DELAWARE
GROUP Dealer's Agreement
========
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We invite you, as a selected dealer, to participate as principal in the
distribution of the shares of all of the Funds in the Delaware Group of
Investment Companies which retain us, Delaware Distributors, L.P., to act as
exclusive national distributor. The term "Fund" as used in this Agreement,
refers to each Fund in the Delaware Group which retains us to promote and
sell its shares, and any Fund which may hereafter be added to the Delaware
Group and retain us as national distributor. Such additional Funds will be
included in this Agreement upon our providing you with written notice of such
inclusion.
OFFERING PRICE TO PUBLIC: Orders for shares received from you and accepted by
a Fund or its agent, Delaware Service Company, Inc., will be at the public
offering price applicable to each order as set forth in that Fund's
Prospectus. The manner of computing the net asset value of shares, the public
offering price and the effective time of orders received from you are
described in the Prospectus for each Fund. We reserve the right, at any time
and without notice, to suspend the sale of Fund Shares.
CONCESSIONS TO YOU: You will be entitled to deduct the applicable concession
as set forth in the then current Prospectus of a Fund from the purchase price
of certain purchase orders placed by you for shares of a Fund having a sales
charge. We reserve the right from time to time, without prior notice, to
modify, suspend or eliminate such concessions by amendment, sticker or
supplement to the Prospectus for the Fund. If any shares confirmed to you
under the terms of this Agreement are redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or
by us as agent for the Fund, or are tendered for redemption or repurchase,
within seven business days after the date of our confirmation of the original
purchase order, you shall promptly refund to us the concession allowed to you
on such shares.
PURCHASE PLANS: The purchase price on all orders placed by you and any
concessions or other fees otherwise due to you under this Agreement will be
subject to the then current terms and provisions of any applicable special
plans and accounts (e.g., volume purchases, letters of intent, right of
accumulation, combined purchases privilege, exchange and reinvestment
privileges and retirement plan accounts) as set forth from time to time in
the Prospectus. We must be notified when an order is placed if it qualifies
for a reduced sales charge under any of these plans. We reserve the right, at
any time, without prior notice, to modify, suspend or eliminate any such
plans or accounts by amendment, sticker or supplement to the Prospectus for
the Fund.
SALES, ORDERS AND CONFIRMATIONS: In offering Fund shares to the public or
otherwise, you shall act as dealer for your own account, and in no
transaction shall you have any authority to act as agent for the Fund, for
any other selected dealer or for us. No person is authorized to make any
representations concerning the shares of the Fund except those contained in
the Prospectus and in written information issued by the Fund or by us as a
supplement to such Prospectus. In purchasing Fund shares, you shall rely only
on such representations.
All sales must be made subject to confirmation and orders are subject to
acceptance or rejection by the Fund in its sole discretion. Your orders must be
wired, telephoned or written to the Fund or its agent. You agree to place
orders for the same number of shares sold by you at the price at which such
shares are sold. You agree that you will not purchase Fund shares except for
investment or for the purpose of covering purchase orders already received
and that you will not, as principal, sell Fund shares unless purchased by you
from the Fund under the terms hereof. You also agree that you will not
withhold placing with us orders received from your customers so as to profit
yourself from such withholding. Each of your orders shall be confirmed by you
in writing on the same day.
PAYMENT AND ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES: The shares purchased by you hereunder
shall be paid for in full at the public offering price, less any concession to
you as set forth above, by check payable to the Fund, at its office, within five
business days after our acceptance of your order. If not so paid, we reserve the
right to cancel the sale and to hold you responsible for any loss sustained by
us or the Fund (including lost profit) in consequence. Certificates representing
the Fund's shares will not be issued unless a specific request is received from
the purchaser. Certificates, if requested, will be issued in the names indicated
by registration instructions accompanying your payment.
