Form of PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
Form
of
THIS AGREEMENT is made and
entered into as of this ___ day of 2010, by and
among Investment Managers Series Trust, a Delaware Statutory Trust (the
“Client”) on behalf of its series FAMCO MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
(the “Fund”), Fiduciary Asset Management, LLC, a Missouri limited liability
company (the “Adviser”) and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Placement Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Client is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue
shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series
representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
and
WHEREAS, the Client desires to
retain the Placement Agent as placement agent in connection with the offering
and sale of the shares (the “Shares”) of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Shares have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “Act”) and it
is intended that the Shares shall not be required to be registered under the Act
by virtue of the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 under
Regulation D thereunder; and
WHEREAS, the Placement Agent
is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “1934 Act”), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (“FINRA”); and
WHEREAS, this Agreement has
been approved by a vote of the Client’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and its
disinterested Trustees in conformity with Section 15(c) of the 1940
Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Placement
Agent. The Client hereby appoints the Placement Agent as its
exclusive agent for the sale and distribution of Shares of the Fund, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Placement Agent hereby
accepts such exclusive appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties
set forth in this Agreement.
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2. Services
and Duties of the Placement Agent.
A. Placement
Agent is hereby authorized, as the Fund’s private placement agent to sell the
Shares during the term of this Agreement and subject to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the laws
governing the sale of securities in the various states (the “Blue Sky
Laws”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
only officers or employees of the Adviser shall solicit potential investors,
distribute marketing materials, subscription and other materials to potential
investors, or otherwise service or assist in the offering of the Shares during
the term of this Agreement. The Placement Agent shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to identify U.S.-domiciled “Institutional
Investors” (as defined in Section 2211(a)(3) of the Rules of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) and certain qualified investors, who
are “U.S. Persons” (as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Act), “accredited
investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act), and meet other eligibility
standards set forth in the current prospectus of the Fund, as amended or
supplemented from time to time (such prospectus, the “Prospectus” and such
investors meeting all of the foregoing qualifications, “Eligible
Investors”). The provisions of this paragraph do not obligate
Placement Agent to register as a broker or dealer under the Blue Sky Laws of any
jurisdiction when it determines it would be uneconomical for it to do so or to
maintain its registration in any jurisdiction in which it is now registered or
obligate Placement Agent to sell any particular number of Shares.
B. The
Placement Agent agrees to review all proposed sales material for compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, and, if applicable, shall file such sales
material with the appropriate regulators. For most sales material,
the Placement Agent agrees to complete its review within three business days
after receipt from Client, however, for pieces of greater complexity and length,
the Placement Agent may take up to five business days to complete its
review. The Placement Agent agrees to furnish to the Client any
comments provided by regulators with respect to such materials.
C. The
Fund agrees to redeem or repurchase Shares tendered by its shareholders in
accordance with its Prospectus. The Fund reserves the right to
suspend such repurchase right upon written notice to the Placement
Agent.
D. The
Placement Agent may, in its discretion, and shall, at the request of the Client,
enter into agreements with such qualified broker-dealers and other financial
intermediaries as it may select, in order that such broker-dealers and other
intermediaries also may sell Shares of the Fund. The form of any
sub-placement agent agreement shall be approved by the Client. The
Placement Agent shall not be obligated to make any payments to any
broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries or other third parties, unless
(i) Foreside has received a corresponding payment either from the Adviser, or
from the applicable Fund under a plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Plan”) and (ii) such corresponding payment is
pursuant to an arrangement approved by the Client’s Board. The
Placement Agent shall include in the forms of agreement with selling
broker-dealers a provision for the forfeiture by them of any sales charge or
discount with respect to Shares sold by them and redeemed, repurchased or
tendered for redemption within seven business days after the date of
confirmation of such purchases.
E. The
Placement Agent shall devote its best efforts to effect sales of Shares of the
Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of
Shares.
F. The
Placement Agent shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities
under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the
Board, including reports regarding the use of 12b-1 payments received by the
Placement Agent, if any.
