DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 28th day of February, 1997 between INVESCO
SPECIALTY FUNDS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), and INVESCO FUNDS
GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Underwriter").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), as a diversified, open-end management
investment company and currently has one class of shares (the "Shares") which is
divided into six series, and which may be divided into additional series (the
"Series"), each representing an interest in a separate portfolio of investments,
and it is in the interest of the Fund to offer the Shares for sale continuously;
and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is engaged in the business of selling shares of
investment companies either directly to investors or through other securities
dealers; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Underwriter wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Shares of each Series
in order to promote growth of the Fund and facilitate the distribution of the
Shares;
NOW, THEREFORE, 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 the Underwriter its agent for the
distribution of Shares of each Series in jurisdictions wherein such
Shares legally may be offered for sale; provided, however, that the
Fund in its absolute discretion may (a) issue or sell Shares of each
Series directly to purchasers, or (b) issue or sell Shares of a
particular Series to the shareholders of any other Series or to the
shareholders of any other investment company, for which the
Underwriter or any affiliate thereof shall act as exclusive
distributor, who wish to exchange all or a portion of their
investment in Shares of such Series or in shares of such other
investment company for the Shares of a particular Series.
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. The Fund reserves
the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part for any
reason.
2. The Underwriter hereby agrees to serve as agent for the
distribution of the Shares and agrees that it will use its best
efforts with reasonable promptness to sell such part of the
authorized Shares remaining unissued as from time to time shall be
effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"), at such prices and on such terms as hereinafter
set forth, all subject to applicable federal and state securities
laws and regulations. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit
the Underwriter from engaging in other related or unrelated
businesses.
3. In addition to serving as the Fund's agent in the
distribution of the Shares, the Underwriter shall also provide to
the holders of the Shares certain maintenance, support or similar
services ("Shareholder Services"). Such services shall include,
without limitation, answering routine shareholder inquiries
regarding the Fund, assisting shareholders in considering whether to
change dividend options and helping to effectuate such changes,
arranging for bank wires, and providing such other services as the
Fund may reasonably request from time to time. It is expressly
understood that the Underwriter or the Fund may enter into one or
more agreements with third parties pursuant to which such third
parties may provide the Shareholder Services provided for in this
paragraph. Nothing herein shall be construed to impose upon the
Underwriter any duty or expense in connection with the services of
any registrar, transfer agent or custodian appointed by the Fund,
the computation of the asset value or offering price of Shares, the
preparation and distribution of notices of meetings, proxy
soliciting material, annual and periodic reports, dividends
and dividend notices, or any other responsibility of the Fund.
4. Except as otherwise specifically provided for in this
Agreement, the Underwriter shall sell the Shares directly to
purchasers, or through qualified broker-dealers or others, in such
manner, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof and the then
effective Registration Statement of the Fund under the 1933 Act (the
"Registration Statement") and related Prospectus (the "Prospectus")
and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") of the Fund as the
Underwriter may determine from time to time; provided that no
broker-dealer or other person shall be appointed or authorized to
act as agent of the Fund without the prior consent of the directors
(the "Directors") of the Fund. The Underwriter will require each
broker-dealer to conform to the provisions hereof and of the
Registration Statement (and related Prospectus and SAI) at the time
in effect under the 1933 Act with respect to the public offering
price of the Shares of any Series. The Fund will have no obligation
to pay any commissions or other remuneration to such broker-dealers.
5. The Shares of each Series offered for sale or sold by the
Underwriter shall be offered or sold at the net asset value per
share determined in accordance with the then current Prospectus
and/or SAI relating to the sale of the Shares of the appropriate
Series except as departure from such prices shall be permitted by
the then current Prospectus and/or SAI of the Fund, in accordance
with applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The price the Fund shall receive for the Shares of each
Series purchased from the Fund shall be the net asset value per
share of such Share, determined in accordance with the Prospectus
and/or SAI applicable to the sale of the Shares of such Series.
6. Except as may be otherwise agreed to by the Fund, the
Underwriter shall be responsible for issuing and delivering such
confirmations of sales made by it pursuant to this Agreement as may
be required; provided, however, that the Underwriter or the Fund may
utilize the services of other persons or entities believed by it to
be competent to perform such functions. Shares shall be registered
on the transfer books of the Fund in such names and denominations as
the Underwriter may specify.
7. The Fund will execute any and all documents and furnish any
and all information which may be reasonably necessary in connection
with the qualification of the Shares for sale (including the
qualification of the Fund as a broker-dealer where necessary or
advisable) in such states as the Underwriter may reasonably request
(it being understood that the Fund shall not be required without its
consent to comply with any requirement which in the opinion of the
Directors of the Fund is unduly burdensome). The Underwriter, at its
own expense, will effect all qualifications of itself as broker or
dealer, or otherwise, under all applicable state or Federal laws
required in order that the Shares may be sold in such states or
jurisdictions as the Fund may reasonably request.
