial interest in the trust assets
be divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest as hereinafter
provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold in trust,
all money and property contributed to the trust fund to manage and dispose of
the same for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the shares of
beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof, to
wit:
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ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is the "Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Technology Fund," and so far as may be practicable the
Trustees shall conduct the Trust's activities, execute all documents and sue or
be sued under that name, which name (and the word "Trust" wherever herein used)
shall refer to the Trustees as Trustees, and not as individuals, or personally,
and shall not refer to the officers, agents, employees or Shareholders of the
Trust. Should the Trustees determine that the use of such name is not
advisable, they may use such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and
the Trust may hold its property and conduct its activities under such other
name.
Section 1.2. Definitions. Wherever they are used herein, the following
terms have the following respective meanings:
(a) "By-Laws" means the By-Laws referred to in Section 3.9 hereof, as
from time to time amended.
(b) the terms "Commission," "Affiliated Person" and "Interested Person"
have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.
(c) "Class" means any division of Shares within a Series, which Class is
or has been established pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.
(d) "Declaration" means this Declaration of Trust as amended from time to
time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to "Declaration," "hereof,"
"herein" and "hereunder" shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration rather
than the article or section in which such words appear.
(e) "Distributor" means the party, other than the Trust, to a contract
described in Section 4.3 hereof.
(f) "Fundamental Policies" shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and designated as fundamental policies therein.
(g) "Investment Adviser" means any party, other than the Trust, to a
contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
(h) "Majority Shareholder Vote" means the vote of the holders of a
majority of Shares, which shall consist of: (i) a majority of Shares
represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of
Shareholders at which a quorum, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws,
is present; (ii) a majority of Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to
vote when action is taken by written consent of Shareholders; and (iii) a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities," as the phrase is defined in
the 1940 Act, when any action is required by the 1940 Act by such majority as
so defined.
(i) "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations thereunder as amended from time to time.
(j) "Person" means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships,
trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal
entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(k) "Prospectus" means the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information constituting parts of the Registration Statement of the Trust under
the Securities Act of 1933 as such Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information may be amended or supplemented and filed with the Commission from
time to time.
(l) "Series" means one of the separately managed components of the Trust
(or, if the Trust shall have only one such component, then that one) as set
forth in Section 6.1 hereof or as may be established and designated from time
to time by the Trustees pursuant to that section.
(m) "Shareholder" means a record owner of outstanding Shares.
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(n) "Shares" means the units of interest into which the beneficial
interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the shares
of any and all series or classes which may be established by the Trustees, and
includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
(o) "Transfer Agent" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Section 4.4 hereof.
(p) "Trust" means the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Technology Fund.
(q) "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the
Trust or the Trustees.
(r) "Trustees" means the persons who have signed the Declaration, so long
as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all
other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed, qualified
and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and reference
herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in
their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
Section 2.1. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be such
number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall
in no event be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15).
Section 2.2. Election and Term. The Trustees shall be elected by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined by the 1940 Act,
held by the initial shareholder(s) (i.e., the person(s) that supplied the seed
capital required under Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act). The Trustees shall have
the power to set and alter the terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at
any time lengthen or lessen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited
duration, subject to the resignation and removal provisions of Section 2.3
hereof. Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their
own successors and may, pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof, appoint Trustees to
fill vacancies. The Trustees shall adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this
Declaration or any provision of law to provide for election of Trustees by
Shareholders at such time or times as the Trustees shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.
Section 2.3. Resignation and Removal. Any Trustee may resign his or her
trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing signed by him or her and delivered to the other Trustees and such
resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according
to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided
the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the
number required by Section 2.1 hereof) by the action of two-thirds of the
remaining Trustees or by the action of the Shareholders of record of not less
than two-thirds of the Shares outstanding (for purposes of determining the
circumstances and procedures under which such removal by the Shareholders may
take place, the provisions of Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act or of the corporate
or business statute of any state in which shares of the Trust are sold, shall
be applicable to the same extent as if the Trust were subject to the provisions
of that Section). Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, or otherwise
ceasing to be a Trustee, he or she shall execute and deliver such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust
or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of the resigning
or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, his or her
legal representative shall execute and deliver on his or her behalf such
documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding
sentence.
