SENIOR FUNDS(TM)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of __________, 2001 by
and among Senior Funds(TM) (the "Fund"), a Massachusetts business trust, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Capital Management Co., a Texas corporation, and Argent Capital
Management [the "Advisor(s)], a Louisiana corporation, and X.X. Xxxxxxx and
Company (the "Distributor"), a Wisconsin corporation.
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Fund 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 Advisor(s) has been appointed investment advisor to the Fund;
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 Fund of distribution expenses with respect to the Portfolio;
WHEREAS, the Fund, the Advisor(s) and the Distributor desire to enter into
this Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor will provide distribution
services to the Portfolios of the Fund 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 Fund'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 Fund, the Advisor(s) and the Distributor,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
I. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund; (ii) to Shares which may be offered by the Fund to its
shareholders for reinvestment of cash distributed from capital gains or net
investment income of the Fund; or (iii) to Shares which may be issued to
shareholders of other funds who exercise any exchange privilege set forth in the
Fund's Prospectus; or (iv) directly through the Fund's transfer agent in the
manner set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof, the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund as part of the
Registration Statement, or as they may be amended from time to time.
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2. FUND DOCUMENTS. The Fund has provided the Distributor with properly
certified or authenticated copies of the following Fund related documents in
effect on the date hereof: the Fund's organizational documents, including Master
Trust Agreement and By-Laws; the Fund's Registration Statement, including all
exhibits thereto; the Fund's most current Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information; and resolutions of the Fund's Board of Trustees authorizing the
appointment of the Distributor and approving this Agreement. The Fund shall
promptly provide to the Distributor copies, properly certified or authenticated,
of all amendments or supplements to the foregoing. The Fund 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
Fund by its independent public accountants. The Fund 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 Fund 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
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Fund or by another entity on behalf of the Fund. 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund.
e. The Distributor, for the account of the Fund, 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 Fund and the
Fund'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
Fund shall pay the Distributor the Repurchase Price in cash or in the form of a
credit against monies due the Fund 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 Advisor(s) as repayment for financing the payment of the sales commission
for such shares. The Fund 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 Fund's transfer agent, shareholder and
dealer requests for redemption of Shares.
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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 Fund 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 Fund, and that it shall not undertake
activities which, in its judgment, would adversely affect the performance of its
obligations to the Fund under this Agreement.
4. DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT SERVICES. In addition to the sale and repurchase
of Shares, the Distributor shall perform the distribution support services set
forth on Schedule B attached hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
Such distribution support services shall include: review of sales and marketing
literature and submission to the NASD; NASD record keeping; and quarterly
reports to the Fund's Board of Trustees. Such distribution support services may
also include: fulfillment services, including telemarketing, printing, mailing
and follow-up tracking of sales leads; and licensing Advisor(s) or Fund
personnel as registered representatives of the Distributor and related
supervisory activities.
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 Fund 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 Fund 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.
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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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund's most current Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information covering the Shares and in communications
with the public or sales materials approved by the Distributor and the Fund as
information supplemental to such Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
f. The Fund 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 Fund and the Distributor may agree from time to time, and
maintain the registration of the Fund as an investment company under the 1940
Act.
7. EXPENSES. Expenses shall be allocated as follows:
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a. The Fund 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 Fund and the Distributor;
transfer agent/shareholder servicing agent services; supplying information,
prices and other data to be furnished by the Fund 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 Advisor(s)
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
Advisor(s) 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. For the distribution and distribution support services
provided by the Distributor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Fund
shall, pursuant to the Distribution Plan, pay to the Distributor the
compensation set forth in Schedule A attached hereto, which schedule may be
amended from time
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to time. To the extent not covered by the Distribution Plan, the Advisor(s)
shall pay to Distributor the compensation set forth in Schedule A and shall also
reimburse the Distributor for its out-of-pocket expenses related to the
performance of its duties hereunder, including, without limitation,
telecommunications charges, postage and delivery charges, record retention
costs, reproduction charges and traveling and lodging expenses incurred by
officers and employees of the Distributor. If this Agreement becomes effective
subsequent to the first day of the month or terminates before the last day of
the month, the Fund shall pay to the Distributor a distribution fee that is
prorated for that part of the month in which this Agreement is in effect. All
rights of compensation and reimbursement under this Agreement for services
performed by the Distributor as of the termination date shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
9. USE OF DISTRIBUTOR'S NAME. The Fund 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 Fund 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.
