AZZAD FUNDS(TM)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of November 1, 2001,
by and among AZZAD FUNDS(TM) (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust,
AZZAD ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. (the "Adviser"), and CFS DISTRIBUTORS, INC. (the
"Distributor"), a Delaware corporation.
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")
and has registered its shares of common stock (the "Shares") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in one or more distinct
series of Shares (the "Portfolio" or "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Adviser has been appointed investment adviser to the Trust;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a broker-dealer registered with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and a member in good standing of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, each Portfolio has adopted a plan of distribution (the
"Distribution Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act relating to the
payment by the Trust of distribution expenses with respect to the Portfolio;
WHEREAS, the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor desire to enter into
this Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor will provide distribution and
administrative support services to the Portfolios of the Trust identified on
Schedule A, as it may be amended from time to time, on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved with respect to each Portfolio by
the Trust's Board of Trustees, including the disinterested Trustees, in
conformity with Section 15 of the 1940 Act and Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as
its principal distributor for the distribution of the Shares, and the
Distributor hereby accepts such appointment under the terms of this Agreement.
The Trust shall not sell any Shares to any person except to fill orders for the
Shares received through the Distributor; provided, however, that the foregoing
appointment shall not apply: (i) to Shares issued or sold in connection with the
merger or consolidation of any other investment company with the Trust or the
acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all or substantially all of the assets
of any investment company or substantially all of the outstanding shares of any
such company by the Trust; (ii) to Shares which may be offered by the Trust to
its shareholders for reinvestment of cash distributed from capital gains or net
investment income of the Trust; or (iii) to Shares which may be issued to
shareholders of other Trusts who exercise any exchange privilege set forth in
the Trust's Prospectus; or (iv) directly through the Trust's transfer agent in
the manner set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof, the Trust may terminate, suspend, or withdraw the offering of
the Shares whenever, in its sole discretion, it deems such action to be
desirable, and the Distributor shall process no further orders for Shares after
it receives notice of such termination, suspension or withdrawal.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Registration Statement" shall mean
the registration statement most recently filed by the Trust with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and effective under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act, as such Registration Statement is amended by any amendments
thereto at the time in effect, and the terms "Prospectus" and "Statement of
Additional Information" shall mean, respectively, the form of prospectus and
statement of additional information with respect to the Portfolios filed by the
Trust as part of the Registration Statement, or as they may be amended from time
to time.
2. TRUST DOCUMENTS. The Trust has provided the Distributor with properly
certified or authenticated copies of the following Trust related documents in
effect on the date hereof: the Trust's organizational documents, including
Master Trust Agreement and By-Laws; the Trust's Registration Statement,
including all exhibits thereto; the Trust's most current Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information; and resolutions of the Trust's Board of
Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Distributor and approving this
Agreement. The Trust shall promptly provide to the Distributor copies, properly
certified or authenticated, of all amendments or supplements to the foregoing.
The Trust shall provide to the Distributor copies of all other information which
the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of Shares, including, but not limited to, a certified copy of all
financial statements prepared for the Trust by its independent public
accountants. The Trust shall also supply the Distributor with such number of
copies of the current Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and
shareholder reports as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
3. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. The Distributor shall sell and repurchase Shares
as set forth below, subject to the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder, and the laws governing the sale of
securities in the various states ("Blue Sky Laws"):
a. The Distributor, subject to applicable federal and state laws and the
Master Trust Agreement and By-Laws, agrees to sell the Shares from time to time
during the term of this Agreement upon the terms described in the Registration
Statement.
b. The public offering price of the Shares of each Portfolio (and, with
respect to each Portfolio offering multiple classes of Shares, the Shares of
each class of such Portfolio) shall be the respective net asset value of the
Shares of the Portfolio as next determined by the Trust following receipt of an
order at the Distributor's principal office plus the applicable initial sales
charge, if any.
c. The net asset value of the Shares shall be determined in the manner
provided in the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
The net asset value of the Shares shall be calculated by the Trust or by another
entity on behalf of the Trust. The Distributor shall have no duty to inquire
into or liability for the accuracy of the net asset value per Share as
calculated.
d. Upon receipt of purchase instructions, the Distributor shall transmit
such instructions to the Trust or its transfer agent for registration of the
Shares purchased.