REDEMPTION: The Prospectus describes the provisions whereby the Fund, under
all ordinary circumstances, will redeem shares held by shareholders on
demand. You agree that you will not make any representations to shareholders
relating to the redemption of their shares other than the statements
contained in the Prospectus and the underlying organizational documents of
the Fund, to which it refers, and that you will quote as the redemption price
only the price determined by the Fund. You shall not repurchase any shares
from your customers at a price below that next quoted by the Fund for
redemption. You may charge a reasonable fee for services in connection with
the repurchase by you from your customers of shares. You may hold such
repurchased shares only for investment purposes or submit such shares to the
Fund for redemption.
12b-1 PLAN: With respect to any Fund that has a Distribution Plan under Rule
12b-1 (a "12b-1 Plan") of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940
Act"), we expect you to provide distribution and marketing services in the
promotion of the Fund's shares and services and assistance to your customers
who own Fund shares, including but not limited to, answering inquiries
regarding the Fund or the status of a customer's account, assisting in
changing dividend options, account designations and addresses and providing
information to customers relating to maintaining their investment in the
Fund. For such services we will pay you a fee, as established by us from time
to time, based on a portion of the net asset value of the accounts of your
clients in the Fund. We are permitted to make this payment under the terms of
the 12b-1 Plans adopted by certain of the Funds, as such Plans may be in
effect from time to time; provided, however, that no payments shall be due
and paid to you hereunder unless and until the form of this Agreement shall
have been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors or Trustees of the
Fund and by a majority of the directors or trustees who are not "interested
persons" of us, the Fund or its investment manager, as such term is defined
in the 1940 Act (i.e., non-interested directors or trustees) by vote cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this form of
Agreement. The 12b-1 Plans in effect on the date of this Agreement are
substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto. Each Fund reserves the
right to terminate or suspend its 12b-1 Plan at any time as specified in the
Plan and we reserve the right, at any time, without notice, to modify, suspend
or terminate payments hereunder in connection with such 12b-1 Plan. You will
furnish the Fund and us with such information as may be reasonably requested
by the Fund or its directors or trustees or by us with respect to such fees
paid to you pursuant to this Agreement.
LEGAL COMPLIANCE: This Agreement and any transaction with, or payment to, you
pursuant to the terms hereof is conditioned on your representation to us
that, as of the date of this Agreement you are, and at all times during its
effectiveness you will be: (a) a registered broker/dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and qualified under applicable state
securities laws in each jurisdiction in which you are required to be
qualified to act as a broker/dealer in securities, and a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD");
or (b) a foreign broker/dealer not eligible for membership in the NASD and
otherwise in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities
laws. You agree to notify us promptly in writing and immediately suspend sales
of Fund shares if this representation ceases to be true. You also agree that,
whether you are a member of the NASD or a foreign broker/dealer not eligible
for such membership, you will comply with the rules of the NASD including, in
particular, Sections 2 and 26 of Article III thereof, and that you will
maintain adequate records with respect to your transactions with the Funds.
BLUE SKY MATTERS: We shall have no obligation or responsibility with respect
to your right to sell Fund shares in any state or jurisdiction. From time to
time we may furnish you with information identifying the states and
jurisdictions under the securities laws of which it is believed a Fund's
shares may be sold. You will not transact orders for Fund shares in states or
jurisdictions in which we indicate Fund shares may not be sold. You agree to
offer and sell Fund shares outside the United States only in compliance with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations of any foreign government having
jurisdiction over such transactions in addition to any applicable laws, rules
and regulations of the United States.
LITERATURE: We will furnish you with copies of each Fund's Prospectus, sales
literature and other information made publicly available by the Fund, in
reasonable quantities upon your request. You agree to deliver a copy of the
current Prospectus in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933 to each purchaser of Fund shares for whom you act as broker. We shall
file Fund sales literature and promotional material with NASD and SEC as
required. You may not publish or use any sales literature or promotional
materials with respect to the Funds without our prior review and written
approval.
NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS: All communications from you should be addressed
to us at One Commerce Square, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. Any
notice from us to you shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
telegraphed to you at the address set forth below. Each of us may change the
address to which notices shall be sent by notice to the other in accordance
with the terms hereof.
TERMINATION: This Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time by
written notice to that effect and will terminate without notice upon the
appointment of a trustee for you under the Securities Investor Protection
Act, or any other act of insolvency by you. Notwithstanding the ter mination
of this Agreement, you shall remain liable for any amounts otherwise owing to
us or the Funds and for your portion of any transfer tax or other liability
which may be asserted or assessed against the Fund, or us, or upon any one or
more of the selected dealers based upon the claim that the selected dealers
or any of them constitute a partnership, an unincorporated business or other
separate entity.
AMENDMENT: This Agreement may be amended or revised at any time by us upon
notice to you and, unless you notify us in writing to the contrary, you will
be deemed to have accepted such modifications. Additional or modified forms
of Rule 12b-1 Plans may be included in this Agreement from time to time.
GENERAL: Your acceptance hereof will constitute an obligation on your part to
observe all the terms and conditions hereof. In the event you breach any of
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will indemnify us, the Funds,
and our affiliates for any damages, losses, costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to such breach and we
may offset any such damages, losses, costs and expenses against any amounts
due to you hereunder. Nothing contained herein shall constitute you, us and
any dealers an association or partnership. All references in this Agreement
to the "Prospectus" refer to the then current version of the Prospectus and
include the Statement of Additional Information incorporated by reference
therein and any stickers or supplements thereto. This Agreement supercedes
and replaces any prior agreement between us and you with respect to your
purchase and sale of Fund shares and is to be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware.
Please confirm this Agreement by executing one copy of this Agreement below
and returning it to us. Keep the enclosed duplicate copy for your records.
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, L.P.
By: Delaware Distributors, Inc., General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President/Chief Executive Officer
_____________________________________________________________________________
DEALER'S AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, L.P.
The undersigned hereby confirms the Dealer's Agreement and acknowledges that
any purchase of Fund shares made during the effectiveness of this Agreement
is subject to all the applicable terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and agrees to pay for the shares at the price and upon the terms
and conditions stated in the Agreement. The undersigned hereby acknowledges
receipt of Prospectuses relating to the Fund shares and confirms that, in
executing the Dealer's Agreement, it has relied on such Prospectuses and not
on any other statement whatsoever, written or oral.
INVESTMENT DEALER PLEASE SIGN HERE AND COMPLETE BELOW
BY:_________________________________________ DATE________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
____________________________________________
FIRM
____________________________________________
FIRM'S TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
____________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS
____________________________________________
CITY/STATE/ZIP
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF 12b-1 PLANS
A CLASS AND CONSULTANT CLASS SHARES
The 12b-1 Plans adopted by Funds in the Delaware Group
offering A Class Shares that are subject to a front-end sales
charge or Consultant Class Shares (money market funds) are
substantially in the following form:
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The following Distribution Plan (the "Plan") has been adopted pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") by the Fund (the
"Fund"), on behalf of the Fund_______________ Class ("Class"). The Plan has
been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of
the directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any
agreements related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such Plan. Such approval by the directors included a
determination that in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in
light of their fiduciary duties, there is a reasonable likelihood that the
Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Plan has also been
approved by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Class as defined in the Act.
The Fund is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland
authorized to issue different series of securities and is an open-end
management investment company registered under the Act. Delaware Management
Company, Inc. ("DMC") or Delaware International Advisers Ltd. ("Delaware
International"), an affiliate of DMC, serves as the Fund's investment adviser
and manager pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement. Delaware Service
Company, Inc. serves as the Fund's shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing
and transfer agent. Delaware Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor") is the
principal underwriter and national distributor for the Fund's shares,
including shares of the Class, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between
the Distributor and the Fund ("Distribution Agreement").