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G. The
Placement Agent may enter into agreements (“Subcontracts”) with qualified third
parties to carry out some or all of the Placement Agent’s obligations under this
Agreement, with the prior written consent of the Client on behalf of the Fund,
such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided that execution of a
Subcontract shall not relieve the Placement Agent of any of its responsibilities
hereunder or otherwise diminish the Placement Agent’s obligations to the Client,
on behalf of the Fund, to see that those responsibilities are at all times
fulfilled in a timely and appropriate manner.
H. The
activities that are conducted by Placement Agent with respect to the Fund shall
be undertaken only in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), applicable laws and
regulations, and the terms of this Agreement.
I. The
services furnished by the Placement Agent hereunder are not to be deemed
exclusive and the Placement Agent shall be free to furnish similar services to
others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired
thereby.
J. The
Placement Agent has disclosed in writing to Client a list of jurisdictions in
which Placement Agent is registered as of the date of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Placement Agent shall not be required to register as a broker or dealer in any
specific jurisdiction or to maintain its registration in any jurisdiction in
which it is now registered; provided, however, that the Placement Agent shall
notify the Client in advance of terminating and/or not renewing its registration
or qualification as a broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction.
3. Compliance
with Applicable Securities Laws
A. With
respect to their respective activities under this Agreement, Placement Agent,
the Adviser and the Fund each agree that it will comply with the applicable
requirements of (i) the Act (including Regulation D), (ii) the 1940 Act, (iii)
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) (including all
regulations, rules and releases under all such statutes), (iv) the Blue Sky Laws
of the state or jurisdiction in which such sale is made and (v) with respect to
Placement Agent, with all applicable rules and regulations of
FINRA. In connection with the foregoing, Placement Agent agrees to
comply with such procedures as may be necessary in order that no act or omission
to act by Placement Agent in connection with the Fund’s offering of Shares shall
cause to become unavailable the exemption from registration of the Shares under
the Act provided by Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D
thereunder.
B. Neither
Placement Agent nor its registered representatives will give any information or
make any representation other than those contained in (i) the Prospectus or (ii)
any sales literature, performance reports, financial statements and other
written materials provided by or on behalf of the Fund in connection with the
placement of Shares.
C. Shares
in the Fund will be offered on a private placement basis to Eligible Investors
only. Neither the Fund nor any person acting on its behalf, shall
offer or sell Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising,
including, without limitation, the methods described in Rule 502(c) of
Regulation D under the Act.
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D. The
Fund shall prepare the Prospectus and the application for Shares to be used in
connection with all subscriptions (the “Subscription
Application”). During the continuous offering, the Fund or the
Adviser will deliver to the Placement Agent, without charge, at its principal
place of business, as many copies of the foregoing documents as the Placement
Agent may reasonably request.
E. The
Fund or the Adviser shall extend to prospective investors an opportunity, prior
to purchase of any Shares, to ask questions and receive answers concerning the
Fund and the terms and conditions of the offering, and to obtain such additional
information as the prospective investor may consider necessary in making an
informed investment decision.
F. The
Placement Agent is responsible for complying with all applicable U.S. federal
and state laws, rules and regulations directly applicable to the Placement Agent
in offering and selling Shares in any U.S. jurisdiction, including applicable
rules of FINRA.
A. The
Fund agrees that no Shares shall be offered in any jurisdiction outside of the
United States (a “Foreign Jurisdiction”) unless
(i) the
Fund obtains prior written approval from Placement Agent.
(ii) the
Fund or the Adviser notifies Placement Agent in writing of any contemplated
offering in a Foreign Jurisdiction, in each case setting forth the following
information: (A) name of the Fund; (B) the applicable
Foreign Jurisdiction; (C) whether, and, if so, with which regulatory authorities
the Fund may need to be registered; (D) to whom Shares in the Fund are proposed
to be offered; (E) the location(s) from which the offering activities are
proposed to be conducted and the scope of such activities; (F) whether the Fund
will be offered or sold to investors or intended investors through agents that
are licensed to do the same in the applicable Foreign Jurisdiction; and (G) such
other information, including legal analysis, as Placement Agent may reasonably
deem relevant.
