▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "COMPETITIVE EDGE" FUND
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
$0.01 PAR VALUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
November 6, 1997
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTORS INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
1. INTRODUCTORY. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "Competitive Edge" Fund, an unincorporated
business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(the "Fund"), proposes to sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to you
(the "Underwriter") up to 10,000,000 shares of its shares of beneficial
interest, $0.01 par value of its "Best Ideas" Portfolio and its "Competitive
Edge" Portfolio, respectively, subject to increase or decrease as provided in
this Agreement. Such shares are hereinafter referred to individually as the
"Best Ideas" Portfolio Shares and the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio Shares, and
collectively as the "Shares."
The Underwriter may sell such of the Shares purchased by it, as it may
elect, to dealers chosen by it (the "Selected Dealers"), at their net asset
value, reoffering by the Selected Dealers to the public at net asset value.
It is proposed that ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ InterCapital Inc. (the "Manager") will act
as investment manager for the Fund.
2. REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND AND THE MANAGER. (a) The Fund
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:
(i) A registration statement on Form N-1A, including a preliminary
prospectus, copies of which have heretofore been delivered to you, has been
carefully prepared by the Fund in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the published rules
and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under such Acts, and has been filed with the
Commission under both such Acts; and the Fund has so prepared and proposed
so to file prior to the effective date under the 1933 Act of such
registration statement an amendment to such registration statement including
the final form of prospectus and the statement of additional information.
Such registration statement (including all exhibits), as finally amended and
supplemented at the time such registration statement becomes effective under
the 1933 Act, and the prospectus and statement of additional information
forming part of such registration statement, or, if different in any
respect, the prospectus in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 497(c) under the 1933 Act, are herein respectively referred to as
the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus", and each preliminary
prospectus is herein referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus". Reference to
the Prospectus and Preliminary Prospectus herein shall encompass both the
prospectus and statement of additional information.
(ii) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending
the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, and, at its date of issue, each
Preliminary Prospectus conformed in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and
did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made
not misleading; and, when the Registration Statement becomes effective under
the 1933 Act and at all times subsequent thereto up to and including the
Closing Date (as herein defined). The Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the Notification
of Registration on Form N-8A will contain all material statements and
information required to be included therein by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act
and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and will conform in all
material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the
Rules and Regulations 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 not misleading;
provided, however, that the foregoing representations, warranties and
agreements shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
written information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Manager specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.
(iii) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Fund set forth in
the Statement of Additional Information fairly presents the financial
position of the Fund as of the date indicated and has been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Price Waterhouse
LLP, who have expressed their opinion on said Statement, are independent
accountants as required by the 1933 Act and Rules and Regulations
thereunder.
(iv) Subsequent to the dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, and except as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus, the Fund has not incurred any material
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any
material transactions not in the ordinary course of business, and there has
not been any material adverse change in the financial position of the Fund,
or any change in the authorized or outstanding shares of beneficial interest
of the Fund or any issuance of options to purchase shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund.
(v) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or
proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body pending, or
to the knowledge of the Fund threatened, which might result in any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business or
prospects of the Fund, or which would materially and adversely affect its
properties or assets.
(vi) The Fund has been duly established and is validly existing as an
unincorporated business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, with power and authority to own its property and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus; the Fund is duly qualified to do
business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires
such qualification; and the Fund has no subsidiaries.
(vii) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as an
open-end management investment company.
(viii) The Fund has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Registration Statement, and all outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus and are duly
and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and the
Shares, upon the issuance thereof in accordance with this Agreement, will
conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus, and will be
duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable
(although shareholders of the Fund may be liable for certain obligations of
the Fund as set forth under the caption "Additional Information" in the
Prospectus).
(ix) The Fund has full legal right, power and authority to enter into
this Agreement, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Fund, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and
fulfillment of the terms hereof by the Fund will be in compliance with all
applicable legal requirements to which the Fund is subject and will not
conflict with the terms or provisions of any order of the Commission, the
Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Fund, or any agreement or instrument
to which the Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(x) The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Plan has been
approved by the Fund's sole shareholder and by the Trustees of the Fund,
including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the
Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation
of the Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such Plan.
