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Sub-Item 77C: Submission of matters to a vote of security holders
At Registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on January 13, 2006, the following proposals were voted upon:
The proposal to approve a new Investment Advisory Agreement with Davis- Dinsmore Management Company passed, as 6,190,195 shares voted for, 967,567 shares voted against, 311,084 shares abstained, and 1,179,405 shares were broker non-votes.
The proposal to eliminate the Fund's fundamental investment restriction related to investments in unseasoned issuers passed, as 5,947,552 shares voted for, 1,108,525 shares voted against, 412,769 shares abstained, and 1,179,405 shares were broker non-votes.
The proposed Agreement of Merger which provides for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust was approved at an adjourned meeting held on February 13, 2006, as 6,329,212 shares voted for, 1,203,767 shares voted against, 513,858 shares abstained, and 1,002,831 shares were broker non- votes.
The proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation that would give shareholders the right to tender their shares during the current fiscal year did not pass, as 2,038,349 shares voted for, 4,991,596 shares voted against, 438,901 shares abstained, and 1,179,405 shares were broker non-votes.
Sub-item 77D: Policies with respect to security investments
The Fund currently has a non-fundamental investment objective of investing primarily in convertible securities with the objectives of providing income and the potential for capital appreciation (which objectives the Fund considers to be relatively equal due to the nature of the securities in which it invests).
Also, the Fund currently has a fundamental investment policy providing that under normal market conditions it will invest at least 65% of its total assets in convertible securities (that is, bonds, debentures, corporate notes or preferred stock that are convertible into common stock) and common stock received upon conversion or exchange of securities and retained in the Fund's portfolio to permit orderly disposition or to establish long-term holding periods for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund has eliminated the following two non-fundamental policies:
(1) The Fund expects that a substantial majority of its assets will consist of convertible securities; and
(2) The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its assets (consisting of net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in convertible securities.
These non-fundamental changes became effective as of January 31, 2006. Fund shareholders were provided 60 days notice of these changes in November 2005.
Sub-Item 77M: Mergers
On February 17, 2006, Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund, Inc. , a Maryland corporation, (the "Company") changed its form of organization by merging with and into Ellsworth Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust, (the "Trust"), pursuant to a plan of reorganization approved by the Company's shareholders on February 13, 2006. The reorganization was approved by the Directors of the Company on November 18, 2005 (See Item 77C for information on the shareholder vote.)
Sub-item 77Q1: Exhibits
(a) Trust agreement and declaration of trust
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
ELLSWORTH FUND LTD.
WHEREAS, THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of Ellsworth Fund
Ltd., dated October 17, 2005, is hereby amended and restated effective as of
January 16, 2006 among Gordon F. Ahalt, Elizabeth C. Bogan, Thomas H. Dinsmore,
Donald M. Halsted, Duncan O. McKee, Robert J. McMullan, Jane D. O'Keeffe and
Nicolas W. Platt, as the Trustees, and each person who becomes a Shareholder in
accordance with the terms hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees do hereby declare that all money and
property contributed to the trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust
under this Agreement for the benefit of the Shareholders as herein set forth
below.
ARTICLE I
NAME, DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE AND CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
Section 1.1 Name. The name of the statutory trust established hereby is
Ellsworth Fund Ltd., and the Trustees may transact the Trust's affairs in that
name. The Trust shall constitute a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with
the Delaware Act.
Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required
by the context or specifically provided:
(a) "Affiliated Person," "Company," "Person," and "Principal Underwriter"
shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act, as modified by or
interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or
any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the
Commission thereunder. The term "Commission" shall have the meaning
given it in the 1940 Act;
(b) "Agreement" means this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as it may
be amended or amended and restated from time to time;
(c) "Bylaws" means the Bylaws referred to in Section 4.1(e), as from time
to time amended;
(d) "Cause" means that a Trustee has been found, in a final
determination, to have engaged in gross negligence, willful
misconduct or fraud, to have committed a material breach of this
Agreement or to have been convicted of a felony. For purposes of
this definition, "final determination" means (i) a determination set
forth in a binding settlement agreement signed by the Trustee alleged
to have committed an act arguably justifying removal, (ii) if
judicial relief is permitted hereunder, a final judicial
determination, not subject to further appeal, by a court of competent
jurisdiction, or (iii) if arbitration is required by applicable law,
a final arbitral determination not subject to further review;
(e) "Class" means a portion of Shares of the Trust established in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.3;
(f) "Common Shares" has the meaning specified in Sections 2.3;
(g) "Covered Person" means a person who is or was a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust, or is or was serving at the request
of the Trustees as a director, trustee, partner, officer, employee or
agent of a corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture or other
enterprise;
(h) The "Delaware Act" refers to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12
Del. C. ss 3801 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time;
(i) "Exempt Conversion" means a conversion of the Trust or a class
thereof where, after giving effect to such conversion, based on the
number of Outstanding Shares as of the date selected by the Trustees,
the Shareholders of the Trust or such Class will have the majority of
the outstanding shares of the converted Company or Class, as the case
may be;
(j) "Exempt Dissolution" means the dissolution of the Trust or Class
thereof where, as of the date on which the Trustees have determined
to so dissolve the Trust or such Class, there are fewer than 100
holders of record of the Trust or of such dissolving Class;
(k) "Exempt Merger" means a merger or consolidation of the Trust or any
Class thereof with or into another Company where either (A) the
primary purpose of such merger or consolidation is to change the
Trust's domicile or form of organization or (B) after giving effect
to such merger or consolidation, based on the number of Outstanding
Shares as of a date selected by the Trustees, the Shareholders of the
Trust or such Class will have a majority of the outstanding shares of
the surviving Company or Class, as the case may be;
(l) "Exempt Sale" means a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially
all the assets of the Trust to any Person where the primary purpose
of such sale is to change the Trust's domicile or form of
organization;
(m) "Fund complex" has the meaning specified in Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time;
(n) "Governing Instrument" means collectively this Agreement, the Bylaws,
all amendments to this Agreement and the Bylaws, all written
committee charters adopted by the Trustees, and every resolution of
the Trustees or any committee of the Trustees that by its terms is
incorporated by reference into this Agreement or stated to constitute
part of the Trust's Governing Instrument;
(o) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act;
(p) "Majority Shareholder Vote" means "the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Trust or Class, as applicable;
(q) "Majority Trustee Vote" means the vote of a majority of the total
number of Trustees then holding office;
(r) The "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time, and the rules promulgated thereunder;
(s) "Outstanding Shares" means Shares shown on the books of the Trust or
the Trust's transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but
excludes Shares of the Trust that the Trust has redeemed or
repurchased;
(t) "Principal Shareholder" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2(b);
(u) "Shareholder" means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the
Trust;
(v) "Shares" means, as to the Trust or Class thereof, the equal
proportionate transferable units of beneficial interest into which
the beneficial interest of the Trust or such Class thereof shall be
divided and may include fractions of Shares in 1/1000th of a Share or
integral multiples thereof as well as whole Shares;
(w) The "Trust" means Ellsworth Fund Ltd., the Delaware statutory trust
established hereby;
(x) The "Trustees" means the individuals who have signed this Agreement
as trustees so long as they shall continue to serve as trustees of
the Trust in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other
individuals who may from time to time be duly appointed as Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4, or elected as Trustee
by the Shareholders, and reference herein to a Trustee or to the
Trustees shall refer to such individuals in their capacity as
Trustees hereunder; and
(y) "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.
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and
carry on the business of a management investment company registered under the
1940 Act by investing primarily in securities and other Trust Property and to
carry on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine
pursuant to their authority under this Agreement.
Section 1.4 Certificate of Trust. Immediately upon the execution of this
Agreement, the Trustees shall file a Certificate of Trust in the Office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE II
BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 2.1 Shares of Beneficial Interest. The Trust is authorized to
issue shares of beneficial interests. The beneficial interests of the Trust
shall be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, with par value of $0.01
per Share. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation, Shares
issued in connection with a dividend or other distribution in Shares or a split
or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 2.2 Issuance of Shares. Except as otherwise provided for
herein, the Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, without vote
of the Shareholders, issue Shares, in addition to the then issued and
Outstanding Shares, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of
consideration, subject to applicable law, including cash or securities, at such
time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may
in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets
subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and
businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue
fractional Shares. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the
Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Contributions to the Trust
may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed or repurchased as, whole
Shares and/or 1/100th of a Share or integral multiples thereof.
Section 2.3 Establishment of Classes. The Trust shall initially have
one Class, with an unlimited number of Shares. The Trustees hereby establish
and designate, as the Trust's initial Class, Shares, having the powers,
preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions described in
Sections 2.5 and 2.6 (the "Common Shares").
Section 2.4 Actions Affecting Classes. Subject to the right of
Shareholders, if any, to vote pursuant to Section 6.1 and except as otherwise
provided for herein, the Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their
sole discretion without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the
Shareholders of the Trust or any Class thereof, to establish and designate and
to change in any manner any Class of the Trust; to fix or change such
preferences, voting powers, rights, and privileges of any Class, as the
Trustees may from time to time determine, including any change that may
adversely affect a Shareholder; to divide or combine the Shares of any Class
into a greater or lesser number; to classify or reclassify or convert any
issued Shares of any Class thereof into one or more Classes of Shares of the
Trust; and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees
may deem desirable. The Trust and any Class thereof may issue any number of
Shares but need not issue any Shares. At any time there are no Outstanding
Shares of any Class previously established and designated, the Trustees may
abolish such Class and the establishment and designation thereof.
Section 2.5 Relative Rights and Preferences. Unless any resolution
adopted pursuant to Section 2.3 otherwise provides, Shares of the Class thereof
established hereunder shall have the following relative rights and preferences:
(a) Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to
any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or the
Trustees, whether of the same or other Class.
(b) Shares redeemed or repurchased by the Trust shall be deemed to be
canceled.
(c) The Trust may issue Shares in fractional denominations of 1/100th of a
Share or integral multiples thereof to the same extent as its whole
Shares, and Shares in fractional denominations shall be Shares having
proportionately to the respective fractions represented thereby all
the rights of whole Shares of the same Class, including without
limitation, the right to vote, the right to receive dividends and
distributions and the right to participate in distribution of Trust
property upon termination of the Trust, but excluding the right to
receive a certificate representing fractional Shares.
All references to Shares in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
shares of any Class of the Trust. All provisions herein relating to the Trust
shall apply to the Class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires.
Section 2.6 Additional Rights and Preferences of Common Shares.
(a) Each Common Share shall represent an equal pro rata interest in the
assets belonging to the Trust and shall have identical voting,
dividend, liquidation and other rights, preferences, powers,
restrictions, limitations, qualifications and designations and terms
and conditions with each other Common Share.
(b) In the event of the termination of the Trust the holders of the
Common Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata the net
distributable assets of the Trust.
(c) The holders of the Common Shares shall not, as such holders, have any
right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any Common Shares or
securities of the Trust which it may hereafter issue or sell, other
than such right, if any, as the Trustees in their discretion may
determine.
(d) Dividends or other distributions, when, as and if declared by the
Trustees, shall be shared equally by the holders of Common Shares on
a Share for Share basis. The Trustees may direct that any dividends
or other distributions or any portion thereof as declared and
distributed shall be paid in cash to the holder, or, alternatively,
may direct that any such dividends be reinvested in full and
fractional Shares of the Trust, if such holder elects to have them
reinvested.
(e) Common Shares may be issued from time to time, without the vote of
the Shareholders (or, if the Trustees in their sole discretion deem
advisable, with the vote of Shareholders), either for cash or for
such other consideration (which may be in any one or more instances a
certain specified consideration or certain specified considerations)
and on such terms as the Trustees, from time to time, may deem
advisable, and the Trust may in such manner acquire other assets
(including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection
with the assumption of liabilities).