The Distributor is authorized to collect the gross proceeds derived from
the sale of Shares, remit the net asset value thereof to the Trust upon receipt
of the proceeds, and retain any initial sales charge less any reallowance paid
to dealers (the "Net Sales Charges"). The Distributor, in light of Trust
policies, procedures and disclosure documents, shall also have the right to take
all actions which, in the Distributor's judgment, are necessary to effect the
distribution of Shares. The Distributor in its discretion may enter into
agreements to sell Shares to such registered and qualified retail dealers as it
may select at the public offering price less the reallowance established in the
Prospectus. In making agreement with such dealers, the Distributor shall act
only as principal and not as agent for the Trust.
e. The Distributor, for the account of the Trust, may repurchase the Shares
at such prices and upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified in the
Registration Statement (the "Repurchase Price"). Such price shall reflect the
subtraction of the contingent deferred sales charge, if any, computed in
accordance with and in the manner set forth in the Registration Statement. At
the end of each business day, the Distributor shall notify the Trust and the
Trust's transfer agent of the number of shares redeemed, and the identity of the
shareholders or dealers offering Shares for repurchase. Upon such notice, the
Trust shall
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pay the Distributor the Repurchase Price in cash or in the form of a credit
against monies due the Trust from the Distributor as proceeds from the sale of
Shares. The Distributor will receive no commission or other renumeration for
repurchasing Shares. Any contingent deferred sales charge shall be paid to the
Adviser as repayment for financing the payment of the sales commission for such
shares. The Trust reserves the right to suspend such repurchase right upon
written notice to the Distributor. The Distributor further agrees to receive and
transmit promptly to the Trust's transfer agent, shareholder and dealer requests
for redemption of Shares.
f. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Distributor or any
"affiliated person" from buying, selling or trading any securities for its or
their own account or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be
acting; provided, however, that the Distributor expressly agrees that it shall
not for its own account purchase any Shares of the Trust except for investment
purposes and that it shall not for its own account sell any such Shares except
for redemption of such Shares by the Trust, and that it shall not undertake
activities which, in its judgment, would adversely affect the performance of its
obligations to the Trust under this Agreement.
4. DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT SERVICES. In addition to the sale and repurchase of
Shares, the Distributor shall perform the administrative support services set
forth on Schedule B attached hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
Such administrative support services shall include: review of sales and
marketing literature and submission to the NASD; NASD record keeping; and
quarterly reports to the Trust's Board of Trustees. None of the administrative
support services shall be construed to be primarily intended to result in the
sale of shares.
5. BEST EFFORTS. The Distributor shall use best efforts in connection with
the distribution of Shares. The Distributor shall have no obligation to sell any
specific number of Shares and shall only sell Shares against orders received
therefor. The Trust shall retain the right to refuse at any time to sell any of
its Shares for any reason deemed adequate by it.
6. COMPLIANCE. In furtherance of the distribution services being provided
hereunder, the Distributor and the Trust agree as follows:
a. The Distributor shall comply with the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD
and the securities laws of any jurisdiction in which it sells, directly or
indirectly, Shares.
b. The Distributor shall require each dealer with whom the Distributor has
a selling agreement to conform to the applicable provisions hereof and the
Registration Statement, and neither Distributor nor any such dealer shall
withhold the placing of purchase orders so as to make a profit thereby.
c. The Trust agrees to furnish to the Distributor sufficient copies of any
agreements, plans, communications with the public or other materials it intends
to use in connection with any sales of Shares in a timely manner in order to
allow the Distributor to review, approve and file such materials with the
appropriate regulatory authorities and obtain clearance for use. The Trust
agrees not to use any such materials until so filed and cleared for use by
appropriate authorities and the Distributor.