Section 2.4. Vacancies. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate
and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal,
bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties
of the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul the
Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of
the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy existing by reason of an
increase in the number of Trustees, subject to the provisions
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of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the remaining Trustees shall fill such
vacancy by the appointment of such other person as they or he, in their or his
discretion, shall see fit, made by a written instrument signed by a majority of
the remaining Trustees. Any such appointment shall not become effective,
however, until the person named in the written instrument of appointment shall
have accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by
the terms of the Declaration. An appointment of a Trustee may be made in
anticipation of a vacancy to occur at a later date by reason of retirement,
resignation or increase in the number of Trustees, provided that such
appointment shall not become effective prior to such retirement, resignation or
increase in the number of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in this Section
2.4, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the
powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon
the Trustees by the Declaration. A written instrument certifying the existence
of such vacancy signed by a majority of the Trustees shall be conclusive
evidence of the existence of such vacancy.
Section 2.5. Delegation of Power to Other Trustees. Any Trustee may, by
power of attorney, delegate his or her power for a period not exceeding six (6)
months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no
case shall less than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to
the Trustees under the Declaration except as herein otherwise expressly
provided.
ARTICLE III
POWERS OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.1. General. 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 the Declaration. 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, and in any and all commonwealths, territories,
dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities wheresoever
in the world they may be located 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 the Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of
power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as
limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised
without order of or resort to any court.
Section 3.2. Investments. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire,
hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, lend or
otherwise deal in or dispose of negotiable or non-negotiable instruments,
obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or
indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, options, commodities, commodity futures contracts and related
options, currencies, currency futures and forward contracts, and other
securities, investment contracts and other instruments of any kind,
including, without limitation, those issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any
and all Persons including, without limitation, states, territories and
possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and any of the
political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and by the
United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, foreign or
international instrumentalities, or by any bank or savings institution, or
by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United
States or of any state, territory or possession thereof, and of
corporations or organizations organized under foreign laws, or in "when
issued" contracts for any such securities, or retain Trust assets in cash
and from time to time change the investments of the assets of the Trust;
and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or
interest in respect
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of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including,
without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect
thereto, with power to designate one or more persons, firms, associations
or corporations to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said instruments; and the Trustees shall be deemed to
have the foregoing powers with respect to any additional securities in
which the Trust may invest should the Fundamental Policies be amended.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any
law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
Section 3.3. Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be
vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name
of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of
any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine,
provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected. The
right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the
resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he or she shall automatically cease
to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the
right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title
shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and
delivered.
Section 3.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Securities. The Trustees shall
have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and,
subject to the provisions set forth in Articles VII, VII and IX and Section 6.9
hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation
or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing business corporations.
Section 3.5. Borrowing Money; Lending Trust Assets. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies, the Trustee shall have power to borrow money or otherwise
obtain credit and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise
subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any
other Person and to lend Trust assets.
Section 3.6. Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the
Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their
number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such
things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or
the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient.
Section 3.7. Collection and Payment. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the
Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all
claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend,
compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property; to foreclose
any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property
is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments.
Section 3.8. Expenses. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the Trustees shall
have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the
Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the
Declaration, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to
themselves as Trustees. the Trustees shall fix the compensation of all
officers, employees and Trustees.
Section 3.9. Manner of Acting; By-Laws. Except as otherwise provided
herein or in the By-Laws or by any provision of law, any action to be taken by
the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of
Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a
conference telephone circuit or similar communications equipment by means of
which all
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persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by written
consents of all the Trustees. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent
with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of the Trust
and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to the extent such power is not reserved
to the Shareholders.
Section 3.10. Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for
the transaction of the business of the Trust or any Series thereof; (b) enter
into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(c) remove Trustees or fill vacancies in or add to their number, elect and
remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they
consider appropriate, and appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one
or more committees which may exercise some or all of the power and authority of
the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; (d) purchase, and pay for out of
Trust Property or the property of the appropriate Series of the Trust,
insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees,
agents, investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent
contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any
such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any
such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or
whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against
such liability; (e) establish pension, profit-sharing, Share purchase, and
other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust; (f) to the extent permitted by law,
indemnify any person with whom the Trust or any Series thereof has dealings,
including any Investment Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent and selected
dealers, to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee
indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the
fiscal year of the Trust or any Series thereof and the method by which its
accounts shall be kept; and (i) adopt a seal for the Trust but the absence of
such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of
the Trust.
Section 3.11. Principal Transactions. Except in transactions permitted by
the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, or effected to implement the provisions of any
agreement to which the Trust is a party, the Trustees shall not, on behalf of
the Trust, buy any securities (other than Shares) from or sell any securities
(other than Shares) to, or lend any assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
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, Distributor or Transfer Agent or with any Affiliated Person
of such Person; but the Trust or any Series thereof may employ any such Person,
or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker,
legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or
custodian upon customary terms.
