# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001901037
**File Stem:** 0001104659-23-003676
**Filing Date:** 2023-1
**Character Count:** 99332
**Document Hash:** a4965e054be3dc891cdec2e120576989
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-23-003676.hdr.sgml**: 20230113

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-23-003676

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 13

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230111

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230113

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230113

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Stellus Private Credit BDC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001901037
- **IRS NUMBER:** 876878660
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 000-56378
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23527623

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 4400 POST OAK PARKWAY
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 2200
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77027
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 7132925414

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 4400 POST OAK PARKWAY
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 2200
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77027

?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

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**FORM 8-K**

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**CURRENT REPORT**

**Pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the**

**Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

**Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 13, 2023 (January 11, 2023)**

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**Stellus Private Credit BDC**

**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **000-56378** | **87-6878660** |
| **(State or other jurisdiction of** | **(Commission** | **(IRS Employer** |
| **incorporation or organization)** | **File Number)** | **Identification Number)** |

---

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200** |  |
| **Houston, Texas** | **77027** |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 292-5400**

**None**

**(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)**

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

◻ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

◻ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading<br> Symbol(s)** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ⌧

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻

 **Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year.**

On January 11, 2023, the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Stellus Private Credit BDC (the "Company"), a Delaware statutory trust, approved an amendment and restatement of the Company's Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (as amended and restated, the "Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust") to remove the requirement that the Company have a Trustee who is a resident of Delaware or which has its principal place of business in Delaware. The amendments contained in the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust were made pursuant to changes to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the "Act"), which made Section 3807(b) of the Act applicable to business development companies, such as the Company.

The Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust became effective on January 11, 2023.

The foregoing description of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

**Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.**

(d) Exhibits

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Exhibit<br> Number | Description |
| [3.1](tm233325d1_ex3-1.htm) | [Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Stellus Private Credit BDC, effective as of January 11, 2023.](tm233325d1_ex3-1.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |

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**SIGNATURE**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | Stellus Private Credit bdc | Stellus Private Credit bdc | Stellus Private Credit bdc |
| Date: January 13, 2023 | By: | /s/ W. Todd Huskinson | /s/ W. Todd Huskinson |
|  |  | Name: | W. Todd Huskinson |
|  |  | Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary |

---

## Exhibit 3.1

**Exhibit 3.1**

**STELLUS PRIVATE CREDIT BDC**

**SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED** 

**AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST** 

**<u>Dated as of January 11, 2023</u>**

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **<u>Page</u>** |
|  | ARTICLE I |  |
| **The Trust** |  | 4 |
| Section 1.1 | <u>Name</u> | 4 |
| Section 1.2 | <u>Trust Purpose</u> | 4 |
| Section 1.3 | <u>Definitions</u> | 4 |
|  | ARTICLE II |  |
| **Board of Trustees** | **Board of Trustees** | 5 |
| Section 2.1 | <u>Number and Qualification</u> | 5 |
| Section 2.2 | <u>Term and Election</u> | 5 |
| Section 2.3 | <u>Resignation and Removal</u> | 6 |
| Section 2.4 | <u>Vacancies</u> | 6 |
| Section 2.5 | <u>Meetings</u> | 7 |
| Section 2.6 | <u>Trustee Action by Written Consent</u> | 7 |
| Section 2.7 | <u>Officers</u> | 7 |
| Section 2.8 | <u>Principal Transactions</u> | 7 |
|  | ARTICLE III |  |
| **Powers and Duties of Trustees** | **Powers and Duties of Trustees** | 8 |
| Section 3.1 | <u>General</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.2 | <u>Investments</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.3 | <u>Legal Title</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.4 | <u>Issuance and Repurchase of Shares</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.5 | <u>Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.6 | <u>Delegation; Committees</u> | 8 |
| Section 3.7 | <u>Collection and Payment</u> | 9 |
| Section 3.8 | <u>By-Laws</u> | 9 |
| Section 3.9 | <u>Miscellaneous Powers</u> | 9 |
| Section 3.10 | <u>Further Powers</u> | 9 |
| Section 3.11 | <u>Sole Discretion; Good Faith; Corporate Opportunities of Adviser</u> | 9 |

