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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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SIGNATURE GAIL KNUDSEN
TITLE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
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(KPMG logo)
KPMG
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110-2371
February 21, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sirs:
We were previously independent accountants for the Liberty All-Star Growth
Fund and under the Date of Independent Auditors' Reports listed in Exhibit I,
we reported on the financial statements and financial highlights as of the
Final Audit Dates listed in Exhibit I and for the years or periods covered
by our Independent Auditors' Reports listed in Exhibit I. We have read the
statements made by Colonial Management Associates, which we understand will be
filed in response to Sub-Item 77k of Form N-SAR and we agree with the
statements concerning our firm contained therein.
Very truly yours,
KPMG
Funds Ceasing Client-Auditor Relationship
Exhibit I
Date of
Final Independent
Fund Name Audit Date Auditors' Report
Liberty ALL-STAR Growth Fund December 31, 1998 February 12, 1999
[PricewaterhouseCoopers logo]
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
160 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-9862
To the Shareholders and Trustees of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of Liberty
All-Star Growth Fund (the "Fund") for the year ended December 31, 1999, we
considered its internal control, including control activities for safeguarding
securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of
expressing our opinion on the financial statements and to comply with the
requirements of Form N-SAR, and not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining
internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by
management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit pertain to the
entity's objective of preparing financial statements for external purposes that
are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. Those controls include the safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or fraud may occur
and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of internal control to
future periods is subject to the risk that it may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and operation may
deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters
in internal control that might be material weaknesses under standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more
of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the
risk that misstatements caused by error or fraud in amounts that would be
material in relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not
be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of
performing their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above as of
December 31, 1999.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Trustees of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund and the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than
these specified parties.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, MA
February 11, 2000
Amended October 27, 1999:Article III,Section 1,Appointment of Assistant Officers
Restated
BY-LAWS
OF
LIBERTY ALL-STAR GROWTH FUND, INC.
A Maryland Corporation
As amended through April 23, 1998
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the stockholders of
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (formerly "The Charles Allmon Trust, Inc.")
(the "Corporation") shall be held on a date fixed from time to time by the Board
of Directors within the thirty-one (31) day period ending four (4) months after
the end of the Corporation's fiscal year. An annual meeting may be held at any
place in or out of the State of Maryland as may be determined by the Board of
Directors as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting and at the time
specified by the Board of Directors. Any business of the Corporation may be
transacted at an annual meeting without being specifically designated in the
notice unless otherwise provided by statute, the Corporation's Charter or these
By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of
any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
Corporation's Charter, may be held at any place within the United States, and
may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, by the Chairman of the
Board or by the President, and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board or
President or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of
Directors or at the request in writing of stockholders entitled to cast at least
twenty-five (25) percent of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting upon
payment by such stockholders to the Corporation of the reasonably estimated cost
of preparing and mailing a notice of a meeting (which estimated cost shall be
provided to such stockholders by the Secretary of the Corporation).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless requested by stockholders entitled to cast
a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting, a special meeting of
the stockholders need not be called at the request of stockholders to consider
any matter that is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any special
meeting of the stockholders held during the preceding twelve (12) months. A
written request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
SECTION 3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of the purpose
or purposes and of the time and place of every meeting of the stockholders shall
be given by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote at the meeting, by placing the notice in the mail at least ten
(10) days, but not more than ninety (90) days, prior to the date designated for
the meeting addressed to each stockholder at the address appearing on the books
of the Corporation or supplied by the stockholder to the Corporation for the
purpose of notice. The notice of any meeting of stockholders may be accompanied
by a form of proxy approved by the Board of Directors in favor of the actions or
persons as the Board of Directors may select. Notice of any meeting of
stockholders shall be deemed waived by any stockholder who attends the meeting
in person or by proxy, who before or after the meeting submits a signed waiver
of notice that is filed with the records of the meeting.