(iii) the
Fund shall certify to Placement Agent that, based on the activity of registered
representatives employed by the Adviser in the applicable foreign jurisdiction,
the Fund has taken all necessary action to comply with the laws and regulations
of such foreign jurisdiction (“Foreign Laws and Regulations”) to offer and sell
its Shares in the applicable foreign jurisdiction including registration of such
Shares, if required. The Fund must also provide Placement Agent with
written confirmation from outside counsel stating that, provided that Fund has
complied with the applicable Foreign Laws and Regulations, such Foreign Laws and
Regulations do not require registration or any other action by Placement Agent
with respect to that foreign jurisdiction.
(iv) the
Placement Agent reserves the right to restrict or prohibit any offering in a
Foreign Jurisdiction as Placement Agent reasonably deems necessary, in
consultation with the Fund, to comply with applicable law.
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(v) the
Fund and the Adviser represent that, before undertaking any offering of Shares
in a Foreign Jurisdiction, each will adopt and implement policies and procedures
to comply with the laws, rules and regulations of that Foreign Jurisdiction
governing private offerings of funds such as the Fund.
4. State Blue Sky
Qualification. The Fund, in consultation with the Adviser,
will be responsible for ensuring that any notices or filings that are necessary
for the purposes of achieving an exemption from registration of the Shares under
the Blue Sky Laws as may be applicable in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, are made, including the filing of documents with
the SEC and relevant states. The Fund, with the assistance of the
Adviser, will furnish any required consent to service of process in connection
therewith.
The
Adviser shall advise Placement Agent from time to time concerning the states and
other jurisdictions in which solicitations of Eligible Investors by or on behalf
of the Fund may be made under the applicable Blue Sky Laws. Upon
request by Placement Agent, the Adviser shall provide evidence of qualification
of Shares in each applicable state or jurisdiction. The Adviser shall
ensure that any individual who solicits Eligible Investors in the Fund is
appropriately licensed or registered in the appropriate jurisdictions before any
solicitation is made in such jurisdiction.
5. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Client.
A. The
Client hereby represents and warrants to the Placement Agent, which
representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the
term of this Agreement, that:
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(i)
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it
is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of incorporation/organization and is registered as an open-end management
investment company under the 1940
Act;
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(ii)
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this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Client
and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Client, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors and secured parties;
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(iii)
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the
Fund has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its
business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or
judgment binding on the Fund and no provision of Client’s Agreement and
Declaration of Trust or by-laws, or any contract binding the Fund or
affecting their property which would prohibit Client’s execution or
performance of this Agreement;
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(iv)
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the
Shares are validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the
description in the Prospectus, will be fully paid and
nonassessable;
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(v)
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the
Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) have been
prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder;
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(vi)
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the
Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Act or the Blue
Sky Laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction and
the offer and sale of the Shares in the manner contemplated by this
Agreement and the Prospectus will be exempt from the registration
requirements of the Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and Regulation D
thereunder;
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(vii)
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the
Shares will not be offered in jurisdictions outside of the United states,
except as permitted under Section 2(f) of this Agreement;
and
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(viii)
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the
Prospectus, SAI, and any advertising materials and sales literature that
the Client, on behalf of the Fund, prepares for the Fund do not and shall
not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and that all statements or information
furnished to the Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be true
and correct.
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B. The
Client authorizes the Placement Agent to use the Prospectus, in the form
furnished to the Placement Agent from time to time, in connection with the sale
of Shares.
C. The
Client agrees to advise the Placement Agent, or cause the Placement Agent to be
advised, promptly in writing:
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(i)
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of
any material correspondence or other communication by the SEC or its staff
relating to the Fund, including requests by the SEC for amendments to the
Prospectus;
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(ii)
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of
the happening of any event which makes untrue any statement of a material
fact made in the Prospectus or which requires the making of a change in
the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading;
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(iii)
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of
all actions taken by the SEC with respect to any amendments to the
Prospectus which may from time to time be filed with the
SEC;
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(iv)
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in
the event that it determines to suspend the sale of Shares at any time in
response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise or to
suspend the redemption of Shares of the Fund at any time as permitted by
the 1940 Act or the rules of the SEC;
and
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(v)
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promptly
after Client is notified, of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against the Adviser the Fund, the Client or any of its
officers or Trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any of the
Shares of the Fund.