Section 3.12. Litigation. The Trustees shall have the power to engage in
and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or
otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands
relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without
limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in
the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any
action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise,
brought by any person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of
the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named
individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or
on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
Section 4.1. Investment Adviser. Subject to approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the
Trustees establish multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management
contracts with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties
to any such contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series such
management, investment advisory,
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administration, accounting, legal, statistical and research facilities and
services, promotional or marketing activities, and such other facilities and
services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable
and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. The vote of the initial shareholder(s) shall constitute "majority
shareholder vote" if such agreements are entered into prior to a public
offering of Shares of the Trust. Notwithstanding any provisions of the
Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the Investment Advisers, or any of
them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or specific
instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases,
sales, loans or exchanges of portfolio securities and other investments of the
Trust on behalf of the Trustees or may authorize any officer, employee or
Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to
recommendations of such Investment Advisers, or any of them (and all without
further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges
shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees. The Trustees
may, in their sole discretion, call a meeting of Shareholders in order to
submit to a vote of Shareholders at such meeting the approval or continuance of
any such investment advisory or management contract. If the Shareholders of any
one or more of the Series of the Trust should fail to approve any such
investment advisory or management contract, the Investment Adviser may
nonetheless serve as Investment Adviser with respect to any Series whose
Shareholders approve such contract.
Section 4.2. Administrative Services. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time contract for administrative personnel and services whereby
the other party shall agree to provide the Trustees or the Trust administrative
personnel and services to operate the Trust on a daily or other basis, on such
terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Such
services may be provided by one or more persons or entities.
Section 4.3. Distributor. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of Shares to
net the Trust or the applicable Series of the Trust not less than the net asset
value per Share (as described in Article VIII hereof) and pursuant to which the
Trust may either agree to sell the Shares to the other parties to the
contracts, or any of them, or appoint any such other party its sales agent for
such Shares. In either case, any such contract shall be on such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent
with the provisions of Article IV, including, without limitation, the provision
for the repurchase or sale of shares of the Trust by such other party as
principal or as agent of the Trust.
Section 4.4. Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract
whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish transfer
agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall have such
terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more
Persons.
Section 4.5. Custodian. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one
or more banks or trust companies, each having an aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least five
million dollars ($5,000,000) to serve as Custodian with authority as its agent,
but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any,
as may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust.
Section 4.6. Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character described
in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 of this Article IV and any other contract
may be entered into with any Person, 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 voidable by reason of the existence of such
relationship; nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely
by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by
reason of such 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 IV. The same Person may be the
other party to any contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4 or 4.5 above or otherwise, 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 4.6.
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ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
Section 5.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No
Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the
Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to
any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its
Shareholders, in connection with the Trust Property or the affairs of the
Trust, save only that arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross
negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and all such
Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property, or to the Property of one or
more specific Series of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such
Trustee, officer, employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for
satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of
the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent, as such, of
the Trust is made to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, he
shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. The Trust
shall indemnify out of the property of the Trust and hold each Shareholder
harmless from and against all claims and liabilities, to which such Shareholder
may become subject by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and
shall reimburse such Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability; provided that,
in the event the Trust shall consist of more than one Series, Shareholders of a
particular Series who are faced with claims or liabilities solely by reason of
their status as Shareholders of that Series shall be limited to the assets of
that Series for recovery of such loss and related expenses. The rights accruing
to a Shareholder under this Section 5.1 shall not exclude any other right to
which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein
contained restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a
Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided
herein.
Section 5.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, etc. No Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or
failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way
any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for this
own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
his duties.
Section 5.3. Indemnification. (a) The Trustees shall provide for
indemnification by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim
arises from his or her conduct with respect to only such Series, of any person
who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust against
all 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, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him
or her in the settlement thereof, in such manner as the Trustees may provide
from time to time in the By-Laws.