d. The Distributor, at its own expense, shall qualify as a broker or
dealer, or otherwise, under all applicable Federal or state laws required to
permit the sale of Shares in such states as shall be mutually agreed upon by the
parties; provided, however that the Distributor shall have no obligation to
register as a broker or dealer under the Blue Sky Laws of any jurisdiction if it
determines that registering or maintaining registration in such jurisdiction
would be uneconomical.
e. The Distributor shall not, in connection with any sale or solicitation
of a sale of the Shares, make, or authorize any representative, service
organization, broker or dealer to make, any representations concerning the
Shares except those contained in the Trust's most current Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information covering the Shares and in communications
with the public or sales materials
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approved by the Distributor and the Trust as information supplemental to such
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
f. The Trust agrees to take, from time to time, such actions and steps as
may be necessary to maintain the registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act,
maintain qualification of the Shares for sale in such states and other
jurisdictions as the Trust and the Distributor may agree from time to time, and
maintain the registration of the Trust as an investment company under the 1940
Act.
7. EXPENSES. Expenses shall be allocated as follows:
a. The Trust shall bear the following expenses: preparation, setting in
type, and printing of sufficient copies of the Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information for distribution to existing shareholders; preparation
and printing of reports and other communications to existing shareholders;
distribution of copies of the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information
and all other communications to existing shareholders; registration of the
Shares under the Federal securities laws; qualification of the Shares for sale
in the jurisdictions mutually agreed upon by the Trust and the Distributor;
transfer agent/shareholder servicing agent services; supplying information,
prices and other data to be furnished by the Trust under this Agreement; any
original issue taxes or transfer taxes applicable to the sale or delivery of the
Shares or certificates therefor; and items covered by the Distribution Plan.
b. To the extent not covered by the Distribution Plan, the Adviser shall
pay all other expenses incident to the sale and distribution of the Shares sold
hereunder, including, without limitation: printing and distributing copies of
the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and reports prepared for use
in connection with the offering of Shares for sale to the public; advertising in
connection with such offering, including public relations services, sales
presentations, media charges, preparation, printing and mailing of advertising
and sales literature; data processing necessary to support a distribution
effort; distribution and shareholder servicing activities of broker-dealers and
other financial institutions; filing fees required by regulatory authorities for
sales literature and advertising materials; any additional out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing and any other costs of
distribution. The Distributor hereby agrees to reimburse the Adviser for the
above expenses incident to the sale and distribution of the Shares sold
hereunder up to a maximum of 80% of the Net Sales Charges paid to the
Distributor during the applicable period.
8. COMPENSATION. The Distributor shall be compensated as follows:
a. For the administrative support services provided by the Distributor
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, subject to any applicable restrictions
imposed by rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the
Trust shall pay to the Distributor the compensation set forth in Schedule A
attached hereto, which schedule may be amended from time to time. If this
Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of the month or
terminates before the last day of the month, the Trust shall pay to the
Distributor an administrative support fee that is prorated for that part of the
month in which this Agreement is in effect. No payment for administrative
support services shall be construed to be primarily intended to result in the
sale of Shares.
9. USE OF DISTRIBUTOR'S NAME. The Trust shall not use the name of the
Distributor or any of its affiliates in the Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information, sales literature or other material relating to the Trust in a
manner not approved prior thereto in writing by the Distributor; provided,
however, that the Distributor shall approve all uses of its and its affiliates'
names that merely refer in accurate terms to their appointments or that are
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or any state
securities commission; and further provided, that in no event shall such
approval be unreasonably withheld.
