DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of August 1, 2007 between First Focus Funds, Inc. (the “Company”),
having an office at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000, and Foreside Distribution Services, L.P.
(“Distributor”), having an office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Nebraska
corporation and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, it is intended that Distributor act as the distributor of the shares of beneficial
interest (“Shares”) of each series of the Company, as listed on Schedule A, and such series as are
hereafter created (all of the foregoing series individually referred to herein as a “Fund” and
collectively as the “Funds”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants herein set forth, the
parties agree as follows:
1. | Services as Distributor. |
1.1 Distributor will act as agent of Company on behalf of each Fund for the distribution of
the Shares covered by the registration statement of Company then in effect under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the 1940 Act. As used in this Agreement, the term
“registration statement” shall mean the registration statement of the Company and any amendments
thereto, then in effect, including Parts A (the Prospectus), B (the Statement of Additional
Information) and C of each registration statement, as filed on Form N-1A, or any successor thereto,
with the Commission, together with any amendments thereto. The term “Prospectus” shall mean the
then-current form of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information used by the Funds, in
accordance with the rules of the Commission, for delivery to shareholders and prospective
shareholders after the effective dates of the above-referenced registration statements, together
with any amendments and supplements thereto. The Company will notify Distributor in advance of any
proposed changes to Schedule A to this Agreement.
1.2 Consistent with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, Distributor may
solicit orders for the sale of the Shares and may undertake such advertising and promotion as it
believes reasonable in connection with such solicitation. The Company understands that Distributor
is now and may in the future be the distributor of the shares of many other investment companies or
series, including investment companies having investment objectives similar to those of the
Company. The Company further understands that shareholders and potential shareholders in the
Company may invest in shares of such other investment companies. The Company agrees that
Distributor’s obligations to other investment companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its
obligations to the Company under this Section 1.2.
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1.3 Consistent with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, and subject to
the last sentence of this Section 1.3, Distributor may engage in such activities as it deems
appropriate in connection with the promotion and sale of the Shares, which may include advertising,
compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the printing and mailing of Prospectuses
to prospective shareholders other than current shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales
literature. Distributor may enter into dealer agreements and other selling agreements with
broker-dealers and other intermediaries; provided, however, that Distributor shall have no
obligation to make any payments to any third parties, whether as finder’s fees, compensation or
otherwise, unless (i) Distributor has received a corresponding payment from the applicable Fund’s
Distribution Plan (as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement), the Fund’s investment adviser (the
“Adviser”) or from another source as may be permitted by applicable law, and (ii) such
corresponding payment has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
1.4 In its capacity as distributor of the Shares, all activities of the Distributor and its
partners, agents, and employees shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by
the Commission thereunder, and all applicable rules and regulations adopted by any securities
association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
1.5 Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual market, economic or
political conditions or by abnormal circumstances of any kind, the Company’s officers may upon
reasonable notice instruct the Distributor to decline to accept any orders for or make any sales of
the Shares until such time as those officers deem it advisable to accept such orders and to make
such sales.
1.6 The Company agrees to inform the Distributor from time to time of the states in which the
Fund or its administrator has registered or otherwise qualified shares for sale, and the Company
agrees at its own expense to execute any and all documents and to furnish any and all information
and otherwise to take all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the
qualification of the Shares for sale in such states as the Distributor may designate.
1.7 The Company shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with the sale of the
Shares, such supplemental information with respect to the Funds and the Shares as Distributor may
reasonably request (except for material non-public information); and the Company warrants that the
statements contained in any such supplemental information will fairly show or represent what they
purport to show or represent. The Company shall also furnish Distributor upon request with: (a)
unaudited semi-annual statements of the Funds’ books and accounts prepared by the Company, and (b)
from time to time such additional information regarding the Funds as the Distributor may reasonably
request (except for material non-public information).
1.8 The Company represents and warrants to Distributor that all registration statements, and
each Prospectus, filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act
shall be prepared in conformity with requirements of said Acts and rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and all Company-related
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advertisement or sales literature shall be prepared in conformity with requirements of
applicable laws and regulations. The registration statement, Prospectus and advertisement or sales
literature shall contain all statements required to be stated therein in conformity with said Acts,
laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or other applicable
regulatory authority, and all statements of fact contained in any such registration statement,
Prospectus and advertisement or sales literature are true and correct in all material respects.
