1
CLASS B SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 21st day of October 1994, between Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc. a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), and
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), as an open-end investment
company, and it is affirmatively in the interest of the Fund to offer its
shares for sale continuously; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a securities firm engaged in the business
of selling shares of investment companies either directly to purchasers or
through other securities dealers; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement
with each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Fund's Class B
shares in order to promote the growth of the Fund and facilitate the
distribution of its Class B shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the Distributor. The Fund hereby appoints
the Distributor as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund to
sell Class B shares of common stock in the Fund (sometimes herein referred to
as "Class B shares") to
2
the public and hereby agrees during the term of this Agreement to sell shares
of the Fund to the Distributor upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
Section 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive representative of the Fund to act as principal underwriter and
distributor of the Class B shares, except that:
(a) The Fund may, upon written notice to the Distributor, from time to
time designate other principal underwriters and distributors of Class B shares
with respect to areas other than the United States as to which the Distributor
may have expressly waived in writing its right to act as such. If such
designation is deemed exclusive, the right of the Distributor under this
Agreement to sell Class B shares in the areas so designated shall terminate,
but this Agreement shall remain otherwise in full effect until terminated in
accordance with the other provisions hereof.
(b) The exclusive right granted to the Distributor to purchase Class B
shares from the Fund shall not apply to Class B shares of the Fund issued in
connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment company or
personal holding company with the Fund or the acquisition by purchase or
otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or the outstanding Class B
shares of any such company by the Fund.
3
(c) Such exclusive right also shall not apply to Class B shares issued
by the Fund pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions.
(d) Such exclusive right also shall not apply to Class B shares issued
by the Fund pursuant to any conversion, exchange or reinstatement privilege
afforded redeeming shareholders or to any other Class B shares as shall be
agreed between the Fund and the Distributor from time to time.
Section 3. Purchase of Class B Shares from the Fund.
(a) The Distributor shall have the right to buy from the Fund the
Class B shares needed, but not more than the Class B shares needed (except for
clerical errors in transmission) to fill unconditional orders for Class B
shares of the Fund placed with the Distributor by eligible investors or
securities dealers. Investors eligible to purchase Class B shares shall be
those persons so identified in the currently effective prospectus and statement
of additional information of the Fund (the "prospectus" and "statement of
additional information", respectively) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to such Class B shares. The price
which the Distributor shall pay for the Class B shares so purchased from the
Fund shall be the net asset value, determined as set forth in Section 3(c)
hereof.
(b) The Class B shares are to be resold by the Distributor to
investors at net asset value, as set forth in Section 3(c)
4
hereof, or to securities dealers having agreements with the Distributor upon
the terms and conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(c) The net asset value of Class B shares of the Fund shall be
determined by the Fund or any agent of the Fund in accordance with the method
set forth in the prospectus and statement of additional information and
guidelines established by the Board of Directors.
(d) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of its Class B
shares at times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set
forth in Section 4(b) hereof. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend
the sale of its Class B shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall
have been suspended, if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
Federal or New York authorities, or if there shall have been some other event,
which, in the judgment of the Fund, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to
sell the Class B shares.
(e) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the
Fund, shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Class B shares
received by the Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Fund; provided,
however, that the Fund will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse
to accept or confirm orders for the purchase of Class B shares. The Fund (or
its agent) will confirm orders upon their receipt, will make appropriate book
entries and, upon receipt by the Fund (or its
5
agent) of payment therefor, will deliver deposit receipts or certificates for
such Class B shares pursuant to the instructions of the Distributor. Payment
shall be made to the Fund in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor
agrees to cause such payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to
the Fund (or its agent).
Section 4. Repurchase or Redemption of Class B Shares by the Fund.
(a) Any of the outstanding Class B shares may be tendered for
redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to repurchase or redeem the Class B
shares so tendered in accordance with its obligations as set forth in Article
VI of its Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, and in
accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in the prospectus and
statement of additional information of the Fund. The price to be paid to
redeem or repurchase the Class B shares shall be equal to the net asset value
calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(c) hereof, less any
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), redemption fee or other charge(s),
if any, set forth in the prospectus and statement of additional information of
the Fund. All payments by the Fund hereunder shall be made in the manner set
forth below.