---

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ARTICLE IV |  |
| **Fees and Expenses; Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements** | **Fees and Expenses; Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements** | **10** |
| Section 4.1 | <u>Expenses</u> | 10 |
| Section 4.2 | <u>Advisory and Management Arrangements</u> | 10 |
| Section 4.3 | <u>Distribution Arrangements</u> | 10 |
| Section 4.4 | <u>Parties to Contract</u> | 10 |
|  | ARTICLE V |  |
| **Limitations of Liability and Indemnification** | **Limitations of Liability and Indemnification** | **11** |
| Section 5.1 | <u>No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc.</u> | 11 |
| Section 5.2 | <u>Mandatory Indemnification</u> | 11 |
| Section 5.3 | <u>No Bond Required of Trustees</u> | 12 |
| Section 5.4 | <u>No Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc.</u> | 12 |
| Section 5.5 | <u>Reliance on Experts, etc.</u> | 12 |
|  | ARTICLE VI |  |
| **Shares of Beneficial Interest** | **Shares of Beneficial Interest** | **13** |
| Section 6.1 | <u>Beneficial Interest</u> | 13 |
| Section 6.2 | <u>Other Securities</u> | 13 |
| Section 6.3 | <u>Rights of Shareholders</u> | 13 |
| Section 6.4 | <u>Trust Only</u> | 13 |
| Section 6.5 | <u>Issuance of Shares</u> | 13 |
| Section 6.6 | <u>Register of Shares</u> | 14 |
| Section 6.7 | <u>Transfer Agent and Registrar</u> | 14 |
| Section 6.8 | <u>Transfer of Shares</u> | 14 |
| Section 6.9 | <u>Notices</u> | 14 |
| Section 6.10 | <u>Derivative Actions</u> | 14 |
|  | ARTICLE VII |  |
| **Custodians** |  | **15** |
| Section 7.1 | <u>Appointment and Duties</u> | 15 |
| Section 7.2 | <u>Central Certificate System</u> | 15 |
|  | ARTICLE VIII |  |
| **Redemption** |  | **15** |
|  |  | **15** |
| Section 8.1 | <u>Redemptions</u> | 15 |
| Section 8.2 | <u>Disclosure of Holding</u> | 16 |
| Section 8.3 | <u>Redemption by Trust</u> | 16 |

---

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ARTICLE IX |  |
| **Net Asset Value and Distributions** | **Net Asset Value and Distributions** | **16** |
| Section 9.1 | <u>Net Asset Value</u> | 16 |
| Section 9.2 | <u>Distributions to Shareholders</u> | 16 |
| Section 9.3 | <u>Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures</u> | 16 |
|  | ARTICLE X |  |
| **Shareholders** | **Shareholders** | **17** |
| Section 10.1 | <u>Meetings of Shareholders</u> | 17 |
| Section 10.2 | <u>Voting</u> | 17 |
| Section 10.3 | <u>Notice of Meeting and Record Date</u> | 17 |
| Section 10.4 | <u>Quorum and Required Vote</u> | 18 |
| Section 10.5 | <u>Proxies, etc.</u> | 18 |
| Section 10.6 | <u>Reports</u> | 18 |
| Section 10.7 | <u>Inspection of Records</u> | 18 |
| Section 10.8 | <u>Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise</u> | 18 |
| Section 10.9 | <u>Shareholder Action by Written Consent</u> | 19 |
|  | ARTICLE XI |  |
| **Wind Down; Amendment; Extraordinary Transactions, Etc.** | **Wind Down; Amendment; Extraordinary Transactions, Etc.** | **19** |
| Section 11.1 | <u>Wind Down</u> | 19 |
| Section 11.2 | <u>Amendment Procedure</u> | 19 |
| Section 11.3 | <u>[Intentionally omitted]</u> | 19 |
| Section 11.4 | <u>Subsidiaries</u> | 19 |
| Section 11.5 | <u>Merger, Consolidation, Incorporation</u> | 20 |
|  | ARTICLE XII |  |
| **[**Intentionally omitted**]** | **[**Intentionally omitted**]** |  |
|  | ARTICLE XIII |  |
| **Miscellaneous** | **Miscellaneous** | **20** |
| Section 13.1 | <u>Filing</u> | 20 |
| Section 13.2 | <u>Governing Law</u> | 21 |
| Section 13.3 | <u>Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction</u> | 21 |
| Section 13.4 | <u>Counterparts</u> | 22 |
| Section 13.5 | <u>Reliance by Third Parties</u> | 22 |
| Section 13.6 | <u>Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation</u> | 22 |

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<u>STELLUS PRIVATE CREDIT BDC</u>

<u>SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST</u> 

ARTICLE I

**<u>The Trust</u>**

Section 1.1 <u>Name</u>. This Trust shall be known as the "Stellus Private Credit BDC," and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine. Any name change shall become effective upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument setting forth the new name and the filing of a certificate of amendment pursuant to Section 3810(b) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute (as defined below). Any such instrument shall not require the approval of the Shareholders, but shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration.