Section 2.7 Investment in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the
Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such
consideration, which may consist of cash or tangible or intangible property or
a combination thereof, as the Trustees from time to time may authorize. At the
Trustees' sole discretion, such investments, subject to applicable law, may be
in the form of cash or securities in which the Trust is authorized to invest,
valued as provided in applicable law. Each such investment shall be recorded
in the individual Shareholder's account in the form of full and fractional
Shares of the Class.
Section 2.8 Personal Liability of Shareholders. Neither the Trust nor
the Trustees, nor any officer, employee, or agent of the Trust shall have any
power to bind personally any Shareholder or to call upon any Shareholder for
the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the
Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for
any Shares or otherwise. The Shareholders shall be entitled, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, to the same limitation of personal
liability as is extended under the Delaware General Corporation Law to
stockholders of private corporations for profit. Every note, bond, contract or
other undertaking issued by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees relating
to the Trust shall include a recitation limiting the obligation represented
thereby to the Trust and the assets belonging thereto (but the omission of such
a recitation shall not operate to bind any Shareholder or Trustee of the Trust
or otherwise limit any benefits set forth in the Delaware Act that may be
applicable to such Persons).
Section 2.9 Assent to Agreement. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having
purchased a Share, shall be held to have expressly assented to, and agreed to
be bound by, the terms hereof. The death of a Shareholder during the
continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor, except as
required by applicable law, entitle the representative of any deceased
Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere
against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to rights of said decedent under
the Governing Instrument.
ARTICLE III
THE TRUSTEES
Section 3.1 Management of the Trust. The Board of Trustees shall have
exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of
the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the
Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of
delegation as may be permitted by this Agreement. The Board of Trustees shall
have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on their operations
in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the
State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in
the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories,
dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in
any and all foreign jurisdictions and to do all such other things and execute
all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to
promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein
specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of
the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In
construing the provisions of this Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor
of a grant of power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power in this Agreement shall not be
construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Board of Trustees
may be exercised without order of or resort to any court or other authority.
Section 3.2 Trustees. The number of Trustees on the Board of Trustees
shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a majority of the
Trustees; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be
less than three (3) nor more than ten (10). The Trustees as of the date hereof
are those first identified above. A majority of the Trustees shall be
Independent Trustees.
Section 3.3 Classification of Board; Terms of Office of Trustees.
(a) The Board of Trustees shall be classified, with respect to their
respective terms of office, into three classes: Class I, Class II and
Class III. The number of Trustees in each Class shall be as nearly
equal in number as reasonably possible. The Trustees in each Class
shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
Each member of the Board of Trustees in Class I shall hold office
until the meeting of Shareholders to elect Trustees in 2009; each
member of the Board of Trustees in Class II shall hold office until
the meeting of Shareholders to elect Trustees in 2007; and each
member of the Board of Trustees in Class III shall hold office until
the meeting of Shareholders to elect Trustees in 2008. At each
meeting of the Shareholders to elect Trustees, the successors to the
Class of Trustees whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected
to hold office for a term of three years and until the election and
qualification of their respective successors. As of the date of this
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees
in Class I are Jane D. O'Keeffe and Robert J. McMullan. The Trustees
in Class II are Gordon F. Ahalt, Elizabeth C. Bogan and Nicolas W.
Platt. The Trustees in Class III are Thomas H. Dinsmore, Donald M.
Halsted and Duncan O. McKee. The Board of Trustees shall, by one or
more resolutions, further classify any additional Trustees. Each
such resolution is hereby incorporated herein by this reference and
made a part of the Governing Instrument whether or not expressly
stated in such resolution, and shall be effective upon the occurrence
of the date stated therein (or, if no such date is stated, upon the
date of such adoption).
(b) For the duration of their terms, the Trustees shall hold office
during the lifetime of this Trust, and until its termination as
herein provided; except that (A) any Trustee may resign his
trusteeship or may retire by written instrument signed by him and
delivered to the other Trustees, which shall take effect upon such
delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (B) any
Trustee may be removed at any time by written instrument, signed by
at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal,
specifying the date when such removal shall become effective; (C) any
Trustee who has died, become physically or mentally incapacitated by
reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may
be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other
Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; (D) a Trustee may be
removed for Cause at any meeting of the Shareholders as provided for
in Section 6.2(a)(7); and (E) a Trustee shall be retired in
accordance with the terms of any retirement policy adopted by the
Trustees and in effect from time to time.
Section 3.4 Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees. In case of the
declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement or removal of a Trustee,
or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an increase in the number of
Trustees, a vacancy shall occur. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees
shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the other Trustees shall have all
the powers hereunder and the determination of the other Trustees of such
vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing vacancy, the remaining
Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing such other person as they in their
discretion shall see fit, or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the
number of Trustees to not less than three (3) Trustees. Such appointment shall
be evidenced by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees in
office or by resolution of the Trustees, duly adopted, which shall be recorded
in the minutes of a meeting of the Trustees, whereupon the appointment shall
take effect.
An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in
office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement,
resignation, or removal of a Trustee, or an increase in number of Trustees
effective at a later date, provided that said appointment shall become
effective only at the time or after the expected vacancy occurs. As soon as
any Trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.4 or elected by the
Shareholders shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of the
Agreement, the Trust estate shall vest in the new Trustee or Trustees, together
with the continuing Trustees, without any further act or conveyance, and he
shall be deemed a Trustee hereunder.
Section 3.5 Temporary Absence of Trustee. Any Trustee may, by power of
attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one
time to any other Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less than
two Trustees personally exercise the other powers hereunder.
Section 3.6 Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The
declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or
inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate
the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement.
Section 3.7 Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Legal title in all of the
assets of the Trust and the right to conduct any business shall at all times be
considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal
title to any Trust Property to be held in the name of any Person as nominee.
No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual
asset of the Trust or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each
Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a
proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. The
Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth
in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE IV
POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES
Section 4.1 Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as
principals, and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders.
The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to
make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider
necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing and subject to any applicable limitation in this
Agreement or the Bylaws of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power and
authority:
(a) To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or
other property uninvested, without in any event being bound or
limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to
investments by Trustees, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge,
mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the
assets of the Trust;
(b) To operate as, and to carry on the business of, an investment
company, and to exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to
the conduct of such operations;
(c) To borrow money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence
of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or
otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse,
guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation or
engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property;
(d) To provide for the distribution of Shares in connection with an
offering of the Trust's securities either through a principal
underwriter or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to
a plan of distribution of any kind;
(e) To adopt Bylaws not inconsistent with this Agreement providing for
the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them
to the extent that they do not reserve such right to the
Shareholders; such Bylaws shall be deemed incorporated and included
in this Agreement;
(f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they consider appropriate;
(g) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are
members of a national securities exchange or such other domestic or
foreign entities as custodians of any assets of the Trust subject to
any conditions set forth in this Agreement or in the Bylaws;
(h) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing
agents;
(i) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the Bylaws;
(j) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers
of the Trust and to any investment adviser, manager, administrator,
custodian, underwriter or other agent or independent contractor;
(k) To sell or exchange any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to
the right of Shareholders, if any, to vote on such transaction
pursuant to Section 6.1;
(l) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and
deliver proxies and powers of attorney to such person or persons as
the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons
such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as
the Trustee shall deem proper;
(m) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in
any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
(n) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust,
whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form;
or either in the name of the Trust or a custodian or a nominee or
nominees, subject in either case to proper safeguards according to
the usual practice of Delaware statutory trusts or investment
companies;
(o) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or concern, any security
of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease,
mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or
concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any
security held in the Trust;
(p) To engage in Exempt Conversions, Exempt Mergers, Exempt Sales and
Exempt Terminations;
(q) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not
limited to, claims for taxes;
(r) To declare and pay dividends and make distributions of income and of
capital gains and capital to Shareholders in the manner hereinafter
provided;
(s) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for
Shareholders in any Class;
(t) To redeem or repurchase Shares as provided for in this Agreement,
upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees shall establish;
(u) To establish one or more committees, to delegate any of the powers of
the Trustees to said committees and to adopt a written charter for
one or more of such committees governing its membership, duties and
operations and any other characteristics as the Trustees may deem
proper, each of which committees and may consist of less than the
whole number of Trustees then in office, and may be empowered to act
for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such
committee were the acts of all the Trustees then in office;
(v) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of the
Trust;
(w) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the
State of Delaware; and
(x) In general, to carry on any other business in connection with or
incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything
necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose
or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power
hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others,
and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or
growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes,
objects or powers.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers,
and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or
restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one
or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an
action on behalf of the Trust, and not an action in an individual capacity.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations
maturing before the possible termination of the Trust.
No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to
make any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the
application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or
upon their order.
Section 4.2 Issuance, Redemption and Repurchase of Shares. The
Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, redeem, repurchase, retire,
cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, and otherwise deal in
Shares and, subject to the provisions set forth in Articles II and VII hereof,
to apply to any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, cancellation or
acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust.
Section 4.3 Action by the Trustees. The Board of Trustees or any
committee thereof shall act by majority vote of those present at a meeting duly
called as set forth in the Bylaws at which a quorum required by the Bylaws is
present. Any action that may be taken by the Board of Trustees or any committee
or sub-committee thereof by majority vote at a meeting duly called and at which
a quorum required by the Bylaws is present, may also be taken by written consent
of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Trustees or members of the
committee or sub-committee, as the case may be, without a meeting, provided
that the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the
Board or committee or sub-committee. Written consents or waivers of the
Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts. Any written consent or
waiver may be provided and delivered to the Trust by any means by which notice
may be given to a Trustee. Subject to the requirements of this Agreement and
the 1940 Act, the Trustees by Majority Trustee Vote may delegate to any Trustee
or Trustees or committee authority to approve particular matters or take
particular actions on behalf of the Trust.
Section 4.4 Principal Transactions. The Trustees may buy any securities
from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee
or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a
member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment
adviser, distributor, or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Affiliated
Person of such Person; and the Trust may employ any such Person, or firm or
Company in which such Person is an Affiliated Person, as broker, legal counsel,
registrar, investment adviser, distributor, administrator, transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent, custodian, or in any capacity upon customary terms,
subject in all cases to applicable laws, rules, and regulations and orders of
regulatory authorities.
Section 4.5 Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are
authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the
Trust, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to charge
or allocate to, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or Class, or in
connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the
Trustees' compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the
Trust's officers, employees, investment adviser and manager, administrator,
principal underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, dividend
plan agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other
expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 4.6 Trustee Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled
to reasonable compensation from the Trust. They may fix the amount of their
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, administrative, legal, accounting, investment
banking, underwriting, brokerage, or investment dealer or other services and
the payment for the same by the Trust.
Section 4.7 Independent Trustee. A Trustee who is an "Independent
Trustee," as that term is defined in the Delaware Act, shall be deemed to be
independent and disinterested for all purposes when making any determinations or
taking any action as a Trustee.
ARTICLE V
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Section 5.1 Investment Adviser. The Trustees may in their discretion,
from time to time, enter into an investment advisory or management contract or
contracts with respect to the Trust whereby the other party or parties to such
contract or contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trustees with such
management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and
services and such other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such
terms and conditions, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
The Trustees may authorize the investment adviser to employ, from
time to time, one or more sub-advisers to perform such of the acts and services
of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed
upon among the Trustees, the investment adviser and sub-adviser. Any
references in this Agreement to the investment adviser shall be deemed to
include such sub-advisers, unless the context otherwise requires.
Section 5.2 Other Service Contracts. The Trustees may authorize the
engagement of a principal underwriter, transfer agent, administrator,
custodian, and similar service providers.
Section 5.3 Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character described
in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 may be entered into with any corporation, firm,
partnership, trust or association, although one or more of the Trustees or
officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or
member of such other party to the contract.