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(xi) The Fund has full legal right, power and authority to enter into
the Distribution Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency and
Service Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement referred to in the
Registration Statement and the execution and delivery of the Distribution
Agreement, Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement,
Management Agreement and the Advisory Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions therein contemplated and fulfillment of the terms thereof, will
be in compliance with all applicable legal requirements to which the Fund is
subject and will not conflict with the terms or provisions of any order of
the Commission, the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Fund, or any
agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it is
bound.
(b) The Manager represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Fund that:
(i) The Manager is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
(ii) The Manager has full legal right, power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement, and the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the
fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof, will be in compliance with all
applicable legal requirements to which it is subject and will not conflict
with the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, its articles
of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound.
(iii) The description of the Manager in the Registration Statement is
true and correct and does not contain 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 not misleading; and is hereby
deemed to be furnished in writing to the Fund for the purposes of Section
2(a)(ii) hereof.
3. PURCHASE BY, AND SALE TO, THE UNDERWRITER. The Fund agrees to sell to
the Underwriter, and upon the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Fund, up to 10,000,000
Shares (which number of Shares may be increased or decreased as provided below),
at a price of $10.00 per Share of each of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio and the
"Competitive Edge" Portfolio. It is understood and agreed that the Underwriter
may be compensated by the Fund for its services under this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
The number of Shares of each Portfolio which the Underwriter may purchase
pursuant hereto shall, upon written agreement between the Underwriter and the
Fund not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the third business day
preceding each Portfolio's Closing Date (the "Notification Time"), be increased
or decreased to such greater or lesser number of Shares as the Fund and the
Underwriter may agree upon, in which case the number of Shares set forth in the
preceding paragraph shall for all purposes hereof be increased or decreased to
such greater or lesser number of Shares. The Underwriter shall, in any event, be
entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which purchase
orders have been received by the Underwriter prior to the Notification Time.
The Fund is advised that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering
of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement shall have become
effective under the 1933 Act as it deems advisable, at the public offering price
and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
4. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery of the Shares or, at the election of the
Underwriter, non-negotiable share deposit receipts issued by the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Trust FSB as transfer and dividend disbursing agent, acknowledging the deposit
of the Shares ("deposit receipts") and payment therefor, shall be made at 10:00
A.M., New York time, at the office of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, on , 1998 or such later time and
date as may be agreed upon between the Underwriter and the Fund for the "Best
Ideas" Portfolio and at such later time and date to be agreed upon between the
Underwriter and the Fund for the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio (each such date
and time being herein referred to as the "Closing Date"). The place of delivery
of the payment for the shares may be varied by agreement between the Underwriter
and the Fund.
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On the Closing Date, the certificates or deposit receipts for the Shares
which are subject to purchase orders received by the Underwriter prior to the
Notification Time (registered in such names and for such denominations as you
shall have requested in writing prior to the Closing Date), shall be delivered
by the Fund to the Underwriter for the account of the Underwriter, against
payment of the purchase price therefor by a wire transfer in federal funds. Such
certificates or deposit receipts shall be made available for checking and
packaging at the New York office of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc. on or prior to
the Closing Date.
On the Closing Date, the Underwriter agrees to purchase and pay for the
Shares for which it received purchase orders prior to the Notification Time as
specified above, provided that the Underwriter shall not have any obligation to
purchase and pay for any Shares as to which purchase orders are not in effect on
the Closing Date.
The Fund agrees to calculate and report to the Underwriter daily, upon
request, the net asset value of the Fund during the first 60 days after the
Closing Date.
5. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE FUND. The Fund agrees with the
Underwriter that:
(i) The Fund will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act, will advise the
Underwriter promptly as to the time at which the Registration Statement
becomes so effective, will advise the Underwriter promptly of the issuance
by the Commission of any stop order suspending such effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of the institution of any proceedings for that
purpose, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
The Fund will advise the Underwriter promptly of any request by the
Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus or for additional information, and will not at any time
file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus which shall not have been submitted to the Underwriter a
reasonable time prior to the proposed filing thereof and to which the
Underwriter shall reasonably object in writing promptly following receipt of
such amendment or supplement or which is not in compliance with the 1933
Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations thereto.
(ii) The Fund will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
the request of the Underwriter, any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement which in the opinion of the Underwriter may be
necessary to enable the Underwriter to continue the distribution of the
Shares and will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective
as promptly as possible.
