Exhibit 7(n)
FORM OF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 7(n)
CDC NVEST JURIKA & XXXXXX RELATIVE VALUE FUND
FORM OF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this [ ] by and between CDC Nvest Funds Trust I, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and CDC IXIS Asset Management
Distributors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved by the Trustees of the Trust in
contemplation of the transfer by the Distributor of its rights to receive the
Class B Distribution Fee (as defined in the Class B Distribution and Service
Plan attached hereto as Exhibit A) and/or contingent deferred sales charges to a
financing party in order to raise funds to cover distribution expenditures;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust recognize the importance to the Trust
of the Distributor being able to obtain financing with which to pay commissions
on Class B shares at the time of sale;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust acknowledge that by providing financing
to the Distributor the financing party enables the Distributor to provide
valuable services to the Series (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust, in the context of considering the best
interests of the Series and its shareholders at the time of and in preparation
for any vote, consent or other action that the Trustees of the Trust may from
time to time take relating to the continued receipt by the Distributor (and/or
the financing party) of the Distribution Fee, intend to consider the effect on
the Distributor and any financing party of any such vote, consent or action.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants hereinafter
contained, the Trust and the Distributor agree as follows:
1. Distributor. The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as general
distributor of shares of beneficial interest ("Series shares") of the
Trust's CDC Nvest Jurika & Xxxxxx Relative Value Fund series (the
"Series") during the term of this Agreement. The Trust reserves the right,
however, to refuse at any time or times to sell any Series shares
hereunder for any reason deemed adequate by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust.
2. Sale and Payment. Under this agreement, the following provisions shall
apply with respect to the sale of and payment for Series shares:
(a) The Distributor shall have the right, as principal, to purchase
Series shares from the Trust at their net asset value and to sell
such shares to the public against orders therefor at the applicable
public offering price, as defined in Section 4 hereof. The
Distributor shall also have the right, as principal, to sell shares
to dealers against orders therefor at the public offering price
less a concession determined by the Distributor.
(b) Prior to the time of delivery of any shares by the Trust to, or
on the order of, the Distributor, the Distributor shall pay or
cause to be paid to the Trust or to its order an amount in Boston
or New York clearing house funds equal to the applicable net asset
value of such shares. The Distributor shall retain so much of any
sales charge or underwriting discount as is not allowed by it as a
concession to dealers.
3. Fees. For its services as general distributor of the Class B Series
shares, the Trust shall cause the Series to pay to the Distributor (or its
designee or transferee) in addition to the sales charge, if any, referred
to in Section 4 below, the Class B Distribution Fee at the rate and upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the
Class B Distribution and Service Plan attached as Exhibit A hereto, and as
amended from time to time, and the Distributor shall also be entitled to
receive any contingent deferred sales charges that may be payable upon
redemption or repurchase of Class B Series shares. The Class B
Distribution Fee shall be accrued daily and paid monthly to the
Distributor (or, at its direction, to its designee or transferee) as soon
as practicable after the end of the calendar month in which it accrues,
but in any event within five business days following the last day of the
month. So long as this agreement and the Class B Distribution and Service
Plan have not been terminated in accordance with their respective terms,
the Series' obligation to pay the Class B Distribution Fee to the
Distributor shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be subject
to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever (it being
understood that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed a waiver by the
Trust or the Series of its right separately to pursue any claims it may
have against the Distributor and to enforce such claims against any assets
(other than its rights to be paid the Class B Distribution Fee and to be
paid contingent deferred sales charges with respect to Class B Series
shares) of the Distributor).
4. Public Offering Price. The public offering price shall be the net asset
value of Series shares, plus any applicable sales charge, all as set forth
in the current prospectus and statement of additional information
("prospectus") of the Trust relating to the Series shares. In no event
shall the public offering price exceed 1000/935 of such net asset value,
and in no event shall any applicable sales charge or underwriting discount
exceed 6.5% of the public offering price. The net asset value of Series
shares shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the
agreement and declaration of trust and by-laws of the Trust and the
current prospectus of the Trust relating to the Series shares.