Section 1.2 <u>Trust Purpose</u>. The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a business development company within the meaning of the 1940 Act (as defined below). In furtherance of the foregoing, it shall be the purpose of the Trust to do everything necessary, suitable, convenient or proper for the conduct, promotion and attainment of any businesses and purposes which at any time may be incidental or may appear conducive or expedient for the accomplishment of the business of a business development company regulated under the 1940 Act and which may be engaged in or carried on by a trust organized under the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, and in connection therewith the Trust shall have the power and authority to engage in the foregoing and may exercise all of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware upon a Delaware statutory trust.

Section 1.3 <u>Definitions</u>. As used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

The "<u>1940 Act</u>" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.

The terms "<u>Affiliated Person</u>", "<u>Assignment</u>", "<u>Commission</u>", "<u>Independent Trustee</u>", "<u>Interested Person</u>" and "<u>Principal Underwriter</u>" shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.

"<u>Adviser</u>" shall mean Stellus Private BDC Advisor, LLC or an affiliated successor in interest thereto. If the Adviser no longer serves as the investment adviser to the Trust, the rights of the Adviser in this Declaration will become the rights of the Trustees.

"<u>Board of Trustees</u>" shall mean the Trustees collectively.

"<u>By-Laws</u>" shall mean the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the Trustees.

"<u>Capital Commitment</u>" shall mean each investor's commitment to contribute capital to the Trust in exchange for Shares pursuant to a subscription agreement with the Trust.

"<u>Code</u>" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

"<u>Commission</u>" shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"<u>Continuing Trustee</u>" shall mean any member of the Board of Trustees who either (a) has been a member of the Board of Trustees for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the date hereof, if less than thirty-six months) or (b) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board of Trustees.

"<u>Declaration</u>" shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time.

"<u>Delaware General Corporation Law</u>" means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 <u>Del. C.</u> § 100, <u>et seq.</u>, as amended from time to time.

"<u>Delaware Statutory Trust Statute</u>" shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 <u>Del. C.</u> § 3801, <u>et seq.</u>, as such Act may be amended from time to time.

"<u>Exchange Listing</u>" shall mean the quotation or listing of the Trust's securities on a national securities exchange (including through an initial public offering).

"<u>Majority Shareholder Vote</u>" shall mean a vote of "a majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust with each class and series of Shares voting together as a single class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act or this Declaration with respect to any one or more classes or series of Shares, in which case the applicable proportion of such classes or series of Shares voting as a separate class or series, as the case may be, also will be required.

"<u>Person</u>" shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

"<u>Securities Act</u>" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

"<u>Shareholders</u>" shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust, at such time.

"<u>Shares</u>" shall mean the transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. In addition, Shares also means any preferred shares or preferred units of beneficial interest which may be issued from time to time, as described herein. All references to Shares shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all series or classes as the context may require.

"<u>Trust</u>" shall mean the trust governed by this Declaration and the By-laws, as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.

"<u>Trust Property</u>" shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.

"<u>Trustees</u>" shall mean the signatories to this Declaration, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in office.

ARTICLE II

**<u>Board of Trustees</u>**

Section 2.1 <u>Number and Qualification</u>. As of the date hereof, the number of Trustees shall be five and the Trustees, as of the date hereof, shall be the signatories hereto. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a majority of the Trustees then in office in accordance with the Trust's by-laws, provided that the number of Trustees shall be no less than one or more than fifteen. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.