The Distributor may enter into agreements with other registered
broker/dealers substantially in the form of the Dealer Agreement in the
implementation of this Plan and of the Distribution Agreement between it and
the Fund. The Fund may, in addition, enter into arrangements with other than
broker/dealers which are not "affiliated persons" or "interested persons" of
the Fund, DMC, Delaware International, or the Distributor to provide to the
Fund services in the Fund's marketing of shares of the Class, such
arrangements to be reflected by Service Agreements.
The Plan provides that:
1. The Fund shall pay a monthly fee not to exceed 0.3% (3/10 of 1%) per annum
of the Fund's average daily net assets represented by shares of the Class
(the "Maximum Amount") as may be determined by the Fund's Board of Directors
from time to time. Such monthly fee shall be reduced by the aggregate sums
paid by the Fund to other than broker-dealers (the "Service Providers")
pursuant to Service Agreements referred to above.
2. (a) The Distributor shall use the monies paid to it pursuant to paragraph 1
above to furnish, or cause or encourage others to furnish, services and
incentives in connection with the promotion, offering and sale of Class
shares and, where suitable and appropriate, the retention of Class shares by
shareholders.
(b) The Service Providers shall use the monies paid respectively
to them to reimburse themselves for the actual costs they have incurred in
confirming that their customers have received the Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, if applicable , and as a fee for: (1) assisting such
customers in maintaining proper records with the Fund; (2) answering
questions relating to their respective accounts; and (3) aiding in
maintaining the investment of their respective customers in the Class.
3. The Distributor shall report to the Fund at least monthly on the amount and
the use of the monies paid to it under the Plan. The Service Providers shall
inform the Fund monthly and in writing of the amounts each claims under the
Service Agreement and the Plan; both the Distributor and the Service
Providers shall furnish the Board of Directors of the Fund with such other
information as the Board may reasonably request in connection with the
payments made under the Plan and the use thereof by the Distributor and the
Service Providers, respectively, in order to enable the Board to make an
informed determination of the amount of the Fund's payments and whether the
Plan should be continued.
4. The officers of the Fund shall furnish to the Board of Directors of the
Fund, for their review, on a quarterly basis, a written report of the amounts
expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were
made.
5. This Plan shall take effect on the date on which the Class commences
operations with public shareholders ("Commencement Date"); thereafter, it
shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the
Commencement Date only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund, and of the
directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements
related to the Plan ("non-interested directors"), cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.
6. (a) The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
non-interested directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Class.
(b) The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount
to be spent for distribution pursuant to paragraph 1 thereof without approval
by the shareholders of the Class.
7. The Distribution Agreement between the Fund and the Distributor, and the
Service Agreements between the Fund and the Service Providers, shall
specifically have a copy of this Plan attached to and its terms and
provisions incorporated respectively by reference in such agreements.
8. All material amendments to this Plan shall be approved by the
non-interested directors in the manner described in paragraph 5 above.
9. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the
Fund's non-interested directors shall be committed to the discretion of such
non-interested directors.
10. The definitions contained in Sections 2(a)(3), 2(a)(4), 2(a)(19) and
2(a)(42) of the Act shall govern the meaning of "affiliated person,"
"assignment," "interested person(s)" and "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities," respectively, for purposes of this Plan.
Exhibit A-2
FORM OF 12b-1 PLANS
B CLASS SHARES
The 12b-1 Plans adopted by the Funds in the Delaware Group
offering B Class Shares are substantially in the following form:
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The following Distribution Plan (the "Plan") has been adopted pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") by the Fund (the
"Fund"), on behalf of the Fund B Class (the "Class"). The Plan has been
approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the
Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements
related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such Plan. Such approval by the Directors included a determination that in
the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary
duties, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund
and its shareholders. The Plan has been approved by a vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class, as defined in
the Act.
The Fund is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland,
is authorized to issue different series and classes of securities and is an
open-end management investment company registered under the Act. Delaware
Management Company, Inc. ("DMC") or Delaware International Advisers Ltd.