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D. The
Client, on behalf of the Fund, agrees to make from time to time such amendments
to the Prospectus as may be necessary in order that it will not
contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
E. The
Client, on behalf of the Fund, shall fully cooperate in the efforts of the
Placement Agent to sell and arrange for the sale of Shares. In
addition, the Client shall provide to the Placement Agent from time to time
copies of all information, financial statements, and other papers concerning the
Fund that the Placement Agent may reasonably request for use in connection with
the distribution of Shares, including, without limitation, certified copies of
any financial statements prepared for the Fund by its independent public
accountants and such reasonable number of copies of the most current Prospectus,
SAI and annual and interim reports to shareholders of the Fund as the Placement
Agent may request. The Client, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser
each represents that it will not use or authorize the use of any advertising or
sales material with respect to the Fund unless and until such materials have
been approved and authorized for use by the Placement Agent.
F. The
Client shall provide, and agrees to take reasonable measures to cause each other
agent or service provider to the Client, including the Client’s transfer agent
and the Adviser, to provide, to Placement Agent in a timely and accurate manner
all such information (and in such reasonable medium) concerning the Fund and not
otherwise covered under Section 5(E) that the Placement Agent may reasonably
request and that the Placement Agent deems necessary to perform its duties under
this Agreement.
G. The
Client, on behalf of the Fund, shall not file any amendment to the Prospectus
that amends any provision therein which pertains to the Placement Agent or the
distribution of the Shares without giving Placement Agent reasonable advance
notice thereof; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement
shall in any way limit the Client’s right to file at any time such amendments to
the Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Client may deem advisable, such
right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
H. The
Client, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted policies and procedures pursuant to
Regulation S-P adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, 17 C.F.R.
§ 248.1 et seq., as amended from time to time (“Regulation
S-P”). In this regard, the Client shall have in place and maintain
written policies and procedures that address administrative, technical, and
physical safeguards for the protection of customer records and information, and
such policies and procedures will apply to information in the Client’s
possession concerning the Fund’s shareholders.
6. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Adviser.
A. The
Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Placement Agent that:
(i) it
is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation/organization;
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(ii) it
is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter
into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;
(iii) this
Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of Adviser, enforceable against Adviser in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
and secured parties; and
(iv) it
is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 with the SEC as an as
investment adviser, it will abide by the rules and regulations of the SEC, and
it will notify the Fund and Placement Agent if its registration with the SEC is
terminated or suspended.
7. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Placement Agent.
A. The
Placement Agent hereby represents and warrants to the Client, which
representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the
term of this Agreement, that:
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(i)
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it
is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted,
to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder;
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(ii)
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this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Placement Agent and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid
and legally binding obligation of the Placement Agent, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors and secured
parties;
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(iii)
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it
is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained
all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now
conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment
binding on it and no provision of its charter, operating agreement or any
contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its
execution or performance of this Agreement;
and
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(iv)
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it
is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member in
good standing of FINRA.
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B. In
connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, the Placement Agent will
comply with the applicable requirements of the Act, 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the
regulations of FINRA and all other applicable federal or state laws and
regulations.
8. Compensation. As
compensation for the services performed and the expenses assumed by Placement
Agent under this Agreement, Adviser shall pay to Placement Agent the fees and
expenses set forth in Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to
time).
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9. Indemnification.