Section 2.2 <u>Term and Election; Classification of the Board of Trustees</u>. Prior to an Exchange Listing of any class of the Trust's Shares, if any, each Trustee shall hold office for life (or until the attainment of any mandatory retirement age or term limits established by a majority of the Trustees) or until his or her successor is elected or the Trust terminates, unless such Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with this Declaration.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective upon and following the occurrence of an Exchange Listing of any class of the Trust's Shares, if any: the Board of Trustees shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible, and the term of office of Trustees of one class shall expire at each annual meeting of Shareholders, and in all cases as to each Trustee such term shall extend until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify or until his or earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity, except as may be provided in a resolution or resolutions of the Board of Trustees providing for any series of preferred shares with respect to any Trustees elected (or to be elected) by the holders of such series and except as otherwise required by applicable law. Trustees already in office shall be assigned to each class at the time such classification becomes effective, in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees. Class I Trustees shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of shareholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Trustees becomes effective, Class II Trustees shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of shareholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Trustees becomes effective and Class III Trustees shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of shareholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Trustees becomes effective. At each annual meeting of shareholders commencing with the first annual meeting of shareholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Trustees becomes effective, the Trustees of the class to be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders shall be elected for a three-year term. If the total number of such Trustees is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of Trustees in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional Trustees of any class elected to fill a newly created Trusteeship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the total number of Trustees remove or shorten the term of any incumbent Trustee.

Section 2.3 <u>Resignation and Removal</u>. Any of the Trustees may resign their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees (or in the case of the removal of a Trustee that is not an "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act a majority of the remaining Trustees that are not "interested persons" as defined in the 1940 Act) and by the holders of at least a majority of the Shares then entitled to vote in an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee's legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee's behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following the effective date of his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of a removal.

Section 2.5 <u>Meetings</u>. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, or the President or any two Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws, the Chairman or by resolution or consent of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given by the Secretary and shall be delivered to the Trustees orally or via electronic transmission not less than 24 hours, or in writing not less than 72 hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened. Any time there is more than one Trustee, a quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except as required under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.

Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent as provided in Section 2.6.

With respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.

All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.6 <u>Trustee Action by Written Consent</u>. Any action which may be taken by Trustees by vote may be taken without a meeting if that number of the Trustees, or members of a committee, as the case may be, required for approval of such action at a meeting of the Trustees or of such committee consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Trustees. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Trustees.

Section 2.7 <u>Officers</u>. The Trustees shall elect a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer and may elect a Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, or Chief Executive Officer to appoint such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer may, but need not, be a Trustee. All officers shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties (and only such fiduciary duties) as owed by officers of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Section 2.8 <u>Principal Transactions</u>. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any Affiliated Person of the Trust, investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such Affiliated Person or other person; and the Trust may employ any such Affiliated Person or other person, or firm or company in which such Affiliated Person or other person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment advisor, investment sub-advisor, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.

ARTICLE III

**<u>Powers and Duties of Trustees</u>**

Section 3.1 <u>General</u>. The Trustees shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties (and only such fiduciary duties) as owed by directors of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

Section 3.2 <u>Investments</u>. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Trustees, the Trust's investment objectives are to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation. The Trustees shall have power with respect to the Trust to manage, conduct, operate and carry on the business of a business development company.

Section 3.3 <u>Legal Title</u>. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trust as a separate legal entity except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected.

To the extent any Trust Property is titled in the name of one or more Trustees, the right, title and interest of such Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.

Section 3.4 <u>Issuance and Repurchase of Shares</u>. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional denominations, and, subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in Article VIII, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property. The Trustees may establish, from time to time, a program or programs by which the Trust voluntarily repurchases Shares from the Shareholders; provided, however, that such repurchases do not impair the capital or operations of the Trust.

Section 3.5 <u>Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage</u>. The Trustees shall have the power to cause the Trust to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or corporation. In addition and notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration, the Trust is hereby authorized to borrow funds, incur indebtedness and guarantee obligations of any Person, and in connection therewith, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, are hereby authorized to pledge, hypothecate, mortgage, assign, transfer or grant security interests in or other liens on (i) the Shareholders' subscription agreements, Capital Commitments, and the Shareholders' obligations to make capital contributions thereunder and hereunder, to satisfy their Capital Commitments, subject to the terms hereof and thereof, and (ii) any other assets, rights or remedies of the Trust or of the Trustees hereunder or under the subscription agreements, including without limitation, the right to issue capital call notices and to exercise remedies upon a default by a Shareholder in the payment of its capital contributions and the right to receive capital contributions and other payments, subject to the terms hereof and thereof. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration, (i) the Trust may borrow funds, incur indebtedness and enter into guarantees together with one or more Persons on a joint and several basis or on any other basis that the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, determines is fair and reasonable to the Trust, and (ii) in connection with any borrowing, indebtedness or guarantee by the Trust, all capital contributions shall be payable to the account of the Trust designated by the Board of Trustees, which may be pledged to any lender or other credit party of the Trust. All rights granted to a lender pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall apply to its agents and its successors and permitted assigns.