("Delaware International"), an affiliate of DMC, serves as the Fund's
investment adviser and manager pursuant to an Investment Management
Agreement. Delaware Service Company, Inc. serves as the Fund's shareholder
servicing, dividend disbursing and transfer agent. Delaware Distributors,
L.P. (the "Distributor") is the principal underwriter and national
distributor for the Fund's shares, including shares of the Class, pursuant to
the Distribution Agreement between the Distributor and the Fund
("Distribution Agreement").
The Plan provides that:
1.(a) The Fund shall pay to the Distributor a monthly fee not to exceed 0.75%
(3/4 of 1%) per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets represented by
shares of the Class as may be determined by the Fund's Board of Directors
from time to time.
(b) In addition to the amounts described in paragraph 1(a) above, the Fund
shall pay: (i) to the Distributor for payment to dealers or others; or (ii)
directly to others, an amount not to exceed 0.25% (1/4 of 1%) per annum of
the Fund's average daily net assets represented by shares of the Class, as a
service fee pursuant to dealer or servicing agreements, the forms of which
have been approved from time to time by the Fund's Board of Directors.
2.(a) The Distributor shall use the monies paid to it pursuant to paragraph
1(a) above to assist in the distribution and promotion of shares of the
Class. Payments made to the Distributor under the Plan may be used for, among
other things, preparation and distribution of advertisements, sales
literature and prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, as well as
compensation related to sales and marketing personnel, and holding special
promotions. In addition, such fees may be used to pay for advancing the
commission costs to dealers with respect to the sale of Class shares.
(b) The monies to be paid pursuant to paragraph 1(b) above shall be used to
pay dealers or others for, among other things, furnishing personal services
and maintaining shareholder accounts, which services include confirming that
customers have received the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information, if applicable; assisting such customers in maintaining proper
records with the Fund; answering questions relating to their respective
accounts; and aiding in maintaining the investment of their respective
customers in the Fund.
3. The Distributor shall report to the Fund at least monthly on the amount
and the use of the monies paid to it under paragraph 1(a) above. In addition,
the Distributor and others shall inform the Fund monthly and in writing of
the amounts paid under paragraph 1(b) above; both the Distributor and any
others receiving fees under the Plan shall furnish the Board of Directors of
the Fund with such other information as the Board may reasonably request in
connection with the payments made under the Plan and the use thereof by the
Distributor and others in order to enable the Board to make an informed
determination of the amount of the Fund's payments and whether the Plan
should be continued.
4. The officers of the Fund shall furnish to the Board of Directors of the
Fund, and the Directors shall review, on a quarterly basis, a written report
of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made.
5. This Plan shall take effect at such time as the Distributor shall notify
the Fund in writing of the commencement of the Plan (the "Commencement
Date"); thereafter, the Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more
than one year from the Commencement Date only so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors
of the Fund, and of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund
and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the
Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan ("non-interested Directors"),
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.
6. (a) The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
non-interested Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Class.
(b) The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be
spent for distribution pursuant to paragraph 1 thereof without approval by the
shareholders of the Class.
7. The Distribution Agreement between the Fund and the Distributor, and any
dealers or servicing agreements between the Distributor and brokers or others
or between the Fund and others receiving a servicing fee, shall specifically
have a copy of this Plan attached to, and its terms and provisions
incorporated respectively by reference in, such agreements.
8. All material amendments to this Plan shall be approved by the
non-interested Directors in the manner described in paragraph 5 above.
9. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the
Fund's non-interested Directors shall be committed to the discretion of such
non-interested Directors.
10. The definitions contained in Sections 2(a)(3), 2(a)(4), 2(a)(19) and
2(a)(42) of the Act shall govern the meaning of "affiliated person,"
"assignment" "interested person(s)" and "vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities," respectively, for the purposes of this Plan.
This Plan shall take effect on the Commencement Date, as previously defined.
AA-17A-1/95-U