Furthermore, neither any registration statement nor any Prospectus nor any advertisement or sales
literature includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a
purchaser of the Shares. The foregoing representations and warranties shall continue throughout
the term of this Agreement and be deemed to be of a continuing nature, applicable to all Shares
distributed hereunder. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, propose from time to time
such amendment or amendments to any registration statement and such supplement or supplements to
any Prospectus as, in the light of future developments, may, in the opinion of the Company’s
counsel, be necessary or advisable. If the Company shall not propose any amendment or amendments
and/or supplement or supplements within 15 days after receipt by the Company of a written request
from Distributor to do so, Distributor may, at its option, terminate this Agreement. In such case,
the Distributor will be held harmless from, and indemnified by Company for, any liability or loss
resulting from the failure to implement such amendment. The Company shall not file any amendment
to any registration statement or supplement to any Prospectus without giving Distributor reasonable
notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any
way limit the Company’s right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement
and/or supplements to any Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Company may deem advisable,
such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
1.9 The Company authorizes the Distributor and dealers to use any Prospectus in the form
furnished by the Company from time to time in connection with the sale of the Shares.
1.10 The Distributor may utilize agents in its performance of its services and, with prior
notice to the Company, appoint in writing other parties qualified to perform specific
administration services reasonably acceptable to the Company (individually, a “Sub-Agent”) to carry
out some or all of its responsibilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that a Sub-Agent
shall be the agent of the Distributor and not the agent of the Company, and that the Distributor
shall be fully responsible for the acts of such Sub-Agent and shall not be relieved of any of its
responsibilities hereunder by the appointment of a Sub-Agent.
1.11 The Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for
any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates,
except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
Distributor’s part in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, from reckless
disregard by the Distributor of its obligations under this Agreement, or from the Distributor’s
failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with its
activities hereunder. The Company agrees to
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indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Distributor, its officers, partners, employees, and
any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
(collectively, “Distributor Indemnitees”), from and against any and all claims, demands,
liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims,
demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith)
(collectively, “Claims”) which the Distributor Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act, or
under common law, or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (a) the Distributor acting as
distributor of the Funds; (b) the Distributor entering into selling agreements, dealer agreement,
participation agreements or similar agreements with financial intermediaries on behalf of the
Company; (c) any of the following: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or
alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any registration statement or
any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any untrue
statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact in any Company-related advertisement or
sales literature, or any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be
stated therein to make the statements therein not misleading, in either case notwithstanding the
exercise of reasonable care in the preparation or review thereof by the Distributor; or (d) the
electronic processing of orders over the internet at the Company’s request; provided, however, that
the Company’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees pursuant to this Section 1.11
shall not be construed to cover any Claims (A) pursuant to subsection (c) above to the extent such
untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission, was furnished in
writing, or omitted from the relevant writing furnished, as the case may be, to the Company by the
Distributor for use in the registration statement or in corresponding statements made in the
Prospectus, advertisement or sales literature; (B) arising out of or based upon the willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Distributor in the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Distributor’s reckless disregard of its obligations under this
Agreement; or (C) arising out of or based upon the Distributor’s failure to comply with laws, rules
and regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities hereunder.
In the event of a Claim for which the Distributor Indemnitees may be entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Distributor shall fully and promptly advise the Company in writing
of all pertinent facts concerning such Claim, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect
the Company’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that the
Company is materially prejudiced thereby. The Company will be entitled to assume the defense of
any suit brought to enforce any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good
standing chosen by the Company and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. In the event any such suit is not based solely on an alleged untrue
statement, omission, or wrongful act on the Company’s part, the Distributor shall have the right to
participate in the defense. In the event the Company elects to assume the defense of any such suit
and retain counsel of good standing so approved by the Distributor, the Distributor Indemnitees in
such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them, but
in any case where the Company does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit or in case the
Distributor reasonably withholds approval of
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counsel chosen by the Company, the Company will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitees named as
defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them to
the extent related to a Claim covered under this Section 1.11. The Company’s indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 1.11 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Distributor Indemnitees, and shall
survive the delivery of any Shares.