A. Solely
out of the assets of the Fund, the Client shall indemnify, defend and hold the
Placement Agent, its affiliates and each of their respective members, managers,
directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or
during the term of this Agreement controlled the Placement Agent within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act (collectively, the “Placement Agent
Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all losses, claims,
demands, liabilities, damages and expenses (including the costs of defending any
alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages or expenses and any
reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively,
“Losses”) that any Placement Agent Indemnitee may incur under the Act, the 1934
Act, the 1940 Act any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or
regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or
relating to (i) the Placement Agent serving as Placement Agent of the Fund
pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) the Client’s breach of any of its obligations,
representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; (iii) the
Fund’s failure to comply with any applicable securities laws or regulations; or
(iv) any claim that the Fund’s Prospectus, shareholder reports, sales literature
and advertising materials (as from time to time amended) include or included an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading under the Act, or any other statute or the common law, any
violation of any rule of FINRA or of the SEC or any other jurisdiction wherein
Shares of the Fund are sold, provided, however, that the Client’s obligation to
indemnify any of the Placement Agent Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover
any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in the Prospectus, annual or interim report,
or any such advertising materials or sales literature in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to the Placement Agent and furnished to the
Client or its counsel by the Placement Agent in writing. In no event
shall anything contained herein, including clause (i) of this Section 9(A), be
so construed as to protect the Placement Agent against any liability to the
Client, the Fund or the Fund’s shareholders to which the Placement Agent would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or by reason of
its material breach of this Agreement.
The
Client’s agreement to indemnify the Placement Agent Indemnitees is expressly
conditioned upon the Client being notified of the applicable action or claim of
loss brought against any Placement Agent Indemnitee, within a reasonable time
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon such Placement Agent Indemnitee, unless
the failure to give notice does not prejudice the Client. Such
notification shall be given by letter addressed to the Client’s President, but
the failure so to notify the Client of any such action shall not relieve the
Client from any liability which the Client may have to the person against whom
such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue,
statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of the
Client’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section 9(A).
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B. The
Client shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if
it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such
Losses, but if the Client elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be
conducted by counsel chosen by the Client and approved by the Placement Agent,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the
Client elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel,
the Placement Agent Indemnitee(s) in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses
of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Client does not
elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Placement Agent
does not, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by
the Client or, if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same
counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Client and the
Placement Agent Indemnitee(s), the Client will reimburse the Placement Agent
Indemnitee(s) in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by
Placement Agent and them. The Client’s indemnification agreement
contained in Sections 9(A) and 9(B) shall remain operative and in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement
Agent Indemnitee(s), and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the
termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity will inure
exclusively to the Placement Agent’s benefit and to the benefit of each
Placement Agent Indemnitee.
C. The
Adviser shall indemnify, defend and hold the Placement Agent Indemnitees free
and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Placement Agent
Indemnitee may incur arising out of or relating to (i) the Placement Agent
serving as Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) the Adviser’s
breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants
contained in this Agreement, except to the extent that Losses result from the
Placement Agent’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, or gross negligence or its
reckless disregard of its express obligations and duties hereunder.
D. The
Placement Agent shall indemnify, defend and hold the Client, its affiliates, and
each of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, and
any person who controls or during the term of this Agreement controlled the
Client within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
“Client Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all Losses
that any Client Indemnitee may incur under the Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act,
any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation
thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of relating to (i) the
Placement Agent’s breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties
or covenants contained in this Agreement; (ii) the Placement Agent’s failure to
comply with any applicable securities laws or regulations; or (iii) any claim
that the Prospectus or sales literature and advertising materials include or
included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
not misleading, insofar as such statement or omission was made in reliance upon,
and in conformity with, information furnished to the Client by the Placement
Agent in writing. In no event shall anything contained herein be so
construed as to protect the Client against any liability to the Placement Agent
to which the Client would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement or by reason of its material breach of this
Agreement.
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The
Placement Agent’s agreement to indemnify the Client Indemnitees is expressly
conditioned upon the Placement Agent’s being notified of any action or claim of
loss brought against a Client Indemnitee, such notification to be given by
letter addressed to the Placement Agent’s President, within a reasonable time
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon the Client Indemnitee, unless the
failure to give notice does not prejudice the Placement Agent. The
failure so to notify the Placement Agent of any such action shall not relieve
the Placement Agent from any liability which the Placement Agent may have to the
person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or
alleged untrue, statement or omission, otherwise than on account of the
Placement Agent’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section
9(D).