8. The Fund shall prepare and furnish to the Underwriter from
time to time the most recent form of the Prospectus and/or SAI of
the Fund and/or of each Series of the Fund. The Fund authorizes the
Underwriter to use the Prospectus and/or SAI, in the forms furnished
to the Underwriter from time to time, in connection with the sale of
the Shares of the Fund and/or of each Series of the Fund. The Fund
will furnish to the Underwriter from time to time such information
with respect to the Fund, each Series, and the Shares as the
Underwriter may reasonably request for use in connection with the
sale of the Shares. The Underwriter agrees that it will not use or
distribute or authorize the use, distribution or dissemination by
broker-dealers or others in connection with the sale of the Shares
any statements, other than those contained in a current Prospectus
and/or SAI of the Fund or applicable Series, except such
supplemental literature or advertising as shall be lawful under
Federal and state securities laws and regulations, and that it will
promptly furnish the Fund with copies of all such material.
9. The Underwriter will not make, or authorize any
broker-dealers or others to make any short sales of the Shares of
the Fund or otherwise make any sales of the Shares unless such sales
are made in accordance with a then current Prospectus and/or SAI
relating to the sale of the applicable Shares.
10. The Underwriter, as agent of and for the account of the
Fund, may cause the redemption or repurchase of the Shares at such
prices and upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified in a
then current Prospectus and/or SAI. In selling, redeeming or
repurchasing the Shares for the account of the Fund, the Underwriter
will in all respects conform to the requirements of all state and
federal laws and the Rules of Fair Practice of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., relating to such sale,
redemption or repurchase, as the case may be. The Underwriter will
observe and be bound by all the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Fund and of any provisions in the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and SAI, as such may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, notice of which shall have been
given to the Underwriter, which at the time in any way require,
limit, restrict or prohibit or otherwise regulate any action on the
part of the Underwriter.
11. (a) The Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Underwriter, its officers and directors and any person who
controls the Underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act,
from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such
claims, demands or liabilities and any attorney fees incurred in
connection therewith) which the Underwriter, its officers and
directors or any such controlling person, may incur under the
federal securities laws, the common law or otherwise, arising
out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or any related
Prospectus and/or SAI or arising out of or based upon any
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this indemnity agreement, to the
extent that it might require indemnity of the Underwriter or any
person who is an officer, director or controlling person of the
Underwriter, shall not inure to the benefit of the Underwriter
or officer, director or controlling person thereof unless a
court of competent jurisdiction shall determine, or it shall
have been determined by controlling precedent, that such result
would not be against public policy as expressed in the federal
securities laws and in no event shall anything contained herein
be so construed as to protect the Underwriter against any
liability to the Fund, the Directors or the Fund's shareholders
to which the Underwriter would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
This indemnity agreement is expressly conditioned upon the
Fund's being notified of any action brought against the
Underwriter, its officers or directors or any such controlling
person, which notification shall be given by letter or by
telegram addressed to the Fund at its principal address in
Denver, Colorado and sent to the Fund by the person against whom
such action is brought within ten (10) days after the summons or
other first legal process shall have been served upon the
Underwriter, its officers or directors or any such controlling
person. The failure to notify the Fund of any such action shall
not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to the
person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such
alleged untrue statement or omission otherwise than on account
of the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The Fund
shall be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce such claim, demand, or liability, but in such case the
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Fund and
approved by the Underwriter, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. If the Fund elects to assume the defense
of any such suit and retain counsel approved by the Underwriter,
the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and
expenses of an additional counsel obtained by any of them.
Should the Fund elect not to assume the defense of any such
suit, or should the Underwriter not approve of counsel chosen
by the Fund, the Fund will reimburse the Underwriter, its
officers and directors or the controlling person or persons
named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the
Underwriter or them. In addition, the Underwriter shall have
the right to employ counsel to represent it, its officers and
directors and any such controlling person who may be subject
to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which
indemnity may be sought by the Underwriter against the Fund
hereunder if in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriter it
is advisable for the Underwriter, its officers and directors
or such controlling person to be represented by separate
counsel, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of
such separate counsel shall be borne by the Fund. This
indemnity agreement and the Fund's representations and
warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
full force and effect and shall survive the delivery of any of
the Shares as provided in this Agreement. This indemnity
agreement shall inure exclusively to the benefit of the
Underwriter and its successors, the Underwriter's officers and
directors and their respective estates and any such
controlling person and their successors and estates. The Fund
shall promptly notify the Underwriter of the commencement of
any litigation or proceeding against it in connection with the
issue and sale of the Shares.