SECTION 4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
Corporation's Charter, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders of the
Corporation entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of the stockholders and all
questions shall be decided by majority vote of the shares so represented in
person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote. In the absence of a
quorum, the stockholders present in person or by proxy at the meeting, by
majority vote and without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, may
adjourn the meeting from time to time as provided in Section 5 of this Article I
until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at any duly organized
meeting may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. The absence from
any meeting in person or by proxy of holders of the number of shares of stock of
the Corporation in excess of a majority that may be required by the laws of the
State of Maryland, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or other applicable
statute, the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, for
action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at the meeting on any
other matter or matters that may properly come before the meeting, so long as
there are present, in person or by proxy, holders of the number of shares of
stock of the Corporation required for action upon the other matter or matters.
SECTION 5. Adjournment. Any meeting of the stockholders may be
adjourned from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the
meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting at which a
quorum shall be present any action may be taken that could have been taken at
the meeting originally called. A meeting of the stockholders may not be
adjourned to a date more than one-hundred-twenty (120) days after the original
record date.
SECTION 6. Organization. At every meeting of the stockholders, the
Chairman of the Board, or in his absence or inability to act, the President, or
in his absence or inability to act, a Vice President, or in the absence or
inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, the President and all the Vice
Presidents, a chairman chosen by the stockholders, shall act as chairman of the
meeting. The Secretary, or in the absence or inability to act, a person
appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting
and keep the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 7. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings
of the stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION 8. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the
Corporation's Charter, each holder of record of shares of stock of the
Corporation having voting power shall be entitled at each meeting of the
stockholders to one (1) vote for every share of stock standing in his name on
the records of the Corporation as of the record date determined pursuant to
Section 9 of this Article I.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may
authorize another person or persons to act from him by a proxy signed by the
stockholder or his attorney-in-fact. The placing of a shareholder's name on a
proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions obtained
pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have
been authorized by such shareholder shall constitute execution or signature of
such proxy by or on behalf of such shareholder. No proxy shall be valid after
the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the
stockholder executing it, except in those cases in which the proxy states that
it is irrevocable and in which an irrevocable proxy is permitted by law.
SECTION 9. Fixing of Record Date for Determining Stockholders Entitled
to Vote at Meeting. The Board of Directors may set a record date for the purpose
of determining stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders.
The record date for a particular meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) for
fewer than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting. All persons who were
holders of record of shares as of the record date of a meeting, and no others,
shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof.
SECTION 10. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any
meeting of stockholders, appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the
meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting. If the inspectors shall not be so
appointed or if any of them shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the
meeting may appoint inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the
discharge of his duties, shall, if required by the chairman of the meeting, take
and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at the meeting
with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The
inspectors shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power
of each share, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of
a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes,
ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in
connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or
consents, determine the result, and do those acts as are proper to conduct the
election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the chairman
of the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, the
inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request or matter
determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No
director or candidate for the office of director shall act as inspector of an
election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION 11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as
otherwise provided by statute or the Corporation's Charter, any action required
to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action that
may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, may be taken
without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if the following are
filed with the records of stockholders' meetings: (a) an unanimous written
consent that sets for the action and is signed by each stockholder entitled to
vote on the matter and (b) a written waiver of any right to dissent signed by
each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting but not entitled to vote at
the meeting.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the
Corporation's Charter, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. All powers of the
Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors
except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by law, by the
Corporation's Charter or by these By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Number, Election and Term of Directors. The number of
directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors adopted by a majority of the directors then in office; provided,
however, that the number of directors shall in no event be fewer than three (3)
nor more then nine (9). The Board of Directors shall be divided into three
classes. Within the limits above specified, the number of directors in each
class shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the
stockholders at the annual meeting thereof. The term of office of the first
class shall expire on the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders. The
term of office of the second class shall expire one year thereafter. The term of
office of the third class shall expire two years thereafter. Upon expiration of
the term of office in each class as set forth above, the number of directors in
such class, as determined by the Board of Directors, shall be elected for a term
of three years to succeed the directors whose terms of office expire. The
directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as
provided in Section 5 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified, or
until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been removed as
provided in these By-Laws, or as otherwise provided by statute or the
Corporation's Charter. Any vacancy created by an increase in directors may be
filled in accordance with Section 5 of this Article II. No reduction in the
number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director from office
prior to the expiration of his term unless the director is specifically removed
pursuant to Section 4 of this Article II at the time of the decrease. A director
need not be a stockholder of the Corporation, a citizen of the United States or
a resident of the State of Maryland.