Section 3.6 <u>Delegation; Committees</u>. The Trustees shall have the power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things, including any matters set forth in this Declaration, and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees which shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time except to the extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the 1940 Act.

Section 3.7 <u>Collection and Payment</u>. The Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.

Section 3.8 <u>By-Laws</u>. The Trustees shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the Trust.

Section 3.9 <u>Miscellaneous Powers</u>. Without limiting the general or further powers of the Trustees, they shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (d) establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including without limitation any advisor, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or selected dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; and (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept.

Section 3.10 <u>Further Powers</u>. The Trustees shall have the power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign governments, 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 Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.

Section 3.11 <u>Sole Discretion; Good Faith; Corporate Opportunities of Adviser</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration or otherwise applicable law, whenever in this Declaration the Trustees are permitted or required to make a decision:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) in their "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Trustees shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as they desire, including their own interest, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) in their "good faith" or under another express standard, the Trustees shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Adviser and any Affiliated Person of the Adviser may engage in or possess an interest in other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust and the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine. To the extent that the Adviser acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Trust, it shall not have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Trust, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable co-investment order issued by the Commission, and the Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Shareholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that the Adviser pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to, another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Shareholder shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Declaration or the trust relationship created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.

ARTICLE IV

**<u>Fees and Expenses; Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements</u>**

Section 4.1 <u>Expenses</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Trustees shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Trust shall bear and be responsible for all costs and expenses of the Trust's operations, administration and transactions, including, but not limited to fees and expenses paid for investment advisory, administrative or other services and all other expenses of its operations and transactions.

Section 4.2 <u>Advisory and Management Arrangements</u>. Subject to the requirements of applicable law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in each case, one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby the other party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish such advisory, administrative and management services with respect to the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any advisor, administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to exercise any of the powers of the Trustees, including to effect investment transactions with respect to the assets on behalf of the Trust to the full extent of the power of the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by the Trustees) Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.

Section 4.3 <u>Distribution Arrangements</u>. Subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Trustees may retain underwriters, distributors and/or placement agents to sell Shares and other securities of the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of securities of the Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such securities to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such securities. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of securities of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may enter into selected dealer agreements and servicing and similar agreements to further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of the securities of the Trust.

Section 4.4 <u>Parties to Contract</u>. Any contract of the character described in Sections 4.2 and 4.3 of this Article IV or in Article VII hereof may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws. The same Person may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.2 and 4.3 above or Article VII, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 4.4.

ARTICLE V

**<u>Limitations of Liability and Indemnification</u>**

Section 5.1 <u>No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc</u>. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification of this Section 5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

Section 5.2 <u>Mandatory Indemnification</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust (each such person being an "indemnitee") against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misconduct, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as "<u>disabling conduct</u>"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding ("<u>Disinterested Non-Party Trustees</u>"), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee's good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of Shareholders or Trustees who are not Interested Persons or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.

Section 5.3 <u>No Bond Required of Trustees</u>. No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.

Section 5.4 <u>No Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc</u>. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.

Section 5.5 <u>Reliance on Experts, etc</u>. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust's officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.

ARTICLE VI

**<u>Shares of Beneficial Interest</u>**

Section 6.1 <u>Beneficial Interest</u>. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. Such Shares of beneficial interest may be issued in different classes and/or series of beneficial interests. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust.

Section 6.2 <u>Other Securities</u>. The Trustees may, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue preferred shares of any class or series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration as they deem necessary or appropriate, including to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act or requirements imposed by the rating agencies or other Persons, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any such supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. In addition, any such supplement or amendment may set forth the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of such preferred shares and any such supplement or amendment shall operate either as additions to or modifications of the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of any such preferred shares under this Declaration. To the extent the provisions set forth in such supplement or amendment conflict with the provisions of this Declaration with respect to any such rights, powers and privileges of the preferred shares, such amendment or supplement shall control. Except as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, this Declaration shall control as to the Trust generally and the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of the other Shareholders of the Trust. The Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.