1.12 The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its officers,
trustees, directors, employees, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, “Company Indemnitees”), from and against any and
all Claims which the Company Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act or under common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon (a) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a
material fact contained in any registration statement, Prospectus, or Company-related advertisement
or sales literature, or upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in such
materials that would be necessary to make the information therein not misleading, which untrue
statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission, was furnished in writing, or
omitted from the relevant writing furnished, as the case may be, to the Company by the Distributor
for use in the registration statement or in corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or
advertisement or sales literature; (b) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of
the Distributor in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or the Distributor’s
reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement, or (c) the Distributor’s failure to
comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities
hereunder (other than in respect of Fund-related advertisements or sales literature that fail to
comply with applicable laws despite the Distributor’s exercise of reasonable care in the
preparation and review thereof); provided, however, that the Distributor’s agreement to indemnify
the Company Indemnitees pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall not be construed to cover any Claims
(A) arising out of or based upon the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the
Company in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s reckless
disregard of its obligations under this Agreement; or (B) arising out of or based upon the
Company’s failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with
its activities hereunder.
In the event of a Claim for which the Company Indemnitees may be entitled to indemnification
hereunder, the Company shall fully and promptly advise the Distributor in writing of all pertinent
facts concerning such Claim, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect the Distributor’s
indemnification obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that the Distributor is
materially prejudiced thereby. The Distributor will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing
chosen by the Distributor and approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event any such suit is not based solely on an alleged untrue statement, omission,
or wrongful act on the Distributor’s part, the Company shall have the right to participate in the
defense. In the event the Distributor elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain
counsel of good standing so approved by the Company, the Company Indemnitees in such suit shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of
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them, but in any case where the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any such
suit or in case the Company reasonably withholds approval of counsel chosen by the Distributor, the
Distributor will reimburse the Company Indemnitees named as defendants in such suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them to the extent related to a Claim
covered under this Section 1.12. The Distributor’s indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 1.12 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Company Indemnitees, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares.
1.13 No Shares shall be offered by either the Distributor or the Company under any of the
provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be
accepted by the Company if and so long as the effectiveness of the registration statement then in
effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the
Securities Act or if and so long as a current Prospectus as required by Section 10(b)(2) of said
Securities Act is not on file with the Commission; provided, however, that: (a) the Distributor
will not be obligated to cease offering shares until it has received from the Company written
notice of such events, and (b) nothing contained in this Section 1.13 shall in any way restrict or
have an application to or bearing upon the Company’s obligation to repurchase Shares from any
shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Prospectus, Certificate of
Incorporation, or By-laws.
1.14 The Company agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably practical by a notice
in writing delivered to the Distributor:
(a) | of any request by the Commission for amendments to the registration statement or Prospectus then in effect or for additional information; | ||
(b) | in the event of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or Prospectus then in effect or the initiation by service of process on the Company of any proceeding for that purpose; | ||
(c) | of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in the registration statement or Prospectus then in effect or which requires the making of a change in such registration statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and | ||
(d) | of any other event which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact upon the offering of Shares or the Distributor’s provision of services under this Agreement. |
For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the Staff of the Commission
shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the Commission unless they would reasonably be
expected to have a material negative impact upon the offering of Shares.
1.15 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
SHALL EITHER PARTY BE
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LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SIMILAR
DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE, LOST PROFITS OR LOST OR DAMAGED DATA, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES.
2. | Fees. |
2.1 Attached as Schedule B to this Agreement are all plans of distribution under Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act approved by the Funds and in effect (collectively, the “Distribution Plan”).
The Funds will deliver to Distributor promptly after any changes thereto updated copies of the
Distribution Plan. For its services under this Agreement, the Distributor shall be compensated and
reimbursed for its expenses as set forth on Schedules C and D to this Agreement. If the Funds have
a Distribution Plan that permits and authorizes them to compensate and reimburse the Distributor
and required Board approvals have been given, then the Funds shall be responsible for all such
compensation and reimbursements or such portions of it as have been permitted and authorized under
the Distribution Plan. It is contemplated by the Distributor that the Adviser shall compensate and
reimburse the Distributor for its provision to the Funds of any distribution services for which the
Funds are not authorized to compensate and reimburse the Distributor. The fees set forth on
Schedules C and D are subject to change by Distributor upon 30 days advance notice.