SECTION 3. Resignation. A director of the Corporation may resign at any
time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors or
the Chairman of the Board or to the President or the Secretary of the
Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the time specified in it or,
should the time when it is to become effective not be specified in it,
immediately upon its receipt. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective unless the resignation states otherwise.
SECTION 4. Removal of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may be
removed by the stockholders with or without cause by a vote of a majority of the
votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors.
SECTION 5. Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, any vacancies in the Board of Directors, whether arising
from death, resignation, removal or any other cause except an increase in the
number of directors, shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the Board of
Directors then in office even though that majority is less than a quorum,
provided that no vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by action of the remaining
directors if, after the filling of the vacancy or vacancies, fewer than
two-thirds of the directors then holding office shall have been elected by the
stockholders of the Corporation. A majority of the entire Board may fill a
vacancy that results from an increase in the number of directors. In the event
that at any time a vacancy exists in any office of a director that may not be
filled by the remaining directors, a special meeting of the stockholders shall
be held as promptly as possible and in any event within sixty (60) days, for the
purpose of filling the vacancy or vacancies. Any director appointed by the Board
of Directors to fill a vacancy shall hold office only until the next annual
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and until a successor has been
elected and qualifies or until his earlier resignation or removal. Any director
elected by the stockholders to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the balance
of the term of the director whose death, resignation or removal occasioned the
vacancy and until a successor has been elected and qualified or until his
earlier resignation or removal.
SECTION 6. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at any
place that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or that is
specified in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 7. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held without notice at the time and place determined by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 8. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by two (2) or more directors of the Corporation or by
the Chairman of the Board or the President.
SECTION 9. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the newly elected and
other directors shall be held as soon as practicable after the meeting of
stockholders at which the newly elected directors were elected. No notice of
such annual meeting shall be necessary if held immediately after the
adjournment, and at the site, of the meeting of stockholders. If not so held,
notice shall be given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board
of Directors.
SECTION 10. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of each special meeting
of the Board of Directors shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter
provided. Each notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and shall be
delivered to each director, either personally or by telephone or other standard
form of telecommunication, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time at
which the meeting is to be held, or by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the director at his residence or usual place of business, and
mailed at least three (3) days before the day on which the meeting is to be
held.
SECTION 11. Waiver of Notice of Meetings. Notice of any special meeting
need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting,
sign a written waiver of notice that is filed with the records of the meeting or
who shall attend the meeting.
SECTION 12. Quorum and Voting. One-third (1/3), but not fewer than two
(2) of the members of the entire Board of Directors shall be present in person
at any meeting of the Board so as to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at the meeting, and except as otherwise expressly required by statute,
the Corporation's Charter, these By-Laws, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or
any other applicable statute, the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. In the
absence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors
present may adjourn the meeting to another time and place until a quorum shall
be present. Notice of the time and place of any adjourned meeting shall be given
to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment and, unless
the time and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was
taken, to the other directors. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the
meeting as originally called.
SECTION 13. Organization. The Board of Directors may designate a
Chairman of the Board, who shall preside at each meeting of the Board. In the
absence or inability of the Chairman of the Board to act, the President, or, in
his absence or inability to act, another director chosen by a majority of the
directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside at the
meeting. The Secretary (or, in his absence or inability to act, any person
appointed by the chairman) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the
minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or
more committees of the Board of Directors, each consisting of one (1) or more
directors. To the extent provided in the resolution, and permitted by law, the
committee or committees shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business affairs of the Corporation. Any
committee or committees shall have the name or names determined from time to
time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep
regular minutes of its meetings and provide those minutes to the Board of
Directors when required. The members of a committee present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the
place of an absent member.
SECTION 15. Written Consent of Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Subject
to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the
writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board
or committee.
SECTION 16. Telephone Conference. Members of the Board of Directors of
any committee of the Board may participate in any Board or committee meeting by
means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same
time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the
meeting.
