Exhibit (e)(1)
UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 16th day of February, 1999, between FARMERS
INVESTMENT TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), and XXXXXX
DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("KDI").
In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, it is
hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints KDI to act as agent for distribution of
shares of beneficial interest (hereinafter called "shares") of the Fund in
jurisdictions wherein shares of the Fund may legally be offered for sale;
provided, however, that the Fund in its absolute discretion may (a) issue or
sell shares directly to holders of shares of the Fund upon such terms and
conditions and for such consideration, if any, as it may determine, whether in
connection with the distribution of subscription or purchase rights, the payment
or reinvestment of dividends or distributions, or otherwise; or (b) issue or
sell shares at net asset value to the shareholders of any other investment
company, for which KDI shall act as exclusive distributor, who wish to exchange
all or a portion of their investment in shares of such other investment company
for shares of the Fund. KDI shall appoint various financial service firms
("Firms") to provide distribution services to investors. The Firms shall provide
such office space and equipment, telephone facilities, personnel, literature
distribution, advertising and promotion as is necessary or beneficial for
providing information and distribution services to existing and potential
clients of the Firms. KDI may also provide some of the above services for the
Fund.
KDI accepts such appointment as distributor and principal underwriter
and agrees to render such services and to assume the obligations herein set
forth for the compensation herein provided. KDI shall for all purposes herein
provided be deemed to be an independent contractor and, unless expressly
provided herein or otherwise authorized, shall have no authority to act for or
represent the Fund in any way. KDI, by separate agreement with the Fund, may
also serve the Fund in other capacities. The services of KDI to the Fund under
this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and KDI shall be free to render
similar services or other services to others so long as its services hereunder
are not impaired thereby.
In carrying out its duties and responsibilities hereunder, KDI will,
pursuant to separate written contracts, appoint various Firms to provide
advertising, promotion and other distribution services contemplated hereunder
directly to or for the benefit of existing and potential shareholders who may be
clients of such Firms. Such Firms shall at all times be deemed to be independent
contractors retained by KDI and not the Fund.
KDI shall use its best efforts with reasonable promptness to sell such
part of the authorized shares of the Fund remaining unissued as from time to
time shall be effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933
("Securities Act"), at prices determined as hereinafter provided and on terms
hereinafter set forth, all subject to applicable federal and state laws and
regulations and to the Fund's organizational documents.
2. KDI shall sell shares of the Fund to or through qualified Firms in
such manner, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof and the then effective
registration statement (and related prospectus) of the Fund under the Securities
Act, as KDI may determine from time to time, provided that no Firm or other
person shall be appointed or authorized to act as agent of the Fund without
prior consent of the Fund. In addition to sales made by it as agent of the Fund,
KDI may, in its discretion, also sell shares of the Fund as principal to persons
with whom it does not have selling group agreements.
Shares of any class of any series of the Fund offered for sale or sold
by KDI shall be so offered or sold at a price per share determined in accordance
with the then current prospectus. The price the Fund shall receive for all
shares purchased from it shall be the net asset value used in determining the
public offering price applicable to the sale of such shares. Any excess of the
sales price over the net asset value of the shares of the Fund sold by KDI as
agent shall be retained by KDI as a commission for its services hereunder. KDI
may compensate Firms for sales of shares at the commission levels provided in
the Fund's prospectus from time to time. KDI may pay other commissions, fees or
concessions to Firms, and may pay them to others in its discretion, in such
amounts as KDI shall determine from time to time. KDI shall be entitled to
receive and retain any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as described
in the Fund's prospectus. KDI shall also receive any fee payable by the Fund as
provided in the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan, as amended from time to time (the
"Plan").
KDI will require each Firm to conform to the provisions hereof and the
Registration Statement (and related prospectus) at the time in effect under the
Securities Act with respect to the public offering price or net asset value, as
applicable, of the Fund's shares, and neither KDI nor any such Firms shall
withhold the placing of purchase orders so as to make a profit thereby.
3. The Fund will use its best efforts to keep effectively registered
under the Securities Act for sale as herein contemplated such shares as KDI
shall reasonably request and as the Securities and Exchange Commission shall
permit to be so registered. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Fund
may terminate, suspend or withdraw the offering of shares whenever, in its sole
discretion, it deems such action to be desirable.
4. The Fund will execute any and all documents and furnish any and all
information that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the
qualification of its shares for sale (including the qualification of the Fund as
a dealer where necessary or advisable) in such states as KDI may reasonably
request (it being understood that the Fund shall not be required without its
consent to comply with any requirement which in its opinion is unduly
burdensome). The Fund will furnish to KDI from time to time such information
with respect to the Fund and its shares as KDI may reasonably request for use in
connection with the sale of shares of the Fund.
5. KDI shall issue and deliver or shall arrange for various Firms to
issue and deliver on behalf of the Fund such confirmations of sales made by it
pursuant to this Agreement as may be
2
required. At or prior to the time of issuance of shares, KDI will pay or cause
to be paid to the Fund the amount due the Fund for the sale of such shares.