(iii) If at any time after the effective date under the 1933 Act of the
Registration Statement when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act, any event relating to or affecting the
Fund occurs as a result of which the Prospectus or any other prospectus as
then in effect would include an untrue statement of a material fact, or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light
of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it is
necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act,
the Fund will promptly notify the Underwriter thereof and will prepare an
amended or supplemented prospectus which will correct such statement or
omission; and, in case the Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus
relating to the Shares nine months or more after such effective date of the
Registration Statement, the Fund upon the request of the Underwriter will
prepare promptly such prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to
permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.
(iv) The Fund will deliver to the Underwriter, at or before the Closing
Date, two signed copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments
thereto including all financial statements and exhibits thereto, and the
Notification of Registration on Form N-8A filed by the Fund pursuant to the
1940 Act and will deliver to the Underwriter such number of copies of the
Registration Statement, including such financial statements but without
exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the Underwriter may reasonably
request. The Fund will deliver or mail to or upon the order of the
Underwriter, from time to time until the effective date under the 1933 Act
of the Registration Statement, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The Fund will deliver or mail to
or
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upon the order of the Underwriter on the date of the initial public
offering, and thereafter from time to time during the period when delivery
of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required under the 1933 Act, as
many copies of the Prospectus, in final form or as thereafter amended or
supplemented as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(v) As soon as is practicable after the effective date under the 1933
Act of the Registration Statement, the Fund will make generally available to
its security holders an earnings statement which will be in reasonable
detail (but which need not be audited) and will comply with Section 11(a) of
the 1933 Act, covering a period of at least twelve months beginning after
such effective date of the Registration Statement.
(vi) The Fund will cooperate with the Underwriter to enable the Shares
to be qualified for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
the Underwriter may designate and at the request of the Underwriter will
make such applications and furnish such information as may be required of it
as the issuer of the Shares for that purpose; provided, however, that the
Fund shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Fund will, from
time to time, prepare and file such statements and reports as are or may be
required of it as the issuer of the Shares to continue such qualifications
in effect for so long a period as the Underwriter may reasonably request for
the distribution of the Shares.
(vii) The Fund will furnish to its shareholders annual reports containing
financial statements examined by independent accountants and with
semi-annual summary financial information which may be unaudited. During the
period of one year from the date hereof, the Fund will deliver to the
Underwriter, at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Law Department, (a) copies of each annual
report of the Fund to its shareholders, (b) as soon as they are available,
copies of any other reports (financial or other) which the Fund shall
publish or otherwise make available to any of its security holders as such,
and (c) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial
statements furnished to or filed with the Commission.
6. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) The Fund will pay its organization expenses, which, for purposes of this
Agreement shall include: all costs and expenses in connection with the
establishment of the Fund and its qualification to do business in any state, the
qualification of Shares for sale under the Blue Sky or securities laws of the
several jurisdictions (including, without limitation, filing fees); the
preparation, printing and reproduction of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
of the Fund, this Agreement, the Distribution Agreement, the Investment
Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency and Service
Agreement, the Plan and other documents in quantities sufficient for filing
under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Blue Sky or securities laws of any
jurisdiction; and filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel related to
Blue Sky matters; all costs and expenses in connection with printing any
certificates representing the Shares; fees and disbursements of counsel and
independent accountants for the Fund and of counsel for Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund or the Manager; registration fees under the 1933
Act and the 1940 Act; any taxes on the issue and delivery of the Shares on the
Closing Date to the Underwriter and the fees of the Fund's transfer agent. The
Manager will pay the organization expenses of the Fund incurred prior to the
closing date of the initial offering of the Fund's shares whether or not the
amount of any such expense is then ascertainable. The Fund will reimburse the
Manager for such expenses not to exceed $250,000. Any balance of organization
expenses not paid by the Fund shall be paid by the Manager. In the event the
transactions contemplated hereunder are not consummated, the Manager will pay
all the organization expenses which the Fund would have paid if such
transactions were consummated. Whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereunder are consummated, the Manager will pay all expenses in connection with
the activity and travel of officers, Trustees and counsel for the Fund and the
cost of preparing and making sales presentations to the personnel of the
Manager, including costs of travel of officers and Trustees of the Fund to
locations where such presentations are made.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Underwriter will pay: its
internal expenses in connection with marketing and meetings, including expenses
of its own personnel and costs of travel of its personnel to the locations where
sales presentations to its personnel and to Selected Dealers are made; all costs
and
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expenses in connection with printing and distributing the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and the Blue Sky Surveys in quantities sufficient for
offering and sale of the Shares by the Underwriter; all costs in connection with
the sale of Shares, including costs of preparing, printing and distributing
sales literature relating to the Shares, all advertising and fees and expenses
of public relations counsel; and fees and expenses of legal counsel for the
Underwriter (except in respect of qualification of the Shares for sale under the
Blue Sky or securities laws of any jurisdiction).