Section 5.4 Miscellaneous. The fact that (i) any of the Shareholders,
Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee, manager, adviser, principal underwriter or agent of or for
any Company or of or for any parent or affiliate of any Company, with which an
advisory or administration contract, or principal underwriter's or transfer,
shareholder servicing, custodian or other agency contract may have been or may
hereafter be made, or that any such Company, or any parent or affiliate
thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that (ii) any
Company with which an advisory or administration contract or principal
underwriter's or transfer, shareholder servicing, custodian, or other agency
contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or
administration contract, or principal underwriter's or transfer, shareholder
servicing, custodian or other agency contract with one or more other companies,
or has other business or interests shall not affect the validity of any such
contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from
voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to
the Trust or its Shareholders.
ARTICLE VI
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS, GENERAL VOTING STANDARDS AND MEETING
Section 6.1 Voting Powers . The Shareholders shall have power to vote
only to:
(a) elect Trustees in accordance with Sections 3.2 and 3.3, provided that
a meeting of Shareholders has been called for that purpose;
(b) approve any of the actions or transactions described in Section 6.2
of this Agreement, provided that the provisions of Section 6.2 apply
to any such actions or transactions; and
(c) approve such additional matters as may be required by law or as the
Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall determine.
Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of
Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this
Agreement or any of the Bylaws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.
On any matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares
shall be voted together, except when otherwise required by this Agreement or by
applicable law. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted in the election of
Trustees.
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.
Section 6.2 Voting Requirements for Certain Actions and Transactions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and subject to
the exceptions provided in Section 6.2(b), each of the following
actions and transactions shall require the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66 2/3%) of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon:
(1) the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment company
to an open-end investment company;
(2) the merger or consolidation of the Trust or Class thereof with
or into another Company other than an Exempt Merger;
(3) the issuance by the Trust, in one transaction or in a series of
transactions, of any securities of the Trust having an aggregate
value of five percent (5%) or more of the total value of the
Outstanding Shares to any Principal Shareholder for cash;
(4) the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the
assets of the Trust to any Person, other than an Exempt Sale;
(5) the dissolution of the Trust or Class thereof (other than an
Exempt Dissolution);
(6) any amendment to this Agreement that makes the Shares a
"redeemable security" as that term is defined in the 1940 Act;
(7) the removal of one or more Trustees for Cause by the
Shareholders, provided that a meeting of Shareholders has been
called for that purpose;
(8) any amendment to Section 3.3 of this Agreement that would have
the effect of eliminating the classification of the Board of
Trustees with respect to their terms of office;
(9) any amendment to Article VIII of this Agreement that would have
the effect of reducing the indemnification provided thereby to
Covered Persons or to Shareholders or former Shareholders; and
(10) any amendment or alteration to, or any repeal of the provisions
of, this Article VI.
The voting requirements set forth in this Section 6.2(a) shall be in
addition to, and not in lieu of, any vote or consent of the
Shareholders otherwise required by applicable law, by any agreement
between the Trust and any national securities exchange, or by this
Agreement.
(b) In the case of any action or transaction set forth in Sections
6.2(a)(1) through 6.2(a)(6) above, the approval, adoption, or
authorization of the action or transaction in question shall require
a Majority Shareholder Vote rather than the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66 2/3%) of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon as
provided for in Section 6.2(a) if the action or transaction in
question has previously been approved, adopted, or authorized by both
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees
and the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust, as that term is defined in the
1940 Act.
(c) The vote necessary to approve all matters other than those described
in Sections 6.2(a) and 6.2(b) shall be set forth in the Bylaws.
(d) For purposes of this Section 6.2, the term "Principal Shareholder"
shall mean any corporation, person, entity, or group (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended), which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
ten percent (10%) or more of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust and
shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined
in clause (2) below, of a Principal Shareholder. In calculating the
number of Shares beneficially owned by a Shareholder, in addition to
the Shares which a corporation, person, entity, or group beneficially
owns directly, any corporation, person, entity, or group shall be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (1) which it has the
right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of
conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise or (2) which are
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed
owned through application of clause (1) above), by any other
corporation, person, entity, or group with which it or its
"affiliate" or "associate," as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, has any
agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of Shares of the Trust, or
which is its "affiliate" or "associate" as so defined. In
calculating the number of Outstanding Shares of the Trust,
Outstanding Shares of the Trust shall not include Shares deemed owned
through application of clause (1) above.
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTIONS, REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Section 7.1 Distributions. The Trustees may from time to time declare
and pay dividends and make other distributions with respect to any Class, which
may be from income, capital gains or capital. The amount of such dividends or
distributions and the payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other
Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees. Dividends
and other distributions may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution adopted
once or more often as the Trustees determine. All dividends and other
distributions on Common Shares shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of
Common Shares in proportion to the number of Common Shares they held on the
record date established for such payment, provided that such dividends and
other distributions on Common Shares shall appropriately reflect expenses
allocated to the Common Shares. The Trustees may adopt and offer to
Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash payment plans, or similar
plans as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Section 7.2 Redemptions of Shares by the Trustees. The Trustees may, at
their option, call for the redemption of the Shares of any Person or may refuse
to transfer or issue Shares to any Person to the extent that the same is
necessary to comply with applicable law or advisable to further the purposes
for which the Trust is formed. To the extent permitted by law, the Trustees
may retain the proceeds of any redemption of Shares required by them for
payment of amounts due and owing by a Shareholder to the Trust.
Section 7.3 Repurchases by the Trust. The Trust may, at the discretion
of the Trustees, repurchase its Shares upon such terms and conditions as are
established by the Trustees, subject to any applicable provisions of the 1940
Act and other applicable federal or state securities laws.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability. A Trustee or officer of the Trust,
when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any person for
any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee or officer of the
Trust; provided, however, that nothing contained herein or in the Delaware Act
shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust or to
Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office with the Trust.
Section 8.2 Indemnification of Covered Persons. Every Covered Person
shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the
Delaware Act, the Bylaws and other applicable law.
Section 8.3 Indemnification of Shareholders. In case any Shareholder or
former Shareholder of the Trust shall be held to be personally liable solely by
reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or any Class and
not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder
or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its
corporate or general successor) shall be entitled, out of the assets of the
Trust, to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense
arising from such liability in accordance with the Bylaws and applicable law.
The Trust shall upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any such
claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Trust Not a Partnership; Taxation. It is hereby expressly
declared that a trust and not a partnership is created hereby. No Trustee
hereunder shall have any power to bind personally either the Trust's officers
or any Shareholder. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or
having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees in their capacity as such
shall look only to the assets of the Trust for payment under such credit,
contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders, the Trustees, nor the Trust's
officers nor any of the agents of the Trustees whether past, present or future,
shall be personally liable therefor.
It is intended that the Trust be classified for income tax purposes
as an association taxable as a corporation, and the Trustees shall do all
things that they, in their sole discretion, determine are necessary to achieve
that objective, including (if they so determine), electing such classifications
on Internal Revenue Form 8832. The Trustees, in their sole discretion and
without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, may amend this Agreement to
ensure that this objective is achieved.
Section 9.2 Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or
Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretion hereunder in
good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances then prevailing
shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of
Article VIII and to Section 9.1, the Trustees shall not be liable for errors
of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of
counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this
Agreement, and subject to the provisions of Article VIII and Section 9.1, shall
be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or
for failing to follow such advice. The Trustees shall not be required to give
any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is obtained.
Section 9.3 Dissolution of Trust or Class.
(a) Unless dissolved as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without
limitation of time. The Trust may be dissolved at any time by the
Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders, subject to the right
of Shareholders, if any, to vote pursuant to Section 6.1. A Class
may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees by written notice to the
Shareholders of the Trust or such Class, subject to the right of
Shareholders, if any, to vote pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) On dissolution of the Trust pursuant to paragraph (a) above,
(1) the Trust thereafter shall carry on no business except for the
purpose of winding up its affairs,
(2) the Trustees shall (i) proceed to wind up the affairs of the
Trust, and all powers of the Trustees under this Agreement with
respect thereto shall continue until such affairs have been
wound up, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the
contracts of the Trust, (ii) collect its assets or the assets
belonging thereto, (iii) sell, convey, assign, exchange, or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of those assets to one or
more persons at public or private sale for consideration that
may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities, or other
property of any kind, (iv) discharge or pay its liabilities, and
(v) do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business, and
(3) 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 shall distribute the remaining assets
ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust.
(c) On dissolution of the Class pursuant to paragraph (a) above,
(1) the Trust thereafter shall no longer issue Shares of the Class,
(2) the Trustees shall do all other acts appropriate to dissolve the
Class, and
(3) the Trustees shall distribute ratably among the Shareholders of
the Class, in cash or in kind, an amount equal to the
proportionate interest of the Class in the net assets of the
Trust (after taking into account fees, expenses, or charges
allocable thereto), and in connection with any such distribution
in cash the Trustees are authorized to sell, convey, assign,
exchange or otherwise dispose of such assets of the Trust of
which the Class is a part as they deem necessary.
(d) On completion of distribution of the remaining assets pursuant to
paragraph (b)(3) above (or the proportionate interest of the Class in
the net assets of the Trust pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) above), the
Trust or the Class shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust
shall be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder
with respect thereto and the rights and interests of all parties
therein shall be cancelled and discharged. Following completion of
winding up of all of the Trust's business, the Trustees shall cause a
Certificate of Cancellation of the Trust's Certificate of Trust to be
filed in accordance with the Delaware Act, which Certificate may be
signed by any one Trustee.
Section 9.4 Sale of Assets; Merger and Consolidation. Subject to right
of Shareholders, if any, to vote pursuant to Section 6.1, the Trustees may
cause (i) the Trust to the extent consistent with applicable law to sell all
or substantially all of its assets to, or be merged into or consolidated with,
another statutory trust (or series thereof) or Company (or series thereof),
(ii) the Shares of the Trust or Class thereof to be converted into beneficial
interests in another statutory trust (or series thereof) created pursuant to
this Section 9.4, or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any
state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law. In all respects not
governed by statute or applicable law, the Trustees shall have power to
prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of
assets, merger or consolidation including the power to create one or more
separate statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities,
profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the
conversion of Shares of the Trust or Class thereof into beneficial interests in
such separate statutory trust or trusts (or series or class thereof).
Section 9.5 Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a
copy of this Agreement or any amendment hereto or any supplemental agreement
shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any
Shareholder. In this Agreement or in any such amendment or supplemental
agreement, references to this Agreement, and all expressions like "herein,"
"hereof," and "hereunder," shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement as
amended or affected by any such supplemental agreement. All expressions like
"his," "he," and "him," shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as
well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of
reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of this Agreement, rather
than the headings, shall control. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
Section 9.6 Governing Law. The Trust and this Agreement, and the rights,
obligations and remedies of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be
governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Act and
the other laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that there shall
not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, the Shareholders or this Trust
Agreement (A) the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code
or (B) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of
Delaware (other than the Delaware Act) pertaining to trusts which relate to or
regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of
trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative
requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a
trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval
concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal
property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or
employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income
or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature,
amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the
titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the
establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or
limitations on the indemnification, acts or powers of trustees or other
Persons, which are inconsistent with the limitations of liabilities or
authorities and powers of the Trustees or officers of the Trust set forth or
referenced in this Agreement.
The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a "statutory trust,"
and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers
which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust
specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges
afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the
Delaware Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power,
privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power
or privilege or take such actions; provided, however, that the exercise of any
such power, privilege or action shall not otherwise violate applicable law.
Section 9.7 Amendments. Except as specifically provided in Article VI
hereof, the Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote, amend this Agreement by
making an amendment to this Agreement, an agreement supplemental hereto, or an
amended and restated trust instrument. Any such amendment, having been
approved by a Majority Trustee Vote, shall become effective, unless otherwise
provided by such Trustees, upon being executed by a duly authorized officer of
the Trust. A certification signed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust
setting forth an amendment to this Agreement and reciting that it was duly
adopted by the Shareholders or by the Trustees as aforesaid, or a copy of this
Agreement, as amended, executed by a majority of the Trustees, or a duly
authorized officer of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment
when lodged among the records of the Trust.