2.2 If: (i) the Distributor properly receives fees from the Funds under the Distribution Plan,
other than for services rendered or expenses incurred, that the Distributor is not obligated to pay
to third party broker-dealers, plan administrators or others (“Retained Fees”), and (ii) the Funds
have authority under the Distribution Plan to pay for some or all of the Distributor’s services
under this Agreement (“Permitted Services”), then all of the Retained Fees will either be (a)
returned to the funds and/or (b) credited against the compensation payable by the funds to the
Distributor for Permitted Services.
2.3 In the event that the Distributor is requested or authorized by the Company or is required
by governmental regulation, summons, subpoena, investigation, examination or other legal or
regulatory process to produce documents or personnel with respect to services provided by the
Distributor to the Company or any Fund, the Company will, so long as the Distributor is not the
subject of the investigation or proceeding in which the information is sought, pay the Distributor
for its professional time (at its standard billing rates) and reimburse the Distributor for its
out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred in responding to such
requests or requirements.
3. | Sale and Payment. |
3.1 Shares of a Fund may be subject to a sales load and may be subject to the imposition of a
distribution fee pursuant to the Distribution Plan referred to above. To the extent that Shares of
a Fund are sold at an offering price which includes a sales load or subject to a contingent
deferred sales load with respect to certain redemptions (either
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within a single class of Shares or pursuant to two or more classes of Shares), such Shares
shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as “Load Shares” (and in the case of Shares that are
sold with a front-end sales load, “Front-end Load Shares”, or Shares that are sold subject to a
contingent deferred sales load, “CDSL Shares”). Funds that issue Front-End Load Shares shall
hereinafter be referred to collectively as “Front-End Load Funds.” Funds that issue CDSL Shares
shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as “CDSL Funds.” Front-end Load Funds and CDSL Funds
may individually or collectively be referred as “Load Funds.” Under this Agreement, the following
provisions shall apply with respect to the sale of, and payment for, Load Shares.
3.2 The Distributor shall have the right to offer Load Shares at their net asset value and to
sell such Load Shares to the public against orders therefor at the applicable public offering
price, as defined in Section 4 hereof. The Distributor shall also have the right to sell Load
Shares to dealers against orders therefor at the public offering price less a concession determined
by the Distributor, which concession shall not exceed the amount of the sales charge or
underwriting discount, if any, referred to in Section 4 below.
3.3 Prior to the time of delivery of any Load Shares by a Load Fund to, or on the order of,
the Distributor, the Distributor shall pay or cause to be paid to the Load Fund or to its order an
amount in same-day funds equal to the applicable net asset value of such Shares. The Distributor
may retain so much of any sales charge or underwriting discount as is not allowed by the
Distributor as a concession to dealers.
3.4 With respect to CDSL Funds, the following provisions shall be applicable:
(a) The Distributor shall be entitled to receive all contingent deferred sales load
charges, 12b-1 payments and all distribution and service fees set forth in the Distribution
Plan adopted by a CDSL Fund (collectively, the “CDSL Payments”) with respect to CDSL
Shares. The Distributor may assign or sell to a third party (a “CDSL Financing Entity”)
all or a part of the CDSL Payments on CDSL Shares that the Distributor is entitled to
receive under this Agreement. The Distributor’s right to the CDSL Payments on such CDSL
Shares, if assigned or sold to a CDSL Financing Entity, shall continue after termination of
this Agreement.
(b) Unless the Distributor is legally entitled to receive such fees as the financing
entity, the right to receive all CDSL Payments in respect of periods subsequent to the
termination of this Agreement shall terminate upon termination of this Agreement. In the
event Distributor assigns or sells all or a part of the CDSL Payments to a CDSL Financing
Entity and this Agreement is subsequently terminated, Distributor shall have no obligation
to assist the CDSL Financing Entity in connection with such CDSL Financing Entity’s right
to receive such CDSL Payments subsequent to such termination.
(c) The Distributor shall not be required to offer or sell CDSL Shares of a CDSL Fund
unless and until it has received a binding commitment (a “Commitment”) from the Company or
a CDSL Financing Entity satisfactory to the Distributor, which Commitment shall cover all
initial and ongoing expenses
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and fees related to the offer and sale of such CDSL Shares including, but not limited
to, dealer reallowances, financing commitment fees, and legal fees. If at any time during
the term of this Agreement the then-current CDSL financing is terminated through no fault
of the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the right to immediately cease offering or
selling CDSL Shares until substitute financing becomes effective.
