Exhibit 6(a)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
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This Distribution Agreement is made as of this 7th day of November, 1996 by
and between THE MUNDER FRAMLINGTON FUNDS TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust
(the "Fund"), and FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC., a Massachusetts corporation ("Funds
Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is so
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain Funds Distributor as Distributor for
the Fund's shares of beneficial interest in Class A, Class B, Class C, Class K
and Class Y Shares representing interests in the Fund's three separate
portfolios, Framlington Emerging Markets Fund, Framlington Healthcare Fund, and
Framlington International Growth Fund (individually, a "Portfolio" and
collectively, the "Portfolios"), to provide for the sale and distribution of
shares of the Portfolios (the "Shares"), and Funds Distributor is willing to
render such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set
forth herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
I. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS
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The Fund has delivered to Funds Distributor copies of each of the following
documents and will deliver to it all future amendments and supplements thereto,
if any:
(a) Resolutions of the Fund's Board of Trustees authorizing the execution
and delivery of this Agreement;
(b) The Fund's Declaration of Trust as filed with the State Secretary of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on October 30, 1996, and the Boston
City Clerk on October 30, 1996 (the "Declaration of Trust");
(c) The Fund's By-Laws;
(d) The Fund's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A under the 1940
Act as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC");
(e) The Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and the
1940 Act, as filed with the SEC on October 30, 1996, and all
amendments thereto; and
(f) The Fund's most recent Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information and all amendments and supplements thereto (collectively,
the "Prospectuses").
II. DISTRIBUTION
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1. Appointment of Distributor. The Fund hereby appoints Funds Distributor
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as Distributor of the Portfolios' Shares and Funds Distributor hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to render the services and duties set forth in this
Section II. In the event that the Fund establishes one or more additional
portfolios or classes of shares other than the Portfolios and the Shares with
respect to which it decides to retain Funds Distributor to act as distributor
hereunder, the Fund shall notify Funds Distributor in writing. If Funds
Distributor is willing to render such services, it shall so notify the Fund in
writing whereupon such portfolio and such shares shall become a Portfolio and
Shares hereunder and shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
except to the extent that said provision is modified with respect to such
portfolio or shares in writing by the Fund and Funds Distributor at the time.
2. Services and Duties.
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(a) The Fund agrees to sell through Funds Distributor, as agent, from
time to time during the term of this Agreement, Shares (whether authorized but
unissued or treasury shares, in the Fund's sole discretion) upon the terms and
at the current offering price as described in the applicable Prospectus. Funds
Distributor will act only in its own behalf as principal in making agreements
with selected dealers or others for the sale and redemption of Shares, and shall
sell Shares only at the offering price thereof as set forth in the applicable
Prospectus. Funds Distributor shall devote appropriate efforts to effect sales
of Shares of each of the Portfolios, but shall not be obligated to sell any
certain number of Shares.
(b) In all matters relating to the sale and redemption of Shares, Funds
Distributor will act in conformity with the Fund's Declaration of Trust, By-Laws
and applicable Prospectuses and with the instructions and directions of the
Board of Trustees of the Fund and will conform to and comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and all other applicable Federal or
state laws and regulations.
(c) Funds Distributor will bear the cost of printing and distributing any
Prospectus (including any supplement or amendment thereto), provided, however,
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that Funds Distributor shall not be obligated to bear the expenses incurred by
the Fund in connection with (i) the preparation and printing of any supplement
or amendment to a Registration Statement or Prospectus necessary for the
continued effective registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act or state
securities laws; and (ii) the printing and distribution of any Prospectus,
supplement or amendment thereto for existing shareholders of the class ("Class")
of Shares described therein.
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(d) All Shares of the Portfolios offered for sale by Funds Distributor
shall be offered for sale to the public at a price per share (the "offering
price") equal to (i) their net asset value (determined in the manner set forth
in the applicable Prospectuses) plus, except to those classes of persons set
forth in the applicable Prospectuses, (ii) a sales charge which shall be the
percentage of the offering price of such Shares as set forth in the applicable
Prospectuses. The offering price, if not an exact multiple of one cent, shall be
adjusted to the nearest cent. Concessions paid by Funds Distributor to broker-
dealers and other persons shall be set forth in either the selling agreements
between Funds Distributor and such broker-dealers and persons or, if such
concessions are described in the applicable Prospectuses, shall be as so set
forth. No broker-dealer or other person who enters into a selling or
distribution and servicing agreement with Funds Distributor shall be authorized
to act as agent for the Fund in connection with the offering or sale of Shares
to the public or otherwise.