Section 9.8 Provisions in Conflict with Law. The provisions of this
Agreement are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice
of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with applicable law, the
conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this
Agreement; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of
the remaining provisions of this Agreement or render invalid or improper any
action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such
jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other
jurisdiction or any other provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction.
Section 9.9 Shareholders' Right to Certain Information.
(a) Except as may be permitted by Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, no
Shareholder shall have the right to obtain from the Trust a list of
the Trust's Shareholders; provided, however, that one or more Persons
who together and for at least six months have been Shareholders of at
least five percent (5%) of the Outstanding Shares of the Class may
present to any officer of the Trust a written request for a list of
its Shareholders, stating that they wish to communicate with other
Shareholders with a view to requesting in writing that the Trustees
call a special meeting of the Shareholders solely for the purpose of
removing one or more Trustees. Within twenty (20) days after such
request is made, the Trust shall prepare and have available on file
at its principal office a list verified under oath by one of its
officers or its transfer agent or registrar which sets forth the name
and address of each Shareholder. The rights provided for herein
shall not extend to any Person who is a beneficial owner but not also
a record owner of Shares of the Trust.
(b) Every Shareholder shall have the right to obtain from the Trust
copies of the Trust's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders,
and quarterly communications to shareholders.
Shareholder rights to obtain other information shall be governed by
Section 9.10.
Section 9.10 Information Regarding the Business and Financial Condition
and Affairs of the Trust. No Shareholder shall have the right to obtain from
the Trust information regarding the business and financial condition of the
Trust or other information regarding the affairs of the Trust; provided,
however, that the Trust may, in its sole discretion, provide such information
to the Shareholders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the Trustees of
the Trust, have executed this instrument effective as of the 16th day of
January, 2006.
/s/Gordon F. Ahalt ----------------------------------- Gordon F. Ahalt /s/Elizabeth C. Bogan ----------------------------------- Elizabeth C. Bogan /s/Thomas H. Dinsmore ----------------------------------- Thomas H. Dinsmore /s/Donald M. Halsted ----------------------------------- Donald M. Halsted /s/Duncan O. McKee ----------------------------------- Duncan O. McKee /s/Robert J. McMullan ----------------------------------- Robert J. McMullan /s/Jane D. O'Keeffe ----------------------------------- Jane D. O'Keeffe /s/Nicolas W. Platt ----------------------------------- Nicolas W. Platt |
Sub-item 77Q1: Exhibits
(b) Amended bylaws
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF ELLSWORTH FUND LTD.,
a Delaware Statutory Trust
Amended effective April 10, 2006.
Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust's
Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the "Agreement").
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of
Ellsworth Fund Ltd. (the "Trust") shall be at the offices of The
Corporation Trust Company in the County of New Castle, State of
Delaware.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Trust may also have offices
at such other places both within and outside the State of
Delaware as the Trustees may from time to time determine or the
business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
Section 1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees of the
Trust may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within
or outside the State of Delaware. Meetings of the Trustees may
be called orally or in writing by or at the direction of the
Chair or his or her designee or by a majority of the Trustees.
Meetings of the Board of Trustees and any committee thereof may
be held in person or by telephonic or other electronic means.
Section 2. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board
of Trustees shall be held each year, at such time and place as
the Board of Trustees may determine.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, date,
and place of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and any
committee thereof shall be given to each Trustee or committee
member, as applicable, (i) by telephone, telex, telegram,
facsimile, electronic-mail, or other electronic mechanism sent
to his or her home or business address at least twenty-four
hours in advance of the meeting or (ii) in person at another
meeting of the Board of Trustees or such committee, as
applicable, or (iii) by written notice mailed or sent via
overnight courier to his or her home or business address at
least seventy-two hours in advance of the meeting. Notice need
not be given to any Trustee or committee member who attends a
meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof
without objecting to the lack of notice or who signs a waiver of
notice either before or after such meeting.
Section 4. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees
and any committee thereof, a majority of the Trustees then in
office or a majority of the committee members (but in no event
less than two Trustees or committee members), as applicable,
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The
act of a majority of the Trustees or committee members present
at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of
the Board of Trustees or such committee, as applicable, except
as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law or
by the Agreement or these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be
present at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee
thereof, the Trustees or committee members, as applicable,
present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a
quorum shall be present.
Section 5. Designation, Powers, and Names of Committees;
Committee Charters.
(a) The Board of Trustees shall have at a minimum the
following three committees: (1) an Audit Committee; (2) a
Governance Committee; and (3) a Pricing Committee. Each such
Committee shall have a written Charter governing its membership,
duties and operations, and the Board shall designate the powers
of each such Committee in its Charter. The Board of Trustees
may terminate any such Committee by an amendment to these
Bylaws.
(b) The Board of Trustees may, by resolution passed
by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more
additional committees, each of which may, if deemed advisable by
the Board of Trustees, have a written Charter. Each such
additional committee shall consist of two or more of the
Trustees of the Trust. The Board may designate one or more
Trustees as alternate members of any such additional committee,
who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting
of such committee. Each such additional committee, to the
extent provided in the resolution and/or in such committee's
Charter, if applicable, shall have and may exercise the powers
of the Board of Trustees in the management of the business and
affairs of the Trust; provided, however, that in the absence or
disqualification of any member of such committee or committees,
the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute
a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of
Trustees to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent
or disqualified member. Such additional committee or committees
shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to
time by resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees and/or as
set forth in the written Charter of such committee or
committees, if applicable.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Officers. The initial executive
officers of the Trust shall be elected by the Board of Trustees
as soon as practicable after the organization of the Trust. The
executive officers shall include a President, one or more Vice
Presidents, which may include one or more Executive Vice
Presidents and/or Senior Vice Presidents (the number thereof to
be determined by the Board of Trustees), a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Board of Trustees may also in its discretion
appoint Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries,
Assistant Treasurers, and other officers, agents and employees,
who shall have such authority and perform such duties as the
Board may determine. The Board of Trustees may fill any vacancy
which may occur in any office. Any two offices, except for
those of Chairman of the Board, President and Vice President,
may be held by the same person, but no officer shall execute,
acknowledge or verify any instrument on behalf of the Trust in
more than one capacity, if such instrument is required by law or
by these Bylaws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two
or more officers.
Section 2. Term of Office. Unless otherwise specifically
determined by the Board of Trustees, the officers shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. If the Board of Trustees
in its judgment finds that the best interests of the Trust will
be served, the Board of Trustees may remove any officer of the
Trust at any time with or without cause. The Trustees may
delegate this power to the Chairman of the Board or President
(without supervision by the Trustees) with respect to any other
officer other than the Chief Compliance Officer. Such removal
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of
the person so removed. Any officer may resign from office at
any time by delivering a written resignation to the Trustees,
Chairman of the Board or the President. Unless otherwise
specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon
delivery.
Section 3. Chairman of the Board. The Board of Trustees
shall have a Chairman of the Board (the "Chair"), who shall be a
Trustee. The Chair shall be elected by a majority of the
Trustees. The Chair shall be the chief execute officer of the
Trust and, subject to the Board of Trustees, shall generally
manage the business and affairs of the Trust. The Chair shall
have such other powers and duties as shall be determined by the
Boards of Trustees, and shall undertake such other assignments
as may be requested by the Boards of Trustees. The Chair shall
preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and the Board of
Trustees, if the Chair is present, and shall approve the agendas
of all meetings of the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. President. The President shall be the chief
administrative officer of the Trust and, subject to the Board of
Trustees and the Chair, shall generally manage the business and
affairs of the Trust. If the Chair is absent, the President
shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Shareholders
and the Board of Trustees.
Section 5. Vice Presidents. One or more Vice Presidents,
which may include one or more Executive Vice Presidents and/or
Senior Vice Presidents, shall have and exercise such powers and
duties of the President in the absence or inability to act of
the President, as may be assigned to them, respectively, by the
Board of Trustees or, to the extent not so assigned, by the
President. In the absence or inability to act of the President,
the powers and duties of the President not otherwise assigned by
the Board of Trustees or the President shall devolve first upon
the Executive Vice Presidents, then upon the Senior Vice
Presidents, and finally upon the Vice Presidents, all in the
order of their election.
Section 6. Secretary. The Secretary shall (a) have custody
of the seal of the Trust; (b) if requested, attend meetings of
the Shareholders, the Board of Trustees, and any committees of
Trustees; (c) keep or cause to be kept the minutes of all
meetings of Shareholders, the Board of Trustees and any
committees thereof, and (d) issue all notices of the Trust. The
Secretary shall have charge of the Shareholder records and such
other books and papers as the Board may direct, and shall
perform such other duties as may be incidental to the office or
which are assigned by the Board of Trustees.
Section 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and
custody of the funds and securities of the Trust and shall
deposit the same in the name of the Trust in such bank or banks
or other depositories, subject to withdrawal in such manner as
these Bylaws or the Board of Trustees may determine. The
Treasurer shall, if required by the Board of Trustees, give such
bond for the faithful discharge of duties in such form as the
Board of Trustees may require.
Section 8. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive
Officer, who shall also have a title of at least Senior Vice
President, shall be responsible for making the certifications
required of the Trust's principal executive officer by Sections
302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules
promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Section 9. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial
Officer, who shall also have a title of at least Vice President,
shall be responsible for making the certifications required of
the Trust's principal financial officer by Sections 302 and 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated
thereunder.
Section 10. Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance
Officer, who shall also have a title of at least Vice President,
shall be responsible for administering the Trust's policies and
procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1(a)(1) under the 1940
Act.
Section 11. Assistant Officers. Assistant officers, which
may include one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant
Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, shall perform such
functions and have such responsibilities as the Board of
Trustees may assign to them or, to the extent not so assigned,
by the Vice President(s), Secretary or Treasurer, as applicable.
Section 12. Surety Bond. The Trustees may require any
officer or agent of the Trust to execute a bond (including,
without limitation, any bond required by the 1940 Act and the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") to the Trust in such sum and with such surety
or sureties as the Trustees may determine, conditioned upon the
faithful performance of his or her duties to the Trust,
including responsibility for negligence and for the accounting
of any of the Trust's property, funds, or securities that may
come into his or her hands.
Section 13. Authorized Signatories. Unless a specific
officer is otherwise designated in a resolution adopted by the
Board of Trustees, the proper officers of the Trust for
executing agreements, documents and instruments other than
Internal Revenue Service forms shall be the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary. Unless a specific officer is otherwise
designated in a resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees, the
proper officers of the Trust for executing any and all Internal
Revenue Service forms shall be the Chairman of the Board, the
President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, or the Treasurer.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Purpose. All meetings of the Shareholders for
the election of Trustees shall be held on such day during the
month of January, or any other day of any other month, as may be
fixed by the Trustees, and shall be held at such place as may be
fixed from time to time by the Trustees, or at such other place
either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be
designated from time to time by the Trustees and stated in the
notice indicating that a meeting has been called for such
purpose. Meetings of Shareholders may be held for any purpose
determined by the Trustees and may be held at such time and
place, within or without the State of Delaware as shall be
stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver
of notice thereof. At all meetings of the Shareholders, every
shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled
to vote at such meeting either in person or by written proxy
signed by the Shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney in
fact. A Shareholder may duly authorize such attorney in fact
through written, electronic, telephonic, computerized,
facsimile, telecommunication, telex or oral communication or by
any other form of communication. Unless a proxy provides
otherwise, such proxy is not valid more than eleven months after
its date. A proxy with respect to shares held in the name of
two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of
them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust
receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one
of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior
to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest
on the challenger.
Section 2. Nomination of Trustees.
(a) Any Shareholder may submit names of individuals
to be considered by the Governance Committee for election as
trustees of the Trust, provided, however, (i) that such person
submits such names in a timely manner as set out in Section 2 of
Article V hereof, (ii) that such person was a shareholder of
record at the time of submission of such names and is entitled
to vote at the meeting, and (iii) that the Governance Committee
shall make the final determination of persons to be nominated.