(d) The Distributor and the Company hereby agree that the terms and conditions set
forth herein regarding the offer and sale of CDSL Shares may be amended upon approval of
both parties in order to comply with the terms and conditions of any agreement with a CDSL
Financing Entity to finance the costs for the offer and sale of CDSL Shares so long as such
terms and conditions are in compliance with the Distribution Plan.
4. | Public Offering Price. |
The public offering price of a Load Share shall be the net asset value of such Load Share next
determined, plus any applicable sales charge, all as set forth in the current Prospectus of the
Load Fund. The net asset value of Load Shares shall be determined in accordance with the
then-current Prospectus of the Load Fund.
5. | Issuance of Shares. |
The Company reserves the right to issue, transfer or sell Load Shares at net asset values (a)
in connection with the merger or consolidation of the Company or the Load Fund(s) with any other
investment company or the acquisition by the Company or the Load Fund(s) of all or substantially
all of the assets or of the outstanding Shares of any other investment company; (b) in connection
with a pro rata distribution directly to the holders of Shares in the nature of a stock dividend or
split; (c) upon the exercise of subscription rights granted to the holders of Shares on a pro rata
basis; (d) in connection with the issuance of Load Shares pursuant to any exchange and reinvestment
privileges described in any then-current Prospectus of the Load Fund; and (e) otherwise in
accordance with any then-current Prospectus of the Load Fund.
6. | Term, Duration and Termination. |
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund as of the date first written
above (the “Effective Date”) (or, if a particular Fund is not in existence on such date, on the
earlier of the date an amendment to Schedule A to this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed
or the Distributor begins providing services under this Agreement with respect to such Fund) and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue through [ ]. Thereafter, if not
terminated, this Agreement shall continue with respect to a particular Fund automatically for
successive one-year terms, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those members of the Board who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of
voting on such approval and (b) by the vote of the Board or the vote of a majority of the
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outstanding voting securities of such Fund. This Agreement is terminable without penalty with
60 days’ prior written notice, by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company, or by the Distributor. This Agreement will also terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding
voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” shall have the same meaning as ascribed
to such terms in the 1940 Act.)
7. | Privacy. |
Nonpublic personal financial information relating to consumers or customers of the Funds
provided by, or at the direction of, the Company to the Distributor, or collected or retained by
the Distributor to perform its obligations as distributor, shall be considered confidential
information. The Distributor shall not disclose or otherwise use any nonpublic personal financial
information relating to present or former shareholders of the Funds other than for the purposes for
which that information was disclosed to the Distributor, including use under an exception in Rules
13, 14 or 15 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P in the ordinary course of
business to carry out those purposes. The Distributor shall have in place and maintain physical,
electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality
and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating
to consumers and customers of the Funds. The Company represents to the Distributor that it has
adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Securities and Exchange
Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide the Distributor with a copy of that statement
annually.
8. | Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. |
8.1 Each of Distributor and the Company acknowledges that it is a financial institution
subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”),
which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard
against money laundering. Each represents and warrants to the other that it is in compliance with
and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in all relevant respects.
The Distributor shall also provide written notice to each person or entity with which it entered an
agreement prior to the date hereof with respect to sale of the Company’s Shares, such notice
informing such person of anti-money laundering compliance obligations applicable to financial
institutions under applicable laws and, consequently, under applicable contractual provisions
requiring compliance with laws.
8.2 The Distributor shall include specific contractual provisions regarding anti-money
laundering compliance obligations in agreements entered into by the Distributor with any dealer
that is authorized to effect transactions in Shares of the Company.
8.3 Each of Distributor and the Company agrees that it will take such further steps, and
cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML
Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and
controls related thereto (“AML Operations”).
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Distributor undertakes that it will grant to the Company, the Company’s anti-money laundering
compliance officer and regulatory agencies, reasonable access to copies of Distributor’s AML
Operations, books and records pertaining to the Company only. It is expressly understood and
agreed that the Company and the Company’s compliance officer shall have no access to any of
Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients of Distributor.
9. | Notices. |
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail, or by nationally recognized overnight courier, to the party required to be served with such
notice at the following address: if to the Company, to it at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000,
Attention: President; and if to Distributor, to it at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
00000, Attention: Broker Dealer Chief Compliance Officer, with a copy to such other address as such
party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section.