The Fund shall pay the total amount of the redemption price as defined
in the above paragraph pursuant to the instructions of
6
the Distributor on or before the seventh business day subsequent to its having
received the notice of redemption in proper form. The proceeds of any
redemption of shares shall be paid by the Fund as follows: (i) any applicable
CDSC shall be paid to the Distributor, and (ii) the balance shall be paid to
or for the account of the shareholder, in each case in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the prospectus and statement of additional information.
(b) Redemption of Class B shares or payment may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
suspended, when trading on said Exchange is restricted, when an emergency
exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is
not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund
fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or during any other period
when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits.
Section 5. Duties of the Fund.
(a) The Fund shall furnish to the Distributor copies of all
information, financial statements and other papers which the Distributor may
reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Class B
shares of the Fund, and this shall include, upon request by the Distributor,
one certified copy of all financial statements prepared for the Fund by
independent public accountants. The Fund shall make available to the
Distributor
7
such number of copies of its prospectus and statement of additional
information as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to any
necessary approval of the shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number
of authorized shares and such steps as may be necessary to register the same
under the Securities Act to the end that there will be available for sale such
number of Class B shares as the Distributor reasonably may be expected to sell.
(c) The Fund shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of its Class B shares for sale under the
securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve.
Any such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund at
any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the expense of
qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the Fund. The
Distributor shall furnish such information and other material relating to its
affairs and activities as may be required by the Fund in connection with such
qualification.
(d) The Fund will furnish, in reasonable quantities upon request by
the Distributor, copies of annual and interim reports of the Fund.
Section 6. Duties of the Distributor.
(a) The Distributor shall devote reasonable time and effort to effect
sales of Class B shares of the Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any
specific number of shares. The services of
8
the Distributor to the Fund hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and
nothing herein contained shall prevent the Distributor from entering into like
arrangements with other investment companies so long as the performance of its
obligations hereunder is not impaired thereby.
(b) In selling the Class B shares of the Fund, the Distributor shall
use its best efforts in all respects duly to conform with the requirements of
all Federal and state laws relating to the sale of such securities. Neither
the Distributor nor any selected dealer, as defined in Section 7 hereof, nor
any other person is authorized by the Fund to give any information or to make
any representations, other than those contained in the registration statement
or related prospectus and statement of additional information and any sales
literature specifically approved by the Fund.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by
the officers of the Fund, for the confirmation of sales to investors and
selected dealers, the collection of amounts payable by investors and selected
dealers on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may
be necessary to comply with the requirements of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), as such requirements may from time to
time exist.
9
Section 7. Selected Dealer Agreements.
(a) The Distributor shall have the right to enter into selected dealer
agreements with securities dealers of its choice ("selected dealers") for the
sale of Class B shares; provided, that the Fund shall approve the forms of
agreements with dealers. Class B shares sold to selected dealers shall be for
resale by such dealers only at net asset value determined as set forth in
Section 3(c) hereof. The form of agreement with selected dealers to be used
during the continuous offering of the shares is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell
Class B shares only to such selected dealers that are members in good standing
of the NASD.
Section 8. Payment of Expenses.
(a) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including
fees and disbursements of its counsel and auditors, in connection with the
preparation and filing of any required registration statements and/or
prospectuses and statements of additional information under the Investment
Company Act, the Securities Act, and all amendments and supplements thereto,
and preparing and mailing annual and interim reports and proxy materials to
Class B shareholders (including but not limited to the expense of setting in
type any such registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, annual or interim reports or proxy materials).
10
(b) The Distributor shall be responsible for any payments made to
selected dealers as reimbursement for their expenses associated with payments
of sales commissions to financial consultants. In addition, after the
prospectuses, statements of additional information and annual and interim
reports have been prepared and set in type, the Distributor shall bear the
costs and expenses of printing and distributing any copies thereof which are to
be used in connection with the offering of Class B shares to selected dealers
or investors pursuant to this Agreement. The Distributor shall bear the costs
and expenses of preparing, printing and distributing any other literature used
by the Distributor or furnished by it for use by selected dealers in connection
with the offering of the Class B shares for sale to the public and any expenses
of advertising incurred by the Distributor in connection with such offering.