Section 6.3 <u>Rights of Shareholders</u>. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business herein before described are vested exclusively in the Trust, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights (except as specified by the Trustees when creating the Shares, as in preferred shares).

Section 6.4 <u>Trust Only</u>. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a Delaware statutory trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

Section 6.5 <u>Issuance of Shares</u>. The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time without vote of the Shareholders issue Shares including preferred shares that may have been established pursuant to Section 6.2, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may determine, 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. The Trustees may from time to time, without a vote of the Shareholders, divide, reclassify or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and redemptions of Shares may be made in whole Shares and/or 1/1,000ths of a Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may determine.

Section 6.6 <u>Register of Shares</u>. A register shall be kept at the offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under the direction of the Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Separate registers shall be established and maintained for each class or series of Shares. Each such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares of the applicable class or series of Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and regulations as to their use.

Section 6.7 <u>Transfer Agent and Registrar</u>. The Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to the Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record therein, the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer agents and/or registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, as modified by the Trustees.

Section 6.8 <u>Transfer of Shares</u>. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be made on the records of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by its agent thereto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters (including compliance with any securities laws and contractual restrictions) as may reasonably be required. If a transfer is approved by the Trust, upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.

Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence, or other operation of law.

Section 6.9 <u>Notices</u>. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.

Section 6.10 <u>Derivative Actions</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) No person, other than a Trustee, who is not a Shareholder shall be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of the Trust. No Shareholder may maintain a derivative action on behalf of the Trust unless holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Shares join in the bringing of such action.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met: (i) the Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed; and a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not "independent trustees" (as that term is defined in the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute); and (ii) unless a demand is not required under clause (i) of this paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and the Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. For purposes of this Section 6.10, the Trustees may designate a committee of one or more Trustees to consider a Shareholder demand.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) This Section 6.10 shall not apply to any claims brought under federal securities law, or the rules and regulations thereunder.

ARTICLE VII

**<u>Custodians</u>**

Section 7.1 <u>Appointment and Duties</u>. The Trustees may employ a custodian or custodians meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio securities of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to the assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the Trust as determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust and the 1940 Act, including without limitation authority:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) to receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) if authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and accounting services; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) if authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net asset value of the Trust;

all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.

The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the 1940 Act.

Section 7.2 <u>Central Certificate System</u>. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other Person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.

ARTICLE VIII

**<u>Redemption</u>**

Section 8.1 <u>Redemptions</u>. Holders of Shares of the Trust shall not be entitled to require the Trust to repurchase or redeem Shares of the Trust.

Section 8.2 <u>Disclosure of Holding</u>. The holders of Shares or other securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code, the 1940 Act or other applicable laws or regulations, or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory authority.

Section 8.3 <u>Redemption by Trust</u>. Each Share is subject to redemption (out of the assets of the Trust) by the Trust at the redemption price equal to the then current net asset value per Share of the Trust determined in accordance with Section 9.1 at any time if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that a Shareholder has breached any of its representations or warranties contained in such Shareholder's subscription agreement with the Trust, and upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such redemption price.

ARTICLE IX

**<u>Net Asset Value and Distributions</u>**

Section 9.1 <u>Net Asset Value</u>. The net asset value of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value shall be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make the net asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees.

Section 9.2 <u>Distributions to Shareholders</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Trustees may from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of Shares, or any series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets held by the Trust as the Trustees may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration. Any such distribution may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or Shares of any class or series or any combination thereof, and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of shares or series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, additional Shares of any class or series in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration. The Trustees may cause the Trust to enter into a distribution reinvestment program with terms and conditions as agreed to by the Trustees from time to time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be among the Shareholders of record of the applicable class or series of Shares at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Trustees may always retain from the net profits such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.

Section 9.3 <u>Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures</u>. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for determining the per share asset value of the Trust's Shares or net income, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange or association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any order of exemption issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or modified.