(e) If any shares sold by Funds Distributor under the terms of this
Agreement are redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or by Funds Distributor as
agent or are tendered for redemption within seven business days after the date
of confirmation of the original purchase of said Shares, Funds Distributor shall
forfeit the amount above the net asset value received by it with respect to such
Shares, provided that the portion, if any, of such amount re-allowed by Funds
Distributor to broker-dealers or other persons shall be repayable to the Fund
only to the extent recovered by Funds Distributor from the broker-dealer or
other persons concerned. Funds Distributor shall include in the form of
agreement with such broker-dealers and other persons a corresponding provision
for the forfeiture by them of their concession with respect to Shares sold by
them or their principals and redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or by Funds
Distributor as agent (or tendered for redemption) within seven business days
after the date of confirmation of such initial purchases.
(f) Funds Distributor may be reimbursed for all or a portion of the
expenses described above to the extent permitted by one or more distribution
plans adopted by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act. No provision of this Agreement may be deemed to prohibit any
payments by a Portfolio to Funds Distributor or by a Portfolio or Funds
Distributor to investment dealers, banks or other financial institutions through
whom shares of the Fund are sold where such payments are made under a
distribution plan adopted by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan"). The Fund agrees that it shall provide
notice to Funds Distributor at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the
elimination of or the decrease in the amount of expenses reimbursable under such
a distribution plan.
(g) With respect to such classes of shares, if any, that are sold with a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), Funds Distributor shall impose a CDSC
in connection with the redemption of the Shares of such classes, not to exceed a
specified percentage of the original purchase price of the Shares, as from time
to time set forth in the applicable Prospectuses. Funds Distributor may retain
(or receive from the Fund, as the case may
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be) all of any CDSC. Funds Distributor may pay to broker-dealers or other
persons through whom such Shares are sold a commission or other payment to the
extent consistent with the current Prospectuses and applicable rules and
regulations.
3.Sales and Redemptions.
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(a) The Fund shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with the
registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act, and all expenses in connection
with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of the Shares and for
supplying information, prices and other data to be furnished by the Fund
hereunder, and all expenses in connection with preparing, printing and
distributing the Prospectuses except as set forth in subsection 2(c) of Section
II hereof.
(b) The Fund shall execute all documents, furnish all information and
otherwise take all actions which may be reasonably necessary in the discretion
of the Fund's officers in connection with the sale of the Shares in such states
as Funds Distributor may designate to the Fund and the Fund may approve, and the
Fund shall pay all filing fees which may be incurred in connection with such
sale. Funds Distributor shall pay all other expenses incurred by Funds
Distributor in connection with the sale of the Shares, except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement.
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of Shares at any
time in response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise, and to
suspend the redemption of Shares of any Portfolio at any time permitted by the
1940 Act or the rules of the SEC ("Rules").
(d) The Fund reserves the right to reject any order for Shares, but will
not do so arbitrarily or without reasonable cause.
III. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
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Funds Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or any Portfolio in connection with
the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations
and duties under this Agreement.
IV. CONFIDENTIALITY
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Funds Distributor will treat confidentially and as proprietary information
of the Fund all records and other information relative to the Fund, to the
Fund's prior or current shareholders and to those persons or entities who
respond to Funds Distributor's inquiries concerning investment in the Fund, and,
except as provided below, will not use such records and information for any
purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities
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and duties hereunder. Any other use by Funds Distributor of the information and
records referred to above may be made only after prior notification to and
approval in writing by the Fund. Such approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld and may not be withheld where: (i) Funds Distributor may be exposed to
civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to divulge such information;
(ii) Funds Distributor is requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities; or (iii) Funds Distributor is so requested by the Fund.
V. INDEMNIFICATION
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1. Fund Representation. The Fund represents and warrants to Funds
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Distributorthat at all times the Registration Statement and Prospectuses will in
all material respects conform to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and
the Rules thereunder and will not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty
in this subsection shall apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf
of and with respect to Funds Distributor expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or Prospectuses.
2. Funds Distributor Representation. Funds Distributor represents and
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warrants to the Fund that it is duly organized as a Massachusetts corporation
and is and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed to carry out
its services as contemplated herein.
3. Fund Indemnification. The Fund, on behalf of each Portfolio, agrees
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that each Portfolio will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Funds Distributor,
its several officers and directors, and any person who controls Funds
Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of
them may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectuses or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of
a Portfolio, or arise out of or based upon, information furnished by or on
behalf of a Portfolio, filed in any state in order to sell the Shares under the
securities or blue sky laws thereof ("Blue Sky Application"), or arise out of,
or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and will reimburse Funds Distributor, its several officers and
trustees, and any person who controls Funds Distributor within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by any of them in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such
action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that neither the Fund nor any
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Portfolio shall be liable in any case to the extent that such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement,
alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the
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Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any
application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Fund in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by or on
behalf of Funds Distributor specifically for inclusion therein.