It is understood and agreed that so long as the Fund's Class B Shares
Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
remains in effect, any expenses incurred by the Distributor hereunder may be
paid from amounts recovered by it from the Fund under such Plan.
(c) The Fund shall bear the cost and expenses of qualification of the
Class B shares for sale pursuant to this Agreement and, if necessary or
advisable in connection therewith, of qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer
in such states of the United States or other jurisdictions as shall be selected
by the Fund
11
and the Distributor pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and the cost
and expenses payable to each such state for continuing qualification therein
until the Fund decides to discontinue such qualification pursuant to Section
5(c) hereof.
Section 9. Indemnification.
(a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and
each person, if any, who controls the Distributor 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), as incurred, arising by reason
of any person acquiring any Class B shares, which may be based upon the
Securities 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 an annual or
interim report to Class B 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 Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is
the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the Distributor and any such controlling
persons to be deemed to protect such Distributor
12
or any such controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Fund or
its security holders to which the Distributor or any such controlling persons
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of the
reckless disregard of their 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 Distributor or any such
controlling persons, unless the Distributor or 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
Distributor or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor 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 Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or
13
defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume the
defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit shall bear
the fees and expenses, as incurred, 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 Distributor or such controlling person or persons, defendant
or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses, as incurred,
of any counsel retained by them. The Fund shall promptly notify the
Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or
any of its officers or Directors in connection with the issuance or sale of any
of the Class B shares.
(b) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as incurred,
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 Distributor 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.
In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any person so
indemnified,
14
in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Distributor, the
Distributor 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
Distributor by the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 9.
Section 10. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Mutual Fund Adviser Program.
In connection with the Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Mutual Fund Adviser Program, the
Distributor and its affiliate, Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated, are authorized to offer and sell shares of the Fund, as agent for
the Fund, to paraticipants in such program. The terms of this Agreement shall
apply to such sales, including terms as to the offering price of shares, the
proceeds to be paid to the Fund, the duties of the Distributor, the payment of
expenses and indemnification obligations of the Fund and the Distributor.
Section 11. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written and shall
remain in force until October 21, 1995 and thereafter, but only for so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the
Directors or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
15
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, by the Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on sixty days' written
notice to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the
event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities",
"assignment", "affiliated person" and "interested person", when used in this
Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment
Company Act.
Section 12. Amendments of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
amended by the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i)
the Directors or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities of
the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Directors of the Fund who
are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Section 13. Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
as at the time in effect and the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act. To the extent that the applicable law of the State of New York,
or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the
Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
16
Section 14. This Agreement supersedes the prior Distribution
Agreement entered into by the parties hereto with respect to the Class B shares
of the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDAMENTAL GROWTH FUND, INC.
By /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Title: President
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Title: President
17
EXHIBIT A
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDAMENTAL GROWTH FUND, INC.
Class B SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT
Gentlemen:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Funds Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor") has an
agreement with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund"), pursuant to which it acts as the distributor for the
sale of Class B shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (herein
referred to as the "Class B shares"), of the Fund and as such has the right to
distribute Class B shares of the Fund for resale. The Fund is an open-end
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and its Class B shares being offered to the public are registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. You have received a copy of the
Class B Shares Distribution Agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") between
ourself and the Fund and reference is made herein to certain provisions of such
Distribution Agreement. The terms "Prospectus" and "Statement of Additional
Information" as used herein refer to the prospectus and statement of additional
information, respectively, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
which is part of the most recent effective registration statement pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We offer to sell to you, as a member
of the Selected Dealers Group, Class B shares of the Fund upon the following
terms and conditions:
1. In all sales of these Class B shares to the public, you shall act
as dealer for your own account and in no transaction shall you have any
authority to act as agent for the Fund, for us or for any other member of the
Selected Dealers Group, except in connection with the Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Mutual Fund
Adviser program and such other special programs as we from time to time agree,
in which case you shall have authority to offer and sell shares, as agent for
the Fund, to participants in such program.