(b) 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; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall
include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
Section 5.4. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated
to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
Section 5.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments,
etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the
Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof
shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction
purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or
be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to
or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every
obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing
whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed
to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only
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in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series
thereof. Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share,
other security of the Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees shall
recite that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as
Trustees under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a
Series thereof under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the
Trustees or Shareholders, individually, but bind only the Trust Estate (or, in
the event the Trust shall consist of more than one Series, in the case of any
such obligation which relates to a specific Series, only the Series which is a
party thereto), and may contain any further recital which they or he may deem
appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not affect the validity of
such obligation, contract instrument, certificate, Share, security or
undertaking and shall not operate to bind the Trustees or Shareholders
individually. The Trustees shall at all times maintain insurance for the
protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to
cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in
their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 5.6. Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act
resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other
records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the
Trust by any of its officers or employees or by any Investment Adviser,
Distributor, Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other
experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers
or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may
also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 6.1. Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be evidenced by transferable Shares of one or more Series, each of which
may be divided into one or more separate and distinct Classes. The number of
Shares of the Trust and of each Series and Class is unlimited and each Share
shall have a par value of $0.01 per Share. All Shares issued hereunder shall be
fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole
discretion and without obtaining Shareholder approval: to issue original or
additional Shares and fractional Shares at such times and on such terms and
conditions as they deem appropriate; to establish and to change in any manner
Shares of any Series or Classes with such preferences, terms of conversion,
voting powers, rights and privileges as the Trustees may determine (but the
Trustees may not change outstanding Shares in a manner materially adverse to
the Shareholders of such Shares); to divide or combine the Shares of any Series
or Classes into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interests in that Series or Class; to classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares of any Series or Classes into one or more Series
or Classes of Shares; to abolish any one or more Series or Classes of Shares;
to issue Shares to acquire other assets (including assets subject to, and in
connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses; and to take
such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem
desirable.
The Trustees hereby establish and designate the following initial four
classes of Shares of the Trust: Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D. The
Trustees may change the name of the Trust, or any Series or Class without
shareholder approval.
Section 6.2. Rights of Shareholders. The ownership of the Trust Property
of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore
described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall
have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their
Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition of division of
any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called
upon to assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by
virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall be personal property
giving only the rights in the Declaration specifically set forth. The Shares
shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion
or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any
series of Shares.
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Section 6.3. Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create
only the relationship of Trustees and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustee to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in the Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
Section 6.4. Issuance of Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion may,
from time to time without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares of any Series
or Class, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held
in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of
consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times and on such
terms as the Trustees may deem best, 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. Contributions to the Trust
may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or
fractions of a Share as described in the Prospectus.
Section 6.5. Register of Shares. A register shall be kept in respect of
each Series and Class at the principal office of the Trust or at an office of
the Transfer Agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number of Shares of each Series and Class held by them
respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Such register may be in
written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form
within a reasonable time for visual inspection. Such register shall be
conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to
receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights
of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him or her as herein or
in the By-Laws provided, until he or she has given his or her address to the
Transfer Agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the
said register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will
be issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may
authorize the issuance of Share certificates and promulgate appropriate rules
and regulations as to their use.
Section 6.6. Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable on the
records of the Trust only by the record holder or by his or her agent thereunto
duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Transfer Agent
of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the
genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters as
may reasonably be required. 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 any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the
proposed transfer.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death,
bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of
law, shall be recorded on the register of Shares as the holder of such Shares
upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or the Transfer
Agent, but 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 any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or
incompetence, or other operation of law, except as may otherwise be provided by
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 6.7. Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be
entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last
known address as recorded on the register of the Trust. Annual reports and
proxy statements need not be sent to a shareholder if: (i) an annual report and
proxy statement for two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least
two, checks (if sent by first class mail) in payment of dividends or interest
and shares during a twelve month period have been mailed to such shareholder's
address and have been returned undelivered. However, delivery of such annual
reports and proxy statements shall resume once a Shareholder's current address
is determined.
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Section 6.8. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
(i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, (ii) for
the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) with respect
to any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Section 4.1,
(iv) with respect to termination of the Trust as provided in Section 9.2, (v)
with respect to any amendment of the Declaration to the extent and as provided
in Section 9.3, (vi) with respect to any merger, consolidation or sale of
assets as provided in Section 9.4, (vii) with respect to incorporation of the
Trust to the extent and as provided in Section 9.5, (viii) 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 the
Shareholders (provided that Shareholders of a Series or Class are not entitled
to vote in connection with the bringing of a derivative or class action with
respect to any matter which only affects another Series or Class or its
Shareholders), (ix) with respect to any plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or
any successor rule) under the 1940 Act and (x) with respect to such additional
matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, the Declaration, the
By-Laws or any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor
agency) or any state, or as and when the Trustee may consider necessary or
desirable. 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, except that Shares held in the treasury of the
Trust as of the record date, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws,
shall not be voted. On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all
Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class except (1) when required by
the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual
Series or Class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter
affects only the interests of one or more Series or Class, then only the
Shareholders of such Series or Class shall be entitled to vote thereon. the
Trustees may, in conjunction with the establishment of any further Series or
classes of Shares, establish conditions under which the several series or
classes of Shares shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights. There
shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Until Shares are
issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any
action required by law, the Declaration or the By-Laws to be taken by
Shareholders. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders'
votes and meetings and related matters.