Shares shall be registered on the transfer books of the Fund in such names and
denominations as KDI may specify.
6. KDI shall order shares of the Fund from the Fund only to the extent
that it shall have received purchase orders therefor. KDI will not make, or
authorize Firms or others to make (a) any short sales of shares of the Fund; or
(b) any sales of such shares to any Board member or officer of the Fund or to
any officer or Board member of KDI or of any corporation or association
furnishing investment advisory, managerial or supervisory services to the Fund,
or to any corporation or association, unless such sales are made in accordance
with the then current prospectus relating to the sale of such shares. KDI, as
agent of and for the account of the Fund, may repurchase the shares of the Fund
at such prices and upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified in the
current prospectus of the Fund. In selling or reacquiring shares of the Fund for
the account of the Fund, KDI will in all respects conform to the requirements of
all state and federal laws and the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., relating to such sale or reacquisition, as the case
may be, and will indemnify and save harmless the Fund from any damage or expense
on account of any wrongful act by KDI or any employee, representative or agent
of KDI. KDI will observe and be bound by all the provisions of the Fund's
organizational documents (and of any fundamental policies adopted by the Fund
pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act"),
notice of which shall have been given to KDI) which at the time in any way
require, limit, restrict, prohibit or otherwise regulate any action on the part
of KDI hereunder.
7. The Fund shall assume and pay all charges and expenses of its
operations not specifically assumed or otherwise to be provided by KDI under
this Agreement or the Plan. The Fund will pay or cause to be paid expenses
(including the fees and disbursements of its own counsel) of any registration of
the Fund and its shares under the United States securities laws and expenses
incident to the issuance of shares of beneficial interest. KDI will pay all
expenses (other than expenses which one or more Firms may bear pursuant to any
agreement with KDI) incident to the sale and distribution of the shares issued
or sold hereunder, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
all (a) expenses of printing and distributing any prospectus and of preparing,
printing and distributing or disseminating any other literature, advertising and
selling aids in connection with the offering of the shares for sale (except that
such expenses need not include expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with
the preparation, typesetting, printing and distribution of any registration
statement or prospectus, report or other communication to shareholders in their
capacity as such), (b) expenses of advertising in connection with such offering
and (c) expenses (other than the Fund's auditing expenses) of qualifying or
continuing the qualification of the shares for sale and, in connection
therewith, of qualifying or continuing the qualification of the Fund as a dealer
or broker under the laws of such states as may be designated by KDI under the
conditions herein specified. No transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable in
connection with the issue or delivery of shares sold as herein contemplated
shall be borne by the Fund, and KDI will indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
against liability for all such transfer taxes.
3
8. This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and shall
continue until September 30, 2000; and shall continue from year to year
thereafter only so long as such continuance is approved in the manner required
by the Investment Company Act.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment and may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty
by the Fund or by KDI on sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party. The
Fund may effect termination with respect to any class of any series of the Fund
by a vote of (i) a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons
of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan, this Agreement, or in any other agreement related to the
Plan, or (ii) a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class.
Without prejudice to any other remedies of the Fund, the Fund may terminate this
Agreement at any time immediately upon KDI's failure to fulfill any of its
obligations hereunder.
All material amendments to this Agreement must be approved by a vote of
a majority of the Board, and of the Board members who are not interested persons
of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan, this Agreement or in any other agreement related to the
Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose.
The terms "assignment," "interested person" and "vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities" shall have the meanings set forth in the
Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
KDI shall receive such compensation for its distribution services as
set forth in the Plan. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the right
of KDI to receive payments on any unpaid balance of the compensation earned
prior to such termination, as set forth in the Plan.
9. KDI will not use or distribute, or authorize the use, distribution
or dissemination by Firms or others in connection with the sale of Fund shares
any statements other than those contained in the Fund's current prospectus,
except such supplemental literature or advertising as shall be lawful under
federal and state securities laws and regulations. KDI will furnish the Fund
with copies of all such material.
10. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby
affected.
11. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as such
other party may designate for the receipt of such notice.
12. All parties hereto are expressly put on notice of the Fund's
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, and all amendments thereto, all of which are
on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the
limitation of shareholder and trustee liability contained therein. This
Agreement has been executed by and on behalf of the Fund by its representatives
as such representatives and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund
hereunder are not binding
4
upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund individually but
are binding upon only the assets and property of the Fund. With respect to any
claim by KDI for recovery of any liability of the Fund arising hereunder
allocated to a particular series or class, whether in accordance with the
express terms hereof or otherwise, KDI shall have recourse solely against the
assets of that series or class to satisfy such claim and shall have no recourse
against the assets of any other series or class for such purpose.
13. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable
federal law and with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
14. This Agreement is the entire contract between the parties relating
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements between the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and KDI have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
FARMERS INVESTMENT TRUST XXXXXX DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------- -------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Vice President Title: Director
5