E. The
Placement Agent shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such Losses, but if the Placement Agent elects to assume the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Placement
Agent and approved by the Client Indemnitee, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. In the event the Placement Agent elects to
assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Client
Indemnitee(s) in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional
counsel retained by them. If the Placement Agent does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Client does not, in the
exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by the Placement
Agent or, if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel
cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Placement Agent and the
Client Indemnitee(s), the Placement Agent will reimburse the Client
Indemnitee(s) in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by
the Client and them. The Placement Agent’s indemnification agreement
contained in Sections 9(D) and (E) shall remain operative and in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Client
Indemnitee(s), and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the termination
of this Agreement. This Agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively
to the Client’s benefit and to the benefit of each Client
Indemnitee.
10. Limitations on
Damages. No Party shall be liable for any consequential,
special or indirect losses or damages suffered by another Party, whether or not
the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the Party.
11. Force Majeure. No
Party shall be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss
of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its
reasonable control, including, without limitation, Acts of Nature (including
fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster); action or
inaction of civil or military authority; acts of foreign enemies; war;
terrorism; riot; insurrection; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil
commotion; or interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation,
computer or communications capabilities, and no other Party shall have no right
to terminate this Agreement in such circumstances.
12. Duration
and Termination.
A. This
Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof. Unless sooner
terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two
years from the date hereof. Thereafter, if not terminated, this
Agreement shall continue automatically in effect as to the Fund for successive
one-year periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the members of the Client’s Board who
are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the
Client or the Placement Agent, and (ii) either the vote of a majority of the
Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund, in accordance with Section 15 of the 1940 Act.
11
B. This
Agreement may be terminated without penalty upon no less than sixty (60) days’
written notice (i) by either the Client by the Fund’s Board or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or (ii) by the
Placement Agent.
C. This
Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment.
13. Anti-Money
Laundering Compliance.
A. Each
of the Placement Agent and the Client (on behalf of the Fund) 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 Adviser also
represents and warrants that it has adopted and will maintain policies and
procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Fund will comply with
the AML Acts.
B. The
Placement Agent shall include specific contractual provisions regarding
anti-money laundering compliance obligations in agreements entered into by the
Placement Agent with any broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is
authorized to effect transactions in Shares of the Fund.
C. Each
of the Placement Agent, the Adviser, and the Client (on behalf of the Fund)
agrees that it will take such further steps, and cooperate with the other
Parties 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”). Placement Agent undertakes that it will grant to the
Adviser and the Client, the Client’s anti-money laundering compliance officer,
the Adviser’s anti-money laundering compliance officer and appropriate
regulatory agencies, reasonable access to copies of Placement Agent’s AML
Operations, and related books and records to the extent they pertain to the
Placement Agent’s services hereunder. It is expressly understood and
agreed that the Client, the Client’s compliance officer, the Adviser, and the
Adviser’s anti-money laundering compliance officer shall have no access to any
of Placement Agent’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other
clients or services of Placement Agent.
14. Privacy. In
accordance with Regulation S-P, the Placement Agent will not disclose any
non-public personal information, as defined in Regulation S-P, received from the
Client or the Fund regarding any Fund shareholder; provided, however, that the
Placement Agent may disclose such information to any Party as necessary in the
ordinary course of business to carry out the purposes for which such information
was disclosed to the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent 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 Fund.
12
The
Client represents to the Placement Agent that it has adopted a statement of its
privacy policies and practices as required by Regulation S-P, which statement
shall be set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus. The Placement Agent
agrees to use reasonable precautions to protect, and prevent the unintentional
disclosure of, such non-public personal information.
15. Confidentiality. During
the term of this Agreement, the Parties may have access to confidential
information relating to such matters as another 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 Placement Agent, the Client (whether on behalf of
the Fund or otherwise) or the Adviser which is of value to such Party and the
disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to such
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 does not include: (i) information
that was known to the receiving Party before receipt thereof from or on behalf
of the disclosing Party; (ii) information that is disclosed to the receiving
Party by a third person who has a right to make such disclosure without any
obligation of confidentiality to the Party seeking to enforce its rights under
this Section; (iii) information that is or becomes generally known in the trade
without violation of this Agreement by the receiving Party; or (iv) information
that is independently developed by the receiving Party or its employees or
affiliates without reference to the disclosing Party’s information.