Section 6.9. Series or Classes of Shares. The following provisions are
applicable regarding the Shares of the Trust established in Section 6.1 hereof
and shall be applicable if the Trustees shall establish additional Series or
shall divide the shares of any Series into Classes, also as provided in Section
6.1 hereof, and all provisions relating to the Trust shall apply equally to
each Series and Class thereof except as the context requires:
(a) The number of authorized shares and the number of shares of each
Series or of each Class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees
may classify or reclassify any unissued shares or any shares previously
issued and reacquired of any Series or Class into one or more Series or one
or more Classes that may be established and designated from time to time.
The Trustees may hold as treasury shares (of the same or some other Series
or Class), reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may
determine, or cancel any shares of any Series or any Class reacquired by
the Trust at their discretion from time to time.
(b) The power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest the Trust Property
shall be governed by Section 3.2 of this Declaration with respect to any
one or more Series which represents the interests in the assets of the
Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional Series and
the power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest assets applicable to any
other Series shall be as set forth in the instrument of the Trustees
establishing such Series which is hereinafter described.
(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of
shares of a particular Series or Class together with all assets in which
such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings,
profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the
sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same
may be, shall irrevocably belong to that Series or Class for all purposes,
subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the
books of account of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets,
income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof,
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funds, or payment which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series or Class, the Trustee shall allocate them among any one
or more of the Series or Classes established and designated from time to
time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion,
deem fair and equitable. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be
conclusive and binding upon the shareholders of all Series or classes for
all purposes. No holder of Shares of any Series or Class shall have any
claim on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series
or Class.
(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with
the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. The liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged to a Series are sometimes
herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series. Except as
provided in the next sentence or otherwise required or permitted by
applicable law or any rule or order of the Commission, each Class of a
Series shall bear a pro rata portion of the "liabilities belonging to" such
Series. To the extent permitted by rule or order of the Commission, the
Trustees may allocate all or a portion of any liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges and reserves belonging to a Series to a particular Class or Classes
as the Trustees may from time to time determine is appropriate. Without
limitation of the foregoing provisions, and subject to the right of the
Trustees in their sole discretion to allocate general liabilities, costs,
expenses, charges or reserves as hereinafter provided, all expenses and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with a particular Series, or
in connection with the management thereof, shall be payable solely out of
the assets of that Series and creditors of a particular Series shall be
entitled to look solely to the property of such Series for satisfaction of
their claims. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves
of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and
among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to
time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole
discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive
and binding upon the holders of all Series and Classes and no Shareholder
or former Shareholder of any Series or Class shall have a claim on or any
right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series or Class for
all purposes. 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.
(e) The power of the Trustees to pay dividends and make distributions
shall be governed by Section 8.2 of this Declaration with respect to any
one or more Series or Classes which represents the interests in the assets
of the Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional
Series or Classes. With respect to any other Series or Class, dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class 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 Trustee may determine, to the holders of
shares of that Series or Class, from such of the income and capital gains,
accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series or Class, as
the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued
liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class shall be
distributed pro rata to the holders of that Series or Class in proportion
to the number of shares of that Series or Class held by such holders at the
date and time of record established for the payment of such dividends or
distributions.
(f) The Trustees shall have the power to determine the designations,
preferences, privileges, limitations and rights, including voting and
dividend rights, of each Class and Series of Shares.
(g) Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of
any Series or class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares
into Shares of one or more Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(h) The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of shares in
addition to those established in Section 6.1 hereof shall be effective upon
the execution by a majority of the then
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Trustees of an instrument setting forth such establishment and designation
and the relative rights, preferences, voting powers, restrictions,
limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of
redemption of such Series or Class, or as otherwise provided in such
instrument. At any time that there are no shares outstanding of any
particular Series or Class previously established or designated, the
Trustee may by an instrument executed by a majority of their number abolish
that Series 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.
(i) Shareholders of a Series or Class shall not be entitled to
participate in a derivative or class action with respect to any matter
which only affects another Series or Class or its Shareholders.