5. Trust Issuance of Series Shares. The delivery of Series shares shall be
made promptly by a credit to a shareholder's open account for the Series
or by delivery of a share certificate. The Trust reserves the right (a) to
issue Series shares at any time directly to the shareholders of the Series
as a stock dividend or stock split, (b) to issue to such shareholders
shares of the Series, or rights to subscribe to shares of the Series, as
all or part of any dividend that may be distributed to shareholders of the
Series or as all or part of any optional or alternative dividend that may
be distributed to shareholders of the Series, and (c) to sell Series
shares in accordance with the current applicable prospectus of the Trust
relating to the Series shares.
6. Redemption or Repurchase. The Distributor shall act as agent for the Trust
in connection with the redemption or repurchase of Series shares by the
Trust to the extent and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
current applicable prospectus of the Trust relating to the Series shares,
and the Trust agrees to reimburse the Distributor, from time to time upon
demand, for any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such
redemptions or repurchases. The Trust will remit to the Distributor any
contingent deferred sales charges imposed on redemptions or repurchases of
Series shares (other than Class B shares) upon the terms and conditions
set forth in the then current prospectus of the Trust. The Trust will also
remit to the Distributor (or its designee or transferee), in addition to
the Class B Distribution Fee, any contingent deferred sales charges
imposed on redemptions or repurchases of Class B shares, in accordance
with the Remittance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B.
7. Undertaking Regarding Sales. The Distributor shall use reasonable efforts
to sell Series shares but does not agree hereby to sell any specific
number of Series shares and shall be free to act as distributor of the
shares of other investment companies. Series shares will be sold by the
Distributor only against orders therefor. The Distributor shall not
purchase Series shares from anyone except in accordance with Sections 2
and 6 and shall not take "long" or "short" positions in Series shares
contrary to the agreement and declaration of trust or by-laws of the
Trust.
8. Compliance. The Distributor shall conform to the Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and the sale of
securities laws of any jurisdiction in which it sells, directly or
indirectly, any Series shares. The Distributor agrees to make timely
filings, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.
(the "SEC"), the NASD and such other regulatory authorities as may be
required, of any sales literature relating to the Series and intended for
distribution to prospective investors. The Distributor also agrees to
furnish to the Trust sufficient copies of any agreements or plans it
intends to use in connection with any sales of Series shares in adequate
time for the
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Trust to file and clear them with the proper authorities before they are
put in use (which the Trust agrees to use its best efforts to do as
expeditiously as reasonably possible), and not to use them until so filed
and cleared.
9. Registration and Qualification of Series Shares. The Trust agrees to
execute such papers and to do such acts and things as shall from time to
time be reasonably requested by the Distributor for the purpose of
qualifying and maintaining qualification of the Series shares for sale
under the so-called Blue Sky Laws of any state or for maintaining the
registration of the Trust and of the Series shares under the federal
Securities Act of 1933 and the federal Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act"), to the end that there will be available for sale from time to
time such number of Series shares as the Distributor may reasonably be
expected to sell. The Trust shall advise the Distributor promptly of (a)
any action of the SEC or any authorities of any state or territory, of
which it may be advised, affecting registration or qualification of the
Trust or the Series shares, or rights to offer Series shares for sale, and
(b) the happening of any event which makes untrue any statement or which
requires the making of any change in the Trust's registration statement or
its prospectus relating to the Series shares in order to make the
statements therein not misleading.
10. Distributor Independent Contractor. The Distributor shall be an
independent contractor and neither the Distributor nor any of its officers
or employees as such is or shall be an employee of the Trust. The
Distributor is responsible for its own conduct and the employment, control
and conduct of its agents and employees and for injury to such agents or
employees or to others through its agents or employees. The Distributor
assumes full responsibility for its agents and employees under applicable
statutes and agrees to pay all employer taxes thereunder.
11. Expenses Paid by Distributor. While the Distributor continues to act as
agent of the Trust to obtain subscriptions for and to sell Series shares,
the Distributor shall pay the following:
(a) all expenses of printing (exclusive of typesetting) and
distributing any prospectus for use in offering Series shares for
sale, and all other copies of any such prospectus used by the
Distributor, and
(b) all other expenses of advertising and of preparing, printing
and distributing all other literature or material for use in
connection with offering Series shares for sale.