10. | Confidentiality. |
During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Company may have access to
confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business, trade secrets,
systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients. As used in this
Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to the Distributor or the Company
which is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other
disadvantage to either party, including, without limitation, financial information, business
practices and policies, know-how, trade secrets, market or sales information or plans, customer
lists, business plans, and all provisions of this Agreement. Confidential Information includes
information developed by either party in the course of engaging in the activities provided for in
this Agreement, unless: (i) the information is or becomes publicly known without breach of this
Agreement, (ii) the information is disclosed to the other party by a third party not under an
obligation confidentiality to the party whose Confidential Information is at issue of which the
party receiving the information should reasonably be aware, or (iii) the information is
independently developed by a party without reference to the other’s Confidential Information. Each
party will protect the other’s Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it
uses with respect to its own Confidential Information, and will not use the other party’s
Confidential Information other than in connection with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a party may disclose the other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law,
regulation or legal process or if requested by any Agency; (ii) it is advised by counsel that it
may incur liability for failure to make such disclosure; (iii) requested to by the other party;
provided that in the event of (i) or (ii) the disclosing party shall give the other party
reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicably and cooperate with
the other party (at such other party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.
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10. | Governing Law . |
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to New York’s conflicts of laws principles, and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act.
11. | Prior Agreements. |
This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties as to the subject matter
covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements
bearing upon the subject matter covered by this Agreement.
12. | Amendments. |
No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by both
parties hereto.
13. | Limitation of Liability of the Directors and Shareholders. |
It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Company hereunder shall not be binding upon
any of the Directors, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Company
personally, but shall bind only the property of the Company. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement have been authorized by the Directors, and this Agreement has been signed and delivered
by an authorized officer of the Company, acting as such, and neither such authorization by the
Directors nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any
of them individually or to impose any liability on them personally, but shall bind only the
property of the Company.
* * * * * *
12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their
officers designated below as of the day and year first written above.
First Focus Funds, Inc. | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Foreside Distribution Services, L.P. | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
13
SCHEDULE A
FUNDS
Short-Intermediate Bond Fund
Income Fund
Nebraska Tax-Fee Fund
Balanced Fund
Core Equity Fund
Growth Opportunities Fund
Small Company Fund
International Equity Fund
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SCHEDULE B
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN
FIRST FOCUS FUNDS: CLASS A SHARES
FIRST FOCUS FUNDS: CLASS A SHARES
THIS Distribution Plan (the “Plan”), made as of May 9, 2001, as amended [___], 2006, is the plan
of the First Focus Funds, Inc. (the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Nebraska, on behalf of each series of the Company, (each a “Fund” or collectively
the “Funds”).
1. This Plan, when effective in accordance with its terms, shall be the written plan contemplated
by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the “1940 Act”), for shares of beneficial interest of Class A shares (“Class A Shares”) of
each Fund of the Company.
2. The Company has entered into a Distribution Agreement on behalf of each Fund with the Company’s
principal underwriter (the “Distributor”) under which the Distributor uses all reasonable efforts,
consistent with its other business, to secure purchasers of each Fund’s shares including the Class
A Shares. Such efforts may include, but neither are required to include nor are limited to, the
following:
(1) | formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities, such as mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising, | |
(2) | preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature; | |
(3) | preparation, printing and distribution of prospectuses of each Fund and reports to recipients other than existing shareholders of each Fund; | |
(4) | obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Distributor may from time to time, deem advisable; | |
(5) | making payments to securities dealers and others engaged in the sales of Class A Shares; and | |
(6) | providing training, marketing and support to such dealers and others with respect to the sale of Class A Shares. |
3. In consideration for the services provided and the expenses incurred by the Distributor pursuant
to the Distribution Agreement, Class A Shares of each Fund shall pay to the Distributor a fee at
the annual rate of up to (and including) .25% of such Class’ average daily net assets throughout
the month, or such lesser amount as may be established in writing from time to time by the
Directors of the Company, as specified in this paragraph; provided that, for any period during
which the total of such fee and all other expenses of a Fund holding itself out as a money market
fund under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act or of the Class A Shares of such a Fund, would exceed the
gross income of that Fund (or of the Class A Shares thereof), such fee shall be reduced by such
15
excess. Such fee shall be computed daily and paid monthly. The determination of daily net assets
shall be made at the close of business each day throughout the month and computed in the manner
specified in each Fund’s then current Prospectus for the determination of the net asset value of
Class A Shares, but shall exclude assets attributable to any other class of each Fund. The
Distributor may use all or any portion of the fee received pursuant to the Plan to compensate
securities dealers or other persons who have engaged in the sale of Class A Shares pursuant to
agreements with the Distributor, or to pay any of the expenses associated with other activities
authorized under paragraph 2 hereof.