(j) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial
interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a
Series shall be entitled to receive his or her pro rata share of
distributions of income and capital gains made with respect to such Series.
In the event of the liquidation of a particular Series, the Shareholders of
that Series which has been established and designated and which is being
liquidated shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the
Trustees, the excess of the assets belonging to that Series. The holders of
Shares of any Series shall not be entitled hereby to any distribution upon
liquidation of any other Series. The assets so distributable to the
Shareholders of any Series shall be distributed among such Shareholders in
proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held by them and recorded
on the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Series in
which there are Shares then outstanding may be authorized by an instrument
in writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees then in
office.
ARTICLE VII
REDEMPTIONS
Section 7.1. Redemptions. Each Shareholder of a particular Series or Class
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 his Shares of that Series or Class, upon
and subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Article VII. The Trust
shall, upon application of any Shareholder or pursuant to authorization from
any Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from such Shareholder outstanding shares
for an amount per share determined by the Trustees in accordance with any
applicable laws and regulations; provided that (a) such amount per share shall
not exceed the cash equivalent of the proportionate interest of each share or
of any class or Series of shares in the assets of the Trust at the time of the
redemption or repurchase and (b) if so authorized by the Trustees, the Trust
may, at any time and from time to time charge fees for effecting such
redemption or repurchase, at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and
to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and may, at any time and from time to time, pursuant to
such Act and such rules and regulations, suspend such right of redemption. The
procedures for effecting and suspending redemption shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus from time to time. Payment will be made in such manner as described
in the Prospectus.
Section 7.2. Redemption at the Option of the Trust. Each Share of the
Trust or any Series or Class thereof of the Trust shall be subject to
redemption at the option of the Trust at the redemption price which would be
applicable if such Shares were then being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant
to Section 7.1: (i) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole
discretion that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences
to the holders of the Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class, or (ii)
upon such other conditions with respect to maintenance of Shareholder accounts
of a minimum amount as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and
set forth in the then current Prospectus of the Trust. 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.
Section 7.3. Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net Asset Value. If,
pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof, the Trustees shall declare a suspension of the
determination of net asset value with respect to Shares of the Trust or of any
Series thereof, the rights of Shareholders (including those who shall have
applied for redemption pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof but who shall not yet
have received
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payment) to have Shares redeemed and paid for by the Trust or a Series thereof
shall be suspended until the termination of such suspension is declared. Any
record holder who shall have his or her redemption right so suspended may,
during the period of such suspension, by appropriate written notice of
revocation at the office or agency where application was made, revoke any
application for redemption not honored and withdraw any certificates on
deposit. The redemption price of Shares for which redemption applications have
not been revoked shall be the net asset value of such Shares next determined as
set forth in Section 8.1 after the termination of such suspension, and payment
shall be made within seven (7) days after the date upon which the application
was made plus the period after such application during which the determination
of net asset value was suspended.
Section 7.4. Suspension of Right of Redemption. The Trust may declare a
suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or
redemption for the whole or any part of any period (i) during which the New
York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday
closings, (ii) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
restricted, (iii) during which an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by the Trust or a Series thereof of securities owned by it is not
reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust or a
Series thereof fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (iv) during
any other period when the Commission may for the protection of security holders
of the Trust by order permit suspension of the rights of redemption or
postponement of the date of payment or redemption; provided that applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission shall govern as to whether the
conditions prescribed in (ii), (iii) or (iv) exist. Such suspension shall take
effect at such time as the Trust 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 on redemption until
the Trust shall declare the suspension at an end, except that the suspension
shall terminate in any event on the first day on which said stock exchange
shall have reopened or the period specified in (ii) or (iii) shall have expired
(as to which in the absence of an official ruling by the Commission, the
determination of the Trust shall be conclusive). 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 existing after the
termination of the suspension.