12. Interests in and of Distributor. It is understood that any of the
shareholders, trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust may be
a shareholder, director, officer, employee or agent of, or be otherwise
interested in, the Distributor, any affiliated person of the Distributor,
any organization in which the Distributor may have an interest or any
organization which may have an interest in the Distributor; that the
Distributor, any such affiliated person or any such organization may have
an interest in the Trust; and that the existence of any such dual interest
shall not affect the validity hereof or of any transaction hereunder
except as otherwise provided in the agreement and declaration of trust or
by-laws of the Trust, in the limited partnership agreement of the
Distributor or by specific provision of applicable law.
13. Effective Date and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective as
of the date of its execution, and
(a) Unless otherwise terminated, this Agreement shall continue in
effect with respect to the shares of the Series so long as such
continuation is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the
Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the
votes which may be cast by shareholders of the Series and (ii) by a
vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are
not interested persons of the Distributor or the Trust, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval.
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(b) This Agreement may at any time be terminated on sixty days'
notice to the Distributor either by vote of a majority of the
Trust's Board of Trustees then in office or by the vote of a
majority of the votes which may be cast by shareholders of the
Series.
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of
its assignment (excluding for this purpose any assignment of rights
to payment described in the recitals and in Section 18 of the
Agreement which are hereby ratified and approved).
(d) This Agreement may be terminated by the Distributor on ninety
days' written notice to the Trust.
Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this section shall be without payment
of any penalty.
14. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) The "vote of a majority of the votes which may be cast by
shareholders of the Series" means (1) 67% or more of the votes of
the Series present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at
such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Series entitled to vote at such meeting are present;
or (2) the vote of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Series entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is
less.
(b) The terms "affiliated person," "interested person" and
"assignment" shall have their respective meanings as defined in the
1940 Act subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by
the SEC under the 1940 Act.
15. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual consent of
the parties, provided that such consent on the part of the Series shall be
approved (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
majority of the votes which may be cast by shareholders of the Series and
(ii) by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust who are
not interested persons of the Distributor or the Trust cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
16. Applicable Law and Liabilities. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. All sales hereunder are to be made, and title to the Series
shares shall pass, in Boston, Massachusetts.
17. Limited Recourse. The Distributor hereby acknowledges that the Trust's
obligations hereunder with respect to the shares of the Series are binding
only on the assets and property belonging to the Series.
18. Payments to Distributor's Transferees. The Distributor may transfer its
rights to payments hereunder with respect to Class B shares (but not its
obligations hereunder) in order to raise funds to cover distribution
expenditures, and any such transfer shall be effective upon written notice
from the Distributor to the Trust. In connection with the foregoing, the
Series is authorized to pay all or a part of the Distribution Fee and/or
contingent deferred sales charges in respect of Class B shares directly to
such transferee as directed by the Distributor.
19. Liquidation etc. As long as the Class B Distribution and Service Plan is
in effect, the Series shall not change the manner in which the
Distribution Fee is computed (except as may be required by a change in
applicable law after the date hereof) or adopt a plan of liquidation
without the consent of the Distributor (or any designee or transferee of
the Distributor's rights to receive payment hereunder in respect of Class
B shares) except in circumstances where a surviving entity or transferee
of the Series' assets adopts the Class B Distribution and Service Plan and
assumes the obligations of the Series to make payments to the Distributor
(or its transferee) hereunder in respect of Class B shares.