(b) The process and procedures for the nomination of
persons for election or appointment as trustees of the Trust by
the Trustees shall be set forth in the written Charter for the
Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Section 3. Election of Trustees. All meetings of
Shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees shall be held
on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time
to time by the Trustees and stated in the notice of the meeting,
at which the Shareholders shall elect by a plurality vote any
number of Trustees as the notice for such meeting shall state
are to be elected, and transact such other business as may
properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with
Section 1 of this Article IV.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of any
meeting stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting shall
be given to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting
not less than ten days before the date of the meeting in
accordance with Article V hereof.
Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the
Shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise
prescribed by applicable law or by the Agreement, may be called
by the Chair or by a majority of the Trustees; provided,
however, that the Trustees shall promptly call a meeting of the
Shareholders solely for the purpose of removing one or more
Trustees, when requested in writing to do so by the record
holders of not less than ten percent of the Outstanding Shares
of the Trust.
Section 6. Notice of Special Meeting. Written notice of a
special meeting stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting
and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called,
shall be given not less than ten days before the date of the
meeting, to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 7. Conduct of Special Meeting. Business transacted
at any special meeting of Shareholders shall be limited to (i)
the purpose stated in the notice and (ii) the adjournment of
such special meeting with regard to such stated purpose.
Section 8. Quorum. The holders a majority of the
Outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereat, present in person
or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all
meetings of the Shareholders for the transaction of business
except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the
Agreement. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the Shareholders, the vote of the
holders of a majority of Shares cast shall have power to adjourn
the meeting from time to time in accordance with Article IV,
Section 16 hereof, without notice other than announcement at the
meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At
such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or
represented, any business may be transacted which might have
been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 9. Organization of Meetings.
(a) The meetings of the Shareholders shall be
presided over by the Chair, or if the Chair shall not be
present, by the Vice Chair, if any, or if the Vice Chair shall
not be present or if there is no Vice Chair, by the President,
or if the President shall not be present, by a Vice President,
or if no Vice President is present, by a chair appointed for
such purpose by the Board of Trustees or, if not so appointed,
by a chair appointed for such purpose by the officers and
Trustees present at the meeting. The Secretary of the Trust, if
present, shall act as Secretary of such meetings, or if the
Secretary is not present, an Assistant Secretary of the Trust
shall so act, and if no Assistant Secretary is present, then a
person designated by the Secretary of the Trust shall so act,
and if the Secretary has not designated a person, then the
meeting shall elect a secretary for the meeting.
(b) The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall be
entitled to make such rules and regulations for the conduct of
meetings of Shareholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate
or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the
Board of Trustees, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall
have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the
judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate or
convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including,
without limitation, establishing: an agenda or order of
business for the meeting; rules and procedures for maintaining
order at the meeting and the safety of those present;
limitations on participation in such meeting to shareholders of
record of the Trust and their duly authorized and constituted
proxies, and such other persons as the chairman shall permit;
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for
the commencement thereof; limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants; and regulation of the
opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which
are to be voted on by ballot, unless and to the extent the Board
of Trustees or the chairman of the meeting determines that
meetings of Shareholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 10. Voting Standard. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
cast shall decide any question brought before such meeting,
unless the question is one on which, by express provision of
applicable law, the Agreement, these Bylaws, or applicable
contract, a different vote is required, in which case such
express provision shall govern and control the decision of such
question.
Section 11. Voting Procedure. Each whole Share shall be
entitled to one vote, and each fractional Share shall be
entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. On any matter
submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, all Shares shall be
voted together.
Section 12. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise
provided in the Agreement or applicable law, any action required
to be taken at any meeting of the Shareholders, or any action
which may be taken at any meeting of the Shareholders, may be
taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a
vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so
taken, shall be signed by the holders of Outstanding Shares
having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all Shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Prompt notice of the taking of any such action without a meeting
by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
Shareholders who have not consented in writing.
Section 13. Broker Non-Votes. At any meeting of Shareholders
the Trust will consider broker non-votes as present for purposes
of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting.
Broker non-votes will not count as votes cast for or against any
proposals.
Section 14. Abstentions. At any meeting of Shareholders the
Trust will consider abstentions as present for purposes of
determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting.
Abstentions will not count as votes cast for or against any
proposals.
Section 15. Record Date for Shareholder Meetings and
Consents. In order that the Trustees may determine the
Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent
to action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Trustees
may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the
date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted
by the Board of Trustees, and which record date shall not be
more than ninety nor less than ten days before the original date
upon which the meeting of Shareholders is scheduled, nor more
than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees for action
by Shareholder consent in writing without a meeting. A
determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall apply to any
adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of
Trustees may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting so
long as notice of the adjournment and the new record and meeting
dates are given to the Shareholders.
Section 16. Adjournments. A meeting of Shareholders convened
on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time
to time without further notice to Shareholders to a date not
more than 120 days after the original record date. A meeting of
Shareholders may not be adjourned for more than 120 days after
the original record date for such meeting without giving the
Shareholders notice of the adjournment and the new meeting date.
The vote of the holders of majority of the Shares cast shall be
required in order to adjourn a meeting of Shareholders with
regard to a particular proposal scheduled to be voted on at such
meeting or to adjourn such meeting entirely.
Section 17. Inspectors. The Trustees may, in advance of any
meeting of shareholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act
at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. 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, and on the request of
any shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting shall, appoint
inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge
of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute
faithfully the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
The inspectors shall determine the number of shares outstanding
and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented
at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, 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
such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with
fairness to all shareholders. On request of the chairman of the
meeting or any shareholder entitled to vote at it, the
inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge,
request or matter determined by them and shall execute a
certificate or any fact found by them. The report of the
inspector on the number of votes represented at the meeting and
the result of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
No Trustee or candidate for the office of Trustee shall act as
inspector of an election of Trustees. Inspectors need not be
shareholders.
ARTICLE V
NOTICES
Section 1. Methods of Giving Notice. Whenever, under the
provisions of applicable law or of the Agreement or of these
Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any Trustee or
Shareholder, it shall not, unless otherwise provided herein, be
construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given
orally in person, or by telephone (promptly confirmed in
writing) or in writing, by mail addressed to such Trustee at his
or her last given address or to such Shareholder at his address
as it appears on the records of the Trust, with postage thereon
prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time
when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail.
Notice to Trustees or members of a committee may also be given
by telex, telegram, facsimile, electronic-mail or via overnight
courier. If sent by telex or facsimile, notice to a Trustee or
member of a committee shall be deemed to be given upon
transmittal; if sent by telegram, notice to a Trustee or member
of a committee shall be deemed to be given when the telegram, so
addressed, is delivered to the telegraph company; if sent by
electronic-mail, notice to a Trustee or member of a committee
shall be deemed to be given and shall be presumed valid when the
Trust's electronic-mail server reflects the electronic-mail
message as having been sent; and if sent via overnight courier,
notice to a Trustee or member of a committee shall be deemed to
be given when delivered against a receipt therefor.
Section 2. Annual Meeting Notice Requirements for
Nominations and Proposals by Shareholders.
(a) For nominations or other business to be properly
brought before an annual meeting by a Shareholder, the
Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to
the Secretary of the Trust and such other business must
otherwise be a proper matter for action by Shareholders. To be
timely, a Shareholder's notice shall be delivered to the
Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not
later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier
than the close of business on the 120th day, prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided,
however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting
is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days
from such anniversary date or if the Trust has not previously
held an annual meeting, notice by the Shareholder to be timely
must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on
the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such
annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by
the Trust. In no event shall the public announcement of a
postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting to a later date
or time commence a new time period for the giving of a
Shareholder's notice as described above. Such Shareholder's
notice shall set forth (A) as to each person whom the
Shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a
Trustee all information relating to such person that is required
to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of
Trustees in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (including
such person's written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serving as a Trustee if elected);
(B) as to any other business that the Shareholder proposes to
bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business
desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for
conducting such business at the meeting and any material
interest in such business of such Shareholder and of the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;
and (C) as to the Shareholder giving the notice and the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or
proposal is made, (i) the name and address of such Shareholder,
as they appear on the Trust's books, and of such beneficial
owner and (ii) the number of shares of which are owned
beneficially and of record by such Shareholder and such
beneficial owner.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence
of paragraph (a) of this Section 2 to the contrary, in the event
that the number of Trustees to be elected to the Board of
Trustees is increased and there is no public announcement by the
Trust naming all of the nominees for Trustee or specifying the
size of the increased Board of Trustees at least 100 days prior
to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting,
a Shareholder's notice required by this Section 2 shall also be
considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new
positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to
the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust
not later than the close of business on the tenth day following
the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
Trust.
Section 3. Special Meeting Notice Requirement for
Nominations and Proposals by Shareholders. Only such business
shall be conducted at a special meeting of Shareholders as shall
have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Trust's
notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the
Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of
Shareholders at which Trustees are to be elected (A) pursuant to
the Trust's notice of meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the
Board of Trustees or (C) provided that the Board of Trustees has
determined that Trustees shall be elected at such special
meeting, by any Shareholder of the Trust who is a Shareholder of
record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in
Section 2(a) of this Article V and at the time of the special
meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied
with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2(a) of this
Article V. In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of
Shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees to
the Board of Trustees, any such Shareholder may nominate a
person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such
position as specified in the Trust's notice of meeting, if the
Shareholder's notice containing the information required by this
Section 2(a) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Trust not earlier than the
close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting
and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th
day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the
day on which public announcement is first made of the date of
the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of
Trustees to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the
public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a
special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time
period for the giving of a Shareholder's notice as described
above.
Section 4. Written Waiver. Whenever any notice is required
to be given under the provisions of applicable law or of the
Agreement or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES AND SHARE OWNERSHIP
Section 1. Issuance. Upon request, every holder of Common
Shares shall be entitled to be issued a certificate by the
Trust, signed by, or in the name of the Trust by, the Chair, the
President or any Vice President, certifying the number of Common
Shares owned by him, her or it.
Section 2. Countersignature. Where a certificate is
countersigned (1) by a transfer agent other than the Trust or
its employee, or (2) by a registrar other than the Trust or its
employee, the signature of the Chair, the President or any Vice
President may be a facsimile.
Section 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Trustees may
direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the
Trust alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of the fact by the person claiming the
certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing
such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of
Trustees may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to
the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal
representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall
require and/or to give the Trust a bond in such sum as it may
direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
the Trust with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. The Trustees shall make such
rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares
and similar matters. To the extent certificates are issued in
accordance with Section 1 of this Article VI, upon surrender to
the Trust or the transfer agent of the Trust of such certificate
for Shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the
duty of the Trust to issue a new certificate to the person
entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its books.
Section 5. Shareholder Book. The Trust shall keep or cause
to be kept a Shareholder book, which may be maintained by means
of computer systems, containing the names, alphabetically
arranged, of all persons who are Shareholders of the Trust,
showing their places of residence, the number of Shares held by
them, respectively, and the dates when they became the record
owners thereof.
Section 6. Registered Shareholders. The Trust shall be
entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered
on its books as the owner of Shares to receive dividends, and to
vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim of interest in such Share or Shares on
the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have
express or other notice hereof.
Section 7. Record Date for Receiving Dividends and Other
Actions. In order that the Trustees may determine the
Shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
other distribution of allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or
exchange of Shares or for the purpose of any other lawful
action, the Board of Trustees may fix a record date, which
record date (i) shall be set forth in the resolution or
resolutions authorizing the payment of such dividend or other
lawful action and (ii) shall be at least 10 days after the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by
the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Seal. The Board of Trustees may provide that the
Trust have a business seal. The business seal shall have
inscribed thereon the name of the statutory trust, the state of
its organization, the year of its organization and the words
"Statutory Trust." The seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other
manner reproduced, including placing the word "[SEAL]" adjacent
to the signature of the person authorized to sign a document on
behalf of the Trust. Any officer or Trustee of the Trust shall
have authority to affix the seal of the Trust to any document
requiring the same.