ARTICLE VIII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE,
NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 8.1. Net Asset Value. The net asset value of each outstanding
Share of each Series of the Trust shall be determined on such days and at such
time or times as the Trustees may determine. The method of determination of net
asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in
the Prospectus. The power and duty to make the daily calculations may be
designated by the Trustees to any Investment Adviser, the Custodian, the
Transfer Agent or such other person as the Trustees by resolution may
determine. The Trustees may suspend the daily determination of net asset value
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
Section 8.2. Distributions to Shareholders. The Trustees shall from time
to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series
such proportion of the net income, earnings, profits, gains, surplus (including
paid-in surplus), capital, or assets of the Trust or of such Series held by the
Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be made in cash or
property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or
of such Series or any assets thereof), and the Trustees may distribute ratably
among the Shareholders of the Trust or of that Series additional Shares
issuable hereunder in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the
Trustees may deem proper. Such distributions may be among the Shareholders of
record (determined in accordance with the Prospectus) of the Trust or of such
Series at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of
record of the Trust or of such Series at such later date as the Trustees shall
determine. The Trustees may always retain from the net income, earnings,
profits or gains of the Trust or of such Series such amount as they may deem
necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or of such Series or to
meet obligations of the Trust or of such Series, or as they may deem desirable
to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or
extensions of the business. The Trustees may adopt and
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offer to Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series such dividend reinvestment
plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees deem
appropriate.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above
provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their
discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as
capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to
enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
Section 8.3. Determination of Net Income. The Trustees shall have the
power to determine the net income of any Series of the Trust and from time to
time to distribute such net income ratably among the Shareholders as dividends
in cash or additional Shares of such Series issuable hereunder. The
determination of net income and the resultant declaration of dividends shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus. The Trustees shall have full discretion to
determine whether any cash or property received by any Series of the Trust
shall be treated as income or as principal and whether any item of expense
shall be charged to the income or the principal account, and their
determination made in good faith shall be conclusive upon the Shareholders. In
the case of stock dividends received, the Trustees shall have full discretion
to determine, in the light of the particular circumstances, how much, if any,
of the value thereof shall be treated as income, the balance, if any, to be
treated as principal.
Section 8.4. Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII, the Trustees may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the per
Share net asset value of the Shares or net income, or the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions, as they may deem necessary or desirable
to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any rule
or regulation thereunder, including any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to
Section 22 of the 1940 Act by the Commission or any securities association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by said Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may
establish classes or additional Series of Shares in accordance with Section
6.9.
ARTICLE IX
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
Section 9.1. Duration. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time
but subject to the provisions of this Article IX.
Section 9.2. Termination of Trust. (a) The Trust or any Series may be
terminated (i) by a Majority Shareholder Vote at any meeting of Shareholders of
the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, (ii) by an instrument in writing,
without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees or by such other vote
as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any class or Series of
Shares, or (iii) with respect to a Series as provided in Section 6.9(h). Upon
the termination of the Trust or the Series:
(i) The Trust or the Series shall carry on no business except for the
purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustee shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or the
Series and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall
continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including
the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or the Series,
collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or Trust
Property allocated or belonging to such Series to one or more persons at
public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in
part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay
its liabilities, and to do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its
business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust
Property or Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series shall
require Shareholder approval in accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.
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(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all
liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding
agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may
distribute the remaining Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the
Shareholders of the Trust according to their respective rights.
Section 9.3. Amendment Procedure. (a) This Declaration may be amended by a
Majority Shareholder Vote, at a meeting of Shareholders, or by written consent
without a meeting. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the
vote or consent of Shareholders (i) to change the name of the Trust or any
Series or classes of Shares, (ii) to supply any omission, or cure, correct or
supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, (iii) if
they deem it necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of
applicable federal or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code, or to eliminate or reduce any federal, state or local
taxes which are or may be payable by the Trust or the Shareholders, but the
Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do so, or (iv) for any other
purpose which does not adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder with
respect to which the amendment is or purports to be applicable.
(b) No amendment may be made under this Section 9.3 which would change
any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust or of any Series of the
Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust
or of such Series of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting
rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or consent of the holders
of two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or of such Series outstanding and
entitled to vote, or by such other vote as may be established by the
Trustees with respect to any Series or class of Shares. Nothing contained
in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to
impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon
Shareholders.
(c) A certificate signed by a majority of the Trustees or by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Trust, setting forth an
amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Shareholders or by
the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and
executed by a majority of the Trustees or certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence of such
amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust. Unless such amendment
or such certificate sets forth some later time for the effectiveness of
such amendment, such amendment shall be effective when lodged among the
records of the Trust.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the first public offering of securities of the Trust shall have become
effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees.