20. "Distributor's Shares" etc. The Trust, on behalf of the Series, agrees
that it will not pay any portion of the Class B Distribution Fee which is
calculated by reference to the "Distributor's Shares" (nor shall it pay a
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Distribution Fee calculated by reference to Class B shares ("Other Class B
Shares") other than the Distributor's Shares at a rate exceeding 0.75% per
annum of the net assets attributable to Other Class B Shares) to any
person other than the Distributor (or its designee or transferee) without
the written consent of the Distributor. "Distributor's Shares" shall mean
(i) Class B shares of the Series that were sold by the Distributor, plus
(ii) Class B shares of the Series issued in connection with the exchange,
for Class B shares of the Series, of Class B shares of another fund in the
CDC Nvest fund group that were sold by the Distributor, plus (iii) Class B
shares of the Series issued in connection with the exchange, for Class B
shares of the Series, of Class B shares of another fund in the CDC Nvest
fund group issued in respect of the automatic reinvestment of dividends or
capital gain distributions in respect of Class B shares of such other fund
that were sold by the Distributor, plus (iv) Class B shares of the Series
issued in respect of the automatic reinvestment of dividends or capital
gain distributions in respect of Class B shares of the Series described in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii). To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act,
the terms of this Section 20 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
21. Limitation on Reduction of Class B Distribution Fee. The Trust, on behalf
of the Series, agrees that it will not reduce the Distribution Fee in
respect of Series' assets attributable to Class B shares below the annual
rate of 0.75% unless it has ceased (and not resumed) paying all "service
fees" (within the meaning of Section 2830(b)(9) of the Conduct Rules of
the NASD or any successor provision thereto) to the Distributor, to any
affiliate of the Distributor and to any other person in circumstances
where substantially all of the services and functions relating to the
distribution of Class B Series shares have been delegated to, or are being
performed by, the Distributor or an affiliate of the Distributor. To the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the terms of this Section 21 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.
22. Privacy. In accordance with Regulation S-P, if non-public personal
information regarding either party's customers or consumers is disclosed
to the other party in connection with this Agreement, the party receiving
such information will not disclose or use that information other than as
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.
CDC NVEST FUNDS TRUST I
on behalf of its CDC Nvest Jurika & Xxxxxx Relative Value Fund series
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
CDC IXIS ASSET MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTORS, L.P.
By: CDC IXIS Asset Management Distribution Corp., its general partner
By: _______________________________________
Name:
Title:
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A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing CDC Nvest
Funds Trust I (the "Trust") is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed with
respect to the Trust's CDC Nvest Jurika & Xxxxxx Relative Value Fund series (the
"Series") on behalf of the Trust by officers of the Trust as officers and not
individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are
not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Series.
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EXHIBIT A
CDC NVEST JURIKA & XXXXXX RELATIVE VALUE FUND
CLASS B DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
This Plan (the "Plan") entered into on [ ], [ ] constitutes the
Distribution and Service Plan relating to the Class B shares of CDC Nvest Jurika
& Xxxxxx Relative Value Fund (the "Series"), a series of CDC Nvest Funds Trust
I, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust").
Section 1. Service Fee. The Trust, on behalf of the Series, will pay to
CDC IXIS Asset Management Distributors, L.P. ("CID"), a Delaware limited
partnership which acts as the Principal Distributor of the Series' shares, or
such other entity as shall from time to time act as the Principal Distributor of
the Series' shares (the "Distributor"), a fee (the "Service Fee") at an annual
rate not to exceed 0.25% of the Series' average daily net assets attributable to
the Class B shares. Subject to such limit and subject to the provisions of
Section 7 hereof, the Service Fee shall be as approved from time to time by (a)
the Trustees of the Trust and (b) the Independent Trustees of the Trust;
provided, however, that no Service Fee or other fee that is a "service fee" as
defined in Section 26 of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any successor provision thereto) as in effect
from time to time (the "NASD Rule") shall be paid, with respect to Class B
shares of the Series, to CID (or to any affiliate of CID, or to any other person
in circumstances where substantially all of the services and functions relating
to the distribution of Class B shares of the Series have been delegated to, or
are being performed by, CID or an affiliate of CID), under this Plan or
otherwise, if the Distribution Fee is terminated or is reduced below the rate
set forth in Section 2. The Service Fee shall be accrued daily and paid monthly
or at such other intervals as the Trustees shall determine. The Distributor may
pay all or any portion of the Service Fee to securities dealers or other
organizations (including, but not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor)
as service fees pursuant to agreements with such organizations for providing
personal services to investors in Class B shares of the Series and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts, and may retain all or any portion of the
Service Fee as compensation for providing personal services to investors in
Class B shares of the Series and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. All
payments under this Section 1 are intended to qualify as "service fees" as
defined in the NASD Rule.