7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls the Underwriter against any loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending
any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or expense and reasonable counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring
any Shares, which may be based upon the 1933 Act, or on any other statute or at
common law, on the ground that the Registration Statement or related Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information, as from time to time amended and
supplemented, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders of the Fund,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in connection
therewith by or on behalf of the Underwriter; provided, however, that in no case
(i) is the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the Underwriter and any such
controlling persons to be deemed to protect the Underwriter or any such
controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Fund or its
securityholders to which the Underwriter or any such controlling persons would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) is the Fund to be
liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to
any claim made against the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, unless
the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, as the case may be, shall have
notified the Fund 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 Underwriter or such controlling persons (or after the
Underwriter or such controlling persons shall have received notice of such
service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such
claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph. The Fund 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, but if the Fund elects to
assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and
satisfactory to the Underwriter or such controlling person or persons, defendant
or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of
any such suit and retain such counsel, the Underwriter or such controlling
person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but, in case the Fund does
not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the
Underwriter or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in
the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
The Fund shall promptly notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any
litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or trustees in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b) (i) The Underwriter shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described in the
foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only
with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on
behalf of the Underwriter for use in connection with the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as
from time to time amended, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders.
(ii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any person
to be indemnified by this subsection 7(b) in respect of which indemnity may
be sought against the Underwriter, the Underwriter shall have the rights and
duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so indemnified shall
have the rights and duties given to the Underwriter by the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 7.
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(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b)
above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other
from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Fund on the one hand and
the Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and
the Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Fund bear to the total compensation received by the Underwriter, in each case as
set forth in the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Fund or the Underwriter and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rate
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Underwriter shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 7 shall be construed to provide for
indemnification or contribution in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.
8. SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITIES, WARRANTIES, ETC. The respective indemnities,
convenants, agreements, representations, warranties, certificates and other
statements of the Fund, the Manager and the Underwriter, as set forth in this
Agreement or made by them, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Underwriter, the Fund, the Manager, or any of their officers or trustees or
directors, or any controlling person, and shall survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares.
9. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITER'S OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriter hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy of (except as otherwise
stated herein), as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date (except
with respect to representations and warranties in respect of each Preliminary
Prospectus which are in each case as of its date of issuance), the
representations and warranties of the Manager and the Fund and the compliance on
and as of the Closing Date by the Fund and the Manager with their respective
covenants and agreements herein contained and other provisions hereof to be
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date and to the following additional
conditions:
(i) Prior to the Closing Date the Registration Statement shall have
become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the
Underwriter, threatened by the Commission, and any request for additional
information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been
complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Underwriter.
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(ii) Prior to the Closing Date no event shall have occurred to cause the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, to contain an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of the
Underwriter, is material, or omit to state a fact which, in the opinion of
the Underwriter, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(iii) The Underwriter shall have received from Price Waterhouse a letter,
dated the Closing Date, confirming that they are independent accountants
within the meaning of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and stating in effect that:
(a) In their opinion, the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
reported on by them and included in the Registration Statement complies
as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations;
and
(b) On the basis of the procedures specified in their letter, nothing
has come to their attention which caused them to believe that, except as
set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus, during the period from
the date on which the Fund's Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission under the 1933 Act to a specified date not more than
three business days prior to the delivery of such letter, there was any
change in the authorized or outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund or any creation of long-term debt or short-term notes of the
Fund or any decrease in the net asset value per share of beneficial
interest from that set forth in the Prospectus or that the Fund did not
have a net worth of at least $100,000.