Section 2. Severability. The provisions of these Bylaws are
severable. If any provision hereof shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision only in
such jurisdiction and shall not affect any other provision of
these Bylaws.
Section 3. Headings. Headings are placed in these Bylaws
for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict,
the text of these Bylaws rather than the headings shall control.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Indemnification.
(a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Trust
(or applicable Portfolio) shall indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved as a witness in, any proceeding (other than a
proceeding by or in the right of the Trust or a Portfolio) by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a Covered Person,
against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with such proceeding.
(b) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Trust
(or applicable Portfolio) shall indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved as a witness in, any proceeding by or in the right of
the Trust (or such Portfolio) to procure a judgment in its favor
by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Covered
Person, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
that person in connection with the defense or settlement of such
proceeding.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained herein, no Covered Person shall be indemnified for any
expenses, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, or other
liability or loss arising by reason of disabling conduct. The
termination of any proceeding by conviction, or a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of
probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption
that the person engaged in disabling conduct.
Section 2. Advance Payment of Indemnification Expenses. To
the maximum extent permitted by law, the Trust or the Portfolio
shall advance to any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to, or is involved as a witness
in, any proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or
was a Trustee or officer of the Trust the expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the
defense of such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Trust or the
Portfolio may advance to any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a Covered Person (other than a
Trustee or officer of the Trust) the expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the
defense of such proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein,
the Trust shall not advance expenses to any Covered Person
(including a Trustee or officer of the Trust) unless:
(a) the Trust or the Portfolio has received an
undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that the
amount of all expenses so advanced will be paid over by such
person to the Trust or the Portfolio unless it is ultimately
determined that such person is entitled to indemnification for
such expenses; and
(b) (i) such Covered Person shall have provided
appropriate security for such undertaking, or (ii) such Covered
Person shall have insured the Trust or the Portfolio against
losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (iii) either
(1) the Trustees, by the vote of a majority of a quorum of
qualifying Trustees, or (2) independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of
readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type
inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered
Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Section 3. Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
Any indemnification required or permitted under this Article
VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Trust or
the Portfolio only as authorized in the specific case upon a
reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that
the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification because (i) he
or she is not liable by reason of disabling conduct, or (ii) in
cases where there is no liability, he or she has not engaged in
disabling conduct. Such determination shall be made by (i) the
vote of a majority of a quorum of qualifying Trustees; or (ii)
if there are no such Trustees, or if such Trustees so direct, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Section 2 of this Article VIII, if a
determination that a Covered Person engaged in disabling conduct
is made in accordance with this Section 3, no further advances
of expenses shall be made, and all prior advances, and insurance
premiums paid for by the Trust, if applicable, must be repaid.
Section 4. Contract Rights. With respect to any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved as a witness in, any proceeding by reason of the fact
that such person is or was a Covered Person, the rights to
indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII, and
with respect to any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to, or is involved as a witness
in, any proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or
was a Trustee or officer of the Trust, the advancement of
expenses conferred in Section 2 of this Article VIII shall be
contract rights. Any amendment, repeal, or modification of, or
adoption of any provision inconsistent with, this Article VIII
(or any provision hereof) shall not adversely affect any right
to indemnification or advancement of expenses granted to any
such person pursuant hereto with respect to any act or omission
of such person occurring prior to the time of such amendment,
repeal, modification, or adoption (regardless of whether the
proceeding relating to such acts or omissions is commenced
before or after the time of such amendment, repeal,
modification, or adoption). Any amendment or modification of,
or adoption of any provision inconsistent with, this Article
VIII (or any provision hereof), that has the effect of
positively affecting any right to indemnification or advancement
of expenses granted to any such person pursuant hereto, shall
not apply retroactively to any person who was not serving as a
Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust at the time of
such amendment, modification or adoption.
Section 5. Claims.
(a) If (X) a claim under Section 1 of this Article
VIII with respect to any right to indemnification is not paid in
full by the Trust or the Portfolio within sixty days after a
written demand has been received by the Trust or the Portfolio
or (Y) a claim under Section 2 of this Article VIII with respect
to any right to the advancement of expenses is not paid in full
by the Trust or the Portfolio within thirty days after a written
demand has been received by the Trust or the Portfolio, then the
Covered Person seeking to enforce a right to indemnification or
to an advancement of expenses, as the case may be, may at any
time thereafter bring suit against the Trust or the Portfolio to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim.
(b) If successful in whole or in part in any suit
brought pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Article VIII, or in a
suit brought by the Trust or the Portfolio to recover an
advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to the terms of an
undertaking or otherwise), the Covered Person seeking to enforce
a right to indemnification or an advancement of expenses
hereunder or the Covered Person from whom the Trust or the
Portfolio sought to recover an advancement of expenses, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to be paid by the Trust or the
Portfolio the reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) of
prosecuting or defending such suit.
Section 6. Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII:
(a) references to "Trust" include any domestic or foreign
predecessor entity of this Trust in a merger, consolidation, or
other transaction in which the predecessor's existence ceased
upon consummation of the transaction; (b) the term "disabling
conduct" means willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct
of the Covered Person's office with the Trust or the Portfolio;
(c) the term "expenses" includes, without limitations,
attorneys' fees; (d) the term "proceeding" means any threatened,
pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative; and (e) the
term "qualifying Trustee" means any Trustee who is not an
interested person (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and
is not a party to the proceeding.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered or
repealed by the Trustees without the vote or approval of the
Shareholders at any regular or special meeting of the Board of
Trustees without prior notice. These Bylaws may also be altered
or repealed by the Shareholders at any special meeting of the
Shareholders, but only if the Board of Trustees resolves to put
a proposed alteration or repealer to the vote of the
Shareholders and notice of such alteration or repealer is
contained in a notice of the special meeting being held for such
purpose.
Sub-Item 77Q1: Exhibits
(e) Amended Advisory Agreement
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this 16th day of February, 2006 by and
between ELLSWORTH FUND LTD, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and
DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Adviser").
Background
The Trust is registered as a diversified, closed end management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the
"1940 Act"). The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"). The Trust
desires to engage the Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the
Trust, and the Adviser desires to provide such services to the Trust, all on the
terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:
Agreement
SECTION 1. Appointment of Investment Adviser. The Trust hereby
appoints the Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust, and
the Adviser hereby accepts such appointment, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 2. Advisory Services. Subject at all times to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser shall supervise
all aspects of the Trust's operations, including the investment and
reinvestment of cash, securities or other properties comprising the Trust's
assets.
In carrying out its obligations in the preceding paragraph of this Section
2, the Adviser shall (a) supervise all aspects of the operations of the Trust;
(b) obtain and evaluate pertinent information about significant developments
and economic, statistical and financial data, domestic, foreign or otherwise,
whether affecting the economy generally or any industry or the Trust or any
issuer of securities held or to be purchased by the Trust; (c) determine which
issuers and securities shall be represented in the Trust's investment
portfolio and regularly report thereon to the Board of Trustees; (d) place
orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Trust; and (e) take, on
behalf of the Trust, such other action as may be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the foregoing.
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Trust,
the Adviser shall conform to the Trust's investment objectives, policies and
limitations as delineated by statements contained in the various documents
filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission as such
documents may from time to time be amended. The Trust will make available to
the Adviser such financial reports, proxy statements, legal and other
information relating to its investments as may be in the possession of the
Trust or available to it.
The Adviser is hereby obligated, in placing orders for the purchase and
sale of securities for the Trust, to obtain the most favorable price and
execution available under the circumstances and to keep true, accurate and
current books and records containing sufficient detail to demonstrate
compliance with this obligation. In determining the most favorable price and
execution in each transaction the determinative factor is not necessarily the
lowest possible commission cost. The Adviser may consider the full range and
quality of the services of broker-dealers in placing brokerage including, but
not by way of limitation, the value of research provided as well as execution
capability, commission rate, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the
broker-dealer to the Adviser. Accordingly, to the extent provided by law, in
executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser may pay a broker-dealer which
provides brokerage or research services a commission in excess of that which
another broker-dealer would have charged for the same transaction.
SECTION 3. Independent Contractor. The Adviser shall, for all
purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall
have no authority to act for or represent the Trust unless otherwise provided.
No agreement, bid, offer, commitment, contract or other engagement entered
into by the Adviser, whether on behalf of the Adviser or whether purported to
have been entered into by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust, shall be binding
upon the Trust, and all acts authorized to be done by the Adviser under this
Agreement shall be done by the Adviser as an independent contractor and not as
agent.
SECTION 4. Expenses. The Adviser shall provide the Trust with office
space and facilities, and pay all expenses incurred by the Adviser in the
performance of this Agreement.
The Trust will pay all expenses incurred by it and not assumed by the
Adviser including, but not by way of limitation, expenses in connection with
its organization and with the offering of its securities; fees and expenses of
its unaffiliated trustees; legal and accounting fees, fees of its custodian,
registrar, transfer agent; dividend disbursing agent and Dividend Reinvestment
Plan Agent; taxes, interest, brokerage commissions; and direct costs of
postage, printing, copying and travel expenses attributable to the conduct of
the business of the Trust.
The Trust will also pay for such accounting and administrative services
which are to be provided by the Adviser under a separate administrative services
agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, which has been approved by the
Board of Trustees, including all of the trustees who are not "interested
persons," as defined in the 1940 Act, of any such party.
SECTION 5. Compensation. As compensation for the services performed
by the Adviser, the Trust will pay the Adviser on the last day of each month a
fee for such month computed at an annual rate of .75% of the first $100,000,000
of the Trust's average net assets and .50% of the Trust's average net assets in
excess of $100,000,000.
For the purpose of calculation of the fee, the net asset value for a month
will be the average of the Trust's net asset values at the close of business on
the last business day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open in each
week in the month.
If this Agreement shall become effective subsequent to the first day of a
month, or shall terminate before the last day of a month, the Adviser's
compensation for such fraction of the monthly period shall be determined by
applying the foregoing percentage to the net asset value of the Trust during
such fraction of a monthly period (which net asset value shall be determined in
such reasonable manner as the Board of the Trust shall deem appropriate) and
in the proportion that such fraction of a monthly period bears to the entire
month.
Compensation under this Agreement will begin to accrue on its effective
date.
SECTION 6. Approval of Agreement; Termination. This Agreement will be
submitted to the Trust's stockholders for approval. If approved by the vote of
a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Trust as such term is
defined in the 1940 Act, this Agreement will be in effect from the date of
approval. Unless terminated by either party, this Agreement will remain in
effect until December 31, 2006, and for successive one-year periods thereafter,
provided that such continuation is approved annually (i) by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust and (ii) by a majority of the trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or "interested persons," as defined in the 1940
Act, of any such party.
This Agreement is terminable without penalty by either party on 60 days'
written notice and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
Except as specified above, this Agreement may not be amended, transferred,
assigned, sold or in any other manner hypothecated or pledged; provided,
however, that this limitation shall not prevent any minor amendments to this
Agreement which may be required by Federal or state regulatory bodies.
SECTION 7. Liability. The Adviser shall give the Trust the benefit
of its best judgment and efforts in rendering the services set forth herein.
The Trust agrees as an inducement to the undertaking of these services by the
Adviser that the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for
any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matters to which this
Agreement relates, except that nothing herein contained shall be construed to
protect the Adviser against any liability by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith or gross negligence in the performance by the Adviser of its duties or
the reckless disregard of the Adviser's obligations or duties under this
Agreement.
SECTION 8. Multiple Capacities. Except to the extent necessary for
performance of the Adviser's obligations hereunder, nothing shall restrict the
Adviser's right or the right of any of the Adviser's directors, officers or
employees who may be trustees, officers or employees of the Trust to engage in
any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other
aspects of any other business whether of a similar or dissimilar nature or to
render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or
association.
