EXHIBIT (6)
XXXXXXXX CAPITAL FUNDS II
PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 27th day of December, 1996, between Xxxxxxxx
Capital Funds II (the "Trust"), a business trust organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware with its principal place of business at Two Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, and Forum Financial Services, Inc. ("Forum"), a
corporation organized under the laws of State of Delaware with its principal
place of business at Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), and is
authorized to issue interests (as defined in the Trust's Trust Instrument) in
separate series; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Forum perform placement agent services
for each of the portfolios of the Trust as listed in Appendix A hereto (each a
"Portfolio," and collectively the "Portfolios") and Forum is willing to provide
those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. SERVICES AS PLACEMENT AGENT
(a) Forum will act as Placement Agent of the Interests covered by the
Trust's registration statement then in effect under the 1940 Act. As Placement
Agent, Forum shall have the right to sell Interests of the Portfolios upon the
terms set forth in the Trust's registration statement, as such registration
statement is amended and in effect from time to time. In acting as Placement
Agent under the Placement Agency Agreement, neither Forum nor its employees nor
any agents thereof shall make any offer or sale of Interests in a manner which
would require the Interests to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"). As used in this Agreement the term "registration
statement" shall mean any registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as modified by any amendments thereto
that at any time shall have been filed with the Commission by or on behalf of
the Trust.
(b) All activities by Forum and its agents and employees as Placement
Agent of Interests shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including without limitation, all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the
1940 Act by the Commission.
(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to require the Trust to accept
any offer to purchase any Interests, all of which shall be subject to approval
by the Trust's Board of Trustees.
(d) The Trust shall furnish from time to time for use in connection
with the sale of Interests such information with respect to the Trust and
Interests as Forum may reasonably request. The Trust shall also furnish Forum
upon request with: (a) audited annual and unaudited semiannual statements of the
Trust's books and accounts prepared by the Trust, and (b) such additional
information regarding the Trust's financial or regulatory condition as Forum may
from time to time reasonably request.
(e) The Trust represents to Forum that all registration statements
filed by the Trust with the Commission under the 1940 Act with respect to
Interests have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of such statute
and rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Trust represents and
warrants to Forum that any registration statement will contain all statements
required to be stated herein in conformity with both such statute and the rules
and regulations of the Commission; that all statements of fact contained in any
registration statement will be true and correct in all material respects at the
time of filing of such registration statements or amendments thereto; and that
no registration statement will include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Interests. The Trust
may, but
shall not be obligated to, propose from time to time such amendment to any
registration statement as in the light of future developments may, in the
opinion of the Trust's counsel, be necessary or advisable. If the Trust shall
not propose such amendment and/or supplement within fifteen days after receipt
by the Trust of a written request from Forum to do so, Forum may, at its option,
terminate this Agreement. The Trust shall not file any amendment to any
registration statement without giving Forum reasonable notice thereof in
advance; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in
any way limit the Trust's right to file at any time such amendment to any
registration statement as the Trust may deem advisable, such right being in all
respects absolute and unconditional.
(f) The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Forum, its several
officers and directors, and any person who controls Forum within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "1934 Act") (for purposes of this Section 1(f), collectively, "Covered
Persons") free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands,
liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which any
Covered Person may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based on any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any registration statement, private placement memorandum or other
offering material ("Offering Material") or arising out of or based on any
omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any Offering Material
or necessary to make the statements in any Offering Material not misleading,
provided, however, that the Trust's agreement to indemnify Covered Persons shall
not be deemed to cover any claims, demands, liabilities or expenses arising out
of any financial and other statements as are furnished in writing to the Trust
by Forum in its capacity as Placement Agent for use in the answers to any items
of any registration statement or in any statements made in any Offering
Material, or arising out of or based on any omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact in connection with the giving of such information required
to be stated in such answers or necessary to make the answers not misleading;
and further provided that the Trust's agreement to Section 1(e) shall not be
deemed to cover any liability to the Trust or its investors to which a Covered
Person would otherwise be subject by reason or willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of a Covered
Person's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
The Trust shall be notified of any action brought against a Covered Person, such
notification to be given by letter or by telegram addressed to the Secretary of
the Trust, promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall have
been duly and completely served upon such Covered Person. The failure to notify
the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability
except to the extent that the Trust shall have been prejudiced by such failure,
or from any liability that the Trust may have to the Covered Person against whom
such action is brought by reason of any such untrue statement or omission,
otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 1(f). The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but in such case such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust and approved by Forum,
the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by any of them; but in case the Trust does not elect
to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case Forum reasonably does not
approve of counsel chosen by the Trust, the Trust will reimburse the Covered
Person named as defendant in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel
retained by Forum or such Covered Person. The Trust's indemnification agreement
contained in this Section (f) and the Trust's representations and warranties in
this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of Covered Persons, and shall survive the
delivery of any Interests. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to
Covered Persons and their successors. The Trust agrees to notify Forum promptly
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of
its officers or Trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any Interests.