(iv) The Underwriter shall have received from ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP,
Massachusetts counsel for the Fund, an opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Date, to the following effect:
(a) The Fund has been duly established and is validly existing in
conformity with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an
unincorporated business trust, has made all filings required to be made
by a business trust under the Massachusetts General Laws, and has the
power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus;
(b) The Fund has authorized shares of beneficial interest as set
forth in the Registration Statement, and all of the issued shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund, including the Shares, have been duly
paid and non-assessable; and the Shares conform to the description of the
shares of beneficial interest contained in the Prospectus; and
(c) As to all matters of Massachusetts law and the documents
described therein, the information set forth under the caption
"Additional Information" in the Prospectus and under the caption
"Description of Shares" in all material respects and fairly presents the
information required to be shown.
(v) The Underwriter shall have received from the General Counsel of the
Fund, an opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, to the following
effect:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Fund;
(b) The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933
Act; to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that or a
similar purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated by
the Commission;
(c) The notification of registration under the 1940 Act and any
amendments or supplements thereto comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder;
(d) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as
an open-end management investment company;
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(e) Such counsel is familiar with all contracts filed or incorporated
by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement and does not know
of any contracts required to be so filed or incorporated which are not so
filed or incorporated;
(f) The issuance of the Shares and the sale of the Shares in
accordance with this Agreement do not result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement or other agreement or
instrument know to such counsel to which the Fund is a party or by which
the Fund is bound, or the Fund's Declaration of Trust or By-Laws;
(g) The Distribution Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer
Agency and Service Agreement, the Plan and the Investment Management
Agreement referred to in the Registration Statement have been duly
authorized, pursuant to the requirements of the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act and executed and delivered by the Fund
and each constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Fund in
accordance with its terms;
(h) There are pending no legal or governmental proceedings known to
such counsel to which the Fund is a party or to which property of the
Fund may be subject other than as set forth in the Prospectus and, to the
best of the knowledge of such counsel, no such proceedings are
contemplated;
(i) No authorization, consent, approval, permit or license of, or
filing with, any governmental or public body is required to authorize, or
is required in connection with, the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder, except
as has been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act or as may be
required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states; and
(j) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the
effective date of the Registration Statement, appeared on their face to
be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements
of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
such counsel does not believe that the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, on such effective date, contained any untrue statement of
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
(except that such counsel shall express no opinion as to the financial
statements); the description in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
of contracts, other documents, statutes, regulations and governmental
proceeding is accurate in all material respects and fairly presents the
information required to be shown.
As to all matters of Massachusetts law, the General Counsel of the Fund may
rely upon the opinion or opinions delivered pursuant to paragraph (iv) of this
Section 9.
(vi) The Underwriter shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, to the following effect:
(a) The Underwriter has been duly organized and is a validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware; and
(b) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Underwriter and is a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Underwriter;
(vii) The Underwriter shall have received from Counsel of the Manager, an
opinion, dated the Closing Date, to the following effect:
(a) The Adviser has been duly organized and is a validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and
authority to transact business as the Manager of the Fund as contemplated
by the Prospectus;
(b) The Investment Management Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Manager and is a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Manager;
9
(c) The Manager is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is registered as an
investment adviser in such states as may be required for operation of the
Fund;
(d) The Manager has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into the Investment Management Agreement, and the execution and delivery
of the Investment Management Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions therein contemplated and fulfillment of the terms thereof
will not conflict with any applicable legal requirement by which the
Manager is bound, nor will they conflict with the terms or provisions of,
or constitute a default under its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
or any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is
bound; and
(e) The description of the Manager in the Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information is true and correct and does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading.
(viii) The Underwriter shall have received certificates, dated the Closing
Date, of the President or other Executive Officer competent to act on behalf
of the Manager and the chief financial or accounting officer of the Fund to
the effect that:
(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued, and, to the best of the knowledge of the
signers after reasonable investigation, no proceedings for that purpose
have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the 1933 Act;
(b) Neither any Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date, nor the
Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or
supplement thereto, as of the time when the Registration Statement became
effective under the 1933 Act and at all times subsequent thereto up to
the delivery of such certificate, included any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(c) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Fund has not
incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent,
nor entered into any material transaction, not in the ordinary course of
business, and there has not been any material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of
operations of the Fund, or any change in the capitalization of the Fund;
and
(d) to the best of the knowledge of the signers after reasonable
investigation, the representations and warranties of the Fund and the
Manager, as the case may be, in this Agreement are true and correct at
and as of the Closing Date (except with respect to representations and
warranties in respect of each Preliminary Prospectus which are in each
case as of its date of issuance) and the Fund and the Manager, as the
case may be, have each complied with all the agreements and satisfied all
the conditions on their respective parts to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to the Closing Date.
