Exhibit 6.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT, dated this 19th day of February, 1993 by
and between Pioneer Tax-Free State Series Trust ("Pioneer") and Pioneer Funds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Underwriter").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Pioneer, a Massachusetts business trust, is registered as an
open end, diversified, management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and has filed a registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") for the purpose of registering shares of
beneficial interest for public offering under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, a corporation organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1989, engages in the purchase and sale of
securities both as a broker and a dealer and is registered as a broker-dealer
with the Commission and is a member in good standing of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, the parties hereto deem it mutually advantageous that the
Underwriter should act as Principal Underwriter, as defined in the 1940 Act, for
the sale to the public of the shares of beneficial interest of the securities
portfolio of each series of Pioneer which the Trustees may establish from time
to time (individually, a "Portfolio" and collectively, the "Portfolios"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits
set forth herein, Pioneer and the Underwriter do hereby agree as follows:
1. Pioneer does hereby grant to the Underwriter the right and option to
purchase shares of beneficial interest of a Portfolio of Pioneer (the "Shares")
for sale to investors either directly or indirectly through other
broker-dealers. The Underwriter is not required to purchase any specified number
of Shares, but will purchase from Pioneer only a sufficient number of Shares as
may be necessary to fill unconditional orders received from time to time by the
Underwriter from investors and dealers.
2. The Underwriter shall offer Shares to the public at an offering
price based upon the net asset value of the Shares, to be calculated as
described in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, filed with
the Commission and in effect at the time of the offering, plus sales charges as
approved by the Underwriter and the Trustees of Pioneer and as further outlined
in Pioneer's Prospectus. The offering price shall be subject to any provisions
set forth in the Prospectus from time to time with respect thereto, including,
without limitation, rights of accumulation, letters of intention,
exchangeability of shares, reinstatement privileges, net asset value purchases
by certain persons and reinvestments of dividends and capital gain
distributions.
3. In the case of all Shares sold to investors through other
broker-dealers, a portion of applicable sales charges will be reallowed to such
broker-dealers who are members of the NASD or, in the case of certain sales by
banks or certain sales to foreign nationals, to brokers or dealers exempt from
registration with the Commission. The concession reallowed to broker-dealers
shall be set forth in a written sales agreement and shall be generally the same
for broker-dealers providing comparable levels of sales and service.
4. This Agreement shall terminate on June 30, 1994 if its terms and
renewal have not been approved by a majority vote of the Trustees of Pioneer
voting in person, including a majority of its Trustees who are not "interested
persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of the Underwriting Agreement (the "Qualified Trustees"), at a
meeting of Trustees called for the purpose of voting on such approval. This
Agreement may also be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by
Pioneer on 60 days' written notice to the Underwriter, or by the Underwriter
upon similar notice to Pioneer. This Agreement may also be terminated by a party
upon five (5) days' written notice to the other party in the event that the
Commission has issued an order or obtained an injunction or other court order
suspending effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering these shares of
Pioneer. Finally, this Agreement may also be terminated by Pioneer upon five (5)
days' written notice to the Underwriter provided either of the following events
has occurred: (i) the NASD has expelled the Underwriter or suspended its
membership in that organization; or (ii) the qualification, registration,
license or right of the Underwriter to sell shares in a particular state has
been suspended or cancelled in a state in which sales of the shares of Pioneer
during the most recent 12 month period exceeded 10% of all shares of Pioneer
sold by the Underwriter during such period.
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5. The compensation for the services of the Underwriter as a principal
underwriter under this Agreement shall be (i) that part of the sales charge
which is retained by the Underwriter after allowance of discounts to dealers as
set forth in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, filed with
the Commission and in effect at the time of the offering, as amended, and (ii)
those amounts payable to the Underwriter as reimbursement of expenses pursuant
to any distribution plan for Pioneer which may be in effect. Nothing contained
herein shall relieve Pioneer of any obligation under its management contract or
any other contract with any affiliate of the Underwriter.
6. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all
liabilities arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, of any nature
whatsoever, including without limitation, liabilities arising in connection with
any agreement of Pioneer or its Trustees as set forth herein to indemnify any
party to this Agreement or any other person, if any, shall be satisfied out of
the assets of Pioneer and that no Trustee, officer or holder of shares of
beneficial interest of Pioneer shall be personally liable for any of the
foregoing liabilities. Pioneer's Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to
time, is on file in the Office of Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The Declaration of Trust describes in detail the respective
responsibilities and limitations on liability of the Trustees, officers, and
holders of shares of beneficial interest.
7. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act).
8. In the event of any dispute between the parties, this Agreement
shall be construed according to the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their duly authorized officers and their seal to be hereto
affixed as of day and year first above written.
ATTEST: PIONEER TAX-FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
By:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Secretary President
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ATTEST: PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Clerk President
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