SECTION 17. Compensation. Each director shall be entitled to receive
compensation, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of
Directors, including a fee for each meeting of the Board or any committee
thereof, regular or special, he attends. Directors may also be reimbursed by the
Corporation for all reasonable expenses incurred in traveling to and from the
place of a Board or committee meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation
shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President, a Treasurer, a Controller and a
Secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may also appoint any other officers, agents and employees it deems
necessary or proper. Any two (2) or more officers may be held by the same
person, except the office of President, but no officer shall execute,
acknowledge or verify in more than one (1) capacity any instrument required by
law to be executed, acknowledged or verified in more than one capacity. The
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer, the Controller and the
Secretary shall be elected by the Board of Directors each year at its first
meeting held after the annual meeting of stockholders, each to hold office until
the meeting of the Board following the next annual meeting of the stockholders
and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have
qualified, or until his or her death, or until he or she shall have resigned or
have been removed, as provided in these By-Laws. Other elected officers are
elected by the Directors. Assistant officers may be appointed by the elected
officers. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold
their offices for such terms as may be prescribed by the Board or by the
appointing authority. Any officer other than the Chairman of the Board may be
but none need be, a Director, and any officer may be, but none need be a
stockholder of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at
any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary. Any
resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when
it shall become effective is not specified therein, immediately upon its
receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.
SECTION 3. Removal of Officer, Agent or Employee. Any officer, agent or
employee of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors with or
without cause at any time, and the Board may delegate the power of removal as to
agents and employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office, whether arising from
death, resignation, removal or any other cause, may be filled for the unexpired
portion of the term of the office that shall be vacant, in the manner prescribed
in these By-Laws for the regular election or appointment to that office.
SECTION 5. Compensation. The compensation, if any, of the officers of
the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, but this power may be
delegated to any officer with respect to other officers under his control.
SECTION 6. Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board, any
officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall give a bond or other
security for the faithful performance of his or her duties, in an amount and
with any surety or sureties as the Board may require.
SECTION 7. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be a
Director of the Corporation and, unless the Board shall specify otherwise, shall
preside at meetings of the Board and of the Stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION 8. President. The President shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation and shall have, subject to the control of the Board
of Directors, general charge of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and
may employ and discharge employees and agents of the Corporation, except those
elected or appointed by the Board, and he or she may delegate these powers.
SECTION 9. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have the powers
and perform the duties that the President or the Board of Directors may from
time to time prescribe. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice
President or, if there be more than one Vice President, any Vice President
designated by the Directors, shall perform all the duties and may exercise any
of the powers of the President, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the principal financial
and accounting officer of the Corporation. He or she shall deliver all funds of
the Corporation which may come into his or her hands to any custodian appointed
by or pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors. He or she shall
render a statement of condition of the finances of the Corporation to the
Directors as often as they shall require the same, and he or she shall in
general perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such
other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 11. Assistant Treasurers. In the absence or disability of the
Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, or, if there be more than one, any Assistant
Treasurer designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties,
and may exercise all the powers, of the Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurers, if
any, shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to
them by the Treasurer or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 12. Controller. The Controller shall be the chief accounting
officer of the Corporation and shall have control of all its books of account.
He or she shall see that correct and complete books and records of account are
kept as required by law, showing fully, in such form as he or she shall
prescribe, all transactions of the Corporation, and he or she shall require,
keep and preserve all vouchers relating thereto for such period as may be
necessary. The Controller shall render periodically such financial statements
and such other reports relating to the Corporation's business as may be required
by the President or the Board. He or she shall generally perform all duties
appertaining to the office of controller of a corporation.
SECTION 13. Assistant Controllers. In the absence or disability of the
Controller, the Assistant Controller, or, if there be more than one, any
Assistant Controller designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all of
the duties, and may exercise all of the powers, of the Controller. The Assistant
Controllers, if any, shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to them by the Controller or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 14. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all
meetings of the Directors and of all meetings of the Stockholders of the
Corporation in proper books provided for that purpose; he or she shall have
custody of the seal of the Corporation; he or she shall have charge of the share
transfer books, lists and records unless the same are in the charge of the
Corporation's transfer agent. He or she shall attend to the giving and serving
of all notices by the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of these
By-Laws and as required by law; and subject to these By-Laws, he or she shall in
general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Directors.