(ix) The Fund and the Manager shall have furnished to the Underwriter
such additional certificates as the Underwriter may have reasonably
requested as to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the
representations and warranties herein, as to the performance of their
obligations hereunder and as to other conditions concurrent and precedent to
the obligations of the Underwriter hereunder.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section shall not
have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, this Agreement may
be terminated by the Underwriter by notifying the Fund of such termination in
writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date, but the Underwriter
shall be entitled to waive any of such conditions.
10
10. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall become effective at 11:00 A.M.,
New York time, on the first full business day following the effective date under
the 1933 Act of the Registration Statement, or at such earlier time after such
effective date of the Registration Statement as the Underwriter in its
discretion shall first release the Shares for offering to the public; provided,
however, that the provisions of Section 6 and 7 shall at all time be effective.
For the purpose of this Section 10, the Shares shall be deemed to have been
released to the public upon release by the underwriter of the publication of a
newspaper advertisement relating to the Shares or upon release of telegrams or
letters offering the Shares for sale to securities dealers, whichever shall
first occur.
11. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time
before it becomes effective in accordance with Section 10 by notice from the
Fund to the Underwriter and may be terminated by the Underwriter at any time
before it becomes effective in accordance with Section 10 by notice from the
Underwriter to the Fund. In the event of any termination of this Agreement under
this or any other provision of this Agreement, there shall be no liability of
any party to this Agreement to any other party, other than as provided in
Sections 6 and 7.
This Agreement may be terminated after it becomes effective by the
Underwriter by notice to the Fund (i) if at or prior to the Closing Date trading
in securities on the New York or American Stock Exchanges shall have been
suspended or minimum or maximum price shall have been established on either
exchange, or a banking moratorium shall have been declared by State of New York
or United States authorities; (ii) if at or prior to the Closing Date there
shall have been an outbreak of hostilities between the United States and any
foreign power, or of any other insurrection or armed conflict involving the
United States which, in the judgment of the Underwriter, makes it impracticable
or inadvisable to offer or sell the Shares; (iii) if there shall have been any
material adverse development or prospective development involving particularly
the business of the Fund or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
which in the judgment of the Underwriter, makes it impracticable or inadvisable
to offer or deliver the Shares on the terms contemplated by the Prospectus; (iv)
if there shall be any litigation, pending or threatened, which in the judgment
of the Underwriter makes it impracticable or inadvisable to offer or deliver the
Shares on the terms contemplated by the Prospectus; or (v) if at or prior to the
Closing Date there has been a material adverse change in the levels of equity
securities prices as reflected by the recognized indices of such prices, as
compared with such levels available as of the date of this Agreement. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any party except as
provided in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
12. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if sent
to the Underwriter shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
you, at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or, if sent to the Fund, shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed
and confirmed to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "Competitive Edge" Fund, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: General Counsel, or, if sent to the Manager
shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
InterCapital Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention:
General Counsel.
13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Underwriter, the Fund, the Manager and the Adviser and their
respective successors and legal representatives. Nothing expressed or mentioned
in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person other
than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions
herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being
intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and
for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties
and indemnities of the Fund, the Manager and the Adviser contained in this
Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, who
control the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, their
respective successors and legal representatives, and the indemnities of the
Underwriter shall also be for the benefit of each Trustee of the Fund, each of
the officers of the Fund who has signed the Registration Statement and the
Manager and the Adviser and the person or persons, if any, who control the Fund
and the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act.
11
14. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
15. PERSONAL LIABILITY. The Declaration of Trust establishing ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
"Competitive Edge" Fund, dated October 16, 1997, a copy of which, together with
all other amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
"Competitive Edge" Fund refers to the Trustees under the Declaration
collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally, and no Trustees,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "Competitive Edge" Fund
shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise,
in connection with the affairs of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "Competitive Edge" Fund, but the
Trust Estate only shall be liable.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate
your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose in a
counterpart of this letter, whereupon this letter and your acceptance in such
counterpart shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ "COMPETITIVE EDGE" FUND
By: ..................................
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERCAPITAL INC.,
as Manager
By: ..................................
Accepted and delivered in New York, New York
as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By: ..................................
12