The Trust understands that the Adviser now acts and will continue to
act as an investment adviser to another registered investment company and may
act in the future as an investment adviser to fiduciary and other managed
accounts and investment companies. The Trust has no objection to the Adviser so
acting, provided that whenever the Trust and one or more other investment
companies or accounts advised by the Adviser have available funds for
investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in
accordance with a formula believed to be equitable to each company and account.
The Trust recognizes that in some cases this procedure may adversely affect the
size of the positions obtainable and the prices realized for the Trust.
It is understood and agreed that the trustees, officers, agents, employees
and stockholders of the Trust may be interested in the Adviser as directors,
officers, stockholders, employees, agents or otherwise, and that the directors,
officers, agents, employees and stockholders of the Adviser may be interested
in the Trust as a stockholder or otherwise.
SECTION 9. Concerning Applicable Provisions of Law, Etc. This
Agreement shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law, including, but
not limited to, the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act; and, to the extent
that any provisions herein contained conflict with any such applicable
provisions of law, the latter shall control.
The laws of the State of Delaware shall, except to the extent that any
applicable provisions of some other law shall be controlling, govern the
construction, validity and effect of this Agreement.
The headings preceding the text of the several sections herein are
inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the
meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
ELLSWORTH FUND LTD.
By: /s/Jane D. O'Keeffe (President) DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT COMPANY By: /s/Jane D. O'Keeffe (President) |
Sub-Item 77Q1: Exhibits
(g)(1) Merger Agreement
ELLSWORTH CONVERTIBLE GROWTH AND INCOME FUND, INC.
AGREEMENT OF MERGER (the "Agreement"), dated as of November 18, 2005, by and between Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company") and Ellsworth Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust").
BACKGROUND
The Company is organized as a management investment company and is
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company's shares of common stock
currently trade on the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX").
The Company desires to change its form of organization by merging with and
into the Trust (the "Merger"). In anticipation of the Merger, the Board of
Trustees of the Trust has established the Trust and has designated one class of
shares of beneficial interest in the Trust (the "Trust Shares").
The Merger is subject to, and shall be effected in accordance with, the
terms of this Agreement. This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted by
the Company and by the Trust, as a Plan of Reorganization within the meaning of
the regulations under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Any capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
meanings set forth in the preamble or background to this Agreement. In
addition, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1 "Assets" shall mean all assets including, without limitation, all
cash, cash equivalents, securities, receivables (including interest and
dividends receivable), claims and rights of action, rights to register shares
under applicable securities laws, books and records, deferred and prepaid
expenses shown as assets on the Company's books, and other property owned by
the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.
1.2 "Closing" shall mean the consummation of the transactions described
in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this Agreement, together with the related acts
necessary to consummate the Merger, to occur on the date set forth in Section
3.1.
1.3 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.4 "Company Shares" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the Merger.
1.5 "Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
1.6 "Liabilities" shall mean all liabilities of the Company including,
without limitation, all debts, obligations, and duties of whatever kind or
nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise, whether or not
determinable immediately prior to the Effective Time, and whether or not
specifically referred to herein.
1.7 "Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.4.
1.8 "RIC" shall mean a "regulated investment company" (as defined under
Subchapter M of the Code).
1.9 "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.10 "Shareholder(s)" shall mean the Company's shareholder(s) of record,
determined as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
1.11 "Shareholders Meeting" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.
1.12 "Transition Share" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
1.13 "Trust Shares" shall mean those shares of beneficial interest in the
Trust issued in accordance with this Agreement.
1.14 "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2. Agreement of Merger.
2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 3.1), the
Company shall be merged with and into the Trust, whereupon the separate
existence of the Company shall cease. The Trust shall be the surviving entity
(sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Entity") in the Merger and
shall be governed by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the "DSTA") and other
applicable laws of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall have the effects
specified in the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended, and in the DSTA
and the Trust shall succeed, without other transfer, to all of the Assets of
the Company, and shall assume and be subject to all of the Liabilities of the
Company.
Such transaction shall take place at the Closing.
2.2 Effect of Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a
result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, the
Trust, the Shareholders or the holder of the Transition Share:
(a) Each full and/or fractional Company Share, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted (without the surrender of stock certificates or any
other action) into one full and/or fractional paid and non-
assessable Trust Share, par value $0.01, of the Trust, and all
Company Shares shall simultaneously with such conversion cease
to exist.
(b) The Transition Share shall be cancelled and shall cease to
exist.
2.3 Certificates. At and after the Effective Time, all of the
outstanding certificates which immediately prior thereto represented Company
Shares shall be deemed for all purposes to evidence ownership of and to
represent Trust Shares, into which the Company Shares represented by such
certificates have been converted as herein provided and shall be so registered
on the books and records of the Trust or its transfer agent. The registered
owner of any such outstanding certificate shall, until such certificate shall
have been surrendered for transfer or otherwise accounted for to the Trust or
its transfer agent, have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other
rights with respect to, and to receive any dividends and other distributions
upon, the Trust Shares evidenced by such outstanding certificate, as above
provided.
2.4 The Certificate of Trust. The certificate of trust of the Trust in
effect at the Effective Time shall be the certificate of trust of the Surviving
Entity, until amended in accordance with the provisions provided therein or
applicable law.
2.5 The Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The agreement and
declaration of trust of the Trust in effect at the Effective Time shall be the
agreement and declaration of trust of the Surviving Entity, until amended in
accordance with the provisions provided therein or applicable law.
2.6 The Bylaws. The bylaws of the Trust in effect at the Effective Time
shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity, until amended in accordance with
the provisions provided therein or applicable law.
2.7 Provided that the conditions set forth in Section 6 have been
fulfilled or waived in accordance with this Agreement and that this Agreement
has not been terminated or abandoned pursuant to Section 10, on the date of the
Closing of the Merger, the Company and the Trust shall cause Articles of Merger
to be executed and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation
of Maryland (the "Maryland Articles of Merger"), and, the Trust shall cause a
Certificate of Merger to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware (the "Delaware Certificate of Merger") at the Effective Time;
provided, however, that the filing of the Maryland Articles of Merger and the
Delaware Certificate of Merger as aforesaid shall not be required if the Merger
shall not have been consummated.
2.8 Any reporting responsibility of the Company to a public authority is
and shall remain its responsibility up to and including the Effective Time.
3. Closing.
3.1 The Closing shall occur at the principal office of the Company on
January 31, 2006, or on such other date and at such other place upon which the
parties may agree. All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to
take place simultaneously as of the Company's and the Trust's close of business
on the date of the Closing or at such other time as the parties may agree (the
"Effective Time").
3.2 The Company and the Trust shall deliver to the other at the Closing a
certificate executed in its name by the Chairman, its President or a Vice
President in form and substance satisfactory to the recipient and dated the
Effective Time, to the effect that the representations and warranties it made
in this Agreement are true and correct at the Effective Time except as they may
be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4. Representations and Warranties.
4.1 The Company represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing,
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland;
(b) The Company is duly registered as a closed-end management
investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full
force and effect;
(c) The Company is a RIC; the Company qualified for treatment as a
RIC for each taxable year since it commenced operations that has ended (or
will end) before the Closing and will continue to meet all the
requirements for such qualification for its current taxable year (and the
Assets will be invested at all times through the Effective Time in a
manner that ensures compliance with the foregoing); the Company has no
earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year in which the
provisions of Subchapter M of the Code did not apply to it; and the
Company has made all distributions for each calendar year that has ended
(or will end) before the Closing that are necessary to avoid the
imposition of federal excise tax or has paid or provided for the payment
of any excise tax imposed for any such calendar year;
(d) The Liabilities were incurred by the Company in the ordinary
course of their business and are associated with the Assets;
(e) The Company is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a
proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code or similar case within
the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code;
(f) As of the Effective Time, the Company will not have outstanding
any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of rights
pursuant to which any person could acquire Company Shares;
(g) The Board of Directors of the Company has declared the
advisability of the Merger and has approved this Agreement and the Merger
hereby contemplated, and at the Effective Time, the performance of this
Agreement shall have been duly authorized by all necessary action by the
Shareholders; and
(h) The fair market value of the Assets of the Company succeeded to
by the Trust will equal or exceed the sum of the Liabilities assumed by
the Trust plus the amount of Liabilities, if any, to which such Assets are
subject.
4.2 The Trust represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Trust is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing,
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and its
Certificate of Trust has been duly filed in the office of the Secretary of
State of Delaware;
(b) The Trust is organized as a closed-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act;
(c) The Trust has not commenced operations nor will it commence
operations until after the Closing;
(d) Prior to the Effective Time, there will be no issued and
outstanding Trust Shares or any other securities issued by the Trust,
except as provided in Section 5.2;
(e) The Trust Shares to be issued, at the Effective Time, have been
duly authorized and, when issued as provided herein, will be duly and
validly issued and outstanding shares of the Trust, fully paid and
nonassessable;
(f) The Trust will be a "fund" as defined in Section 851(g)(2) of
the Code and will meet all the requirements for a "fund" to qualify for
treatment as a RIC for its taxable year in which the Merger occurs;
(g) The Trust has no plan or intention to issue additional Trust
Shares following the Merger except for shares issued in the ordinary
course of its business as a closed-end investment company; nor does the
Trust have any plan or intention to redeem or otherwise reacquire any
Trust Shares issued pursuant to the Merger, other than in the ordinary
course of such business;
(h) The Trust has no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose
of any of the Assets, except for dispositions made in the ordinary course
of its business or dispositions necessary to maintain its qualification as
a RIC, although in the ordinary course of its business the Trust will
continuously review its investment portfolio (as the Company did before
the Merger) to determine whether to retain or dispose of particular stocks
or securities, including those included in the Assets; and
(i) There is no plan or intention for the Trust to be dissolved or
merged into another corporation or statutory trust (or "fund" thereof
(within the meaning of Section 851(g)(2) of the Code)) following the
Merger.
4.3 Each of the Company and the Trust represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The fair market value of the Trust Shares received by each
Shareholder will be equal to the fair market value of the Company Shares
of the Company surrendered in exchange therefor;
(b) Immediately following consummation of the Merger, the
Shareholders will own all the Trust Shares and will own such shares solely
by reason of their ownership of the Company Shares immediately before the
Merger;
(c) The Shareholders will pay their own expenses, if any, incurred
in connection with the Merger;
(d) There is no intercompany indebtedness between the Company and
the Fund that was issued or acquired, or will be settled, at a discount;
and
(e) Immediately following consummation of the Merger, the Trust will
hold the same assets, except for assets distributed to shareholders in the
course of its business as a RIC and assets used to pay expenses incurred
in connection with the Merger, and be subject to the same liabilities that
the Company held or was subject to immediately prior to the Merger. Assets
used to pay (i) expenses, and (ii) distributions (other than regular,
normal distributions), made by the Company after the date of this
Agreement will, in the aggregate, constitute less than one percent (1%) of
its net assets.
5. Covenants.
5.1 As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the Company
shall call a meeting of its Shareholders (the "Shareholders Meeting") to
consider and act on this Agreement and, in connection therewith, the merger of
the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company has declared the
advisability of the Merger and will recommend that the Shareholders approve
this Agreement and, in connection therewith, the Merger of the Company with and
into the Trust.
5.2 Prior to the Closing, the Trust shall issue to the Company one Trust
Share (which shall, until the Effective Time, constitute the sole issued and
outstanding Trust Share) (the "Transition Share"), and shall prepare and
distribute to the holder of the Transition Share an information statement in
which the Trust shall request such holder to consider and act on this Agreement
and, in connection therewith, the merger of the Company with and into Trust.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall recommend that the holder of the
Transition Share approve this Agreement and, in connection therewith, the
merger of the Company with and into the Trust.