Each
Party will protect each other Party’s Confidential Information with at least the
same degree of care it uses with respect to its own Confidential Information,
and will not use any other Party’s Confidential Information other than in
connection with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Party may disclose another Party’s Confidential Information if (i)
required by law, regulation or legal process or if requested by any court, law
enforcement agency, or regulatory authority with jurisdiction over such Party;
or (ii) requested to or permitted by the other Party; provided that in the event
of clause (i), the disclosing Party shall give the other Party prior
written notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicable and
permitted by law.
16. Notices. Any notice
required or permitted to be given by any Party to the others shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by
courier service or 3 days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested or on the date sent and confirmed received by
facsimile transmission to each other Party’s address as set forth
below:
Notices
to the Placement Agent shall be sent to:
Foreside
Fund Services, LLC
Attn:
Legal/Compliance
Three
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
000
00
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Phone:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
Notices
to the Client shall be sent to:
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
President
Phone:
Fax:
Notices
to the Adviser shall be sent to:
Fiduciary
Asset Management, LLC
[ADDRESS]
Phone:
Fax:
17. Modifications. The
terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered, modified, amended or
supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a written instrument signed by
the Placement Agent, the Adviser, and the Client. If required under
the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved by the Client’s Board,
including a majority of the Client’s Board who are not interested persons, as
such term is defined in the 1940 Act, of any Party to this Agreement, by vote
cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of voting on such
amendment.
18. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law principles
thereof.
19. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the Parties hereto and supersedes all prior communications,
understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, whether
oral or written.
20. Survival. The
provisions of Sections 9, 10, 14, 15 and 20 of this Agreement shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
21. Miscellaneous. The
captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in
no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect. Any provision of this Agreement which may be
determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors.
14
22. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed by the Parties hereto in any number of counterparts,
and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and
the same document.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by
a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above
written.
Placement
Agent:
|
|
FORESIDE
FUND SERVICES, LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, President
|
|
Client:
|
|
INVESTMENT
MANAGERS SERIES
TRUST,
on behalf of the FAMCO MLP &
Energy
Infrastructure Fund
|
|
By:
|
|
Adviser:
|
|
FIDUCIARY
ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
|
By:
|
15
EXHIBIT
A
Exhibit
A
Compensation
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
FEES
One-Time
Fees
|
One-Time
|
|||
Setup
fee, to be invoiced within 15 days of execution of this
Agreement
|
$ | 5,000 | ||
Recurring
Fees
|
Annual
|
|||
Asset-based
fee
|
1.00
basis point on total average net
assets
in the Fund, calculated
and
billed
monthly, subject to a minimum
fee
of $1,250 per month
|
OUT-OF-POCKET
EXPENSES
Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by the Placement Agent in connection with activities primarily intended
to result in the sale of Shares, including, without limitation: typesetting,
printing and distribution of Prospectuses and shareholder reports; production,
printing, distribution and placement of advertising and sales literature and
materials; engagement of designers, free-xxxxx writers and public relations
firms; long-distance telephone charges; postage; overnight delivery charges;
record retention; travel, lodging and meals.
12b-1
PAYMENTS:
Attached to this Exhibit B are all
plans of distribution under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act approved by the Fund
and in effect (collectively, the “Distribution Plan”). If the Fund have a Board
approved Distribution Plan that authorizes them to compensate and reimburse the
Placement Agent for distribution services, then the Fund shall be responsible
for all compensation and reimbursements pursuant to this Agreement, or such
portions thereof as are authorized under the Distribution Plan.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PAYMENTS
The Adviser shall compensate and
reimburse the Placement Agent for its provision to the Fund of any services for
which the Fund is not authorized to compensate and reimburse the Placement
Agent.
Notes:
|
Ø
|
Fees
will be calculated and payable
monthly.
|
|
Ø
|
All fees are subject to a CPI
increase based on each contract
anniversary.
|
16