ARTICLE X

**<u>Shareholders</u>**

Section 10.1 <u>Meetings of Shareholders</u>. A special meeting of the Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees or the Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than thirty-three and one-third percent (331⁄3%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called, provided that in the case of a meeting called by any Trustee at the request of Shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees or removing the Adviser, written request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or class or series of Shares having voting rights on the matter shall be required. For a special Shareholder meeting to be called for a proper purpose (as used in the preceding sentence), it is not a requirement that such purpose relate to a matter on which Shareholders are entitled to vote, provided that if such meeting is called for a purpose for which Shareholders are not entitled to vote, no vote will be taken at such meeting. Any shareholder meeting, including a special meeting, may be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall designate or may be held virtually.

Section 10.2 <u>Voting</u>. Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of Shareholders is required by the 1940 Act, this Declaration or resolution of the Trustees or, after an Exchange Listing, by any applicable stock exchange. This Declaration expressly provides that no matter for which voting, consent or other approval is required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute in the absence of the contrary provision in the Declaration shall require any vote. Except as otherwise provided herein, any matter required to be submitted to Shareholders and affecting one or more classes or series of Shares shall require approval by the required vote of all the affected classes and series of Shares voting together as a single class; provided, however, that as to any matter with respect to which a separate vote of any class or series of Shares is required by the 1940 Act, such requirement as to a separate vote by that class or series of Shares shall apply in addition to a vote of all the affected classes and series voting together as a single class. Shareholders of a particular class or series of Shares shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects only one or more other classes or series of Shares. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of Trustees. Trustees shall be elected by a plurality of votes.

Section 10.3 <u>Notice of Meeting and Record Date</u>. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if presented personally to a Shareholder, left at his or her residence or usual place of business or sent via United States mail or by electronic transmission to a Shareholder at his or her address as it is registered with the Trust. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the Shareholder at his or her address as it is registered with the Trust with postage thereon prepaid. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at its registered address, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting or otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any meeting of Shareholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned for any lawful purpose by the Chairman, the Trustees (or their designees) or a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning a meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than 120 days after the record date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may, without closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the determination of the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such purposes.

Section 10.4 <u>Quorum and Required Vote</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, the holders of one third of the Shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Subject to any provision of applicable law, this Declaration or a resolution of the Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such matter, and (ii) where a separate vote of one or more classes or series of Shares is required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of such class or series of Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of the Shareholders of such class or series with respect to such matter.

Section 10.5 <u>Proxies, etc.</u> At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed or authorized proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such fraction. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed or authorized 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. If the holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.

Section 10.6 <u>Reports</u>. The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at least annually and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law, regulation or any exchange on which Trust Shares are listed a report of operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed income of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial statements. Copies of such reports shall be mailed to all Shareholders of record within the time required by the 1940 Act, and in any event within a reasonable period preceding the meeting of Shareholders. The Trustees shall, in addition, furnish to the Shareholders at least semi-annually to the extent required by law, interim reports containing an unaudited balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such period.

Section 10.7 <u>Inspection of Records</u>. The records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Shareholders to the extent permitted by Section 3819 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute but subject to such reasonable regulation as the Trustees may determine.

Section 10.8 <u>Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise</u>. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration to the contrary, any notice, proxy, vote, consent, report, instrument or writing of any kind or any signature referenced in, or contemplated by, this Declaration or the By-laws may, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, be given, granted or otherwise delivered by electronic transmission (within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute), including via the internet, or in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

Section 10.9 <u>Shareholder Action by Written Consent</u>. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without a prior notice and without a vote if the consent, setting forth the action to be taken is given in writing or by electronic transmission by the Shareholders 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 Shareholders entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

ARTICLE XI

**<u>Wind Down; Amendment; Extraordinary Transactions, Etc.</u>**

Section 11.1 <u>Wind Down</u>.

(a) The Trustees may, to the extent they deem appropriate, adopt a plan of liquidation at any time, which plan of liquidation may set forth the terms and conditions for implementing the dissolution and liquidation of the Trust under this Article XI. Shareholders of the Trust shall not be entitled to vote on the adoption of any plan of liquidation of the Trust or the dissolution and liquidation of the Trust, except to the extent required by the 1940 Act. After an Exchange Listing, the Trust may be dissolved by the affirmative vote or consent of at least a majority of the Trustees and 75% of the Continuing Trustees, without the vote of the Shareholders.