5.3 Prior to Closing, provided that the Shareholders have approved the
Agreement, the Company, as holder of the Transition Share, shall vote such
share (i) to elect the Company's directors as the Trust's trustees (to serve
for a period of time corresponding to such directors' current term as directors
of the Company), except as they may resign or be removed by action of the
Trust's trustees or shareholders), (ii) to ratify the selection of the Trust's
independent accountants, (iii) to approve the Trust's Investment Advisory
Agreement and (iv) to approve the Agreement. Approval by the Shareholders of
this Agreement will authorize the Company to vote for the matters set forth in
this Section.
5.4 Prior to the Closing, the Trust shall enter into an Investment
Advisory Agreement; and shall enter into or adopt, as appropriate, such other
agreements as are necessary for the operation of the Trust as a closed-end
management investment company. Each such agreement shall have been approved by
the Trust's trustees and, to the extent required by law, by such of those
trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust (as defined in the 1940
Act) and by the Company as the initial sole shareholder of the Trust.
5.5 Prior to the Closing, the Trust shall file with the SEC an amendment
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form N-8A under the 1940 Act (the
"Registration Statement"), which will adopt the Company's Registration
Statement as the Trust's Registration Statement.
6. Conditions Precedent.
The obligations of the Company, and of the Trust will be subject to
(a) performance by the other party of all its obligations to be performed
hereunder at or before the Effective Time, (b) all representations and
warranties of the other party contained herein being true and correct in all
material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by
the transactions contemplated hereby, as of the Effective Time, with the same
force and effect as if made on and as of the Effective Time, and (c) the
further conditions that, at or before the Effective Time:
6.1 The Shareholders shall have approved this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with applicable law.
The Company, as holder of the Transition Share, shall have approved this
Agreement in accordance with applicable law.
6.2 All necessary filings shall have been made with the SEC and state
securities authorities, and no order or directive shall have been received that
any other or further action is required to permit the parties to carry out the
transactions contemplated hereby. All consents, orders, and permits of federal,
state, and local regulatory authorities (including the SEC and state securities
authorities) deemed necessary by either the Company or the Trust to permit
consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby
shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain such consults, orders,
and permits would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets
or properties of either the Company or the Trust, provided that either the
Company or the Trust may for itself waive any of such conditions.
6.3 Each of the Company and the Trust shall have received an opinion from
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP as to the federal income tax
consequences mentioned below. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely
as to factual matters, exclusively and without independent verification, on the
representations made in this Agreement (or in separate letters of
representation that the Company and the Trust shall use their best efforts to
deliver to such counsel) and the certificates delivered pursuant to
Section 3.2. Such opinion shall be substantially to the effect that, based on
the facts and assumptions stated therein and conditioned on consummation of the
Merger in accordance with this Agreement, for federal income tax purposes, the
Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a) of
the Code, and the Company and the Trust will be "a party to a reorganization"
within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Code.
6.4 No application to deregister the Company as a registered investment
company on Form N-8F has been filed with the SEC.
6.5 The Trust shall have adopted the Company's Registration Statement
under the 1940 Act, as the Trust's Registration Statement.
6.6 All necessary actions and filings have been made with the AMEX to
list the Trust Shares.
At any time prior to the Closing, any of the foregoing conditions (except
those set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3) may be waived by the
directors/trustees of either the Company or the Trust if, in their judgment,
such waiver will not have a material adverse effect on the interests of the
Company's Shareholders.
7. Expenses.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(c), all expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be paid
from the assets of the Company or the Trust.
8. Entire Agreement.
Neither party has made any representation, warranty, or covenant not set
forth herein, and this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties.
9. Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented at any time,
notwithstanding its approval by the Shareholders or the holder of the
Transition Share, in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by
the parties; provided that following such approval no such amendment shall have
a material adverse effect on the Shareholders' interests or the interests of
the holder of the Transition Share.
10. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time at or prior to the Effective
Time, whether before or after approval by the Shareholders or the holder of the
Transition Share:
10.1 By either the Company or the Trust (a) in the event of the other
party's material breach of any representation, warranty, or covenant contained
herein to be performed at or prior to the Effective Time, (b) if a condition to
its obligations has not been met and it reasonably appears that such condition
will not or cannot be met, or (c) if the Closing has not occurred on or before
June 30, 2006; or
10.2 By the parties' mutual agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7, in the event of termination
under Sections 10.1(c) or 10.2, there shall be no liability for damages on the
part of either the Company or the Trust, to the other.
11. Miscellaneous.
11.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of Delaware; provided that, in the case of any
conflict between such laws and the federal securities laws, the latter shall
govern.
11.2 Nothing expressed or implied herein is intended or shall be construed
to confer upon or give any person, firm, trust, or corporation other than the
parties and their respective successors and assigns any rights or remedies
under or by reason of this Agreement.
11.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by
the Trust's trustees, and this Agreement has been executed and delivered by a
duly authorized officer of the Trust in his or her capacity as an officer of
the Trust intending to bind the Trust as provided herein, and no officer,
trustee or shareholder of the Trust shall be personally liable for the
liabilities or obligations of the Trust incurred hereunder.
11.4 The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by
the Company's directors, and this Agreement has been executed and delivered by
a duly authorized officer of the Company in his or her capacity as an officer
of the Company intending to bind the Company as provided herein, and no
officer, director or Shareholder of the Company shall be personally liable for
the liabilities or obligations of the Company incurred hereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has caused this Agreement to be executed
and delivered by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first
written above.
ELLSWORTH CONVERTIBLE GROWTH
AND INCOME FUND, INC.
Attest: By: /s/ Thomas H. Dinsmore /s/ H. Tucker Lake, Jr. Title: Chairman of the Board ELLSWORTH FUND Attest: By: /s/ Gary I. Levine /s/ H. Tucker Lake, Jr. Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Sub-Item 77Q1: Exhibits
(g)(2) Legal Opinion on Merger
[Letterhead of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP]
February 17, 2006
Ellsworth Fund, Inc.
65 Madison Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Ellsworth Fund Ltd.
65 Madison Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey
07960
Re: Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganization of Ellsworth Fund, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion regarding certain United States
federal income tax consequences in connection with the transfer of the property
and assets of Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund., Inc., now known as
Ellsworth Fund, Inc. (the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, to Ellsworth
Fund, now known as Ellsworth Fund Ltd. (the "Trust"), a Delaware statutory
trust, in exchange solely for shares of beneficial interest of Trust ("Trust
Shares") and Trust's assumption of Company's liabilities, and the termination
of the separate existence of the Company, all pursuant to the Agreement of
Merger dated as of November 18, 2005 entered into by the Company and the Trust
(the "Agreement") (the transaction in its entirety being hereinafter referred
to as the "Merger"). Capitalized terms used in this letter without definition
shall have the meanings given them in the Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
accuracy and completeness of the facts, information, covenants, statements and
representations contained in originals or copies of the Agreement, the exhibits
attached thereto, the Proxy Statement filed by the Company on December 1, 2005
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and such other documents and
instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. In our examination of
the foregoing materials, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted
to us as originals and the conformity to the original documents of all
documents submitted to us as copies. We have assumed that such documents
reflect all the material facts relating to the Merger. In addition, we have
assumed that the Merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms of
such documents and that none of the material terms and conditions contained
therein will have been waived or modified prior to the consummation of the
Merger.
In rendering this opinion, we are relying upon the representations,
warranties and covenants made by Company and Trust in the Agreement as well as
on letters of representation of even date that we have received from the
officers of Company and Trust, copies of which are attached as Exhibit A
hereto. We have not been asked to, nor have we undertaken to, verify the
accuracy of these and other representations made to us. In this regard, we
have assumed that any representation made "to the best of knowledge," "to the
knowledge" or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification. As to
all matters in which a person making a representation has represented that such
person either is not a party to, does not have, or is not aware of, any plan or
intention, understanding or agreement, we have likewise assumed that there is
in fact no such plan, intention, understanding, or agreement.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, for
federal income tax purposes:
1. The transfer of the assets of Company to Trust in exchange for
Trust Shares and Trust's assumption of liabilities of Company, as provided in
the Agreement, will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code and Company and Trust will each be "a party to a
reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
2. In accordance with Section 361(a) and Section 361(c)(1) of the
Code, no gain or loss will be recognized by Company on the transfer of its
assets to Trust solely in exchange for Trust Shares and Trust's assumption of
the liabilities of Company or on the distribution of Trust Shares to Company
Shareholders, in constructive exchange for their Company Shares, in liquidation
of Company.
3. In accordance with Section 1032 of the Code, no gain or loss
will be recognized by Trust upon the receipt of assets of Company in exchange
for Trust Shares.
4. In accordance with Section 354(a)(1) of the Code, no gain or
loss will be recognized by Company Shareholders on the constructive exchange of
Company Shares solely for Trust Shares pursuant to the Merger.
5. In accordance with Section 362(b) of the Code, the basis to
Trust of the assets of Company will be the same as the basis of such assets in
the hands of Company immediately prior to the Merger.
6. In accordance with Section 358(a) of the Code, a Company
Shareholder's basis for Trust Shares received by the Company Shareholder in the
Merger will be the same as his basis for the Company Shares constructively
surrendered in exchange for such Trust Shares.
7. In accordance with Section 1223(1) of the Code, each Company
Shareholder's holding period for Trust Shares received in the Merger will be
determined by including such Company Shareholder's holding period for the
Company Shares exchanged therefor, provided that the Company Shareholder held
such Company Shares as a capital asset at the Effective Time.
8. In accordance with Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding
period with respect to the assets of Company transferred to Trust in the Merger
will include the holding period for such assets in the hands of Company.
We express no opinion as to the tax consequences of the Merger
except as expressly set forth above, or as to any transaction except the
Merger. We also note that certain Company Shareholders may be subject to
special rules because of their particular federal income tax status and that
the tax consequences of the Merger to such Company Shareholders may accordingly
differ from the ones of general application that are described above. This
opinion is intended to satisfy the mutual condition precedent to the Merger set
forth in Section 6.3 of the Agreement, is being furnished to you solely for
that purpose, and may not be relied upon by any other person without our
express written consent. We expressly authorize Company to file this opinion
with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company's
semi-annual report on Form N-SAR, and our opinion is expressly conditioned
upon the occurrence of such filing.
Our opinion is based upon the Code, Treasury Regulations (proposed,
temporary and final) promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, interpretative
rulings of the Internal Revenue Service and such other authorities as we have
considered relevant, all as in effect on the date hereof. All such legal
authorities are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. We
are not undertaking hereby any obligation to advise you of any changes in the
applicable law subsequent to the date hereof, even if such changes materially
affect the tax consequences of the Merger that are set forth above.
If any of the facts, assumptions or representations on which our
opinion is based are incorrect, we expect you to advise us so that we may
consider the effect, if any, on our opinion.
Our opinion has no binding effect on the Internal Revenue Service or
the courts of any jurisdiction. No assurance can accordingly be given that, if
the matter were contested, a court would agree with the legal conclusions set
forth above.
Sincerely,
/s/ Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP |
Sub-Item 77Q3: Other exhibits
DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS IN THE FORMAT OF FORM N-SAR TO ALLOW REPORTING OF INFORMATION FOR MULTIPLE CUSTODIANS, THIS EXHIBIT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ITEMS 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D AND 15E.
FOR PERIOD ENDING 03/31/2006
FILE NUMBER 811-04656
CUSTODIAN/SUB-CUSTODIAN filed for series 0. 15.A) Custodian/Sub-custodian: THE BANK OF NEW YORK B) Is this a Custodian or Sub-custodian? (C/S): C |
C) City: NEW YORK State: NY Zip Code: 10005 Zip Ext.: 1918
D) Foreign Country: Foreign Postal Code:
E) Mark ONE of the following with an 'X':
TYPE OF CUSTODY
Member Nat'l Foreign Insurance Co. Bank Sec. Exchg. Self Custodian Sponsor Sec.17(f)(1) Rule 17f-1 Rule 17f-2 Rule 17f-5 Rule 26a-2 Other ------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------- ----- |
X