FORM OF
AETNA VARIABLE ENCORE FUND
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this _______ day of ,_______ 2000, by and between
Aetna Investment Services, Inc., a Connecticut corporation ("Aetna"), and Aetna
Variable Encore Fund, a Massachusetts Business Trust ("Fund").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has registered its shares for offer and sale to the public
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to retain Aetna, and Aetna is willing to act, as
principal underwriter in connection with the offer and sale of the Fund's shares
as now exist and as hereafter may be established ("Shares"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Underwriter. The Fund hereby appoints Aetna and Aetna hereby
--------------------------
accepts appointment as principal underwriter in connection with the
distribution of the Shares. The Fund authorizes Aetna to solicit orders for
the purchase of the Shares as set forth in the Registration Statement
currently effective with the Commission for the Shares. It is understood that
the Shares are offered only through variable annuity contracts and variable
life policies issued by Aetna and its affiliates.
2. Compensation. Aetna shall receive no separate compensation for providing
------------
services under this Agreement. It is understood that the compensation Aetna
receives in connection with the issuance of the variable annuity contracts or
variable life policies shall be the only consideration it receives for
serving as underwriter hereunder.
3. Aetna Expenses. Aetna shall be responsible for any costs of printing and
--------------
distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information necessary
to offer and sell the Shares, and such other sales literature, reports, forms
and advertisements in connection as it elects to prepare, provided such
materials comply with the applicable provisions of federal and state law.
4. Fund Expenses. The Fund shall be responsible for the costs of registering the
-------------
Shares with the Commission and for the costs of preparing prospectuses,
statements of additional information and such other documents as are required
to maintain the registration of the Shares with the Commission.
5. Share Certificates. The Fund shall not issue certificates representing
------------------
Shares.
6. Status of Underwriter and Other Persons. Aetna is an independent contractor
---------------------------------------
and shall be agent for the Fund only in respect to the sale and redemption of
the Shares. Any person, even though also an officer, director, employee or
agent of Aetna, who may be or become an officer, director, employee or agent
of the Fund, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Fund or acting
in any business of the Fund, to be rendering such services to or acting
solely for the Fund and not as an officer, director, employee or agent or one
under the control or direction of Aetna even though paid by Aetna.
7. Nonexclusivity. The services of Aetna to the Fund under this Agreement are
--------------
not to be deemed exclusive, and Aetna shall be free to render similar
services or other services to others and to engage in other activities
related or unrelated to those provided under this Agreement.
8. Effectiveness and Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall become
------------------------------------------
effective at the close of business on the date set forth in the first
paragraph of this Agreement and shall remain in force and effect, through
December 31, 2000, unless earlier terminated under the provisions of Section
9. Following the expiration of its initial term, the Agreement shall continue
in force and effect for one year periods, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by the Fund's trustees, or by the
vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in
Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act).
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, by either party,
-----------
without the payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) days' written notice to the
other party.
10. Liability of Aetna. Aetna shall be liable to the Fund and shall indemnify
------------------
the Fund for any losses incurred by the Fund, to the extent that such losses
resulted from an act or omission on the part of Aetna or its officers,
directors or employees in carrying out its duties hereunder, that is found to
involve willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, or reckless disregard
by Aetna of its duties under this Agreement.
11. Liability of Trustees. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on
---------------------
file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is
hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the trustees of
the Fund as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this
instrument are not binding upon any of the trustees or shareholders
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to protect any trustee or
officer of the Fund or director or officer of the Aetna, from liability in
violation of Section 17(h) and (i) of the 1940 Act.
12. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or changed only by an instrument
----------
in writing signed by both parties.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
--------------
laws of the State of Connecticut and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the
applicable laws of the State of Connecticut conflict with the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act, however, the latter shall control.
2
14. Notices. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
-------
delivered, mailed postage paid, or sent by other delivery service, or by
facsimile transmission to each party at such address as each party may
designate for the receipt of notice. Until further notice, such addresses
shall be:
if to Aetna: if to the Fund:
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX00
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000 Hartford, Connecticut 00000-0000
Fax number: 860/000-0000 Fax number: 860/000-0000
15. Questions of Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
---------------------------
the State of Connecticut. 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 shall be resolved by reference to such
term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by
the United States Courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of
any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued
pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of
the 1940 Act reflected in the provisions of this Agreement is revised by
rule, regulation or order of the Commission, such provisions shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in duplicate by their respective officers on the day of , 2000.
AETNA INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
Attest: By: ____________________________
Name: ____________________________
------------------------
Title: ____________________________
AETNA VARIABLE ENCORE FUND
Attest: By: ____________________________
Name: ____________________________
------------------------
Title: ____________________________
3