A Portfolio shall not indemnify any person pursuant to this subsection 3
unless the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought has
rendered a final decision on the merits that such person was not liable by
reason of his willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of his duties, or his reckless disregard of his obligations and
duties, under this Agreement ("disabling conduct") or, in the absence of such a
decision, a reasonable determination (based upon a review of the facts) that
such person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct has been made by the
vote of a majority of a quorum of trustees of the Fund who are neither
"interested parties" of the Fund (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the
proceeding, or by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Each Portfolio shall advance attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred by
any person in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject
of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this subsection 3, so long as: (i)
such person shall undertake to repay all such advances unless it is ultimately
determined that he or she is entitled to indemnification hereunder; and (ii)
such person shall provide security for such undertaking, or the Portfolio shall
be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or a
majority of a quorum of the disinterested, non-party trustees of the Fund ( or
an independent legal counsel in a written opinion) shall determine based on a
review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that
there is reason to believe that such person ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification hereunder.
The obligations of each portfolio under this subsection 3 shall be the
several (and not joint or joint and several) obligation of each Portfolio.
4. Funds Distributor Indemnification. Funds Distributor will indemnify,
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defend and hold harmless the Fund, each Portfolio, the Fund's several officers
and trustees and any person who controls the Fund or any Portfolio within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them may become
subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect hereof) arise out of, or
are based upon, any breach of its representations, warranties and agreements
herein, or which arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any application or
other documents executed by or on behalf of the Fund or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
in writing to the Fund or any of its several officers and
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trustees by or on behalf of Funds Distributor specifically for inclusion
therein, and will reimburse the Fund, each Portfolio, the Fund's several
officers and trustees, and any person who controls the Fund or any Portfolio
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in investigating, defending or
preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim.
5. General Indemnity Provision. No indemnifying party shall be liable
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under its indemnity agreement contained in subsection 3 or 4 hereof with respect
to any claim made against such indemnifying party unless the indemnified party
shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing 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 indemnified party (or after the
indemnified party shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may otherwise have to the indemnified
party. The indemnifying party will 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 liability, and if the indemnifying party elects to assume the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event the indemnifying party
elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the
indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by the indemnified party.
VI. DURATION AND TERMINATION
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This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written,
and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue until November
7, 1998. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
automatically for successive terms of one year, provided that such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the majority of the
Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the trustees who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan, this Agreement, or in any agreement
relating to the Plan, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval; provided, however, that this Agreement may
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be terminated with respect to any Portfolio by the Fund at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Trustees or by a vote of a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities" of such Portfolio on 60 days'
written notice to Funds Distributor, or by Funds Distributor at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days' written notice to the Fund.
This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its
`assignment" (As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding
voting securities" "interested person" and "assignment" shall have the same
meanings as such terms have in the 1940 Act.)
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VII. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT
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No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or
terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
VIII. NOTICES
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Notices of any kind to be given to the Fund hereunder by Funds Distributor
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to the Fund
at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxx
Xxxxxx, with a copy to Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., Dechert Price & Xxxxxx, 0000 X Xxxxxx
X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000-0000, or at such other address or to such
individual as shall be so specified by the Fund to Funds Distributor. Notices
of any kind to be given to Funds Distributor hereunder by the Fund shall be in
writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Funds Distributor at
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx or at such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified
by Funds Distributor to the Fund.
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
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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. If any provision of this Agreement shall
be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. Subject to the
provisions of Section VI hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
shall be governed by Massachusetts law; provided, however, that nothing herein
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shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or
regulation of the SEC thereunder.
The names "The Munder Framlington Funds Trust" and "Trustees of the Munder
Framlington Funds Trust" refer respectively to the trust created and the
Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to
time under the Declaration of Trust. The obligations of "The Munder Framlington
Funds Trust" entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the
Trustees, officers, representatives or agents are made not individually, but in
such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders,
officers, representatives or agents of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Trust Property (as defined in the Declaration of Trust), and all persons dealing
with any class of shares of the Fund must look solely to the Trust Property
belonging to such class for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund.
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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 above
written.
THE MUNDER FRAMLINGTON FUNDS TRUST
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
Attest: ____________________
FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
Attest: ____________________
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