(b) After the winding up and liquidation of the Trust, including the distribution to the Shareholders of any assets of the Trust, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.

Section 11.2 <u>Amendment Procedure</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 11.2, the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this Declaration. Shareholders shall have the right to vote: (i) on any amendment which would eliminate their right to vote granted in this Declaration, (ii) on any amendment to this Section 11.2(a), (iii) on any amendment that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Shares as determined by the Trustees in good faith and (iv) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) In connection with an Exchange Listing, the Trustees may without the approval or vote of the Shareholders, amend or supplement this Declaration in any manner, including, without limitation to classify the Board of Trustees, to permit annual meetings of Shareholders, to impose advance notice provisions for the bringing of Shareholder nominations or proposals, to impose super-majority approval for certain types of transactions and to otherwise add provisions that may be deemed to adverse to Shareholders.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Board.

Section 11.3 [Intentionally omitted].

Section 11.4 <u>Subsidiaries</u>. Without approval or vote by Shareholders, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations to take over all of the Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest and to sell, convey, and transfer all or a portion of the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof, or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interests.

Section 11.5 <u>Extraordinary Transactions.</u>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this Section the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Trustees of the Trust and at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon shall be necessary to authorize any of the following actions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) The merger, conversion, consolidation, or share exchange or sale of exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Any Shareholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be made with respect to the assets of the Trust or a series or class of Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in paragraph (a) of this Section 11.5, so long as each action is approved by both a majority of the entire Board of Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees, and so long as all other conditions and requirements, if any, provided for in the Bylaws and applicable law have been satisfied, then (i) only an affirmative vote or consent of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be required to approve any of the actions listed in paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 11.5.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Any amendment to this Declaration to make Shares of the Trust "redeemable securities" and any other proposal to convert the Trust from a "closed-end company" to an "open-end company" (as defined in the 1940 Act) each must be approved by (i) the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter prior to the occurrence of an Exchange Listing; and (ii) the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter upon and following the occurrence of an Exchange Listing.

ARTICLE XII

<u>[</u>Intentionally omitted<u>]</u>

ARTICLE XIII

**<u>Miscellaneous</u>**

Section 13.1 <u>Filing</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) This Declaration and any amendment or supplement hereto shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment or supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein, and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all amendments and supplements theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust's minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments and supplements contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments and supplements thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Trustees hereby ratify the previous filing of the Certificate of Trust with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute.

Section 13.2 <u>Governing Law</u>. The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Declaration, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute and the laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration (a) the provisions of Sections 3540 and 3561 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 Statutory Trust Statute) 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 acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Declaration. 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 Statutory Trust Statute, 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.

Section 13.3 <u>Exclusive Delaware Jurisdiction</u>. Each Trustee, each officer and each Person legally or beneficially owning a Share or an interest in a Share of the Trust (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise), to the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs (or similar) doctrine or arising out of or relating in any way to the Trust, the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, this Declaration or the Bylaws (including, without limitation, any claims, suits, actions or proceedings to interpret, apply or enforce (A) the provisions of this Declaration or the Bylaws, or (B) the duties (including fiduciary duties), obligations or liabilities of the Trust to the Shareholders or the Trustees, or of officers or the Trustees to the Trust, to the Shareholders or each other, or (C) the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Trust, the officers, the Trustees or the Shareholders, or (D) any provision of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute or other laws of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts made applicable to the Trust pursuant to Section 3809 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, or (E) any other instrument, document, agreement or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Statutory Trust Statute, the Declaration or the Bylaws relating in any way to the Trust (regardless, in each case, of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings (x) sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, (y) are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or (z) are derivative or direct claims)), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper, (iv) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (iv) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law, and (v) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding. This Section 13.3 shall not apply to any claims brought under federal securities law, or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Section 13.4 <u>Counterparts</u>. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.

Section 13.5 <u>Reliance by Third Parties</u>. Any certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.

Section 13.6 <u>Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If any provision of this Declaration 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 provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Declaration to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

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|:---|
| Robert T. Ladd, as Trustee |
| Dean D'Angelo, as Trustee |
| J. Tim Arnoult, as Trustee |
| Bruce R. Bilger, as Trustee |
| William C. Repko, as Trustee |

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