SECTION 15. Assistant Secretaries. In the absence or disability of the
Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, or, if there be more than one, any Assistant
Secretary designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all of the duties,
and may exercise all of the powers, of the Secretary. The Assistant Secretaries,
if any, shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to
them by the Secretary or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 16. Delegation of Duties. In case of the absence or disability
of any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason that the Board of
Directors may deem sufficient, the Board may confer for the time being the
powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer upon any other officer or upon
any Director.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
STOCK
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. Unless otherwise provided by the Board
of Directors and permitted by law, each holder of stock of the Corporation shall
be entitled upon specific written request to such person as may be designated by
the Corporation to have a certificate or certificates, in a form approved by the
Board, representing the number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by
him; provided, however, that certificates for fractional shares will not be
delivered in any case. The certificates representing shares of stock shall be
signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and sealed with the seal of the
Corporation. Any or all of the signatures or the seal on the certificate may be
facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before the certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if the
officer, transfer agent or registrar was still in office at the date of issue.
SECTION 2. Stock Ledger. There shall be maintained a stock ledger
containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of
stock of each class the shareholder holds. The stock ledger may be in written
form or any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into
written form for visual inspection. The original or a duplicate of the stock
ledger shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation or at any other
office or agency specified by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. Transfers of Shares. Transfers of shares of stock of the
Corporation shall be made on the stock records of the Corporation only by the
registered holder of the shares, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by
power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a transfer
agent or transfer clerk, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates, if
issued, for the shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock
transfer power and the payment of all taxes thereon. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive
right of a person in whose name any share or shares stand on the record of
stockholders as the owner of the share or shares for all purposes, including,
without limitation, the rights to receive dividends or other distributions and
to vote as the owner, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or legal claim to or interest in any such share or shares on the part
of any other person.
SECTION 4. Regulations. The Board of Directors may authorize the
issuance of uncertificated securities if permitted by law. If stock certificates
are issued, the Board of Directors may make any additional rules and
regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem expedient
concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of
stock of the Corporation. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or
officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents or one or more transfer clerks
and one or more registrars and may require all certificates for shares of stock
to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
SECTION 5. Lost, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. The holder of any
certificate representing shares of stock of the Corporation shall immediately
notify the Corporation of its loss, destruction or mutilation and the
Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate
issued by it that has been alleged to have been lost or destroyed or that shall
have been mutilated. The Board may, in its discretion, require the owner (or his
legal representative) of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate: to give the
Corporation a bond in a sum, limited or unlimited, and in a form and with any
surety or sureties, as the Board in its absolute discretion shall determine, to
indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on
account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate, or issuance
of a new certificate. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board
of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may refuse to issue any such new
certificate, except pursuant to legal proceedings under the laws of the State of
Maryland.
SECTION 6. Fixing of Record Date for Dividends, Distributions, etc. The
Board may fix, in advance, a date not more than ninety (90) days preceding the
date fixed for the payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution or
the allotment of rights to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, or for
the delivery of evidences of rights or evidences of interests arising out of any
change, conversion or exchange of common stock or other securities, as the
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive any
such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interest, and in such case
only the stockholders of record at the time so fixed shall be entitled to
receive such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests.
SECTION 7. Information to Stockholders and Others. Any stockholder of
the Corporation or his agent may inspect and copy during the Corporation's usual
business hours the Corporation's By-Laws, minutes of the proceedings of its
stockholders, annual statements of its affairs and voting trust agreements on
file at its principal office.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation
shall indemnify its directors to the fullest extent that indemnification of
directors is permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The Corporation
shall indemnify its officers to the same extent as its directors and to such
further extent as is consistent with law. The Corporation shall indemnify its
directors and officers who while serving as directors or officers also serve at
the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan to the fullest extent
consistent with law. The indemnification and other rights provided by this
Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer
and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of
such a person. This Article shall not protect any such a person against any
liability to the Corporation or any stockholder thereof to which such person
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
office ("disabling conduct").
