Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Company may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority of the whole Board if in its judgment the best interests of the Company would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Company may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board, the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or, if the time when it shall become effective is specified therein, at such later time specified in the notice of resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Company. In addition, the termination or resignation of the chief compliance officer shall be effected in accordance with Rule 38a-1(4) under the 1940 Act.
Section 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board for the balance of the term.
Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board may designate a chief executive officer from among its Board or elected officers. In the absence of such designation, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Company, as determined by the Board, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Company. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed, and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
Section 5. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer, under the direction of the chief executive officer, shall have the responsibilities and perform the duties incident to the office of chief operating officer, including general management authority and responsibility for the day-to- day implementation of the policies of the Company and such other responsibilities and duties prescribed by the Board or the chief executive officer from time to time.
Section 6. CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER. The Board may designate a chief investment officer. The chief investment officer shall have the responsibilities and duties incident to the office of chief investment officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the chief executive officer or the president.
Section 7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties incident to the office of chief financial officer and such other duties as may be prescribed as set forth by the Board, the chief executive officer or the president.
Section 8. CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER. The Board shall designate a chief compliance officer to the extent required by, and consistent with the requirements of, the 1940 Act. The chief compliance officer, subject to the direction of, and reporting to, the Board, shall be responsible for the oversight of the Company’s compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and other applicable regulatory requirements. The designation, compensation and removal of the chief compliance officer must be approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Company. The chief compliance officer shall perform such executive, supervisory and management functions and duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board, the chief executive officer or the president.
Section 9. PRESIDENT. In the absence of a designation of a chief executive officer by the Board, the president shall be the chief executive officer. He or she may sign with the secretary or any other proper officer of the Company authorized by the Board, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed, and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.