Section 9.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. The Trust or any
Series thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation,
association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or
substantially all of the Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series, including its good will, upon such terms and
conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized, at any meeting of
Shareholders called for the purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of
not less than two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or such Series outstanding
and entitled to vote, or by an instrument or instruments in writing without a
meeting, consented to by the holders of not less than two-thirds of such
Shares, or by such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with
respect to any series or class of Shares; provided, however, that, if such
merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange is recommended by the Trustees,
a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be sufficient authorization; and any such
merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be deemed for all purposes
to have been accomplished under and pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Section 9.5. Incorporation. With approval of a Majority Shareholder Vote,
or by such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any
Series or class of Shares, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any
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jurisdiction or any other trust, partnership, association or other organization
to take over all of the Trust Property or the Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall
directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the
Trust Property or the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to
any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in
exchange for the shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money
to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts
with any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in
which the Trust or such Series holds or is about to acquire shares or any other
interest. The Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the
Trust or any successor thereto and any such corporation, trust, partnership,
association or other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as
provided under the law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be
construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to organize or
assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships,
associations or other organizations and selling, conveying or transferring a
portion of the Trust Property to such organization or entities.
ARTICLE X
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit or cause the officers of
the Trust to submit to the Shareholders a written financial report of each
Series of the Trust, including financial statements which shall at least
annually be certified by independent public accountants.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1. Filing. This Declaration and any amendment hereto shall be
filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
in such other places as may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may
also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem
appropriate. Each amendment so filed shall be accompanied by a certificate
signed and acknowledged by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Trust stating that such action was duly taken in a manner
provided herein. A restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument
all of the provisions of the Declaration which are then in effect and
operative, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and
shall, upon filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be
conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may thereafter be
referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments
thereto.
Section 11.2. Resident Agent. The CSC Corporation, 84 State Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 is the resident agent of the Trust in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 11.3. Governing Law. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees
and delivered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with reference to the
laws thereof and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of
every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws
of said State.
Section 11.4. Counterparts. The Declaration may be simultaneously executed
in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and
such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument,
which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
Section 11.5. Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust, certifying to: (a)
the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization
of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed
at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of
Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written
instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any
By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or
(f) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the
affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so
certified in favor of any Person dealing with the Trustees and their
successors.
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Section 11.6. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations. (a) The
provisions of the Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the
conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such law or regulation to
the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict; provided, however, that such
determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the
Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to
such determination.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
pertain only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner
affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the
Declaration in any jurisdiction.
Section 11.7. Use of the Name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter." Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter & Co. ("MSDW") has consented to the use by the Trust of the
identifying name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter," which is a property right of
MSDW. The Trust will only use the name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter" as a
component of its name and for no other purpose, and will not purport to grant
to any third party the right to use the name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter" for
any purpose. MSDW, or any corporate affiliate of MSDW, may use or grant to
others the right to use the name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter," or any
combination or abbreviation thereof, as all or a portion of a corporate or
business name or for any commercial purpose, including a grant of such right to
any other investment company. At the request of MSDW, the Trust will take such
action as may be required to provide its consent to the use by MSDW, or any
corporate affiliate of MSDW, or by any person to whom MSDW or an affiliate of
MSDW shall have granted the right to the use, of the name "Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter," or any combination or abbreviation thereof. Upon the termination of
any investment advisory or investment management agreement into which MSDW or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and the Trust may enter, the Trust shall,
upon request by MSDW, cease to use the name "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter" as a
component of its name, and shall not use the name, or any combination or
abbreviation thereof, as part of its name or for any other commercial purpose,
and shall cause its officers, trustees and shareholders to take any and all
actions which MSDW may request to effect the foregoing and to reconvey to MSDW
any and all rights to such name.
Section 11.8. Principal Place of Business. The principal place of business
of the Trust shall be Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or such
other location as the Trustees may designate from time to time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Declaration of
Trust this 14th day of June, 2000.
/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo /s/ Robert S. Giambrone
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo, as Robert S. Giambrone, as
Trustee and not individually Trustee and not individually
Two World Trade Center Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048 New York, New York 10048
/s/ Barry Fink
-------------------------------
Barry Fink, as Trustee
and not individually
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
STATE OF NEW YORK
} ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
On this 14th day of June, 2000, ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE, CHARLES A.
FIUMEFREDDO and BARRY FINK, known to me and known to be the individuals
described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, personally appeared
before me and they severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their
free act and deed.
/s/ Notary Public
-------------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 14th
day of June, 2000.
/s/ Joseph Mazzella
-------------------------------
Joseph Mazzella, as Trustee
and not individually
Boston, MA 02110
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, SS. Boston, MA
June 14, 2000
Then personally appeared before me the above-named who acknowledged the
foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
/s/ Notary Public
-------------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires:
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