SECTION 2. Advances. Any current or former director or officer of the
Corporation claiming indemnification within the scope of this Article V shall be
entitled to advances from the Corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses
incurred by him in connection with proceedings to which he is a party in the
manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the Maryland General
Corporation Law. The person seeking indemnification shall provide to the
Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that the standard of
conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met and a
written undertaking to repay any such advance, if it should ultimately be
determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In addition, at lease
one of the following additional conditions shall be met: (a) the person seeking
indemnification shall provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the
Corporation for his undertaking; (b) the Corporation is insured against losses
arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of directors of
the Corporation who are neither "interested persons" as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 nor parties to the proceeding
("disinterested non-party directors"), or independent legal counsel, in a
written opinion, shall have determined, based in a review of facts readily
available to the Corporation at the time the advance is proposed to be made,
that there is reason to believe that the person seeking indemnification will
ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification.
SECTION 3. Procedure. At the request of any person claiming
indemnification under this Article, the Board of Directors shall determine, or
cause to be determined, in a manner consistent with the Maryland General
Corporation Law, whether the standards required by this Article have been met.
Indemnification shall be made only following: (a) 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 or (b) in the
absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of
the facts, that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of
disabling conduct, by (i) the vote of a majority of a quorum of disinterested
non-party directors or (ii) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
SECTION 4. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Employees and
agents who are not officers or directors of the Corporation may be indemnified,
and reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or agents, as may be
provided by action of the Board of Directors or by contract subject to any
limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 5. Other Rights. The Board of Directors may make further
provision consistent with law for indemnification and advance of expenses to
directors, officers, employees and agents by resolution, agreement or otherwise.
The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other right, with respect to indemnification or otherwise, to which those
seeking indemnification may be entitled under any insurance or other agreement
or resolution of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
SECTION 6. Amendments. References in this Article are to the Maryland
General Corporation Law and to the Investment Company Act of 1940 as from time
to time amended. No amendment of these By-Laws shall affect any right of any
person under this Article based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to
the amendment.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall bear
the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation, the words "Corporate
Seal" and "Maryland" and any emblem or device approved by the Board of
Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile to be impressed or
affixed or in any other manner reproduced, or by placing the word ("seal")
adjacent to the signature of the authorized officer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 1. Fiscal Year. The Corporation's fiscal year shall be fixed
by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Accountant.
(a) The Corporation shall employ an independent public accountant or a
firm of independent public accountants of national reputation as its Accountant
to examine the accounts of the Corporation and to sign and certify financial
statements filed by the Corporation. The Accountant's certificates and reports
shall be addressed both to the Board of Directors and to the stockholders. The
employment of the Accountant shall be conditioned upon the right of the
Corporation to terminate the employment forthwith without any penalty by vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities at any stockholders' meeting
called for that purpose.
(b) A majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not
"interested persons" (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of the Corporation shall select the Accountant at any meeting held within
thirty (30) days before or after the beginning of the fiscal year of the
Corporation or before the annual stockholders' meeting in that year. Such
selection shall be submitted for ratification or rejection at the next
succeeding annual stockholders' meeting. If such meeting shall reject such
selection, the Accountant shall be selected by majority vote of the
Corporation's outstanding voting securities, either at the meeting at which the
rejection occurred or at a subsequent meeting of stockholders called for that
purpose.
(c) Any vacancy occurring between annual meetings, due to the
resignation of the Accountant, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Corporation, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such action.
ARTICLE VIII
CUSTODY OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1. Employment of a Custodian. The Corporation shall place and
at all times maintain in the custody of a Custodian (including any sub-custodian
for the Custodian) all funds, securities and similar investments owned by the
Corporation. The Custodian (and any sub-custodian) shall be an institution
conforming to the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. The
Custodian shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors, which
shall fix its renumeration.
SECTION 2. Termination of Custodian Agreement. Upon termination of the
Custodian Agreement or inability of the Custodian to continue to serve, the
Board of Directors shall promptly appoint a successor custodian, but in the
event that no successor Custodian can be found who has the required
qualifications and is willing to serve, the Board of Directors shall call as
promptly as possible a special meeting of the stockholders to determine whether
the Corporation shall function without a Custodian or shall be liquidated. If so
directed by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock
entitled to vote of the Corporation, the Custodian shall deliver and pay over
all property of the Corporation held by it as specified in such vote.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of
1940.