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10. USE OF TRUST'S NAME. Neither the Distributor nor any of its affiliates
shall use the name of the Trust or material relating to the Trust on any forms
(including any checks, bank drafts or bank statements) for other than internal
use in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing by the Trust; provided,
however, that the Trust shall approve all uses of its name that merely refer in
accurate terms to the appointment of the Distributor hereunder or that are
required by the SEC or any state securities commission; and further provided,
that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
11. LIABILITY OF DISTRIBUTOR. The duties of the Distributor shall be
limited to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed
by or may be asserted against the Distributor hereunder. The Distributor may, in
connection with this Agreement employ agents or attorneys in fact, and shall not
be liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with its actions under
this Agreement, so long as it acts in good faith and with due diligence, and is
not negligent or guilty of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. As used in this Section 11 and in Section 12 (except the second
paragraph of Section 12), the term "Distributor") shall include directors,
officers, employees and other agents of the Distributor.
12. INDEMNIFICATION. The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Distributor against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims and
expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements and investigation expenses incident thereto) which the Distributor
may incur or be required to pay hereafter, in connection with any action, suit
or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or
administrative or legislative body, in which the Distributor may be involved as
a party or otherwise or with which the Distributor may be threatened, by reason
of the offer or sale of the Trust shares prior to the effective date of this
Agreement.
Any director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent of the Distributor
who may be or become an officer, Trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall
be deemed, when rendering services to the Trust or acting on any business of the
Trust (other than services or business in connection with the Distributor's
duties hereunder), to be rendering such services to or acting solely for the
Trust and not as a director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent, or one
under the control or direction of the Distributor, even though receiving a
salary from the Distributor.
The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, and each
person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act, or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934
Act"), against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims and expenses,
joint or several (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements and investigation expenses incident thereto) to which they, or any
of them, may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or
other federal or state laws or regulations, at common law or otherwise, insofar
as such liabilities, losses, damages, claims and expenses (or actions, suits or
proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or relate to any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Prospectus,
Statement of Additional Information, supplement thereto, sales literature or
other written information prepared by the Trust and provided by the Trust to the
Distributor for the Distributor's use hereunder, or arise out of or relate to
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The
Distributor (or any person controlling the Distributor) shall not be entitled to
indemnity hereunder for any liabilities, losses, damages, claims or expenses (or
actions, suits or proceedings in respect thereof) resulting from (i) an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, or supplement, sales or other
literature, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Trust by the Distributor specifically for use therein or (ii) the
Distributor's own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its duties and obligations in the performance of this Agreement.
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The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, and each
person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act,
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all liabilities, losses, damages,
claims and expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements and investigation expenses incident thereto)
to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, the 1940 Act or other federal or state laws, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such liabilities, losses, damages, claims or expenses ( i) arise out
of or relate to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information or any
supplement thereto, and to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, if based upon information furnished in writing to the
Trust by the Distributor specifically for use therein, or (ii) arise out of or
relate to actions or oral representations of Distributor's associated persons.
A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the "Indemnitee") shall give
prompt written notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought
("Indemnitor") of a written assertion or claim of any threatened or pending
legal proceeding which may be subject to indemnity under this Section; provided,
however, that failure to notify the Indemnitor of such written assertion or
claim shall not relieve the Indemnitor of any liability arising from this
Section. The Indemnitor shall be entitled, if it so elects, to assume the
defense of any suit brought to enforce a claim subject to this Indemnity and
such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Indemnitor and
satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided, however, that if the defendants
include both the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor, and the Indemnitee shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to
it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnitor
("conflict of interest"), the Indemnitor shall not have the right to elect to
defend such claim on behalf of the Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the
right to select separate counsel to defend such claim on behalf of the
Indemnitee. In the event that the Indemnitor elects to assume the defense of any
suit pursuant to the preceding sentence and retains counsel satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, the Indemnitee shall bear the fees and expense of additional counsel
retained by it, except for reasonable investigation costs which shall be borne
by the Indemnitor. If the Indemnitor (i) does not elect to assume the defense of
a claim, (ii) elects to assume the defense of a claim but chooses counsel that
is not satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (iii) has no right to assume the
defense of a claim because of a conflict of interest, the Indemnitor shall
advance or reimburse the Indemnitee, at the election of the Indemnitee,
reasonable fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by Indemnitee,
including reasonable investigation costs.