Section 2. Distribution Fee. In addition to the Service Fee, the Trust, on
behalf of the Series, will pay to the Distributor a fee (the "Distribution Fee")
at an annual rate of 0.75% (unless reduced as contemplated by and permitted
pursuant to the next sentence hereof) of the Series' average daily net assets
attributable to the Class B shares in consideration of the services rendered in
connection with the sale of such shares by the Distributor. The Trust will not
terminate the Distribution Fee in respect of Series assets attributable to Class
B shares, or pay such fee at an annual rate of less than 0.75% of the Series'
average daily net assets attributable to the Class B shares, unless it has
ceased, and not resumed, paying the Service Fee (or any other fee that
constitutes a "service fee" as defined in the NASD Rule) to CID (or to any
affiliate of CID, or to any other person in circumstances where substantially
all of the services and functions relating to the distribution of Class B shares
of the Series have been delegated to, or are being performed by, CID or an
affiliate of CID). Subject to such restriction and subject to the provisions of
Section 7 hereof, the Distribution Fee shall be as approved from time to time by
(a) the Trustees of the Trust and (b) the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The
Distribution Fee shall be accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other
intervals as the Trustees shall determine.
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The obligation of the Series to pay the Distribution Fee shall
terminate upon the termination of this Plan or the relevant distribution
agreement between the Distributor and the Trust relating to the Series, in
accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, but until any such termination
shall not be subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever
(it being understood that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed a waiver by
the Trust or the Series of its right separately to pursue any claims it may have
against the Distributor and enforce such claims against any assets of the
Distributor (other than its right to be paid the Distribution Fee and to be paid
contingent deferred sales charges)).
The right of CID to receive the Distribution Fee (but not the relevant
distribution agreement or CID's obligations thereunder) may be transferred by
CID in order to raise funds which may be useful or necessary to perform its
duties as principal underwriter, and any such transfer shall be effective upon
written notice from CID to the Trust. In connection with the foregoing, the
Series is authorized to pay all or part of the Distribution Fee directly to such
transferee as directed by CID.
The Distributor may pay all or any portion of the Distribution Fee to
securities dealers or other organizations (including, but not limited to, any
affiliate of the Distributor) as commissions, asset-based sales charges or other
compensation with respect to the sale of Class B shares of the Series, and may
retain all or any portion of the Distribution Fee as compensation for the
Distributor's services as principal underwriter of the Class B shares of the
Series. All payments under this Section 2 are intended to qualify as
"asset-based sales charges" as defined in the NASD Rule.
Section 3. This Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than
one year after [ ], [ ] only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by votes of the majority (or whatever other
percentage may, from time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") or the rules and regulations
thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees of the Trust, and (b) the Independent
Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on this Plan or such agreement.
Section 4. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid
or payable by the Trust pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement shall
provide to the Trustees of the Trust, and the Trustees shall review, at least
quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for
which such expenditures were made.
Section 5. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority
of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Class B
shares of the Series.
Section 6. All agreements with any person relating to implementation of
this Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall
provide:
A. That such agreement may be terminated at any time, without
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Class B shares
of the Series, on not more than 60 days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; and
B. That such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event
of its assignment.
Section 7. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount
of expenses permitted pursuant to Sections 1 or 2 hereof without approval by a
vote of at least a majority of the outstanding Class B shares of the Series, and
all material amendments of this Plan shall be approved in the manner provided
for continuation of this Plan in Section 3.
Section 8. As used in this Plan, (a) the term "Independent Trustees" shall
mean those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust,
and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan
or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms "assignment" and "interested
person" shall have the respective meanings specified in the Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder, and the term "majority of the
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outstanding Class B shares of the Series" shall mean the lesser of the 67% or
the 50% voting requirements specified in clauses (A) and (B), respectively, of
the third sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the Act, all subject to such
exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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