(b) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Fund, its Directors and any person who controls the Fund
within the meaning of the 1933 Act, from and against any and all
claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities
and any attorney fees incurred in connection therewith) which
the Fund, its Directors or any such controlling person may incur
under the Federal securities laws, the common law or otherwise,
but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred
by the Fund, its Directors or such controlling person resulting
from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based upon
(a) any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
information furnished in writing by the Underwriter to the Fund
specifically for use in the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus and/or SAI or shall arise out of or be
based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact in
connection with such information required to be stated in the
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus and/or SAI or
necessary to make such information not misleading and (b) any
alleged act or omission on the Underwriter's part as the
Fund's agent that has not been expressly authorized by the
Fund in writing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this indemnity agreement, to the
extent that it might require indemnity of the Fund or any
Director or controlling person of the Fund, shall not inure to
the benefit of the Fund or Director or controlling person
thereof unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall
determine, or it shall have been determined by controlling
precedent, that such result would not be against public policy
as expressed in the federal securities laws and in no event
shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect
any Director of the Fund against any liability to the Fund or
the Fund's shareholders to which the Director would otherwise be
subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his office.
This indemnity agreement is expressly conditioned upon the
Underwriter's being notified of any action brought against the
Fund, its Directors or any such controlling person, which
notification shall be given by letter or telegram addressed to
the Underwriter at its principal office in Denver, Colorado, and
sent to the Underwriter by the person against whom such action
is brought, within ten (10) days after the summons or other
first legal process shall have been served upon the Fund, its
Directors or any such controlling person. The failure to notify
the Underwriter of any such action shall not relieve the
Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the person
against whom such action is brought by reason of any such
alleged untrue statement or omission otherwise than on account
of the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The
Underwriter shall be entitled to assume the defense of any
suit brought to enforce such claim, demand, or liability, but
in such case the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen
by the Underwriter and approved by the Fund, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Underwriter elects
to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel
approved by the Fund, the defendant or defendants in such suit
shall bear the fees and expenses of an additional counsel
obtained by any of them. Should the Underwriter elect not to
assume the defense of any such suit, or should the Fund not
approve of counsel chosen by the Underwriter, the Underwriter
will reimburse the Fund, its Directors or the controlling
person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such
suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel
retained by the Fund or them. In addition, the Fund shall have
the right to employ counsel to represent it, its Directors and
any such controlling person who may be subject to liability
arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be
sought by the Fund against the Underwriter hereunder if in the
reasonable judgment of the Fund it is advisable for the Fund,
its Directors or such controlling person to be represented by
separate counsel, in which event the reasonable fees and
expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the
Underwriter. This indemnity agreement and the Underwriter's
representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain
operative and in full force and effect and shall survive the
delivery of any of the Shares as provided in this Agreement.
This indemnity agreement shall inure exclusively to the
benefit of the Fund and its successors, the Fund's Directors
and their respective estates and any such controlling person
and their successors and estates. The Underwriter shall
promptly notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation
or proceeding against it in connection with the issue and sale
of the Shares.
12. The Fund will pay or cause to be paid (a) expenses (including
the fees and disbursements of its own counsel) of any
registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act, as amended, (b)
expenses incident to the issuance of the Shares, and (c)
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of its own
counsel) incurred in connection with the preparation, printing
and distribution of the Fund's Prospectuses, SAIs, and periodic
and other reports sent to holders of the Shares in their
capacity as such. The Underwriter shall prepare and provide
necessary copies of all sales literature subject to the Fund's
approval thereof.
13. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date it is
approved by a majority vote of the Directors of the Fund, as
well as a majority vote of the Directors who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund,
and shall continue in effect for an initial term expiring
February 28, 1998, and from year to year thereafter, but only so
long as such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually (a)(i) by a vote of the Directors of the Fund or (ii)
by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, and (b) by a vote of a majority of the Directors of
the Fund who are not "interested persons," as defined in the
Investment Company Act, of the Fund cast in person at a meeting
for the purpose of voting on this Agreement.
Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement on any date,
without the payment of a penalty, by giving the other party at
least 60 days' prior written notice of such termination
specifying the date fixed therefor. In particular, this
Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the members of the Directors
of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund on not more than 60 days' written
notice to the Underwriter.
Without prejudice to any other remedies of the Fund provided for
in this Agreement or otherwise, the Fund may terminate this
Agreement at any time immediately upon the Underwriter's
failure to fulfill any of the obligations of the Underwriter
hereunder.
14. The Underwriter expressly agrees that, notwithstanding anything
to the contrary herein, or in any applicable law, it will look
solely to the assets of the Fund for any obligations of the
Fund hereunder and nothing herein shall be construed to create
any personal liability on the part of any Director or any
shareholder of the Fund.
15. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment. In interpreting the provisions of this Section 15,
the definition of "assignment" contained in the Investment
Company Act shall be applied.
16. 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.
17. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by the Fund and the Underwriter and, if
applicable, approved in the manner required by the Investment
Company Act.
18. Each provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, such
illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.
19. This Agreement and the application and interpretation hereof
shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of
Colorado.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Underwriter have each caused this
Agreement to be executed on its behalf by an officer thereunto duly authorized
and the Underwriter has caused its corporate seal to be affixed as of the day
and year first above written.
INVESCO SPECIALTY FUNDS, INC.
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx ------------------------
----------------- Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx President
Secretary
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx --------------------
----------------- Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx Senior Vice President
Secretary