2. Orders received from you will be accepted through us only at the
public offering price applicable to each order, as set forth in the current
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund. The procedure
relating to the handling of orders shall be subject to Section 4 hereof and
instructions which we or the Fund shall forward from time to time to you. All
orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Distributor or the Fund in
the sole discretion of either. The minimum ini-
18
tial and subsequent purchase requirements are as set forth in the current
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund.
3. You shall not place orders for any of the Class B shares unless you
have already received purchase orders for such Class B shares at the applicable
public offering prices and subject to the terms hereof and of the Distribution
Agreement. You agree that you will not offer or sell any of the Class B shares
except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable
Federal and state securities laws and that in connection with sales and offers
to sell Class B shares you will furnish to each person to whom any such sale or
offer is made a copy of the Prospectus and, if requested, the Statement of
Additional Information (as then amended or supplemented) and will not furnish
to any person any information relating to the Class B shares of the Fund which
is inconsistent in any respect with the information contained in the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information (as then amended or supplemented) or
cause any advertisement to be published in any newspaper or posted in any
public place without our consent and the consent of the Fund.
4. As a selected dealer, you are hereby authorized (i) to place orders
directly with the Fund for Class B shares of the Fund to be resold by us to you
subject to the applicable terms and conditions governing the placement of
orders by us set forth in Section 3 of the Distribution Agreement and (ii) to
tender Class B shares directly to the Fund or its agent for redemption subject
to the applicable terms and conditions set forth in Section 4 of the
Distribution Agreement.
5. You shall not withhold placing orders received from your customers
so as to profit yourself as a result of such withholding: e.g., by a change
in the "net asset value" from that used in determining the offering price to
your customers.
6. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning
Class B shares of the Fund except those contained in the current Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information of the Fund and in such printed information
subsequently issued by us or the Fund as information supplemental to such
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. In purchasing Class B
shares through us you shall rely solely on the representations contained in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and supplemental information
above mentioned. Any printed information which we furnish you other than the
Fund's Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, periodic reports and
proxy solicitation material is our sole responsibility and not the
responsibility of the Fund, and you agree that the Fund shall
19
have no liability or responsibility to you in these respects unless expressly
assumed in connection therewith.
7. You agree to deliver to each of the purchasers making purchases from
you a copy of the then current Prospectus and, if requested, the Statement of
Additional Information at or prior to the time of offering or sale and you
agree thereafter to deliver to such purchasers copies of the annual and interim
reports and proxy solicitation materials of the Fund. You further agree to
endeavor to obtain proxies from such purchasers. Additional copies of the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, annual or interim reports
and proxy solicitation materials of the Fund will be supplied to you in
reasonable quantities upon request.
8. We reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend
sales or withdraw the offering of Class B shares entirely or to certain
persons or entities in a class or classes specified by us. Each party hereto
has the right to cancel this Agreement upon notice to the other party.
9. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem
advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to the continuous offering. We
shall be under no liability to you except for lack of good faith and for
obligations expressly assumed by us herein. Nothing contained in this
paragraph is intended to operate as, and the provisions of this paragraph shall
not in any way whatsoever constitute, a waiver by you of compliance with any
provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or of the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder.
10. You represent that you are a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and, with respect to any sales in the United States,
we both hereby agree to abide by the Rules of Fair Practice of such Association.
11. Upon application to us, we will inform you as to the states in which
we believe the Class B shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt
from the requirements of, the respective securities laws of such states, but we
assume no responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Class B shares
in any jurisdiction. We will file with the Department of State in New York a
Further State Notice with respect to the Class B shares, if necessary.
12. All communications to us should be sent to the address below. Any
notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the
address specified by you below.
20
13. Your first order placed pursuant to this Agreement for the purchase of
Class B shares of the Fund will represent your acceptance of this Agreement.
14. This Agreement supersedes any prior Selected Dealers Agreement
entered into by the parties hereto with respect to the Class B shares of the
Fund.
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
Please return one signed copy
of this Agreement to:
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000-0000
Accepted:
Firm Name:
------------------------------------------------------
By: [SIG]
-------------------------------------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------------------------------