10. USE OF FUND'S NAME. Neither the Distributor nor any of its affiliates
shall use the name of the Fund or material relating to the Fund 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 Fund; provided,
however, that the Fund 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
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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 OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Fund 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 Fund 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
Fund, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Fund or acting on any
business of the Fund (other than services or business in connection with the
Distributor's duties hereunder), to be rendering such services to or acting
solely for the Fund 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 Fund 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
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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 Fund and provided by the Fund 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
Fund 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.
The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, and
each person who controls the Fund 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
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writing to the Fund 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. ADVISOR(S) PERSONNEL. The Advisor(s) 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 Advisor(s) further agrees that the activities of
any such
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employees as registered representatives of the Distributor shall be limited to
offering and selling Shares. If there are dual employees, one employee of the
Advisor(s) shall register as a principal of the Distributor and assist the
Distributor in monitoring the marketing and sales activities of the dual
employees. The Advisor(s) 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 Advise 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 Advisor(s)'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.
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 Fund, 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 Fund 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
Fund 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 Fund (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
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supplemented forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund.
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 Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund, and (ii) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who
are not interested persons of the Fund, 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 Fund or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Portfolio, upon 60 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 60 days prior
written notice to the Fund.
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.
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Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Fund 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 Fund designates a successor to any of the Distributor's obligations
hereunder, the Distributor shall, at the expense and direction of the Fund,
transfer to such successor all relevant books, records and other data
established or maintained by the Distributor pursuant to the foregoing
provisions.
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 Advisor(s) and the Fund and shall not
become effective unless its terms have been approved by the majority of the
Trustees of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund and by a majority of those Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund 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 Fund 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.
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21. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Distributor shall treat confidentially and as
proprietary information of the Fund all records and other information relating
to the Fund 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 Fund.
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 Fund:
Senior Funds(TM)
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President and Trustee
(b) if to the Advisor(s):
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Capital Management Co.
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
(c) if to the Distributor:
X.X. Xxxxxxx and Company
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
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.
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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.
16
27. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The terms "Senior Funds(TM)" and "Fund" means
and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Master Trust
Agreement of the Fund dated October 15, 1993, as the same may subsequently
thereto have been, or subsequently hereto be, amended. It is expressly agreed
that obligations of the Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any Trustee,
Shareholder, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund, personally,
but bind only the assets and property of the Fund, 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 Fund,
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 Fund 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.
SENIOR FUNDS(TM) X. X. XXXXXXX AND COMPANY
By: By:
----------------------------------- --------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President and Trustee
XXXXX XXXXXXX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CO. ARGENT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
By: By:
----------------------------------- --------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Vice President
17
SCHEDULE A
SENIOR FUNDS(TM)
Portfolio and Fee Schedule
Portfolios covered by Distribution Agreement:
Senior U.S. Government Fund
Senior Corporate Bond Fund
Senior Large Cap Equity Fund
Senior Balanced 50 Fund
Senior Balanced 60 Fund
Senior Balanced 70 Fund
Senior Money Market Fund
Fees for distribution and distribution support services on behalf of the Fund:
Annual Fee $45,000
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SCHEDULE B
SENIOR FUNDS(TM)
Distribution Support Services
1. Review and submit for approval all advertising and promotional materials.
2. Maintain all books and records required by the NASD.
3. Monitor Distribution Plan(s) and report to Board of Trustees.
4. Prepare quarterly reports to Board of Trustees relating to distribution
activities.
5. Subject to approval of Distributor, license personnel as registered
representatives of the Distributor.
6. Telemarketing services (additional fees to be negotiated).
7. Fund fulfillment services, including sampling prospective shareholders
inquiries and related mailings (additional fees to be negotiated).
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