13. ADVISER PERSONNEL. The Adviser agrees that only its employees who are
registered representatives for the Distributor ("dual employees") or registered
representatives of another NASD member firm shall offer or sell Shares of the
Portfolios. The Adviser further agrees that the activities of any such employees
as registered representatives of the Distributor shall be limited to offering
and selling Shares. If there are dual employees, one employee of the Adviser
shall register as a principal of the Distributor and assist the Distributor in
monitoring the marketing and sales activities of the dual employees. The Adviser
shall maintain errors and omissions and fidelity bond insurance policies
providing reasonable coverage for its employees' activities and shall provide
copies of such policies to the Distributor. The Adviser shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Distributor against any and all liabilities, losses, damages,
claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and
investigation costs incident thereto) arising from or related to the Adviser's
employees' activities as registered representatives, including, without
limitation, any and all such liabilities, losses, damages, claims and expenses
arising from or related to the breach by such employees of any rules or
regulations of the NASD or SEC.
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14. FORCE MAJEURE. The Distributor shall not be liable for any delays or
errors occurring by reason of circumstances not reasonably foreseeable and
beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of civil or military
authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts
of God, insurrection, war, riot or failure of communication or power supply. In
the event of equipment breakdowns, which are beyond the reasonable control of
the Distributor and not primarily attributable to the failure of the Distributor
to reasonably maintain or provide for the maintenance of such equipment, the
Distributor shall, at no additional expense to the Trust, take reasonable steps
in good faith to minimize service interruptions, but shall have no liability
with respect thereto.
15. SCOPE OF DUTIES. The Distributor and the Trust shall regularly consult
with each other regarding the Distributor's performance of its obligations and
its compensation under the foregoing provisions. In connection therewith, the
Trust shall submit to the Distributor, at a reasonable time in advance of filing
with the SEC, copies of any amended or supplemented Registration Statement of
the Trust (including exhibits) under the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, and at a
reasonable time in advance of their proposed use, copies of any amended or
supplemented forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by the
Trust. Any change in such materials that would require any change in the
Distributor's obligations under the foregoing provisions shall be subject to the
Distributor's approval. In the event that a change in such documents or in the
procedures contained therein increases the cost or burden of the Distributor of
performing its obligations hereunder, the Distributor shall be entitled to
receive reasonable compensation therefor.
16. DURATION. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first
above written, and shall continue in force for a period of two years from the
date of its execution, and thereafter from year to year, provided continuance is
approved at least annually by (i) either the vote of a majority of the Trustees
of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who
are not interested persons of the Trust, and 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 the approval.
17. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
a. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
b. This Agreement shall terminate upon the failure to approve the
continuance of the Agreement after the initial two-year term as set forth in
Section 16 above.
c. This Agreement shall terminate, with respect to any Portfolio, at any
time and without the payment of a penalty, upon a vote of the majority of the
Trustees, by a vote of a majority of Trustees who are not interested persons of
the Trust or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Portfolio, upon 30 days prior written notice to the Distributor.
d. The Distributor may terminate this Agreement with respect to any
Portfolio, at any time and without the payment of a penalty, upon 30 days prior
written notice to the Trust.
e. Termination of this Agreement with respect to any given Portfolio shall
in no way affect the continued validity of this Agreement or the performance
thereunder with respect to any other Portfolio.
Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay to the
Distributor such compensation and out-of-pocket expenses as may be payable for
the period prior to the effective date of such termination. In the event that
the Trust designates a successor to any of the Distributor's obligations
hereunder, the Distributor shall, at the expense and direction of the Trust,
transfer to such successor all relevant books, records and other data
established or maintained by the Distributor pursuant to the foregoing
provisions.