(g) Forum agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several
officers and trustees, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (for purposes of
this Section 1(g) collectively, "Covered Persons") free and harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the
costs of investigating or defending such claims, demands, liabilities and any
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) that Covered Persons may incur
under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, or common law or otherwise, but only to the
extent that such liability or expense incurred by a Covered Person resulting
from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based on any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by
Forum in its capacity as Placement Agent to the Trust for use in the answers to
any of the items of any registration statement or in any statements in any
Offering Material or shall arise out of or be based on any omission to state a
material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by Forum
to the Trust required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such
information not misleading. Forum
shall be notified of any action brought against a Covered Person, such
notification to be given by letter or telegram addressed to Forum, Attention:
Legal Department, promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall
have been duly and completely served upon such Covered Person. Forum shall have
the right of first control of the defense of the action with counsel of its own
choosing satisfactory to the Trust if such action is based solely on such
alleged misstatement or omission on Forum's part, and in any other event each
Covered Person shall have the right to participate in the defense or preparation
of the defense of any such action. The failure to so notify Forum of any such
action shall not relieve Forum from any liability except to the extent that
Forum shall have been prejudiced by such failure, or from any liability that
Forum may have to Covered Persons by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement, or omission or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of Forum's
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1(g).
(h) No Interests shall be offered by either Forum or the Trust under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale
of Interests hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long as the
effectiveness of the registration statement or any necessary amendments thereto
shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the 1940 Act; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this Section 1(h) shall in any way restrict
or have an application to or bearing on the Trust's obligation to redeem
Interests from any investor in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's
registration statement or Trust Instrument, as amended from time to time.
(i) The Trust agrees to advise Forum as soon as reasonably practical by
a notice in writing delivered to Forum or its counsel:
(i) of any reques by the Commission for amendment to the
registratio statement then in effect or for additional
information;
(ii) in the event of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration
statement then in effect or the initiation by service of
process on the Trust of any proceeding for that purpose;
(iii) of the happening of any event that makes untrue any
statement of a material fact made in the registration
statement then in effect or that requires the making of a
change in such registration statement in order to make the
statements therein not misleading; and
(iv) of all action of the Commission with respect to any
amendment to any registration statement that may from time to
time be filed with the Commission.
For purposes of this Section 1(i), informal requests by or acts of the
Staff of the Commission shall not be deemed actions or requests by the
Commission.
(j) Forum agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information not otherwise publicly available relative to the Trust and its
prior, present or potential investors and not to use such records and
information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and
duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by
the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where Forum may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings
for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
(k) In addition to Forum's duties as Placement Agent, the Trust
understands that Forum may, in its discretion, perform additional functions in
connection with transactions in Interests.
(l) Forum shall receive no fee for its services hereunder.
(m) The processing of Interest transactions may include, but is not
limited to, compilation of all transactions; creation of a transaction tape and
timely delivery of it to the Trust's transfer agent for processing;
reconciliation of all transactions delivered to the Trust's transfer agent; and
the recording and reporting of these
transactions executed by the Trust's transfer agent in customer statements; and
rendering of periodic customer statements.
(n) Forum may also provide other investor services, such as
communicating with Trust investors and other functions in administering customer
accounts for Trust investors.
(o) Nothing herein is intended, nor shall be construed, as requiring
Forum to perform any of the foregoing functions.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVENESS, DURATION AND TERMINATION
(a) This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each
Portfolio on the later of the date hereof or the date of commencement of
operations of the Trust, and with respect to each future portfolio of the Trust,
on the date this Agreement or Appendix A hereto is amended. Upon effectiveness
of this Agreement, it shall supersede all previous agreements between the
parties hereto covering the subject matter hereof insofar as such Agreement may
have been deemed to relate to the Portfolios.
(b) This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to a Portfolio
for a period of one year from its effectiveness and shall continue in effect for
successive twelve-month periods; provided, however, that continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board or by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting interests of the Portfolio and (ii) by a vote
of a majority of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this agreement or
interested persons of any such party (other than as Trustees of the Trust);
provided further, however, that if the continuation of this agreement is not
approved as to a Portfolio, Forum may continue to render to the Portfolio the
services described herein in the manner and to the extent permitted by the Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Portfolio at any
time, without the payment of any penalty, (i) by the Board on 60 days' written
notice to Forum or (ii) by Forum on 60 days' written notice to the Trust. This
agreement shall terminate upon assignment.
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Forum and the Trust each hereby represents and warrants to the other
that it has all requisite authority to enter into, execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under this Agreement and that, with respect to it, this
Agreement is legal, valid and binding, and enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
SECTION 4. ACTIVITIES OF FORUM
Except to the extent necessary to perform Forum's obligations
hereunder, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict Forum's right, or
the right of any of Forum's officers, directors or employees who may also be a
trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, or persons otherwise affiliated
persons of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote time and
attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a
similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other
corporation, trust, firm, individual or association.
SECTION 5. LIMITATION OF INTEREST HOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
The Trustees of the Trust and the interestholders of each Portfolio
shall not be liable for any obligations of the Trust or of the Portfolios under
this Agreement, and Forum agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under
this Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Trust or
the Portfolio to which Forum's rights or claims relate in settlement of such
rights or claims, and not to the Trustees of the Trust or the interestholders of
the Portfolios.
SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both
parties hereto.
(b) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or
portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and
obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement
did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or
invalid.
(c) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number
of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.
(d) Section headings in this Agreement are included for convenience
only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
(e) This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(f) Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party
for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any
consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.
(g) The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting interests,"
"interested person," "affiliated person" and "assignment" shall have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Act to the terms "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities," "interested person," "affiliated person" and
"assignment," respectively.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXXX CAPITAL FUNDS II
/S/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxx
------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx Xxx
Vice President
FORUM FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
/S/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
XXXXXXXX CAPITAL FUNDS II
PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
APPENDIX A
Xxxxxxxx International Bond Portfolio