4. This Plan shall become effective with respect to the Class A Shares of each of the Funds of the
Company (currently the Short-Intermediate Bond Fund, Income Fund, Balanced Fund, Core Equity Fund,
Growth Opportunities Fund, Small Company Fund, Income Fund and International Equity Fund Nebraska
Tax-Free Fund) on July 31, 2001, this Plan having been approved (1) by a vote of a majority of the
Directors of the Company. including a majority of Directors who are not “interested persons” of the
Company (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of this Plan or in any agreement related to the Plan (the Independent Directors), cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on Plan; and (2) by a vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000 Xxx) of
the Class A Shares of the affected Fund.
5. During the existence of this Plan, the Company will commit the selection and nomination of those
Directors who are not interested persons of the Company to the discretion of such Independent
Directors.
6. This Plan shall, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, remain in effect until July 31, 2002
and from year to year thereafter; provided, however, that such continuance is subject to approval
annually by a vote of a majority of the Directors of the Company, including a majority of the
Independent Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan.
7. This Plan may be amended with respect to the Class A Shares of a Fund, at any time by the Board
of Directors, provided that (a) any amendment to increase materially the maximum fee provided for
in paragraph 3 hereof must be approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
(as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000 Xxx) of the Class A Shares of the affected
Fund, and (b) any material amendment of this Plan must be approved in the manner provided in
paragraph 5(l) above.
8. This Plan may be terminated with respect to the Class A Shares of a Fund at any time, without
the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Directors or by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the
0000 Xxx) of the Class A Shares of the affected Fund.
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9. During the existence of this Plan, the Company shall require the Distributor to provide the
Company, for review by the Company’s Directors, and the Directors shall review, at least quarterly,
a written report of the amounts expended in connection with financing any activity primarily
intended to result in the sale of Class A Shares (making estimates of such costs where necessary or
desirable) and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
10. This Plan does not require the Distributor to perform any specific type or level of
distribution activities or to incur any specific level of expenses for activities primarily
intended to result in the sale of Class A Shares.
11. In the event that Rule 2830 of the NASD Rules of Conduct precludes any Fund of the Company (or
any NASD member) from imposing a sales charge (as defined in that Section) or any portion thereof
then the Distributor shall not receive payments hereunder from the date that the Fund discontinues
or is required to discontinue imposition of some or all of its sales charges. If the Fund resumes
imposition of some or all of its sales charge, the Distributor will resume receipt of payments
hereunder.
12. Consistent with the limitation of shareholder and Director liability as set forth in the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, any obligations assumed by the Company, a Fund or Class A
Shares thereof pursuant to this Plan and any agreements related to this Plan shall be limited in
all cases to the proportionate ownership of Class A Shares of the affected Fund and its assets, and
shall not constitute obligations of any shareholder of any other class of the affected Fund or
other Funds of the Company or of any Director.
13. If any provision of the Plan shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule
or otherwise, the remainder of the Plan shall not be affected thereby.
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SCHEDULE C
COMPENSATION OF THE DISTRIBUTOR
1. BASIC DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. For providing the distribution entity and related
infrastructure and platform, including requisite registrations and qualifications, premises,
personnel, compliance, ordinary Board meeting preparation, maintenance of selling agreements,
clearance of advertising and sales literature with regulators, filing appropriate documentation for
advisory representatives to qualify as registered representatives of the Distributor (provided that
the Adviser is solely responsible for its representatives’ meeting examination requirements) and
their related registrations and fees, ordinary supervisory services and overhead, the Distributor
shall receive an annual fee, billed monthly, of [ ].
2. SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. For special distribution services, including those set
forth on Schedule D to this Agreement, such as additional personnel, registrations, printing and
fulfillment, website services, proprietary distribution expertise for particular circumstances, and
any other services in addition to the basic distribution services covered by Paragraph 1 above, the
Distributor shall be reimbursed promptly upon invoicing its expenses for such services, including:
(a) all costs to support additional personnel; (b) regulatory fees including NASD CRD costs
associated with marketing materials; and (c) printing, postage and fulfillment costs, and (d)
amounts payable under additional agreements to which Distributor is a party.
3. SPECIAL CONDUIT SITUATIONS. If the Distribution Plan, or any other Fund plans of
distribution under Rule 12b-1 that contemplate up front and/or recurring commission and/or service
payments to broker dealers, retirement plan administrators or others by the Distributor with
respect to back-end loads, level loads, or otherwise, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing
between the parties, all such payments shall be made to the Distributor, which shall act as a
conduit for making such payments to such broker-dealers, retirement plan administrators or others.
4. OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE DISTRIBUTOR. If the Distributor is required to make any payments
to third parties in respect of distribution, which payments are contemplated by the parties to this
Agreement or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business, the Distributor shall be promptly
reimbursed for such payments upon invoicing them.
5. FEE ADJUSTMENTS. The fixed fees and other fees expressed as stated dollar amounts in
this Schedule C and in this Agreement are subject to annual increases, commencing on the one-year
anniversary date of the date of this Agreement, in an amount equal to the percentage increase in
consumer prices for services as measured by the United States Consumer Price Index entitled “All
Services Less Rent of Shelter,” or a similar index should such index no longer be published, since
such one-year anniversary or since the date of the last fee increase, as applicable.
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SCHEDULE D
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES
Services | Fees | |||||
1. Wholesaling Personnel Services
|
Wholesaling Personnel Services Fees | |||||
Wholesaling Personnel may be external wholesalers and/or internal
wholesalers. Services include soliciting support of the Funds with selling broker dealers; participating in promotional meetings, presentations, conferences and other and forums; identifying high potential personnel of the Adviser and selling broker dealers; and assisting with mail solicitations and literature fulfillment. |
For each individual constituting the Wholesaling Personnel employed by the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement, the Distributor shall receive annually an amount equal to the sum of: | |||||
(i) all compensation paid annually by the Distributor to the employee; plus | ||||||
(ii) a management oversight fee equal to: | ||||||
(a) | if one to four Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 30% of the salary compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation, or | |||||
(b) | if five or more Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 25% of the salary compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation; | |||||
plus | ||||||
(iii) 18% of the total compensation (covering costs of the Distributor’s employee benefits that are provided by the Distributor). | ||||||
In addition, the Distributor shall be reimbursed for all related costs to support, educate and train and maintain compliance oversight of Wholesaling Personnel and other personnel such as sales management, marketing and performance reporting personnel (including time and expenses, continuing education, seminars, rent, supplies, phone, computers, firm element, license, registration) | ||||||
Upon any termination of Wholesaling Personnel at the request of the Funds or upon termination of this Agreement by the Funds for any reason other than cause, the Distributor will be reimbursed its severance costs with respect to such terminated Wholesaling Personnel. |
19
Expenses Applicable to Distribution Services
Except as
expressly set forth above, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Distributor in the
performance of its services under this Agreement are not included in the above fees. Such
out-of-pocket expenses may include, without limitation:
• | reasonable travel and entertainment costs; | |
• | expenses incurred by the Distributor in qualifying, registering and maintaining the registration of the Distributor and each individual comprising Wholesaling Personnel as a registered representative of the Distributor under applicable federal and state laws and rules of the NASD, e.g., CRD fees and state fees; | |
• | Sponsorships, Promotions, Sales Incentives; | |
• | any and all compensation to be paid to a third party as paying agent for distribution activities (platform fees, finders fees, sub-TA fees, 12b-1 pass thru, commissions, etc.); | |
• | costs and expenses incurred for telephone service, photocopying and office supplies; | |
• | advertising costs; | |
• | costs for printing, paper stock and costs of other materials, electronic transmission, courier, talent utilized in sales materials (e.g. models), design output, photostats, photography, and illustrations; | |
• | packaging, shipping, postage, and photocopies; | |
• | taxes that are paid or payable by the Distributor or its affiliates in connection with its services hereunder, other than taxes customarily and actually imposed upon the income that the Distributor receives hereunder; and | |
• | amounts paid to the NASD based on Distributor’s revenue and/or the number of Distributor’s registered representatives. |
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