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Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
and 27 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
18. AMENDMENT. The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered,
modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a written
instrument signed by the Distributor, the Adviser and the Trust and shall not
become effective unless its terms have been approved by the majority of the
Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust and by a majority of those Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Trust or any party to this Agreement.
Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of he 1940
Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and
to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts or in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the
1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule,
regulation, order or interpretation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or
its staff, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such
rule, regulation, order or interpretation.
19. NON-EXCLUSIVE SERVICES. The services of the Distributor rendered to the
Trust are not exclusive. The Distributor may render such services to any other
investment company.
20. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the terms "vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities," "assignment," "interested person" and
"affiliated person" shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act
and the rules enacted thereunder as now in effect or hereafter amended.
21. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Distributor shall treat confidentially and as
proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relating
to the Trust and prior, present or potential shareholders and shall not use such
records and information for any purpose other than performance of its
responsibilities and duties hereunder, except as may be required by
administrative or judicial tribunals or as required by the Trust.
22. NOTICE. Any notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective upon delivery by hand or
upon receipt if sent by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid and return
receipt requested) or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service
(appropriately marked for overnight delivery) or upon transmission if sent by
telex or facsimile (with request for immediate confirmation of receipt in a
manner customary for communications of such respective type and with physical
delivery of the communication being made by one of the other means specified in
this Section 22 as promptly as practicable thereafter). Notices shall be
addressed as follows:
(a) if to the Trust:
Azzad Funds(TM)
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Q. Xxx Xxxx, President
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(b) if to the Adviser:
Azzad Asset Management, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxx, President
(c) if to the Distributor:
CFS Distributors, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
or to such other respective addresses as the parties shall designate by like
notices, provided that notice of a change of address shall be effective only
upon receipt thereof.
23. SEVERABILITY. 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.
24. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION.
(a) This Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas to the extent that such laws are
not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or
hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time.
(b) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this
Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision
of the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any,
by the United States courts or in the absence of any controlling decision of any
such court, by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff. In addition,
where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act, reflected in
any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation, order or
interpretation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, such
provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation,
order or interpretation.
25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the Exhibits attached
hereto) contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written or oral
agreements and understandings with respect thereto.
26. MISCELLANEOUS. Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof. 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. This Agreement may be executed in three counterparts,
each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
27. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The terms "AZZAD Funds(TM)" and "Trust" means
and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Master Trust
Agreement of the Trust dated December 13, 2000, as the same may subsequently
thereto have been, or subsequently hereto be, amended. It is expressly agreed
that obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any Trustee,
Shareholder, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust, personally,
but bind only the assets and property of the
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Trust, as provided in the Master Trust Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees and signed by an authorized
officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization nor such
execution and delivery shall be deemed to have been made by any of them
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall
bind only the assets and property of the Trust as provided in the Master Trust
Agreement.
The Master Trust Agreement is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first written above.
AZZAD FUNDS
By: X__________________________________________
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx Yar Khan, President
AZZAD ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: X__________________________________________
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, President
CFS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: X__________________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
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SCHEDULE A
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AZZAD FUNDS(TM)
Portfolio and Fee Schedule
CFS Distributors, Inc.
November 1, 2001
Portfolios covered by the Agreement:
AZZAD INCOME FUND
AZZAD/DOW XXXXX ETHICAL MARKET FUND
Fees for administrative support services on behalf of the Trust:
Annual Fee: $10,000*
*ANNUAL FEE TO BE PAID IN EQUAL MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $833.33
Initials:
__________ Azzad Funds
__________ Azzad Asset Management, Inc.
__________ CFS Distributors, Inc.
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SCHEDULE B
AZZAD FUNDS(TM)
Administrative Support Services
CFS Distributors, Inc.
November 1, 2001
1. Review and submit for approval all advertising and promotional materials.
2. Maintain all books and records required by the NASD.
3. Prepare quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees.
Inititals:
__________ Azzad Funds
__________ Azzad Asset Management, Inc.
__________ CFS Distributors, Inc.
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